🔗 Share this article

A significant part of the appeal found in the Final Fantasy crossover release for *Magic: The Gathering* lies in the manner countless cards narrate iconic stories. Cards like Tidus, Blitzball Star, which gives a glimpse of the protagonist at the very start of *Final Fantasy 10*: a celebrated sports star whose key technique is a unique shot that knocks a defender aside. The gameplay rules reflect this with subtlety. Such narrative is widespread across the whole Final Fantasy set, and they aren't all lighthearted tales. Some serve as somber reminders of sad moments fans still mull over to this day.

"Powerful narratives are a central element of the Final Fantasy legacy," noted a lead game designer for the project. "The team established some overarching principles, but in the end, it was largely on a individual basis."

While the Zack Fair card is not a tournament staple, it stands as one of the collection's most refined pieces of narrative design by way of rules. It artfully captures one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most crucial story moments with great effect, all while utilizing some of the expansion's core mechanics. And even if it avoids revealing anything, those familiar with the saga will instantly understand the meaning within it.

How It Works: Flavor in Rules

At a cost of one mana of white (the hue of heroes) in this collection, Zack Fair has a base stat line of 0/1 but comes into play with a +1/+1 marker. By spending one generic mana, you can destroy the card to grant another creature you control indestructible and put all of Zack’s bonuses, plus an Equipment, onto that chosen creature.

These mechanics portrays a sequence FF fans are very familiar with, a moment that has been revisited again and again — in the original *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even reimagined iterations in *FF7 Remake*. And yet it hits just as hard here, conveyed solely through card abilities. Zack makes the ultimate sacrifice to save Cloud, who then takes up the Buster Sword as his own.

The Context of the Card

Some necessary context, and take this as your *FF7* warning: Prior to the main events of the game, Zack and Cloud are gravely wounded after a confrontation with Sephiroth. After extended testing, the friends manage to escape. The entire time, Cloud is comatose, but Zack makes sure to take care of his comrade. They eventually arrive at the outskirts outside Midgar before Zack is fatally wounded by troops. Presumed dead, Cloud then takes up Zack’s Buster Sword and takes on the identity of a elite SOLDIER, setting the stage for the start of *FF7*.

Reenacting the Passing of the Torch on the Tabletop

Through gameplay, the card mechanics essentially let you reenact this iconic scene. The Buster Sword is featured as a strong piece of equipment in the set that requires three mana and provides the wielding creature +3/+2. Therefore, using six mana, you can transform Zack into a formidable 4/6 with the Buster Sword equipped.

The Cloud, Midgar Mercenary also has intentional synergy with the Buster Sword, letting you to look through your library for an equipment card. In combination, these pieces unfold in this way: You play Zack, and he receives the +1/+1 counter. Then you cast Cloud to retrieve the Buster Sword out of your deck. Then you summon and give it to Zack.

Owing to the design Zack’s key mechanic is designed, you can potentially use it when blocking, meaning you can “intercept” an assault and activate it to negate the attack completely. Therefore, you can perform this action at any time, transferring the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He then becomes a formidable 6/4 that, every time he deals combat damage a player, lets you gain card advantage and cast two spells at no cost. This is exactly the kind of moment alluded to when talking about “flavorful design” — not spoiling the scene, but letting the card design make you remember.

Beyond the Obvious Combo

But the narrative here is oh-so-delicious, and it extends beyond just Zack and Cloud. The Jenova, Ancient Calamity appears in the set as a creature that, at the start of combat, places a number of +1/+1 counters on a chosen creature, which additionally gains the type of a Mutant. This kind of implies that Zack’s starting +1/+1 token is, in a way, the SOLDIER conditioning he received, which included modification with Jenova cells. It's a small reference, but one that cleverly ties the whole SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter theme in the set.

The card does not depict his death, or Cloud’s confusion, or the memorable bluff where it all ends. It does not need to. *Magic* enables you to reenact the passing yourself. You choose the sacrifice. You hand over the weapon on. And for a short instant, while engaged in a strategy game, you are reminded of why *Final Fantasy 7* is still the most influential game in the saga ever made.