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A significant aspect of the appeal of the *Final Fantasy* Universes Beyond set for *Magic: The Gathering* is the way numerous cards depict iconic stories. Consider the Tidus, Blitzball Star card, which provides a portrait of the protagonist at the very start of *Final Fantasy 10*: a celebrated sports star whose secret weapon is a specialized shot that takes a defender aside. The card's mechanics represent this with subtlety. Such flavor is found across the complete Final Fantasy set, and some are not lighthearted tales. A number serve as somber callbacks of tragedies fans remember vividly years after.

"Emotional stories are a vital part of the Final Fantasy franchise," wrote a senior game designer on the set. "The team established some overarching principles, but ultimately, it was mostly on a case-by-case basis."

While the Zack Fair is not a competitive powerhouse, it is one of the collection's most clever examples of flavor via gameplay. It masterfully reflects one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most crucial dramatic moments with great effect, all while leveraging some of the set's key gameplay elements. And although it doesn't spoil anything, those acquainted with the tale will quickly recognize the significance embedded in it.

How It Works: Flavor in Rules

At a cost of one mana of white (the color of protagonists) in this set, Zack Fair has a starting power and toughness of 0/1 but enters with a +1/+1 token. For the cost of one colorless mana, you can sacrifice the card to grant another creature you control protection from destruction and move all of Zack’s markers, as well as an artifact weapon, onto that other creature.

This card depicts a scene FF fans are all too familiar with, a moment that has been retold throughout the years — in the first *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even new versions in *FF7 Remake*. But somehow it resonates powerfully here, communicated entirely through gameplay mechanics. Zack makes the ultimate sacrifice to save Cloud, who then inherits the Buster Sword as his own.

The Story Behind the Card

Some necessary history, and take this as your *FF7* spoiler alert: Years before the main events of the game, Zack and Cloud are severely injured after a clash with Sephiroth. Following years of testing, the pair manage to escape. Throughout this period, Cloud is delirious, but Zack vows to take care of his friend. They finally reach the plains outside Midgar before Zack is gunned down by forces. Presumed dead, Cloud then takes up Zack’s Buster Sword and takes on the persona of a elite SOLDIER, which leads right into the start of *FF7*.

Reenacting the Legacy on the Battlefield

In a game, the rules essentially let you recreate this iconic sequence. The Buster Sword is a a powerful piece of gear in the set that costs three mana and provides the equipped creature +3/+2. So, for a total of six mana, you can transform Zack into a formidable 4/6 with the Buster Sword attached.

The Cloud Strife card also has deliberate combo potential with the Buster Sword, letting you to search your deck for an equipment card. When used in tandem, these pieces play out as follows: You play Zack, and he receives the +1/+1 counter. Then you cast Cloud to retrieve the Buster Sword out of your deck. Then you play and equip it to Zack.

Owing to the manner Zack’s key mechanic is designed, you can actually use it during combat, meaning you can “block” an attack and trigger it to prevent the attack altogether. Therefore, you can make this play at a key moment, passing the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He is transformed into a strong 6/4 that, whenever he does damage a player, lets you pull extra cards and cast two spells for free. This is exactly the kind of experience meant when talking about “emotional resonance” — not spoiling the scene, but letting the gameplay trigger the recollection.

Beyond the Obvious Synergy

However, the thematic here is oh-so-delicious, and it goes past just this combo. The Jenova, Ancient Calamity appears in 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 kind of hints that Zack’s starting +1/+1 token is, figuratively, the SOLDIER treatment he underwent, which included genetic manipulation with Jenova cells. It's a small reference, but one that cleverly ties the whole SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter theme in the set.

This design avoids showing his end, or Cloud’s breakdown, or the rain-soaked location where it concludes. It does not need to. *Magic* enables you to recreate the moment for yourself. You perform the sacrifice. You pass the sword on. And for a brief second, while enjoying a trading card game, you recall why *Final Fantasy 7* continues to be the most beloved game in the saga to date.