Zack Fair Illustrates How Magic's Universes Beyond Are Capable of Telling Powerful Stories.

A core element of the charm within the *Final Fantasy* Universes Beyond release for *Magic: The Gathering* comes from the way countless cards narrate iconic stories. Cards like the Tidus, Blitzball Star card, which gives a snapshot of the protagonist at the very start of *Final Fantasy 10*: a wildly famous sports star whose secret weapon is a specialized shot that takes a defender out of the way. The gameplay rules mirror this with subtlety. Such narrative is widespread in the complete Final Fantasy set, and they aren't all fun and games. Several act as poignant reminders of sad moments fans still mull over years after.

"Powerful stories are a key component of the Final Fantasy series," explained a lead designer for the project. "They created some overarching principles, but ultimately, it was mostly on a case-by-case level."

While the Zack Fair isn't a competitive powerhouse, it represents one of the collection's most clever instances of narrative design by way of rules. It masterfully reflects one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most crucial story moments in spectacular fashion, all while utilizing some of the expansion's key mechanics. And although it steers clear of spoiling anything, those familiar with the story will instantly understand the meaning within it.

The Card's Design: A Narrative in Play

At a cost of one mana of white (the color of protagonists) in this collection, Zack Fair is a base stat line of 0/1 but enters with a +1/+1 marker. By paying one generic mana, you can remove from play the card to give another unit you control indestructible and move all of Zack’s counters, along with an Equipment, onto that chosen creature.

These mechanics portrays a scene FF fans are very familiar with, a moment that has been retold again and again — in the first *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even reimagined iterations in *FF7 Remake*. But somehow it resonates just as hard here, communicated completely through card abilities. Zack makes the ultimate sacrifice to save Cloud, who then picks up the Buster Sword as his own.

The Story Behind the Card

For backstory, and take this as your *FF7* warning: Prior to the main events of the game, Zack and Cloud are severely injured after a confrontation with Sephiroth. Following extended imprisonment, the pair break free. The entire time, Cloud is barely conscious, but Zack ensures to look after his friend. They finally arrive at the edge outside Midgar before Zack is gunned down by troops. Presumed dead, Cloud subsequently grabs Zack’s Buster Sword and takes on the role of a first-class SOLDIER, leading directly into the start of *FF7*.

Simulating the Moment on the Game Board

On the tabletop, the rules effectively let you relive this entire event. The Buster Sword is featured as a top-tier piece of gear in the collection that requires three mana and provides the equipped creature +3/+2. Thus, with an investment of six mana, you can make Zack into a formidable 4/6 while the Buster Sword attached.

The Cloud Strife card also has clear synergy with the Buster Sword, allowing you to find for an weapon card. When used in tandem, these pieces function like this: You play Zack, and he gets the +1/+1 counter. Then you summon Cloud to fetch the Buster Sword out of your deck. Then you cast and attach it to Zack.

Owing to the way Zack’s signature action is designed, you can technically use it during combat, meaning you can “intercept” an attack and activate it to negate the attack entirely. Therefore, you can make this play at any time, passing the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He is transformed into a powerful 6/4 that, whenever he deals combat damage a player, lets you draw two cards and cast two cards at no cost. This is just the kind of moment alluded to when discussing “flavorful design” — not revealing the scene, but letting the mechanics trigger the recollection.

Beyond the Central Synergy

And the thematic here is deeply satisfying, and it reaches further than just Zack and Cloud. The Jenova, Ancient Calamity 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 then becomes a Mutant. This kind of implies that Zack’s starting +1/+1 token is, symbolically, the SOLDIER conditioning he underwent, which included modification with Jenova cells. This is a small reference, but one that implicitly ties the whole SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter ecosystem in the set.

Zack’s card doesn't show his end, or Cloud’s breakdown, or the rain-soaked bluff where it all ends. It doesn't have to. *Magic* enables you to recreate the moment yourself. You perform the ultimate play. You pass the sword on. And for a brief second, while playing a card battle, you recall why *Final Fantasy 7* is still the most influential game in the franchise ever made.