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A major element of the appeal found in the Final Fantasy crossover collection for *Magic: The Gathering* lies in the fashion so many cards tell iconic narratives. Take for instance the Tidus, Blitzball Star card, which gives a snapshot of the hero at the outset of *Final Fantasy 10*: a celebrated professional athlete whose secret weapon is a specialized shot that takes a defender out of the way. The gameplay rules represent this perfectly. These kinds of narrative is widespread throughout the complete Final Fantasy set, and they aren't all lighthearted tales. Some are poignant reminders of tragedies fans remember vividly to this day.

"Powerful tales are a central element of the Final Fantasy franchise," wrote a principal designer on the project. "The team established some general rules, but in the end, it was primarily on a card-by-card basis."

Though the Zack Fair card isn't a top-tier card, it represents one of the collection's most clever pieces of flavor via gameplay. It skillfully echoes one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most important story moments brilliantly, all while leveraging some of the product's central mechanics. And although it doesn't spoil anything, those who know the tale will quickly recognize the emotional weight embedded in it.

How It Works: Story Through Gameplay

For one white mana (the alignment of protagonists) in this collection, Zack Fair has a base stat line of 0/1 but enters with a +1/+1 marker. For the cost of one colorless mana, you can remove from play the card to give another ally you control protection from destruction and move all of Zack’s bonuses, along with an artifact weapon, onto that chosen creature.

This card depicts a moment FF fans are very know well, a moment that has been revisited again and again — in the classic *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even new versions in *FF7 Remake*. And yet it hits just as hard here, conveyed completely through gameplay mechanics. Zack gives his life to save Cloud, who then inherits the Buster Sword as his own.

The Story Behind the Scene

For context, and here is your *FF7* warning: Years before the main events of the game, Zack and Cloud are left for dead after a clash with Sephiroth. Following extended imprisonment, the pair manage to escape. The entire time, Cloud is delirious, but Zack vows to protect his comrade. They finally arrive at the plains outside Midgar before Zack is gunned down by Shinra soldiers. Abandoned, Cloud subsequently grabs Zack’s Buster Sword and takes on the role of a elite SOLDIER, setting the stage for the start of *FF7*.

Reenacting the Moment on the Battlefield

On the tabletop, the rules in essence let you recreate this entire scene. The Buster Sword appears as a powerful piece of equipment in the collection that costs three mana and provides the wielding creature +3/+2. Thus, with an investment of six mana, you can make Zack into a respectable 4/6 with the Buster Sword equipped.

The Cloud Strife card also has clear synergy with the Buster Sword, enabling you to look through your library for an weapon card. When used in tandem, these pieces play out in this way: You summon Zack, and he gets the +1/+1 counter. Then you cast Cloud to pull the Buster Sword out of your deck. Then you cast and attach it to Zack.

Owing to the design Zack’s key mechanic is structured, you can actually use it during combat, meaning you can “block” an assault and activate it to negate the damage entirely. So you can make this play at a key moment, moving the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He then becomes a formidable 6/4 that, each time he deals combat damage a player, lets you gain card advantage and play two spells without paying their mana cost. This is just the kind of interaction referred to when talking about “emotional resonance” — not revealing the scene, but letting the gameplay trigger the recollection.

More Than the Obvious Combo

However, the narrative here is incredibly rich, and it extends further than just this combo. The Jenova, Ancient Calamity is part of the set as a creature that, at the start of combat, puts a number of +1/+1 counters on a target creature, which additionally gains the type of a Mutant. This kind of implies that Zack’s initial +1/+1 token is, figuratively, the SOLDIER treatment he received, which included modification with Jenova cells. It's a subtle reference, but one that implicitly links the entire SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter theme in the expansion.

This design avoids showing his death, or Cloud’s confusion, or the rain-soaked location where it all ends. It doesn't have to. *Magic* allows you to reenact the passing for yourself. You make the ultimate play. You pass the weapon on. And for a fleeting moment, while enjoying a card battle, you recall why *Final Fantasy 7* is still the most beloved game in the series for many fans.