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A significant element of the allure within the Final Fantasy Universes Beyond set for *Magic: The Gathering* lies in the manner so many cards tell well-known tales. Consider the Tidus, Blitzball Star card, which offers a portrait of the protagonist at the outset of *Final Fantasy 10*: a renowned Blitzball pro whose secret weapon is a unique shot that takes a defender aside. The card's mechanics represent this with subtlety. Such storytelling is found in the entire Final Fantasy set, and some are not lighthearted tales. A number act as poignant reminders of emotional events fans remember vividly decades later.

"Emotional narratives are a vital element of the Final Fantasy series," explained a senior game designer on the project. "They created some general rules, but finally, it was primarily on a card-by-card basis."

While the Zack Fair may not be a tournament staple, it represents one of the set's most elegant examples of flavor by way of gameplay. It masterfully captures one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most pivotal dramatic moments with great effect, all while capitalizing on some of the expansion's core mechanics. And although it doesn't spoil anything, those acquainted with the tale will immediately grasp the meaning embedded in it.

How It Works: A Narrative in Play

For one white mana (the color of good) in this collection, Zack Fair is a base stat line of 0/1 but arrives with a +1/+1 token. For the cost of one colorless mana, you can sacrifice the card to give another creature you control protection from destruction and put all of Zack’s counters, as well as an gear, onto that chosen creature.

This card portrays a scene FF fans are extremely familiar with, a moment that has been revisited throughout the years — in the classic *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even reimagined iterations in *FF7 Remake*. And yet it hits just as hard here, communicated entirely through rules text. Zack sacrifices himself to save Cloud, who then picks up the Buster Sword as his own.

The Story Behind the Moment

For context, and here is your *FF7* warning: Before the primary events of the game, Zack and Cloud are severely injured after a battle with Sephiroth. Following extended experimentation, the friends get away. The entire time, Cloud is delirious, but Zack ensures to look after his friend. They finally arrive at the edge outside Midgar before Zack is killed by Shinra soldiers. Presumed dead, Cloud then takes up Zack’s Buster Sword and assumes the persona of a elite SOLDIER, which leads right into the start of *FF7*.

Reenacting the Passing of the Torch on the Battlefield

In a game, the card mechanics in essence let you recreate this entire scene. The Buster Sword is featured as a top-tier piece of gear in the set that requires three mana and provides the equipped creature +3/+2. So, for a total of six mana, you can make Zack into a respectable 4/6 with the Buster Sword equipped.

The Cloud Strife card also has intentional synergy with the Buster Sword, letting you to look through your library for an artifact card. Together, these three cards unfold like this: You play Zack, and he receives the +1/+1 counter. Then you summon Cloud to fetch the Buster Sword out of your deck. Then you summon and give it to Zack.

Because of the way Zack’s sacrifice ability is designed, you can technically use it during combat, meaning you can “intercept” an attack and trigger it to prevent the attack altogether. So you can do this at any time, moving the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He subsequently becomes a powerful 6/4 that, each time he strikes a player, lets you pull extra cards and play two cards at no cost. This is exactly the kind of experience referred to when discussing “flavorful design” — not explaining the scene, but letting the card design trigger the recollection.

More Than the Obvious Synergy

However, the narrative here is deeply satisfying, and it extends beyond just Zack and Cloud. The Jenova, Ancient Calamity appears in the collection 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 in a way implies that Zack’s initial +1/+1 token is, in a way, the SOLDIER enhancement he underwent, which included experimentation with Jenova cells. It's a small connection, but one that implicitly ties the whole SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter theme in the expansion.

Zack’s card doesn't show his end, or Cloud’s breakdown, or the stormy location where it concludes. It does not need to. *Magic* allows you to reenact the moment personally. You perform the sacrifice. You transfer the weapon on. And for a brief second, while enjoying a trading card game, you remember why *Final Fantasy 7* remains the most impactful game in the franchise for many fans.