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A core part of the allure found in the Final Fantasy Universes Beyond release for *Magic: The Gathering* is the manner countless cards tell iconic tales. Take for instance the Tidus, Blitzball Star card, which provides a portrait of the protagonist at the very start of *Final Fantasy 10*: a renowned sports star whose signature move is a unique shot that pushes a defender out of the way. The gameplay rules mirror this in nuanced ways. Such storytelling is found across the complete Final Fantasy offering, and not all lighthearted tales. Some act as poignant echoes of sad moments fans remember vividly years after.

"Powerful stories are a vital part of the Final Fantasy series," explained a senior game designer on the set. "The team established some overarching principles, but in the end, it was primarily on a individual basis."

Even though the Zack Fair card may not be a tournament staple, it is one of the set's most refined pieces of storytelling through mechanics. It skillfully reflects one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most pivotal dramatic moments in spectacular fashion, all while leveraging some of the set's central systems. And although it doesn't spoil anything, those acquainted with the saga will instantly understand the emotional weight behind it.

How It Works: Flavor in Rules

At a cost of one mana of white (the alignment of good) in this collection, Zack Fair is a base stat line of 0/1 but arrives with a +1/+1 counter. By paying one generic mana, you can destroy the card to grant another ally you control protection from destruction and move all of Zack’s markers, as well as an artifact weapon, onto that chosen creature.

These mechanics portrays a sequence FF fans are extremely remember, a moment that has been revisited again and again — in the first *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even new retellings in *FF7 Remake*. Yet it hits just as hard here, communicated entirely through rules text. Zack makes the ultimate sacrifice to save Cloud, who then takes up the Buster Sword as his own.

The Story Behind the Scene

A bit of backstory, and here is your *FF7* warning: Years before the main events of the game, Zack and Cloud are gravely wounded after a clash with Sephiroth. Following extended testing, the friends manage to escape. During their ordeal, Cloud is delirious, but Zack ensures to take care of his friend. They eventually reach the edge outside Midgar before Zack is gunned down by forces. Left behind, Cloud in that moment claims Zack’s Buster Sword and takes on the role of a elite SOLDIER, setting the stage for the start of *FF7*.

Playing Out the Moment on the Tabletop

On the tabletop, the rules in essence let you reenact this whole scene. The Buster Sword is featured as a powerful piece of equipment in the collection that requires three mana and provides the equipped creature +3/+2. So, for a total of six mana, you can make Zack into a formidable 4/6 with the Buster Sword attached.

The Cloud, Midgar Mercenary also has clear combo potential with the Buster Sword, enabling you to find for an artifact card. Together, these pieces function as follows: You summon Zack, and he gains the +1/+1 counter. Then you cast Cloud to pull the Buster Sword out of your deck. Then you summon and give it to Zack.

Owing to the design Zack’s signature action is worded, you can potentially use it during combat, meaning you can “intercept” an assault and activate it to prevent the attack completely. This allows you to make this play at any time, moving the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He is transformed into a formidable 6/4 that, whenever he strikes a player, lets you draw two cards and play two spells for free. This is just the kind of experience alluded to when discussing “emotional resonance” — not revealing the scene, but letting the card design trigger the recollection.

Extending Past the Main Synergy

And the thematic here is deeply satisfying, and it reaches further than just Zack and Cloud. The Jenova card appears in the collection as a creature that, at the start of combat, places a number of +1/+1 counters on a target creature, which additionally gains the type of a Mutant. This kind of suggests that Zack’s initial +1/+1 token is, figuratively, the SOLDIER treatment he received, which included experimentation with Jenova cells. It's a subtle reference, but one that subtly ties the whole SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter ecosystem in the expansion.

Zack’s card does not depict his death, or Cloud’s confusion, or the stormy bluff where it happens. It doesn't have to. *Magic* allows you to recreate the legacy for yourself. You make the ultimate play. You hand over the sword on. And for a fleeting moment, while playing a trading card game, you are reminded of why *Final Fantasy 7* is still the most beloved game in the franchise for many fans.