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A major aspect of the charm within the *Final Fantasy* Universes Beyond set for *Magic: The Gathering* lies in the fashion so many cards depict familiar narratives. Consider the Tidus, Blitzball Star card, which offers a snapshot of the hero at the beginning of *Final Fantasy 10*: a celebrated Blitzball pro whose key technique is a fancy shot that takes a defender aside. The card's mechanics mirror this with subtlety. Such storytelling is prevalent across the whole Final Fantasy offering, and not all joyful stories. A number serve as heartbreaking echoes of emotional events fans still mull over decades later.

"Emotional narratives are a central part of the Final Fantasy legacy," explained a principal designer involved with the collaboration. "We built some general rules, but ultimately, it was mostly on a case-by-case level."

Even though the Zack Fair card may not be a competitive powerhouse, it represents one of the collection's most clever examples of flavor by way of rules. It masterfully reflects one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most important dramatic moments with great effect, all while leveraging some of the set's central systems. And while it avoids revealing anything, those acquainted with the saga will quickly recognize the meaning behind it.

The Mechanics: Story Through Gameplay

For one white mana (the alignment of protagonists) in this set, Zack Fair enters with a starting power and toughness of 0/1 but enters with a +1/+1 counter. For the cost of one colorless mana, you can sacrifice the card to bestow another creature you control indestructible and put all of Zack’s bonuses, plus an gear, onto that target creature.

This card paints a moment FF fans are all too know well, a moment that has been retold again and again — in the classic *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even new versions in *FF7 Remake*. But somehow it resonates powerfully here, conveyed solely through rules text. Zack sacrifices himself to save Cloud, who then picks up the Buster Sword as his own.

A Spoiler for the Card

A bit of history, and take this as your *FF7* warning: Prior to the primary events of the game, Zack and Cloud are gravely wounded after a clash with Sephiroth. After years of experimentation, the pair break free. During their ordeal, Cloud is delirious, but Zack ensures to protect his companion. They eventually reach the plains outside Midgar before Zack is gunned down by Shinra soldiers. Left behind, Cloud in that moment claims Zack’s Buster Sword and assumes the identity of a first-class SOLDIER, leading directly into the start of *FF7*.

Playing Out the Passing of the Torch on the Battlefield

Through gameplay, the card mechanics effectively let you relive this whole sequence. The Buster Sword appears as a strong piece of gear in the collection that requires three mana and gives the equipped creature +3/+2. Thus, with an investment of six mana, you can turn Zack into a solid 4/6 while the Buster Sword wielded.

The Cloud, Midgar Mercenary also has clear combo potential with the Buster Sword, letting you to find for an equipment card. In combination, these pieces function as follows: You play Zack, and he receives the +1/+1 counter. Then you summon Cloud to retrieve the Buster Sword from your deck. Then you summon and give it to Zack.

Because of the way Zack’s key mechanic is designed, you can potentially use it in the middle of battle, meaning you can “block” an attack and activate it to cancel out the attack completely. This allows you to perform this action at any time, moving the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He subsequently becomes a strong 6/4 that, whenever he deals combat damage a player, lets you pull extra cards and cast two spells without paying their mana cost. This is exactly the kind of interaction referred to when discussing “narrative impact” — not spoiling the scene, but letting the card design make you remember.

Extending Past the Obvious Combo

And the thematic here is deeply satisfying, and it reaches further than just this combo. The Jenova card 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 also becomes a Mutant. This in a way suggests that Zack’s starting +1/+1 token is, symbolically, the SOLDIER enhancement he received, which included genetic manipulation with Jenova cells. It's a subtle connection, but one that subtly ties the entire SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter mechanic in the expansion.

Zack’s card does not depict his demise, or Cloud’s breakdown, or the memorable cliff where it happens. It doesn't have to. *Magic* lets you recreate the passing yourself. You choose the sacrifice. You pass the weapon on. And for a brief second, while playing a card battle, you recall why *Final Fantasy 7* continues to be the most beloved game in the saga ever made.