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A major aspect of the allure of the Final Fantasy crossover collection for *Magic: The Gathering* comes from the manner countless cards depict iconic stories. Take for instance Tidus, Blitzball Star, which provides a portrait of the protagonist at the outset of *Final Fantasy 10*: a celebrated professional athlete whose secret weapon is a fancy shot that knocks a defender aside. The card's mechanics represent this perfectly. Such storytelling is found across the complete Final Fantasy offering, and they aren't all lighthearted tales. A number act as poignant echoes of sad moments fans remember vividly years after.

"Powerful stories are a vital component of the Final Fantasy franchise," wrote a senior game designer on the project. "The team established some general rules, but finally, it was mostly on a individual level."

Though the Zack Fair isn't a competitive powerhouse, it represents one of the set's most refined instances of storytelling by way of gameplay. It masterfully reflects one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most important dramatic moments in spectacular fashion, all while utilizing some of the product's key gameplay elements. And while it avoids revealing anything, those acquainted with the saga will immediately grasp the significance within it.

How It Works: Flavor in Rules

For one white mana (the alignment of protagonists) in this set, Zack Fair has a base power and toughness of 0/1 but comes into play with a +1/+1 counter. By paying one colorless mana, you can sacrifice the card to give another unit you control indestructible and put all of Zack’s bonuses, as well as an artifact weapon, onto that target creature.

These mechanics portrays a sequence FF fans are very know well, a moment that has been revisited again and again — in the classic *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even new iterations in *FF7 Remake*. Yet it hits just as hard here, expressed solely through rules text. Zack sacrifices himself to save Cloud, who then inherits the Buster Sword as his own.

The Story Behind the Card

Some necessary context, and here is your *FF7* warning: Before the primary events of the game, Zack and Cloud are left for dead after a clash with Sephiroth. Following years of testing, the duo break free. The entire time, Cloud is barely conscious, but Zack vows to look after his friend. They finally arrive at the plains outside Midgar before Zack is killed by Shinra soldiers. Left behind, Cloud subsequently grabs Zack’s Buster Sword and takes on the persona of a elite SOLDIER, which leads right into the start of *FF7*.

Playing Out the Passing of the Torch on the Game Board

Through gameplay, the abilities effectively let you recreate this entire scene. The Buster Sword is featured as a strong piece of gear in the set that requires three mana and provides the equipped creature +3/+2. Thus, with an investment of six mana, you can transform Zack into a respectable 4/6 while the Buster Sword attached.

The Cloud Strife card also has deliberate combo potential with the Buster Sword, enabling you to find for an equipment card. Together, these three cards unfold in this way: You summon Zack, and he receives the +1/+1 counter. Then you play Cloud to pull the Buster Sword from your deck. Then you play and equip it to Zack.

Because of the way Zack’s signature action is worded, you can potentially use it in the middle of battle, meaning you can “intercept” an assault and trigger it to prevent the attack entirely. So you can perform this action at any time, passing the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He then becomes a strong 6/4 that, each time he deals combat damage a player, lets you gain card advantage and cast two spells at no cost. This is precisely the kind of experience referred to when talking about “narrative impact” — not explaining the scene, but letting the gameplay make you remember.

Beyond the Central Synergy

But the flavor here is incredibly rich, and it extends beyond just Zack and Cloud. The Jenova, Ancient Calamity is part of the set as a creature that, at the start of combat, puts a number of +1/+1 counters on a chosen creature, which also becomes a Mutant. This sort of suggests that Zack’s starting +1/+1 token is, in a way, the SOLDIER enhancement he received, which included modification with Jenova cells. It's a subtle connection, but one that cleverly ties the whole SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter ecosystem in the set.

This design avoids showing his end, or Cloud’s breakdown, or the memorable location where it all ends. It does not need to. *Magic* enables you to relive the moment yourself. You choose the ultimate play. You hand over the weapon on. And for a short instant, while enjoying a trading card game, you are reminded of why *Final Fantasy 7* continues to be the most influential game in the saga for many fans.