🔗 Share this article

A significant aspect of the allure found in the *Final Fantasy* Universes Beyond release for *Magic: The Gathering* lies in the way so many cards depict familiar stories. Cards like the Tidus, Blitzball Star card, which provides a snapshot of the protagonist at the outset of *Final Fantasy 10*: a renowned sports star whose key technique is a unique shot that takes a defender out of the way. The card's mechanics reflect this in nuanced ways. These kinds of flavor is prevalent throughout the whole Final Fantasy offering, and not all lighthearted tales. Several are poignant reminders of tragedies fans remember vividly decades later.

"Powerful tales are a vital element of the Final Fantasy franchise," explained a lead designer for the project. "They created some broad guidelines, but finally, it was largely on a case-by-case level."

While the Zack Fair is not a top-tier card, it is one of the set's most clever examples of storytelling via gameplay. It masterfully reflects one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most pivotal story moments with great effect, all while leveraging some of the set's central mechanics. And although it avoids revealing anything, those acquainted with the saga will quickly recognize the emotional weight within it.

The Mechanics: Flavor in Rules

For one white mana (the hue of good) in this set, Zack Fair has a base stat line of 0/1 but comes into play with a +1/+1 counter. By spending one colorless mana, you can sacrifice the card to give another unit you control protection from destruction and transfer all of Zack’s counters, as well as an Equipment, onto that chosen creature.

This card portrays a moment FF fans are extremely know well, a moment that has been reimagined again and again — in the original *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even new retellings in *FF7 Remake*. And yet it resonates powerfully here, communicated entirely through card abilities. Zack sacrifices himself to save Cloud, who then picks up the Buster Sword as his own.

A Spoiler for the Moment

A bit of history, and here is your *FF7* spoiler alert: Years before the main events of the game, Zack and Cloud are left for dead after a confrontation with Sephiroth. After extended imprisonment, the duo get away. The entire time, Cloud is delirious, but Zack makes sure to look after his companion. They eventually arrive at the plains outside Midgar before Zack is gunned down by forces. Left behind, Cloud subsequently grabs Zack’s Buster Sword and assumes the persona of a first-class SOLDIER, leading directly into the start of *FF7*.

Simulating the Legacy on the Battlefield

In a game, the rules in essence let you reenact this iconic sequence. The Buster Sword appears as a strong piece of gear in the collection that costs three mana and grants the equipped creature +3/+2. So, for a total of six mana, you can turn Zack into a formidable 4/6 while the Buster Sword wielded.

The Cloud, Midgar Mercenary also has deliberate interaction with the Buster Sword, letting you to search your deck for an weapon card. Together, these pieces unfold in this way: You play Zack, and he gains the +1/+1 counter. Then you cast Cloud to pull the Buster Sword from your deck. Then you play and equip it to Zack.

Owing to the design Zack’s key mechanic is structured, you can technically use it during combat, meaning you can “block” an attack and activate it to prevent the damage altogether. So you can perform this action at any time, transferring the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He subsequently becomes a formidable 6/4 that, whenever he deals combat damage a player, lets you draw two cards and play two cards without paying their mana cost. This is exactly the kind of moment alluded to when discussing “narrative impact” — not spoiling the scene, but letting the mechanics trigger the recollection.

More Than the Main Combo

However, the flavor here is oh-so-delicious, and it goes 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 chosen creature, which additionally gains the type of a Mutant. This in a way hints that Zack’s starting +1/+1 token is, in a way, the SOLDIER treatment he underwent, which included modification with Jenova cells. It's a small connection, but one that cleverly connects the whole SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter mechanic in the expansion.

Zack’s card avoids showing his death, or Cloud’s confusion, or the stormy location where it concludes. It isn't necessary. *Magic* lets you reenact the legacy for yourself. You perform the sacrifice. You hand over the weapon on. And for a fleeting moment, while playing a strategy game, you recall why *Final Fantasy 7* is still the most influential game in the franchise to date.