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A major aspect of the appeal found in the *Final Fantasy* crossover collection for *Magic: The Gathering* comes from the fashion countless cards depict iconic stories. Consider Tidus, Blitzball Star, which offers a glimpse of the protagonist at the very start of *Final Fantasy 10*: a wildly famous Blitzball pro whose key technique is a unique shot that knocks a defender out of the way. The gameplay rules mirror this in nuanced ways. Such storytelling is found throughout the entire Final Fantasy set, and some are not lighthearted tales. A number serve as poignant echoes of emotional events fans still mull over years after.

"Powerful stories are a central component of the Final Fantasy franchise," wrote a principal game designer on the project. "We built some overarching principles, but ultimately, it was primarily on a case-by-case level."

Though the Zack Fair is not a competitive powerhouse, it is one of the release's most clever examples of narrative design via mechanics. It artfully echoes one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most important dramatic moments brilliantly, all while capitalizing on some of the set's key gameplay elements. And even if it avoids revealing anything, those acquainted with the saga will quickly recognize the meaning embedded in it.

How It Works: Story Through Gameplay

For one mana of white (the hue of heroes) in this collection, Zack Fair enters with a base power and toughness of 0/1 but comes into play with a +1/+1 token. By paying one colorless mana, you can sacrifice the card to bestow another creature you control indestructible and move all of Zack’s counters, as well as an gear, onto that chosen creature.

This design paints a moment FF fans are very know well, a moment that has been reimagined throughout the years — in the original *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even reimagined retellings in *FF7 Remake*. Yet it resonates powerfully here, expressed solely through rules text. Zack sacrifices himself to save Cloud, who then inherits the Buster Sword as his own.

The Story Behind the Moment

Some necessary backstory, and consider this your *FF7* warning: Prior to the primary events of the game, Zack and Cloud are severely injured after a battle with Sephiroth. Following extended imprisonment, the pair manage to escape. The entire time, Cloud is delirious, but Zack vows to take care of his comrade. They eventually make it the plains outside Midgar before Zack is killed by forces. Abandoned, Cloud in that moment claims Zack’s Buster Sword and assumes the identity of a first-class SOLDIER, which leads right into the start of *FF7*.

Reenacting the Moment on the Tabletop

Through gameplay, the rules essentially let you reenact this entire scene. The Buster Sword is a a strong piece of equipment in the collection that costs three mana and provides the wielding creature +3/+2. So, for a total of six mana, you can make Zack into a formidable 4/6 with the Buster Sword attached.

The Cloud, Midgar Mercenary also has intentional interaction with the Buster Sword, enabling you to find for an weapon card. In combination, these three cards play out like this: You summon Zack, and he receives the +1/+1 counter. Then you play Cloud to fetch the Buster Sword out of your deck. Then you cast and attach it to Zack.

Because of the design Zack’s signature action is designed, you can actually use it during combat, meaning you can “intercept” an attack and trigger it to negate the damage altogether. This allows you to do this at a key moment, transferring the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He is transformed into a strong 6/4 that, each time he deals combat damage a player, lets you gain card advantage and play two spells without paying their mana cost. This is just the kind of interaction referred to when talking about “narrative impact” — not spoiling the scene, but letting the gameplay trigger the recollection.

Extending Past the Main Synergy

However, the narrative here is oh-so-delicious, and it goes past just this combo. The Jenova card appears in the set as a creature that, at the start of combat, puts a number of +1/+1 counters on a target creature, which also becomes a Mutant. This kind of suggests that Zack’s initial +1/+1 token is, symbolically, the SOLDIER enhancement he underwent, which included experimentation with Jenova cells. This is a tiny reference, but one that cleverly connects the entire SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter ecosystem in the expansion.

This design doesn't show his end, or Cloud’s confusion, or the memorable cliff where it concludes. It isn't necessary. *Magic* lets you recreate the passing yourself. You perform the sacrifice. You transfer the weapon on. And for a fleeting moment, while playing a trading card game, you are reminded of why *Final Fantasy 7* is still the most influential game in the saga to date.