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A major aspect of the appeal within the Final Fantasy crossover release for *Magic: The Gathering* comes from the fashion so many cards narrate familiar narratives. Take for instance Tidus, Blitzball Star, which offers a portrait of the hero at the outset of *Final Fantasy 10*: a renowned sports star whose key technique is a specialized shot that knocks a defender aside. The gameplay rules mirror this with subtlety. This type of flavor is widespread in the complete Final Fantasy offering, and not all fun and games. A number act as somber callbacks of emotional events fans continue to reflect on decades later.

"Powerful narratives are a central component of the Final Fantasy legacy," explained a lead game designer on the project. "We built some overarching principles, but ultimately, it was primarily on a individual basis."

Even though the Zack Fair card may not be a competitive powerhouse, it stands as one of the collection's most clever examples of storytelling via mechanics. It artfully echoes one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most crucial dramatic moments in spectacular fashion, all while leveraging some of the product's core gameplay elements. And while it avoids revealing anything, those familiar with the tale will quickly recognize the significance embedded in it.

How It Works: Flavor in Rules

At a cost of one white mana (the alignment of protagonists) in this collection, Zack Fair is a base stat line of 0/1 but enters with a +1/+1 token. For the cost of one generic mana, you can remove from play the card to grant another creature you control protection from destruction and move all of Zack’s bonuses, as well as an gear, onto that target creature.

This card portrays a moment FF fans are extremely remember, a moment that has been reimagined throughout the years — in the classic *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even alternate-timeline iterations in *FF7 Remake*. Yet it lands with equal force here, conveyed completely through card abilities. Zack sacrifices himself to save Cloud, who then takes up the Buster Sword as his own.

A Spoiler for the Card

Some necessary history, and here is your *FF7* spoiler alert: Prior to the main events of the game, Zack and Cloud are gravely wounded after a confrontation with Sephiroth. After extended imprisonment, the friends break free. The entire time, Cloud is delirious, but Zack vows to take care of his companion. They finally make it the edge outside Midgar before Zack is gunned down by Shinra soldiers. Left behind, Cloud in that moment claims Zack’s Buster Sword and takes on the identity of a first-class SOLDIER, which leads right into the start of *FF7*.

Reenacting the Moment on the Tabletop

On the tabletop, the rules effectively let you relive this whole sequence. The Buster Sword appears as a top-tier piece of gear in the set that costs three mana and grants the equipped creature +3/+2. So, for a total of six mana, you can turn Zack into a solid 4/6 with the Buster Sword attached.

The Cloud, Midgar Mercenary also has intentional combo potential with the Buster Sword, letting you to look through your library for an weapon card. When used in tandem, these pieces function in this way: You cast Zack, and he gains the +1/+1 counter. Then you play Cloud to pull the Buster Sword from your deck. Then you play and equip it to Zack.

Owing to the design Zack’s key mechanic is designed, you can actually use it in the middle of battle, meaning you can “block” an attack and trigger it to negate the damage altogether. This allows you to perform this action at a key moment, moving the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He subsequently becomes a powerful 6/4 that, every time he does damage a player, lets you gain card advantage and play two spells without paying their mana cost. This is exactly the kind of interaction alluded to when discussing “flavorful design” — not explaining the scene, but letting the mechanics evoke the memory.

Extending Past the Obvious Combo

But the thematic here is deeply satisfying, and it reaches beyond just this combo. The Jenova card appears in the collection as a creature that, at the start of combat, places a number of +1/+1 counters on a target creature, which additionally gains the type of a Mutant. This sort of implies that Zack’s starting +1/+1 token is, figuratively, the SOLDIER conditioning he underwent, which included genetic manipulation with Jenova cells. This is a tiny nod, but one that subtly links the entire SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter mechanic in the set.

Zack’s card does not depict his demise, or Cloud’s trauma, or the memorable location where it concludes. It does not need to. *Magic* enables you to reenact the legacy for yourself. You perform the ultimate play. You transfer the weapon on. And for a short instant, while engaged in a card battle, you remember why *Final Fantasy 7* is still the most influential game in the saga for many fans.