Hooded Kavu MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Kavu
Released	2000-10-02
Set symbol
Set name	Invasion
Set code	INV
Power	2
Toughness	2
Number	147
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	John Howe

Key Takeaways

Generates card advantage by allowing casting of creatures from the library top.
Flash ability enables surprising plays and efficient response strategies.
Demands precise mana, potentially complicating its integration into decks.

Text of card

oo B Hooded Kavu can't be blocked this turn except by artifact creatures and/or black creatures.

The spread of its hood eclipses all hope.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Hooded Kavu potentially generates card advantage by allowing you to peruse the top card of your library at any time and cast it if it’s a creature spell, thus potentially drawing you into more valuable resources in your deck.

Resource Acceleration: This creature can be a boon for ramping your mana. As a creature that can be played early in the game, it sets the pace, allowing you to cast more influential creatures or spells sooner and can act as a catalyst for more potent plays.

Instant Speed: Hooded Kavu’s flash ability lets you bring it onto the battlefield at instant speed, keeping your mana open for other strategies and providing the element of surprise. This flexibility allows you to respond to your opponent’s moves more efficiently or end-step deploy threats to maintain momentum.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Hooded Kavu requires players to discard a card upon casting, which could potentially deplete your hand when you need options the most, especially in a tight match where every card counts.

Specific Mana Cost: This card demands a precise combination of mana types to play, making it a tricky fit in multicolored decks that may not consistently produce the necessary red and green mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that is on the higher side for its ability set, players might find that the Hooded Kavu doesn’t quite measure up to other creatures or spells available at the same threshold, potentially affecting its viability in competitive play.

Reasons to Include Hooded Kavu in Your Collection

Versatility: Hooded Kavu is a flexible addition to any collection due to its adaptability across numerous deck archetypes. Its stats and abilities make it a solid play in both aggressive beatdown and midrange decks.

Combo Potential: This card offers unique interactions with mechanics like proliferate or blink, allowing players to exploit its counter-related abilities. It’s these synergies that can turn a simply good card into a game-changer, fitting seamlessly into strategies poised to take advantage of its features.

Meta-Relevance: During a meta dominated by creature-based strategies, Hooded Kavu stands out as a tool capable of swinging games. Its capacity to impact the board with its presence is what makes it a contender in varied formats, adapting to the shifting sands of competitive play.

How to beat

Hooded Kavu presents a thrilling challenge on the battlefield. This creature card makes a noteworthy impact with its combination of prowess and versatile abilities, quickly becoming a formidable force for any MTG player to manage. When planning your strategy against this particular Kavu, consider leveraging cards with direct removal abilities to efficiently handle it before its momentum builds. Spot removal spells that can bypass its potential hexproof capability are particularly effective.

Cards that can counter creature spells will also prove invaluable, allowing you to prevent the Hooded Kavu from seeing play altogether. In addition, since it relies on combat tricks to maximize its prowess ability, deploy creatures with high toughness to deter attacks or use removal spells before your opponent can buff their Kavu. Remember, maintaining board control often hinges on anticipating and neutralizing threats swiftly, and the Hooded Kavu is no exception to this rule.

Effective counterplay requires balancing proactive board development with reactive measures to potential threats. By employing the right mix of removal, countering abilities, and strategic creature deployment, you can ensure that the challenge posed by Hooded Kavu is met with a calculated and winning response.

Cards like Hooded Kavu

Within the vast collection of creature cards in Magic: The Gathering, Hooded Kavu distinguishes itself as a versatile player on the battlefield. When evaluating Hooded Kavu, one could draw a parallel with cards such as Ghor-Clan Rampager. Both offer the potential for immediate impact, with Ghor-Clan Rampager providing a sizable power boost and trample through its Bloodrush ability. Nonetheless, Hooded Kavu remains unique with its vigilance trait, allowing it to attack without tapping, an advantage for maintaining defense.

Contrasting Hooded Kavu with Stormfist Crusader reveals another perspective. Stormfist Crusader offers card advantage by drawing an additional card each turn, but also presents a downside by dealing damage to each player. Hooded Kavu, however, strikes a balance with a solid stat line and vigilance without the drawback of self-inflicted damage. Another creature to consider is Ripjaw Raptor, which shares the dino lineage and brings card draw through its enrage mechanic. While Ripjaw Raptor hinges on taking damage to draw cards, Hooded Kavu offers constant vigilance and robust stats, demonstrating the diversity among these similar yet distinct creatures.

Analyzing Hooded Kavu and the mentioned creatures together, one appreciates the particular niches they fill. Hooded Kavu carves out a spot for players seeking a dependable and aggressive creature that doubles as a vigilant defender.

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

Vial Smasher the Fierce - MTG Card versions

Lyzolda, the Blood Witch - MTG Card versions

Xantcha, Sleeper Agent - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Hooded Kavu MTG card by a specific set like Invasion, 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 Hooded Kavu and other MTG cards: