Kratos, Stoic Father 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

Whenever you attack with one or more Gods and whenever a God dies, you get an experience counter. At the beginning of your end step, put a number of +1/+1 counters on target creature equal to the number of experience counters you have. Partner—Father & son (You can have two commanders if both have this ability.)

Complete guide

Kratos, Stoic Father is a powerful legendary God Warrior who channels the wisdom of experience into raw strength. By leading other divine beings into battle, he steadily grows his power to bolster his allies every single turn. This card utilizes experience counters, a resource that persists on the player even if Kratos leaves the battlefield.

Divine Experience

Kratos, Stoic Father has two primary triggers for gaining experience counters. First, he grants a counter whenever you attack with one or more Gods; note that attacking with multiple Gods at once still only provides one counter for that specific trigger. Second, he grants a counter whenever a God dies. These counters are placed on you, the player, and are represented by the Experience card.

Resolution Step by Step

During your turn, the process follows these steps: 1. Declare attackers, including at least one God. Kratos's first ability triggers and resolves, giving you an experience counter. 2. If a God is destroyed during combat or main phases, his second ability triggers immediately. 3. At the beginning of your end step, you must choose a target creature. 4. Upon resolution, count your total experience counters and place that many +1/+1 counters on the targeted creature.

Key Considerations

Experience counters are not permanent on Kratos himself; they are given to the player. If Kratos is removed from the battlefield and later returns, you keep your previous counters. Additionally, his end-step ability is mandatory and requires a target creature. If you control no creatures other than Kratos, he must target himself if he is a legal target.

Strategic Timing

To maximize Kratos, Stoic Father, you should focus on God tribal synergies. Since he counts experience at the end step, he provides immediate value the turn he is played if you have already attacked with a God or had one die earlier in the turn. He is most effective in decks that can protect their creatures to keep accumulating counters over several rounds.

Interaction examples

Doubling Divine Wisdom

Roaming Throne

If you have Roaming Throne on the battlefield with 'God' chosen as the creature type, Kratos's abilities will trigger an additional time. Attacking with a God will result in two experience counters instead of one, and his end-step trigger will fire twice, potentially doubling the +1/+1 counters placed on your creatures.

A Stoic Target

Solemn Simulacrum

At the beginning of your end step, you can choose Solemn Simulacrum as the target for Kratos's ability. If you have three experience counters, you place three +1/+1 counters on the Simulacrum. This turns your utility creature into a significant combat threat while you continue to draw cards and ramp.

Tracking Progress

Experience

When Kratos's first ability resolves, you place a counter on the Experience card. Even if Kratos, Stoic Father is destroyed by an opponent's spell, the counter remains on the Experience card. When you recast Kratos later, he will immediately see those counters for his end-step ability.

Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.