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A major aspect of the appeal within the *Final Fantasy* crossover collection for *Magic: The Gathering* lies in the way so many cards narrate iconic narratives. Consider Tidus, Blitzball Star, which gives a glimpse of the hero at the beginning of *Final Fantasy 10*: a renowned Blitzball pro whose key technique is a fancy shot that takes a defender out of the way. The card's mechanics represent this in nuanced ways. Such narrative is prevalent across the entire Final Fantasy set, and not all joyful stories. A number are somber reminders of tragedies fans remember vividly decades later.

"Emotional narratives are a central component of the Final Fantasy franchise," explained a senior designer on the collaboration. "We built some overarching principles, but in the end, it was mostly on a case-by-case basis."

Even though the Zack Fair isn't a top-tier card, it represents one of the set's most elegant instances of narrative design through mechanics. It masterfully captures one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most pivotal dramatic moments with great effect, all while utilizing some of the set's key mechanics. And although it steers clear of spoiling anything, those familiar with the saga will instantly understand the significance embedded in it.

The Card's Design: A Narrative in Play

For one white mana (the hue of protagonists) in this collection, Zack Fair has a base power and toughness of 0/1 but comes into play with a +1/+1 token. By spending one colorless mana, you can destroy the card to give another unit you control protection from destruction and transfer all of Zack’s markers, plus an gear, onto that target creature.

This card paints a moment FF fans are very know well, a moment that has been revisited throughout the years — in the first *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even new versions in *FF7 Remake*. And yet it hits with equal force here, conveyed completely through gameplay mechanics. Zack makes the ultimate sacrifice to save Cloud, who then picks up the Buster Sword as his own.

A Spoiler for the Moment

For context, and here is your *FF7* warning: Before the main events of the game, Zack and Cloud are left for dead after a battle with Sephiroth. After extended experimentation, the friends break free. The entire time, Cloud is delirious, but Zack vows to take care of his friend. They eventually make it the plains outside Midgar before Zack is killed by Shinra soldiers. Presumed dead, Cloud in that moment claims Zack’s Buster Sword and assumes the identity of a elite SOLDIER, which leads right into the start of *FF7*.

Reenacting the Passing of the Torch on the Battlefield

On the tabletop, the abilities essentially let you reenact this entire scene. The Buster Sword is featured as a powerful piece of armament in the set that requires three mana and grants the wielding creature +3/+2. So, for a total of six mana, you can turn Zack into a respectable 4/6 with the Buster Sword wielded.

The Cloud, Midgar Mercenary also has clear interaction with the Buster Sword, allowing you to search your deck for an artifact card. Together, these pieces unfold like this: You play Zack, and he gains 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 design Zack’s sacrifice ability is designed, you can potentially use it during combat, meaning you can “block” an assault and trigger it to prevent the attack altogether. Therefore, you can perform this action at any time, moving the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He is transformed into a strong 6/4 that, every time he strikes a player, lets you pull extra cards and play two spells at no cost. This is exactly the kind of experience meant when talking about “flavorful design” — not explaining the scene, but letting the gameplay make you remember.

Beyond the Main Combo

However, the narrative here is deeply satisfying, and it reaches past just Zack and Cloud. The Jenova, Ancient Calamity is part of the collection as a creature that, at the start of combat, places a number of +1/+1 counters on a chosen creature, which additionally gains the type of a Mutant. This sort of implies that Zack’s starting +1/+1 token is, in a way, the SOLDIER treatment he underwent, which included experimentation with Jenova cells. This is a subtle nod, but one that subtly ties the entire SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter mechanic in the set.

This design avoids showing his demise, or Cloud’s trauma, or the stormy cliff where it all ends. It does not need to. *Magic* lets you recreate the legacy for yourself. You make the ultimate play. You transfer the weapon on. And for a fleeting moment, while enjoying a strategy game, you remember why *Final Fantasy 7* is still the most impactful game in the franchise ever made.