🔗 Share this article

A major aspect of the appeal found in the *Final Fantasy* crossover set for *Magic: The Gathering* is the fashion numerous cards depict iconic stories. Consider Tidus, Blitzball Star, which provides a glimpse of the character at the beginning of *Final Fantasy 10*: a celebrated sports star whose secret weapon is a unique shot that takes a defender out of the way. The gameplay rules represent this in nuanced ways. These kinds of narrative is widespread throughout the entire Final Fantasy set, and some are not lighthearted tales. A number serve as somber echoes of tragedies fans still mull over years after.

"Moving tales are a central element of the Final Fantasy legacy," noted a senior game designer involved with the set. "They created some broad guidelines, but ultimately, it was largely on a individual level."

Even though the Zack Fair isn't a tournament staple, it stands as one of the collection's most refined examples of narrative design by way of gameplay. It artfully captures one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most pivotal dramatic moments with great effect, all while utilizing some of the product's key mechanics. And although it avoids revealing anything, those familiar with the saga will immediately grasp the emotional weight within it.

The Mechanics: Story Through Gameplay

At a cost of 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 marker. By paying one colorless mana, you can destroy the card to give another ally you control indestructible and transfer all of Zack’s markers, plus an artifact weapon, onto that target creature.

These mechanics depicts a moment FF fans are extremely remember, a moment that has been retold again and again — in the original *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even alternate-timeline iterations in *FF7 Remake*. But somehow it lands with equal force here, expressed solely through rules text. Zack makes the ultimate sacrifice to save Cloud, who then inherits the Buster Sword as his own.

The Context of the Card

Some necessary history, and here is your *FF7* warning: Before the primary events of the game, Zack and Cloud are gravely wounded after a confrontation with Sephiroth. After years of testing, the duo manage to escape. During their ordeal, Cloud is delirious, but Zack makes sure to protect his comrade. They finally reach the outskirts outside Midgar before Zack is fatally wounded by forces. Left behind, Cloud subsequently grabs Zack’s Buster Sword and takes on the persona of a elite SOLDIER, setting the stage for the start of *FF7*.

Simulating the Moment on the Game Board

In a game, the abilities in essence let you relive this iconic event. The Buster Sword appears as a powerful piece of equipment in the set that costs three mana and grants the wielding creature +3/+2. Therefore, using six mana, you can turn Zack into a solid 4/6 with the Buster Sword equipped.

The Cloud, Midgar Mercenary also has intentional interaction with the Buster Sword, enabling you to search your deck for an artifact card. In combination, these three cards unfold like this: You cast Zack, and he gets the +1/+1 counter. Then you cast Cloud to pull the Buster Sword from your deck. Then you cast and attach it to Zack.

Due to the manner Zack’s signature action is structured, you can potentially use it when blocking, meaning you can “block” an assault and activate it to negate the attack entirely. So you can make this play at any time, passing the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He is transformed into a formidable 6/4 that, each time he strikes a player, lets you draw two cards and play two spells for free. This is just the kind of experience alluded to when talking about “emotional resonance” — not revealing the scene, but letting the card design trigger the recollection.

Beyond the Central Combo

However, the flavor here is oh-so-delicious, and it reaches further than just Zack and Cloud. 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 additionally gains the type of a Mutant. This in a way hints that Zack’s initial +1/+1 token is, figuratively, the SOLDIER conditioning he received, which included modification with Jenova cells. This is a small nod, but one that implicitly ties the entire SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter ecosystem in the expansion.

The card avoids showing his death, or Cloud’s trauma, or the memorable bluff where it concludes. It does not need to. *Magic* enables you to recreate the moment yourself. You make the ultimate play. You pass the sword on. And for a short instant, while enjoying a trading card game, you recall why *Final Fantasy 7* continues to be the most influential game in the franchise ever made.