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A major aspect of the allure found in the *Final Fantasy* crossover collection for *Magic: The Gathering* lies in the fashion numerous cards tell familiar narratives. Cards like Tidus, Blitzball Star, which offers a glimpse of the character at the outset of *Final Fantasy 10*: a celebrated Blitzball pro whose signature move is a unique shot that takes a defender out of the way. The abilities mirror this with subtlety. These kinds of flavor is found across the complete Final Fantasy set, and they aren't all joyful stories. Some are heartbreaking callbacks of emotional events fans still mull over decades later.

"Moving narratives are a key element of the Final Fantasy legacy," wrote a senior designer for the collaboration. "The team established some broad guidelines, but ultimately, it was mostly on a case-by-case basis."

Though the Zack Fair card may not be a tournament staple, it represents one of the release's most refined instances of narrative design through gameplay. It skillfully captures one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most crucial story moments brilliantly, all while leveraging some of the product's core mechanics. And although it steers clear of spoiling anything, those acquainted with the story will instantly understand the meaning within it.

The Card's Design: Flavor in Rules

For one white mana (the color of protagonists) in this set, Zack Fair has a starting power and toughness of 0/1 but enters with a +1/+1 token. By paying one generic mana, you can remove from play the card to grant another unit you control protection from destruction and move all of Zack’s bonuses, along with an Equipment, onto that chosen creature.

These mechanics portrays a moment FF fans are extremely remember, a moment that has been reimagined again and again — in the first *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even new retellings in *FF7 Remake*. Yet it resonates powerfully here, communicated solely through rules text. Zack gives his life to save Cloud, who then inherits the Buster Sword as his own.

The Story Behind the Moment

For backstory, and take this as your *FF7* spoiler alert: Before the primary events of the game, Zack and Cloud are gravely wounded after a confrontation with Sephiroth. Following extended imprisonment, the duo break free. During their ordeal, Cloud is barely conscious, but Zack ensures to take care of his comrade. They finally arrive at the edge outside Midgar before Zack is fatally wounded by troops. Abandoned, Cloud in that moment claims Zack’s Buster Sword and assumes the role of a first-class SOLDIER, leading directly into the start of *FF7*.

Simulating the Moment on the Tabletop

Through gameplay, the card mechanics essentially let you reenact this entire event. The Buster Sword is a a powerful piece of equipment in the collection that costs three mana and gives the equipped creature +3/+2. Therefore, using six mana, you can transform Zack into a formidable 4/6 while the Buster Sword attached.

The Cloud Strife card also has deliberate synergy with the Buster Sword, letting you to find for an weapon card. When used in tandem, these three cards play out like this: You summon Zack, and he receives the +1/+1 counter. Then you play Cloud to pull the Buster Sword out of your deck. Then you cast and attach it to Zack.

Due to the design Zack’s key mechanic is structured, you can potentially use it during combat, meaning you can “block” an assault and trigger it to prevent the damage altogether. Therefore, you can perform this action at a key moment, moving the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He subsequently becomes a powerful 6/4 that, each time he strikes a player, lets you pull extra cards and play two spells without paying their mana cost. This is precisely the kind of moment referred to when talking about “emotional resonance” — not spoiling the scene, but letting the card design make you remember.

Extending Past the Main Combo

And the flavor here is oh-so-delicious, and it reaches past just this combo. The Jenova card is part of the set as a creature that, at the start of combat, places a number of +1/+1 counters on a target creature, which additionally gains the type of a Mutant. This in a way suggests that Zack’s initial +1/+1 token is, in a way, the SOLDIER enhancement he received, which included genetic manipulation with Jenova cells. This is a subtle reference, but one that implicitly connects the whole SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter theme in the set.

This design avoids showing his demise, or Cloud’s trauma, or the memorable cliff where it all ends. It doesn't have to. *Magic* enables you to reenact the passing for yourself. You choose the ultimate play. You pass the legacy on. And for a brief second, while engaged in a strategy game, you recall why *Final Fantasy 7* is still the most influential game in the series to date.