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A major part of the charm within the Final Fantasy Universes Beyond release for *Magic: The Gathering* comes from the manner so many cards tell well-known stories. Take for instance the Tidus, Blitzball Star card, which gives a snapshot of the protagonist at the outset of *Final Fantasy 10*: a wildly famous sports star whose signature move is a specialized shot that knocks a defender aside. The card's mechanics reflect this perfectly. This type of narrative is found in the whole Final Fantasy offering, and they aren't all joyful stories. A number act as somber reminders of emotional events fans still mull over decades later.

"Moving tales are a key part of the Final Fantasy series," explained a principal designer on the project. "They created some broad guidelines, but finally, it was largely on a card-by-card level."

Even though the Zack Fair is not a top-tier card, it is one of the set's most clever examples of storytelling through rules. It artfully echoes one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most pivotal story moments with great effect, all while capitalizing on some of the product's central gameplay elements. And even if it doesn't spoil anything, those who know the saga will instantly understand the meaning within it.

The Mechanics: A Narrative in Play

For one mana of white (the color of protagonists) in this set, Zack Fair is a starting stat line of 0/1 but arrives with a +1/+1 marker. By paying one colorless mana, you can remove from play the card to bestow another creature you control indestructible and put all of Zack’s bonuses, as well as an gear, onto that other creature.

These mechanics paints a scene FF fans are extremely familiar with, a moment that has been retold again and again — in the first *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even new iterations in *FF7 Remake*. And yet it hits just as hard here, conveyed solely through rules text. Zack sacrifices himself to save Cloud, who then picks up the Buster Sword as his own.

The Context of the Scene

For context, and consider this your *FF7* spoiler alert: Before the primary events of the game, Zack and Cloud are gravely wounded after a clash with Sephiroth. After extended experimentation, the duo manage to escape. During their ordeal, Cloud is delirious, but Zack vows to protect his friend. They eventually arrive at the plains outside Midgar before Zack is killed by troops. Presumed dead, Cloud subsequently grabs Zack’s Buster Sword and adopts the persona of a elite SOLDIER, setting the stage for the start of *FF7*.

Playing Out the Passing of the Torch on the Battlefield

On the tabletop, the card mechanics essentially let you relive this iconic scene. The Buster Sword is featured as a top-tier piece of gear in the collection that requires three mana and provides the equipped creature +3/+2. Therefore, using six mana, you can transform Zack into a solid 4/6 with the Buster Sword equipped.

The Cloud, Midgar Mercenary also has deliberate synergy with the Buster Sword, allowing you to search your deck for an equipment card. In combination, these pieces unfold like this: You cast Zack, and he receives the +1/+1 counter. Then you cast Cloud to fetch the Buster Sword out of your deck. Then you summon and give it to Zack.

Because of the way Zack’s signature action is designed, you can potentially use it when blocking, meaning you can “block” an assault and trigger it to prevent the damage altogether. Therefore, you can do this at any time, moving the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He is transformed into a formidable 6/4 that, each time he does damage a player, lets you pull extra cards and play two spells at no cost. This is just the kind of experience referred to when discussing “emotional resonance” — not explaining the scene, but letting the card design make you remember.

Extending Past the Central Synergy

However, the narrative here is incredibly rich, and it reaches beyond just these cards. The Jenova card appears in the collection as a creature that, at the start of combat, puts a number of +1/+1 counters on a chosen creature, which also becomes a Mutant. This sort of suggests that Zack’s starting +1/+1 token is, symbolically, the SOLDIER treatment he underwent, which included modification with Jenova cells. This is a subtle nod, but one that implicitly ties the entire SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter theme in the set.

This design doesn't show his end, or Cloud’s confusion, or the rain-soaked location where it all ends. It doesn't have to. *Magic* enables you to recreate the passing personally. You perform the sacrifice. You hand over the legacy on. And for a fleeting moment, while playing a trading card game, you remember why *Final Fantasy 7* is still the most influential game in the series for many fans.