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A core part of the allure found in the *Final Fantasy* Universes Beyond set for *Magic: The Gathering* is the fashion countless cards narrate familiar narratives. Take for instance Tidus, Blitzball Star, which offers a glimpse of the hero at the beginning of *Final Fantasy 10*: a celebrated professional athlete whose signature move is a unique shot that takes a defender aside. The abilities reflect this with subtlety. Such storytelling is found across the complete Final Fantasy set, and some are not fun and games. A number serve as somber echoes of sad moments fans still mull over to this day.

"Emotional narratives are a vital element of the Final Fantasy legacy," explained a principal designer for the collaboration. "They created some overarching principles, but in the end, it was largely on a individual level."

Though the Zack Fair isn't a tournament staple, it represents one of the collection's most elegant pieces of storytelling via rules. It skillfully captures one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most important dramatic moments in spectacular fashion, all while utilizing some of the expansion's central mechanics. And even if it doesn't spoil anything, those who know the tale will immediately grasp the significance behind it.

The Mechanics: Flavor in Rules

For one white mana (the alignment of protagonists) in this set, Zack Fair has a base stat line of 0/1 but comes into play with a +1/+1 token. By paying one generic mana, you can remove from play the card to give another creature you control protection from destruction and move all of Zack’s counters, plus an artifact weapon, onto that target creature.

This design depicts a scene FF fans are all too know well, a moment that has been revisited again and again — in the original *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even reimagined iterations in *FF7 Remake*. And yet it hits just as hard here, conveyed solely through gameplay mechanics. Zack makes the ultimate sacrifice to save Cloud, who then takes up the Buster Sword as his own.

The Story Behind the Card

A bit of backstory, and take this as your *FF7* spoiler alert: Before the main events of the game, Zack and Cloud are severely injured after a confrontation with Sephiroth. After years of testing, the pair manage to escape. During their ordeal, Cloud is barely conscious, but Zack vows to take care of his companion. They finally arrive at the outskirts outside Midgar before Zack is gunned down by Shinra soldiers. Abandoned, Cloud then takes up Zack’s Buster Sword and takes on the role of a elite SOLDIER, setting the stage for the start of *FF7*.

Simulating the Legacy on the Game Board

On the tabletop, the abilities essentially let you relive this iconic sequence. The Buster Sword appears as a top-tier piece of gear in the set that costs three mana and provides the wielding creature +3/+2. Therefore, using six mana, you can turn Zack into a respectable 4/6 with the Buster Sword attached.

The Cloud Strife card also has clear interaction with the Buster Sword, allowing you to look through your library for an weapon card. When used in tandem, these pieces function as follows: You summon Zack, and he gains the +1/+1 counter. Then you play Cloud to pull the Buster Sword from your deck. Then you summon and give it to Zack.

Owing to the manner Zack’s key mechanic is structured, you can actually use it when blocking, meaning you can “block” an attack and activate it to negate the attack altogether. This allows you to make this play at a key moment, moving the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He subsequently becomes a strong 6/4 that, each time he deals combat damage a player, lets you gain card advantage and cast two cards without paying their mana cost. This is precisely the kind of experience referred to when discussing “emotional resonance” — not revealing the scene, but letting the gameplay make you remember.

Beyond the Central Interaction

But the thematic here is incredibly rich, and it extends past just these cards. The Jenova card is part of the collection as a creature that, at the start of combat, puts a number of +1/+1 counters on a chosen creature, which also becomes a Mutant. This in a way hints that Zack’s initial +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 theme in the expansion.

Zack’s card avoids showing his demise, or Cloud’s breakdown, or the stormy location where it happens. It does not need to. *Magic* lets you recreate the legacy for yourself. You make the ultimate play. You pass the sword on. And for a short instant, while playing a card battle, you remember why *Final Fantasy 7* continues to be the most beloved game in the series for many fans.