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A core part of the appeal within the *Final Fantasy* crossover collection for *Magic: The Gathering* is the fashion numerous cards depict familiar stories. Cards like Tidus, Blitzball Star, which gives a snapshot of the hero at the outset of *Final Fantasy 10*: a celebrated Blitzball pro whose signature move is a unique shot that takes a defender aside. The gameplay rules mirror this in nuanced ways. Such flavor is widespread across the complete Final Fantasy offering, and some are not lighthearted tales. Several act as somber reminders of sad moments fans remember vividly to this day.

"Moving tales are a central part of the Final Fantasy series," explained a senior designer on the set. "We built some general rules, but in the end, it was largely on a case-by-case level."

Though the Zack Fair may not be a top-tier card, it stands as one of the release's most elegant instances of narrative design via gameplay. It masterfully echoes one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most crucial story moments brilliantly, all while leveraging some of the set's core systems. And even if it steers clear of spoiling anything, those who know the tale will immediately grasp the meaning within it.

How It Works: A Narrative in Play

For one white mana (the color of heroes) in this set, Zack Fair is a base stat line of 0/1 but enters with a +1/+1 token. For the cost of one colorless mana, you can remove from play the card to grant another unit you control indestructible and move all of Zack’s markers, plus an Equipment, onto that target creature.

This card depicts 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 reimagined retellings in *FF7 Remake*. But somehow it resonates powerfully here, expressed completely through card abilities. Zack makes the ultimate sacrifice to save Cloud, who then picks up the Buster Sword as his own.

The Story Behind the Card

A bit of context, and consider this your *FF7* spoiler alert: Prior to the main events of the game, Zack and Cloud are left for dead after a confrontation with Sephiroth. After extended imprisonment, the duo break free. Throughout this period, Cloud is delirious, but Zack vows to look after his comrade. They eventually reach the plains outside Midgar before Zack is killed by Shinra soldiers. Abandoned, Cloud then takes up 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 Game Board

Through gameplay, the abilities in essence let you relive this entire sequence. The Buster Sword is featured as a strong piece of gear in the collection that requires three mana and gives the wielding creature +3/+2. Therefore, using six mana, you can transform Zack into a solid 4/6 while the Buster Sword equipped.

The Cloud Strife card also has clear synergy with the Buster Sword, letting you to find for an weapon card. Together, these pieces function as follows: You cast Zack, and he receives the +1/+1 counter. Then you play Cloud to pull the Buster Sword out of your deck. Then you summon and give it to Zack.

Owing to the design Zack’s key mechanic is structured, you can potentially use it when blocking, meaning you can “intercept” an assault and activate it to cancel out the attack altogether. So you can do this at any time, transferring the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He is transformed into a powerful 6/4 that, every time he deals combat damage a player, lets you draw two cards and play two cards for free. This is exactly the kind of moment meant when discussing “narrative impact” — not revealing the scene, but letting the card design evoke the memory.

Beyond the Main Combo

And the thematic here is incredibly rich, and it reaches further than just these cards. 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 then becomes a Mutant. This sort of implies that Zack’s initial +1/+1 token is, in a way, the SOLDIER conditioning he received, which included modification with Jenova cells. It's a tiny nod, but one that subtly links the whole SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter theme in the expansion.

This design doesn't show his end, or Cloud’s breakdown, or the stormy cliff where it concludes. It does not need to. *Magic* lets you reenact the passing yourself. You choose the ultimate play. You transfer the sword on. And for a short instant, while engaged in a card battle, you recall why *Final Fantasy 7* continues to be the most impactful game in the series to date.