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A core aspect of the allure found in the *Final Fantasy* crossover collection for *Magic: The Gathering* comes from the way countless cards depict well-known tales. Cards like the Tidus, Blitzball Star card, which offers a snapshot of the character at the beginning of *Final Fantasy 10*: a renowned Blitzball pro whose secret weapon is a unique shot that pushes a defender aside. The gameplay rules mirror this in nuanced ways. Such flavor is found in the whole Final Fantasy set, and not all lighthearted tales. Some serve as poignant echoes of tragedies fans continue to reflect on decades later.

"Emotional tales are a key element of the Final Fantasy legacy," noted a senior game designer involved with the project. "The team established some overarching principles, but finally, it was largely on a case-by-case basis."

While the Zack Fair card is not a tournament staple, it stands as one of the collection's most clever pieces of narrative design by way of mechanics. It masterfully echoes one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most important cinematic moments brilliantly, all while utilizing some of the product's key gameplay elements. And even if it steers clear of spoiling anything, those familiar with the story will quickly recognize the emotional weight embedded in it.

The Mechanics: Story Through Gameplay

For one mana of white (the color of good) in this set, Zack Fair is a starting power and toughness of 0/1 but enters with a +1/+1 counter. By spending one colorless mana, you can remove from play the card to grant another unit you control indestructible and move all of Zack’s markers, as well as an gear, onto that chosen creature.

This design depicts a moment FF fans are extremely know well, a moment that has been reimagined multiple times — in the original *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even reimagined retellings in *FF7 Remake*. And yet it resonates just as hard here, conveyed entirely through gameplay mechanics. Zack sacrifices himself to save Cloud, who then picks up the Buster Sword as his own.

The Context of the Card

A bit of history, and consider this your *FF7* spoiler alert: Prior to the primary events of the game, Zack and Cloud are severely injured after a clash with Sephiroth. Following years of experimentation, the pair break free. During their ordeal, Cloud is barely conscious, but Zack makes sure to take care of his friend. They eventually arrive at the plains outside Midgar before Zack is killed by troops. Presumed dead, Cloud in that moment claims Zack’s Buster Sword and takes on the role of a first-class SOLDIER, setting the stage for the start of *FF7*.

Playing Out the Passing of the Torch on the Tabletop

In a game, the card mechanics in essence let you reenact this entire event. The Buster Sword is a a strong piece of equipment in the set that costs three mana and gives the equipped creature +3/+2. Thus, with an investment of six mana, you can transform Zack into a formidable 4/6 with the Buster Sword equipped.

The Cloud Strife card also has deliberate combo potential with the Buster Sword, allowing you to search your deck for an weapon card. When used in tandem, these pieces play out as follows: You cast Zack, and he receives the +1/+1 counter. Then you cast Cloud to fetch the Buster Sword out of your deck. Then you summon and give it to Zack.

Because of the design Zack’s key mechanic is structured, you can actually use it during combat, meaning you can “block” an assault and activate it to prevent the attack altogether. This allows you to do this at any time, transferring the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He is transformed into a formidable 6/4 that, whenever he deals combat damage a player, lets you draw two cards and play two cards for free. This is precisely the kind of experience alluded to when talking about “narrative impact” — not explaining the scene, but letting the card design evoke the memory.

Extending Past the Central Combo

However, the narrative here is oh-so-delicious, and it goes beyond just these cards. The Jenova card appears in the collection as a creature that, at the start of combat, places a number of +1/+1 counters on a chosen creature, which additionally gains the type of a Mutant. This sort of implies that Zack’s initial +1/+1 token is, symbolically, the SOLDIER treatment he underwent, which included genetic manipulation with Jenova cells. This is a subtle reference, but one that subtly connects the entire SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter ecosystem in the expansion.

Zack’s card doesn't show his death, or Cloud’s breakdown, or the memorable bluff where it all ends. It does not need to. *Magic* lets you reenact the moment yourself. You make the ultimate play. You pass the weapon on. And for a brief second, while enjoying a strategy game, you are reminded of why *Final Fantasy 7* is still the most impactful game in the franchise to date.