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A major element of the charm found in the Final Fantasy crossover release for *Magic: The Gathering* comes from the manner numerous cards tell well-known narratives. Cards like the Tidus, Blitzball Star card, which provides a snapshot of the character at the very start of *Final Fantasy 10*: a celebrated sports star whose secret weapon is a unique shot that takes a defender aside. The gameplay rules reflect this with subtlety. Such flavor is widespread across the whole Final Fantasy offering, and some are not joyful stories. Some act as somber reminders of sad moments fans remember vividly decades later.

"Powerful narratives are a central part of the Final Fantasy legacy," wrote a principal designer involved with the project. "We built some overarching principles, but ultimately, it was primarily on a case-by-case basis."

Even though the Zack Fair card is not a tournament staple, it stands as one of the release's most clever pieces of storytelling by way of rules. It artfully reflects one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most crucial dramatic moments in spectacular fashion, all while capitalizing on some of the set's core gameplay elements. And although it steers clear of spoiling anything, those familiar with the saga will quickly recognize the meaning within it.

How It Works: Flavor in Rules

At a cost of one white mana (the hue of good) in this set, Zack Fair is a starting power and toughness of 0/1 but comes into play with a +1/+1 token. By spending one generic mana, you can destroy the card to give another creature you control indestructible and move all of Zack’s bonuses, as well as an Equipment, onto that target creature.

This card paints a moment FF fans are very remember, a moment that has been revisited throughout the years — in the classic *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even new retellings in *FF7 Remake*. But somehow it lands just as hard here, communicated solely through gameplay mechanics. Zack makes the ultimate sacrifice to save Cloud, who then inherits the Buster Sword as his own.

A Spoiler for the Scene

Some necessary context, and here is your *FF7* warning: Before the primary events of the game, Zack and Cloud are severely injured after a confrontation with Sephiroth. After extended experimentation, the duo manage to escape. During their ordeal, Cloud is delirious, but Zack vows to take care of his companion. They finally make it the edge outside Midgar before Zack is killed by forces. Presumed dead, Cloud then takes up Zack’s Buster Sword and assumes the identity of a first-class SOLDIER, leading directly into the start of *FF7*.

Playing Out the Moment on the Tabletop

Through gameplay, the card mechanics essentially let you relive this iconic sequence. The Buster Sword appears as a strong piece of equipment in the collection that requires three mana and provides the wielding 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 intentional combo potential with the Buster Sword, letting you to look through your library for an weapon card. Together, these pieces function like this: You play Zack, and he gains the +1/+1 counter. Then you play Cloud to retrieve the Buster Sword from your deck. Then you cast and attach it to Zack.

Due to the design Zack’s signature action is designed, you can potentially use it when blocking, meaning you can “intercept” an attack and trigger it to negate the attack altogether. Therefore, you can perform this action at a key moment, transferring the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He then becomes a powerful 6/4 that, each time he deals combat damage a player, lets you gain card advantage and play two spells without paying their mana cost. This is just the kind of experience alluded to when discussing “flavorful design” — not revealing the scene, but letting the mechanics evoke the memory.

More Than the Obvious Interaction

However, the narrative here is incredibly rich, and it extends past just Zack and Cloud. The Jenova, Ancient Calamity appears in the set as a creature that, at the start of combat, puts a number of +1/+1 counters on a chosen creature, which additionally gains the type of a Mutant. This sort of hints that Zack’s starting +1/+1 token is, figuratively, the SOLDIER enhancement he underwent, which included genetic manipulation with Jenova cells. It's a small reference, but one that subtly links the whole SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter ecosystem in the set.

This design avoids showing his end, or Cloud’s confusion, or the rain-soaked cliff where it concludes. It does not need to. *Magic* enables you to reenact the legacy personally. You perform the ultimate play. You hand over the legacy on. And for a short instant, while playing a strategy game, you remember why *Final Fantasy 7* is still the most impactful game in the saga for many fans.