Putting two +1/+1 counters on creatures without needing any synergies is already quite an engine, and Zimones activated ability is much stronger than proliferate, or much faster than Vorel of the Hull Clade
(Each deals damage equal to its power to the other.) Cackling Prowler Rarity: Common TYPE: Creature SUBTYPE: Hyena Rogue CMC: 4 Mana cost: USD: $0.09 EUR: 0.08 TIX: 0.03 EDHREC RANK: 18326 (4/3) Ward (Whenever this creature becomes the target of a spell or ability an opponent controls, counter it unless that player pays .) Morbid At the beginning of your end step, if a creature died this turn, put a +1/+1 counter on this creature
Its static will raise its loyalty as your dorks smash face
(mostly because I didn't even know there was such a thing as standard, much less cared to play it!) Fastbond was kind of too good for vintage though (and still is!), so it got the axe
Vintage is a much more powerful format with access to a ton more cards including the whole Power 9, Time Vault, Bazaar of Baghdad, and so on
Dead Last: Pearl Lake Ancient Let me be clear: Pearl Lake Ancient does not make the Top 8