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A major element of the allure of the *Final Fantasy* Universes Beyond set for *Magic: The Gathering* comes from the manner so many cards depict iconic stories. Cards like Tidus, Blitzball Star, which provides a glimpse of the hero at the very start of *Final Fantasy 10*: a renowned Blitzball pro whose secret weapon is a fancy shot that pushes a defender out of the way. The card's mechanics reflect this with subtlety. This type of flavor is prevalent across the entire Final Fantasy set, and not all joyful stories. Some act as heartbreaking callbacks of emotional events fans remember vividly decades later.

"Emotional tales are a vital component of the Final Fantasy series," noted a senior game designer involved with the set. "The team established some general rules, but in the end, it was primarily on a case-by-case level."

Even though the Zack Fair card may not be a top-tier card, it stands as one of the collection's most elegant instances of storytelling by way of mechanics. It skillfully reflects one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most crucial story moments in spectacular fashion, all while capitalizing on some of the expansion's key systems. And while it steers clear of spoiling anything, those acquainted with the saga will instantly understand the significance behind it.

The Card's Design: Flavor in Rules

For one mana of white (the hue of heroes) in this set, Zack Fair has a base power and toughness of 0/1 but arrives with a +1/+1 counter. By spending one colorless mana, you can remove from play the card to bestow another creature you control protection from destruction and transfer all of Zack’s counters, along with an gear, onto that chosen creature.

These mechanics paints a moment FF fans are very familiar with, a moment that has been reimagined multiple times — in the first *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even reimagined iterations in *FF7 Remake*. Yet it lands powerfully here, conveyed completely through rules text. Zack sacrifices himself to save Cloud, who then inherits the Buster Sword as his own.

The Context of the Scene

A bit of context, and consider this your *FF7* spoiler alert: Prior to the primary events of the game, Zack and Cloud are severely injured after a battle with Sephiroth. Following extended experimentation, the friends manage to escape. During their ordeal, Cloud is barely conscious, but Zack ensures to take care of his comrade. They eventually make it the plains outside Midgar before Zack is killed by Shinra soldiers. Abandoned, Cloud then takes up Zack’s Buster Sword and assumes the identity of a first-class SOLDIER, which leads right into the start of *FF7*.

Reenacting the Legacy on the Game Board

On the tabletop, the rules essentially let you relive this whole event. The Buster Sword is featured as a top-tier piece of armament in the set that costs three mana and gives the equipped creature +3/+2. Thus, with an investment of six mana, you can turn Zack into a respectable 4/6 with the Buster Sword attached.

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

Because of the design Zack’s key mechanic is structured, you can potentially use it during combat, meaning you can “block” an attack and trigger it to negate the damage completely. This allows you to perform this action at any time, moving the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He is transformed into a strong 6/4 that, every time he does damage a player, lets you gain card advantage and cast two cards without paying their mana cost. This is exactly the kind of experience meant when talking about “emotional resonance” — not spoiling the scene, but letting the card design evoke the memory.

Extending Past the Obvious Combo

And the thematic here is oh-so-delicious, and it extends beyond just this combo. The Jenova, Ancient Calamity appears in the collection as a creature that, at the start of combat, puts a number of +1/+1 counters on a target creature, which also becomes a Mutant. This in a way hints that Zack’s initial +1/+1 token is, in a way, the SOLDIER enhancement he underwent, which included genetic manipulation with Jenova cells. This is a small connection, but one that subtly links the whole SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter ecosystem in the expansion.

Zack’s card doesn't show his demise, or Cloud’s breakdown, or the stormy cliff where it concludes. It isn't necessary. *Magic* lets you reenact the moment personally. You perform the ultimate play. You transfer the sword on. And for a fleeting moment, while enjoying a trading card game, you are reminded of why *Final Fantasy 7* is still the most beloved game in the saga to date.