Zack Fair Demonstrates That Magic: The Gathering's Universes Beyond Can Tell Emotional Narratives.

A significant aspect of the appeal of the Final Fantasy crossover release for *Magic: The Gathering* comes from the way countless cards narrate well-known tales. Cards like Tidus, Blitzball Star, which gives a portrait of the protagonist at the outset of *Final Fantasy 10*: a wildly famous Blitzball pro whose key technique is a specialized shot that pushes a defender aside. The card's mechanics represent this with subtlety. These kinds of narrative is prevalent throughout the whole Final Fantasy offering, and they aren't all lighthearted tales. A number serve as heartbreaking echoes of tragedies fans still mull over years after.

"Emotional stories are a key element of the Final Fantasy franchise," explained a principal game designer on the set. "They created some general rules, but finally, it was primarily on a case-by-case level."

Even though the Zack Fair card isn't a competitive powerhouse, it is one of the collection's most refined examples of narrative design via mechanics. It skillfully reflects one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most pivotal story moments in spectacular fashion, all while utilizing some of the set's core systems. And while it avoids revealing anything, those familiar with the tale will instantly understand the significance within it.

The Mechanics: Flavor in Rules

At a cost of one mana of white (the hue of protagonists) in this set, Zack Fair is a starting power and toughness of 0/1 but comes into play with a +1/+1 counter. For the cost of one colorless mana, you can sacrifice the card to give another unit you control indestructible and move all of Zack’s markers, plus an gear, onto that target creature.

This card depicts a moment FF fans are extremely remember, a moment that has been retold throughout the years — in the original *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even new iterations in *FF7 Remake*. And yet it lands powerfully here, communicated entirely through rules text. Zack gives his life to save Cloud, who then inherits the Buster Sword as his own.

A Spoiler for the Scene

Some necessary history, and consider this your *FF7* spoiler alert: Prior to the main events of the game, Zack and Cloud are severely injured after a clash with Sephiroth. After years of experimentation, the friends manage to escape. The entire time, Cloud is delirious, but Zack makes sure to protect his friend. They finally arrive at the outskirts outside Midgar before Zack is gunned down by troops. Left behind, Cloud subsequently grabs Zack’s Buster Sword and assumes the identity of a elite SOLDIER, setting the stage for the start of *FF7*.

Reenacting the Passing of the Torch on the Tabletop

On the tabletop, the abilities essentially let you recreate this iconic event. The Buster Sword is featured as a powerful piece of equipment in the collection that requires three mana and grants the wielding creature +3/+2. So, for a total of six mana, you can turn Zack into a respectable 4/6 while the Buster Sword wielded.

The Cloud, Midgar Mercenary also has deliberate combo potential with the Buster Sword, enabling you to look through your library for an artifact card. In combination, these three cards unfold in this way: You play Zack, and he gains the +1/+1 counter. Then you summon Cloud to pull the Buster Sword out of your deck. Then you play and equip it to Zack.

Owing to the design Zack’s sacrifice ability is worded, you can technically use it during combat, meaning you can “block” an attack and activate it to negate the attack completely. Therefore, you can perform this action at a key moment, passing the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He is transformed into a strong 6/4 that, every time he deals combat damage a player, lets you pull extra cards and play two cards for free. This is exactly the kind of moment meant when discussing “flavorful design” — not revealing the scene, but letting the mechanics evoke the memory.

More Than the Main Combo

But the narrative here is oh-so-delicious, and it goes past just this combo. The Jenova card is part of the collection as a creature that, at the start of combat, puts a number of +1/+1 counters on a chosen creature, which also becomes a Mutant. This sort of implies that Zack’s starting +1/+1 token is, symbolically, the SOLDIER treatment he underwent, which included genetic manipulation with Jenova cells. This is a subtle connection, but one that implicitly connects the entire SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter theme in the set.

Zack’s card avoids showing his demise, or Cloud’s breakdown, or the memorable cliff where it happens. It isn't necessary. *Magic* lets you relive the moment for yourself. You perform the sacrifice. You transfer the legacy on. And for a brief second, while enjoying a strategy game, you are reminded of why *Final Fantasy 7* is still the most influential game in the series ever made.