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A major element of the charm of the *Final Fantasy* crossover collection for *Magic: The Gathering* comes from the way countless cards depict well-known narratives. Take for instance the Tidus, Blitzball Star card, which provides a snapshot of the character at the very start of *Final Fantasy 10*: a celebrated sports star whose key technique is a fancy shot that takes a defender out of the way. The abilities mirror this perfectly. Such flavor is found in the whole Final Fantasy set, and they aren't all joyful stories. Several are heartbreaking callbacks of tragedies fans still mull over to this day.

"Moving tales are a central element of the Final Fantasy series," noted a principal designer on the project. "They created some broad guidelines, but finally, it was largely on a individual level."

Even though the Zack Fair is not a tournament staple, it is one of the release's most clever pieces of storytelling via mechanics. It masterfully echoes one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most crucial story moments in spectacular fashion, all while capitalizing on some of the set's core mechanics. And while it steers clear of spoiling anything, those familiar with the story will immediately grasp the emotional weight within it.

The Mechanics: Story Through Gameplay

For one white mana (the hue of good) in this collection, Zack Fair has a starting power and toughness of 0/1 but enters with a +1/+1 counter. By paying one colorless mana, you can remove from play the card to bestow another unit you control protection from destruction and put all of Zack’s markers, as well as an gear, onto that chosen creature.

This design portrays a scene FF fans are all too know well, a moment that has been retold again and again — in the original *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even alternate-timeline iterations in *FF7 Remake*. Yet it hits with equal force here, conveyed completely through rules text. Zack makes the ultimate sacrifice to save Cloud, who then takes up the Buster Sword as his own.

The Story Behind the Card

For history, and here is your *FF7* warning: Prior to the primary events of the game, Zack and Cloud are severely injured after a battle with Sephiroth. After extended experimentation, the pair get away. The entire time, Cloud is barely conscious, but Zack ensures to take care of his companion. They eventually arrive at the outskirts outside Midgar before Zack is killed by forces. Abandoned, Cloud in that moment claims Zack’s Buster Sword and adopts the role of a elite SOLDIER, which leads right into the start of *FF7*.

Playing Out the Moment on the Game Board

Through gameplay, the card mechanics essentially let you relive this entire event. The Buster Sword is featured as a strong 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 solid 4/6 while the Buster Sword attached.

The Cloud Strife card also has clear combo potential with the Buster Sword, allowing you to look through your library for an artifact card. Together, these pieces play out as follows: You cast Zack, and he gains the +1/+1 counter. Then you summon Cloud to retrieve the Buster Sword out of your deck. Then you summon and give it to Zack.

Owing to the design Zack’s signature action is structured, you can technically use it when blocking, meaning you can “block” an attack and trigger it to negate the damage altogether. Therefore, you can make this play at a key moment, passing the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He subsequently becomes a strong 6/4 that, every time he deals combat damage a player, lets you draw two cards and cast two spells without paying their mana cost. This is precisely the kind of interaction alluded to when talking about “narrative impact” — not revealing the scene, but letting the gameplay make you remember.

Beyond the Main Synergy

But the narrative here is incredibly rich, and it reaches past 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 target creature, which additionally gains the type of a Mutant. This sort of implies that Zack’s starting +1/+1 token is, symbolically, the SOLDIER enhancement he underwent, which included genetic manipulation with Jenova cells. This is a tiny nod, but one that subtly links the entire SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter ecosystem in the set.

Zack’s card does not depict his end, or Cloud’s confusion, or the memorable bluff where it happens. It isn't necessary. *Magic* allows you to recreate the legacy for yourself. You choose the sacrifice. You pass the sword on. And for a fleeting moment, while enjoying a trading card game, you remember why *Final Fantasy 7* remains the most impactful game in the franchise ever made.