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A core aspect of the appeal found in the Final Fantasy crossover collection for *Magic: The Gathering* comes from the manner so many cards tell familiar stories. Take for instance the Tidus, Blitzball Star card, which provides a glimpse of the hero at the outset of *Final Fantasy 10*: a renowned sports star whose key technique is a unique shot that knocks a defender aside. The gameplay rules represent this in nuanced ways. These kinds of storytelling is prevalent across the whole Final Fantasy set, and some are not joyful stories. A number act as somber reminders of tragedies fans still mull over decades later.

"Emotional stories are a central component of the Final Fantasy legacy," explained a senior designer for the collaboration. "The team established some broad guidelines, but finally, it was mostly on a individual basis."

While the Zack Fair card may not be a top-tier card, it stands as one of the release's most clever instances of narrative design through gameplay. It artfully echoes one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most crucial dramatic moments in spectacular fashion, all while leveraging some of the set's core systems. And even if it steers clear of spoiling anything, those acquainted with the saga will quickly recognize the meaning within it.

How It Works: A Narrative in Play

For one white mana (the color of heroes) in this collection, Zack Fair has a starting power and toughness of 0/1 but arrives with a +1/+1 counter. For the cost of one generic mana, you can sacrifice the card to give another creature you control protection from destruction and put all of Zack’s markers, plus an gear, onto that other creature.

These mechanics depicts a moment FF fans are very familiar with, a moment that has been revisited again and again — in the original *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even new versions in *FF7 Remake*. Yet it hits powerfully here, conveyed entirely through card abilities. Zack makes the ultimate sacrifice to save Cloud, who then picks up the Buster Sword as his own.

The Context of the Moment

Some necessary history, and consider this your *FF7* spoiler alert: Before the primary events of the game, Zack and Cloud are severely injured after a battle with Sephiroth. Following extended testing, the friends break free. Throughout this period, Cloud is barely conscious, but Zack makes sure to look after his comrade. They finally arrive at the edge outside Midgar before Zack is killed by Shinra soldiers. Abandoned, Cloud subsequently grabs Zack’s Buster Sword and assumes the persona of a first-class SOLDIER, setting the stage for the start of *FF7*.

Reenacting the Passing of the Torch on the Game Board

Through gameplay, the rules essentially let you recreate this entire event. The Buster Sword is a a powerful piece of armament in the collection that costs three mana and grants the wielding creature +3/+2. So, for a total of six mana, you can make Zack into a respectable 4/6 while the Buster Sword wielded.

The Cloud Strife card also has intentional synergy with the Buster Sword, letting you to search your deck for an artifact card. When used in tandem, these three cards function as follows: You summon Zack, and he gains the +1/+1 counter. Then you cast Cloud to fetch the Buster Sword out of your deck. Then you play and equip it to Zack.

Due to the manner Zack’s signature action is designed, you can potentially use it in the middle of battle, meaning you can “block” an assault and activate it to prevent the attack completely. So you can do this at any time, transferring the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He subsequently becomes a strong 6/4 that, every time he strikes a player, lets you pull extra cards and play two spells at no cost. This is just the kind of interaction referred to when talking about “flavorful design” — not revealing the scene, but letting the gameplay trigger the recollection.

More Than the Central Synergy

However, the narrative here is incredibly rich, and it extends beyond just these cards. The Jenova, Ancient Calamity is part of the set 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, symbolically, the SOLDIER treatment he underwent, which included experimentation with Jenova cells. This is a tiny nod, but one that cleverly connects the whole SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter theme in the set.

This design does not depict his death, or Cloud’s confusion, or the stormy bluff where it all ends. It doesn't have to. *Magic* allows you to recreate the legacy yourself. You perform the sacrifice. You hand over the legacy on. And for a fleeting moment, while playing a trading card game, you are reminded of why *Final Fantasy 7* is still the most beloved game in the series ever made.