Zack Fair Proves That Magic: The Gathering's Crossover Sets Can Tell Powerful Narratives.

A significant element of the charm of the *Final Fantasy* Universes Beyond collection for *Magic: The Gathering* lies in the fashion numerous cards narrate well-known narratives. Cards like Tidus, Blitzball Star, which gives a portrait of the character at the very start of *Final Fantasy 10*: a celebrated sports star whose signature move is a specialized shot that pushes a defender aside. The card's mechanics represent this in nuanced ways. Such flavor is widespread in the whole Final Fantasy set, and they aren't all fun and games. Some serve as somber callbacks of sad moments fans remember vividly to this day.

"Emotional tales are a central element of the Final Fantasy series," explained a principal game designer for the set. "We built some broad guidelines, but ultimately, it was mostly on a card-by-card basis."

Though the Zack Fair card may not be a competitive powerhouse, it stands as one of the release's most elegant pieces of storytelling through mechanics. It skillfully echoes one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most crucial cinematic moments brilliantly, all while leveraging some of the product's key systems. And while it doesn't spoil anything, those acquainted with the saga will quickly recognize the meaning within it.

The Card's Design: Story Through Gameplay

At a cost of one mana of white (the alignment of good) in this collection, Zack Fair enters with a starting power and toughness of 0/1 but arrives with a +1/+1 counter. By spending one colorless mana, you can sacrifice the card to bestow another ally you control protection from destruction and put all of Zack’s markers, as well as an artifact weapon, onto that target creature.

These mechanics paints a moment FF fans are all too know well, a moment that has been revisited again and again — in the first *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even alternate-timeline retellings in *FF7 Remake*. Yet it resonates with equal force here, conveyed solely through card abilities. Zack sacrifices himself to save Cloud, who then picks up the Buster Sword as his own.

A Spoiler for the Card

Some necessary history, and consider this your *FF7* warning: Before the primary events of the game, Zack and Cloud are severely injured after a confrontation with Sephiroth. Following years of imprisonment, the duo manage to escape. Throughout this period, Cloud is barely conscious, but Zack makes sure to look after his comrade. They finally reach the plains outside Midgar before Zack is gunned down by Shinra soldiers. Abandoned, Cloud then takes up Zack’s Buster Sword and assumes the role of a first-class SOLDIER, leading directly into the start of *FF7*.

Reenacting the Legacy on the Tabletop

On the tabletop, the abilities in essence let you reenact this whole event. The Buster Sword is featured as a strong piece of gear in the collection that costs three mana and gives the wielding creature +3/+2. So, for a total of six mana, you can turn Zack into a respectable 4/6 with the Buster Sword attached.

The Cloud, Midgar Mercenary also has deliberate synergy with the Buster Sword, enabling you to find for an artifact card. In combination, these pieces play out 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 summon and give it to Zack.

Due to the design Zack’s signature action is worded, you can technically use it during combat, meaning you can “intercept” an assault and trigger it to cancel out the attack altogether. This allows you to perform this action at any time, passing the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He is transformed into a formidable 6/4 that, each time he strikes a player, lets you gain card advantage and play two cards at no cost. This is just the kind of interaction alluded to when talking about “flavorful design” — not explaining the scene, but letting the gameplay make you remember.

Beyond the Central Synergy

And the flavor here is deeply satisfying, and it extends further than just this combo. The Jenova card is part of the set 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 implies that Zack’s starting +1/+1 token is, in a way, the SOLDIER enhancement he underwent, which included experimentation with Jenova cells. It's a subtle reference, but one that implicitly links the whole SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter theme in the expansion.

The card doesn't show his death, or Cloud’s breakdown, or the stormy cliff where it happens. It isn't necessary. *Magic* enables you to reenact the legacy personally. You make the ultimate play. You pass the sword on. And for a short instant, while playing a strategy game, you remember why *Final Fantasy 7* remains the most beloved game in the franchise to date.