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A core element of the allure within the Final Fantasy crossover set for *Magic: The Gathering* lies in the way countless cards narrate iconic stories. Take for instance the Tidus, Blitzball Star card, which offers a portrait of the protagonist at the beginning of *Final Fantasy 10*: a wildly famous Blitzball pro whose key technique is a unique shot that pushes a defender out of the way. The abilities mirror this in nuanced ways. This type of flavor is prevalent in the whole Final Fantasy offering, and not all fun and games. Several act as poignant reminders of tragedies fans continue to reflect on decades later.

"Moving tales are a vital part of the Final Fantasy series," wrote a senior game designer involved with the collaboration. "We built some general rules, but in the end, it was mostly on a individual basis."

Though the Zack Fair card is not a top-tier card, it is one of the collection's most elegant examples of storytelling through rules. It skillfully captures one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most important story moments brilliantly, all while capitalizing on some of the expansion's central systems. And although it steers clear of spoiling anything, those familiar with the tale will immediately grasp the meaning behind it.

How It Works: A Narrative in Play

At a cost of one white mana (the hue of heroes) in this set, Zack Fair has a starting power and toughness of 0/1 but arrives with a +1/+1 token. By spending one colorless mana, you can destroy the card to give another creature you control protection from destruction and transfer all of Zack’s markers, as well as an Equipment, onto that other creature.

This design depicts a moment FF fans are extremely familiar with, a moment that has been retold multiple times — in the first *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even reimagined retellings in *FF7 Remake*. And yet it lands powerfully here, expressed completely through card abilities. Zack sacrifices himself to save Cloud, who then takes up the Buster Sword as his own.

The Story Behind the Scene

A bit of context, and take this as your *FF7* spoiler alert: Before the primary events of the game, Zack and Cloud are left for dead after a clash with Sephiroth. Following extended testing, the duo get away. The entire time, Cloud is comatose, but Zack vows to look after his friend. They eventually arrive at the outskirts outside Midgar before Zack is fatally wounded by troops. Abandoned, Cloud in that moment claims Zack’s Buster Sword and assumes the role of a elite SOLDIER, which leads right into the start of *FF7*.

Playing Out the Legacy on the Battlefield

Through gameplay, the abilities effectively let you reenact this whole sequence. The Buster Sword appears as a powerful piece of equipment in the set that requires three mana and grants the equipped creature +3/+2. So, for a total of six mana, you can turn Zack into a solid 4/6 with the Buster Sword attached.

The Cloud, Midgar Mercenary also has intentional combo potential with the Buster Sword, enabling you to search your deck for an artifact card. When used in tandem, these three cards unfold in this way: You summon Zack, and he gets the +1/+1 counter. Then you play Cloud to pull the Buster Sword from your deck. Then you cast and attach it to Zack.

Due to the manner Zack’s key mechanic is worded, you can actually use it in the middle of battle, meaning you can “intercept” an attack and trigger it to prevent the damage completely. So you can do this at any time, transferring the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He is transformed into a strong 6/4 that, each time he does damage a player, lets you gain card advantage and cast two spells for free. This is just the kind of interaction alluded to when talking about “flavorful design” — not spoiling the scene, but letting the mechanics make you remember.

More Than the Central Combo

However, the narrative here is oh-so-delicious, and it extends beyond just this combo. The Jenova, Ancient Calamity appears in the collection as a creature that, at the start of combat, places a number of +1/+1 counters on a target creature, which also becomes a Mutant. This kind of hints that Zack’s starting +1/+1 token is, symbolically, the SOLDIER enhancement he underwent, which included modification with Jenova cells. This is a tiny nod, but one that implicitly ties the entire SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter theme in the expansion.

The card does not depict his demise, or Cloud’s trauma, or the memorable location where it happens. It isn't necessary. *Magic* allows you to recreate the moment personally. You make the ultimate play. You transfer the weapon on. And for a short instant, while playing a card battle, you remember why *Final Fantasy 7* remains the most influential game in the franchise for many fans.