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A major aspect of the allure of the Final Fantasy crossover release for *Magic: The Gathering* comes from the manner numerous cards narrate well-known narratives. Take for instance Tidus, Blitzball Star, which gives a snapshot of the hero at the outset of *Final Fantasy 10*: a renowned sports star whose signature move is a unique shot that takes a defender out of the way. The abilities mirror this with subtlety. Such narrative is prevalent in the complete Final Fantasy offering, and they aren't all fun and games. Some act as heartbreaking callbacks of tragedies fans remember vividly decades later.

"Moving stories are a vital part of the Final Fantasy legacy," noted a lead game designer involved with the set. "We built some general rules, but in the end, it was largely on a card-by-card level."

While the Zack Fair isn't a competitive powerhouse, it stands as one of the set's most clever examples of flavor through gameplay. It masterfully captures one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most important dramatic moments with great effect, all while capitalizing on some of the set's key gameplay elements. And while it avoids revealing anything, those who know the saga will immediately grasp the meaning behind it.

The Mechanics: Story Through Gameplay

At a cost of one mana of white (the alignment of protagonists) 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 protection from destruction and move all of Zack’s counters, as well as an artifact weapon, onto that chosen creature.

These mechanics portrays a scene FF fans are all too familiar with, a moment that has been revisited throughout the years — in the classic *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even new retellings in *FF7 Remake*. And yet it resonates powerfully here, conveyed solely through card abilities. Zack gives his life to save Cloud, who then inherits the Buster Sword as his own.

The Context of the Moment

A bit of context, and take this as your *FF7* spoiler alert: Years before the main events of the game, Zack and Cloud are gravely wounded after a confrontation with Sephiroth. Following extended imprisonment, the pair manage to escape. During their ordeal, Cloud is delirious, but Zack makes sure to protect his friend. They eventually make it the plains outside Midgar before Zack is gunned down by troops. Abandoned, 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 Game Board

On the tabletop, the rules in essence let you relive this iconic event. The Buster Sword appears as a strong piece of gear in the collection that requires three mana and gives the equipped creature +3/+2. Therefore, using six mana, you can transform Zack into a respectable 4/6 while the Buster Sword equipped.

The Cloud, Midgar Mercenary also has deliberate combo potential with the Buster Sword, letting you to find for an weapon card. Together, these three cards function in this way: You summon Zack, and he gains the +1/+1 counter. Then you cast Cloud to fetch the Buster Sword from your deck. Then you play and equip it to Zack.

Because of the way Zack’s sacrifice ability is worded, you can actually use it when blocking, meaning you can “block” an assault and trigger it to negate the damage completely. This allows you to do this at a key moment, transferring the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He is transformed into a powerful 6/4 that, each time he does damage a player, lets you draw two cards and cast two cards for free. This is precisely the kind of moment referred to when talking about “flavorful design” — not spoiling the scene, but letting the mechanics evoke the memory.

Extending Past the Main Interaction

But the narrative here is oh-so-delicious, and it reaches past just Zack and Cloud. The Jenova, Ancient Calamity 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 additionally gains the type of a Mutant. This kind of suggests that Zack’s initial +1/+1 token is, in a way, the SOLDIER conditioning he received, which included experimentation with Jenova cells. It's a small nod, but one that subtly links the entire SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter mechanic in the set.

This design does not depict his demise, or Cloud’s breakdown, or the memorable bluff where it concludes. It isn't necessary. *Magic* lets you reenact the legacy personally. You choose the ultimate play. You pass the legacy on. And for a short instant, while enjoying a trading card game, you are reminded of why *Final Fantasy 7* remains the most impactful game in the series ever made.