🔗 Share this article

A core aspect of the appeal of the Final Fantasy Universes Beyond collection for *Magic: The Gathering* lies in the manner numerous cards tell well-known stories. Take for instance Tidus, Blitzball Star, which provides a snapshot of the character at the outset of *Final Fantasy 10*: a wildly famous sports star whose key technique is a unique shot that knocks a defender aside. The gameplay rules mirror this with subtlety. These kinds of flavor is found in the whole Final Fantasy offering, and not all fun and games. Several act as poignant reminders of sad moments fans remember vividly years after.

"Moving stories are a key component of the Final Fantasy series," explained a senior designer on the project. "We built some broad guidelines, but finally, it was primarily on a individual basis."

Even though the Zack Fair card is not a tournament staple, it stands as one of the release's most elegant instances of storytelling by way of rules. It skillfully reflects one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most pivotal story moments with great effect, all while capitalizing on some of the expansion's central systems. And while it avoids revealing anything, those familiar with the story will quickly recognize the significance within it.

The Card's Design: Story Through Gameplay

For one white mana (the color of heroes) in this set, Zack Fair is a starting power and toughness of 0/1 but enters with a +1/+1 counter. By spending one colorless mana, you can remove from play the card to bestow another creature you control indestructible and transfer all of Zack’s bonuses, plus an artifact weapon, onto that chosen creature.

This design paints a sequence FF fans are all too remember, a moment that has been reimagined again and again — in the first *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even new retellings in *FF7 Remake*. Yet it resonates powerfully here, communicated entirely through card abilities. Zack gives his life to save Cloud, who then takes up the Buster Sword as his own.

The Context of the Card

A bit of history, and consider this your *FF7* warning: Prior to the main events of the game, Zack and Cloud are left for dead after a confrontation with Sephiroth. Following extended testing, the duo break free. Throughout this period, Cloud is comatose, but Zack makes sure to take care of his friend. They eventually make it the plains outside Midgar before Zack is gunned down by troops. Abandoned, Cloud in that moment claims Zack’s Buster Sword and adopts the persona of a elite SOLDIER, leading directly into the start of *FF7*.

Playing Out the Moment on the Tabletop

On the tabletop, the card mechanics essentially let you reenact this iconic scene. The Buster Sword appears as a top-tier piece of gear in the set that costs three mana and provides the equipped creature +3/+2. Therefore, using six mana, you can turn Zack into a respectable 4/6 with the Buster Sword wielded.

The Cloud, Midgar Mercenary also has intentional combo potential with the Buster Sword, letting you to look through your library for an artifact card. In combination, these pieces function as follows: You play Zack, and he gains the +1/+1 counter. Then you summon Cloud to fetch the Buster Sword from your deck. Then you play and equip it to Zack.

Due to the manner Zack’s sacrifice ability is designed, you can potentially use it during combat, meaning you can “intercept” an attack and activate it to prevent the attack completely. This allows you to make this play 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 gain card advantage and play two cards for free. This is just the kind of interaction meant when talking about “narrative impact” — not explaining the scene, but letting the mechanics trigger the recollection.

Extending Past the Central Synergy

However, the thematic here is oh-so-delicious, and it reaches further than just this combo. The Jenova, Ancient Calamity appears in the set as a creature that, at the start of combat, puts a number of +1/+1 counters on a chosen creature, which also becomes a Mutant. This sort of suggests 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 subtle nod, but one that subtly links the whole SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter mechanic in the expansion.

This design doesn't show his death, or Cloud’s breakdown, or the memorable location where it all ends. It isn't necessary. *Magic* allows you to relive the passing personally. You perform the sacrifice. You pass the weapon on. And for a short instant, while playing a card battle, you are reminded of why *Final Fantasy 7* is still the most influential game in the franchise for many fans.