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A major element of the appeal found in the Final Fantasy crossover collection for *Magic: The Gathering* lies in the fashion numerous cards tell iconic narratives. Take for instance Tidus, Blitzball Star, which offers a portrait of the character at the beginning of *Final Fantasy 10*: a wildly famous sports star whose signature move is a unique shot that takes a defender out of the way. The card's mechanics reflect this in nuanced ways. This type of narrative is widespread in the entire Final Fantasy set, and some are not fun and games. Some are poignant echoes of sad moments fans continue to reflect on to this day.

"Moving stories are a central part of the Final Fantasy legacy," wrote a principal game designer involved with the set. "We built some general rules, but finally, it was largely on a case-by-case level."

While the Zack Fair isn't a competitive powerhouse, it represents one of the set's most refined pieces of storytelling through mechanics. It masterfully reflects one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most crucial story moments with great effect, all while leveraging some of the product's key systems. And although it avoids revealing anything, those acquainted with the story will immediately grasp the emotional weight embedded in it.

The Mechanics: Flavor in Rules

At a cost of one mana of white (the hue of heroes) in this set, Zack Fair has a base stat line of 0/1 but comes into play with a +1/+1 token. For the cost of one generic mana, you can sacrifice the card to grant another ally you control protection from destruction and transfer all of Zack’s markers, along with an artifact weapon, onto that target creature.

This design paints a moment FF fans are all too know well, a moment that has been reimagined again and again — in the original *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even new versions in *FF7 Remake*. And yet it lands just as hard here, expressed entirely through rules text. Zack makes the ultimate sacrifice to save Cloud, who then picks up the Buster Sword as his own.

The Context of the Moment

For context, and take this as your *FF7* warning: Prior to the main events of the game, Zack and Cloud are severely injured after a battle with Sephiroth. Following years of experimentation, the pair manage to escape. Throughout this period, Cloud is barely conscious, but Zack makes sure to look after his friend. They finally make it the outskirts outside Midgar before Zack is killed by troops. Abandoned, Cloud then takes up 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 Tabletop

On the tabletop, the card mechanics effectively let you reenact this whole event. The Buster Sword is a a top-tier piece of equipment in the set that requires three mana and provides the wielding creature +3/+2. Thus, with an investment of six mana, you can turn Zack into a formidable 4/6 with the Buster Sword equipped.

The Cloud Strife card also has clear interaction with the Buster Sword, allowing you to look through your library for an artifact card. Together, these pieces unfold as follows: You summon Zack, and he gains the +1/+1 counter. Then you cast Cloud to pull the Buster Sword from your deck. Then you play and equip it to Zack.

Due to the manner Zack’s sacrifice ability is structured, you can potentially use it during combat, meaning you can “intercept” an attack and trigger it to negate the damage entirely. So you can make this play at any time, transferring the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He subsequently becomes a strong 6/4 that, every time he deals combat damage a player, lets you gain card advantage and cast two spells without paying their mana cost. This is precisely the kind of moment referred to when discussing “narrative impact” — not explaining the scene, but letting the card design trigger the recollection.

More Than the Central Synergy

But the flavor here is incredibly rich, and it extends beyond just these cards. The Jenova card appears in the set as a creature that, at the start of combat, places a number of +1/+1 counters on a chosen creature, which also becomes a Mutant. This sort of implies that Zack’s initial +1/+1 token is, in a way, the SOLDIER enhancement he received, which included genetic manipulation with Jenova cells. This is a subtle reference, but one that subtly connects the whole SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter mechanic in the set.

Zack’s card does not depict his end, or Cloud’s trauma, or the stormy location where it all ends. It isn't necessary. *Magic* lets you relive the legacy personally. You perform the ultimate play. You pass the weapon on. And for a brief second, while engaged in a trading card game, you remember why *Final Fantasy 7* continues to be the most influential game in the saga to date.