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A major aspect of the appeal within the *Final Fantasy* crossover set for *Magic: The Gathering* lies in the manner countless cards narrate iconic narratives. Take for instance Tidus, Blitzball Star, which provides a glimpse of the character at the outset of *Final Fantasy 10*: a wildly famous Blitzball pro whose key technique is a specialized shot that pushes a defender out of the way. The gameplay rules reflect this with subtlety. This type of narrative is prevalent throughout the whole Final Fantasy offering, and not all lighthearted tales. Some are somber callbacks of tragedies fans still mull over to this day.

"Powerful tales are a vital part of the Final Fantasy franchise," explained a principal game designer involved with the project. "The team established some overarching principles, but finally, it was primarily on a individual level."

While the Zack Fair isn't a tournament staple, it represents one of the collection's most refined examples of storytelling through gameplay. It skillfully echoes one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most important story moments in spectacular fashion, all while leveraging some of the product's central systems. And although it doesn't spoil anything, those who know the story will instantly understand the meaning embedded in it.

How It Works: Story Through Gameplay

At a cost of one white mana (the alignment of protagonists) in this collection, Zack Fair has a base stat line of 0/1 but comes into play with a +1/+1 marker. For the cost of one generic mana, you can sacrifice the card to give another creature you control protection from destruction and put all of Zack’s markers, as well as an artifact weapon, onto that chosen creature.

These mechanics paints a scene FF fans are extremely know well, a moment that has been revisited throughout the years — in the classic *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even alternate-timeline retellings in *FF7 Remake*. And yet it lands just as hard here, conveyed solely through card abilities. Zack makes the ultimate sacrifice to save Cloud, who then takes up the Buster Sword as his own.

The Story Behind the Scene

A bit of history, and take this as your *FF7* spoiler alert: Prior to the main events of the game, Zack and Cloud are left for dead after a confrontation with Sephiroth. After years of experimentation, the pair get away. During their ordeal, Cloud is barely conscious, but Zack makes sure to take care of his comrade. They finally make it the outskirts outside Midgar before Zack is gunned down by troops. Abandoned, Cloud subsequently grabs Zack’s Buster Sword and adopts the role of a first-class SOLDIER, leading directly into the start of *FF7*.

Reenacting the Legacy on the Tabletop

Through gameplay, the card mechanics in essence let you recreate this entire scene. The Buster Sword is a a powerful piece of gear in the set that costs three mana and grants the wielding creature +3/+2. Thus, with an investment of six mana, you can turn Zack into a solid 4/6 while the Buster Sword wielded.

The Cloud Strife card also has clear interaction with the Buster Sword, enabling you to look through your library for an equipment card. In combination, these three cards play out as follows: You summon Zack, and he gets the +1/+1 counter. Then you cast Cloud to pull the Buster Sword out of your deck. Then you play and equip it to Zack.

Because of the design Zack’s signature action is structured, you can technically use it during combat, meaning you can “block” an attack and activate it to negate the attack completely. Therefore, you can do this at a key moment, moving the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He then becomes a formidable 6/4 that, every time he strikes a player, lets you draw two cards and cast two spells for free. This is precisely the kind of experience alluded to when discussing “emotional resonance” — not explaining the scene, but letting the mechanics make you remember.

More Than the Main Interaction

However, the thematic here is deeply satisfying, and it extends past 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 then becomes a Mutant. This in a way hints that Zack’s initial +1/+1 token is, figuratively, the SOLDIER enhancement he received, which included modification with Jenova cells. It's a tiny reference, but one that cleverly ties the whole SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter mechanic in the expansion.

The card does not depict his death, or Cloud’s breakdown, or the rain-soaked cliff where it concludes. It doesn't have to. *Magic* allows you to recreate the legacy personally. You choose the sacrifice. You hand over the sword on. And for a short instant, while engaged in a trading card game, you are reminded of why *Final Fantasy 7* is still the most influential game in the saga to date.