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A major part of the appeal of the *Final Fantasy* crossover collection for *Magic: The Gathering* lies in the way so many cards narrate iconic stories. Take for instance the Tidus, Blitzball Star card, which gives a snapshot of the character at the very start of *Final Fantasy 10*: a wildly famous Blitzball pro whose signature move is a unique shot that takes a defender out of the way. The card's mechanics mirror this perfectly. Such narrative is prevalent in the entire Final Fantasy offering, and some are not fun and games. Several act as poignant echoes of sad moments fans continue to reflect on years after.

"Emotional stories are a central component of the Final Fantasy franchise," wrote a lead designer for the collaboration. "The team established some overarching principles, but ultimately, it was mostly on a card-by-card level."

Even though the Zack Fair may not be a tournament staple, it is one of the set's most refined instances of storytelling through mechanics. It masterfully reflects one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most crucial dramatic moments in spectacular fashion, all while utilizing some of the product's central systems. And even if it doesn't spoil anything, those acquainted with the tale will instantly understand the significance behind it.

The Mechanics: Flavor in Rules

For one mana of white (the alignment of good) in this set, Zack Fair has a starting power and toughness of 0/1 but enters with a +1/+1 counter. By spending one generic mana, you can destroy the card to grant another unit you control indestructible and put all of Zack’s counters, plus an Equipment, onto that other creature.

This card depicts a scene FF fans are very remember, a moment that has been retold again and again — in the original *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even alternate-timeline retellings in *FF7 Remake*. But somehow it hits powerfully here, conveyed solely through card abilities. Zack gives his life to save Cloud, who then picks up the Buster Sword as his own.

A Spoiler for the Moment

For history, and here is your *FF7* warning: Before the main events of the game, Zack and Cloud are gravely wounded after a battle with Sephiroth. After extended experimentation, the pair break free. Throughout this period, Cloud is delirious, but Zack ensures to look after his companion. They finally make it the edge outside Midgar before Zack is fatally wounded by troops. Left behind, Cloud subsequently grabs Zack’s Buster Sword and takes on the persona of a first-class SOLDIER, which leads right into the start of *FF7*.

Playing Out the Passing of the Torch on the Game Board

On the tabletop, the abilities effectively let you recreate this whole sequence. The Buster Sword appears as a strong piece of equipment in the collection that requires three mana and grants the wielding creature +3/+2. So, for a total of six mana, you can transform Zack into a respectable 4/6 with the Buster Sword attached.

The Cloud Strife card also has intentional interaction with the Buster Sword, allowing you to search your deck for an artifact card. In combination, these three cards function like this: You play Zack, and he gets 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 way Zack’s signature action is designed, you can potentially use it during combat, meaning you can “intercept” an attack and trigger it to cancel out the attack altogether. So you can do this at a key moment, passing the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He then becomes a strong 6/4 that, every time he strikes a player, lets you gain card advantage and play two cards at no cost. This is just the kind of moment referred to when talking about “narrative impact” — not explaining the scene, but letting the card design evoke the memory.

Beyond the Main Interaction

However, the narrative here is deeply satisfying, and it extends beyond just Zack and Cloud. 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 chosen creature, which also becomes a Mutant. This in a way implies that Zack’s starting +1/+1 token is, in a way, the SOLDIER treatment he underwent, which included genetic manipulation with Jenova cells. This is a subtle connection, but one that implicitly connects the entire SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter ecosystem in the expansion.

The card does not depict his demise, or Cloud’s trauma, or the stormy bluff where it concludes. It does not need to. *Magic* enables you to reenact the legacy personally. You perform the sacrifice. You transfer the sword on. And for a brief second, while engaged in a card battle, you recall why *Final Fantasy 7* continues to be the most influential game in the franchise to date.