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A major part of the allure within the Final Fantasy crossover release for *Magic: The Gathering* comes from the manner numerous cards depict well-known stories. Cards like the Tidus, Blitzball Star card, which gives a glimpse of the hero at the outset of *Final Fantasy 10*: a celebrated Blitzball pro whose key technique is a unique shot that knocks a defender aside. The gameplay rules represent this in nuanced ways. These kinds of narrative is prevalent in the entire Final Fantasy set, and some are not joyful stories. Several are heartbreaking reminders of tragedies fans still mull over years after.

"Moving tales are a key element of the Final Fantasy series," explained a senior designer on the set. "The team established some overarching principles, but finally, it was primarily on a individual basis."

While the Zack Fair card may not be a competitive powerhouse, it is one of the collection's most elegant pieces of narrative design by way of gameplay. It artfully captures one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most important cinematic moments in spectacular fashion, all while capitalizing on some of the set's key mechanics. And while it steers clear of spoiling anything, those who know the saga will instantly understand the emotional weight behind it.

How It Works: A Narrative in Play

For one white mana (the hue of good) in this collection, Zack Fair has a starting stat line of 0/1 but comes into play with a +1/+1 token. For the cost of one generic mana, you can destroy the card to give another unit you control protection from destruction and transfer all of Zack’s counters, plus an artifact weapon, onto that chosen creature.

This card portrays a scene FF fans are very know well, a moment that has been retold throughout the years — in the original *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even alternate-timeline iterations in *FF7 Remake*. But somehow it hits powerfully here, communicated completely through rules text. Zack sacrifices himself to save Cloud, who then takes up the Buster Sword as his own.

A Spoiler for the Moment

Some necessary history, and consider this your *FF7* warning: Before the primary events of the game, Zack and Cloud are left for dead after a confrontation with Sephiroth. After extended testing, the duo get away. The entire time, Cloud is comatose, but Zack makes sure to take care of his friend. They finally arrive at the plains outside Midgar before Zack is fatally wounded by Shinra soldiers. Left behind, Cloud then takes up Zack’s Buster Sword and assumes the identity of a first-class SOLDIER, leading directly into the start of *FF7*.

Reenacting the Passing of the Torch on the Game Board

In a game, the card mechanics essentially let you recreate this iconic event. The Buster Sword is a a strong piece of armament in the set that requires three mana and gives the equipped creature +3/+2. Therefore, using six mana, you can turn Zack into a formidable 4/6 with the Buster Sword wielded.

The Cloud, Midgar Mercenary also has intentional interaction with the Buster Sword, letting you to find for an artifact card. Together, these three cards unfold as follows: You play Zack, and he gets the +1/+1 counter. Then you play Cloud to fetch the Buster Sword out of your deck. Then you cast and attach it to Zack.

Because of the manner Zack’s key mechanic is structured, you can potentially use it during combat, meaning you can “block” an assault and activate it to prevent 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 strikes a player, lets you gain card advantage and play two cards without paying their mana cost. This is precisely the kind of moment meant when discussing “flavorful design” — not explaining the scene, but letting the gameplay evoke the memory.

Beyond the Central Interaction

However, the thematic here is incredibly rich, and it goes beyond just these cards. The Jenova, Ancient Calamity is part of the collection as a creature that, at the start of combat, places a number of +1/+1 counters on a chosen creature, which additionally gains the type of a Mutant. This kind of implies that Zack’s initial +1/+1 token is, in a way, the SOLDIER treatment he underwent, which included genetic manipulation with Jenova cells. It's a tiny connection, but one that cleverly connects the whole SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter ecosystem in the set.

The card doesn't show his end, or Cloud’s trauma, or the stormy bluff where it all ends. It isn't necessary. *Magic* enables you to relive the legacy personally. You make the ultimate play. You pass the legacy on. And for a brief second, while engaged in a trading card game, you recall why *Final Fantasy 7* remains the most influential game in the franchise for many fans.