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A significant aspect of the charm found in the Final Fantasy crossover collection for *Magic: The Gathering* lies in the fashion so many cards tell familiar tales. Take for instance the Tidus, Blitzball Star card, which gives a portrait of the character at the very start of *Final Fantasy 10*: a celebrated professional athlete whose signature move is a unique shot that pushes a defender aside. The gameplay rules reflect this in nuanced ways. These kinds of storytelling is prevalent throughout the complete Final Fantasy offering, and some are not joyful stories. Several act as somber reminders of sad moments fans continue to reflect on decades later.

"Moving stories are a key component of the Final Fantasy series," explained a senior game designer involved with the project. "They created some general rules, but finally, it was primarily on a individual basis."

Even though the Zack Fair is not a top-tier card, it represents one of the collection's most refined examples of storytelling by way of rules. It skillfully captures one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most pivotal dramatic moments in spectacular fashion, all while utilizing some of the set's key systems. And while it avoids revealing anything, those acquainted with the story will immediately grasp the meaning behind it.

The Mechanics: Story Through Gameplay

For one white mana (the alignment of good) in this collection, Zack Fair enters with a starting stat line of 0/1 but arrives with a +1/+1 marker. By spending one colorless mana, you can sacrifice the card to bestow another unit you control indestructible and move all of Zack’s bonuses, plus an artifact weapon, onto that chosen creature.

This card portrays a sequence FF fans are all too familiar with, a moment that has been retold throughout the years — in the classic *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even new retellings in *FF7 Remake*. Yet it lands with equal force here, expressed solely through rules text. Zack makes the ultimate sacrifice to save Cloud, who then takes up the Buster Sword as his own.

The Context of the Scene

Some necessary backstory, and consider this your *FF7* warning: Prior to the main events of the game, Zack and Cloud are gravely wounded after a confrontation with Sephiroth. After extended testing, the friends manage to escape. Throughout this period, Cloud is barely conscious, but Zack makes sure to protect his friend. They finally make it the edge outside Midgar before Zack is gunned down by forces. Presumed dead, Cloud subsequently grabs Zack’s Buster Sword and takes on the identity of a first-class SOLDIER, setting the stage for the start of *FF7*.

Reenacting the Legacy on the Game Board

Through gameplay, the rules essentially let you recreate this entire event. The Buster Sword appears as a top-tier piece of armament in the collection that requires three mana and grants the equipped creature +3/+2. Thus, with an investment of six mana, you can turn Zack into a respectable 4/6 with the Buster Sword equipped.

The Cloud Strife card also has intentional interaction with the Buster Sword, allowing you to look through your library for an equipment card. Together, these three cards unfold as follows: You cast Zack, and he gets the +1/+1 counter. Then you play Cloud to fetch the Buster Sword from your deck. Then you play and equip it to Zack.

Owing to the manner Zack’s signature action is designed, you can technically use it in the middle of battle, meaning you can “intercept” an assault and trigger it to negate the damage altogether. This allows you to perform this action at a key moment, transferring the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He subsequently becomes a formidable 6/4 that, every time he strikes a player, lets you draw two cards and play two spells at no cost. This is precisely the kind of interaction alluded to when talking about “emotional resonance” — not explaining the scene, but letting the card design make you remember.

Extending Past the Central Synergy

And the narrative here is deeply satisfying, and it extends beyond just this combo. The Jenova, Ancient Calamity is part of the collection as a creature that, at the start of combat, places a number of +1/+1 counters on a chosen creature, which also becomes a Mutant. This in a way implies that Zack’s initial +1/+1 token is, in a way, the SOLDIER enhancement he received, which included genetic manipulation with Jenova cells. It's a subtle connection, but one that implicitly ties the entire SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter theme in the set.

This design doesn't show his demise, or Cloud’s breakdown, or the rain-soaked bluff where it concludes. It isn't necessary. *Magic* lets you relive the passing personally. You make the sacrifice. You transfer the weapon on. And for a fleeting moment, while enjoying a trading card game, you are reminded of why *Final Fantasy 7* continues to be the most impactful game in the series for many fans.