Kraken of the Straits is one of those cards players keep asking about. Here is, in plain words, what its official text says, the rulings published by Wizards of the Coast, and the combos players actually run.
Official card text
Creatures with power less than the number of Islands you control can't block this creature.
Complete guide
Kraken of the Straits is a massive blue creature that uses the weight of the ocean to bypass your opponent's defenses. By scaling its evasiveness to the number of Islands you control, it ensures that smaller, weaker creatures cannot stand in its way. This makes it a formidable finisher in mono-blue or heavy-blue control decks.
Coastal Evasion
The primary function of Kraken of the Straits is its static ability that restricts which creatures can be assigned as blockers. It doesn't care about the keywords of the defenders, such as Flying or Reach, but rather their raw strength (power) compared to your Island count. The more Islands you have, the harder it is for your opponent to stop the Kraken.
The Blocking Window
The game checks the number of Islands you control and the power of potential blockers specifically at the moment the 'Declare Blockers' step begins. If a creature's power is less than your Island count at that exact moment, it cannot be legally assigned to block. However, if a creature successfully blocks, changing the Island count or the blocker's power later in the turn will not undo the block.
Timing and Strategy
Because this ability relies on the number of Islands, you should prioritize playing Islands over other utility lands if you plan to attack with the Kraken. Remember that this check includes all lands with the 'Island' subtype, including non-basic lands that have the subtype, not just basic Islands.
Common Misconceptions
A common mistake is thinking that lowering the Kraken's power makes it easier to block. The ability only checks the power of the *blocking creatures* against your Island count, not the Kraken's own power. Additionally, if you lose Islands after blockers are already declared, the Kraken remains blocked even if the blocker's power is now lower than your new Island count.
Interaction examples
Hullbreaker HorrorIf you control 8 Islands and attack with Kraken of the Straits, your opponent cannot block it with Hullbreaker Horror if the Horror's power is reduced to 7 or less before the declare blockers step. However, since Hullbreaker Horror usually has 7 power, it will be able to block unless you control 8 or more Islands.
Consecrated SphinxSuppose your opponent controls Consecrated Sphinx (4 power) and you control 5 Islands. Even though the Sphinx has Flying, it cannot block Kraken of the Straits because its power (4) is less than your number of Islands (5). The Kraken simply swims beneath the flying guardian.
If you control 3 Islands and attack with Kraken of the Straits, any creature with 0, 1, or 2 power is ineligible to block it. Only creatures with 3 or more power can be declared as blockers.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Kraken of the Straits
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
The number of Islands you control is counted as blockers are declared. Creatures with power less than that number at that time can’t block Kraken of the Straits. Once blockers have been declared, the power of the blocking creatures and the number of Islands you control don’t matter.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Kraken of the Straits
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.