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A significant part of the charm of the Final Fantasy Universes Beyond collection for *Magic: The Gathering* is the way numerous cards narrate iconic tales. Take for instance Tidus, Blitzball Star, which offers a glimpse of the protagonist at the outset of *Final Fantasy 10*: a renowned Blitzball pro whose secret weapon is a unique shot that pushes a defender aside. The gameplay rules represent this in nuanced ways. These kinds of flavor is widespread throughout the entire Final Fantasy offering, and not all joyful stories. Several act as poignant reminders of tragedies fans continue to reflect on years after.

"Emotional narratives are a vital element of the Final Fantasy franchise," noted a senior game designer involved with the collaboration. "They created some general rules, but finally, it was mostly on a individual level."

While the Zack Fair card isn't a tournament staple, it stands as one of the release's most refined pieces of flavor via rules. It skillfully reflects one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most pivotal story moments with great effect, all while capitalizing on some of the expansion's key systems. And although it steers clear of spoiling anything, those who know the tale will quickly recognize the significance embedded in it.

How It Works: Flavor in Rules

For one white mana (the alignment of protagonists) in this set, Zack Fair enters with a starting stat line of 0/1 but enters with a +1/+1 token. By spending one generic mana, you can remove from play the card to grant another ally you control protection from destruction and move all of Zack’s markers, along with an artifact weapon, onto that target creature.

This card paints a sequence FF fans are all too know well, a moment that has been revisited throughout the years — in the first *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even new retellings in *FF7 Remake*. But somehow it resonates just as hard here, expressed completely through rules text. Zack gives his life to save Cloud, who then inherits the Buster Sword as his own.

The Story Behind the Scene

A bit of history, and here is your *FF7* spoiler alert: Years before the primary events of the game, Zack and Cloud are severely injured after a clash with Sephiroth. After years of experimentation, the friends break free. Throughout this period, Cloud is delirious, but Zack vows to protect his companion. They eventually reach the outskirts 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 first-class SOLDIER, which leads right into the start of *FF7*.

Simulating the Passing of the Torch on the Game Board

On the tabletop, the card mechanics in essence let you relive this iconic event. The Buster Sword is featured as a top-tier piece of equipment in the set that requires three mana and gives the wielding creature +3/+2. So, for a total of six mana, you can turn Zack into a solid 4/6 while the Buster Sword wielded.

The Cloud, Midgar Mercenary also has clear interaction with the Buster Sword, letting you to look through your library for an weapon card. When used in tandem, these three cards unfold like this: 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.

Due to the design Zack’s key mechanic is worded, you can potentially use it during combat, meaning you can “block” an attack and activate it to cancel out the attack altogether. So you can do this at a key moment, moving the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He then becomes a strong 6/4 that, every time he deals combat damage a player, lets you gain card advantage and cast two cards for free. This is just the kind of experience referred to when talking about “flavorful design” — not spoiling the scene, but letting the gameplay trigger the recollection.

More Than the Main Combo

But the thematic here is deeply satisfying, and it extends beyond just this combo. The Jenova card is part of the set as a creature that, at the start of combat, puts a number of +1/+1 counters on a target creature, which additionally gains the type of a Mutant. This in a way implies that Zack’s initial +1/+1 token is, symbolically, the SOLDIER conditioning he underwent, which included modification with Jenova cells. It's a small nod, but one that cleverly connects the entire SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter ecosystem in the expansion.

This design does not depict his end, or Cloud’s trauma, or the memorable location where it happens. It doesn't have to. *Magic* allows you to recreate the passing for yourself. You make the ultimate play. You transfer the sword on. And for a fleeting moment, while engaged in a card battle, you recall why *Final Fantasy 7* continues to be the most beloved game in the franchise for many fans.