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A significant part of the charm within the Final Fantasy crossover collection for *Magic: The Gathering* is the manner countless cards narrate well-known narratives. Take for instance Tidus, Blitzball Star, which gives a glimpse of the protagonist at the very start of *Final Fantasy 10*: a wildly famous Blitzball pro whose key technique is a unique shot that takes a defender out of the way. The card's mechanics reflect this with subtlety. Such storytelling is found across the entire Final Fantasy offering, and they aren't all joyful stories. Some are somber callbacks of sad moments fans remember vividly years after.

"Emotional tales are a central element of the Final Fantasy franchise," explained a principal designer for the project. "They created some overarching principles, but in the end, it was primarily on a individual level."

Even though the Zack Fair card may not be a top-tier card, it is one of the set's most refined instances of narrative design through mechanics. It skillfully reflects one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most crucial cinematic moments brilliantly, all while capitalizing on some of the product's central mechanics. And even if it steers clear of spoiling anything, those who know the story will quickly recognize the significance within it.

The Card's Design: Story Through Gameplay

At a cost of one mana of white (the hue of protagonists) in this set, Zack Fair has a starting stat line of 0/1 but enters with a +1/+1 token. By paying one generic mana, you can destroy the card to grant another unit you control protection from destruction and transfer all of Zack’s bonuses, plus an Equipment, onto that other creature.

This design depicts a sequence FF fans are very know well, a moment that has been revisited again and again — in the first *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even alternate-timeline versions in *FF7 Remake*. And yet it hits with equal force here, conveyed completely through card abilities. Zack gives his life to save Cloud, who then inherits the Buster Sword as his own.

The Story Behind the Card

A bit of backstory, and take this as your *FF7* spoiler alert: Prior to the main events of the game, Zack and Cloud are left for dead after a battle with Sephiroth. Following years of testing, the friends get away. The entire time, Cloud is delirious, but Zack makes sure to take care of his friend. They finally reach the outskirts outside Midgar before Zack is fatally wounded by Shinra soldiers. Abandoned, Cloud in that moment claims Zack’s Buster Sword and adopts the persona of a first-class SOLDIER, which leads right into the start of *FF7*.

Playing Out the Passing of the Torch on the Tabletop

On the tabletop, the card mechanics essentially let you relive this entire scene. The Buster Sword is a a strong piece of gear in the set that requires three mana and provides the equipped creature +3/+2. Thus, with an investment of six mana, you can turn Zack into a solid 4/6 with the Buster Sword attached.

The Cloud, Midgar Mercenary also has intentional synergy with the Buster Sword, enabling you to find for an equipment card. In combination, these pieces function in this way: You play Zack, and he gets the +1/+1 counter. Then you play Cloud to retrieve the Buster Sword out of your deck. Then you play and equip it to Zack.

Due to the design Zack’s signature action is structured, you can technically use it when blocking, meaning you can “block” an assault and trigger it to cancel out the attack entirely. So you can make this play at a key moment, moving the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He is transformed into a powerful 6/4 that, each time he deals combat damage a player, lets you pull extra cards and cast two spells for free. This is exactly the kind of interaction alluded to when talking about “flavorful design” — not explaining the scene, but letting the gameplay trigger the recollection.

Beyond the Obvious Combo

But the flavor here is incredibly rich, and it extends past 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 additionally gains the type of a Mutant. This sort of suggests that Zack’s initial +1/+1 token is, figuratively, the SOLDIER treatment he underwent, which included modification with Jenova cells. This is a small reference, but one that implicitly links the entire SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter theme in the expansion.

This design avoids showing his demise, or Cloud’s breakdown, or the rain-soaked bluff where it happens. It isn't necessary. *Magic* lets you recreate the moment yourself. You make the ultimate play. You transfer the sword on. And for a fleeting moment, while enjoying a card battle, you recall why *Final Fantasy 7* continues to be the most impactful game in the series for many fans.