Chomping Kavu MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Kavu |
| Abilities | Backup |
| Released | 2023-04-21 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | March of the Machine |
| Set code | MOM |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 3 |
| Number | 179 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | John Tedrick |
Text of card
Backup 1 (When this creature enters the battlefield, put a +1/+1 counter on target creature. If that's another creature, it gains the following ability until end of turn.) This creature can't be blocked by creatures with power 2 or less.
Cards like Chomping Kavu
The Chomping Kavu stands out in Magic: The Gathering as a formidable creature card with a unique echo ability. This card draws parallels to cards like Flametongue Kavu, another Kavu creature famed for its direct damage ability that targets creatures upon entry. Although Flametongue Kavu lacks the echo ability, it compensates with an immediate board impact that can often swing the game in your favor.
Another card worth comparing is Shivan Wurm, which also requires a bounce-back to hand mechanism – reminiscent of Chomping Kavu’s echo. Shivan Wurm, however, trades the echo cost for a stronger immediate effect and a higher power and toughness, making it a more impactful but less flexible choice.
Lastly, Avalanche Riders share the echo cost trait with Chomping Kavu but are used for land destruction rather than combat. This highlights the versatility and range of strategies that cards with echo abilities bring to a player’s deck. Each of these similar MTG cards offers a twist on the echo mechanic that can cater to various strategies and playstyles in Magic: The Gathering, making Chomping Kavu a part of a dynamic and interesting subset of cards.
Cards similar to Chomping Kavu by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: When you play Chomping Kavu, its ability to potentially deal damage to multiple creatures can swing the board state in your favor. By removing smaller creatures your opponents control, you diminish their presence and card resources while keeping your own card count steady.
Resource Acceleration: Although Chomping Kavu does not directly provide mana or Treasure tokens, it does contribute to resource acceleration through board control. Efficiently dealing with multiple threats at once allows you to invest mana in developing your board rather than handling enemies one by one.
Instant Speed: While Chomping Kavu operates at sorcery speed, its influence on the game state is immediate. This translates to a significant tempo boost as you can deploy it during your main phase and immediately reap the benefits of its power to dominate the board, paving the way for instant speed plays in subsequent turns with fewer obstacles.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Chomping Kavu’s ability necessitates pitching a card, which might set you back when your hand size is dwindling. Having to lose a potential resource can be particularly detrimental in decks that have already expended most of their hand.
Specific Mana Cost: This creature card requires a particular mix of mana, including red and green, to cast. This could restrict its integration into decks, especially for players who prefer a more versatile mana base or multicolor decks that might not always have the necessary colors readily available.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that might be considered steep for its stats and abilities, Chomping Kavu could be a less attractive option than other creatures in the same mana range. Players often weigh the costs against the benefits and may opt for creatures that provide greater impact or value upon entering the battlefield.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Chomping Kavu’s flexible role in creature-based decks stems from its power bump ability when fed with excess lands, making it a formidable addition in games that stretch into the long haul.
Combo Potential: Its land-driven growth synergizes well with decks that manipulate the graveyard, allowing it to become a recurring threat in combination with effects that return lands to your hand or the battlefield.
Meta-Relevance: Given its ability to outsize many creatures commonly seen in battlefields today, Chomping Kavu can be a strategic choice against opponents running smaller creatures—adding consistent pressure each turn.
How to beat
Chomping Kavu is a red creature card that offers a unique challenge on the battlefield due to its power to grow temporarily larger when fed with lands. To effectively combat this creature, it’s wise to maneuver around its core strength. Utilizing removal spells that bypass the creature’s power level, such as Path to Exile or Doom Blade, can provide a clean solution. Control decks that focus on counters and instant-speed interaction can also keep the Kavu in check by responding to it before it becomes a threat.
Moreover, having a strategy to manage the graveyard can be beneficial, as Chomping Kavu relies on a solid land base in the graveyard to maximize its potential. Employing cards like Relic of Progenitus or Tormod’s Crypt can disable such strategies by exiling lands from the graveyard, rendering the Kavu’s ability less threatening. In essence, ensuring that your deck has the tools to deal with resilient creatures and the backup plans that strengthen them will tip the scales in your favor against a Chomping Kavu.
Remember, keeping a versatile approach in your deckbuilding and gameplay is key to overcoming opponents’ strategies, including those centering around formidable cards like Chomping Kavu.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Chomping Kavu MTG card by a specific set like March of the Machine, 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 Chomping Kavu 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
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Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Chomping Kavu has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Alchemy | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Chomping Kavu card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2023-04-14 | Backup confers only abilities that are actually printed below it. Any abilities that are gained by the permanent are ignored, including abilities gained due to a resolving spell or ability or copy effects. |
| 2023-04-14 | If a backup ability causes another creature to gain abilities, the creature with backup will still have those abilities. |
| 2023-04-14 | If a backup ability targets the creature with backup, that creature will get +1/+1 counters, but it won’t gain additional abilities. |
| 2023-04-14 | If a permanent enters the battlefield as a copy of a card with a backup ability or a token is created that is a copy of that card, the order of the printed abilities is maintained. |
| 2023-04-14 | Once Chomping Kavu has been legally blocked by a creature, changing that creature’s power to 2 or less won’t undo that block. |
| 2023-04-14 | The abilities that backup grants to the target creature are determined only once, at the time the ability triggers. They won’t change if the permanent with backup loses any abilities before the backup ability resolves. |