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A significant aspect of the allure of the *Final Fantasy* crossover set for *Magic: The Gathering* lies in the fashion numerous cards narrate iconic narratives. Cards like the Tidus, Blitzball Star card, which offers a glimpse of the protagonist at the beginning of *Final Fantasy 10*: a wildly famous professional athlete whose secret weapon is a specialized shot that pushes a defender aside. The abilities mirror this in nuanced ways. This type of narrative is widespread across the entire Final Fantasy offering, and they aren't all lighthearted tales. Several are somber reminders of sad moments fans still mull over decades later.

"Emotional stories are a central part of the Final Fantasy franchise," wrote a principal designer for the collaboration. "They created some general rules, but finally, it was primarily on a card-by-card basis."

While the Zack Fair card isn't a competitive powerhouse, it stands as one of the collection's most refined examples of storytelling through mechanics. It masterfully echoes one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most crucial dramatic moments in spectacular fashion, all while capitalizing on some of the product's central gameplay elements. And even if it doesn't spoil anything, those acquainted with the story will immediately grasp the emotional weight embedded in it.

How It Works: Flavor in Rules

For one mana of white (the hue of heroes) in this set, Zack Fair has a starting power and toughness of 0/1 but arrives with a +1/+1 marker. For the cost of one generic mana, you can sacrifice the card to grant another unit you control protection from destruction and put all of Zack’s bonuses, along with an gear, onto that other creature.

These mechanics depicts a moment FF fans are extremely remember, a moment that has been reimagined again and again — in the original *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even reimagined iterations in *FF7 Remake*. And yet it hits just as hard here, communicated completely through gameplay mechanics. Zack makes the ultimate sacrifice to save Cloud, who then inherits the Buster Sword as his own.

A Spoiler for the Moment

A bit of history, and consider this your *FF7* spoiler alert: Years before the main events of the game, Zack and Cloud are gravely wounded after a confrontation with Sephiroth. Following years of imprisonment, the duo manage to escape. Throughout this period, Cloud is barely conscious, but Zack ensures to take care of his companion. They eventually arrive at the plains outside Midgar before Zack is gunned down by troops. Left behind, Cloud then takes up Zack’s Buster Sword and assumes the identity of a elite SOLDIER, setting the stage for the start of *FF7*.

Reenacting the Legacy on the Game Board

On the tabletop, the rules essentially let you reenact this iconic sequence. The Buster Sword is featured as a strong piece of equipment in the set that costs three mana and gives the wielding creature +3/+2. So, for a total of six mana, you can make Zack into a solid 4/6 while the Buster Sword equipped.

The Cloud, Midgar Mercenary also has clear interaction with the Buster Sword, enabling you to look through your library for an equipment card. In combination, these pieces play out like this: You summon Zack, and he receives the +1/+1 counter. Then you play Cloud to fetch the Buster Sword out of your deck. Then you play and equip it to Zack.

Owing to the design Zack’s signature action is worded, you can actually use it during combat, meaning you can “intercept” an assault and activate it to prevent the attack altogether. So you can perform this action at any time, moving the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He then becomes a strong 6/4 that, every time he does damage a player, lets you draw two cards and play two cards for free. This is precisely the kind of moment alluded to when discussing “narrative impact” — not explaining the scene, but letting the gameplay evoke the memory.

Beyond the Main Synergy

And the narrative here is oh-so-delicious, and it reaches beyond just this combo. The Jenova card appears in the collection as a creature that, at the start of combat, puts a number of +1/+1 counters on a chosen creature, which also becomes a Mutant. This sort of implies that Zack’s initial +1/+1 token is, in a way, the SOLDIER enhancement he received, which included genetic manipulation with Jenova cells. It's a tiny connection, but one that implicitly links the entire SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter mechanic in the expansion.

The card does not depict his death, or Cloud’s trauma, or the memorable location where it concludes. It does not need to. *Magic* lets you recreate the passing personally. You choose the ultimate play. You pass the weapon on. And for a short instant, while engaged in a trading card game, you recall why *Final Fantasy 7* is still the most beloved game in the franchise ever made.