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A significant element of the appeal of the *Final Fantasy* Universes Beyond set for *Magic: The Gathering* comes from the fashion countless cards tell well-known narratives. Consider the Tidus, Blitzball Star card, which provides a glimpse of the hero at the very start of *Final Fantasy 10*: a celebrated professional athlete whose signature move is a specialized shot that knocks a defender out of the way. The card's mechanics mirror this perfectly. These kinds of storytelling is found in the complete Final Fantasy set, and they aren't all lighthearted tales. Some act as poignant callbacks of tragedies fans continue to reflect on years after.

"Emotional narratives are a central element of the Final Fantasy legacy," wrote a principal game designer involved with the project. "They created some general rules, but ultimately, it was mostly on a individual level."

Even though the Zack Fair card may not be a top-tier card, it stands as one of the collection's most clever examples of storytelling via rules. It masterfully reflects one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most crucial story moments with great effect, all while utilizing some of the product's key gameplay elements. And while it steers clear of spoiling anything, those familiar with the tale will immediately grasp the significance behind it.

The Mechanics: Story Through Gameplay

For one mana of white (the hue of heroes) in this set, Zack Fair has a base power and toughness of 0/1 but arrives with a +1/+1 marker. By spending one generic mana, you can sacrifice the card to grant another ally you control indestructible and move all of Zack’s counters, along with an gear, onto that chosen creature.

This card depicts a moment FF fans are all too familiar with, a moment that has been reimagined multiple times — in the original *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even alternate-timeline versions in *FF7 Remake*. Yet it resonates powerfully here, communicated completely through gameplay mechanics. Zack gives his life to save Cloud, who then picks up the Buster Sword as his own.

A Spoiler for the Moment

A bit of backstory, and here is your *FF7* warning: Years before the main events of the game, Zack and Cloud are gravely wounded after a confrontation with Sephiroth. Following extended imprisonment, the friends manage to escape. During their ordeal, Cloud is comatose, but Zack vows to look after his friend. They finally make it the edge outside Midgar before Zack is gunned down by forces. Abandoned, Cloud in that moment claims Zack’s Buster Sword and adopts the identity of a first-class SOLDIER, which leads right into the start of *FF7*.

Reenacting the Moment on the Battlefield

Through gameplay, the card mechanics essentially let you recreate this entire sequence. The Buster Sword is a a top-tier piece of equipment in the set that costs three mana and provides the equipped creature +3/+2. So, for a total of six mana, you can make Zack into a solid 4/6 while the Buster Sword equipped.

The Cloud Strife card also has deliberate synergy with the Buster Sword, enabling you to look through your library for an equipment card. Together, these three cards unfold in this way: You cast 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.

Due to the design Zack’s sacrifice ability is designed, you can actually use it during combat, meaning you can “block” an attack and activate it to cancel out the damage entirely. This allows you to make this play at a key moment, transferring the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He is transformed into a formidable 6/4 that, every time he deals combat damage a player, lets you gain card advantage and play two spells at no cost. This is exactly the kind of moment referred to when talking about “emotional resonance” — not explaining the scene, but letting the gameplay evoke the memory.

Extending Past the Central Combo

And the thematic here is oh-so-delicious, and it reaches beyond just these cards. The Jenova, Ancient Calamity is part of the collection as a creature that, at the start of combat, places a number of +1/+1 counters on a target creature, which then becomes a Mutant. This in a way implies that Zack’s starting +1/+1 token is, figuratively, the SOLDIER enhancement he received, which included genetic manipulation with Jenova cells. It's a small connection, but one that subtly links the entire SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter mechanic in the set.

This design doesn't show his end, or Cloud’s trauma, or the stormy bluff where it all ends. It doesn't have to. *Magic* allows you to reenact the moment personally. You perform the sacrifice. You pass the sword on. And for a short instant, while enjoying a card battle, you remember why *Final Fantasy 7* continues to be the most influential game in the saga for many fans.