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A significant part of the charm of the *Final Fantasy* Universes Beyond set for *Magic: The Gathering* comes from the manner countless cards tell familiar tales. Take for instance Tidus, Blitzball Star, which offers a glimpse of the hero at the beginning of *Final Fantasy 10*: a wildly famous Blitzball pro whose key technique is a unique shot that knocks a defender out of the way. The abilities mirror this with subtlety. These kinds of storytelling is widespread throughout the complete Final Fantasy offering, and some are not fun and games. Some serve as heartbreaking reminders of sad moments fans continue to reflect on years after.

"Powerful tales are a vital component of the Final Fantasy series," explained a senior game designer for the set. "They created some broad guidelines, but finally, it was largely on a individual basis."

Though the Zack Fair card isn't a top-tier card, it is one of the set's most clever instances of narrative design through gameplay. It skillfully reflects one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most important cinematic moments in spectacular fashion, all while utilizing some of the set's core systems. And while it doesn't spoil anything, those familiar with the tale will immediately grasp the meaning embedded in it.

How It Works: A Narrative in Play

For one white mana (the color of good) in this set, Zack Fair enters with a starting stat line of 0/1 but comes into play with a +1/+1 counter. For the cost of one colorless mana, you can destroy the card to bestow another ally you control protection from destruction and put all of Zack’s bonuses, plus an artifact weapon, onto that chosen creature.

This card paints a scene FF fans are all too know well, a moment that has been retold multiple times — in the classic *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even reimagined retellings in *FF7 Remake*. But somehow it resonates powerfully here, expressed solely through card abilities. Zack gives his life to save Cloud, who then picks up the Buster Sword as his own.

The Context of the Moment

Some necessary backstory, and here is your *FF7* warning: Years before the primary events of the game, Zack and Cloud are severely injured after a clash with Sephiroth. Following years of experimentation, the friends manage to escape. During their ordeal, Cloud is delirious, but Zack makes sure to look after his friend. They eventually make it the edge outside Midgar before Zack is gunned down by forces. Left behind, Cloud in that moment claims Zack’s Buster Sword and takes on the role of a first-class SOLDIER, leading directly into the start of *FF7*.

Simulating the Moment on the Battlefield

On the tabletop, the abilities effectively let you recreate this entire sequence. The Buster Sword is featured as a powerful piece of gear in the collection that requires three mana and provides the wielding creature +3/+2. Therefore, using six mana, you can make Zack into a solid 4/6 while the Buster Sword equipped.

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

Due to the way Zack’s sacrifice ability is designed, you can potentially use it during combat, meaning you can “intercept” an attack and activate it to cancel out the damage altogether. Therefore, you can perform this action at any time, passing the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He is transformed into a powerful 6/4 that, every time he does damage a player, lets you draw two cards and cast two spells without paying their mana cost. This is precisely the kind of interaction referred to when discussing “emotional resonance” — not revealing the scene, but letting the card design evoke the memory.

Beyond the Main Combo

However, the narrative here is incredibly rich, and it reaches further than just these cards. The Jenova card appears in the set as a creature that, at the start of combat, places a number of +1/+1 counters on a target creature, which also becomes a Mutant. This in a way hints that Zack’s starting +1/+1 token is, in a way, the SOLDIER conditioning he underwent, which included experimentation with Jenova cells. This is a small reference, but one that cleverly connects the entire SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter ecosystem in the expansion.

Zack’s card doesn't show his end, or Cloud’s breakdown, or the stormy location where it all ends. It does not need to. *Magic* allows you to reenact the legacy personally. You make the ultimate play. You transfer the sword on. And for a brief second, while playing a trading card game, you are reminded of why *Final Fantasy 7* remains the most beloved game in the saga ever made.