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A core part of the appeal within the *Final Fantasy* crossover set for *Magic: The Gathering* is the manner numerous cards depict familiar tales. Cards like the Tidus, Blitzball Star card, which offers a glimpse of the character at the beginning of *Final Fantasy 10*: a wildly famous professional athlete whose key technique is a specialized shot that knocks a defender aside. The gameplay rules reflect this with subtlety. Such narrative is widespread throughout the complete Final Fantasy set, and some are not joyful stories. A number are somber reminders of sad moments fans remember vividly to this day.

"Moving narratives are a vital component of the Final Fantasy franchise," explained a principal designer on the set. "They created some broad guidelines, but finally, it was mostly on a case-by-case level."

While the Zack Fair may not be a competitive powerhouse, it is one of the collection's most elegant examples of narrative design via gameplay. It skillfully echoes one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most crucial cinematic moments in spectacular fashion, all while leveraging some of the product's central systems. And while it doesn't spoil anything, those who know the saga will instantly understand the emotional weight behind it.

The Card's Design: A Narrative in Play

For one mana of white (the alignment of protagonists) in this collection, Zack Fair has a base power and toughness of 0/1 but arrives with a +1/+1 token. By paying one generic mana, you can remove from play the card to bestow another unit you control protection from destruction and transfer all of Zack’s bonuses, as well as an Equipment, onto that chosen creature.

These mechanics paints a scene FF fans are very remember, a moment that has been revisited throughout the years — in the classic *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even reimagined retellings in *FF7 Remake*. But somehow it resonates powerfully here, conveyed solely through gameplay mechanics. Zack sacrifices himself to save Cloud, who then inherits the Buster Sword as his own.

The Context of the Scene

A bit of history, and here is your *FF7* spoiler alert: Years before the primary events of the game, Zack and Cloud are severely injured after a confrontation with Sephiroth. Following extended imprisonment, the friends break free. The entire time, Cloud is delirious, but Zack vows to look after his friend. They eventually reach the edge outside Midgar before Zack is gunned down by Shinra soldiers. Abandoned, Cloud in that moment claims Zack’s Buster Sword and assumes the identity of a elite SOLDIER, setting the stage for the start of *FF7*.

Simulating the Moment on the Tabletop

On the tabletop, the card mechanics in essence let you reenact this whole event. The Buster Sword is featured as a top-tier piece of armament in the collection that requires three mana and gives the equipped creature +3/+2. So, for a total of six mana, you can transform Zack into a solid 4/6 while the Buster Sword attached.

The Cloud Strife card also has clear synergy with the Buster Sword, allowing you to find for an artifact card. When used in tandem, these pieces unfold as follows: You play Zack, and he gains the +1/+1 counter. Then you summon Cloud to retrieve the Buster Sword out of your deck. Then you summon and give it to Zack.

Because of the manner Zack’s sacrifice ability is structured, you can actually use it in the middle of battle, meaning you can “intercept” an assault and activate it to cancel out the attack altogether. So you can do this at any time, transferring the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He then becomes a formidable 6/4 that, whenever he does damage a player, lets you draw two cards and play two cards for free. This is precisely the kind of experience alluded to when discussing “flavorful design” — not spoiling the scene, but letting the card design evoke the memory.

More Than the Obvious Interaction

But the flavor here is oh-so-delicious, and it goes past just these cards. The Jenova card is part of the set as a creature that, at the start of combat, places a number of +1/+1 counters on a chosen creature, which then becomes a Mutant. This in a way suggests that Zack’s initial +1/+1 token is, figuratively, the SOLDIER conditioning he received, which included modification with Jenova cells. This is a subtle nod, but one that cleverly ties the entire SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter ecosystem in the set.

This design doesn't show his death, or Cloud’s confusion, or the rain-soaked location where it happens. It isn't necessary. *Magic* enables you to relive the passing for yourself. You make the ultimate play. You hand over the weapon on. And for a fleeting moment, while engaged in a card battle, you are reminded of why *Final Fantasy 7* continues to be the most impactful game in the series for many fans.