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A core aspect of the appeal of the *Final Fantasy* Universes Beyond collection for *Magic: The Gathering* lies in the manner countless cards depict iconic stories. Cards like the Tidus, Blitzball Star card, which gives a portrait of the protagonist at the beginning of *Final Fantasy 10*: a wildly famous Blitzball pro whose secret weapon is a specialized shot that knocks a defender out of the way. The gameplay rules reflect this in nuanced ways. This type of narrative is widespread throughout the complete Final Fantasy offering, and some are not joyful stories. Some are somber echoes of tragedies fans continue to reflect on to this day.

"Powerful tales are a vital part of the Final Fantasy franchise," noted a senior game designer on the collaboration. "The team established some overarching principles, but in the end, it was mostly on a case-by-case level."

Though the Zack Fair card is not a tournament staple, it represents one of the collection's most elegant examples of flavor by way of gameplay. It artfully echoes one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most pivotal dramatic moments brilliantly, all while utilizing some of the expansion's core mechanics. And while it avoids revealing anything, those acquainted with the story will immediately grasp the emotional weight embedded in it.

The Mechanics: A Narrative in Play

For one mana of white (the hue of good) in this set, Zack Fair has a base power and toughness of 0/1 but comes into play with a +1/+1 marker. For the cost of one generic mana, you can destroy the card to bestow another unit you control indestructible and move all of Zack’s bonuses, along with an Equipment, onto that other creature.

These mechanics depicts a moment FF fans are extremely remember, a moment that has been reimagined again and again — in the original *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even reimagined retellings in *FF7 Remake*. Yet it hits just as hard here, expressed entirely through card abilities. Zack sacrifices himself to save Cloud, who then inherits the Buster Sword as his own.

The Story Behind the Scene

A bit of context, and take this as your *FF7* warning: Years before the main events of the game, Zack and Cloud are left for dead after a clash with Sephiroth. After years of testing, the friends manage to escape. During their ordeal, Cloud is comatose, but Zack makes sure to look after his comrade. They finally arrive at the outskirts outside Midgar before Zack is gunned down by Shinra soldiers. Left behind, Cloud then takes up Zack’s Buster Sword and assumes the role of a elite SOLDIER, leading directly into the start of *FF7*.

Simulating the Legacy on the Battlefield

In a game, the abilities effectively let you reenact this iconic sequence. The Buster Sword is a a powerful piece of equipment in the set that costs three mana and gives the equipped creature +3/+2. Therefore, using six mana, you can transform Zack into a formidable 4/6 with the Buster Sword wielded.

The Cloud, Midgar Mercenary also has clear combo potential with the Buster Sword, letting you to search your deck for an artifact card. When used in tandem, these three cards play out like this: You summon Zack, and he receives the +1/+1 counter. Then you summon Cloud to pull the Buster Sword out of your deck. Then you play and equip it to Zack.

Owing to the manner Zack’s key mechanic is worded, you can potentially use it during combat, meaning you can “block” an assault and trigger it to cancel out the attack completely. Therefore, you can make this play at any time, moving the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He is transformed into a powerful 6/4 that, every time he strikes a player, lets you gain card advantage and play two spells without paying their mana cost. This is exactly the kind of interaction alluded to when discussing “flavorful design” — not spoiling the scene, but letting the gameplay trigger the recollection.

Extending Past the Main Interaction

But the thematic here is oh-so-delicious, and it extends further than just this combo. The Jenova card is part of the collection as a creature that, at the start of combat, places a number of +1/+1 counters on a target creature, which then becomes a Mutant. This sort of implies that Zack’s initial +1/+1 token is, symbolically, the SOLDIER enhancement he underwent, which included genetic manipulation with Jenova cells. It's a subtle nod, but one that implicitly connects the entire SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter theme in the expansion.

This design doesn't show his demise, or Cloud’s confusion, or the rain-soaked location where it all ends. It does not need to. *Magic* enables you to relive the moment yourself. You choose the ultimate play. You pass the sword on. And for a fleeting moment, while playing a card battle, you recall why *Final Fantasy 7* is still the most impactful game in the series to date.