🔗 Share this article

A significant element of the appeal of the *Final Fantasy* Universes Beyond collection for *Magic: The Gathering* lies in the way numerous cards tell well-known stories. Take for instance the Tidus, Blitzball Star card, which provides a snapshot of the character at the very start of *Final Fantasy 10*: a wildly famous Blitzball pro whose signature move is a unique shot that takes a defender aside. The card's mechanics mirror this with subtlety. Such storytelling is prevalent throughout the entire Final Fantasy offering, and not all fun and games. Several are poignant callbacks of emotional events fans continue to reflect on years after.

"Powerful stories are a central part of the Final Fantasy legacy," wrote a senior designer on the collaboration. "They created some broad guidelines, but finally, it was mostly on a case-by-case basis."

Though the Zack Fair may not be a competitive powerhouse, it is one of the release's most clever pieces of narrative design by way of mechanics. It skillfully echoes one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most important story moments brilliantly, all while utilizing some of the set's key mechanics. And even if it doesn't spoil anything, those acquainted with the story will quickly recognize the significance within it.

How It Works: Story Through Gameplay

For one mana of white (the color of heroes) in this set, Zack Fair has a base power and toughness of 0/1 but comes into play with a +1/+1 marker. For the cost of one generic mana, you can destroy the card to bestow another unit you control protection from destruction and put all of Zack’s counters, as well as an artifact weapon, onto that other creature.

These mechanics depicts a sequence FF fans are very familiar with, a moment that has been revisited throughout the years — in the original *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even new versions in *FF7 Remake*. And yet it lands just as hard here, communicated solely through gameplay mechanics. Zack gives his life to save Cloud, who then takes up the Buster Sword as his own.

A Spoiler for the Scene

For context, and take this as your *FF7* warning: Before the primary events of the game, Zack and Cloud are severely injured after a confrontation with Sephiroth. After extended experimentation, the friends get away. During their ordeal, Cloud is comatose, but Zack vows to look after his friend. They finally make it the plains outside Midgar before Zack is fatally wounded by forces. Abandoned, Cloud subsequently grabs Zack’s Buster Sword and assumes the persona of a elite SOLDIER, setting the stage for the start of *FF7*.

Reenacting the Legacy on the Game Board

In a game, the rules essentially let you reenact this whole sequence. The Buster Sword appears as a strong piece of gear in the set that costs three mana and grants the equipped creature +3/+2. So, for a total of six mana, you can transform Zack into a respectable 4/6 with the Buster Sword wielded.

The Cloud, Midgar Mercenary also has clear interaction with the Buster Sword, letting you to search your deck for an weapon card. When used in tandem, these pieces function like this: 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 way Zack’s sacrifice ability is structured, you can potentially use it during combat, meaning you can “intercept” an attack and trigger it to prevent the attack entirely. Therefore, you can perform this action 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 does damage a player, lets you draw two cards and play two cards for free. This is exactly the kind of experience alluded to when discussing “emotional resonance” — not explaining the scene, but letting the card design trigger the recollection.

Beyond the Central Combo

But the narrative here is incredibly rich, and it reaches past just these cards. The Jenova, Ancient Calamity is part of the set 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 in a way hints that Zack’s initial +1/+1 token is, figuratively, the SOLDIER conditioning he received, which included genetic manipulation with Jenova cells. It's a tiny connection, but one that subtly ties the whole SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter mechanic in the expansion.

Zack’s card doesn't show his end, or Cloud’s confusion, or the stormy bluff where it all ends. It doesn't have to. *Magic* allows you to relive the legacy for yourself. You choose the ultimate play. You pass the weapon on. And for a fleeting moment, while playing a trading card game, you are reminded of why *Final Fantasy 7* remains the most beloved game in the saga for many fans.