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A major part of the appeal found in the *Final Fantasy* Universes Beyond set for *Magic: The Gathering* comes from the manner countless cards tell well-known stories. Take for instance the Tidus, Blitzball Star card, which gives a snapshot of the character at the beginning of *Final Fantasy 10*: a renowned professional athlete whose key technique is a unique shot that knocks a defender out of the way. The abilities reflect this with subtlety. This type of narrative is found across the whole Final Fantasy set, and not all lighthearted tales. Several serve as heartbreaking reminders of tragedies fans continue to reflect on years after.

"Moving stories are a central component of the Final Fantasy legacy," noted a senior designer involved with the project. "They created some broad guidelines, but ultimately, it was largely on a card-by-card basis."

While the Zack Fair card is not a tournament staple, it is one of the set's most clever instances of narrative design through gameplay. It artfully echoes one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most important story moments in spectacular fashion, all while leveraging some of the product's core gameplay elements. And while it steers clear of spoiling anything, those acquainted with the saga will quickly recognize the significance behind it.

The Mechanics: Story Through Gameplay

At a cost of one mana of white (the alignment of good) in this set, Zack Fair has a base stat line of 0/1 but arrives with a +1/+1 counter. By paying one colorless mana, you can remove from play the card to bestow another creature you control protection from destruction and transfer all of Zack’s counters, as well as an Equipment, onto that target creature.

These mechanics paints a sequence FF fans are extremely familiar with, a moment that has been revisited again and again — in the first *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even reimagined versions in *FF7 Remake*. But somehow it resonates with equal force here, conveyed solely through card abilities. Zack gives his life to save Cloud, who then picks up the Buster Sword as his own.

A Spoiler for the Moment

Some necessary context, and here is your *FF7* warning: Years before the primary events of the game, Zack and Cloud are gravely wounded after a clash with Sephiroth. Following years of experimentation, the duo get away. During their ordeal, Cloud is delirious, but Zack vows to protect his companion. They finally arrive at the plains outside Midgar before Zack is fatally wounded by Shinra soldiers. Left behind, Cloud in that moment claims Zack’s Buster Sword and adopts the role of a first-class SOLDIER, which leads right into the start of *FF7*.

Playing Out the Passing of the Torch on the Tabletop

On the tabletop, the rules in essence let you recreate this entire event. The Buster Sword appears as a top-tier piece of armament in the collection that requires three mana and grants the wielding creature +3/+2. Therefore, using six mana, you can turn Zack into a formidable 4/6 with the Buster Sword attached.

The Cloud, Midgar Mercenary also has intentional interaction with the Buster Sword, enabling you to search your deck for an equipment card. When used in tandem, these three cards unfold like this: You play Zack, and he receives the +1/+1 counter. Then you cast Cloud to pull the Buster Sword out of your deck. Then you cast and attach it to Zack.

Because of the manner Zack’s sacrifice ability is worded, you can actually use it in the middle of battle, meaning you can “intercept” an attack and activate it to prevent the attack completely. So you can do this at any time, transferring the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He subsequently becomes a strong 6/4 that, each time he strikes a player, lets you pull extra cards and play two spells for free. This is exactly the kind of interaction meant when discussing “emotional resonance” — not spoiling the scene, but letting the gameplay evoke the memory.

More Than the Main Combo

However, the thematic here is deeply satisfying, and it reaches past just this combo. 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, figuratively, the SOLDIER treatment 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 end, or Cloud’s trauma, or the memorable cliff where it concludes. It does not need to. *Magic* allows you to relive the passing for yourself. You choose the ultimate play. You hand over the sword on. And for a fleeting moment, while playing a strategy game, you recall why *Final Fantasy 7* is still the most beloved game in the franchise for many fans.