A significant element of the charm within the *Final Fantasy* Universes Beyond collection for *Magic: The Gathering* comes from the manner numerous cards narrate well-known stories. Take for instance the Tidus, Blitzball Star card, which gives a portrait of the protagonist at the outset of *Final Fantasy 10*: a wildly famous sports star whose secret weapon is a unique shot that takes a defender out of the way. The gameplay rules reflect this in nuanced ways. Such flavor is widespread throughout the whole Final Fantasy set, and they aren't all fun and games. Several serve as somber reminders of tragedies fans still mull over years after.
"Emotional tales are a key component of the Final Fantasy franchise," noted a principal designer for the collaboration. "They created some broad guidelines, but in the end, it was primarily on a individual level."
Even though the Zack Fair isn't a tournament staple, it is one of the collection's most refined instances of flavor through mechanics. It artfully echoes one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most crucial dramatic moments brilliantly, all while leveraging some of the product's central gameplay elements. And while it doesn't spoil anything, those who know the saga will immediately grasp the meaning behind it.
For one white mana (the color of good) in this set, Zack Fair enters with a starting stat line of 0/1 but comes into play with a +1/+1 counter. By paying one generic mana, you can destroy the card to grant another unit you control protection from destruction and put all of Zack’s counters, as well as an artifact weapon, onto that other creature.
These mechanics paints a sequence FF fans are very remember, a moment that has been reimagined throughout the years — in the first *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even alternate-timeline retellings in *FF7 Remake*. Yet it resonates powerfully here, conveyed entirely through gameplay mechanics. Zack makes the ultimate sacrifice to save Cloud, who then takes up the Buster Sword as his own.
For history, and take this as your *FF7* spoiler alert: Before the primary events of the game, Zack and Cloud are left for dead after a clash with Sephiroth. Following extended imprisonment, the friends manage to escape. During their ordeal, Cloud is comatose, but Zack ensures to take care of his friend. They eventually reach the edge outside Midgar before Zack is killed by troops. Left behind, Cloud subsequently grabs Zack’s Buster Sword and takes on the persona of a elite SOLDIER, which leads right into the start of *FF7*.
On the tabletop, the abilities essentially let you recreate this whole scene. The Buster Sword is a a top-tier piece of gear in the set that costs three mana and grants the wielding creature +3/+2. So, for a total of six mana, you can transform Zack into a solid 4/6 with the Buster Sword attached.
The Cloud Strife card also has intentional combo potential with the Buster Sword, allowing you to look through your library for an artifact card. When used in tandem, these three cards function as follows: You play Zack, and he gains the +1/+1 counter. Then you summon Cloud to pull the Buster Sword from your deck. Then you cast and attach it to Zack.
Because of the way Zack’s key mechanic is structured, you can technically use it during combat, meaning you can “intercept” an attack and trigger it to prevent the attack entirely. So you can do this at any time, transferring the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He is transformed into a formidable 6/4 that, every time he deals combat damage a player, lets you gain card advantage and play two spells for free. This is precisely the kind of interaction meant when talking about “narrative impact” — not revealing the scene, but letting the gameplay make you remember.
But the thematic here is oh-so-delicious, and it goes beyond just these cards. The Jenova card appears in the collection as a creature that, at the start of combat, puts a number of +1/+1 counters on a target creature, which then becomes a Mutant. This in a way suggests that Zack’s initial +1/+1 token is, figuratively, the SOLDIER enhancement he received, which included experimentation with Jenova cells. This is a small reference, but one that subtly connects the entire SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter theme in the set.
This design avoids showing his demise, or Cloud’s breakdown, or the memorable location where it concludes. It doesn't have to. *Magic* allows you to relive the legacy personally. You perform the ultimate play. You transfer the legacy on. And for a short instant, while engaged in a trading card game, you are reminded of why *Final Fantasy 7* is still the most influential game in the franchise ever made.
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