🔗 Share this article

A core aspect of the appeal of the Final Fantasy crossover collection for *Magic: The Gathering* is the way countless cards narrate familiar narratives. Take for instance the Tidus, Blitzball Star card, which provides a snapshot of the character at the outset of *Final Fantasy 10*: a renowned sports star whose key technique is a unique shot that knocks a defender out of the way. The gameplay rules represent this in nuanced ways. This type of narrative is widespread across the complete Final Fantasy offering, and they aren't all lighthearted tales. A number serve as poignant echoes of tragedies fans continue to reflect on decades later.

"Emotional stories are a key component of the Final Fantasy franchise," wrote a principal designer for the set. "The team established some broad guidelines, but ultimately, it was mostly on a individual basis."

Though the Zack Fair card is not a competitive powerhouse, it represents one of the set's most refined examples of storytelling by way of gameplay. It skillfully reflects one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most crucial story moments in spectacular fashion, all while utilizing some of the product's key gameplay elements. And even if it steers clear of spoiling anything, those who know the tale will instantly understand the emotional weight embedded in it.

The Mechanics: A Narrative in Play

For one mana of white (the hue of good) in this set, Zack Fair enters with a base stat line of 0/1 but comes into play with a +1/+1 counter. By spending one colorless mana, you can sacrifice the card to bestow another ally you control protection from destruction and put all of Zack’s bonuses, as well as an Equipment, onto that chosen creature.

These mechanics paints a scene FF fans are very know well, a moment that has been retold multiple times — in the classic *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even reimagined iterations in *FF7 Remake*. But somehow it lands powerfully here, conveyed completely through gameplay mechanics. Zack sacrifices himself to save Cloud, who then inherits the Buster Sword as his own.

A Spoiler for the Card

Some necessary context, and consider this your *FF7* spoiler alert: Years before the primary events of the game, Zack and Cloud are gravely wounded after a confrontation with Sephiroth. Following years of testing, the friends break free. The entire time, Cloud is delirious, but Zack makes sure to protect his friend. They eventually reach the plains outside Midgar before Zack is gunned down by troops. Abandoned, Cloud subsequently grabs Zack’s Buster Sword and adopts the persona of a first-class SOLDIER, leading directly into the start of *FF7*.

Playing Out the Passing of the Torch on the Tabletop

In a game, the abilities essentially let you recreate this iconic scene. The Buster Sword appears as a strong piece of equipment in the set that costs three mana and grants 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 equipped.

The Cloud Strife card also has deliberate combo potential with the Buster Sword, enabling you to find for an artifact card. When used in tandem, these three cards function in this way: You summon Zack, and he gets the +1/+1 counter. Then you cast Cloud to pull the Buster Sword from your deck. Then you cast and attach it to Zack.

Because of the design Zack’s signature action is designed, you can technically use it in the middle of battle, meaning you can “intercept” an assault and activate it to prevent the attack altogether. Therefore, you can make this play at any time, transferring the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He then becomes a strong 6/4 that, every time he strikes a player, lets you pull extra cards and play two spells for free. This is just the kind of interaction referred to when discussing “flavorful design” — not explaining the scene, but letting the card design make you remember.

Beyond the Obvious Interaction

But the thematic here is deeply satisfying, and it extends past just this combo. 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 target creature, which also becomes a Mutant. This kind of implies that Zack’s starting +1/+1 token is, symbolically, the SOLDIER treatment he underwent, which included modification with Jenova cells. This is a subtle connection, but one that cleverly connects the entire SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter mechanic in the expansion.

The card doesn't show his end, or Cloud’s trauma, or the stormy cliff where it concludes. It doesn't have to. *Magic* allows you to reenact the passing personally. You choose the sacrifice. You transfer the legacy on. And for a short instant, while playing a trading card game, you are reminded of why *Final Fantasy 7* is still the most beloved game in the series to date.