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A core aspect of the allure of the Final Fantasy crossover release for *Magic: The Gathering* lies in the fashion numerous cards narrate familiar narratives. Take for instance the Tidus, Blitzball Star card, which gives a portrait of the character at the very start of *Final Fantasy 10*: a celebrated sports star whose signature move is a fancy shot that takes a defender aside. The abilities reflect this in nuanced ways. These kinds of storytelling is widespread across the complete Final Fantasy offering, and they aren't all fun and games. Several are somber echoes of tragedies fans remember vividly to this day.

"Powerful narratives are a central part of the Final Fantasy legacy," wrote a principal designer for the project. "They created some general rules, but ultimately, it was mostly on a individual level."

While the Zack Fair may not be a tournament staple, it represents one of the collection's most elegant instances of narrative design via mechanics. It masterfully captures one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most pivotal cinematic moments with great effect, all while capitalizing on some of the set's key systems. And although it doesn't spoil anything, those who know the tale will quickly recognize the meaning embedded in it.

The Mechanics: A Narrative in Play

At a cost of one mana of white (the color of protagonists) in this set, Zack Fair has a starting power and toughness of 0/1 but comes into play with a +1/+1 counter. By spending one generic mana, you can sacrifice the card to give another creature you control indestructible and transfer all of Zack’s bonuses, along with an gear, onto that chosen creature.

This card paints a scene FF fans are very know well, a moment that has been revisited throughout the years — in the classic *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even new versions in *FF7 Remake*. And yet it hits just as hard here, conveyed solely through gameplay mechanics. Zack gives his life to save Cloud, who then takes up the Buster Sword as his own.

The Story Behind the Card

For context, and here is your *FF7* spoiler alert: Before the main events of the game, Zack and Cloud are gravely wounded after a clash with Sephiroth. Following extended testing, the friends get away. Throughout this period, Cloud is comatose, but Zack makes sure to take care of his comrade. They eventually reach the outskirts outside Midgar before Zack is killed by troops. Left behind, Cloud in that moment claims Zack’s Buster Sword and assumes the identity of a first-class SOLDIER, leading directly into the start of *FF7*.

Reenacting the Passing of the Torch on the Tabletop

Through gameplay, the rules effectively let you reenact this whole event. The Buster Sword appears as a top-tier piece of gear in the collection that costs three mana and provides the wielding creature +3/+2. Therefore, using six mana, you can turn Zack into a formidable 4/6 with the Buster Sword equipped.

The Cloud Strife card also has clear combo potential with the Buster Sword, letting you to search your deck for an artifact card. In combination, these pieces unfold as follows: You cast Zack, and he receives the +1/+1 counter. Then you cast Cloud to retrieve the Buster Sword from your deck. Then you cast and attach it to Zack.

Because of the manner Zack’s sacrifice ability is structured, you can technically use it in the middle of battle, meaning you can “intercept” an assault and activate it to prevent the attack completely. This allows you to make this play at any time, passing the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He is transformed into a formidable 6/4 that, each time he deals combat damage a player, lets you gain card advantage and play two spells without paying their mana cost. This is precisely the kind of moment alluded to when talking about “emotional resonance” — not spoiling the scene, but letting the mechanics evoke the memory.

Extending Past the Obvious Interaction

However, the narrative here is incredibly rich, and it extends beyond just this combo. The Jenova, Ancient Calamity appears in 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 in a way implies that Zack’s starting +1/+1 token is, symbolically, the SOLDIER enhancement he received, which included experimentation with Jenova cells. It's a tiny connection, but one that implicitly ties the entire SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter theme in the set.

This design doesn't show his demise, or Cloud’s confusion, or the stormy location where it happens. It isn't necessary. *Magic* lets you relive the legacy for yourself. You perform the ultimate play. You pass the sword on. And for a short instant, while playing a trading card game, you remember why *Final Fantasy 7* continues to be the most influential game in the series ever made.