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A major aspect of the appeal of the *Final Fantasy* crossover release for *Magic: The Gathering* lies in the manner numerous cards narrate iconic narratives. Cards like Tidus, Blitzball Star, which gives a snapshot of the character at the outset of *Final Fantasy 10*: a celebrated sports star whose secret weapon is a specialized shot that takes a defender out of the way. The gameplay rules represent this perfectly. These kinds of flavor is widespread in the entire Final Fantasy offering, and some are not joyful stories. Some serve as poignant reminders of sad moments fans continue to reflect on to this day.

"Powerful stories are a key part of the Final Fantasy series," explained a senior game designer for the project. "The team established some overarching principles, but in the end, it was largely on a card-by-card basis."

Though the Zack Fair may not be a tournament staple, it represents one of the set's most elegant instances of flavor by way of gameplay. It skillfully captures one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most important cinematic moments with great effect, all while leveraging some of the set's core gameplay elements. And although it steers clear of spoiling anything, those familiar with the story will instantly understand the significance behind it.

How It Works: A Narrative in Play

At a cost of one mana of white (the hue of protagonists) in this set, Zack Fair enters with a base stat line of 0/1 but enters with a +1/+1 marker. For the cost of one colorless mana, you can remove from play the card to bestow another ally you control protection from destruction and transfer all of Zack’s counters, as well as an Equipment, onto that chosen creature.

This design paints a sequence FF fans are all too remember, a moment that has been revisited throughout the years — in the first *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even reimagined versions in *FF7 Remake*. And yet it lands just as hard here, communicated solely through rules text. Zack makes the ultimate sacrifice to save Cloud, who then inherits the Buster Sword as his own.

The Story Behind the Moment

For context, and consider this your *FF7* warning: Before the primary events of the game, Zack and Cloud are left for dead after a battle with Sephiroth. After extended testing, the pair manage to escape. During their ordeal, Cloud is comatose, but Zack makes sure to take care of his comrade. They eventually reach the outskirts outside Midgar before Zack is gunned down by Shinra soldiers. Abandoned, Cloud subsequently grabs Zack’s Buster Sword and assumes the persona of a elite SOLDIER, which leads right into the start of *FF7*.

Simulating the Legacy on the Tabletop

Through gameplay, the card mechanics effectively let you reenact this whole scene. The Buster Sword is featured as a top-tier piece of gear in the collection that costs three mana and grants the wielding creature +3/+2. Thus, with an investment of six mana, you can turn Zack into a formidable 4/6 with the Buster Sword equipped.

The Cloud Strife card also has clear interaction with the Buster Sword, enabling you to search your deck for an weapon card. In combination, these three cards play out as follows: You cast Zack, and he receives 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 key mechanic is structured, you can potentially use it in the middle of battle, meaning you can “intercept” an assault and activate it to cancel out the damage entirely. This allows you to make this play at any time, passing the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He subsequently becomes a formidable 6/4 that, every time he deals combat damage a player, lets you gain card advantage and play two spells at no cost. This is just the kind of experience referred to when discussing “flavorful design” — not explaining the scene, but letting the card design trigger the recollection.

Beyond the Main Combo

And the flavor here is deeply satisfying, and it extends past just this combo. The Jenova card 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 then becomes a Mutant. This in a way hints that Zack’s starting +1/+1 token is, symbolically, the SOLDIER enhancement he received, which included experimentation with Jenova cells. This is a tiny reference, but one that implicitly ties the entire SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter mechanic in the expansion.

This design avoids showing his death, or Cloud’s breakdown, or the memorable cliff where it happens. It isn't necessary. *Magic* lets you relive the moment for yourself. You choose the sacrifice. You hand over the weapon on. And for a short instant, while playing a card battle, you remember why *Final Fantasy 7* is still the most beloved game in the franchise for many fans.