Pointed Discussion

Sure, you'd hit him with most removal while attacking or blocking anyway, but I don't really see how hexproof at all is a downside... It's also a pseudo-protection from sorceries.

This card's name literally means "terrorist".

DANGIT TROMOKRATIS

THIS IS WHY WE CANT HAVE NICE THINGS

BAD BOY

The artwork for the Release Promo is far superior.

Also, this card totally rocks, one of my favorites in the set.

I really love this thing. However, It looks like a pain in the ass to be fighting against.

I like the flavor... You can't touch it until it comes out of the water

4/5
Now to give it deathtouch and trample... Maybe indestructible and lifelink as well. Only attack if you can counter any spells targeting it. Great card for control.

Great flavor. The thing I like about it is that even though it ultimately is just a big fatty, the manner in which it must be blocked makes it feel so much smarter to use than something like Tidal Kraken.

This guy is the right amount of whelming.

The flavor is so amazing though. I can just imagine this huge beast waiting patiently in the deeps, aloof from the city on shore. They're aware that he's there, but they can't seem to find a away to get rid of him. Suddenly, Tromokratis emerges from the depths, exposing himself to the gods and humans alike! He attacks the city with a mighty force, towering over the buildings that mean nothing to him. Meanwhile, the humans in the polis gather together to stop this mighty beast! As they arm themselves and prepare for battle, one suddenly becomes a pacifist

And that's how millions died

A new Commander.

The good:
- comboes with that kraken-bounce card from this set
- high p/t for it's cost
- three attacks on an opponent and that player has lost due to Commander damage (give it double strike or get some extra turns or whatever and that can be achieved quickly)
- has pretty good evasion
- is protected from sorcery-speed targeting stuff

So all in all it's a fun Commander. If I'd have to choose between that one and Lorthos, the Tidemaker though, I'd probably take Lorthos as a Commander. It's tap eight ability is just so power- and flavorful.

The best part was realizing it means all creatures your opponent controls must block, period. It doesn't just mean all creatures that could block. If even a single creature your opponent controls is tapped Tromokratis is unblockable.

Slowly but surely my Pacific Rim deck comes along.

This is a real neat and flavorful 'Dive & Surface' ability and definitely makes me hopeful that WotC finally understands how degenerate hexproof is and is trying to make it more fair.

If you play a Stratus Walk on one of your opponent's creatures he becomes a 100% unblockable! Until they get rid of that creature, that is.

Best mate with Forgestoker Dragon.

Would make an excellent Voltron EDH general. Slap on some double strike, death touch, indestructibility, and you've got yourself a beast general. The semi-hexproof is strange, but the face on the dang thing is by far the most strange part of the card! A bit too Tikki-tribal for my taste.

According to Mark Rosewater, this card is them experimenting with hexproof and trying versions less horrible for the game. Also according to him, they will watch player reactions to this card to see if we like this kind of thing.

So why is everyone still waiting? 5 star this RIGHT NOW

Combine with Enlarge for mass take out and some extra points of damage

@ Yes Tromokratis is the word for Terrorist in Greek (ΤΡΟΜΟΚΡΑΤΗΣ).

Is the combination of two words Tromos (Fear - ΤΡΟΜΟΣ) and Kratos (State - ΚΡΑΤΟΣ). Thε one that is is feared from the State / the one that fears the state.

You need a big body? Why not 'Roidberg?

Just the fact of his existence means your opponent probably won't attack, and thats why I love him

Just think what can this card do with monstruosed Shipbreaker Kraken. A 10/10 and 8/8 unblockable kraken.

It occurs to me that Alpha Authority would make this guy extremely annoying, and green blue is Kio's color pallette...

A legendary 8/8 for 7 in blue with no downsides. It's hard to give this anything less than 4 stars.

I just love how the release day promo is the exact same creature. they didn't try to change the creatures physical appearance in homage to the original artist but rather changed the setting. and looking at this beast through the foiley fog sure is majestic :) it's what I think promo foils should be, personally.

Gaze of the Gorgon can be a strong combat trick to go with this guy.

@Gcrudaplaneswalker: and it can't be stopped unless everyone rallies against it.

This card's primary downfall is that Aetherling exists. The only reason I play Tromokratis is because my deck also plays 4 Aetherlings, and that wasn't enough.

