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A major part of the charm within the Final Fantasy crossover release for *Magic: The Gathering* lies in the fashion numerous cards narrate familiar stories. Consider Tidus, Blitzball Star, which gives a snapshot of the character at the outset of *Final Fantasy 10*: a renowned Blitzball pro whose secret weapon is a fancy shot that takes a defender aside. The gameplay rules mirror this in nuanced ways. These kinds of flavor is prevalent across the whole Final Fantasy set, and some are not lighthearted tales. A number act as somber reminders of tragedies fans still mull over decades later.

"Emotional tales are a vital element of the Final Fantasy series," wrote a principal game designer involved with the project. "They created some overarching principles, but in the end, it was largely on a card-by-card level."

While the Zack Fair may not be a competitive powerhouse, it represents one of the collection's most elegant instances of flavor by way of rules. It masterfully echoes one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most crucial dramatic moments brilliantly, all while capitalizing on some of the expansion's core mechanics. And even if it steers clear of spoiling anything, those who know the story will quickly recognize the significance embedded in it.

The Card's Design: A Narrative in Play

At a cost of one mana of white (the hue of heroes) in this collection, Zack Fair enters with a starting stat line of 0/1 but enters with a +1/+1 token. By paying one colorless mana, you can sacrifice the card to give another unit you control indestructible and transfer all of Zack’s bonuses, plus an artifact weapon, onto that target creature.

This design portrays a scene FF fans are all too know well, a moment that has been reimagined throughout the years — in the original *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even alternate-timeline iterations in *FF7 Remake*. But somehow it resonates just as hard here, communicated solely through gameplay mechanics. Zack gives his life to save Cloud, who then picks up the Buster Sword as his own.

A Spoiler for the Card

A bit of context, and here is your *FF7* warning: Years before the main events of the game, Zack and Cloud are gravely wounded after a clash with Sephiroth. Following extended testing, the duo get away. The entire time, Cloud is barely conscious, but Zack vows to take care of his comrade. They finally arrive at the plains outside Midgar before Zack is killed by Shinra soldiers. Presumed dead, Cloud then takes up Zack’s Buster Sword and takes on the persona of a first-class SOLDIER, which leads right into the start of *FF7*.

Reenacting the Passing of the Torch on the Tabletop

In a game, the abilities effectively let you reenact this entire event. The Buster Sword is a a strong piece of armament in the collection that requires three mana and grants the wielding creature +3/+2. So, for a total of six mana, you can transform Zack into a respectable 4/6 with the Buster Sword equipped.

The Cloud Strife card also has deliberate synergy with the Buster Sword, allowing you to search your deck for an equipment card. Together, these three cards play out in this way: You cast Zack, and he gains the +1/+1 counter. Then you cast Cloud to retrieve the Buster Sword from your deck. Then you play and equip it to Zack.

Owing to the manner Zack’s key mechanic is worded, you can technically use it in the middle of battle, meaning you can “block” an attack and trigger it to cancel out the damage entirely. So you can perform this action at a key moment, transferring the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He then becomes a powerful 6/4 that, every time he does damage a player, lets you pull extra cards and cast two spells without paying their mana cost. This is exactly the kind of moment meant when discussing “emotional resonance” — not explaining the scene, but letting the mechanics evoke the memory.

Extending Past the Central Interaction

However, the thematic here is oh-so-delicious, and it goes past just this combo. The Jenova card is part of the collection as a creature that, at the start of combat, puts a number of +1/+1 counters on a target creature, which also becomes a Mutant. This in a way suggests that Zack’s initial +1/+1 token is, in a way, the SOLDIER enhancement he received, which included modification with Jenova cells. This is a tiny nod, but one that implicitly links the whole SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter ecosystem in the expansion.

The card doesn't show his demise, or Cloud’s confusion, or the stormy location where it concludes. It does not need to. *Magic* allows you to relive the legacy for yourself. You choose the ultimate play. You hand over the legacy on. And for a fleeting moment, while engaged in a trading card game, you are reminded of why *Final Fantasy 7* is still the most influential game in the series for many fans.