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A major part of the appeal of the Final Fantasy crossover collection for *Magic: The Gathering* lies in the manner countless cards depict familiar narratives. Consider the Tidus, Blitzball Star card, which provides a snapshot of the hero at the beginning of *Final Fantasy 10*: a wildly famous sports star whose secret weapon is a specialized shot that pushes a defender out of the way. The gameplay rules represent this in nuanced ways. This type of storytelling is prevalent in the complete Final Fantasy offering, and they aren't all joyful stories. A number are poignant reminders of sad moments fans still mull over decades later.

"Moving stories are a central part of the Final Fantasy series," noted a principal game designer on the project. "They created some overarching principles, but ultimately, it was primarily on a individual level."

Even though the Zack Fair card isn't a tournament staple, it stands as one of the release's most clever examples of narrative design by way of gameplay. It artfully captures one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most important cinematic moments in spectacular fashion, all while utilizing some of the product's central gameplay elements. And although it avoids revealing anything, those familiar with the story will immediately grasp the emotional weight within it.

The Mechanics: A Narrative in Play

At a cost of one mana of white (the alignment of protagonists) in this set, Zack Fair is a base stat line of 0/1 but arrives with a +1/+1 token. For the cost of one colorless mana, you can sacrifice the card to bestow another unit you control indestructible and transfer all of Zack’s counters, as well as an artifact weapon, onto that other creature.

These mechanics paints a moment FF fans are all too remember, a moment that has been retold again and again — in the first *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even new versions in *FF7 Remake*. But somehow it resonates powerfully here, conveyed entirely through card abilities. Zack makes the ultimate sacrifice to save Cloud, who then inherits the Buster Sword as his own.

A Spoiler for the Scene

A bit of history, and here is your *FF7* warning: Years before the main events of the game, Zack and Cloud are severely injured after a battle with Sephiroth. Following years of experimentation, the pair manage to escape. The entire time, Cloud is delirious, but Zack ensures to look after his companion. They eventually reach the edge outside Midgar before Zack is gunned down by forces. Abandoned, Cloud in that moment claims Zack’s Buster Sword and takes on the identity of a elite SOLDIER, leading directly into the start of *FF7*.

Playing Out the Legacy on the Battlefield

On the tabletop, the card mechanics essentially let you recreate this entire event. The Buster Sword is a a powerful piece of armament in the set that costs three mana and gives the equipped creature +3/+2. Thus, with an investment of six mana, you can transform Zack into a respectable 4/6 with the Buster Sword wielded.

The Cloud, Midgar Mercenary also has intentional combo potential with the Buster Sword, letting you to look through your library for an weapon card. When used in tandem, these pieces function as follows: You play Zack, and he gets the +1/+1 counter. Then you cast Cloud to pull the Buster Sword out of your deck. Then you play and equip it to Zack.

Owing to the manner Zack’s signature action is structured, you can actually use it in the middle of battle, meaning you can “block” an attack and trigger it to cancel out the attack altogether. So you can do this at any time, passing the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He subsequently becomes a strong 6/4 that, each time he does damage a player, lets you gain card advantage and cast two spells without paying their mana cost. This is exactly the kind of experience referred to when discussing “flavorful design” — not spoiling the scene, but letting the mechanics trigger the recollection.

Extending Past the Main Combo

However, the flavor here is oh-so-delicious, and it reaches beyond just these cards. The Jenova, Ancient Calamity is part of the set as a creature that, at the start of combat, puts a number of +1/+1 counters on a chosen creature, which then becomes a Mutant. This sort of implies that Zack’s starting +1/+1 token is, figuratively, the SOLDIER conditioning he received, which included modification with Jenova cells. It's a tiny nod, but one that subtly ties the whole SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter mechanic in the expansion.

Zack’s card avoids showing his death, or Cloud’s breakdown, or the stormy cliff where it happens. It doesn't have to. *Magic* lets you reenact the legacy personally. You perform the sacrifice. You transfer the weapon on. And for a short instant, while playing a strategy game, you are reminded of why *Final Fantasy 7* remains the most beloved game in the franchise for many fans.