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A significant element of the appeal found in the *Final Fantasy* crossover release for *Magic: The Gathering* comes from the fashion numerous cards narrate iconic tales. Take for instance the Tidus, Blitzball Star card, which gives a portrait of the protagonist at the very start of *Final Fantasy 10*: a renowned Blitzball pro whose key technique is a unique shot that pushes a defender aside. The gameplay rules represent this in nuanced ways. This type of storytelling is widespread across the entire Final Fantasy offering, and some are not joyful stories. Some act as poignant callbacks of tragedies fans continue to reflect on years after.

"Emotional tales are a vital element of the Final Fantasy series," wrote a lead game designer on the set. "The team established some overarching principles, but in the end, it was largely on a card-by-card basis."

Even though the Zack Fair card isn't a top-tier card, it is one of the set's most elegant examples of storytelling via mechanics. It masterfully reflects one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most pivotal story moments with great effect, all while utilizing some of the set's core systems. And while it steers clear of spoiling anything, those who know the tale will instantly understand the significance within it.

The Card's Design: A Narrative in Play

At a cost of one mana of white (the alignment of heroes) in this collection, Zack Fair has a starting stat line of 0/1 but comes into play with a +1/+1 marker. By spending one generic mana, you can remove from play the card to bestow another creature you control protection from destruction and transfer all of Zack’s markers, along with an Equipment, onto that chosen creature.

This design portrays a scene FF fans are extremely remember, a moment that has been retold multiple times — in the first *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even alternate-timeline retellings in *FF7 Remake*. And yet it hits with equal force here, conveyed completely through card abilities. Zack makes the ultimate sacrifice to save Cloud, who then inherits the Buster Sword as his own.

A Spoiler for the Card

Some necessary history, and here is your *FF7* warning: Before the main events of the game, Zack and Cloud are left for dead after a confrontation with Sephiroth. Following extended testing, the pair manage to escape. The entire time, Cloud is delirious, but Zack vows to take care of his comrade. They finally reach the outskirts outside Midgar before Zack is gunned down by troops. Presumed dead, Cloud then takes up Zack’s Buster Sword and adopts the persona of a elite SOLDIER, which leads right into the start of *FF7*.

Playing Out the Moment on the Battlefield

On the tabletop, the rules in essence let you reenact this iconic scene. The Buster Sword is a a powerful piece of gear in the set that requires three mana and gives the wielding creature +3/+2. Therefore, using six mana, you can make Zack into a formidable 4/6 with the Buster Sword attached.

The Cloud Strife card also has clear interaction with the Buster Sword, enabling you to search your deck for an equipment card. When used in tandem, these three cards play out like this: You cast Zack, and he receives the +1/+1 counter. Then you play Cloud to fetch the Buster Sword out of your deck. Then you summon and give it to Zack.

Due to the design Zack’s key mechanic is worded, you can actually use it during combat, meaning you can “block” an attack and activate it to cancel out the attack entirely. This allows you to perform this action at any time, passing the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He subsequently becomes a powerful 6/4 that, each time he deals combat damage a player, lets you pull extra cards and cast two cards without paying their mana cost. This is just the kind of interaction meant when discussing “emotional resonance” — not revealing the scene, but letting the card design evoke the memory.

More Than the Obvious Combo

But the narrative here is deeply satisfying, and it extends past just this combo. 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 chosen creature, which then becomes a Mutant. This sort of hints that Zack’s starting +1/+1 token is, figuratively, the SOLDIER conditioning he underwent, which included genetic manipulation with Jenova cells. This is a subtle reference, but one that implicitly connects the entire SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter mechanic in the set.

Zack’s card avoids showing his death, or Cloud’s confusion, or the rain-soaked location where it concludes. It doesn't have to. *Magic* lets you recreate the legacy yourself. You make the ultimate play. You pass the legacy on. And for a fleeting moment, while playing a strategy game, you are reminded of why *Final Fantasy 7* continues to be the most beloved game in the saga to date.