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A core aspect of the appeal found in the Final Fantasy Universes Beyond set for *Magic: The Gathering* is the fashion so many cards narrate iconic tales. Consider the Tidus, Blitzball Star card, which gives a snapshot of the character at the very start of *Final Fantasy 10*: a renowned Blitzball pro whose secret weapon is a specialized shot that pushes a defender aside. The abilities represent this perfectly. These kinds of flavor is widespread in the complete Final Fantasy offering, and some are not fun and games. Some serve as somber echoes of emotional events fans remember vividly years after.

"Moving tales are a key part of the Final Fantasy legacy," noted a principal designer on the set. "The team established some broad guidelines, but in the end, it was mostly on a individual level."

Though the Zack Fair card may not be a competitive powerhouse, it is one of the collection's most clever instances of narrative design through rules. It artfully reflects one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most pivotal story moments in spectacular fashion, all while utilizing some of the expansion's key mechanics. And although it avoids revealing anything, those who know the tale will quickly recognize the emotional weight embedded in it.

How It Works: Flavor in Rules

At a cost of one mana of white (the alignment of protagonists) in this set, Zack Fair is 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, as well as an gear, onto that chosen creature.

This design paints a sequence FF fans are extremely remember, a moment that has been retold multiple times — in the first *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even alternate-timeline versions in *FF7 Remake*. And yet it hits with equal force here, communicated entirely through card abilities. Zack sacrifices himself to save Cloud, who then picks up the Buster Sword as his own.

The Context of the Scene

For context, and here is your *FF7* spoiler alert: Before the main events of the game, Zack and Cloud are gravely wounded after a confrontation with Sephiroth. Following extended imprisonment, the pair manage to escape. During their ordeal, Cloud is comatose, but Zack makes sure to look after his friend. They eventually arrive at the edge outside Midgar before Zack is killed by Shinra soldiers. Left behind, Cloud then takes up Zack’s Buster Sword and takes on the persona of a first-class SOLDIER, leading directly into the start of *FF7*.

Simulating the Passing of the Torch on the Tabletop

On the tabletop, the card mechanics in essence let you recreate this whole sequence. The Buster Sword appears as a top-tier piece of armament in the set that costs three mana and provides the equipped creature +3/+2. Thus, with an investment of six mana, you can turn Zack into a solid 4/6 while the Buster Sword equipped.

The Cloud, Midgar Mercenary also has intentional interaction with the Buster Sword, letting you to look through your library for an equipment card. Together, these three cards play out as follows: You summon Zack, and he receives the +1/+1 counter. Then you play Cloud to retrieve the Buster Sword out of your deck. Then you cast and attach it to Zack.

Because of the design Zack’s signature action is structured, you can technically use it during combat, meaning you can “block” an assault and trigger it to negate the attack completely. Therefore, you can perform this action at any time, moving the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He subsequently becomes a formidable 6/4 that, every time he does damage a player, lets you pull extra cards and play two spells at no cost. This is precisely the kind of interaction alluded to when talking about “flavorful design” — not revealing the scene, but letting the gameplay trigger the recollection.

Beyond the Obvious Synergy

However, the flavor here is oh-so-delicious, and it goes further than just Zack and Cloud. The Jenova card is part of the set as a creature that, at the start of combat, puts a number of +1/+1 counters on a target creature, which additionally gains the type of a Mutant. This sort of hints that Zack’s starting +1/+1 token is, figuratively, the SOLDIER enhancement he received, which included genetic manipulation with Jenova cells. This is a tiny connection, but one that subtly links the whole SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter ecosystem in the set.

This design does not depict his end, or Cloud’s breakdown, or the stormy bluff where it concludes. It isn't necessary. *Magic* enables you to recreate the moment yourself. You choose the sacrifice. You hand over the weapon on. And for a short instant, while enjoying a strategy game, you remember why *Final Fantasy 7* continues to be the most influential game in the saga ever made.