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A major part of the allure of the Final Fantasy crossover release for *Magic: The Gathering* is the way so many cards depict familiar narratives. Cards like the Tidus, Blitzball Star card, which offers a glimpse of the hero at the very start of *Final Fantasy 10*: a wildly famous Blitzball pro whose key technique is a unique shot that pushes a defender aside. The gameplay rules reflect this perfectly. This type of narrative is found throughout the complete Final Fantasy set, and not all lighthearted tales. Several act as somber reminders of sad moments fans continue to reflect on to this day.

"Emotional narratives are a key element of the Final Fantasy legacy," wrote a senior game designer for the project. "We built some overarching principles, but in the end, it was largely on a individual level."

Though the Zack Fair card may not be a top-tier card, it is one of the collection's most refined instances of narrative design via rules. It skillfully captures one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most important dramatic moments in spectacular fashion, all while capitalizing on some of the product's central gameplay elements. And although it steers clear of spoiling anything, those acquainted with the tale will immediately grasp the emotional weight behind it.

The Card's Design: Flavor in Rules

At a cost of one mana of white (the hue of heroes) in this set, Zack Fair is a starting stat line of 0/1 but comes into play with a +1/+1 marker. By paying one generic mana, you can destroy the card to grant another creature you control indestructible and move all of Zack’s bonuses, as well as an Equipment, onto that target creature.

These mechanics portrays a sequence FF fans are very know well, a moment that has been revisited throughout the years — in the original *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even new versions in *FF7 Remake*. And yet it resonates with equal force here, conveyed entirely through gameplay mechanics. Zack sacrifices himself to save Cloud, who then takes up the Buster Sword as his own.

A Spoiler for the Card

Some necessary backstory, and consider this your *FF7* spoiler alert: Prior to the main events of the game, Zack and Cloud are left for dead after a battle with Sephiroth. After extended experimentation, the pair get away. Throughout this period, Cloud is comatose, but Zack vows to protect his friend. They eventually make it the plains outside Midgar before Zack is gunned down by troops. Presumed dead, Cloud subsequently grabs Zack’s Buster Sword and takes on the persona of a elite SOLDIER, leading directly into the start of *FF7*.

Simulating the Moment on the Battlefield

In a game, the abilities in essence let you recreate this iconic scene. The Buster Sword is featured as a top-tier piece of equipment in the collection that costs three mana and grants the equipped creature +3/+2. So, for a total of six mana, you can transform Zack into a formidable 4/6 while the Buster Sword attached.

The Cloud, Midgar Mercenary also has intentional interaction with the Buster Sword, enabling you to look through your library for an weapon card. Together, these pieces function in this way: You summon Zack, and he gets the +1/+1 counter. Then you summon Cloud to fetch the Buster Sword from your deck. Then you summon and give it to Zack.

Due to the manner Zack’s key mechanic is structured, you can technically use it when blocking, meaning you can “intercept” an assault and activate it to negate the attack completely. Therefore, you can make this play at any time, passing the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He subsequently becomes a strong 6/4 that, every time he does damage a player, lets you pull extra cards and cast two cards without paying their mana cost. This is exactly the kind of moment referred to when discussing “flavorful design” — not explaining the scene, but letting the mechanics trigger the recollection.

Extending Past the Main Interaction

And the thematic here is oh-so-delicious, and it extends past just these cards. The Jenova card is part of the collection as a creature that, at the start of combat, places a number of +1/+1 counters on a chosen creature, which additionally gains the type of a Mutant. This kind of suggests that Zack’s starting +1/+1 token is, in a way, the SOLDIER enhancement he received, which included genetic manipulation with Jenova cells. It's a small nod, but one that subtly links the entire SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter ecosystem in the expansion.

Zack’s card doesn't show his demise, or Cloud’s confusion, or the stormy cliff where it concludes. It does not need to. *Magic* enables you to relive the moment for yourself. You choose the sacrifice. You pass the legacy on. And for a fleeting moment, while engaged in a trading card game, you recall why *Final Fantasy 7* continues to be the most impactful game in the series to date.