🔗 Share this article

A core aspect of the charm found in the Final Fantasy crossover release for *Magic: The Gathering* is the fashion so many cards depict iconic narratives. Cards like Tidus, Blitzball Star, which offers a portrait of the protagonist at the very start of *Final Fantasy 10*: a celebrated Blitzball pro whose signature move is a unique shot that knocks a defender out of the way. The abilities represent this with subtlety. These kinds of storytelling is found throughout the entire Final Fantasy set, and not all lighthearted tales. Several are somber callbacks of tragedies fans still mull over decades later.

"Emotional narratives are a key component of the Final Fantasy franchise," wrote a lead game designer on the set. "We built some overarching principles, but in the end, it was primarily on a individual level."

Though the Zack Fair card is not a top-tier card, it is one of the collection's most clever examples of storytelling through rules. It masterfully reflects one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most important dramatic moments with great effect, all while capitalizing on some of the set's key systems. And even if it doesn't spoil anything, those familiar with the saga will immediately grasp the emotional weight behind it.

How It Works: Flavor in Rules

For one mana of white (the alignment of heroes) in this set, Zack Fair has a base stat line of 0/1 but comes into play with a +1/+1 token. By spending one colorless mana, you can sacrifice the card to give another unit you control protection from destruction and put all of Zack’s bonuses, along with an Equipment, onto that other creature.

These mechanics depicts a sequence FF fans are all too familiar with, a moment that has been retold throughout the years — in the classic *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even alternate-timeline iterations in *FF7 Remake*. And yet it lands just as hard here, communicated completely through gameplay mechanics. Zack gives his life to save Cloud, who then takes up the Buster Sword as his own.

The Context of the Scene

A bit of context, and take this as your *FF7* spoiler alert: Years before the main events of the game, Zack and Cloud are severely injured after a confrontation with Sephiroth. After extended experimentation, the friends break free. Throughout this period, Cloud is comatose, but Zack ensures to take care of his comrade. They finally make it the edge outside Midgar before Zack is killed by forces. Left behind, Cloud subsequently grabs Zack’s Buster Sword and adopts the persona of a first-class SOLDIER, setting the stage for the start of *FF7*.

Reenacting the Passing of the Torch on the Tabletop

Through gameplay, the abilities effectively let you reenact this iconic sequence. The Buster Sword is featured as a top-tier piece of gear in the collection that costs three mana and gives the wielding creature +3/+2. So, for a total of six mana, you can make Zack into a respectable 4/6 with the Buster Sword wielded.

The Cloud, Midgar Mercenary also has deliberate synergy with the Buster Sword, enabling you to find for an artifact card. When used in tandem, these three cards unfold as follows: You play Zack, and he gets the +1/+1 counter. Then you summon Cloud to pull the Buster Sword out of your deck. Then you play and equip it to Zack.

Because of the design Zack’s key mechanic is structured, you can technically use it when blocking, meaning you can “block” an attack and trigger it to prevent the attack altogether. So you can perform this action at a key moment, passing the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He is transformed into a strong 6/4 that, each time he strikes a player, lets you gain card advantage and play two spells without paying their mana cost. This is exactly the kind of experience meant when discussing “narrative impact” — not explaining the scene, but letting the mechanics make you remember.

More Than the Central Interaction

But the thematic here is oh-so-delicious, and it reaches past just Zack and Cloud. The Jenova, Ancient Calamity 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 sort of implies that Zack’s starting +1/+1 token is, symbolically, the SOLDIER conditioning he received, which included modification with Jenova cells. It's a small nod, but one that implicitly connects the whole SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter ecosystem in the expansion.

The card doesn't show his end, or Cloud’s trauma, or the memorable bluff where it concludes. It doesn't have to. *Magic* allows you to reenact the legacy personally. You make the sacrifice. You pass the weapon on. And for a short instant, while playing a card battle, you are reminded of why *Final Fantasy 7* remains the most beloved game in the saga to date.