🔗 Share this article

A major aspect of the allure within the *Final Fantasy* Universes Beyond collection for *Magic: The Gathering* lies in the way numerous cards narrate well-known stories. Consider the Tidus, Blitzball Star card, which gives a snapshot of the hero at the very start of *Final Fantasy 10*: a wildly famous professional athlete whose key technique is a specialized shot that pushes a defender out of the way. The card's mechanics reflect this in nuanced ways. This type of flavor is found in the whole Final Fantasy set, and not all fun and games. Several are heartbreaking callbacks of tragedies fans continue to reflect on years after.

"Powerful stories are a vital part of the Final Fantasy legacy," wrote a senior game designer on the set. "We built some general rules, but ultimately, it was largely on a individual level."

Even though the Zack Fair may not be a top-tier card, it stands as one of the collection's most clever examples of narrative design via rules. It artfully echoes one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most important dramatic moments brilliantly, all while leveraging some of the expansion's key systems. And while it doesn't spoil anything, those acquainted with the story will quickly recognize the significance within it.

How It Works: Flavor in Rules

At a cost of one mana of white (the alignment of protagonists) in this collection, Zack Fair has a base stat line of 0/1 but arrives with a +1/+1 token. By spending one colorless mana, you can remove from play the card to grant another unit you control indestructible and move all of Zack’s markers, along with an gear, onto that target creature.

This design paints a moment FF fans are very remember, a moment that has been revisited again and again — in the first *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even alternate-timeline retellings in *FF7 Remake*. And yet it lands powerfully here, expressed solely through card abilities. Zack makes the ultimate sacrifice to save Cloud, who then picks up the Buster Sword as his own.

The Context of the Card

A bit of context, and take this as your *FF7* warning: Prior to the primary events of the game, Zack and Cloud are gravely wounded after a battle with Sephiroth. Following years of experimentation, the duo break free. Throughout this period, Cloud is barely conscious, but Zack makes sure to look after his friend. They finally arrive at the edge outside Midgar before Zack is gunned down by forces. Left behind, Cloud in that moment claims Zack’s Buster Sword and assumes the role of a elite SOLDIER, leading directly into the start of *FF7*.

Playing Out the Legacy on the Battlefield

On the tabletop, the rules effectively let you recreate this iconic scene. The Buster Sword is a a strong piece of gear in the set that costs three mana and provides the equipped creature +3/+2. So, for a total of six mana, you can transform Zack into a formidable 4/6 with the Buster Sword equipped.

The Cloud, Midgar Mercenary also has intentional synergy with the Buster Sword, letting you to find for an artifact card. Together, these three cards play out in this way: You summon Zack, and he receives the +1/+1 counter. Then you summon Cloud to fetch the Buster Sword out of your deck. Then you cast and attach it to Zack.

Owing to the manner Zack’s signature action is structured, you can technically use it during combat, meaning you can “block” an assault and activate it to negate the attack completely. This allows you to make this play at a key moment, moving the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He is transformed into a strong 6/4 that, every time he strikes a player, lets you draw two cards and play two cards at no cost. This is exactly the kind of experience referred to when talking about “narrative impact” — not revealing the scene, but letting the gameplay trigger the recollection.

More Than the Central Synergy

But the narrative here is incredibly rich, and it goes further than just this combo. The Jenova card appears in the collection 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 hints that Zack’s starting +1/+1 token is, symbolically, the SOLDIER treatment he underwent, which included experimentation with Jenova cells. It's a subtle reference, but one that subtly ties the whole SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter mechanic in the expansion.

The card doesn't show his death, or Cloud’s confusion, or the memorable location where it all ends. It isn't necessary. *Magic* enables you to reenact the moment for yourself. You choose the sacrifice. You pass the legacy on. And for a fleeting moment, while playing a card battle, you recall why *Final Fantasy 7* is still the most influential game in the series for many fans.