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A significant element of the charm found in the Final Fantasy Universes Beyond collection for *Magic: The Gathering* is the way countless cards depict iconic tales. Cards like Tidus, Blitzball Star, which provides a portrait of the character at the very start of *Final Fantasy 10*: a renowned Blitzball pro whose key technique is a fancy shot that knocks a defender out of the way. The abilities reflect this in nuanced ways. Such flavor is widespread throughout the complete Final Fantasy offering, and some are not joyful stories. Several act as poignant echoes of tragedies fans remember vividly to this day.

"Emotional stories are a key part of the Final Fantasy franchise," explained a lead designer for the collaboration. "We built some overarching principles, but in the end, it was primarily on a case-by-case basis."

Though the Zack Fair card isn't a competitive powerhouse, it is one of the release's most elegant instances of storytelling by way of gameplay. It skillfully reflects one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most crucial story moments in spectacular fashion, all while capitalizing on some of the product's central systems. And although it steers clear of spoiling anything, those acquainted with the story will instantly understand the significance embedded in it.

The Card's Design: A Narrative in Play

For one mana of white (the alignment of good) in this set, Zack Fair has a base power and toughness of 0/1 but enters with a +1/+1 token. By spending one colorless mana, you can remove from play the card to grant another unit you control protection from destruction and put all of Zack’s bonuses, along with an Equipment, onto that target creature.

This design portrays a moment FF fans are all too familiar with, a moment that has been retold again and again — in the classic *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even reimagined iterations in *FF7 Remake*. Yet it lands with equal force here, conveyed entirely through rules text. Zack sacrifices himself to save Cloud, who then inherits the Buster Sword as his own.

A Spoiler for the Scene

A bit of backstory, and take this as your *FF7* warning: Prior to the primary events of the game, Zack and Cloud are severely injured after a confrontation with Sephiroth. After years of imprisonment, the pair get away. The entire time, Cloud is comatose, but Zack vows to look after his comrade. They finally make it the outskirts outside Midgar before Zack is killed by troops. Presumed dead, Cloud subsequently grabs Zack’s Buster Sword and adopts the persona of a elite SOLDIER, leading directly into the start of *FF7*.

Simulating the Moment on the Tabletop

On the tabletop, the abilities effectively let you reenact this iconic sequence. The Buster Sword is a a top-tier piece of armament in the set that costs three mana and grants the wielding creature +3/+2. So, for a total of six mana, you can transform Zack into a respectable 4/6 while the Buster Sword attached.

The Cloud, Midgar Mercenary also has deliberate interaction with the Buster Sword, enabling you to find for an artifact card. In combination, these pieces unfold like this: You summon Zack, and he receives the +1/+1 counter. Then you cast Cloud to pull the Buster Sword from your deck. Then you play and equip it to Zack.

Because of the design Zack’s key mechanic is worded, you can potentially use it when blocking, meaning you can “intercept” an assault and trigger it to cancel out the damage completely. Therefore, you can do this at a key moment, passing the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He subsequently becomes a powerful 6/4 that, every time he strikes a player, lets you draw two cards and play two spells for free. This is exactly the kind of interaction referred to when discussing “flavorful design” — not revealing the scene, but letting the mechanics make you remember.

Extending Past the Central Interaction

And the flavor here is incredibly rich, and it reaches beyond 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 in a way hints that Zack’s starting +1/+1 token is, figuratively, the SOLDIER treatment he received, which included experimentation with Jenova cells. This is a small reference, but one that subtly links the whole SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter mechanic in the expansion.

Zack’s card does not depict his death, or Cloud’s breakdown, or the rain-soaked location where it all ends. It doesn't have to. *Magic* enables you to reenact the legacy personally. You choose the ultimate play. You hand over the weapon on. And for a short instant, while playing a trading card game, you are reminded of why *Final Fantasy 7* remains the most influential game in the franchise ever made.