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A core element of the appeal within the Final Fantasy crossover release for *Magic: The Gathering* is the fashion numerous cards tell familiar narratives. Consider the Tidus, Blitzball Star card, which gives a portrait of the hero at the very start of *Final Fantasy 10*: a renowned sports star whose signature move is a specialized shot that knocks a defender aside. The gameplay rules mirror this with subtlety. Such storytelling is found across the entire Final Fantasy set, and they aren't all joyful stories. Some are heartbreaking echoes of emotional events fans continue to reflect on to this day.

"Emotional stories are a vital component of the Final Fantasy franchise," wrote a senior game designer on the set. "They created some broad guidelines, but finally, it was mostly on a case-by-case level."

While the Zack Fair isn't a competitive powerhouse, it is one of the set's most refined instances of storytelling by way of rules. It skillfully reflects one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most important cinematic moments with great effect, all while leveraging some of the expansion's core mechanics. And while it steers clear of spoiling anything, those familiar with the story will instantly understand the meaning embedded in it.

How It Works: Flavor in Rules

For one white mana (the alignment of protagonists) in this set, Zack Fair has a base stat line of 0/1 but comes into play with a +1/+1 marker. By spending one generic mana, you can destroy the card to grant another creature you control indestructible and put all of Zack’s markers, plus an artifact weapon, onto that chosen creature.

This design paints a sequence FF fans are very familiar with, a moment that has been retold throughout the years — in the first *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even new retellings in *FF7 Remake*. But somehow it hits just as hard here, conveyed solely through card abilities. Zack sacrifices himself to save Cloud, who then takes up the Buster Sword as his own.

The Story Behind the Card

For context, and consider this your *FF7* warning: Years before the primary events of the game, Zack and Cloud are gravely wounded after a clash with Sephiroth. After extended testing, the pair manage to escape. The entire time, Cloud is delirious, but Zack ensures to look after his comrade. They finally arrive at the edge outside Midgar before Zack is killed by Shinra soldiers. Presumed dead, Cloud in that moment claims Zack’s Buster Sword and adopts the role of a first-class SOLDIER, leading directly into the start of *FF7*.

Reenacting the Passing of the Torch on the Tabletop

Through gameplay, the abilities in essence let you relive this entire scene. The Buster Sword appears as a powerful piece of armament in the set that costs three mana and gives the equipped creature +3/+2. So, for a total of six mana, you can transform Zack into a solid 4/6 while the Buster Sword attached.

The Cloud Strife card also has clear combo potential with the Buster Sword, letting you to look through your library for an equipment card. When used in tandem, these three cards unfold in this way: You play Zack, and he gets the +1/+1 counter. Then you cast Cloud to fetch the Buster Sword from your deck. Then you play and equip it to Zack.

Because of the manner Zack’s signature action is structured, you can technically use it when blocking, meaning you can “block” an assault and activate it to cancel out the damage completely. This allows you to do this at any time, transferring the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He subsequently becomes a formidable 6/4 that, each time he does damage a player, lets you pull extra cards and play two spells for free. This is precisely the kind of experience referred to when discussing “flavorful design” — not spoiling the scene, but letting the mechanics trigger the recollection.

Beyond the Obvious Combo

And the thematic here is deeply satisfying, and it goes past just this combo. The Jenova card appears in the set 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 suggests that Zack’s initial +1/+1 token is, figuratively, the SOLDIER conditioning he underwent, which included genetic manipulation with Jenova cells. It's a tiny nod, but one that subtly links the entire SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter theme in the expansion.

Zack’s card avoids showing his end, or Cloud’s trauma, or the rain-soaked bluff where it concludes. It does not need to. *Magic* lets you reenact the passing personally. You choose the sacrifice. You pass the sword on. And for a short instant, while engaged in a strategy game, you are reminded of why *Final Fantasy 7* continues to be the most beloved game in the franchise to date.