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A significant part of the charm of the *Final Fantasy* crossover release for *Magic: The Gathering* lies in the manner countless cards narrate familiar tales. Consider Tidus, Blitzball Star, which provides a portrait of the character at the very start of *Final Fantasy 10*: a celebrated professional athlete whose key technique is a unique shot that takes a defender aside. The abilities reflect this in nuanced ways. These kinds of flavor is widespread throughout the whole Final Fantasy offering, and some are not fun and games. Several are heartbreaking callbacks of emotional events fans continue to reflect on decades later.

"Powerful stories are a key component of the Final Fantasy series," wrote a lead designer on the set. "They created some broad guidelines, but in the end, it was primarily on a case-by-case basis."

Even though the Zack Fair is not a competitive powerhouse, it is one of the release's most elegant examples of narrative design via gameplay. It skillfully captures one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most important dramatic moments in spectacular fashion, all while leveraging some of the set's core gameplay elements. And even if it doesn't spoil anything, those familiar with the tale will quickly recognize the significance embedded in it.

The Mechanics: Story Through Gameplay

At a cost of one mana of white (the color of good) in this collection, Zack Fair has a starting power and toughness of 0/1 but comes into play with a +1/+1 token. By spending one generic mana, you can remove from play the card to grant another creature you control protection from destruction and put all of Zack’s markers, as well as an Equipment, onto that chosen creature.

This card paints a scene FF fans are all too remember, a moment that has been retold multiple times — in the classic *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even reimagined iterations in *FF7 Remake*. Yet it hits with equal force here, conveyed solely through card abilities. Zack gives his life to save Cloud, who then picks up the Buster Sword as his own.

The Context of the Scene

Some necessary history, and take this as your *FF7* warning: Before the main events of the game, Zack and Cloud are left for dead after a clash with Sephiroth. After extended experimentation, the friends manage to escape. Throughout this period, Cloud is barely conscious, but Zack ensures to take care of his comrade. They eventually arrive at the outskirts outside Midgar before Zack is gunned down by Shinra soldiers. Left behind, Cloud then takes up Zack’s Buster Sword and takes on the identity of a elite SOLDIER, which leads right into the start of *FF7*.

Simulating the Legacy on the Game Board

In a game, the abilities effectively let you reenact this entire sequence. The Buster Sword is featured as a top-tier piece of gear in the collection that costs three mana and grants the wielding creature +3/+2. Thus, with an investment of six mana, you can make Zack into a formidable 4/6 while the Buster Sword wielded.

The Cloud Strife card also has deliberate synergy with the Buster Sword, enabling you to search your deck for an artifact card. When used in tandem, these three cards function in this way: You summon Zack, and he receives the +1/+1 counter. Then you play Cloud to fetch the Buster Sword from your deck. Then you cast and attach it to Zack.

Owing to the manner Zack’s signature action is structured, you can potentially use it during combat, meaning you can “intercept” an attack and trigger it to negate the damage entirely. 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, every time he deals combat damage a player, lets you draw two cards and cast two spells without paying their mana cost. This is precisely the kind of experience referred to when discussing “narrative impact” — not explaining the scene, but letting the card design evoke the memory.

Extending Past the Obvious Combo

However, the narrative here is deeply satisfying, and it extends beyond just Zack and Cloud. The Jenova, Ancient Calamity is part of the collection 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 kind of suggests that Zack’s starting +1/+1 token is, figuratively, the SOLDIER enhancement he received, which included modification with Jenova cells. It's a small reference, but one that subtly links the whole SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter ecosystem in the expansion.

This design does not depict his demise, or Cloud’s trauma, or the stormy location where it all ends. It isn't necessary. *Magic* lets you reenact the moment for yourself. You make the sacrifice. You transfer the legacy on. And for a short instant, while playing a strategy game, you remember why *Final Fantasy 7* is still the most influential game in the franchise ever made.