🔗 Share this article

A core aspect of the charm within the Final Fantasy crossover release for *Magic: The Gathering* lies in the fashion numerous cards narrate well-known tales. Consider the Tidus, Blitzball Star card, which provides a snapshot of the hero at the beginning of *Final Fantasy 10*: a celebrated sports star whose secret weapon is a fancy shot that knocks a defender aside. The abilities reflect this in nuanced ways. These kinds of narrative is widespread in the entire Final Fantasy offering, and some are not lighthearted tales. Several act as somber reminders of emotional events fans continue to reflect on decades later.

"Moving narratives are a central part of the Final Fantasy franchise," noted a senior designer for the set. "They created some overarching principles, but finally, it was mostly on a card-by-card basis."

While the Zack Fair isn't a tournament staple, it is one of the collection's most elegant examples of storytelling via mechanics. It masterfully captures one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most important dramatic moments in spectacular fashion, all while capitalizing on some of the expansion's core systems. And while it avoids revealing anything, those acquainted with the saga will quickly recognize the significance within it.

The Card's Design: A Narrative in Play

At a cost of one mana of white (the color of protagonists) in this collection, Zack Fair is a starting stat line of 0/1 but enters with a +1/+1 counter. By spending one colorless mana, you can sacrifice the card to give another ally you control indestructible and put all of Zack’s counters, plus an gear, onto that target creature.

This card depicts a sequence FF fans are extremely familiar with, a moment that has been revisited again and again — in the classic *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even alternate-timeline iterations in *FF7 Remake*. Yet it lands just as hard here, expressed completely through card abilities. Zack sacrifices himself to save Cloud, who then takes up the Buster Sword as his own.

The Context of the Scene

Some necessary context, and here is your *FF7* spoiler alert: Years before the primary events of the game, Zack and Cloud are left for dead after a battle with Sephiroth. Following years of testing, the duo manage to escape. Throughout this period, Cloud is delirious, but Zack vows to look after his companion. They finally reach the edge outside Midgar before Zack is gunned down by troops. Abandoned, Cloud subsequently grabs Zack’s Buster Sword and assumes the identity of a first-class SOLDIER, setting the stage for the start of *FF7*.

Playing Out the Passing of the Torch on the Battlefield

In a game, the abilities essentially let you relive this whole event. The Buster Sword appears as a powerful piece of armament in the collection that costs three mana and provides the equipped creature +3/+2. Therefore, using six mana, you can make Zack into a respectable 4/6 with the Buster Sword wielded.

The Cloud, Midgar Mercenary also has intentional combo potential with the Buster Sword, enabling you to find for an equipment card. When used in tandem, these three cards function in this way: You play Zack, and he gains the +1/+1 counter. Then you cast Cloud to retrieve the Buster Sword from your deck. Then you summon and give it to Zack.

Owing to the way Zack’s signature action is worded, you can technically use it when blocking, meaning you can “block” an assault and activate it to prevent the attack entirely. So you can make this play at a key moment, transferring the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He is transformed into a powerful 6/4 that, each time he strikes a player, lets you draw two cards and play two spells at no cost. This is just the kind of experience alluded to when discussing “narrative impact” — not explaining the scene, but letting the gameplay make you remember.

Beyond the Obvious Combo

And the narrative here is incredibly rich, and it extends further than just this combo. 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 also becomes a Mutant. This in a way hints that Zack’s initial +1/+1 token is, in a way, the SOLDIER treatment he received, which included experimentation with Jenova cells. This is a tiny nod, but one that cleverly connects the whole SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter theme in the expansion.

This design does not depict his demise, or Cloud’s breakdown, or the rain-soaked bluff where it all ends. It doesn't have to. *Magic* lets you reenact the passing yourself. You choose the ultimate play. You hand over the legacy on. And for a brief second, while enjoying a card battle, you recall why *Final Fantasy 7* continues to be the most impactful game in the franchise for many fans.