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A core element of the appeal of the Final Fantasy crossover collection for *Magic: The Gathering* comes from the way numerous cards depict familiar tales. Consider Tidus, Blitzball Star, which gives a snapshot of the character at the beginning of *Final Fantasy 10*: a celebrated Blitzball pro whose secret weapon is a fancy shot that pushes a defender out of the way. The gameplay rules reflect this perfectly. These kinds of narrative is found throughout the complete Final Fantasy offering, and not all joyful stories. A number are somber reminders of tragedies fans remember vividly decades later.

"Emotional stories are a vital part of the Final Fantasy franchise," explained a principal designer for the set. "We built some overarching principles, but in the end, it was primarily on a card-by-card basis."

While the Zack Fair is not a competitive powerhouse, it stands as one of the set's most clever pieces of narrative design by way of gameplay. It artfully reflects one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most pivotal dramatic moments in spectacular fashion, all while capitalizing on some of the expansion's core systems. And even if it avoids revealing anything, those who know the saga will instantly understand the significance embedded in it.

The Card's Design: Story Through Gameplay

For one mana of white (the alignment of protagonists) in this collection, Zack Fair is a starting stat line of 0/1 but arrives with a +1/+1 token. By paying one colorless mana, you can remove from play the card to give another unit you control indestructible and transfer all of Zack’s counters, as well as an gear, onto that chosen creature.

These mechanics portrays a moment FF fans are very remember, a moment that has been retold throughout the years — in the classic *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even alternate-timeline retellings in *FF7 Remake*. And yet it lands powerfully here, expressed solely through gameplay mechanics. Zack sacrifices himself to save Cloud, who then inherits the Buster Sword as his own.

The Story Behind the Moment

For history, and take this as your *FF7* spoiler alert: Years before the primary events of the game, Zack and Cloud are severely injured after a confrontation with Sephiroth. After extended testing, the duo get away. The entire time, Cloud is delirious, but Zack vows to protect his companion. They eventually reach the outskirts outside Midgar before Zack is killed by Shinra soldiers. Left behind, Cloud subsequently grabs Zack’s Buster Sword and assumes the persona of a elite SOLDIER, which leads right into the start of *FF7*.

Simulating the Passing of the Torch on the Game Board

In a game, the rules in essence let you reenact this entire event. The Buster Sword is a a strong piece of equipment in the collection that costs three mana and grants the equipped creature +3/+2. Thus, with an investment of six mana, you can transform Zack into a solid 4/6 while the Buster Sword attached.

The Cloud, Midgar Mercenary also has intentional synergy with the Buster Sword, allowing you to look through your library for an artifact card. Together, these three cards unfold as follows: 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 summon and give it to Zack.

Owing to the way Zack’s key mechanic is designed, you can actually 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 a key moment, 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 cast two cards without paying their mana cost. This is exactly the kind of experience alluded to when discussing “narrative impact” — not explaining the scene, but letting the mechanics trigger the recollection.

Beyond the Main Combo

However, the narrative here is deeply satisfying, and it reaches 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 initial +1/+1 token is, symbolically, the SOLDIER enhancement he received, which included genetic manipulation with Jenova cells. It's a tiny connection, but one that cleverly links the entire SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter ecosystem in the set.

The card doesn't show his demise, or Cloud’s trauma, or the memorable location where it happens. It isn't necessary. *Magic* lets you reenact the passing personally. You choose the sacrifice. You transfer 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 beloved game in the saga for many fans.