Cavernous Maw MTG Card
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Land — Cave |
| Released | 2023-11-17 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | The Lost Caverns of Ixalan |
| Set code | LCI |
| Number | 270 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Alfven Ato |
Text of card
: Add . : Cavernous Maw becomes a 3/3 Elemental creature until end of turn. It's still a Cave land. Activate only if the number of other Caves you control plus the number of Cave cards in your graveyard is three or greater.
Many footprints lead into the cave. None lead out.
Cards like Cavernous Maw
Exploring the depths of MTG’s vast card pool, Cavernous Maw stands as an intriguing creature. It shares characteristics with other formidable creatures like Baloth Null, an eye-catching card that also promises a return of creature cards from the graveyard to your hand. Baloth Null, however, brings with it an additional cost and color requirement, which may make Cavernous Maw a more accessible option for decks focusing on mono-green strategies.
Paleoloth is another relative in the family of recursion creatures, triggering whenever another creature with power 5 or greater enters the battlefield under your control, potentially bringing back Cavernous Maw. While Paleoloth leans more towards building a synergistic board state, Cavernous Maw acts as a standalone powerhouse that requires no such setup.
Considering these comparisons, Cavernous Maw can hold its own in environments where resource recovery and beefy creatures are prized, appreciating its straightforward approach to retrieving creatures directly upon entering the battlefield—a simple and efficient choice for those looking to maintain presence on the board.
Cards similar to Cavernous Maw by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: With Cavernous Maw, players have the opportunity to delve into their library, potentially putting valuable cards into their hand and thus tipping the scales of card advantage in their favor.
Resource Acceleration: Cavernous Maw provides a unique form of acceleration by allowing a player to manipulate their land drops, ensuring they have the mana they need to bring their strategy to fruition quicker than usual.
Instant Speed: The ability to react at instant speed with Cavernous Maw gives players the flexibility to adapt to the board state on the fly, making it a versatile inclusion in many game plans.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The Cavernous Maw card forces a player to discard a card, which could potentially deplete valuable hand resources, especially in tight game scenarios where each card’s value is critical.
Specific Mana Cost: Cavernous Maw demands a precise combination of mana colors to cast, which makes it less versatile and sometimes hard to play in multicolored decks that might have mana consistency issues.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Considering its mana cost, some players might find Cavernous Maw a bit heavy on the curve, especially when compared to other creatures or spells that provide tactical advantages for the same or less mana investment.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Cavernous Maw is a versatile card that can seamlessly integrate into a variety of deck types. Its ability to disrupt opponent strategies while maintaining momentum makes it a valuable addition, especially in creature-based or landfall decks that benefit from its specific mechanics.
Combo Potential: When it comes to creating powerful synergies, Cavernous Maw has considerable combo potential. It can act as a crucial piece within intricate combos, pairing with cards that manipulate land behaviors or that capitalize on creatures entering or leaving the battlefield.
Meta-Relevance: Its strategic value in the current meta can’t be overstated. With the ebbs and flows of competitive play, the utility of Cavernous Maw remains high, addressing various popular strategies and providing a counterbalance to dominant deck archetypes.
How to beat
Cavernous Maw presents an interesting challenge on the battlefield. This formidable creature can put opponents in a tight spot with its overwhelming board presence. To effectively neutralize this threat, it’s crucial to have the right strategy and tools at your disposal. Creature removal spells are a must-have against creatures like Cavernous Maw. Instant-speed removals allow you to react swiftly, preventing your opponent from gaining the advantage. Cards like Doom Blade or Path to Exile can exile or destroy the creature before it has the chance to solidify your opponent’s board position.
Another avenue is to utilize counterspells to prevent Cavernous Maw from ever hitting the board. By keeping mana open for counters like Mana Leak or Counterspell, you can deny your opponent the opportunity to cast their game-changing behemoth. Additionally, having board wipes ready, such as Wrath of God or Damnation, can clear out Cavernous Maw along with any other troublesome creatures on the board.
Lastly, don’t underestimate the importance of pace control. Playing disruptively and forcing your opponent to act can lead to mistakes or waste their resources, thus creating openings for you to seize control of the game.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Cavernous Maw MTG card by a specific set like The Lost Caverns of Ixalan, 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 Cavernous Maw and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Cavernous Maw has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Alchemy | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |