So, repeat fight mechanic is good, but dying is not. Though two things:
1) If Polukranos has at least 1 toughness and at least one +1/+1 on him, he could prevent any amount of damage without dying, since the part about removing counters doesn't require you to remove the exact number of counters, you just need one to initiate the replacement effect. Much like Sekki, Seasons' Guide (in Sekki's case, he can prevent damage even without a counter)
2) Polukranos's fight ability isn't tied to his +1/+1 counters. In other words, if you mana to buff him with anthem, aura, equipment, etc, he could continue to use his fight ability, as long as he survives. If you wear a Sword of X & Y or Darksteel Plate you can wipe the board easily, with the former targeting specific colors.
Polukranos and Vigor both try to apply a replacement effect if Polukranos would be dealt damage (as prevention is a class of replacement effects). As the controller of the affected object, you choose the order to apply the replacement effects. Apply Vigor's first, and Polukranos's replacement has nothing to replace any more (since no damage is being dealt). The hydra gets bigger instead of smaller.
As far as a Polukranos deck goes, I would definitely want to give him some form(s) of evasion. A 12/12 commander after escaping is a 2-hit KO.
i belive slapping some dredge cards can aids his escape mechanic, whit the obvious addition of Brawn and Filth and focusing by buffing
Polukranos whit aura of all sorts, you can also slap in cards such as Strength from the Fallen and Wreath of Geiststo make it HUGE.
The new hydra aura is the perfect way to keep Polukranos full of counters
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How i feel about competitive players and casual players in EDH: The competitive are german tourists, the casual are italian tourists, both in a italian beach. The italians asking themselves "why are the germans here?" make a legitimate question, the answer is because the beach is beautiful, no matter the country you came from. The italians wanting to ban the germans are dumb, because if the germans pay for their stay and follow the rules like everyone else, they have the right to be in the beach. Hovewer, if the germans started to ask themselves "why are the italians here?"... they would be dumb as hell.
So, repeat fight mechanic is good, but dying is not. Though two things:
1) If Polukranos has at least 1 toughness and at least one +1/+1 on him, he could prevent any amount of damage without dying, since the part about removing counters doesn't require you to remove the exact number of counters, you just need one to initiate the replacement effect. Much like Sekki, Seasons' Guide (in Sekki's case, he can prevent damage even without a counter)
2) Polukranos's fight ability isn't tied to his +1/+1 counters. In other words, if you mana to buff him with anthem, aura, equipment, etc, he could continue to use his fight ability, as long as he survives. If you wear a Sword of X & Y or Darksteel Plate you can wipe the board easily, with the former targeting specific colors.
3) You can always add more counters onto him.
So I'm thinking about making a Polukranos deck with that in mind. Blade of the Bloodchief and Hardened Scales are cards I use a lot in my Sekki deck, which would return some of the counters lost during a fight. Counters doubler like Doubling Season and Primal Vigor too are right at home. Journey to Eternity, Kaya's Ghostform, Nim Deathmantle, etc, all abuse reanimation effect with Polukranos. Death's Presence and Grave Betrayal turns every creature you kill into potential fuel.
And of course, Zombie Tribal cards would buff Polukranos easily to +5/+5.
