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A core part of the appeal within the Final Fantasy crossover release for *Magic: The Gathering* lies in the fashion countless cards depict iconic narratives. Take for instance the Tidus, Blitzball Star card, which provides a portrait of the hero at the outset 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 reflect this in nuanced ways. This type of storytelling is prevalent across the complete Final Fantasy offering, and some are not joyful stories. A number act as somber reminders of sad moments fans still mull over to this day.

"Powerful narratives are a key part of the Final Fantasy series," noted a lead game designer involved with the set. "They created some overarching principles, but ultimately, it was primarily on a individual level."

Though the Zack Fair isn't a top-tier card, it is one of the release's most elegant instances of narrative design via gameplay. It masterfully reflects one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most important cinematic moments brilliantly, all while utilizing some of the expansion's core gameplay elements. And although it doesn't spoil anything, those familiar with the story will immediately grasp the significance embedded in it.

The Card's Design: Flavor in Rules

At a cost of one mana of white (the hue of protagonists) in this set, Zack Fair has a starting stat line of 0/1 but enters with a +1/+1 token. By paying one colorless mana, you can remove from play the card to give another unit you control protection from destruction and put all of Zack’s markers, along with an Equipment, onto that other creature.

This card depicts a sequence FF fans are very know well, a moment that has been revisited throughout the years — in the first *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even alternate-timeline versions in *FF7 Remake*. And yet it hits with equal force here, conveyed completely through gameplay mechanics. Zack gives his life to save Cloud, who then inherits the Buster Sword as his own.

A Spoiler for the Scene

For context, and take this as your *FF7* spoiler alert: Before the main events of the game, Zack and Cloud are gravely wounded after a clash with Sephiroth. After years of imprisonment, the duo get away. During their ordeal, Cloud is delirious, but Zack vows to take care of his friend. They finally reach the outskirts outside Midgar before Zack is fatally wounded by forces. Abandoned, Cloud then takes up Zack’s Buster Sword and adopts the persona of a first-class SOLDIER, leading directly into the start of *FF7*.

Playing Out the Passing of the Torch on the Tabletop

In a game, the card mechanics in essence let you relive this iconic event. The Buster Sword is a a powerful piece of equipment in the set that requires three mana and gives the wielding creature +3/+2. Therefore, using six mana, you can transform Zack into a solid 4/6 while the Buster Sword equipped.

The Cloud Strife card also has clear combo potential with the Buster Sword, letting you to look through your library for an equipment card. In combination, these pieces unfold like this: You summon Zack, and he receives the +1/+1 counter. Then you play Cloud to retrieve the Buster Sword out of your deck. Then you play and equip it to Zack.

Owing to the design Zack’s sacrifice ability is designed, you can actually use it in the middle of battle, meaning you can “intercept” an attack and trigger it to cancel out the damage entirely. This allows you to make this play at a key moment, moving the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He then becomes a strong 6/4 that, whenever he does damage a player, lets you draw two cards and play two cards without paying their mana cost. This is just the kind of moment referred to when talking about “emotional resonance” — not spoiling the scene, but letting the mechanics evoke the memory.

More Than the Main Combo

And the thematic here is deeply satisfying, and it goes beyond just Zack and Cloud. 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 target creature, which also becomes a Mutant. This kind of suggests that Zack’s starting +1/+1 token is, in a way, the SOLDIER enhancement he received, 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 ecosystem in the set.

Zack’s card avoids showing his death, or Cloud’s trauma, or the memorable cliff where it all ends. It doesn't have to. *Magic* enables you to relive the passing for yourself. You make the sacrifice. You hand over the legacy on. And for a fleeting moment, while engaged in a strategy game, you recall why *Final Fantasy 7* is still the most influential game in the franchise to date.