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A significant part of the allure found in the Final Fantasy crossover set for *Magic: The Gathering* lies in the way countless cards narrate familiar stories. Consider the Tidus, Blitzball Star card, which offers a snapshot of the protagonist at the very start of *Final Fantasy 10*: a wildly famous sports star whose signature move is a unique shot that takes a defender aside. The abilities represent this with subtlety. These kinds of narrative is found across the complete Final Fantasy set, and not all lighthearted tales. A number act as poignant echoes of tragedies fans continue to reflect on years after.

"Moving narratives are a central element of the Final Fantasy legacy," explained a senior game designer on the collaboration. "They created some overarching principles, but ultimately, it was mostly on a case-by-case level."

While the Zack Fair card may not be a tournament staple, it stands as one of the collection's most refined examples of storytelling via gameplay. It skillfully captures one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most pivotal cinematic moments in spectacular fashion, all while capitalizing on some of the expansion's key systems. And although it doesn't spoil anything, those who know the tale will immediately grasp the emotional weight embedded in it.

The Mechanics: A Narrative in Play

For one mana of white (the alignment of protagonists) in this collection, Zack Fair has a base stat line of 0/1 but enters with a +1/+1 marker. By spending one colorless mana, you can destroy the card to bestow another ally you control protection from destruction and move all of Zack’s markers, along with an artifact weapon, onto that other creature.

These mechanics portrays a scene FF fans are extremely familiar with, a moment that has been reimagined multiple times — in the classic *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even reimagined retellings in *FF7 Remake*. And yet it resonates just as hard here, conveyed solely through card abilities. Zack gives his life to save Cloud, who then takes up the Buster Sword as his own.

The Story Behind the Moment

Some necessary context, and consider this your *FF7* spoiler alert: Prior to the primary events of the game, Zack and Cloud are gravely wounded after a battle with Sephiroth. After extended experimentation, the pair break free. The entire time, Cloud is comatose, but Zack ensures to take care of his friend. They finally reach the outskirts outside Midgar before Zack is killed by forces. Abandoned, Cloud subsequently grabs Zack’s Buster Sword and assumes the identity of a first-class SOLDIER, which leads right into the start of *FF7*.

Reenacting the Moment on the Tabletop

Through gameplay, the rules essentially let you recreate this iconic sequence. The Buster Sword is featured as a powerful piece of gear in the set that costs three mana and provides the equipped creature +3/+2. Thus, with an investment of six mana, you can turn Zack into a formidable 4/6 with the Buster Sword wielded.

The Cloud, Midgar Mercenary also has clear synergy with the Buster Sword, enabling you to look through your library for an weapon card. In combination, these pieces play out as follows: You summon Zack, and he receives the +1/+1 counter. Then you summon Cloud to retrieve the Buster Sword out of your deck. Then you summon and give it to Zack.

Due to the way Zack’s signature action is worded, you can technically use it during combat, meaning you can “block” an attack and activate it to negate the attack altogether. So you can perform this action at any time, transferring the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He subsequently becomes a formidable 6/4 that, whenever he strikes a player, lets you gain card advantage and play two cards without paying their mana cost. This is exactly the kind of interaction alluded to when discussing “flavorful design” — not explaining the scene, but letting the gameplay trigger the recollection.

Extending Past the Main Synergy

But the thematic here is incredibly rich, and it extends past just these cards. The Jenova card 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 also becomes a Mutant. This kind of implies that Zack’s initial +1/+1 token is, figuratively, the SOLDIER treatment he underwent, which included experimentation with Jenova cells. It's a small nod, but one that subtly ties the entire SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter ecosystem in the set.

The card avoids showing his death, or Cloud’s trauma, or the stormy cliff where it happens. It doesn't have to. *Magic* enables you to reenact the moment yourself. You perform the sacrifice. You hand over the sword on. And for a fleeting moment, while playing a strategy game, you recall why *Final Fantasy 7* continues to be the most influential game in the franchise ever made.