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A significant aspect of the appeal found in the Final Fantasy crossover set for *Magic: The Gathering* is the fashion countless cards depict iconic narratives. Take for instance the Tidus, Blitzball Star card, which gives a snapshot of the protagonist at the very start of *Final Fantasy 10*: a celebrated professional athlete whose signature move is a unique shot that pushes a defender out of the way. The gameplay rules mirror this in nuanced ways. These kinds of narrative is found across the complete Final Fantasy offering, and they aren't all fun and games. Some are poignant reminders of tragedies fans continue to reflect on years after.

"Powerful tales are a vital part of the Final Fantasy franchise," noted a lead game designer for the collaboration. "They created some general rules, but in the end, it was mostly on a case-by-case basis."

Though the Zack Fair isn't a competitive powerhouse, it represents one of the release's most refined examples of narrative design by way of rules. It skillfully captures one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most crucial story moments in spectacular fashion, all while utilizing some of the product's core mechanics. And even if it avoids revealing anything, those acquainted with the tale will quickly recognize the significance behind it.

The Mechanics: Flavor in Rules

At a cost of one mana of white (the color of protagonists) in this collection, Zack Fair enters with a starting power and toughness of 0/1 but enters with a +1/+1 token. By spending one colorless mana, you can remove from play the card to grant another unit you control protection from destruction and put all of Zack’s counters, along with an Equipment, onto that target creature.

This design portrays a sequence FF fans are all too know well, a moment that has been reimagined throughout the years — in the classic *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even reimagined versions in *FF7 Remake*. And yet it lands just as hard here, expressed entirely through rules text. Zack gives his life to save Cloud, who then inherits the Buster Sword as his own.

The Context of the Card

Some necessary backstory, and take this as your *FF7* spoiler alert: Before the main events of the game, Zack and Cloud are severely injured after a clash with Sephiroth. Following extended experimentation, the friends break free. Throughout this period, Cloud is barely conscious, but Zack ensures to take care of his friend. They eventually reach the edge outside Midgar before Zack is fatally wounded by troops. Presumed dead, Cloud in that moment claims Zack’s Buster Sword and adopts the identity of a elite SOLDIER, leading directly into the start of *FF7*.

Simulating the Moment on the Tabletop

Through gameplay, the abilities essentially let you recreate this iconic event. The Buster Sword is a a strong piece of equipment in the set that requires three mana and grants the wielding creature +3/+2. Therefore, using six mana, you can transform Zack into a formidable 4/6 while the Buster Sword wielded.

The Cloud Strife card also has intentional synergy with the Buster Sword, letting you to search your deck for an equipment card. Together, these three cards unfold as follows: You summon Zack, and he receives the +1/+1 counter. Then you cast Cloud to retrieve the Buster Sword from your deck. Then you summon and give it to Zack.

Due to the design Zack’s key mechanic is structured, you can actually use it when blocking, meaning you can “block” an attack and activate it to cancel out the damage entirely. So you can perform this action at a key moment, passing the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He then becomes a formidable 6/4 that, whenever he deals combat damage a player, lets you gain card advantage and cast two cards at no cost. This is just the kind of interaction meant when talking about “narrative impact” — not spoiling the scene, but letting the card design evoke the memory.

More Than the Central Combo

However, the thematic here is incredibly rich, and it goes further than just Zack and Cloud. The Jenova card is part of the set as a creature that, at the start of combat, puts a number of +1/+1 counters on a chosen creature, which additionally gains the type of a Mutant. This kind of suggests that Zack’s starting +1/+1 token is, in a way, the SOLDIER conditioning he received, which included genetic manipulation with Jenova cells. It's a subtle nod, but one that implicitly links the whole SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter ecosystem in the set.

This design does not depict his death, or Cloud’s confusion, or the stormy cliff where it all ends. It doesn't have to. *Magic* lets you relive the passing yourself. You make the ultimate play. You pass the weapon on. And for a brief second, while engaged in a strategy game, you recall why *Final Fantasy 7* is still the most beloved game in the series to date.