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A major part of the appeal found in the Final Fantasy crossover collection for *Magic: The Gathering* comes from the way numerous cards narrate well-known stories. Take for instance Tidus, Blitzball Star, which provides a snapshot of the hero at the very start of *Final Fantasy 10*: a renowned Blitzball pro whose secret weapon is a unique shot that knocks a defender aside. The card's mechanics reflect this in nuanced ways. These kinds of flavor is widespread in the entire Final Fantasy offering, and some are not fun and games. Several act as somber echoes of tragedies fans continue to reflect on years after.

"Powerful narratives are a vital element of the Final Fantasy franchise," explained a lead designer involved with the collaboration. "They created some broad guidelines, but in the end, it was mostly on a case-by-case basis."

Even though the Zack Fair is not a competitive powerhouse, it is one of the set's most elegant examples of narrative design via rules. It masterfully echoes one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most crucial story moments in spectacular fashion, all while leveraging some of the expansion's core systems. And even if it doesn't spoil anything, those acquainted with the saga will quickly recognize the emotional weight within it.

The Card's Design: Story Through Gameplay

For one white mana (the color of protagonists) in this collection, Zack Fair has a base power and toughness of 0/1 but arrives with a +1/+1 marker. By paying one generic mana, you can destroy the card to bestow another ally you control indestructible and move all of Zack’s markers, along with an artifact weapon, onto that chosen creature.

These mechanics paints a scene FF fans are all too remember, a moment that has been retold throughout the years — in the classic *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even reimagined retellings in *FF7 Remake*. But somehow it hits just as hard here, conveyed entirely through gameplay mechanics. Zack makes the ultimate sacrifice 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: Before the primary events of the game, Zack and Cloud are left for dead after a clash with Sephiroth. Following extended imprisonment, the duo get away. The entire time, Cloud is delirious, but Zack ensures to protect his companion. They finally reach the outskirts outside Midgar before Zack is fatally wounded by forces. Abandoned, Cloud subsequently grabs Zack’s Buster Sword and assumes the role of a elite SOLDIER, setting the stage for the start of *FF7*.

Simulating the Legacy on the Game Board

On the tabletop, the abilities in essence let you recreate this iconic sequence. The Buster Sword is a a powerful piece of armament in the set that costs three mana and gives the equipped creature +3/+2. Therefore, using six mana, you can transform Zack into a respectable 4/6 with the Buster Sword wielded.

The Cloud, Midgar Mercenary also has clear interaction 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 cast Zack, and he receives the +1/+1 counter. Then you cast Cloud to fetch the Buster Sword from your deck. Then you cast and attach it to Zack.

Owing to the manner Zack’s sacrifice ability is worded, you can actually use it when blocking, meaning you can “block” an assault and trigger it to prevent the attack altogether. This allows you to perform this action at any time, passing the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He is transformed into a formidable 6/4 that, each time he does damage a player, lets you pull extra cards and cast two cards without paying their mana cost. This is precisely the kind of experience alluded to when talking about “emotional resonance” — not spoiling the scene, but letting the card design make you remember.

Beyond the Obvious Synergy

But the flavor here is incredibly rich, and it extends beyond just this combo. The Jenova, Ancient Calamity appears in the collection as a creature that, at the start of combat, places a number of +1/+1 counters on a target creature, which also becomes a Mutant. This sort of hints that Zack’s initial +1/+1 token is, figuratively, the SOLDIER conditioning he underwent, which included modification with Jenova cells. This is a tiny nod, but one that implicitly connects the whole SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter theme in the expansion.

Zack’s card does not depict his death, or Cloud’s trauma, or the memorable location where it happens. It does not need to. *Magic* enables you to recreate the legacy for yourself. You choose the sacrifice. You hand over the weapon on. And for a fleeting moment, while engaged in a strategy game, you are reminded of why *Final Fantasy 7* is still the most influential game in the series ever made.