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A significant element of the charm found in the Final Fantasy Universes Beyond collection for *Magic: The Gathering* lies in the manner so many cards narrate familiar narratives. Cards like Tidus, Blitzball Star, which offers a snapshot of the protagonist at the outset of *Final Fantasy 10*: a wildly famous professional athlete whose secret weapon is a specialized shot that takes a defender out of the way. The gameplay rules reflect this in nuanced ways. This type of storytelling is widespread throughout the entire Final Fantasy set, and some are not lighthearted tales. Some serve as heartbreaking callbacks of tragedies fans continue to reflect on years after.

"Powerful narratives are a vital component of the Final Fantasy franchise," noted a lead designer for the collaboration. "The team established some general rules, but ultimately, it was primarily on a card-by-card level."

Though the Zack Fair may not be a tournament staple, it represents one of the set's most elegant examples of flavor by way of mechanics. It masterfully reflects one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most pivotal dramatic moments in spectacular fashion, all while utilizing some of the product's key gameplay elements. And while it avoids revealing anything, those familiar with the tale will quickly recognize the significance within it.

The Card's Design: Flavor in Rules

For one white mana (the hue of heroes) in this set, Zack Fair has a starting stat line of 0/1 but enters with a +1/+1 marker. For the cost of one generic mana, you can remove from play the card to give another creature you control indestructible and transfer all of Zack’s bonuses, along with an Equipment, onto that other creature.

These mechanics depicts a moment FF fans are very familiar with, a moment that has been retold throughout the years — in the original *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even reimagined retellings in *FF7 Remake*. But somehow it resonates with equal force here, expressed solely through rules text. Zack sacrifices himself to save Cloud, who then takes up the Buster Sword as his own.

The Story Behind the Moment

For context, and consider this your *FF7* warning: Years before the primary events of the game, Zack and Cloud are gravely wounded after a battle with Sephiroth. Following years of testing, the pair get away. The entire time, Cloud is delirious, but Zack makes sure to look after his friend. They finally reach the plains outside Midgar before Zack is gunned down by forces. Presumed dead, Cloud then takes up Zack’s Buster Sword and adopts the persona of a first-class SOLDIER, setting the stage for the start of *FF7*.

Reenacting the Legacy on the Battlefield

In a game, the card mechanics essentially let you relive this whole scene. The Buster Sword is a a top-tier piece of equipment in the collection that requires three mana and gives the equipped creature +3/+2. So, for a total of six mana, you can make Zack into a formidable 4/6 while the Buster Sword wielded.

The Cloud, Midgar Mercenary also has deliberate combo potential with the Buster Sword, letting you to search your deck for an weapon card. When used in tandem, these pieces unfold as follows: You summon Zack, and he receives the +1/+1 counter. Then you play Cloud to fetch the Buster Sword from your deck. Then you play and equip it to Zack.

Due to the way Zack’s signature action is worded, you can technically use it during combat, meaning you can “block” an assault and trigger it to cancel out the attack altogether. So you can perform this action at any time, passing the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He then becomes a powerful 6/4 that, whenever he deals combat damage a player, lets you draw two cards and cast two cards for free. This is exactly the kind of interaction meant when discussing “flavorful design” — not revealing the scene, but letting the gameplay evoke the memory.

More Than the Main Combo

However, the narrative here is oh-so-delicious, and it extends further than just Zack and Cloud. 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 additionally gains the type of a Mutant. This in a way suggests that Zack’s starting +1/+1 token is, symbolically, the SOLDIER treatment he received, which included genetic manipulation with Jenova cells. It's a small reference, but one that implicitly links the entire SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter mechanic in the expansion.

This design does not depict his end, or Cloud’s breakdown, or the rain-soaked location where it all ends. It does not need to. *Magic* enables you to recreate the passing personally. You make the ultimate play. You pass the sword on. And for a short instant, while enjoying a trading card game, you recall why *Final Fantasy 7* is still the most beloved game in the saga to date.