Tromokratis is cool and all, but it competes for mana slots with Colossal Whale. Which, for some reason unknown to me, I prefer to this. Maybe it's the fun of swallowing my opponent's cards.

Practically the definition of a limited bomb. I'm honestly not sure what you can do in Green or Red or Black to stop this guy in Theros Block if he actually makes it to the board. White or Blue have Answers.

Sip? Nope, it's a sorcery, so he'll have hexproof whenever it's cast.

Oh yeah... Sedge Scorpion and Baleful Eidolon.

Although even then, you end up just sitting there, praying that your opponent doesn't Divination into a Nimbus Naiad.

And in Red, you need to kill any blue opponent before he gets to 7 mana. On it.

@deworde2510 Black has answers in Heroes Downfall at Rare and then Necrobite at common, which both kills this guy and saves your best creature.

Red seems like it's in the most trouble Theros Block burn is pretty weak.

Green has loads of buffs so it /should/ have some pretty large creatures to block with from all the buffs in Theros and BoG. But it does lack a direct answer to kill it. There's always defend the hearth if you're close to winning.

Dun Dun Dun... Crypsis.

Nobody noticed?

This plus Frost Breath

It needs hexproof all the time. It's pretty underwhelming, as is.
Flavor is nice, though.

To the people who say that the reminder text is redundant, that reminder text is very important for saving a lot of time at tournaments. The way this card is worded is more a dual purpose "if your opponent has any tapped creatures, this creature is unblockable" which is an important ruling to have on the card, rather than calling judge every time someone tries to block when no creatures are out. It is explicitly stated on the card.

No to say this card is actually a good standard card. Perhaps an EDH voltron commander for blue.

Also known as "Incredibly Visible Stalker"

Seems like he will be very nice for control. You just let him sit on your side, and either your opponent completely stops attacking, or he allows an 8/8 to run as an unblockable. And as for his "drawback", a decent control deck can protect him on their turn during a combat phase easy enough.

A fun monoblue voltron EDH general. The Timmy within me is pleased to RELEASE THE KRAKEN every time he's cast. Might see more play as a control finisher in standard as well, once Aetherling rotates out

If I attack with this and my opponent decides to block with all his creatures, do each of his creatures get hit by 8?

@v1lla21
no, but as the attacker, you get to divide the 8 damage among the blockers.

I'm a sucker for fatties of all flavors, and our friendly neighborhood oceanic terrorist here is certainly among them. The limited Hexproof is so flavorful, it commands the attention of the board once it attacks, and it's aggressively costed enough that it won't be completely overlooked. In conjunction with cards like Whelming Wave and Quest for Ula's Temple, there is some blue Timmy fun to be had with this guy.

It also helps that he makes an excellent target for Mimeoplasm shenanigans.

If I have to choose between this and regular hexproof, I will take this, of course, but I will let you in on a little secret. The solution exists. It was beautiful; nearly perfect. It was (eventually) called 'shroud'. It was fair, since nobody could target. This compromise is alright. Three boos and a hiss for hexproof. Stick a fork in it. It's done. I would have given this card five stars, instead of four, if it had flavour text, instead of stupid, redundant reminder text. This is a real expansion, guys. Save the kiddy table stuff for the core sets, please. Silly rulings that you only ever need to read once go on Gatherer. That's what it's for. Effort and tradescraft need to remain a paramount concern. Keep it up, Mr. R, and company. Love you guys. It's good to see that you working to fix problems in the game. Let's see soul. There were originally so few cards lacking something appealing on a cerebral level. Loved the old poetry in the first sets. One last thing on that note. Maybe consider crediting the writer for the flavour text if they want it. They create something of beauty, and deserve to be recognized. Doesn't have to be every card, but if they write a nice bit of poetry or provide an interesting turn of phrase, then why not throw another name down beside the visual artists'. Back to the crab. I dare you to unkeyword hexproof. ;) I know you won't, but it would be glorious. People cheering in the streets, parades, fireworks, etc. 4/5

Edit: Saying that the rulings text is important at tournaments is the dumbest thing I have ever read on Gatherer, and that's really saying something. This will sit in casual decks and collections for years, reminding it's owner what might have been. Who is Tromokratis? Why do the denizens of Theros fear him. If he sees regular tournament play, I will buy a hat, so that I have one, and then I will eat it. Go play with your core sets.