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A major part of the allure within the *Final Fantasy* crossover set for *Magic: The Gathering* lies in the manner numerous cards narrate familiar tales. Take for instance the Tidus, Blitzball Star card, which gives a portrait of the protagonist at the very start of *Final Fantasy 10*: a celebrated Blitzball pro whose secret weapon is a specialized shot that knocks a defender aside. The card's mechanics represent this perfectly. These kinds of storytelling is widespread across the entire Final Fantasy offering, and some are not lighthearted tales. Several act as heartbreaking callbacks of tragedies fans still mull over years after.

"Emotional tales are a vital part of the Final Fantasy franchise," explained a lead game designer for the collaboration. "The team established some overarching principles, but finally, it was mostly on a card-by-card level."

Though the Zack Fair isn't a tournament staple, it stands as one of the set's most refined examples of flavor through rules. It masterfully echoes one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most pivotal dramatic moments in spectacular fashion, all while capitalizing on some of the set's key gameplay elements. And while it doesn't spoil anything, those familiar with the tale will quickly recognize the meaning within it.

The Mechanics: A Narrative in Play

For one mana of white (the hue of good) in this set, Zack Fair is a starting power and toughness of 0/1 but enters with a +1/+1 marker. By spending one generic mana, you can destroy the card to give another creature you control indestructible and transfer all of Zack’s counters, along with an gear, onto that other creature.

This card portrays a scene FF fans are very remember, a moment that has been retold throughout the years — in the original *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even new versions in *FF7 Remake*. Yet it resonates powerfully here, conveyed completely through gameplay mechanics. Zack sacrifices himself to save Cloud, who then inherits the Buster Sword as his own.

The Context of the Moment

Some necessary history, and consider this your *FF7* spoiler alert: Before the main events of the game, Zack and Cloud are left for dead after a confrontation with Sephiroth. After extended experimentation, the duo get away. Throughout this period, Cloud is barely conscious, but Zack makes sure to protect his friend. They finally make it the outskirts outside Midgar before Zack is gunned down by forces. Left behind, Cloud subsequently grabs Zack’s Buster Sword and assumes the identity of a elite SOLDIER, leading directly into the start of *FF7*.

Simulating the Passing of the Torch on the Game Board

On the tabletop, the card mechanics essentially let you relive this iconic scene. The Buster Sword appears as a powerful piece of gear in the collection that costs three mana and grants the wielding creature +3/+2. Therefore, using six mana, you can turn Zack into a respectable 4/6 while the Buster Sword attached.

The Cloud Strife card also has intentional interaction with the Buster Sword, letting you to look through your library for an equipment card. Together, these pieces function like this: You cast Zack, and he receives the +1/+1 counter. Then you summon Cloud to pull the Buster Sword from your deck. Then you cast and attach it to Zack.

Because of the design Zack’s signature action is structured, you can potentially use it during combat, meaning you can “block” an attack and activate it to prevent the attack entirely. So you can do this at a key moment, transferring the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He subsequently becomes a powerful 6/4 that, whenever he deals combat damage a player, lets you gain card advantage and play two cards for free. This is exactly the kind of experience referred to when talking about “emotional resonance” — not spoiling the scene, but letting the mechanics evoke the memory.

More Than the Main Interaction

However, the thematic here is deeply satisfying, and it reaches past just Zack and Cloud. 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 then becomes a Mutant. This in a way suggests that Zack’s starting +1/+1 token is, symbolically, the SOLDIER enhancement he received, which included genetic manipulation with Jenova cells. This is a small reference, but one that implicitly ties the entire SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter mechanic in the set.

Zack’s card avoids showing his demise, or Cloud’s trauma, or the stormy bluff where it happens. It does not need to. *Magic* allows you to reenact the passing yourself. You choose the ultimate play. You hand over the sword on. And for a short instant, while engaged in a card battle, you recall why *Final Fantasy 7* remains the most influential game in the saga for many fans.