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A major part of the appeal within the Final Fantasy crossover release for *Magic: The Gathering* lies in the fashion so many cards narrate familiar tales. Cards like the Tidus, Blitzball Star card, which provides a glimpse of the hero at the outset of *Final Fantasy 10*: a wildly famous sports star whose secret weapon is a specialized shot that pushes a defender aside. The card's mechanics mirror this with subtlety. These kinds of storytelling is found throughout the entire Final Fantasy set, and not all lighthearted tales. Several serve as somber callbacks of tragedies fans continue to reflect on decades later.

"Powerful tales are a key component of the Final Fantasy legacy," explained a principal designer for the project. "They created some general rules, but in the end, it was largely on a case-by-case level."

Even though the Zack Fair may not be a competitive powerhouse, it represents one of the collection's most clever examples of narrative design by way of mechanics. It skillfully captures one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most important story moments with great effect, all while leveraging some of the product's key mechanics. And while it steers clear of spoiling anything, those acquainted with the story will instantly understand the emotional weight behind it.

The Card's Design: A Narrative in Play

At a cost of one mana of white (the hue of heroes) in this set, Zack Fair is a base power and toughness of 0/1 but comes into play with a +1/+1 token. By paying one generic mana, you can destroy the card to bestow another creature you control protection from destruction and move all of Zack’s bonuses, along with an artifact weapon, onto that target creature.

These mechanics paints a moment FF fans are very remember, a moment that has been revisited throughout the years — in the original *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even new iterations in *FF7 Remake*. But somehow it resonates powerfully here, conveyed completely through card abilities. Zack gives his life to save Cloud, who then picks up the Buster Sword as his own.

The Story Behind the Card

A bit of backstory, and here is your *FF7* spoiler alert: Before the main events of the game, Zack and Cloud are left for dead after a battle with Sephiroth. After years of imprisonment, the pair manage to escape. Throughout this period, Cloud is barely conscious, but Zack makes sure to look after his companion. They finally arrive at the outskirts outside Midgar before Zack is gunned down by forces. Left behind, Cloud subsequently grabs Zack’s Buster Sword and adopts the role of a elite SOLDIER, setting the stage for the start of *FF7*.

Reenacting the Moment on the Tabletop

In a game, the abilities in essence let you relive this iconic scene. The Buster Sword is featured as a strong piece of armament in the set that requires three mana and provides the wielding creature +3/+2. Thus, with an investment of six mana, you can transform Zack into a solid 4/6 with the Buster Sword equipped.

The Cloud, Midgar Mercenary also has deliberate synergy with the Buster Sword, enabling you to find for an weapon card. When used in tandem, these pieces play out in this way: You play 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 signature action is designed, you can technically use it in the middle of battle, meaning you can “block” an assault and activate it to cancel out the attack altogether. Therefore, you can perform this action at any time, transferring the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He is transformed into a formidable 6/4 that, each time he strikes a player, lets you gain card advantage and cast two spells at no cost. This is just the kind of experience referred to when discussing “flavorful design” — not explaining the scene, but letting the gameplay trigger the recollection.

More Than the Obvious Combo

But the flavor here is oh-so-delicious, and it reaches further than just this combo. The Jenova card is part of the set as a creature that, at the start of combat, places 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 starting +1/+1 token is, symbolically, the SOLDIER treatment he received, which included experimentation with Jenova cells. It's a subtle connection, but one that subtly connects the whole SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter theme in the expansion.

The card avoids showing his demise, or Cloud’s breakdown, or the memorable bluff where it all ends. It doesn't have to. *Magic* allows you to recreate the legacy yourself. You make the ultimate play. You pass the legacy on. And for a brief second, while enjoying a trading card game, you are reminded of why *Final Fantasy 7* continues to be the most influential game in the franchise ever made.