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A major element of the allure within the Final Fantasy Universes Beyond set for *Magic: The Gathering* lies in the way so many cards depict familiar stories. Consider the Tidus, Blitzball Star card, which gives a portrait of the hero at the very start of *Final Fantasy 10*: a wildly famous sports star whose key technique is a unique shot that pushes a defender out of the way. The gameplay rules mirror this perfectly. Such narrative is widespread across the complete Final Fantasy set, and some are not lighthearted tales. Some are somber reminders of sad moments fans remember vividly to this day.

"Emotional stories are a central part of the Final Fantasy franchise," explained a lead designer on the collaboration. "They created some general rules, but ultimately, it was mostly on a individual basis."

While the Zack Fair card may not be a competitive powerhouse, it stands as one of the set's most elegant instances of narrative design via gameplay. It skillfully reflects one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most crucial cinematic moments in spectacular fashion, all while capitalizing on some of the product's core gameplay elements. And while it doesn't spoil anything, those acquainted with the saga will instantly understand the emotional weight embedded in it.

The Mechanics: Story Through Gameplay

For one white mana (the color of heroes) in this collection, Zack Fair has a starting stat line of 0/1 but comes into play with a +1/+1 counter. By paying one colorless mana, you can destroy the card to give another ally you control protection from destruction and move all of Zack’s markers, plus an gear, onto that chosen creature.

These mechanics paints a moment FF fans are very remember, a moment that has been revisited multiple times — in the first *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even alternate-timeline iterations in *FF7 Remake*. Yet it resonates just as hard here, conveyed completely through card abilities. Zack sacrifices himself to save Cloud, who then inherits the Buster Sword as his own.

A Spoiler for the Moment

Some necessary history, and consider this your *FF7* spoiler alert: Prior to the primary events of the game, Zack and Cloud are severely injured after a battle with Sephiroth. Following years of imprisonment, the duo break free. Throughout this period, Cloud is delirious, but Zack vows to take care of his comrade. They eventually make it the plains outside Midgar before Zack is gunned down by forces. Abandoned, Cloud then takes up Zack’s Buster Sword and takes on the identity of a elite SOLDIER, which leads right into the start of *FF7*.

Simulating the Legacy on the Battlefield

Through gameplay, the abilities effectively let you relive this entire event. The Buster Sword is a a strong piece of armament in the set that costs three mana and gives the wielding creature +3/+2. So, for a total of six mana, you can make Zack into a respectable 4/6 while the Buster Sword attached.

The Cloud, Midgar Mercenary also has clear combo potential with the Buster Sword, allowing you to search your deck for an weapon card. In combination, these three cards function as follows: You play Zack, and he receives the +1/+1 counter. Then you cast Cloud to retrieve the Buster Sword from your deck. Then you cast and attach it to Zack.

Because of the design Zack’s signature action is structured, you can potentially use it when blocking, meaning you can “intercept” an assault and activate it to cancel out the damage altogether. This allows you to perform this action at any time, transferring the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He then becomes a powerful 6/4 that, each time he does damage a player, lets you draw two cards and cast two cards for free. This is just the kind of interaction meant when talking about “emotional resonance” — not explaining the scene, but letting the mechanics make you remember.

Beyond the Obvious Synergy

But the narrative here is deeply satisfying, and it extends 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 implies that Zack’s initial +1/+1 token is, in a way, the SOLDIER treatment he underwent, which included experimentation with Jenova cells. This is a small connection, but one that subtly ties the whole SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter mechanic in the expansion.

The card does not depict his end, or Cloud’s trauma, or the rain-soaked location where it concludes. It does not need to. *Magic* enables you to reenact the legacy personally. You perform the ultimate play. You pass the sword on. And for a short instant, while engaged in a card battle, you are reminded of why *Final Fantasy 7* is still the most impactful game in the series ever made.