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A core aspect of the allure of the Final Fantasy crossover collection for *Magic: The Gathering* comes from the way so many cards narrate familiar stories. Take for instance the Tidus, Blitzball Star card, which gives a snapshot of the protagonist at the outset of *Final Fantasy 10*: a wildly famous sports star whose signature move is a fancy shot that takes a defender aside. The abilities represent this with subtlety. This type of storytelling is prevalent across the entire Final Fantasy set, and they aren't all fun and games. Some act as poignant callbacks of sad moments fans remember vividly to this day.

"Powerful tales are a central element of the Final Fantasy franchise," explained a principal game designer on the collaboration. "The team established some broad guidelines, but finally, it was primarily on a card-by-card level."

Though the Zack Fair card is not a tournament staple, it is one of the release's most clever instances of storytelling by way of rules. It skillfully echoes one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most crucial dramatic moments with great effect, all while capitalizing on some of the product's central gameplay elements. And while it doesn't spoil anything, those familiar with the story will instantly understand the emotional weight behind it.

How It Works: Story Through Gameplay

At a cost of one mana of white (the hue of heroes) in this set, Zack Fair enters with a starting stat line of 0/1 but enters with a +1/+1 marker. For the cost of one generic mana, you can destroy the card to give another creature you control protection from destruction and transfer all of Zack’s counters, as well as an artifact weapon, onto that other creature.

These mechanics depicts a moment FF fans are extremely familiar with, a moment that has been retold throughout the years — in the classic *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even alternate-timeline iterations in *FF7 Remake*. But somehow it resonates with equal force here, conveyed solely through card abilities. Zack gives his life to save Cloud, who then inherits the Buster Sword as his own.

A Spoiler for the Moment

A bit of context, and consider this your *FF7* warning: Before the main events of the game, Zack and Cloud are gravely wounded after a clash with Sephiroth. Following extended imprisonment, the duo manage to escape. During their ordeal, Cloud is comatose, but Zack vows to look after his companion. They eventually make it the outskirts outside Midgar before Zack is gunned down by troops. Left behind, Cloud subsequently grabs Zack’s Buster Sword and takes on the role of a elite SOLDIER, leading directly into the start of *FF7*.

Reenacting the Moment on the Battlefield

On the tabletop, the abilities effectively let you reenact this entire event. The Buster Sword appears as a top-tier piece of gear in the collection that costs three mana and grants the wielding creature +3/+2. So, for a total of six mana, you can turn Zack into a solid 4/6 while the Buster Sword equipped.

The Cloud, Midgar Mercenary also has clear synergy with the Buster Sword, letting you to look through your library for an weapon card. Together, these three cards function as follows: You cast Zack, and he gets the +1/+1 counter. Then you play Cloud to pull the Buster Sword out of your deck. Then you summon and give it to Zack.

Due to the way Zack’s signature action is structured, you can potentially use it during combat, meaning you can “block” an assault and trigger it to prevent the attack entirely. So you can perform this action at any time, transferring the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He is transformed into a formidable 6/4 that, each time he does damage a player, lets you draw two cards and cast two cards for free. This is exactly the kind of interaction alluded to when talking about “narrative impact” — not spoiling the scene, but letting the gameplay evoke the memory.

Beyond the Central Combo

However, the thematic here is incredibly rich, and it goes 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 kind of suggests that Zack’s starting +1/+1 token is, symbolically, the SOLDIER conditioning he received, which included modification with Jenova cells. This is a subtle nod, but one that subtly connects the whole SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter ecosystem in the expansion.

This design does not depict his demise, or Cloud’s breakdown, or the memorable cliff where it happens. It isn't necessary. *Magic* lets you reenact the legacy personally. You choose the sacrifice. You hand over the weapon on. And for a fleeting moment, while engaged in a strategy game, you are reminded of why *Final Fantasy 7* is still the most beloved game in the series to date.