Kavu Mauler MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	6
Rarity	Rare
Type	Creature — Kavu
Abilities	Trample
Released	2001-06-04
Set symbol
Set name	Apocalypse
Set code	APC
Power	4
Toughness	4
Number	80
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Daren Bader

Key Takeaways

Gains power with every attack, bolstering its presence and intimidating opponents as it grows.
Its trample ability complements its power growth, making it a persistent threat in combat.
Although powerful, it comes with a high mana cost and requires a green-centric deck strategy.

Text of card

Trample Whenever Kavu Mauler attacks, it gets +1/+1 until end of turn for each other attacking Kavu.

To the kavu, all Phyrexians are merely crunchy snacks.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Kavu Mauler has the formidable ability to grow stronger each time it attacks and deals combat damage to a player. This trait enables the player not just to strengthen their board presence but also to potentially outmatch opponents’ creatures over time, resulting in a significant advantage in the power dynamic of the game.

Resource Acceleration: As the Kavu Mauler accumulates power with each successful attack, it aids in getting ahead in the game by effectively becoming a more substantial threat without additional investment. The sheer size this creature can attain makes it a high-value asset on the battlefield, serving as a form of accelerating your offensive resources.

Instant Speed: While the Kavu Mauler itself doesn’t have instant speed, its Trample ability allows for a form of ‘damage acceleration’ as this creature can bulldoze through defenders, potentially dealing lethal damage faster by punishing opponents who can’t muster enough defense in time.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Kavu Mauler’s aggressive nature doesn’t come with a discard demand, but it’s important to be aware of potential costs when integrating creatures into your strategy that could leave you resource-depleted.

Specific Mana Cost: Tailored for green-heavy decks, Kavu Mauler requires a dedication to forests. Its specific mana cost means you won’t find it handy in more versatile or color-fluid strategies, which might dampen its appeal outside mono-green or two-tone green-dominant decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that’s on the higher end, Kavu Mauler might not swing into play as early as you’d like. While it’s undoubtedly a powerhouse, the investment to cast it must be weighed against other available options that can hit the battlefield sooner or offer more immediate board impact.

Reasons to Include Kavu Mauler in Your Collection

Versatility: Kavu Mauler is a flexible addition to green-centric or multicolor decks, adapting well to both aggressive and ramp strategies. Its trample ability allows it to push through defenses while accumulating power with each attack.

Combo Potential: With its ability to grow stronger each time it attacks and deals combat damage to a player, Kavu Mauler synergizes excellently with cards that manipulate combat phases or double strike effects to maximize power gain.

Meta-Relevance: Kavu Mauler can be a formidable presence in metagames that favor creature-based strategies. As board states become more crowded, Kavu Mauler’s power increase with each successful attack can quickly turn it into a major threat that opponents cannot ignore.

How to beat

Kavu Mauler is a formidable creature once it gains traction on the battlefield in MTG. With trample and the potential to grow larger with every attack, it can seem overwhelming. However, overcoming this creature is a matter of strategic removal. Instant speed removal spells like Path to Exile or Fatal Push can take it out before it becomes too big to handle. Having these kinds of spells on hand is crucial for interrupting your opponent’s momentum and keeping Kavu Mauler from spiraling out of control.

Another approach is to utilize counter spells when your opponent first casts Kavu Mauler. Countering it early means you won’t have to deal with it on the board. Cards like Counterspell or Mana Leak are perfect for this purpose. If it does hit the board, edict effects — which force your opponent to sacrifice a creature like Diabolic Edict — can be useful, especially if they only control the Kavu Mauler. Lastly, minimizing the number of creatures you lose during combat reduces the Mauler’s ability to gather +1/+1 counters, so sometimes the best defense is making unfavorable attacks less appealing to your opponent.

Planning ahead and controlling the pace of the game is essential when facing off against Kavu Mauler. Keeping its growth in check with these strategies can ensure it never becomes the threat it’s meant to be.

Cards like Kavu Mauler

Kavu Mauler is an intriguing creature within Magic: The Gathering’s arsenal that presents a formidable presence on the battlefield. When looking at other creatures that share its trample ability and a penchant for growth, one can’t help but think of Managorger Hydra. This creature also gains +1/+1 counters but does so whenever any player casts a spell, likely increasing its power more consistently than Kavu Mauler, which requires combat damage to a player to achieve a similar effect.

Another comparable monster is Taurean Mauler, a creature that thrives in multi-player games. Like the Kavu Mauler, it gets stronger over time, gaining +1/+1 counters every time an opponent casts a spell—a parallel growth mechanic, though triggered by a different in-game action. What sets them apart is Kavu Mauler’s potential for massive single-turn growth in the right conditions. Also, the Mauler brings the immediate benefit of trample, ready to hurdle past obstructing creatures once its size increases.

Ultimately, Kavu Mauler offers unique value in creature-heavy decks that aim to deal damage quickly and exploit the momentum of combat, standing as a solid choice among creatures that grow over the course of play in Magic: The Gathering.

Cards similar to Kavu Mauler by color, type and mana cost

Verdeloth the Ancient - MTG Card versions

Nemata, Grove Guardian - MTG Card versions

Kodama of the East Tree - MTG Card versions

Silvos, Rogue Elemental - MTG Card versions

Seshiro the Anointed - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Kavu Mauler MTG card by a specific set like Apocalypse, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Kavu Mauler and other MTG cards: