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A core element of the charm found in the Final Fantasy crossover set for *Magic: The Gathering* comes from the fashion countless cards narrate iconic narratives. Cards like Tidus, Blitzball Star, which offers a glimpse of the protagonist at the beginning of *Final Fantasy 10*: a renowned Blitzball pro whose secret weapon is a fancy shot that knocks a defender aside. The gameplay rules represent this with subtlety. This type of storytelling is widespread throughout the whole Final Fantasy offering, and some are not lighthearted tales. A number serve as heartbreaking echoes of tragedies fans still mull over years after.

"Emotional stories are a vital part of the Final Fantasy legacy," wrote a senior game designer involved with the project. "They created some broad guidelines, but finally, it was mostly on a individual basis."

While the Zack Fair may not be a top-tier card, it is one of the collection's most refined instances of storytelling by way of gameplay. It masterfully echoes one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most pivotal dramatic moments brilliantly, all while utilizing some of the product's key mechanics. And while it avoids revealing anything, those acquainted with the tale will quickly recognize the emotional weight within it.

How It Works: A Narrative in Play

For one white mana (the alignment of protagonists) in this collection, Zack Fair enters with a starting stat line of 0/1 but arrives with a +1/+1 marker. For the cost of one colorless mana, you can sacrifice the card to give another ally you control indestructible and put all of Zack’s bonuses, as well as an Equipment, onto that chosen creature.

This design depicts a moment FF fans are very remember, a moment that has been retold multiple times — in the classic *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even alternate-timeline iterations in *FF7 Remake*. And yet it hits powerfully here, conveyed entirely through gameplay mechanics. Zack sacrifices himself to save Cloud, who then picks up the Buster Sword as his own.

A Spoiler for the Card

Some necessary context, and here is your *FF7* spoiler alert: Prior to the primary events of the game, Zack and Cloud are left for dead after a confrontation with Sephiroth. After extended experimentation, the duo get away. Throughout this period, Cloud is comatose, but Zack vows to protect his comrade. They finally reach the plains outside Midgar before Zack is killed by forces. Presumed dead, Cloud then takes up Zack’s Buster Sword and takes on the identity of a elite SOLDIER, setting the stage for the start of *FF7*.

Reenacting the Passing of the Torch on the Tabletop

Through gameplay, the abilities effectively let you relive this whole event. The Buster Sword appears as a strong piece of armament in the set that costs three mana and grants the equipped creature +3/+2. So, for a total of six mana, you can make Zack into a formidable 4/6 while the Buster Sword attached.

The Cloud, Midgar Mercenary also has deliberate synergy with the Buster Sword, letting you to find for an weapon card. In combination, these pieces function in this way: You cast Zack, and he gains the +1/+1 counter. Then you play Cloud to retrieve the Buster Sword from your deck. Then you cast and attach it to Zack.

Owing to the design Zack’s key mechanic is worded, you can potentially use it in the middle of battle, meaning you can “block” an attack and activate it to negate the damage entirely. Therefore, you can make this play at a key moment, transferring the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He is transformed into a formidable 6/4 that, every time he does damage a player, lets you pull extra cards and play two cards without paying their mana cost. This is just the kind of moment alluded to when talking about “narrative impact” — not explaining the scene, but letting the gameplay make you remember.

More Than the Obvious Combo

But the narrative here is oh-so-delicious, and it extends past just Zack and Cloud. 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 then becomes a Mutant. This kind of hints that Zack’s initial +1/+1 token is, symbolically, the SOLDIER conditioning he received, which included modification with Jenova cells. This is a subtle connection, but one that implicitly ties the whole SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter ecosystem in the set.

The card doesn't show his end, or Cloud’s breakdown, or the stormy bluff where it concludes. It does not need to. *Magic* allows you to reenact the moment personally. You make the ultimate play. You hand over the sword on. And for a short instant, while playing a trading card game, you recall why *Final Fantasy 7* remains the most beloved game in the series for many fans.