Kratos, Stoic Father

Gameplan

Kratos builds experience counters by attacking with Gods and by having Gods die, then dumps a pile of +1/+1 counters onto a creature each end step. You aim to assemble a critical mass of God creatures (and indestructible/resilient threats) to bank counters fast, then convert a single beater into a one-shot kill or go wide with counter synergies. He pairs with his son Atreus for a focused Gods-matter midrange engine in Boros.

Key Cards

• Iroas, God of Victory — An indestructible God that makes your attackers nearly unblockable and protects them, fueling reliable attack triggers.
• Purphoros, God of the Forge — Indestructible God whose ping turns your counter-fueled board and tokens into reach-based damage.
• Heliod, Sun-Crowned — Cheap indestructible God that doubles your counter output and enables lifegain-counter combos.
• Rite of Replication — Kicked copies of a God or counter target create explosive experience and board states.
• Rogue's Passage — Pushes your massive counter-loaded beater through for a one-shot kill.
• Atreus, God of Mischief — His natural partner gives card advantage and another God body to attack with.

Upgrade Path

Trim weak non-God creatures for more indestructible Gods and proliferate effects like Inexorable Tide or Evolution Sage to multiply your end-step payoff. Add protection (Swiftfoot Boots, Heroic Intervention) and evasion enablers so your counter target survives and connects. For higher power, lean into a Heliod/Walking Ballista or counter-doubler combo and add fast mana like Sol Ring, Smothering Tithe, and efficient Boros ramp to deploy your engine ahead of curve.