Firemaw Kavu MTG Card

Firemaw Kavu offers card advantage with potential for strategic play through its echo and death abilities. It accelerates resources by clearing blockers, but demands a specific mana combination which limits deck versatility. Despite its higher mana cost, its flexibility and meta relevance make it a valuable collection addition.

Time Spiral (TSP)
2006-10-06 - Number 153

Firemaw Kavu - Time Spiral Remastered (TSR)

Time Spiral Remastered (TSR)
2021-03-19 - Number 163

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	6
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Kavu
Abilities	Echo
Power	4
Toughness	2

Text of card

Echo (At the beginning of your upkeep, if this came under your control since the beginning of your last upkeep, sacrifice it unless you pay its echo cost.) When Firemaw Kavu comes into play, it deals 2 damage to target creature. When Firemaw Kavu leaves play, it deals 4 damage to target creature.

Cards like Firemaw Kavu

In the realm of creature cards within Magic: The Gathering, Firemaw Kavu stands out for its ability to deal damage to multiple targets upon entering and leaving the battlefield. It bears similarities to cards like Flametongue Kavu, which also delivers a punch by dealing damage when it hits the field. However, Flametongue Kavu’s impact is felt immediately upon entry, targeting one creature with a robust four damage.

Another creature to consider is the Sparkspitter. Like the Firemaw Kavu, Sparkspitter has a presence that revolves around creating and utilizing direct damage. Although it lacks the departure damage of Firemaw Kavu, Sparkspitter allows players to craft an elemental creature token, which can then be sacrificed for damage, offering a strategic advantage through additional board presence.

Furthermore, the inclusion of Pardic Firecat in our comparison showcases a different approach to direct damage. The Firecat, not unlike the Firemaw Kavu, has an echo ability that doubles its initial mana cost unless paid, potentially resulting in strong early game pressure. Nevertheless, Firemaw Kavu’s flexibility in distributing damage upon entering and leaving the fray positions it uniquely amongst creatures of its kind.

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

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Card Pros

Card Advantage: Firemaw Kavu is engineered to offer players card advantage through its echo and death abilities. When it dies, it enables you to exile the top card of your library. You may play that card this turn, offering a strategic advantage and keeping your hand supplied.

Resource Acceleration: This creature brings resource acceleration to the field with its potential to remove smaller creatures. By using its damage dealing ability, Firemaw Kavu can clear the path of blockers, making way for your more significant threats or preserving your life total, indirectly accelerating your game plan.

Instant Speed: While Firemaw Kavu itself does not operate at instant speed, it complements strategies that do. By clearing blockers or applying pressure, it forces opponents to make difficult decisions at instant speed, possibly playing into your hands if you’re holding reactive spells.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While unleashing Firemaw Kavu’s potential, players must be prepared to part ways with a card from their hand. This trade-off can sometimes backfire, particularly when your hand is already stretched thin on options, leaving you with fewer choices for future plays.

Specific Mana Cost: The creature demands a precise combination of mana to enter the battlefield, specifically red. This requirement means it fits primarily into red-centric or two-color decks that can comfortably meet its mana demands, potentially sidelining it in more color-diverse decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Firemaw Kavu arrives with a mana value that could be considered steep for the impact it delivers. Its cost hovers above some other creatures and spells that might offer similar or better board impact, leaving players to weigh their options when optimizing their mana curve.

Reasons to Include Firemaw Kavu in Your Collection

Versatility: Firemaw Kavu offers flexibility as it serves both as a creature and as a removal option. It can be slotted into different types of decks that are looking to capitalize on direct damage and board control.

Combo Potential: This card has an innate ability to trigger enter the battlefield and leave the battlefield effects which can be combined with numerous cards for powerful interactions, enhancing multi-card strategies.

Meta-Relevance: Given the ever-changing MTG environment, Firemaw Kavu can be particularly useful against creature-heavy decks, making it a relevant choice when those archetypes are prevalent in the game.

How to beat

The Firemaw Kavu poses a unique challenge in Magic: The Gathering, known for its echo ability and the potential to cause significant damage during both entry and exit from the battlefield. Nonetheless, this card has its vulnerabilities. To counter this threat, a player needs to employ effective strategies which may include removal spells that can bypass the echo cost. Spells like Path to Exile or Murderous Rider can swiftly handle this creature before the echo trigger costs the opponent any additional mana.

Another method to mitigate the impact of Firemaw Kavu is to use instant-speed removals in response to the echo trigger during the upkeep, minimizing the opportunity for your opponent to benefit from the leaving-the-battlefield effect. Players might also consider incorporating graveyard control cards to prevent Firemaw Kavu from recurring through mechanics like reanimation or other recursion strategies.

Anticipating the Kavu’s effect-utilizing cards that grant indestructibility or regeneration to your creatures can also be critical in diminishing the impact of its damage-dealing departure. By understanding the capability of Firemaw Kavu and preparing your deck with counters, you can neutralize this threat and maintain the upper hand in your matches.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Firemaw Kavu MTG card by a specific set like Time Spiral and Time Spiral Remastered, 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 Firemaw Kavu and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Firemaw Kavu Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2006-10-06 and 2021-03-19. Illustrated by Greg Hildebrandt.

#	Released	Name	Code	Symbol	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2006-10-06	Time Spiral	TSP		153	2003	Normal	Black	Greg Hildebrandt
2	2021-03-19	Time Spiral Remastered	TSR		163	2015	Normal	Black	Greg Hildebrandt

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Firemaw Kavu has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Restricted
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal