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A significant element of the appeal found in the *Final Fantasy* crossover collection for *Magic: The Gathering* comes from the fashion countless cards narrate iconic stories. Take for instance the Tidus, Blitzball Star card, which provides a snapshot of the character at the beginning of *Final Fantasy 10*: a wildly famous professional athlete whose signature move is a specialized shot that pushes a defender aside. The abilities reflect this perfectly. Such narrative is widespread throughout the complete Final Fantasy offering, and they aren't all fun and games. A number serve as heartbreaking callbacks of tragedies fans remember vividly decades later.

"Emotional stories are a central part of the Final Fantasy legacy," explained a senior designer for the project. "The team established some general rules, but ultimately, it was mostly on a case-by-case basis."

Though the Zack Fair card isn't a tournament staple, it stands as one of the set's most elegant examples of flavor through gameplay. It skillfully reflects one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most crucial cinematic moments brilliantly, all while capitalizing on some of the set's key mechanics. And although it doesn't spoil anything, those acquainted with the story will immediately grasp the significance behind it.

How It Works: A Narrative in Play

For one mana of white (the hue of protagonists) in this set, Zack Fair enters with a base power and toughness of 0/1 but comes into play with a +1/+1 token. For the cost of one colorless mana, you can sacrifice the card to bestow another creature you control protection from destruction and transfer all of Zack’s markers, as well as an gear, onto that target creature.

These mechanics paints a sequence FF fans are all too remember, a moment that has been retold again and again — in the classic *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even reimagined iterations in *FF7 Remake*. And yet it lands just as hard here, expressed solely through card abilities. Zack sacrifices himself to save Cloud, who then inherits the Buster Sword as his own.

The Story Behind the Scene

Some necessary context, and consider this your *FF7* spoiler alert: Before the primary events of the game, Zack and Cloud are gravely wounded after a battle with Sephiroth. Following years of imprisonment, the friends manage to escape. The entire time, Cloud is comatose, but Zack vows to look after his friend. They eventually reach the edge outside Midgar before Zack is killed by troops. Left behind, Cloud then takes up Zack’s Buster Sword and assumes the identity of a elite SOLDIER, which leads right into the start of *FF7*.

Simulating the Legacy on the Battlefield

On the tabletop, the abilities in essence let you relive this iconic scene. The Buster Sword is featured as a strong piece of gear in the collection that costs three mana and provides the equipped creature +3/+2. Therefore, using six mana, you can transform Zack into a formidable 4/6 while the Buster Sword attached.

The Cloud, Midgar Mercenary also has deliberate interaction with the Buster Sword, allowing you to look through your library for an equipment card. When used in tandem, these pieces function in this way: You summon Zack, and he gains 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.

Owing to the way Zack’s key mechanic is structured, you can actually use it when blocking, meaning you can “block” an attack and trigger it to prevent the damage entirely. So you can perform this action at a key moment, passing the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He subsequently becomes a strong 6/4 that, every time he does damage a player, lets you draw two cards and cast two spells at no cost. This is precisely the kind of interaction referred to when discussing “flavorful design” — not explaining the scene, but letting the card design evoke the memory.

Beyond the Central Combo

However, the flavor here is oh-so-delicious, and it extends beyond just this combo. The Jenova, Ancient Calamity appears in the set as a creature that, at the start of combat, places a number of +1/+1 counters on a chosen creature, which also becomes a Mutant. This sort of suggests that Zack’s initial +1/+1 token is, symbolically, the SOLDIER conditioning he received, which included modification with Jenova cells. It's a subtle reference, but one that subtly connects the entire SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter theme in the expansion.

This design does not depict his demise, or Cloud’s confusion, or the memorable location where it concludes. It isn't necessary. *Magic* enables you to reenact the moment personally. You choose the ultimate play. You hand over the sword on. And for a fleeting moment, while engaged in a card battle, you are reminded of why *Final Fantasy 7* remains the most beloved game in the series for many fans.