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A core element of the charm within the Final Fantasy crossover set for *Magic: The Gathering* comes from the manner so many cards tell iconic stories. Cards like the Tidus, Blitzball Star card, which offers a glimpse of the character at the beginning of *Final Fantasy 10*: a celebrated Blitzball pro whose signature move is a fancy shot that knocks a defender aside. The gameplay rules represent this in nuanced ways. These kinds of flavor is found in the whole Final Fantasy offering, and not all fun and games. A number serve as heartbreaking reminders of sad moments fans remember vividly years after.

"Moving narratives are a central component of the Final Fantasy series," explained a principal game designer involved with the project. "The team established some broad guidelines, but ultimately, it was mostly on a individual level."

While the Zack Fair card may not be a competitive powerhouse, it stands as one of the release's most clever examples of storytelling via rules. It masterfully echoes one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most crucial dramatic moments brilliantly, all while leveraging some of the product's core gameplay elements. And while it steers clear of spoiling anything, those acquainted with the story will quickly recognize the meaning behind it.

The Mechanics: Story Through Gameplay

At a cost of one mana of white (the color of heroes) in this set, Zack Fair has a starting stat line of 0/1 but comes into play with a +1/+1 counter. For the cost of one generic mana, you can remove from play the card to give another creature you control protection from destruction and transfer all of Zack’s counters, along with an Equipment, onto that other creature.

This card depicts a moment FF fans are extremely know well, a moment that has been retold multiple times — in the classic *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even alternate-timeline retellings in *FF7 Remake*. And yet it resonates just as hard here, communicated completely through card abilities. Zack sacrifices himself to save Cloud, who then takes up the Buster Sword as his own.

The Story Behind the Moment

A bit of backstory, and take this as your *FF7* spoiler alert: Before the main events of the game, Zack and Cloud are severely injured after a confrontation with Sephiroth. Following years of imprisonment, the friends get away. During their ordeal, Cloud is barely conscious, but Zack ensures to take care of his companion. They finally reach the outskirts outside Midgar before Zack is gunned down by Shinra soldiers. Presumed dead, Cloud in that moment claims Zack’s Buster Sword and assumes the role of a first-class SOLDIER, leading directly into the start of *FF7*.

Simulating the Moment on the Tabletop

In a game, the rules effectively let you reenact this iconic scene. The Buster Sword is featured as a powerful piece of equipment in the set that requires three mana and grants the wielding creature +3/+2. Therefore, using six mana, you can make Zack into a respectable 4/6 with the Buster Sword equipped.

The Cloud Strife card also has deliberate synergy with the Buster Sword, enabling you to look through your library for an artifact card. Together, these pieces unfold in this way: You summon Zack, and he receives the +1/+1 counter. Then you cast Cloud to pull the Buster Sword out of your deck. Then you summon and give it to Zack.

Due to the way Zack’s sacrifice ability is structured, you can potentially use it when blocking, meaning you can “intercept” an assault and trigger it to negate the damage completely. This allows you to perform this action at any time, transferring the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He subsequently becomes a formidable 6/4 that, whenever he does damage a player, lets you pull extra cards and play two cards without paying their mana cost. This is just the kind of moment referred to when discussing “flavorful design” — not explaining the scene, but letting the gameplay trigger the recollection.

Extending Past the Main Synergy

But the narrative here is oh-so-delicious, and it reaches beyond just this combo. 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 chosen creature, which also becomes a Mutant. This sort of suggests that Zack’s starting +1/+1 token is, in a way, the SOLDIER enhancement he underwent, which included experimentation with Jenova cells. This is a tiny reference, but one that cleverly ties the whole SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter ecosystem in the expansion.

The card avoids showing his end, or Cloud’s confusion, or the rain-soaked location where it all ends. It isn't necessary. *Magic* allows you to reenact the legacy for yourself. You choose the ultimate play. You hand over the sword on. And for a brief second, while engaged in a card battle, you remember why *Final Fantasy 7* is still the most impactful game in the franchise to date.