1 Blade of the Bloodchief
1 Corpsejack Menace
1 Death's Presence
1 Doubling Season
1 Evolutionary Escalation
1 Forgotten Ancient
1 Hardened Scales
1 Hydra's Growth
1 Primal Vigor
1 Reyhan, last of the Abzan
1 Unspeakable Symbol
1 Vigor
1 Korozda Gorgon
1 Ooze Flux
1 Retribution of the Ancients
Persist/Undying
1 Cauldron of Souls
1 Mikaeus, the Unhallowed
1 Undying Evil
1 Berserk
1 Brawn
1 Crowned Ceratok
1 Elvish Herder
1 Filth
1 Goreclaw, Terror of Qal Sisma
1 Hunter's Prowess
1 Kamahl, Fist of Krosa
1 Nylea, God of the Hunt
1 Overwhelming Stampede
1 Pathbreaker Ibex
1 Rancor
1 Rhonas the Indomitable.
1 Shizo, Death's Storehouse
1 Darksteel Plate
1 Sword of Body and Mind
1 Sword of Feast and Famine
1 Sword of Fire and Ice
1 Sword of Light and Shadow
1 Sword of Sinew and Steel
1 Sword of Truth and Justice
1 Sword of War and Peace
1 Detection Tower
1 Kamahl, Fist of Krosa
1 Karn, the Great Creator
1 Karn, Silver Golem
1 Rampage of the Clans
1 Titania's Song
1 Buried Alive
1 Entomb
1 Golgari Grave-Troll
1 Jarad's Orders
1 Life from the Loam
1 Survival of the Fittest
1 Grave Betrayal
1 Journey to Eternity
1 Kaya's Ghostform
1 Nim Deathmantle
1 Phyrexian Reclamation
1 Whip of Erebos
1 Black Market
1 Cabal Coffers
1 Hour of Promise
1 Mana Reflection
1 Scapeshift
1 Seedborn Muse
1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
1 Vorinclex, Voice of Hunger
1 Wilderness Reclamation
1 Zendikar Resurgent
1 Grothama, All-Devouring
1 Life's Legacy
1 Momentous Fall
1 Return of the Wildspeaker
1 Rishkar's Expertise
1 Soul's Majesty.
Others/Versatile
1 Aetherborn Marauder
1 Crypt Ghast
1 Deserted Temple
1 Disciple of Bolas
1 Garruk Wildspeaker
1 Garruk, Primal Hunter
1 Ghoulcaller Gisa
1 Nissa, Who Shakes the World
1 Nylea's Intervention
1 Pir's Whim
1 Sekki, Seasons' Guide
1 The Great Henge
1 Varolz, the Scar-Striped
Let's brew!
Shu Yun, the Silent Tempest WUR Voltron Control
Temmet, Vizier of Naktamun WU Unblockable Mirror Trickery
Ra's al Ghul (Sidar Kondo) and Face-Down Ninjas
Brudiclad, Token Engineer
Vaevictis (VV2) the Dire Lantern
Rona, Disciple of Gix
Tiana the Auror
Hallar
Ulrich the Politician
Zur the Rebel
Scorpion, Locust, Scarab, Egyptian Gods
O-Kagachi, Mathas, Mairsil
"Non-Tribal" Tribal Generals, Eggs
Polukranos and Vigor both try to apply a replacement effect if Polukranos would be dealt damage (as prevention is a class of replacement effects). As the controller of the affected object, you choose the order to apply the replacement effects. Apply Vigor's first, and Polukranos's replacement has nothing to replace any more (since no damage is being dealt). The hydra gets bigger instead of smaller.
As far as a Polukranos deck goes, I would definitely want to give him some form(s) of evasion. A 12/12 commander after escaping is a 2-hit KO.
Two Score, Minus Two or: A Stargate Tail
(Image by totallynotabrony)
Polukranos whit aura of all sorts, you can also slap in cards such as Strength from the Fallen and Wreath of Geiststo make it HUGE.
Shu Yun, the Silent Tempest WUR Voltron Control
Temmet, Vizier of Naktamun WU Unblockable Mirror Trickery
Ra's al Ghul (Sidar Kondo) and Face-Down Ninjas
Brudiclad, Token Engineer
Vaevictis (VV2) the Dire Lantern
Rona, Disciple of Gix
Tiana the Auror
Hallar
Ulrich the Politician
Zur the Rebel
Scorpion, Locust, Scarab, Egyptian Gods
O-Kagachi, Mathas, Mairsil
"Non-Tribal" Tribal Generals, Eggs
That certainly adds to card advantage and allow you to "go wide" when necessary!
Shu Yun, the Silent Tempest WUR Voltron Control
Temmet, Vizier of Naktamun WU Unblockable Mirror Trickery
Ra's al Ghul (Sidar Kondo) and Face-Down Ninjas
Brudiclad, Token Engineer
Vaevictis (VV2) the Dire Lantern
Rona, Disciple of Gix
Tiana the Auror
Hallar
Ulrich the Politician
Zur the Rebel
Scorpion, Locust, Scarab, Egyptian Gods
O-Kagachi, Mathas, Mairsil
"Non-Tribal" Tribal Generals, Eggs
Bloodtracker you can sink B and 2 life to give him counters. Then get some draw when it leaves the field.
Bloodspore Thrinax this give counters to all your creatures that ETB equal to how many it has..