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A major aspect of the appeal found in the *Final Fantasy* Universes Beyond release for *Magic: The Gathering* lies in the manner so many cards tell familiar narratives. Take for instance Tidus, Blitzball Star, which offers a portrait of the protagonist at the beginning of *Final Fantasy 10*: a renowned sports star whose signature move is a fancy shot that takes a defender aside. The gameplay rules represent this with subtlety. Such storytelling is prevalent throughout the whole Final Fantasy offering, and they aren't all lighthearted tales. A number act as somber reminders of sad moments fans continue to reflect on decades later.

"Emotional narratives are a central part of the Final Fantasy series," explained a lead designer on the set. "We built some broad guidelines, but in the end, it was mostly on a case-by-case basis."

While the Zack Fair card may not be a tournament staple, it stands as one of the release's most clever pieces of storytelling by way of mechanics. It artfully reflects one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most important cinematic moments in spectacular fashion, all while leveraging some of the set's central gameplay elements. And while it doesn't spoil anything, those familiar with the story will instantly understand the significance embedded in it.

The Mechanics: Flavor in Rules

At a cost of one mana of white (the hue of protagonists) in this set, Zack Fair enters with a starting stat line of 0/1 but arrives with a +1/+1 counter. By spending one colorless mana, you can remove from play the card to bestow another unit you control indestructible and put all of Zack’s counters, plus an gear, onto that target creature.

This design depicts a sequence FF fans are very know well, a moment that has been retold throughout the years — in the first *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even new retellings in *FF7 Remake*. And yet it lands with equal force here, communicated solely through gameplay mechanics. Zack sacrifices himself to save Cloud, who then inherits the Buster Sword as his own.

A Spoiler for the Scene

For context, and consider this your *FF7* spoiler alert: Before the main events of the game, Zack and Cloud are gravely wounded after a clash with Sephiroth. Following years of testing, the friends manage to escape. Throughout this period, Cloud is comatose, but Zack ensures to take care of his companion. They finally make it the plains outside Midgar before Zack is fatally wounded by forces. Presumed dead, Cloud in that moment claims Zack’s Buster Sword and assumes the identity of a elite SOLDIER, leading directly into the start of *FF7*.

Playing Out the Moment on the Battlefield

On the tabletop, the abilities effectively let you relive this entire event. The Buster Sword appears as a powerful piece of armament in the set that requires three mana and gives the equipped creature +3/+2. Thus, with an investment of six mana, you can turn Zack into a respectable 4/6 with the Buster Sword equipped.

The Cloud Strife card also has clear combo potential with the Buster Sword, enabling you to look through your library for an artifact card. When used in tandem, these three cards function like this: You play Zack, and he receives the +1/+1 counter. Then you cast Cloud to pull the Buster Sword from your deck. Then you cast and attach it to Zack.

Owing to the design Zack’s sacrifice ability is structured, you can technically use it when blocking, meaning you can “intercept” an attack and trigger it to negate the damage altogether. So you can perform this action at any time, transferring the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He is transformed into a formidable 6/4 that, each time he deals combat damage a player, lets you draw two cards and cast two cards for free. This is exactly the kind of interaction meant when talking about “narrative impact” — not revealing the scene, but letting the mechanics trigger the recollection.

More Than the Central Interaction

But the flavor here is deeply satisfying, and it goes beyond just these cards. 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 then becomes a Mutant. This kind of hints that Zack’s initial +1/+1 token is, figuratively, the SOLDIER conditioning he underwent, which included experimentation with Jenova cells. It's a tiny nod, but one that cleverly links the whole SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter mechanic in the expansion.

Zack’s card does not depict his death, or Cloud’s trauma, or the memorable cliff where it happens. It does not need to. *Magic* lets you reenact the moment personally. You choose the ultimate play. You pass the legacy on. And for a brief second, while engaged in a card battle, you are reminded of why *Final Fantasy 7* remains the most beloved game in the series ever made.