🔗 Share this article

A significant element of the appeal found in the *Final Fantasy* Universes Beyond collection for *Magic: The Gathering* lies in the manner so many cards narrate familiar stories. Cards like Tidus, Blitzball Star, which gives a portrait of the character at the beginning of *Final Fantasy 10*: a renowned Blitzball pro whose key technique is a specialized shot that pushes a defender aside. The abilities represent this in nuanced ways. This type of narrative is found across the entire Final Fantasy set, and they aren't all fun and games. Several act as heartbreaking echoes of sad moments fans still mull over years after.

"Moving narratives are a vital element of the Final Fantasy franchise," explained a lead game designer involved with the project. "We built some broad guidelines, but in the end, it was largely on a card-by-card basis."

Even though the Zack Fair card may not be a tournament staple, it represents one of the set's most refined pieces of flavor via gameplay. It skillfully echoes one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most important story moments with great effect, all while capitalizing on some of the expansion's core systems. And although it steers clear of spoiling anything, those acquainted with the tale will quickly recognize the emotional weight embedded in it.

How It Works: A Narrative in Play

At a cost of one mana of white (the hue of good) in this collection, Zack Fair is a base power and toughness of 0/1 but arrives with a +1/+1 token. For the cost of one generic mana, you can destroy the card to bestow another creature you control protection from destruction and put all of Zack’s markers, plus an artifact weapon, onto that target creature.

These mechanics depicts a scene FF fans are very familiar with, a moment that has been reimagined throughout the years — in the first *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even reimagined versions in *FF7 Remake*. Yet it resonates powerfully here, expressed solely through gameplay mechanics. Zack makes the ultimate sacrifice to save Cloud, who then inherits the Buster Sword as his own.

The Context of the Scene

A bit of history, and here is your *FF7* spoiler alert: Before the primary events of the game, Zack and Cloud are left for dead after a clash with Sephiroth. Following extended experimentation, the pair get away. The entire time, Cloud is barely conscious, but Zack makes sure to look after his companion. They finally arrive at the outskirts outside Midgar before Zack is killed by forces. Left behind, Cloud then takes up Zack’s Buster Sword and assumes the persona of a first-class SOLDIER, leading directly into the start of *FF7*.

Reenacting the Moment on the Battlefield

In a game, the abilities in essence let you relive this entire scene. The Buster Sword is a a powerful piece of armament in the set that costs three mana and gives the equipped creature +3/+2. Therefore, using six mana, you can make Zack into a respectable 4/6 while the Buster Sword wielded.

The Cloud, Midgar Mercenary also has intentional synergy with the Buster Sword, enabling you to find for an weapon card. Together, these three cards unfold like this: You summon Zack, and he receives the +1/+1 counter. Then you play Cloud to retrieve the Buster Sword out of your deck. Then you cast and attach it to Zack.

Owing to the manner Zack’s signature action is structured, you can technically use it in the middle of battle, meaning you can “intercept” an assault and activate it to cancel out the attack altogether. So you can make this play at any time, passing the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He then becomes a strong 6/4 that, every time he strikes a player, lets you pull extra cards and play two cards at no cost. This is exactly the kind of experience alluded to when talking about “narrative impact” — not revealing the scene, but letting the gameplay trigger the recollection.

Extending Past the Main Interaction

But the flavor here is incredibly rich, and it reaches further than just these cards. The Jenova, Ancient Calamity 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 additionally gains the type of a Mutant. This kind of implies that Zack’s starting +1/+1 token is, figuratively, the SOLDIER conditioning he received, which included modification with Jenova cells. It's a tiny nod, but one that implicitly links the whole SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter ecosystem in the expansion.

This design does not depict his demise, or Cloud’s trauma, or the memorable bluff where it concludes. It isn't necessary. *Magic* allows you to recreate the passing for yourself. You make the sacrifice. You transfer the sword on. And for a short instant, while playing a strategy game, you are reminded of why *Final Fantasy 7* is still the most impactful game in the series to date.