It’s 1995. You are sitting down to play a game of Magic the gathering with your friends. Recently an expansion called “The Dark” revealed the first card ever with double digit attack and defense: Leviathan. Leviathan was an instant hit with collectors and players alike. At 10/10 he was the biggest, coolest card for casual and competitive players alike. But you’ve got a surprise up you’re sleeve. You stopped at the store and bought yourself some packs of the new expansion to MTG: Ice Age… Nearly a year after its debut, Leviathan’s fame was stolen by a larger, scarier creature…

This 11/11 trampler not only was the largest creature in the game, it had the largest mana cost ever printed on a card as well: 8UUU. This monstrosity of a card was revered as “awesome” by Timmy Players (players who used huge creatures) and reigned as the largest card around for the nearly a year, until the obscure Phyrexian Dreadnaught came onto the scene. Nowadays, players wouldn’t even consider putting this card in a deck. Polar Kraken is out dated. But he’s not out classed…

Lets start at the top: woa.

For ELEVEN mana, you can get this guy out. an Unbelievable cost by today’s standards, Polar Kraken actually sized up ok back in the day. 11 attack and 11 defense for… 11. Granted, the upkeep cost on this card would lower the casting cost in today’s standards, in 1995 he was a good deal.

The flavor of this card on the other hand is unbelievable! What is cooler than a giant sea monster crushing through ice? (and you’re opponents creatures!) Mark Tedin did a phenomenal job depicting the big guy, really giving him character, and a natural powerful look. In comparison to some of today’s computerized looking illustrations on giant creatures, Polar Kraken actually and simply just looks huge. And those poor polar bears! The Ice Age theme of this set is represented perfectly in this illustration as well. Everything about Polar Kraken is on track.

Moving on…

Trample. Woa. Trample was an amazing, uncommon ability during the time this card was printed, when banding was in its heyday. It allowed your creature to bust through to provide crucial damage towards your win. In the days before Shimmering Wings, Cloak of Mists, and Protective Bubble, it could be hard for creatures to get through to an opponent especially if they had good defense (Walls were all the rage). No Problem for Polar Kraken! Yea, the Cumulative Upkeep is bad. Really bad by today’s standards. Polar Kraken EATS land. If played right though, it didn’t matter. With at least 10 or eleven land out (Or 6-7 in a deck running High Tide) Polar Kraken was almost guaranteed to last a couple of turns, which usually is more than enough: 2 turns worth of attacking is worth 22 trampling damage. 15 years ago, that was a LOT harder to deal with. Coming into play tapped sets you back a turn blocking, but in the end, again, it doesn’t really matter. Polar Kraken ate opponents for breakfast… without any milk. By today’s tough standards there are many many more effective ways of dealing eleven damage in one turn, thus Polar Kraken has indeed been retired from common play. None the less, It remains as my favorite card in MTG to this date. Yea, he might “Suck” now but nothing will ever beat Polar Kraken when it comes to the genuine feel of old casual Magic the Gathering…

Here’s an awesome idea for those nostalgic/adventurous players out there:

Vintage Legal Polar Mayhem Deck:

Creatures :

Polar Kraken x2

Merfolk Looter x4

Wall of Frost x4

Faerie Swarm x2

Artifacts:

Crucible of Worlds x2

Eon Hub x2

Isochron Sceptor x2

Non-Creature Spells:

Sleep x2

High Tide x4

Counterpell x4

Control Magic x3

Flood x2

Invoke Prejudice x1

Shimmering Wings x3

Mind’s Desire x1

Mind Spring x2

Land:

Island x24

As you can tell, I am a fan of this card. I am not by any means saying it is “great” from a competitive standpoint, just “cool” and “nostalgic”. Polar Kraken gives off that good MTG feel. I run a deck similar to the one above. It wins experienced casual games on a regular basis. I will attest that I am the only one I know still using this card. And it feels great

My personal copy of Polar Kraken (the awesome extended art version done by artist Catherine Chandler):

thanks for stopping by!