Zack Fair Proves That Magic: The Gathering's Universes Beyond Are Capable of Telling Meaningful Narratives.

A significant element of the charm of the Final Fantasy Universes Beyond set for *Magic: The Gathering* is the manner so many cards narrate well-known tales. Cards like the Tidus, Blitzball Star card, which offers a glimpse of the protagonist at the outset of *Final Fantasy 10*: a wildly famous Blitzball pro whose key technique is a specialized shot that knocks a defender aside. The abilities mirror this with subtlety. Such flavor is found in the entire Final Fantasy set, and not all joyful stories. Several act as heartbreaking reminders of sad moments fans still mull over decades later.

"Powerful stories are a vital element of the Final Fantasy franchise," noted a lead game designer involved with the set. "The team established some overarching principles, but finally, it was largely on a card-by-card basis."

Even though the Zack Fair card may not be a top-tier card, it stands as one of the set's most elegant pieces of storytelling by way of mechanics. It skillfully reflects one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most crucial dramatic moments in spectacular fashion, all while capitalizing on some of the set's core systems. And although it avoids revealing anything, those acquainted with the tale will quickly recognize the meaning embedded in it.

How It Works: Flavor in Rules

For one mana of white (the alignment of good) in this collection, Zack Fair has a base power and toughness of 0/1 but arrives with a +1/+1 marker. By spending one colorless mana, you can remove from play the card to give another creature you control protection from destruction and move all of Zack’s bonuses, plus an artifact weapon, onto that chosen creature.

This design paints a scene FF fans are all too know well, a moment that has been reimagined throughout the years — in the original *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even reimagined retellings in *FF7 Remake*. And yet it lands with equal force here, expressed completely through rules text. Zack makes the ultimate sacrifice to save Cloud, who then picks up the Buster Sword as his own.

A Spoiler for the Scene

A bit of history, and here is your *FF7* warning: Before the main events of the game, Zack and Cloud are gravely wounded after a battle with Sephiroth. Following extended experimentation, the pair get away. During their ordeal, Cloud is comatose, but Zack makes sure to look after his friend. They finally reach the outskirts outside Midgar before Zack is fatally wounded by forces. Presumed dead, Cloud in that moment claims Zack’s Buster Sword and adopts the role of a elite SOLDIER, leading directly into the start of *FF7*.

Playing Out the Passing of the Torch on the Tabletop

Through gameplay, the card mechanics essentially let you recreate this entire event. The Buster Sword is featured as a powerful piece of armament in the set that requires three mana and gives the wielding creature +3/+2. Therefore, using six mana, you can make Zack into a respectable 4/6 while the Buster Sword wielded.

The Cloud Strife card also has intentional synergy with the Buster Sword, enabling you to search your deck for an artifact card. Together, these pieces function like this: You summon Zack, and he receives the +1/+1 counter. Then you play Cloud to retrieve the Buster Sword out of your deck. Then you cast and attach it to Zack.

Due to the manner Zack’s sacrifice ability is designed, you can actually use it during combat, meaning you can “block” an attack and activate it to prevent the attack altogether. Therefore, you can perform this action at any time, passing the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He subsequently becomes a powerful 6/4 that, every time he does damage a player, lets you draw two cards and play two spells at no cost. This is precisely the kind of moment referred to when talking about “flavorful design” — not spoiling the scene, but letting the card design evoke the memory.

Beyond the Main Combo

But the thematic here is oh-so-delicious, and it goes further than just this combo. 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 also becomes a Mutant. This kind of implies that Zack’s initial +1/+1 token is, figuratively, the SOLDIER treatment he received, which included modification with Jenova cells. This is a tiny connection, but one that implicitly connects the whole SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter ecosystem in the set.

The card does not depict his demise, or Cloud’s trauma, or the memorable cliff where it happens. It doesn't have to. *Magic* lets you recreate the legacy for yourself. You perform the ultimate play. You pass the sword on. And for a brief second, while playing a trading card game, you recall why *Final Fantasy 7* remains the most beloved game in the saga to date.