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A major aspect of the charm found in the *Final Fantasy* crossover collection for *Magic: The Gathering* comes from the way numerous cards depict well-known stories. Take for instance the Tidus, Blitzball Star card, which offers a glimpse of the hero at the outset of *Final Fantasy 10*: a renowned Blitzball pro whose key technique is a unique shot that pushes a defender aside. The abilities reflect this perfectly. These kinds of narrative is widespread in the entire Final Fantasy offering, and not all joyful stories. Several act as poignant callbacks of emotional events fans continue to reflect on years after.

"Emotional narratives are a central component of the Final Fantasy series," noted a senior designer involved with the set. "We built some broad guidelines, but in the end, it was mostly on a case-by-case basis."

Though the Zack Fair card isn't a competitive powerhouse, it is one of the set's most elegant pieces of narrative design by way of mechanics. It masterfully captures one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most important dramatic moments in spectacular fashion, all while utilizing some of the expansion's central systems. And while it avoids revealing anything, those familiar with the saga will instantly understand the emotional weight behind it.

The Mechanics: A Narrative in Play

For one mana of white (the hue of protagonists) in this set, Zack Fair enters with a starting power and toughness of 0/1 but comes into play with a +1/+1 token. By spending one colorless mana, you can remove from play the card to give another creature you control protection from destruction and put all of Zack’s counters, along with an Equipment, onto that target creature.

These mechanics paints a moment FF fans are very know well, a moment that has been retold again and again — in the classic *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even new retellings in *FF7 Remake*. And yet it lands with equal force here, expressed completely through card abilities. Zack gives his life to save Cloud, who then picks up the Buster Sword as his own.

A Spoiler for the Card

For history, and take this as your *FF7* warning: Years before the main events of the game, Zack and Cloud are left for dead after a confrontation with Sephiroth. Following years of imprisonment, the friends break free. During their ordeal, Cloud is barely conscious, but Zack makes sure to protect his companion. They eventually reach the plains outside Midgar before Zack is gunned down by troops. Presumed dead, Cloud in that moment claims Zack’s Buster Sword and adopts the identity of a elite SOLDIER, setting the stage for the start of *FF7*.

Reenacting the Moment on the Battlefield

In a game, the abilities in essence let you reenact this entire scene. The Buster Sword is a a top-tier piece of equipment in the set that requires three mana and gives the equipped creature +3/+2. Thus, with an investment of six mana, you can make Zack into a solid 4/6 with the Buster Sword attached.

The Cloud, Midgar Mercenary also has intentional interaction with the Buster Sword, allowing you to search your deck for an equipment card. In combination, these three cards play out as follows: You play Zack, and he receives the +1/+1 counter. Then you cast Cloud to retrieve the Buster Sword out of your deck. Then you cast and attach it to Zack.

Owing to the design Zack’s sacrifice ability is structured, you can actually use it when blocking, meaning you can “block” an assault and activate it to cancel out the attack completely. This allows you to do this at a key moment, passing the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He is transformed into a strong 6/4 that, each time he does damage a player, lets you pull extra cards and cast two cards at no cost. This is precisely the kind of experience alluded to when discussing “narrative impact” — not revealing the scene, but letting the gameplay trigger the recollection.

More Than the Obvious Interaction

However, the thematic here is incredibly rich, and it goes further than 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 additionally gains the type of a Mutant. This kind of implies that Zack’s starting +1/+1 token is, in a way, the SOLDIER treatment he underwent, which included modification with Jenova cells. This is a tiny nod, but one that implicitly connects the whole SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter mechanic in the expansion.

This design doesn't show his end, or Cloud’s breakdown, or the memorable location where it happens. It does not need to. *Magic* enables you to recreate the passing yourself. You choose the ultimate play. You transfer the legacy on. And for a fleeting moment, while engaged in a strategy game, you remember why *Final Fantasy 7* remains the most influential game in the franchise ever made.