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A major aspect of the allure within the Final Fantasy Universes Beyond collection for *Magic: The Gathering* comes from the fashion numerous cards narrate iconic narratives. Cards like Tidus, Blitzball Star, which gives a glimpse of the hero at the outset of *Final Fantasy 10*: a celebrated sports star whose secret weapon is a specialized shot that pushes a defender out of the way. The gameplay rules represent this perfectly. Such storytelling is widespread in the entire Final Fantasy set, and they aren't all fun and games. A number serve as poignant reminders of tragedies fans continue to reflect on to this day.

"Moving tales are a key component of the Final Fantasy franchise," noted a senior designer involved with the collaboration. "They created some overarching principles, but ultimately, it was mostly on a card-by-card level."

Even though the Zack Fair is not a top-tier card, it is one of the release's most clever examples of flavor through gameplay. It artfully reflects one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most pivotal story moments in spectacular fashion, all while leveraging some of the product's core gameplay elements. And even if it steers clear of spoiling anything, those familiar with the saga will instantly understand the emotional weight embedded in it.

The Mechanics: Story Through Gameplay

For one white mana (the hue of protagonists) in this collection, Zack Fair enters with a base power and toughness of 0/1 but arrives with a +1/+1 marker. By paying one generic mana, you can destroy the card to give another creature you control indestructible and move all of Zack’s counters, along with an gear, onto that chosen creature.

These mechanics paints a moment FF fans are all too familiar with, a moment that has been revisited throughout the years — in the original *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even reimagined retellings in *FF7 Remake*. But somehow it resonates just as hard here, communicated solely through rules text. Zack gives his life to save Cloud, who then takes up the Buster Sword as his own.

The Story Behind the Moment

For backstory, and consider this your *FF7* spoiler alert: Years before the primary events of the game, Zack and Cloud are gravely wounded after a clash with Sephiroth. After years of imprisonment, the pair get away. During their ordeal, Cloud is barely conscious, but Zack ensures to look after his friend. They eventually reach the edge outside Midgar before Zack is gunned down by troops. Abandoned, Cloud subsequently grabs Zack’s Buster Sword and assumes the persona of a elite SOLDIER, leading directly into the start of *FF7*.

Reenacting the Moment on the Battlefield

Through gameplay, the card mechanics in essence let you relive this entire sequence. The Buster Sword is featured as a strong piece of armament in the set that requires three mana and provides the wielding creature +3/+2. So, for a total of six mana, you can make Zack into a respectable 4/6 while the Buster Sword attached.

The Cloud, Midgar Mercenary also has clear combo potential with the Buster Sword, allowing you to find for an artifact card. When used in tandem, these three cards unfold in this way: You summon Zack, and he gets the +1/+1 counter. Then you play Cloud to retrieve the Buster Sword from your deck. Then you play and equip it to Zack.

Due to the design Zack’s sacrifice ability is structured, you can actually use it during combat, meaning you can “intercept” an assault and activate it to prevent the damage completely. So you can perform this action at any time, moving the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He subsequently becomes a powerful 6/4 that, whenever he strikes a player, lets you pull extra cards and play two cards for free. This is exactly the kind of experience alluded to when discussing “flavorful design” — not spoiling the scene, but letting the card design make you remember.

Beyond the Obvious Combo

And the flavor here is deeply satisfying, and it goes beyond 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 also becomes a Mutant. This in a way suggests that Zack’s initial +1/+1 token is, in a way, the SOLDIER treatment he received, which included genetic manipulation with Jenova cells. This is a subtle nod, but one that subtly links the entire SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter mechanic in the set.

Zack’s card does not depict his end, or Cloud’s trauma, or the stormy location where it concludes. It doesn't have to. *Magic* allows you to reenact the passing for yourself. You choose the sacrifice. You transfer the legacy on. And for a short instant, while playing a strategy game, you are reminded of why *Final Fantasy 7* is still the most impactful game in the series for many fans.