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A significant aspect of the charm of the Final Fantasy crossover set for *Magic: The Gathering* is the manner countless cards tell well-known tales. Cards like Tidus, Blitzball Star, which offers a portrait of the character at the very start of *Final Fantasy 10*: a wildly famous professional athlete whose key technique is a fancy shot that knocks a defender out of the way. The gameplay rules mirror this in nuanced ways. Such storytelling is widespread across the entire Final Fantasy set, and some are not fun and games. Some act as heartbreaking reminders of tragedies fans still mull over to this day.

"Moving narratives are a central component of the Final Fantasy legacy," explained a senior game designer involved with the collaboration. "The team established some general rules, but in the end, it was mostly on a case-by-case level."

Though the Zack Fair card may not be a competitive powerhouse, it stands as one of the collection's most elegant pieces of narrative design via gameplay. It masterfully captures one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most crucial cinematic moments in spectacular fashion, all while capitalizing on some of the product's central mechanics. And while it doesn't spoil anything, those familiar with the tale will instantly understand the meaning within it.

The Mechanics: A Narrative in Play

At a cost of one white mana (the color of protagonists) in this collection, Zack Fair is a base power and toughness of 0/1 but arrives with a +1/+1 token. By spending one generic mana, you can remove from play the card to grant another unit you control indestructible and transfer all of Zack’s markers, as well as an Equipment, onto that other creature.

This design depicts a moment FF fans are extremely know well, a moment that has been reimagined throughout the years — in the original *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even new versions in *FF7 Remake*. Yet it lands just as hard here, communicated solely through gameplay mechanics. Zack sacrifices himself to save Cloud, who then takes up the Buster Sword as his own.

The Context of the Card

Some necessary backstory, and here is your *FF7* warning: Years before the primary events of the game, Zack and Cloud are left for dead after a clash with Sephiroth. Following extended imprisonment, the duo break free. During their ordeal, Cloud is delirious, but Zack makes sure to take care of his comrade. They finally arrive at the edge outside Midgar before Zack is fatally wounded by Shinra soldiers. Presumed dead, Cloud subsequently grabs Zack’s Buster Sword and assumes the persona of a first-class SOLDIER, setting the stage for the start of *FF7*.

Playing Out the Passing of the Torch on the Battlefield

In a game, the rules effectively let you relive this whole scene. The Buster Sword is featured 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 respectable 4/6 with the Buster Sword wielded.

The Cloud, Midgar Mercenary also has intentional combo potential with the Buster Sword, letting you to find for an equipment card. Together, these pieces function like this: You summon Zack, and he gets the +1/+1 counter. Then you summon Cloud to retrieve the Buster Sword out of your deck. Then you cast and attach it to Zack.

Because of the design Zack’s sacrifice ability is designed, you can potentially use it in the middle of battle, meaning you can “intercept” an assault and trigger it to prevent the attack completely. This allows you to make this play at a key moment, moving 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 cast two cards for free. This is exactly the kind of moment meant when talking about “emotional resonance” — not revealing the scene, but letting the gameplay evoke the memory.

Beyond the Obvious Synergy

And the thematic here is oh-so-delicious, and it reaches past just this combo. The Jenova, Ancient Calamity appears in the collection as a creature that, at the start of combat, puts a number of +1/+1 counters on a chosen creature, which additionally gains the type of a Mutant. This kind of implies 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 small nod, but one that subtly connects the whole SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter theme in the expansion.

The card doesn't show his end, or Cloud’s confusion, or the stormy location where it happens. It does not need to. *Magic* allows you to relive the passing personally. You make the ultimate play. You pass the legacy on. And for a brief second, while playing a card battle, you are reminded of why *Final Fantasy 7* remains the most beloved game in the series to date.