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A significant aspect of the appeal of the Final Fantasy Universes Beyond set for *Magic: The Gathering* comes from the manner so many cards depict well-known stories. Consider Tidus, Blitzball Star, which provides a snapshot of the hero at the outset of *Final Fantasy 10*: a celebrated Blitzball pro whose secret weapon is a specialized shot that takes a defender aside. The gameplay rules represent this with subtlety. This type of storytelling is found throughout the complete Final Fantasy set, and they aren't all fun and games. Several act as poignant callbacks of emotional events fans still mull over years after.

"Emotional tales are a key component of the Final Fantasy series," wrote a lead game designer involved with the project. "We built some overarching principles, but finally, it was primarily on a card-by-card basis."

Though the Zack Fair card is not a competitive powerhouse, it is one of the collection's most refined examples of narrative design by way of mechanics. It skillfully echoes one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most pivotal story moments in spectacular fashion, all while leveraging some of the set's key gameplay elements. And although it steers clear of spoiling anything, those acquainted with the tale will quickly recognize the emotional weight behind it.

How It Works: A Narrative in Play

For one mana of white (the alignment of good) in this set, Zack Fair enters with a base power and toughness of 0/1 but comes into play with a +1/+1 counter. For the cost of one colorless mana, you can sacrifice the card to bestow another ally you control indestructible and put all of Zack’s counters, along with an gear, onto that other creature.

These mechanics depicts a sequence FF fans are all too know well, a moment that has been reimagined multiple times — in the first *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even reimagined versions in *FF7 Remake*. Yet it lands with equal force here, communicated solely through card abilities. Zack sacrifices himself to save Cloud, who then inherits the Buster Sword as his own.

The Story Behind the Moment

For context, and consider this your *FF7* warning: Years before the primary events of the game, Zack and Cloud are gravely wounded after a confrontation with Sephiroth. Following extended testing, the pair manage to escape. The entire time, Cloud is comatose, but Zack ensures to protect his friend. They eventually arrive at the edge outside Midgar before Zack is fatally wounded by troops. Presumed dead, Cloud in that moment claims Zack’s Buster Sword and adopts the persona of a first-class SOLDIER, setting the stage for the start of *FF7*.

Reenacting the Moment on the Tabletop

On the tabletop, the rules essentially let you recreate this entire scene. The Buster Sword is a a top-tier piece of gear in the collection that requires three mana and grants the equipped creature +3/+2. Thus, with an investment of six mana, you can transform Zack into a formidable 4/6 with the Buster Sword attached.

The Cloud Strife card also has deliberate synergy with the Buster Sword, letting you to look through your library for an equipment card. When used in tandem, these pieces play out as follows: You play Zack, and he receives the +1/+1 counter. Then you play Cloud to pull the Buster Sword out of your deck. Then you summon and give it to Zack.

Because of the way Zack’s signature action is structured, you can potentially use it in the middle of battle, meaning you can “intercept” an assault and activate it to prevent the attack altogether. This allows you to make this play at any time, passing the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He is transformed into a formidable 6/4 that, each time he deals combat damage a player, lets you pull extra cards and cast two cards for free. This is exactly the kind of interaction meant when talking about “narrative impact” — not revealing the scene, but letting the card design make you remember.

More Than the Main Interaction

However, the thematic here is deeply satisfying, and it reaches past just Zack and Cloud. The Jenova, Ancient Calamity is part of the set as a creature that, at the start of combat, puts a number of +1/+1 counters on a chosen creature, which then becomes a Mutant. This kind of hints that Zack’s initial +1/+1 token is, in a way, the SOLDIER enhancement he underwent, which included genetic manipulation with Jenova cells. It's a subtle reference, but one that subtly ties the whole SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter theme in the set.

The card doesn't show his end, or Cloud’s trauma, or the rain-soaked location where it happens. It doesn't have to. *Magic* enables you to recreate the moment personally. You choose the ultimate play. You hand over the weapon on. And for a brief second, while enjoying a strategy game, you remember why *Final Fantasy 7* is still the most influential game in the series to date.