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A core part of the charm within the Final Fantasy Universes Beyond release for *Magic: The Gathering* lies in the way countless cards depict familiar stories. Cards like Tidus, Blitzball Star, which provides a portrait of the protagonist at the outset of *Final Fantasy 10*: a renowned sports star whose signature move is a unique shot that knocks a defender out of the way. The card's mechanics mirror this with subtlety. This type of storytelling is widespread throughout the whole Final Fantasy set, and they aren't all lighthearted tales. Some act as heartbreaking reminders of sad moments fans still mull over years after.

"Emotional narratives are a vital part of the Final Fantasy series," wrote a senior game designer on the project. "We built some general rules, but finally, it was mostly on a individual basis."

While the Zack Fair isn't a top-tier card, it represents one of the release's most clever pieces of storytelling via rules. It artfully reflects one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most pivotal dramatic moments with great effect, all while leveraging some of the set's central mechanics. And even if it steers clear of spoiling anything, those familiar with the tale will immediately grasp the meaning embedded in it.

How It Works: A Narrative in Play

At a cost of one white mana (the color of heroes) in this set, Zack Fair has a base stat line of 0/1 but comes into play with a +1/+1 marker. For the cost of one colorless mana, you can remove from play the card to give another unit you control protection from destruction and put all of Zack’s counters, as well as an artifact weapon, onto that other creature.

These mechanics paints a scene FF fans are extremely familiar with, a moment that has been reimagined again and again — in the first *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even new iterations in *FF7 Remake*. And yet it lands with equal force here, expressed completely through rules text. Zack sacrifices himself to save Cloud, who then inherits the Buster Sword as his own.

The Context of the Scene

Some necessary context, and consider this your *FF7* warning: Years before the primary events of the game, Zack and Cloud are left for dead after a confrontation with Sephiroth. After extended testing, the friends get away. Throughout this period, Cloud is comatose, but Zack vows to protect his comrade. They eventually arrive at the edge outside Midgar before Zack is fatally wounded by forces. Presumed dead, Cloud subsequently grabs Zack’s Buster Sword and adopts the identity of a elite SOLDIER, setting the stage for the start of *FF7*.

Simulating the Moment on the Game Board

Through gameplay, the abilities effectively let you reenact this whole scene. The Buster Sword is featured as a top-tier piece of equipment in the collection that costs three mana and gives the equipped creature +3/+2. So, for a total of six mana, you can transform Zack into a respectable 4/6 with the Buster Sword attached.

The Cloud, Midgar Mercenary also has clear interaction with the Buster Sword, allowing you to search your deck for an equipment card. In combination, these three cards play out like this: You cast Zack, and he gains the +1/+1 counter. Then you cast Cloud to pull the Buster Sword out of your deck. Then you cast and attach it to Zack.

Because of the way Zack’s sacrifice ability is worded, you can technically use it when blocking, meaning you can “intercept” an attack and activate it to cancel out the attack completely. Therefore, you can do this at a key moment, passing the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He is transformed into a strong 6/4 that, each time he strikes a player, lets you gain card advantage and cast two spells for free. This is exactly the kind of moment alluded to when talking about “narrative impact” — not spoiling the scene, but letting the gameplay make you remember.

Beyond the Central Combo

However, the narrative here is deeply satisfying, and it extends beyond just Zack and Cloud. The Jenova card 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 then becomes a Mutant. This kind of implies that Zack’s initial +1/+1 token is, symbolically, the SOLDIER conditioning he underwent, which included experimentation with Jenova cells. This is a small reference, but one that subtly connects the entire SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter mechanic in the expansion.

This design does not depict his demise, or Cloud’s breakdown, or the stormy location where it happens. It does not need to. *Magic* allows you to relive the legacy personally. You make the sacrifice. You pass the weapon on. And for a brief second, while enjoying a trading card game, you recall why *Final Fantasy 7* continues to be the most influential game in the series for many fans.