Most of your ramp isn't creature based but still takes advantage of having creatures
Compared to certain generic mechanics like raid, populate is very restrictive where its good
This is a symmetrical effect, meaning it hits you too, but in a creature-heavy Hatebear deck, you break that symmetry easily
This gang of outlaws is led by Oko, The Ringleader, a shapechanger faerie planeswalker who originally appeared in the Throne of Eldraine set
Kiora, Sovereign of the Deep is more concerned with slamming octopuses and serpents than it is swimming with other merfolk, which makes it a technical merfolk commander , but not a great commander for merfolk
The less human version is Tovolar, Midnight Scourge, whos a 4/4 with the same card draw ability, but this time around you can pay X, one red, and one green, to give a Wolf or Werewolf you control +x/+0 and trample until the end of the turn, which is a great way to finish someone off