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A significant element of the charm within the Final Fantasy crossover release for *Magic: The Gathering* lies in the way countless cards tell iconic narratives. Take for instance the Tidus, Blitzball Star card, which offers a portrait of the character at the outset of *Final Fantasy 10*: a celebrated professional athlete whose secret weapon is a fancy shot that pushes a defender aside. The gameplay rules represent this perfectly. Such storytelling is prevalent in the entire Final Fantasy set, and they aren't all joyful stories. A number act as somber echoes of emotional events fans continue to reflect on years after.

"Moving stories are a vital element of the Final Fantasy franchise," wrote a principal designer involved with the set. "The team established some overarching principles, but finally, it was largely on a case-by-case basis."

Though the Zack Fair card may not be a competitive powerhouse, it represents one of the set's most refined instances of storytelling by way of mechanics. It masterfully echoes one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most important cinematic moments in spectacular fashion, all while utilizing some of the set's key mechanics. And even if it steers clear of spoiling anything, those familiar with the story will instantly understand the meaning embedded in it.

The Card's Design: Flavor in Rules

For one white mana (the alignment of good) in this set, Zack Fair enters with a base stat line of 0/1 but arrives with a +1/+1 token. By spending one generic mana, you can remove from play the card to bestow 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 extremely familiar with, a moment that has been reimagined again and again — in the classic *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even alternate-timeline iterations in *FF7 Remake*. Yet it resonates powerfully here, expressed completely through card abilities. Zack sacrifices himself to save Cloud, who then inherits the Buster Sword as his own.

A Spoiler for the Scene

A bit of context, and here is your *FF7* spoiler alert: Before the main events of the game, Zack and Cloud are severely injured after a confrontation with Sephiroth. After extended imprisonment, the pair manage to escape. The entire time, Cloud is delirious, but Zack makes sure to protect his comrade. They finally make it the plains outside Midgar before Zack is fatally wounded by forces. Left behind, Cloud subsequently grabs Zack’s Buster Sword and takes on the role of a elite SOLDIER, leading directly into the start of *FF7*.

Playing Out the Passing of the Torch on the Battlefield

In a game, the rules effectively let you recreate this entire scene. The Buster Sword is a a strong piece of equipment in the collection that costs three mana and grants the wielding creature +3/+2. Thus, with an investment of six mana, you can transform Zack into a formidable 4/6 with the Buster Sword attached.

The Cloud Strife card also has clear interaction with the Buster Sword, allowing you to find for an weapon card. When used in tandem, these pieces play out in this way: You cast Zack, and he receives the +1/+1 counter. Then you play Cloud to pull the Buster Sword from your deck. Then you summon and give it to Zack.

Because of the manner Zack’s sacrifice ability is structured, you can actually use it when blocking, meaning you can “block” an attack and activate it to cancel out the damage entirely. This allows you to do this at a key moment, moving the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He is transformed into a strong 6/4 that, each time he strikes a player, lets you pull extra cards and cast two cards for free. This is exactly the kind of experience meant when talking about “emotional resonance” — not spoiling the scene, but letting the card design evoke the memory.

Extending Past the Main Combo

But the thematic here is incredibly rich, and it extends further than just this combo. The Jenova, Ancient Calamity is part of the collection as a creature that, at the start of combat, puts a number of +1/+1 counters on a target creature, which also becomes a Mutant. This sort of hints that Zack’s initial +1/+1 token is, figuratively, the SOLDIER treatment he received, which included genetic manipulation with Jenova cells. This is a tiny reference, but one that cleverly ties the entire SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter ecosystem in the set.

The card avoids showing his demise, or Cloud’s breakdown, or the rain-soaked location where it concludes. It does not need to. *Magic* allows you to recreate the legacy yourself. You choose the ultimate play. You hand over the weapon on. And for a short instant, while engaged in a strategy game, you recall why *Final Fantasy 7* continues to be the most beloved game in the series for many fans.