A significant part of the allure found in the *Final Fantasy* crossover release for *Magic: The Gathering* lies in the fashion numerous cards narrate iconic tales. Take for instance the Tidus, Blitzball Star card, which gives a glimpse of the character at the very start of *Final Fantasy 10*: a wildly famous Blitzball pro whose signature move is a fancy shot that takes a defender aside. The gameplay rules represent this with subtlety. Such flavor is prevalent throughout the entire Final Fantasy offering, and not all joyful stories. Some serve as somber callbacks of emotional events fans continue to reflect on years after.
"Moving tales are a key component of the Final Fantasy legacy," explained a lead designer on the collaboration. "We built some broad guidelines, but in the end, it was mostly on a case-by-case level."
Even though the Zack Fair card may not be a tournament staple, it stands as one of the collection's most refined pieces of storytelling by way of rules. It skillfully captures one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most pivotal dramatic moments with great effect, all while capitalizing on some of the expansion's central gameplay elements. And even if it avoids revealing anything, those who know the saga will immediately grasp the significance embedded in it.
For one mana of white (the alignment of heroes) in this set, Zack Fair enters with a base power and toughness of 0/1 but comes into play with a +1/+1 counter. By paying one colorless mana, you can remove from play the card to grant another creature you control protection from destruction and put all of Zack’s markers, along with an gear, onto that other creature.
This design portrays a sequence FF fans are extremely familiar with, a moment that has been retold again and again — in the classic *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even new versions in *FF7 Remake*. But somehow it resonates powerfully here, communicated solely through card abilities. Zack makes the ultimate sacrifice to save Cloud, who then picks up the Buster Sword as his own.
A bit of backstory, and take this as your *FF7* warning: Before the main events of the game, Zack and Cloud are left for dead after a clash with Sephiroth. Following years of testing, the pair get away. Throughout this period, Cloud is barely conscious, but Zack vows to take care of his friend. They eventually reach the outskirts outside Midgar before Zack is fatally wounded by Shinra soldiers. Presumed dead, Cloud then takes up Zack’s Buster Sword and assumes the persona of a first-class SOLDIER, setting the stage for the start of *FF7*.
Through gameplay, the card mechanics effectively let you relive this iconic scene. The Buster Sword appears as a powerful piece of equipment in the collection that requires three mana and grants the wielding creature +3/+2. Thus, with an investment of six mana, you can turn Zack into a respectable 4/6 while the Buster Sword wielded.
The Cloud, Midgar Mercenary also has intentional synergy with the Buster Sword, enabling you to find for an artifact card. In combination, these pieces play out as follows: You cast Zack, and he receives the +1/+1 counter. Then you summon Cloud to fetch the Buster Sword out of your deck. Then you summon and give it to Zack.
Due to the manner Zack’s signature action is worded, you can actually use it during combat, meaning you can “intercept” an attack and trigger it to cancel out the attack entirely. Therefore, you can perform this action at a key moment, transferring 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 draw two cards and play two cards for free. This is just the kind of moment meant when discussing “narrative impact” — not explaining the scene, but letting the mechanics make you remember.
However, the narrative here is oh-so-delicious, and it extends further than just this combo. The Jenova card is part of the set as a creature that, at the start of combat, puts a number of +1/+1 counters on a target creature, which additionally gains the type of a Mutant. This kind of implies that Zack’s initial +1/+1 token is, symbolically, the SOLDIER treatment he underwent, which included modification with Jenova cells. This is a subtle reference, but one that implicitly links the whole SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter ecosystem in the expansion.
This design does not depict his end, or Cloud’s trauma, or the rain-soaked cliff where it happens. It isn't necessary. *Magic* lets you recreate the passing personally. You choose the sacrifice. You hand over the sword on. And for a short instant, while engaged in a card battle, you recall why *Final Fantasy 7* remains the most beloved game in the franchise for many fans.
A seasoned journalist with a passion for uncovering stories that matter in the Czech Republic and beyond.
