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A core aspect of the appeal found in the Final Fantasy crossover collection for *Magic: The Gathering* lies in the manner so many cards depict well-known tales. Take for instance the Tidus, Blitzball Star card, which gives a portrait of the protagonist at the outset of *Final Fantasy 10*: a wildly famous professional athlete whose signature move is a fancy shot that pushes a defender aside. The card's mechanics represent this in nuanced ways. Such narrative is found across the entire Final Fantasy set, and some are not lighthearted tales. A number are somber echoes of tragedies fans still mull over years after.

"Moving stories are a vital element of the Final Fantasy legacy," noted a senior game designer for the set. "We built some general rules, but ultimately, it was largely on a case-by-case basis."

Even though the Zack Fair isn't a top-tier card, it stands as one of the set's most elegant instances of narrative design through mechanics. It artfully echoes one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most pivotal dramatic moments with great effect, all while utilizing some of the set's core mechanics. And although it doesn't spoil anything, those who know the tale will quickly recognize the significance within it.

The Mechanics: A Narrative in Play

For one white mana (the alignment of protagonists) in this collection, Zack Fair enters with a base stat line of 0/1 but comes into play with a +1/+1 token. For the cost of one generic mana, you can destroy the card to bestow another unit you control indestructible and move all of Zack’s markers, along with an artifact weapon, onto that chosen creature.

These mechanics paints a moment FF fans are extremely remember, a moment that has been retold again and again — in the classic *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even new versions in *FF7 Remake*. And yet it resonates with equal force here, expressed completely through gameplay mechanics. Zack sacrifices himself to save Cloud, who then inherits the Buster Sword as his own.

The Context of the Moment

A bit of context, and here is your *FF7* warning: Before the main events of the game, Zack and Cloud are gravely wounded after a clash with Sephiroth. Following years of experimentation, the pair get away. Throughout this period, Cloud is delirious, but Zack ensures to look after his comrade. They eventually reach the edge outside Midgar before Zack is gunned down by forces. Left behind, Cloud then takes up Zack’s Buster Sword and assumes the persona of a elite SOLDIER, setting the stage for the start of *FF7*.

Reenacting the Passing of the Torch on the Game Board

Through gameplay, the card mechanics effectively let you recreate this iconic scene. The Buster Sword is a a top-tier piece of gear in the set that requires three mana and provides the wielding creature +3/+2. Therefore, using six mana, you can transform Zack into a respectable 4/6 with the Buster Sword wielded.

The Cloud Strife card also has intentional combo potential with the Buster Sword, allowing you to look through your library for an weapon card. Together, these pieces function as follows: You cast Zack, and he receives the +1/+1 counter. Then you cast Cloud to retrieve the Buster Sword out of your deck. Then you play and equip it to Zack.

Because of the way Zack’s sacrifice ability is worded, you can potentially use it when blocking, meaning you can “block” an attack and trigger it to cancel out the damage completely. This allows you to perform this action at any time, transferring the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He then becomes a formidable 6/4 that, whenever he strikes a player, lets you gain card advantage and play two cards for free. This is just the kind of experience referred to when talking about “narrative impact” — not explaining the scene, but letting the mechanics trigger the recollection.

Beyond the Main Combo

But the thematic here is deeply satisfying, and it goes further than just these cards. 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 chosen creature, which also becomes a Mutant. This kind of hints that Zack’s initial +1/+1 token is, symbolically, the SOLDIER enhancement he received, which included experimentation with Jenova cells. This is a tiny nod, but one that subtly links the whole SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter theme in the expansion.

The card avoids showing his end, or Cloud’s confusion, or the rain-soaked bluff where it concludes. It isn't necessary. *Magic* enables you to recreate the legacy for yourself. You make the ultimate play. You pass the legacy on. And for a fleeting moment, while engaged in a trading card game, you are reminded of why *Final Fantasy 7* continues to be the most beloved game in the series to date.