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A major element of the allure of the *Final Fantasy* crossover set for *Magic: The Gathering* comes from the way so many cards tell familiar stories. Cards like the Tidus, Blitzball Star card, which gives a snapshot of the protagonist at the very start of *Final Fantasy 10*: a wildly famous Blitzball pro whose key technique is a specialized shot that pushes a defender aside. The gameplay rules represent this with subtlety. Such narrative is found throughout the entire Final Fantasy set, and they aren't all joyful stories. A number serve as poignant echoes of tragedies fans still mull over decades later.

"Emotional tales are a central part of the Final Fantasy franchise," noted a lead designer on the project. "They created some overarching principles, but in the end, it was mostly on a case-by-case basis."

Though the Zack Fair isn't a top-tier card, it is one of the set's most clever pieces of flavor via gameplay. It artfully captures one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most crucial dramatic moments with great effect, all while capitalizing on some of the product's core systems. And even if it avoids revealing anything, those who know the saga will quickly recognize 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 is a base power and toughness of 0/1 but arrives with a +1/+1 token. By spending one generic mana, you can destroy the card to grant another ally you control protection from destruction and move all of Zack’s markers, along with an gear, onto that chosen creature.

This card portrays a sequence FF fans are all too familiar with, a moment that has been retold multiple times — in the original *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even reimagined retellings in *FF7 Remake*. And yet it resonates just as hard here, expressed entirely through gameplay mechanics. Zack sacrifices himself to save Cloud, who then takes up the Buster Sword as his own.

The Context of the Moment

Some necessary history, and consider this your *FF7* warning: Before the primary events of the game, Zack and Cloud are gravely wounded after a clash with Sephiroth. Following years of experimentation, the pair get away. Throughout this period, Cloud is comatose, but Zack makes sure to protect his companion. They finally reach the edge outside Midgar before Zack is gunned down by Shinra soldiers. Left behind, Cloud in that moment claims Zack’s Buster Sword and adopts the identity of a first-class SOLDIER, setting the stage for the start of *FF7*.

Simulating the Passing of the Torch on the Battlefield

Through gameplay, the rules essentially let you recreate this entire scene. The Buster Sword is featured as a powerful piece of gear in the set that costs three mana and gives the equipped creature +3/+2. So, for a total of six mana, you can turn Zack into a solid 4/6 while the Buster Sword attached.

The Cloud, Midgar Mercenary also has intentional synergy with the Buster Sword, enabling you to search your deck for an artifact card. When used in tandem, these pieces function in this way: You summon Zack, and he gains the +1/+1 counter. Then you summon Cloud to retrieve the Buster Sword from your deck. Then you play and equip it to Zack.

Owing to the manner Zack’s sacrifice ability is worded, you can technically use it when blocking, meaning you can “block” an assault and trigger it to negate the damage altogether. So you can make this play at any time, transferring the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He is transformed into a strong 6/4 that, each time he strikes a player, lets you draw two cards and play two cards for free. This is exactly the kind of interaction referred to when discussing “flavorful design” — not revealing the scene, but letting the card design trigger the recollection.

Beyond the Central Synergy

However, the flavor here is deeply satisfying, and it goes past just this combo. The Jenova card 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 additionally gains the type of a Mutant. This in a way implies that Zack’s initial +1/+1 token is, symbolically, the SOLDIER enhancement he received, which included genetic manipulation with Jenova cells. This is a small nod, but one that subtly connects the entire SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter ecosystem in the expansion.

The card doesn't show his end, or Cloud’s confusion, or the stormy cliff where it happens. It does not need to. *Magic* enables you to reenact the moment yourself. You perform the ultimate play. You transfer the weapon on. And for a short instant, while playing a card battle, you recall why *Final Fantasy 7* continues to be the most beloved game in the saga ever made.