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A significant part of the appeal of the Final Fantasy Universes Beyond collection for *Magic: The Gathering* lies in the manner numerous cards tell familiar narratives. Take for instance Tidus, Blitzball Star, which offers a snapshot of the protagonist at the outset of *Final Fantasy 10*: a renowned professional athlete whose key technique is a unique shot that takes a defender aside. The gameplay rules mirror this in nuanced ways. Such storytelling is widespread in the complete Final Fantasy set, and they aren't all lighthearted tales. Several act as poignant reminders of sad moments fans continue to reflect on decades later.

"Emotional narratives are a vital part of the Final Fantasy legacy," noted a principal game designer for the set. "We built some overarching principles, but finally, it was mostly on a card-by-card level."

Though the Zack Fair isn't a top-tier card, it stands as one of the set's most clever examples of flavor by way of rules. It skillfully reflects one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most pivotal dramatic moments brilliantly, all while capitalizing on some of the expansion's central gameplay elements. And while it avoids revealing anything, those familiar with the tale will quickly recognize the meaning embedded in it.

The Card's Design: A Narrative in Play

At a cost of one mana of white (the hue of good) in this set, Zack Fair has a base stat line of 0/1 but arrives with a +1/+1 counter. By paying one colorless mana, you can destroy the card to give another creature you control indestructible and move all of Zack’s counters, as well as an artifact weapon, onto that other creature.

This design portrays a sequence FF fans are all too know well, a moment that has been reimagined multiple times — in the classic *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even alternate-timeline versions in *FF7 Remake*. And yet it resonates with equal force here, expressed solely through card abilities. Zack sacrifices himself to save Cloud, who then picks up the Buster Sword as his own.

The Context of the Card

For context, and take this as your *FF7* warning: Prior to the main events of the game, Zack and Cloud are left for dead after a battle with Sephiroth. Following years of experimentation, the pair break free. The entire time, Cloud is comatose, but Zack makes sure to protect his comrade. They eventually make it the plains outside Midgar before Zack is gunned down by troops. Left behind, Cloud subsequently grabs Zack’s Buster Sword and assumes the role of a elite SOLDIER, leading directly into the start of *FF7*.

Simulating the Moment on the Battlefield

On the tabletop, the rules in essence let you recreate this entire event. The Buster Sword is featured as a top-tier piece of gear in the collection that costs three mana and grants the equipped creature +3/+2. Therefore, using six mana, you can make Zack into a formidable 4/6 with the Buster Sword equipped.

The Cloud, Midgar Mercenary also has intentional combo potential with the Buster Sword, allowing you to search your deck for an equipment card. When used in tandem, these three cards play out in this way: You summon Zack, and he receives the +1/+1 counter. Then you cast Cloud to pull the Buster Sword from your deck. Then you cast and attach it to Zack.

Due to the design Zack’s signature action is structured, you can actually use it when blocking, meaning you can “block” an assault and activate it to negate the damage completely. Therefore, you can perform this action at any time, transferring the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He is transformed into a strong 6/4 that, every time he deals combat damage a player, lets you pull extra cards and cast two cards without paying their mana cost. This is exactly the kind of interaction alluded to when discussing “emotional resonance” — not revealing the scene, but letting the card design evoke the memory.

Extending Past the Main Interaction

But the flavor here is incredibly rich, and it goes beyond just this combo. The Jenova card appears in the collection as a creature that, at the start of combat, places a number of +1/+1 counters on a target creature, which additionally gains the type of a Mutant. This kind of suggests that Zack’s initial +1/+1 token is, figuratively, the SOLDIER treatment he underwent, which included genetic manipulation with Jenova cells. This is a small connection, but one that cleverly ties the whole SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter theme in the expansion.

Zack’s card doesn't show his end, or Cloud’s breakdown, or the stormy location where it happens. It does not need to. *Magic* allows you to reenact the passing for yourself. You perform the sacrifice. You pass the sword on. And for a fleeting moment, while enjoying a strategy game, you remember why *Final Fantasy 7* is still the most impactful game in the series for many fans.