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A core part of the charm found in the Final Fantasy crossover set for *Magic: The Gathering* is the fashion countless cards tell iconic stories. Consider Tidus, Blitzball Star, which provides a glimpse of the hero at the beginning of *Final Fantasy 10*: a renowned professional athlete whose signature move is a unique shot that knocks a defender out of the way. The card's mechanics mirror this perfectly. Such storytelling is prevalent throughout the entire Final Fantasy offering, and they aren't all lighthearted tales. A number serve as somber reminders of tragedies fans continue to reflect on decades later.

"Moving tales are a central element of the Final Fantasy series," noted a senior game designer for the collaboration. "The team established some general rules, but finally, it was mostly on a case-by-case basis."

While the Zack Fair card isn't a top-tier card, it stands as one of the set's most clever pieces of narrative design by way of mechanics. It artfully captures one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most crucial cinematic moments brilliantly, all while utilizing some of the set's core gameplay elements. And while it doesn't spoil anything, those familiar with the story will quickly recognize the emotional weight behind it.

The Mechanics: A Narrative in Play

At a cost of one white mana (the color of heroes) in this set, Zack Fair is a base power and toughness of 0/1 but enters with a +1/+1 counter. By paying one generic mana, you can remove from play the card to give another ally you control protection from destruction and transfer all of Zack’s bonuses, plus an gear, onto that other creature.

These mechanics portrays a scene FF fans are all too know well, a moment that has been retold multiple times — in the original *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even reimagined iterations in *FF7 Remake*. Yet it hits with equal force here, conveyed entirely through card abilities. Zack makes the ultimate sacrifice to save Cloud, who then takes up the Buster Sword as his own.

A Spoiler for the Card

Some necessary context, and take this as your *FF7* warning: Years before the main events of the game, Zack and Cloud are left for dead after a confrontation with Sephiroth. After extended experimentation, the friends break free. During their ordeal, Cloud is barely conscious, but Zack makes sure to look after his friend. They eventually arrive at the outskirts outside Midgar before Zack is killed by troops. Presumed dead, Cloud in that moment claims Zack’s Buster Sword and assumes the identity of a first-class SOLDIER, setting the stage for the start of *FF7*.

Reenacting the Legacy on the Tabletop

On the tabletop, the abilities essentially let you relive this whole sequence. The Buster Sword is a a strong piece of gear in the set 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 while the Buster Sword attached.

The Cloud, Midgar Mercenary also has intentional synergy with the Buster Sword, enabling you to find for an weapon card. Together, these three cards function as follows: You summon Zack, and he receives the +1/+1 counter. Then you summon Cloud to pull the Buster Sword from your deck. Then you cast and attach it to Zack.

Owing to the manner Zack’s key mechanic is designed, you can technically use it during combat, meaning you can “block” an attack and trigger it to negate the damage entirely. Therefore, you can make this play at any time, transferring the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He then becomes a powerful 6/4 that, each time he does damage a player, lets you draw two cards and cast two cards without paying their mana cost. This is precisely the kind of moment alluded to when discussing “emotional resonance” — not spoiling the scene, but letting the card design evoke the memory.

More Than the Obvious Combo

But the thematic here is incredibly rich, and it goes further than just this combo. The Jenova card 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 suggests that Zack’s starting +1/+1 token is, in a way, the SOLDIER enhancement he underwent, which included modification with Jenova cells. It's a tiny connection, but one that subtly connects the entire SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter mechanic in the set.

Zack’s card avoids showing his end, or Cloud’s trauma, or the stormy bluff where it concludes. It isn't necessary. *Magic* lets you relive the moment personally. You make the sacrifice. You hand over the weapon on. And for a brief second, while engaged in a trading card game, you remember why *Final Fantasy 7* is still the most influential game in the franchise ever made.