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A major part of the allure within the Final Fantasy Universes Beyond set for *Magic: The Gathering* lies in the manner so many cards tell well-known stories. Cards like the Tidus, Blitzball Star card, which gives a snapshot of the hero at the very start of *Final Fantasy 10*: a celebrated professional athlete whose key technique is a fancy shot that pushes a defender out of the way. The gameplay rules represent this perfectly. Such flavor is found throughout the complete Final Fantasy set, and they aren't all joyful stories. A number act as poignant callbacks of sad moments fans still mull over years after.

"Moving narratives are a vital part of the Final Fantasy series," wrote a lead game designer on the project. "The team established some overarching principles, but ultimately, it was primarily on a case-by-case level."

While the Zack Fair card may not be a competitive powerhouse, it stands as one of the collection's most refined instances of storytelling via rules. It skillfully captures one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most important dramatic moments brilliantly, all while utilizing some of the product's key mechanics. And although it doesn't spoil anything, those acquainted with the story will immediately grasp the meaning within it.

How It Works: Story Through Gameplay

At a cost of one white mana (the hue of protagonists) in this set, Zack Fair has a base stat line of 0/1 but comes into play with a +1/+1 token. By paying one generic mana, you can remove from play the card to give another ally you control indestructible and put all of Zack’s bonuses, along with an Equipment, onto that chosen creature.

This card paints a moment FF fans are very know well, a moment that has been reimagined throughout the years — in the first *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even new versions in *FF7 Remake*. Yet it hits with equal force here, conveyed completely through gameplay mechanics. Zack gives his life to save Cloud, who then takes up the Buster Sword as his own.

The Story Behind the Scene

A bit of history, and here is your *FF7* spoiler alert: Years before the primary events of the game, Zack and Cloud are gravely wounded after a battle with Sephiroth. After years of testing, the duo manage to escape. The entire time, Cloud is delirious, but Zack ensures to protect his companion. They finally make it the plains outside Midgar before Zack is fatally wounded by troops. Abandoned, 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*.

Reenacting the Moment on the Tabletop

Through gameplay, the abilities effectively let you relive this entire sequence. The Buster Sword is featured as a powerful piece of armament in the set that costs three mana and provides 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, Midgar Mercenary also has intentional combo potential with the Buster Sword, letting you to find for an weapon card. Together, these pieces unfold in this way: You summon Zack, and he receives the +1/+1 counter. Then you play Cloud to retrieve the Buster Sword out of your deck. Then you summon and give it to Zack.

Owing to the manner Zack’s key mechanic is worded, you can potentially use it when blocking, meaning you can “block” an attack and activate it to prevent the damage entirely. This allows you to do this at any time, passing the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He is transformed into a strong 6/4 that, each time he strikes a player, lets you pull extra cards and play two spells at no cost. This is exactly the kind of moment alluded to when discussing “flavorful design” — not revealing the scene, but letting the card design make you remember.

More Than the Central Combo

However, the flavor here is incredibly rich, and it extends 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 target creature, which also becomes a Mutant. This kind of implies that Zack’s initial +1/+1 token is, figuratively, the SOLDIER treatment he underwent, which included modification with Jenova cells. This is a small nod, but one that implicitly connects the whole SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter theme in the set.

This design avoids showing his end, or Cloud’s trauma, or the stormy bluff where it all ends. It doesn't have to. *Magic* allows you to recreate the passing personally. You make the ultimate play. You hand over the legacy on. And for a fleeting moment, while engaged in a trading card game, you recall why *Final Fantasy 7* remains the most beloved game in the saga for many fans.