The party counter changes whenever your board is changed
It does become easier to get full value from the card once you make the switch to a multiplayer format, though
This is especially useful if you want to create a themed set say, a custom commander cycle, a series of tournament memories, or a collection of card alters you've created
Tidal Barracuda has only been printed once, back in Commander 2020 (the official name for the five Commander preconstructed decks released alongside and featuring cards from Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths) in the Enhanced Evolution deck that also introduced Deadly Rollick
This could be the Scute Swarm of the set
You can run this out as a 4-drop, follow up with a proliferate effect or two, and draw some cards