🔗 Share this article

A significant element of the appeal of the Final Fantasy crossover set for *Magic: The Gathering* comes from the way countless cards tell well-known tales. Cards like Tidus, Blitzball Star, which gives a glimpse of the hero at the beginning of *Final Fantasy 10*: a celebrated Blitzball pro whose key technique is a unique shot that knocks a defender out of the way. The card's mechanics mirror this with subtlety. These kinds of storytelling is widespread throughout the whole Final Fantasy offering, and not all joyful stories. Some act as heartbreaking reminders of sad moments fans continue to reflect on to this day.

"Emotional narratives are a vital component of the Final Fantasy legacy," explained a lead designer for the collaboration. "We built some general rules, but ultimately, it was largely on a case-by-case basis."

Though the Zack Fair card isn't a top-tier card, it represents one of the collection's most elegant examples of storytelling through gameplay. It masterfully reflects one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most important story moments in spectacular fashion, all while utilizing some of the product's core mechanics. And although it steers clear of spoiling anything, those familiar with the tale will immediately grasp the emotional weight behind it.

The Card's Design: Story Through Gameplay

At a cost of one white mana (the hue of protagonists) in this collection, Zack Fair has a starting stat line of 0/1 but arrives with a +1/+1 marker. For the cost of one colorless mana, you can destroy the card to grant another unit you control protection from destruction and move all of Zack’s bonuses, along with an artifact weapon, onto that target creature.

This design depicts a scene FF fans are very remember, a moment that has been retold throughout the years — in the original *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even alternate-timeline retellings in *FF7 Remake*. But somehow it hits just as hard here, conveyed completely through gameplay mechanics. Zack makes the ultimate sacrifice to save Cloud, who then inherits the Buster Sword as his own.

The Story Behind the Card

Some necessary backstory, and here is your *FF7* warning: Years before the primary events of the game, Zack and Cloud are gravely wounded after a clash with Sephiroth. After years of experimentation, the duo break free. During their ordeal, Cloud is barely conscious, but Zack vows to look after his friend. They eventually reach the plains outside Midgar before Zack is gunned down by Shinra soldiers. Abandoned, Cloud subsequently grabs Zack’s Buster Sword and assumes the persona of a first-class SOLDIER, leading directly into the start of *FF7*.

Simulating the Legacy on the Game Board

In a game, the card mechanics essentially let you reenact this entire event. The Buster Sword is a a strong piece of gear in the set that requires three mana and gives the equipped creature +3/+2. Therefore, using six mana, you can make Zack into a formidable 4/6 with the Buster Sword wielded.

The Cloud, Midgar Mercenary also has clear combo potential with the Buster Sword, enabling you to find for an artifact card. When used in tandem, these pieces play out as follows: You play Zack, and he gets the +1/+1 counter. Then you cast Cloud to pull the Buster Sword out of your deck. Then you summon and give it to Zack.

Because of the manner Zack’s key mechanic is structured, you can actually use it in the middle of battle, meaning you can “intercept” an assault and trigger it to cancel out the attack altogether. This allows you to make this play at a key moment, transferring the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He then becomes a formidable 6/4 that, every time he strikes a player, lets you gain card advantage and cast two cards at no cost. This is exactly the kind of moment alluded to when talking about “narrative impact” — not spoiling the scene, but letting the gameplay trigger the recollection.

More Than the Central Synergy

But the thematic here is deeply satisfying, and it extends past just these cards. 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 chosen creature, which then becomes a Mutant. This sort of hints that Zack’s starting +1/+1 token is, in a way, the SOLDIER enhancement he received, which included genetic manipulation with Jenova cells. It's a tiny nod, but one that cleverly ties the entire SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter ecosystem in the expansion.

Zack’s card doesn't show his demise, or Cloud’s confusion, or the rain-soaked cliff where it all ends. It does not need to. *Magic* lets you reenact the legacy personally. You perform the ultimate play. You hand over the weapon on. And for a short instant, while engaged in a card battle, you remember why *Final Fantasy 7* remains the most impactful game in the series for many fans.