🔗 Share this article

A core part of the allure within the *Final Fantasy* Universes Beyond set for *Magic: The Gathering* comes from the fashion so many cards tell familiar tales. Consider the Tidus, Blitzball Star card, which gives a portrait of the character at the very start of *Final Fantasy 10*: a wildly famous professional athlete whose signature move is a unique shot that pushes a defender aside. The card's mechanics reflect this with subtlety. These kinds of narrative is prevalent in the complete Final Fantasy offering, and not all fun and games. Several serve as poignant reminders of sad moments fans remember vividly to this day.

"Moving tales are a key element of the Final Fantasy franchise," noted a senior game designer for the collaboration. "They created some general rules, but in the end, it was largely on a individual basis."

While the Zack Fair card may not be a tournament staple, it stands as one of the set's most clever pieces of flavor via mechanics. It masterfully captures one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most important cinematic moments with great effect, all while capitalizing on some of the expansion's core systems. And even if it doesn't spoil anything, those acquainted with the story will instantly understand the meaning behind it.

The Mechanics: Story Through Gameplay

For one white mana (the alignment of protagonists) in this set, Zack Fair has a starting stat line of 0/1 but arrives with a +1/+1 token. By spending one colorless mana, you can sacrifice the card to give another creature you control indestructible and put all of Zack’s counters, as well as an gear, onto that chosen creature.

This card paints a sequence FF fans are all too know well, a moment that has been revisited multiple times — in the classic *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even new versions in *FF7 Remake*. But somehow it resonates with equal force here, communicated solely through rules text. Zack gives his life to save Cloud, who then picks up the Buster Sword as his own.

The Story Behind the Scene

For backstory, and consider this your *FF7* warning: Prior to the main events of the game, Zack and Cloud are severely injured after a battle with Sephiroth. After years of imprisonment, the friends manage to escape. Throughout this period, Cloud is comatose, but Zack vows to look after his friend. They eventually arrive at the plains outside Midgar before Zack is killed by troops. Abandoned, Cloud subsequently grabs Zack’s Buster Sword and assumes the role of a first-class SOLDIER, which leads right into the start of *FF7*.

Playing Out the Passing of the Torch on the Tabletop

In a game, the card mechanics effectively let you recreate this iconic scene. The Buster Sword appears as a top-tier piece of gear in the collection that costs three mana and gives the equipped creature +3/+2. Therefore, using six mana, you can make Zack into a solid 4/6 while the Buster Sword wielded.

The Cloud Strife card also has deliberate combo potential with the Buster Sword, letting you to search your deck for an weapon card. Together, these three cards unfold as follows: You summon Zack, and he gets the +1/+1 counter. Then you play Cloud to fetch the Buster Sword from your deck. Then you summon and give it to Zack.

Owing to the design Zack’s key mechanic is designed, you can potentially use it in the middle of battle, meaning you can “block” an attack and trigger it to cancel out the attack altogether. So you can make this play at a key moment, transferring the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He is transformed into a strong 6/4 that, every time he deals combat damage a player, lets you pull extra cards and cast two spells without paying their mana cost. This is precisely the kind of moment meant when talking about “emotional resonance” — not explaining the scene, but letting the card design make you remember.

More Than the Central Combo

But the narrative here is oh-so-delicious, and it reaches further than 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 chosen creature, which then becomes a Mutant. This kind of suggests that Zack’s initial +1/+1 token is, symbolically, the SOLDIER enhancement he underwent, which included genetic manipulation with Jenova cells. It's a small connection, but one that subtly ties the entire SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter ecosystem in the set.

The card avoids showing his end, or Cloud’s confusion, or the stormy location where it happens. It doesn't have to. *Magic* enables you to reenact the moment personally. You choose the ultimate play. You hand over the weapon on. And for a brief second, while enjoying a trading card game, you remember why *Final Fantasy 7* continues to be the most impactful game in the saga for many fans.