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A major aspect of the charm of the *Final Fantasy* crossover collection for *Magic: The Gathering* lies in the way numerous cards depict familiar narratives. Take for instance Tidus, Blitzball Star, which gives a portrait of the hero at the very start of *Final Fantasy 10*: a celebrated sports star whose key technique is a fancy shot that knocks a defender out of the way. The abilities mirror this in nuanced ways. These kinds of flavor is prevalent in the whole Final Fantasy offering, and some are not joyful stories. Some are heartbreaking echoes of tragedies fans continue to reflect on decades later.

"Moving narratives are a vital component of the Final Fantasy series," noted a lead designer on the project. "They created some general rules, but finally, it was largely on a individual level."

While the Zack Fair card isn't a tournament staple, it is one of the collection's most refined instances of flavor via gameplay. It skillfully reflects one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most crucial story moments brilliantly, all while capitalizing on some of the set's core systems. And although it avoids revealing anything, those familiar with the story will immediately grasp the emotional weight within it.

How It Works: A Narrative in Play

For one mana of white (the hue of protagonists) in this set, Zack Fair has a base power and toughness of 0/1 but arrives with a +1/+1 token. For the cost of one generic mana, you can sacrifice the card to give another creature you control protection from destruction and transfer all of Zack’s counters, as well as an Equipment, onto that other creature.

These mechanics portrays a scene FF fans are very know well, a moment that has been retold multiple times — in the original *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even reimagined retellings in *FF7 Remake*. And yet it resonates powerfully here, expressed completely through card abilities. Zack makes the ultimate sacrifice to save Cloud, who then inherits the Buster Sword as his own.

The Story Behind the Moment

A bit of backstory, and consider this your *FF7* warning: Years before the primary events of the game, Zack and Cloud are gravely wounded after a confrontation with Sephiroth. After extended imprisonment, the friends manage to escape. The entire time, Cloud is comatose, but Zack vows to look after his friend. They finally reach the plains outside Midgar before Zack is gunned down by troops. Left behind, Cloud then takes up Zack’s Buster Sword and assumes the identity of a elite SOLDIER, which leads right into the start of *FF7*.

Reenacting the Legacy on the Tabletop

In a game, the rules essentially let you reenact this iconic scene. The Buster Sword is featured as a top-tier piece of equipment in the collection that costs three mana and grants the wielding creature +3/+2. So, for a total of six mana, you can turn Zack into a formidable 4/6 with the Buster Sword wielded.

The Cloud Strife card also has deliberate combo potential with the Buster Sword, letting you to find for an equipment card. In combination, these three cards play out in this way: You cast Zack, and he gains the +1/+1 counter. Then you play Cloud to fetch the Buster Sword out of your deck. Then you play and equip it to Zack.

Owing to the manner Zack’s signature action is structured, you can technically use it during combat, meaning you can “intercept” an attack and trigger it to negate the damage completely. Therefore, you can do this at a key moment, passing the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He then becomes a strong 6/4 that, whenever he does damage a player, lets you pull extra cards and play two cards for free. This is just the kind of experience alluded to when discussing “emotional resonance” — not spoiling the scene, but letting the mechanics evoke the memory.

Beyond the Main Synergy

However, the narrative here is oh-so-delicious, and it reaches beyond just Zack and Cloud. The Jenova, Ancient Calamity is part of the set 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 implies that Zack’s initial +1/+1 token is, symbolically, the SOLDIER treatment he received, which included experimentation with Jenova cells. This is a small reference, but one that implicitly connects the entire SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter mechanic in the set.

The card doesn't show his end, or Cloud’s confusion, or the rain-soaked location where it concludes. It isn't necessary. *Magic* allows you to recreate the moment for yourself. You make the ultimate play. You hand over the sword on. And for a fleeting moment, while engaged in a trading card game, you remember why *Final Fantasy 7* is still the most influential game in the saga ever made.