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A major aspect of the charm found in the *Final Fantasy* Universes Beyond set for *Magic: The Gathering* is the fashion numerous cards narrate well-known tales. Cards like Tidus, Blitzball Star, which provides a glimpse of the protagonist at the very start of *Final Fantasy 10*: a renowned sports star whose signature move is a unique shot that pushes a defender aside. The gameplay rules represent this perfectly. Such flavor is widespread throughout the entire Final Fantasy set, and not all joyful stories. A number serve as heartbreaking callbacks of tragedies fans still mull over decades later.

"Emotional stories are a vital element of the Final Fantasy franchise," explained a principal game designer for the project. "They created some broad guidelines, but finally, it was largely on a case-by-case basis."

Though the Zack Fair is not a tournament staple, it is one of the collection's most refined pieces of flavor via mechanics. It skillfully echoes one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most important dramatic moments in spectacular fashion, all while capitalizing on some of the expansion's central mechanics. And even if it doesn't spoil anything, those familiar with the tale will instantly understand the emotional weight behind it.

The Mechanics: Flavor in Rules

At a cost of one mana of white (the alignment of protagonists) in this set, Zack Fair is a base power and toughness of 0/1 but comes into play with a +1/+1 marker. By spending one colorless mana, you can destroy the card to bestow another unit you control protection from destruction and move all of Zack’s counters, plus an Equipment, onto that target creature.

This card portrays a moment FF fans are very know well, a moment that has been revisited again and again — in the original *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even new iterations in *FF7 Remake*. Yet it resonates powerfully here, expressed 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 Moment

For history, 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. After years of testing, the friends get away. The entire time, Cloud is barely conscious, but Zack vows to look after his companion. They eventually arrive at the plains outside Midgar before Zack is fatally wounded by forces. Abandoned, Cloud in that moment claims Zack’s Buster Sword and assumes the role of a elite SOLDIER, leading directly into the start of *FF7*.

Simulating the Moment on the Game Board

In a game, the rules effectively let you reenact this iconic scene. The Buster Sword is featured as a powerful piece of armament in the collection that costs three mana and gives 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 wielded.

The Cloud Strife card also has clear synergy with the Buster Sword, letting you to look through your library for an equipment card. Together, these three cards function like this: You play Zack, and he gets the +1/+1 counter. Then you cast Cloud to retrieve the Buster Sword from your deck. Then you summon and give it to Zack.

Because of the manner Zack’s sacrifice ability is worded, you can potentially use it in the middle of battle, meaning you can “block” an assault and trigger it to prevent the attack entirely. So you can make this play at any time, passing the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He subsequently becomes a powerful 6/4 that, every time he deals combat damage a player, lets you pull extra cards and play two spells for free. This is just the kind of experience referred to when discussing “flavorful design” — not spoiling the scene, but letting the gameplay make you remember.

Beyond the Main Synergy

And the narrative here is oh-so-delicious, and it reaches past just Zack and Cloud. The Jenova, Ancient Calamity 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 then becomes a Mutant. This kind of implies that Zack’s initial +1/+1 token is, figuratively, the SOLDIER enhancement he received, which included experimentation with Jenova cells. This is a subtle connection, but one that cleverly connects the entire SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter theme in the expansion.

The card avoids showing his death, or Cloud’s confusion, or the rain-soaked bluff where it happens. It does not need to. *Magic* allows you to recreate the moment yourself. You choose the sacrifice. You hand over the weapon on. And for a brief second, while playing a card battle, you recall why *Final Fantasy 7* continues to be the most impactful game in the franchise ever made.