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A major aspect of the charm found in the *Final Fantasy* Universes Beyond set for *Magic: The Gathering* is the way so many cards tell familiar tales. Cards like the Tidus, Blitzball Star card, which provides a portrait of the protagonist at the outset of *Final Fantasy 10*: a renowned sports star whose key technique is a fancy shot that pushes a defender aside. The gameplay rules mirror this with subtlety. These kinds of storytelling is prevalent across the complete Final Fantasy set, and not all fun and games. Some act as somber echoes of tragedies fans continue to reflect on years after.

"Powerful narratives are a vital component of the Final Fantasy series," noted a senior game designer on the set. "We built some overarching principles, but ultimately, it was primarily on a case-by-case level."

Even though the Zack Fair isn't a tournament staple, it is one of the release's most clever examples of narrative design through gameplay. It artfully captures one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most crucial story moments brilliantly, all while utilizing some of the product's core systems. And although it avoids revealing anything, those acquainted with the story will immediately grasp the emotional weight embedded in it.

The Card's Design: A Narrative in Play

For one mana of white (the color of good) in this set, Zack Fair has a base power and toughness of 0/1 but arrives with a +1/+1 marker. For the cost of one generic mana, you can sacrifice the card to give another unit you control protection from destruction and move all of Zack’s bonuses, as well as an gear, onto that target creature.

This card paints a scene FF fans are extremely know well, a moment that has been retold again and again — in the classic *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even alternate-timeline versions in *FF7 Remake*. And yet it resonates just as hard here, communicated solely through card abilities. Zack sacrifices himself to save Cloud, who then inherits the Buster Sword as his own.

A Spoiler for the Scene

Some necessary history, and consider this your *FF7* spoiler alert: Before the main events of the game, Zack and Cloud are left for dead after a clash with Sephiroth. After extended imprisonment, the friends break free. During their ordeal, Cloud is delirious, but Zack vows to take care of his comrade. They eventually reach the plains outside Midgar before Zack is killed by forces. Left behind, Cloud subsequently grabs Zack’s Buster Sword and adopts the identity of a elite SOLDIER, setting the stage for the start of *FF7*.

Reenacting the Moment on the Game Board

On the tabletop, the rules in essence let you relive this entire scene. The Buster Sword is a a top-tier piece of gear in the set that costs three mana and provides the equipped creature +3/+2. Therefore, using six mana, you can transform Zack into a solid 4/6 with the Buster Sword attached.

The Cloud, Midgar Mercenary also has clear synergy with the Buster Sword, enabling you to find for an artifact card. When used in tandem, these three cards function as follows: You summon Zack, and he gets the +1/+1 counter. Then you play Cloud to retrieve the Buster Sword from your deck. Then you cast and attach it to Zack.

Owing to the way Zack’s signature action is worded, you can actually use it in the middle of battle, meaning you can “block” an assault and activate it to prevent the attack entirely. This allows you to make this play at a key moment, passing the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He is transformed into a powerful 6/4 that, whenever he does damage a player, lets you pull extra cards and play two cards without paying their mana cost. This is precisely the kind of interaction alluded to when discussing “emotional resonance” — not spoiling the scene, but letting the card design make you remember.

Beyond the Obvious Combo

However, the thematic here is incredibly rich, and it reaches further than just these cards. The Jenova, Ancient Calamity appears in the set 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 sort of suggests that Zack’s starting +1/+1 token is, in a way, the SOLDIER conditioning he received, which included experimentation with Jenova cells. This is a subtle reference, but one that implicitly links the entire SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter theme in the expansion.

This design avoids showing his end, or Cloud’s confusion, or the rain-soaked location where it all ends. It doesn't have to. *Magic* allows you to recreate the legacy for yourself. You perform the ultimate play. You pass the weapon on. And for a fleeting moment, while enjoying a card battle, you recall why *Final Fantasy 7* continues to be the most impactful game in the series to date.