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A major element of the appeal found in the *Final Fantasy* Universes Beyond release for *Magic: The Gathering* comes from the way numerous cards depict well-known stories. Take for instance the Tidus, Blitzball Star card, which gives a snapshot of the character at the beginning of *Final Fantasy 10*: a renowned sports star whose signature move is a unique shot that knocks a defender out of the way. The abilities reflect this with subtlety. Such storytelling is widespread in the complete Final Fantasy set, and they aren't all fun and games. A number serve as somber reminders of emotional events fans remember vividly to this day.

"Powerful narratives are a key part of the Final Fantasy series," wrote a lead game designer involved with the project. "The team established some overarching principles, but finally, it was primarily on a card-by-card basis."

Though the Zack Fair isn't a competitive powerhouse, it stands as one of the release's most refined instances of storytelling by way of rules. It masterfully reflects one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most pivotal story moments brilliantly, all while capitalizing on some of the set's key gameplay elements. And even if it steers clear of spoiling anything, those who know the story will instantly understand the emotional weight within it.

The Mechanics: Flavor in Rules

At a cost of one mana of white (the alignment of good) in this set, Zack Fair is a starting stat line of 0/1 but comes into play with a +1/+1 marker. By spending one generic mana, you can destroy the card to give another creature you control protection from destruction and put all of Zack’s bonuses, plus an artifact weapon, onto that target creature.

This card paints a sequence FF fans are all too familiar with, a moment that has been retold throughout the years — in the classic *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even reimagined versions in *FF7 Remake*. But somehow it hits just as hard here, conveyed solely through rules text. Zack makes the ultimate sacrifice to save Cloud, who then takes up the Buster Sword as his own.

The Context of the Moment

Some necessary history, and take this as your *FF7* spoiler alert: Years before the main events of the game, Zack and Cloud are left for dead after a battle with Sephiroth. After extended experimentation, the pair get away. During their ordeal, Cloud is comatose, but Zack vows to look after his friend. They eventually reach the plains outside Midgar before Zack is fatally wounded by forces. Abandoned, Cloud in that moment claims Zack’s Buster Sword and assumes the persona of a elite SOLDIER, leading directly into the start of *FF7*.

Playing Out the Legacy on the Battlefield

In a game, the rules essentially let you relive this iconic scene. The Buster Sword is a a top-tier piece of equipment in the set that requires three mana and gives the equipped creature +3/+2. Therefore, using six mana, you can make Zack into a respectable 4/6 while the Buster Sword equipped.

The Cloud Strife card also has intentional synergy with the Buster Sword, allowing you to search your deck for an artifact card. In combination, these pieces unfold like this: You cast Zack, and he gets the +1/+1 counter. Then you play Cloud to pull the Buster Sword from your deck. Then you summon and give it to Zack.

Due to the design Zack’s key mechanic is structured, you can actually use it during combat, meaning you can “intercept” an assault and activate it to negate the attack completely. Therefore, you can make this play at a key moment, passing the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He then becomes a powerful 6/4 that, each time he deals combat damage a player, lets you pull extra cards and play two spells without paying their mana cost. This is exactly the kind of experience referred to when discussing “flavorful design” — not revealing the scene, but letting the card design trigger the recollection.

More Than the Obvious Interaction

But the narrative here is incredibly rich, and it extends further than just Zack and Cloud. The Jenova card appears in the set 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 in a way hints that Zack’s initial +1/+1 token is, figuratively, the SOLDIER conditioning he received, which included experimentation with Jenova cells. This is a subtle nod, but one that cleverly ties the whole SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter theme in the expansion.

This design avoids showing his demise, or Cloud’s confusion, or the memorable cliff where it concludes. It doesn't have to. *Magic* lets you recreate the legacy personally. You make the ultimate play. You hand over the legacy on. And for a short instant, while playing a trading card game, you are reminded of why *Final Fantasy 7* is still the most impactful game in the saga ever made.