Search:

It does. +1/+1 counters and -1/-1 counters delete each other.

Just a note, unless I'm misunderstanding Hexdrinker, you have to be able to protect it until you get the level ups resolved, since those are normal activated abilities and use the stack so it's not...

The point isn't so much about having to interact, so much as many hate cards being very binary - slap it down and the combo deck's SOL. Crypts vs. combo deck can be a back-and-forth, RiP vs. combo...

You misspelled "green Elf" :P