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A core aspect of the charm within the *Final Fantasy* crossover collection for *Magic: The Gathering* lies in the way so many cards depict iconic narratives. Consider the Tidus, Blitzball Star card, which provides a glimpse of the protagonist at the very start of *Final Fantasy 10*: a celebrated professional athlete whose key technique is a unique shot that pushes a defender out of the way. The gameplay rules mirror this in nuanced ways. These kinds of storytelling is widespread throughout the whole Final Fantasy offering, and not all lighthearted tales. Some are somber echoes of emotional events fans remember vividly to this day.

"Emotional tales are a vital part of the Final Fantasy franchise," explained a senior designer for the set. "The team established some overarching principles, but in the end, it was primarily on a card-by-card basis."

Though the Zack Fair is not a tournament staple, it is one of the collection's most elegant pieces of narrative design by way of gameplay. It skillfully captures one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most pivotal cinematic moments brilliantly, all while utilizing some of the expansion's key gameplay elements. And even if it avoids revealing anything, those familiar with the saga will immediately grasp the emotional weight embedded in it.

The Mechanics: A Narrative in Play

At a cost of one white mana (the alignment of heroes) in this collection, Zack Fair has a base power and toughness of 0/1 but enters with a +1/+1 token. By spending one colorless mana, you can destroy the card to give another creature you control indestructible and transfer all of Zack’s markers, along with an gear, onto that chosen creature.

This card depicts a sequence FF fans are extremely familiar with, a moment that has been retold multiple times — in the classic *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even reimagined versions in *FF7 Remake*. And yet it resonates just as hard here, conveyed completely through card abilities. Zack makes the ultimate sacrifice to save Cloud, who then takes up the Buster Sword as his own.

A Spoiler for the Card

For history, and here is your *FF7* warning: Prior to the primary events of the game, Zack and Cloud are left for dead after a battle with Sephiroth. Following years of imprisonment, the duo manage to escape. Throughout this period, Cloud is delirious, but Zack vows to take care of his friend. They eventually reach the edge outside Midgar before Zack is killed by forces. Left behind, Cloud subsequently grabs Zack’s Buster Sword and adopts the persona of a elite SOLDIER, which leads right into the start of *FF7*.

Simulating the Passing of the Torch on the Battlefield

Through gameplay, the abilities effectively let you relive this iconic sequence. The Buster Sword is a a top-tier piece of gear in the collection that requires three mana and grants the wielding creature +3/+2. So, for a total of six mana, you can transform Zack into a solid 4/6 while the Buster Sword attached.

The Cloud, Midgar Mercenary also has clear combo potential with the Buster Sword, allowing you to look through your library for an weapon card. Together, these pieces unfold in this way: You cast Zack, and he gets the +1/+1 counter. Then you cast Cloud to pull the Buster Sword from your deck. Then you play and equip it to Zack.

Due to the way Zack’s signature action is designed, you can technically use it when blocking, meaning you can “block” an assault and activate it to negate the attack altogether. Therefore, you can perform this action at any time, passing the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He then becomes a formidable 6/4 that, each time he does damage a player, lets you draw two cards and play two cards at no cost. This is exactly the kind of interaction alluded to when discussing “flavorful design” — not spoiling the scene, but letting the gameplay make you remember.

Extending Past the Central Combo

However, the thematic here is deeply satisfying, and it reaches past just Zack and Cloud. 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 kind of hints that Zack’s starting +1/+1 token is, in a way, the SOLDIER treatment he underwent, which included experimentation with Jenova cells. It's a small connection, but one that cleverly links the entire SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter mechanic in the expansion.

This design avoids showing his demise, or Cloud’s breakdown, or the memorable bluff where it all ends. It doesn't have to. *Magic* enables you to reenact the legacy yourself. You make the sacrifice. You transfer the sword on. And for a brief second, while enjoying a card battle, you recall why *Final Fantasy 7* is still the most impactful game in the saga to date.