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A major aspect of the allure of the *Final Fantasy* crossover collection for *Magic: The Gathering* comes from the manner countless cards tell iconic tales. Take for instance Tidus, Blitzball Star, which offers a glimpse of the hero at the beginning of *Final Fantasy 10*: a celebrated sports star whose key technique is a specialized shot that takes a defender aside. The abilities represent this perfectly. This type of narrative is widespread throughout the whole Final Fantasy set, and they aren't all joyful stories. Several are poignant reminders of sad moments fans still mull over to this day.

"Powerful narratives are a key part of the Final Fantasy legacy," wrote a senior designer for the project. "We built some general rules, but in the end, it was largely on a card-by-card level."

Even though the Zack Fair is not a top-tier card, it is one of the set's most clever examples of narrative design via gameplay. It skillfully captures one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most pivotal dramatic moments in spectacular fashion, all while leveraging some of the expansion's central gameplay elements. And even if it doesn't spoil anything, those who know the saga will immediately grasp the emotional weight embedded in it.

The Card's Design: Story Through Gameplay

At a cost of one mana of white (the hue of heroes) in this collection, Zack Fair enters with a starting stat line of 0/1 but comes into play with a +1/+1 counter. By spending one colorless mana, you can sacrifice the card to grant another ally you control indestructible and transfer all of Zack’s markers, plus an Equipment, onto that other creature.

This card depicts a moment FF fans are all too know well, a moment that has been retold again and again — in the first *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even reimagined retellings in *FF7 Remake*. Yet it resonates just as hard here, communicated completely through card abilities. Zack sacrifices himself to save Cloud, who then picks up the Buster Sword as his own.

The Story Behind the Card

Some necessary history, and here is your *FF7* warning: Prior to the main events of the game, Zack and Cloud are left for dead after a confrontation with Sephiroth. Following extended experimentation, the duo manage to escape. Throughout this period, Cloud is comatose, but Zack vows to look after his friend. They finally reach the edge outside Midgar before Zack is killed by troops. Presumed dead, Cloud subsequently grabs Zack’s Buster Sword and takes on the role of a elite SOLDIER, leading directly into the start of *FF7*.

Playing Out the Passing of the Torch on the Battlefield

Through gameplay, the card mechanics in essence let you recreate this entire event. The Buster Sword is a a strong piece of gear in the collection that requires three mana and gives the wielding creature +3/+2. Thus, with an investment of six mana, you can turn Zack into a solid 4/6 while the Buster Sword attached.

The Cloud, Midgar Mercenary also has clear synergy with the Buster Sword, enabling you to find for an weapon card. When used in tandem, these three cards function like this: You summon Zack, and he gains the +1/+1 counter. Then you play Cloud to fetch the Buster Sword from your deck. Then you play and equip it to Zack.

Because of the design Zack’s sacrifice ability is designed, you can potentially use it in the middle of battle, meaning you can “block” an attack and activate it to cancel out the damage completely. This allows you to do this at any time, moving 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 draw two cards and cast two spells at no cost. This is exactly the kind of moment referred to when discussing “flavorful design” — not spoiling the scene, but letting the mechanics evoke the memory.

More Than the Main Interaction

And the narrative here is oh-so-delicious, and it extends further than just these cards. The Jenova, Ancient Calamity appears in the set as a creature that, at the start of combat, puts a number of +1/+1 counters on a target creature, which then becomes a Mutant. This kind of implies that Zack’s initial +1/+1 token is, figuratively, the SOLDIER conditioning he underwent, which included experimentation with Jenova cells. It's a tiny connection, but one that implicitly links the entire SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter theme in the expansion.

This design avoids showing his end, or Cloud’s confusion, or the stormy bluff where it happens. It does not need to. *Magic* lets you relive the moment personally. You make the sacrifice. You hand over the legacy on. And for a fleeting moment, while enjoying a trading card game, you are reminded of why *Final Fantasy 7* remains the most influential game in the saga to date.