Zack Fair Illustrates That Magic's Universes Beyond Can Tell Meaningful Stories.

A major aspect of the appeal within the *Final Fantasy* Universes Beyond set for *Magic: The Gathering* lies in the way numerous cards narrate familiar stories. Take for instance Tidus, Blitzball Star, which gives a glimpse of the protagonist at the beginning of *Final Fantasy 10*: a celebrated Blitzball pro whose signature move is a unique shot that takes a defender out of the way. The abilities reflect this perfectly. This type of storytelling is found across the complete Final Fantasy set, and some are not lighthearted tales. Some serve as poignant echoes of sad moments fans remember vividly to this day.

"Moving narratives are a central part of the Final Fantasy franchise," explained a principal designer for the set. "They created some broad guidelines, but ultimately, it was mostly on a case-by-case basis."

Even though the Zack Fair may not be a top-tier card, it is one of the collection's most clever pieces of flavor by way of mechanics. It masterfully echoes one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most important dramatic moments with great effect, all while leveraging some of the set's key gameplay elements. And while it doesn't spoil anything, those who know the tale will quickly recognize the emotional weight behind it.

The Card's Design: A Narrative in Play

At a cost of one white mana (the alignment of good) in this set, Zack Fair enters with a starting power and toughness of 0/1 but arrives with a +1/+1 marker. By paying one generic mana, you can sacrifice the card to bestow another ally you control protection from destruction and put all of Zack’s markers, as well as an Equipment, onto that other creature.

These mechanics portrays a moment FF fans are very familiar with, a moment that has been retold again and again — in the classic *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even new versions in *FF7 Remake*. Yet it lands just as hard here, communicated solely through card abilities. Zack gives his life to save Cloud, who then picks up the Buster Sword as his own.

The Context of the Scene

Some necessary history, and here is your *FF7* warning: Before the main events of the game, Zack and Cloud are severely injured after a clash with Sephiroth. Following extended experimentation, the duo break free. During their ordeal, Cloud is barely conscious, but Zack vows to take care of his comrade. They finally reach the outskirts outside Midgar before Zack is fatally wounded by forces. Abandoned, Cloud subsequently grabs Zack’s Buster Sword and adopts the identity of a first-class SOLDIER, leading directly into the start of *FF7*.

Reenacting the Passing of the Torch on the Tabletop

On the tabletop, the card mechanics in essence let you recreate this iconic scene. The Buster Sword is featured as a powerful piece of armament in the collection that requires three mana and gives the wielding creature +3/+2. So, for a total of six mana, you can transform Zack into a solid 4/6 while the Buster Sword equipped.

The Cloud Strife card also has deliberate combo potential with the Buster Sword, letting you to find for an equipment card. Together, these pieces play out as follows: You cast Zack, and he receives the +1/+1 counter. Then you cast Cloud to fetch the Buster Sword from your deck. Then you cast and attach it to Zack.

Due to the way Zack’s signature action is structured, you can technically use it when blocking, meaning you can “intercept” an attack and trigger it to cancel out the attack altogether. Therefore, you can do this at a key moment, transferring the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He is transformed into a strong 6/4 that, whenever he does damage a player, lets you draw two cards and cast two spells without paying their mana cost. This is exactly the kind of moment referred to when discussing “flavorful design” — not spoiling the scene, but letting the card design make you remember.

Beyond the Central Synergy

However, the flavor here is deeply satisfying, and it reaches beyond just this combo. The Jenova, Ancient Calamity is part of the collection as a creature that, at the start of combat, places a number of +1/+1 counters on a target creature, which then becomes a Mutant. This sort of suggests that Zack’s initial +1/+1 token is, in a way, the SOLDIER enhancement he underwent, which included genetic manipulation with Jenova cells. This is a small nod, but one that subtly ties the whole SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter theme in the set.

This design doesn't show his demise, or Cloud’s trauma, or the rain-soaked bluff where it happens. It doesn't have to. *Magic* enables you to reenact the passing personally. You perform the ultimate play. You pass the legacy on. And for a brief second, while engaged in a strategy game, you remember why *Final Fantasy 7* continues to be the most influential game in the saga to date.