This ability makes it a potential threat in certain matchups, and it can quickly grow in multiplayer formats where your opponents tend to run those colors
They are how most players first interact with a new set, and they remain the most popular way to build a collection, open cards for fun, and play limited formats like draft and sealed
The easiest battles to flip, Invasion of Gobakhan and Invasion of Zendikar, each enter play with three defense counters
You can even build around it in a number of ways if you really want to
Additionally, if paired with a sacrifice outlet, Karador can allow you to get the most out of the most impactful death triggers in the game each turn, potentially accumulating substantial value
Lifegain plus a drain/counter/alt-win package is resilient, grindy, and genuinely powerful