The Zack Fair Card Illustrates That Magic's Crossover Sets Are Capable of Telling Emotional Stories.
A significant part of the allure within the *Final Fantasy* crossover release for *Magic: The Gathering* is the fashion numerous cards tell familiar tales. Take for instance Tidus, Blitzball Star, which gives a portrait of the protagonist at the outset of *Final Fantasy 10*: a renowned sports star whose secret weapon is a unique shot that knocks a defender out of the way. The abilities represent this with subtlety. These kinds of storytelling is found in the entire Final Fantasy set, and not all lighthearted tales. Some are heartbreaking echoes of emotional events fans continue to reflect on years after.
"Emotional stories are a vital part of the Final Fantasy legacy," wrote a lead game designer on the collaboration. "The team established some general rules, but finally, it was mostly on a card-by-card level."
Though the Zack Fair card is not a top-tier card, it is one of the set's most clever instances of narrative design by way of mechanics. It skillfully echoes one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most pivotal cinematic moments in spectacular fashion, all while leveraging some of the set's core mechanics. And even if it doesn't spoil anything, those familiar with the tale will quickly recognize the significance within it.
The Card's Design: A Narrative in Play
At a cost of one mana of white (the alignment of heroes) in this set, Zack Fair has a base stat line 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 bonuses, along with an gear, onto that other creature.
These mechanics paints a sequence FF fans are extremely know well, a moment that has been retold multiple times — in the classic *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even reimagined retellings in *FF7 Remake*. But somehow it hits with equal force here, expressed solely through gameplay mechanics. Zack sacrifices himself to save Cloud, who then takes up the Buster Sword as his own.
The Story Behind the Moment
Some necessary history, and consider this your *FF7* warning: Before the primary events of the game, Zack and Cloud are left for dead after a battle with Sephiroth. Following years of testing, the friends manage to escape. The entire time, Cloud is barely conscious, but Zack vows to protect his friend. They finally make it the outskirts outside Midgar before Zack is fatally wounded by troops. Left behind, Cloud then takes up Zack’s Buster Sword and adopts the persona of a first-class SOLDIER, setting the stage for the start of *FF7*.
Playing Out the Moment on the Game Board
In a game, the abilities essentially let you relive this entire scene. The Buster Sword appears as a powerful piece of armament in the collection that costs three mana and provides the equipped creature +3/+2. Therefore, using six mana, you can turn Zack into a formidable 4/6 with the Buster Sword attached.
The Cloud, Midgar Mercenary also has intentional interaction with the Buster Sword, enabling you to search your deck for an equipment card. Together, these pieces unfold as follows: You cast Zack, and he gains the +1/+1 counter. Then you summon Cloud to retrieve the Buster Sword out of your deck. Then you summon and give it to Zack.
Because of the manner Zack’s sacrifice ability is worded, you can actually use it in the middle of battle, meaning you can “block” an attack and activate it to negate the damage altogether. Therefore, you can make this play at any time, moving the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He then becomes a formidable 6/4 that, whenever he deals combat damage a player, lets you gain card advantage and cast two spells at no cost. This is just the kind of interaction alluded to when discussing “emotional resonance” — not revealing the scene, but letting the card design make you remember.
More Than the Obvious Combo
However, the flavor here is oh-so-delicious, and it goes further than just these cards. The Jenova, Ancient Calamity 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 then becomes a Mutant. This kind of implies that Zack’s initial +1/+1 token is, in a way, the SOLDIER conditioning he received, which included genetic manipulation with Jenova cells. It's a small nod, but one that subtly connects the whole SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter mechanic in the set.
This design does not depict his death, or Cloud’s trauma, or the memorable location where it all ends. It doesn't have to. *Magic* enables you to reenact the moment personally. You choose the sacrifice. You pass the legacy on. And for a short instant, while enjoying a card battle, you recall why *Final Fantasy 7* is still the most beloved game in the franchise ever made.
