Polar Kraken MTG Card

Polar Kraken provides card advantage by forcing opponents to react to its powerful board presence. Its size becomes an asset in mana ramp decks, capable of turning the game tide quickly. However, the upkeep cost and specific mana needs might limit its deck compatibility.

Ice Age (ICE)
1995-06-03 - Number 89

Masters Edition (ME1)
2007-09-10 - Number 44

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	11
Rarity	Rare
Type	Creature — Kraken
Abilities	Cumulative upkeep,Trample
Power	11
Toughness	11

Text of card

Trample Cumulative Upkeep: Sacrifice a land. Comes into play tapped.

"It was big. Really, really, big. No, bigger than that. It was *big!*" —Arna Kennerüd, Skyknight

Cards like Polar Kraken

Polar Kraken stands as an imposing figure in the world of Magic: The Gathering, sharing space with other massive creatures that command attention upon hitting the battlefield. Like Polar Kraken, cards such as Phyrexian Dreadnought and Deep-Sea Kraken embody the theme of gigantic sea monsters with their own set of unique rules and conditions. Phyrexian Dreadnought, while entering the battlefield with an astounding 12/12 presence for one mana, requires a sacrifice of creatures totaling 12 power or more, making it a high-stakes play akin to the Polar Kraken’s requirement of sacrificing a land each turn to keep it afloat.

Deep-Sea Kraken, another leviathan of the depths, sidesteps an immediate impact in favor of a more subtle approach, being suspended from the game and only emerging after the opponent casts a sufficient number of spells. While not as instantly overwhelming as Polar Kraken, its strategy of delayed but inevitable arrival offers a different tactical angle for players to consider. The suspense of Deep-Sea Kraken’s arrival contrasts with the instant but demanding presence of the Polar Kraken, which calls for a continuous resource investment to maintain its dominance on the board.

Evaluating these similar cards illuminates the various strategies and trade-offs they bring to a deck, with Polar Kraken providing an immediate but costly display of power that can shape the course of play with its sheer size and presence.

Phyrexian Dreadnought - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Polar Kraken card’s intimidating presence can often act as a deterrent, effectively locking down the battlefield. By demanding responses from opponents, it leads to a potential card advantage as they are forced to deal with the threat.

Resource Acceleration: In decks designed around snow-covered lands and mana ramping, Polar Kraken can be a game changer. The ability to bring out such a massive creature earlier than expected can rapidly shift the momentum to your favor.

Instant Speed: While the Polar Kraken itself doesn’t operate at instant speed, integrating it into a deck with instant speed tricks can create unexpected plays. This allows you to prepare the board state for its arrival, catching opponents off-guard and making the most of your Kraken’s entry onto the battlefield.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Polar Kraken’s entry onto the battlefield mandates sacrificing a land each upkeep, which may significantly setback your board presence and resource availability.

Specific Mana Cost: With a demanding setup of eight blue mana in its casting cost, the Kraken can be restrictive and challenging to summon outside of mono-blue or heavily blue-centered decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Boasting a casting cost of eleven mana, this sea monster could be seen as inefficient, since other creatures or spells at lower costs can offer more immediate board impact or flexible utility.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Polar Kraken offers unique flexibility as a formidable threat in decks that can manipulate or bypass its cumulative upkeep cost. Its sheer size can dominate the battlefield, making it a game-ending force in the right situations.

Combo Potential: The Kraken can be a linchpin in strategies built around sacrifice effects or abilities that capitalize on large creatures entering or leaving the battlefield. Creative players can leverage its entry for devastating combo finishes.

Meta-Relevance: In metas where games tend to stretch into the later turns, Polar Kraken can be a potent trump card. Its interaction with cards that alter or remove upkeep costs can outpace conventional control mechanisms, making it a sleeper hit in certain deck builds.

How to beat Polar Kraken

Polar Kraken might seem like an overwhelming force in Magic: The Gathering with its titanic stats and the potential to dominate the battlefield. Commanding the board with a 11/11 body, it’s easy to believe it’s an automatic game winner, but there are strategies to outmaneuver this leviathan of the ice.

One key to defeating Polar Kraken lies in its cumulative upkeep cost, which starts small but can spiral out of control, consuming valuable resources or leading to its own sacrifice. Cards with bounce effects like Unsummon target and return creatures to their owner’s hand, circumventing their massive power and toughness by avoiding direct confrontation. Exile effects provided by Path to Exile or Swords to Plowshares are straight answers, cleanly removing Polar Kraken from the game while negating any benefits from its demise.

Decks that feature sacrifice mechanics or those that take advantage of creatures entering the graveyard could also look to turn the tables on Polar Kraken. In the end, while the Kraken’s presence is formidable, remember that every card has a counter and with the right planning, even the mightiest giants can be toppled.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Polar Kraken MTG card by a specific set like Ice Age and Masters Edition, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Polar Kraken and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Polar Kraken Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1995-06-03 and 2007-09-10. Illustrated by Mark Tedin.

#	Released	Name	Code	Symbol	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	1995-06-03	Ice Age	ICE		89	1993	Normal	Black	Mark Tedin
2	2007-09-10	Masters Edition	ME1		44	1997	Normal	Black	Mark Tedin

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Polar Kraken has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Premodern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Polar Kraken card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date	Text
2008-10-01	Paying cumulative upkeep is always optional. If it’s not paid, the permanent with cumulative upkeep is sacrificed. Partial payments of the total cumulative upkeep cost can’t be made. For example, if a permanent with “cumulative upkeep ” has three age counters on it when its cumulative upkeep ability triggers, it gets another age counter and then its controller chooses to either pay or sacrifice the permanent.