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A core aspect of the appeal within the Final Fantasy crossover collection for *Magic: The Gathering* comes from the manner numerous cards tell familiar stories. Cards like the Tidus, Blitzball Star card, which gives a glimpse of the hero at the outset of *Final Fantasy 10*: a celebrated Blitzball pro whose signature move is a fancy shot that takes a defender aside. The gameplay rules mirror this perfectly. These kinds of narrative is prevalent across the complete Final Fantasy offering, and some are not lighthearted tales. A number serve as poignant callbacks of sad moments fans remember vividly to this day.

"Powerful narratives are a vital element of the Final Fantasy series," noted a senior designer on the collaboration. "The team established some general rules, but finally, it was mostly on a card-by-card basis."

While the Zack Fair card isn't a competitive powerhouse, it stands as one of the set's most elegant examples of flavor by way of mechanics. It skillfully captures one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most important dramatic moments brilliantly, all while utilizing some of the set's key mechanics. And even if it steers clear of spoiling anything, those acquainted with the saga will instantly understand the significance behind it.

How It Works: A Narrative in Play

For one mana of white (the alignment of heroes) in this collection, Zack Fair enters with a starting stat line of 0/1 but comes into play with a +1/+1 counter. By spending one generic mana, you can remove from play the card to give another ally you control indestructible and move all of Zack’s counters, along with an Equipment, onto that target creature.

This card depicts a moment FF fans are extremely know well, a moment that has been revisited multiple times — in the classic *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even new retellings in *FF7 Remake*. But somehow it resonates with equal force here, conveyed completely through gameplay mechanics. Zack sacrifices himself to save Cloud, who then inherits the Buster Sword as his own.

A Spoiler for the Scene

For history, and consider this your *FF7* spoiler alert: Prior to the primary events of the game, Zack and Cloud are severely injured after a clash with Sephiroth. Following extended imprisonment, the duo break free. Throughout this period, Cloud is barely conscious, but Zack makes sure to look after his friend. They eventually reach the edge outside Midgar before Zack is gunned down by forces. Left behind, Cloud subsequently grabs Zack’s Buster Sword and adopts the role of a elite SOLDIER, which leads right into the start of *FF7*.

Simulating the Moment on the Tabletop

Through gameplay, the rules in essence let you reenact this iconic event. The Buster Sword is a a strong piece of gear in the collection that costs three mana and gives the equipped creature +3/+2. Thus, with an investment of six mana, you can turn Zack into a solid 4/6 with the Buster Sword equipped.

The Cloud Strife card also has clear combo potential with the Buster Sword, allowing you to search your deck for an equipment card. When used in tandem, these three cards function as follows: You play Zack, and he gains the +1/+1 counter. Then you cast Cloud to fetch the Buster Sword from your deck. Then you play and equip it to Zack.

Due to the design Zack’s signature action is worded, you can potentially use it when blocking, meaning you can “block” an assault and activate it to cancel out the attack entirely. Therefore, you can perform this action at any time, passing the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He is transformed into a powerful 6/4 that, every time he does damage a player, lets you gain card advantage and play two cards at no cost. This is just the kind of moment alluded to when discussing “flavorful design” — not revealing the scene, but letting the gameplay evoke the memory.

Extending Past the Obvious Interaction

And the narrative here is oh-so-delicious, and it goes beyond just this combo. The Jenova, Ancient Calamity is part of the collection as a creature that, at the start of combat, places a number of +1/+1 counters on a target creature, which additionally gains the type of a Mutant. This sort of suggests that Zack’s starting +1/+1 token is, figuratively, the SOLDIER conditioning he received, which included modification with Jenova cells. It's a tiny nod, but one that subtly links the entire SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter theme in the expansion.

The card avoids showing his end, or Cloud’s trauma, or the memorable cliff where it happens. It isn't necessary. *Magic* lets you reenact the legacy yourself. You choose 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* continues to be the most impactful game in the franchise ever made.