A core element of the appeal found in the *Final Fantasy* crossover release for *Magic: The Gathering* comes from the fashion so many cards depict well-known narratives. Take for instance Tidus, Blitzball Star, which gives a portrait of the character at the beginning of *Final Fantasy 10*: a renowned sports star whose signature move is a specialized shot that takes a defender out of the way. The abilities mirror this with subtlety. These kinds of narrative is widespread throughout the whole Final Fantasy set, and not all fun and games. Several act as poignant callbacks of sad moments fans continue to reflect on decades later.
"Moving narratives are a central element of the Final Fantasy legacy," explained a senior designer for the set. "We built some broad guidelines, but in the end, it was mostly on a case-by-case basis."
Though the Zack Fair may not be a tournament staple, it stands as one of the set's most elegant examples of narrative design through mechanics. It skillfully captures one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most pivotal dramatic moments in spectacular fashion, all while utilizing some of the product's central gameplay elements. And while it doesn't spoil anything, those familiar with the tale will instantly understand the meaning within it.
The Mechanics: Story Through Gameplay
For one white mana (the hue of good) in this set, Zack Fair has a base power and toughness of 0/1 but comes into play with a +1/+1 counter. By spending one colorless mana, you can remove from play the card to give another creature you control indestructible and move all of Zack’s bonuses, as well as an artifact weapon, onto that target creature.
This design paints a sequence FF fans are very know well, a moment that has been reimagined multiple times — in the classic *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even new iterations in *FF7 Remake*. And yet it hits powerfully here, communicated completely through gameplay mechanics. Zack sacrifices himself to save Cloud, who then picks up the Buster Sword as his own.
The Context of the Scene
Some necessary history, and consider this your *FF7* warning: Before the primary events of the game, Zack and Cloud are gravely wounded after a battle with Sephiroth. Following extended experimentation, the duo get away. During their ordeal, Cloud is delirious, but Zack vows to protect his companion. They finally reach the outskirts outside Midgar before Zack is gunned down by forces. Left behind, Cloud in that moment claims Zack’s Buster Sword and adopts the role 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 whole sequence. The Buster Sword is featured as a strong piece of gear in the set that costs three mana and provides the wielding creature +3/+2. Thus, with an investment of six mana, you can make Zack into a solid 4/6 while the Buster Sword equipped.
The Cloud Strife card also has intentional interaction with the Buster Sword, allowing you to look through your library for an artifact card. In combination, these three cards unfold as follows: You summon Zack, and he gains the +1/+1 counter. Then you summon Cloud to retrieve the Buster Sword out of your deck. Then you summon and give it to Zack.
Due to the manner Zack’s signature action is worded, you can actually use it during combat, meaning you can “block” an assault and activate it to prevent the damage altogether. This allows you to perform this action at any time, passing the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He then becomes a powerful 6/4 that, whenever he does damage a player, lets you draw two cards and play two spells without paying their mana cost. This is precisely the kind of moment alluded to when talking about “emotional resonance” — not explaining the scene, but letting the mechanics evoke the memory.
Beyond the Main Synergy
But the narrative here is deeply satisfying, and it reaches beyond 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 chosen creature, which then becomes a Mutant. This in a way hints that Zack’s starting +1/+1 token is, figuratively, the SOLDIER treatment he underwent, which included modification with Jenova cells. It's a tiny nod, but one that subtly ties the whole SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter mechanic in the expansion.
The card doesn't show his end, or Cloud’s confusion, or the memorable cliff where it concludes. It does not need to. *Magic* enables you to recreate the passing personally. You perform the sacrifice. You hand over the sword on. And for a fleeting moment, while enjoying a trading card game, you recall why *Final Fantasy 7* remains the most impactful game in the franchise to date.
