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A major aspect of the charm within the *Final Fantasy* Universes Beyond set for *Magic: The Gathering* lies in the manner so many cards depict well-known stories. Cards like the Tidus, Blitzball Star card, which provides a glimpse of the character at the very start of *Final Fantasy 10*: a renowned Blitzball pro whose signature move is a unique shot that knocks a defender out of the way. The abilities reflect this in nuanced ways. These kinds of flavor is found across the entire Final Fantasy set, and not all lighthearted tales. A number serve as somber callbacks of emotional events fans remember vividly years after.

"Powerful tales are a vital component of the Final Fantasy series," wrote a lead game designer on the project. "They created some general rules, but finally, it was mostly on a individual level."

Though the Zack Fair card may not be a competitive powerhouse, it stands as one of the release's most elegant pieces of flavor by way of mechanics. It skillfully echoes one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most crucial dramatic moments with great effect, all while capitalizing on some of the product's key mechanics. And while it steers clear of spoiling anything, those familiar with the tale will immediately grasp the significance within it.

How It Works: A Narrative in Play

At a cost of one mana of white (the hue of heroes) in this set, Zack Fair has a base stat line of 0/1 but arrives with a +1/+1 marker. For the cost of one colorless mana, you can remove from play the card to bestow another creature you control protection from destruction and transfer all of Zack’s counters, along with an gear, onto that other creature.

This card depicts a scene FF fans are all too know well, a moment that has been retold again and again — in the classic *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even reimagined versions in *FF7 Remake*. And yet it lands powerfully here, conveyed solely through gameplay mechanics. Zack makes the ultimate sacrifice to save Cloud, who then picks up the Buster Sword as his own.

The Story Behind the Scene

Some necessary context, and take this as your *FF7* warning: Years before the main events of the game, Zack and Cloud are gravely wounded after a confrontation with Sephiroth. After extended testing, the duo get away. The entire time, Cloud is delirious, but Zack makes sure to take care of his comrade. They eventually arrive at the edge outside Midgar before Zack is fatally wounded by Shinra soldiers. Left behind, Cloud in that moment claims Zack’s Buster Sword and takes on the role of a first-class SOLDIER, which leads right into the start of *FF7*.

Simulating the Moment on the Game Board

On the tabletop, the card mechanics in essence let you recreate this entire scene. The Buster Sword is featured as a strong piece of gear in the collection that costs three mana and gives the wielding creature +3/+2. Thus, with an investment of six mana, you can turn Zack into a respectable 4/6 while the Buster Sword wielded.

The Cloud Strife card also has deliberate synergy with the Buster Sword, allowing you to find for an artifact card. In combination, these three cards unfold like this: You summon Zack, and he gains the +1/+1 counter. Then you cast Cloud to fetch the Buster Sword from your deck. Then you play and equip it to Zack.

Because of the manner Zack’s sacrifice ability is designed, you can technically use it in the middle of battle, meaning you can “block” an assault and trigger it to negate the attack entirely. This allows you to perform this action at a key moment, transferring the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He then becomes a powerful 6/4 that, every time he deals combat damage a player, lets you draw two cards and cast two spells for free. This is exactly the kind of interaction referred to when discussing “flavorful design” — not spoiling the scene, but letting the card design trigger the recollection.

More Than the Main Combo

But the flavor here is deeply satisfying, and it reaches past just these cards. The Jenova card is part of the collection as a creature that, at the start of combat, places a number of +1/+1 counters on a target creature, which then becomes a Mutant. This kind of implies that Zack’s starting +1/+1 token is, figuratively, the SOLDIER enhancement he received, which included modification with Jenova cells. This is a tiny connection, but one that subtly links the whole SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter ecosystem in the set.

The card does not depict his death, or Cloud’s trauma, or the stormy cliff where it all ends. It doesn't have to. *Magic* enables you to reenact the moment yourself. You choose the sacrifice. You transfer the legacy on. And for a short instant, while playing a card battle, you are reminded of why *Final Fantasy 7* remains the most impactful game in the series for many fans.