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A major aspect of the appeal found in the Final Fantasy Universes Beyond set for *Magic: The Gathering* lies in the way countless cards depict familiar stories. Consider Tidus, Blitzball Star, which provides a glimpse of the protagonist at the very start of *Final Fantasy 10*: a celebrated Blitzball pro whose signature move is a fancy shot that knocks a defender out of the way. The card's mechanics mirror this in nuanced ways. Such flavor is prevalent across the entire Final Fantasy offering, and not all fun and games. A number act as somber echoes of sad moments fans remember vividly to this day.

"Powerful tales are a central part of the Final Fantasy series," wrote a lead game designer involved with the project. "We built some overarching principles, but ultimately, it was mostly on a card-by-card basis."

While the Zack Fair is not a top-tier card, it represents one of the collection's most refined examples of flavor via gameplay. It masterfully reflects one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most crucial story moments with great effect, all while capitalizing on some of the expansion's core gameplay elements. And although it steers clear of spoiling anything, those who know the story will immediately grasp the meaning behind it.

The Card's Design: A Narrative in Play

At a cost of one white mana (the alignment of heroes) in this set, Zack Fair enters with a starting power and toughness of 0/1 but enters with a +1/+1 counter. By paying one generic mana, you can remove from play the card to grant another ally you control protection from destruction and transfer all of Zack’s counters, along with an Equipment, onto that other creature.

This card portrays a scene FF fans are extremely know well, a moment that has been retold multiple times — in the first *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even reimagined versions in *FF7 Remake*. And yet it lands just as hard here, communicated entirely through gameplay mechanics. Zack sacrifices himself to save Cloud, who then picks up the Buster Sword as his own.

A Spoiler for the Card

For context, and here is your *FF7* spoiler alert: Before the main events of the game, Zack and Cloud are severely injured after a battle with Sephiroth. Following extended experimentation, the friends get away. During their ordeal, Cloud is comatose, but Zack ensures to take care of his friend. They eventually arrive at the plains outside Midgar before Zack is killed by forces. 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*.

Playing Out the Legacy on the Game Board

Through gameplay, the abilities effectively let you reenact this iconic scene. The Buster Sword appears as a top-tier 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 make Zack into a formidable 4/6 with the Buster Sword wielded.

The Cloud Strife card also has deliberate interaction with the Buster Sword, letting you to search your deck for an artifact card. Together, these three cards function in this way: You summon Zack, and he gets the +1/+1 counter. Then you cast Cloud to pull the Buster Sword out of your deck. Then you cast and attach it to Zack.

Because of the design Zack’s sacrifice ability is designed, you can technically use it during combat, meaning you can “block” an assault and activate it to negate the damage entirely. This allows you to do this at any time, moving the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He is transformed into a powerful 6/4 that, each time he strikes a player, lets you pull extra cards and cast two spells for free. This is exactly the kind of experience referred to when discussing “emotional resonance” — not explaining the scene, but letting the mechanics make you remember.

More Than the Central Combo

But the flavor here is oh-so-delicious, and it reaches further than 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 chosen creature, which additionally gains the type of a Mutant. This in a way hints that Zack’s initial +1/+1 token is, in a way, the SOLDIER enhancement he received, which included genetic manipulation with Jenova cells. This is a small connection, but one that subtly ties the entire SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter theme in the expansion.

This design doesn't show his death, or Cloud’s confusion, or the memorable cliff where it concludes. It isn't necessary. *Magic* allows you to relive the passing for yourself. You choose the sacrifice. You pass the sword on. And for a brief second, while playing a trading card game, you are reminded of why *Final Fantasy 7* continues to be the most impactful game in the series for many fans.