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A major part of the appeal of the *Final Fantasy* Universes Beyond release for *Magic: The Gathering* lies in the fashion numerous cards tell familiar stories. Take for instance Tidus, Blitzball Star, which gives a snapshot of the character at the outset of *Final Fantasy 10*: a wildly famous sports star whose secret weapon is a fancy shot that knocks a defender aside. The gameplay rules represent this in nuanced ways. Such flavor is widespread across the entire Final Fantasy offering, and not all joyful stories. Some are somber echoes of sad moments fans still mull over decades later.

"Emotional narratives are a central part of the Final Fantasy series," noted a principal designer involved with the set. "We built some general rules, but in the end, it was mostly on a card-by-card basis."

Even though the Zack Fair isn't a tournament staple, it is one of the collection's most refined examples of flavor via mechanics. It masterfully reflects one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most crucial story moments brilliantly, all while utilizing some of the set's key gameplay elements. And while it doesn't spoil anything, those acquainted with the story will instantly understand the meaning behind it.

The Mechanics: Flavor in Rules

For one white mana (the color of good) in this collection, Zack Fair is a starting stat line of 0/1 but enters with a +1/+1 counter. For the cost of one generic mana, you can destroy the card to grant another ally you control indestructible and transfer all of Zack’s counters, along with an artifact weapon, onto that other creature.

These mechanics portrays a sequence FF fans are very familiar with, a moment that has been retold multiple times — in the first *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even alternate-timeline retellings in *FF7 Remake*. Yet it hits with equal force here, expressed entirely 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 consider this your *FF7* warning: Before the main events of the game, Zack and Cloud are gravely wounded after a confrontation with Sephiroth. Following extended experimentation, the pair manage to escape. The entire time, Cloud is barely conscious, but Zack vows to look after his comrade. They finally make it the outskirts outside Midgar before Zack is killed 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*.

Reenacting the Legacy on the Battlefield

In a game, the abilities effectively let you recreate this iconic event. The Buster Sword is featured as a strong piece of armament in the collection that requires three mana and provides the equipped creature +3/+2. So, for a total of six mana, you can transform Zack into a solid 4/6 with the Buster Sword attached.

The Cloud Strife card also has intentional interaction with the Buster Sword, allowing you to find for an equipment card. In combination, these pieces unfold in this way: You summon Zack, and he gains the +1/+1 counter. Then you play Cloud to pull the Buster Sword from your deck. Then you summon and give it to Zack.

Due to the manner Zack’s sacrifice ability is designed, you can actually use it when blocking, meaning you can “block” an assault and trigger it to prevent the attack altogether. Therefore, you can do this at a key moment, moving the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He then 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 just the kind of moment referred to when discussing “emotional resonance” — not spoiling the scene, but letting the mechanics trigger the recollection.

More Than the Obvious Interaction

But the thematic here is incredibly rich, and it extends beyond just Zack and Cloud. The Jenova, Ancient Calamity is part of the set as a creature that, at the start of combat, places a number of +1/+1 counters on a target creature, which also becomes a Mutant. This kind of suggests that Zack’s initial +1/+1 token is, in a way, the SOLDIER treatment he underwent, which included genetic manipulation with Jenova cells. It's a subtle nod, but one that subtly connects the entire SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter mechanic in the expansion.

Zack’s card avoids showing his end, or Cloud’s trauma, or the rain-soaked bluff where it all ends. It doesn't have to. *Magic* enables you to reenact the moment for yourself. You perform the sacrifice. You pass the legacy on. And for a short instant, while playing a strategy game, you recall why *Final Fantasy 7* remains the most beloved game in the series ever made.