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A major aspect of the appeal of the *Final Fantasy* Universes Beyond collection for *Magic: The Gathering* is the manner so many cards tell familiar tales. Consider the Tidus, Blitzball Star card, which offers a portrait of the hero at the very start of *Final Fantasy 10*: a renowned sports star whose key technique is a unique shot that knocks a defender out of the way. The gameplay rules reflect this perfectly. These kinds of storytelling is found in the entire Final Fantasy offering, and not all fun and games. Some are heartbreaking reminders of emotional events fans continue to reflect on years after.

"Moving stories are a vital part of the Final Fantasy series," noted a lead designer on the set. "The team established some broad guidelines, but ultimately, it was primarily on a individual level."

While the Zack Fair card isn't a top-tier card, it stands as one of the release's most refined examples of flavor via mechanics. It artfully reflects one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most crucial cinematic moments brilliantly, all while utilizing some of the set's key mechanics. And although it steers clear of spoiling anything, those who know the saga will quickly recognize the meaning within it.

The Card's Design: A Narrative in Play

For one white mana (the hue of good) in this set, Zack Fair is a starting power and toughness of 0/1 but comes into play with a +1/+1 token. By paying one colorless mana, you can sacrifice the card to give another creature you control protection from destruction and put all of Zack’s bonuses, plus an gear, onto that chosen creature.

This card portrays a moment FF fans are extremely remember, a moment that has been revisited throughout the years — in the original *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even new retellings in *FF7 Remake*. But somehow it lands with equal force here, expressed completely through rules text. Zack makes the ultimate sacrifice to save Cloud, who then takes up the Buster Sword as his own.

The Context of the Scene

Some necessary backstory, and here is your *FF7* spoiler alert: Prior to the primary events of the game, Zack and Cloud are left for dead after a confrontation with Sephiroth. After years of testing, the duo manage to escape. The entire time, Cloud is comatose, but Zack vows to protect his companion. They eventually reach the plains outside Midgar before Zack is gunned down by Shinra soldiers. Presumed dead, Cloud subsequently grabs Zack’s Buster Sword and assumes the identity of a first-class SOLDIER, leading directly into the start of *FF7*.

Simulating the Moment on the Battlefield

Through gameplay, the card mechanics effectively let you relive this entire sequence. The Buster Sword appears as a powerful piece of equipment in the set that costs three mana and provides the wielding creature +3/+2. So, for a total of six mana, you can make Zack into a respectable 4/6 with the Buster Sword equipped.

The Cloud Strife card also has deliberate interaction with the Buster Sword, allowing you to look through your library for an weapon card. When used in tandem, these pieces unfold as follows: You cast Zack, and he gains the +1/+1 counter. Then you play Cloud to pull the Buster Sword from your deck. Then you cast and attach it to Zack.

Owing to the design Zack’s key mechanic is worded, you can actually use it in the middle of battle, meaning you can “intercept” an assault and trigger it to cancel out the damage completely. Therefore, you can perform this action at any time, moving the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He is transformed into a formidable 6/4 that, each time he does damage a player, lets you draw two cards and cast two spells at no cost. This is exactly the kind of interaction alluded to when talking about “flavorful design” — not revealing the scene, but letting the gameplay make you remember.

Extending Past the Obvious Interaction

And the flavor here is deeply satisfying, and it goes further than just these cards. The Jenova card appears in 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 sort of hints that Zack’s initial +1/+1 token is, symbolically, the SOLDIER enhancement he underwent, which included genetic manipulation with Jenova cells. This is a small nod, but one that subtly links the whole SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter mechanic in the expansion.

The card doesn't show his demise, or Cloud’s confusion, or the memorable bluff where it all ends. It isn't necessary. *Magic* lets you recreate the moment for yourself. You choose the ultimate play. You transfer the weapon on. And for a brief second, while engaged in a strategy game, you recall why *Final Fantasy 7* continues to be the most beloved game in the franchise ever made.