Kavu Monarch MTG Card


Kavu Monarch - Invasion
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Kavu
Released2000-10-02
Set symbol
Set nameInvasion
Set codeINV
Power 3
Toughness 3
Number149
Frame1997
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byTerese Nielsen

Key Takeaways

  1. Kavu Monarch can provide recurring card advantage, potentially drawing a card every turn.
  2. This card can accelerate your resources, aiding in an earlier and mightier presence on the battlefield.
  3. Instant speed interactions are enhanced, offering strategic advantages during gameplay.

Text of card

All Kavu have trample. Whenever another Kavu comes into play, put a +1/+1 counter on Kavu Monarch.

Kavu emerged all across Dominaria, but the first and the strongest came from Yavimaya.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Kavu Monarch can offer significant card advantage by enabling you to potentially draw a card each turn. This kind of repeatable effect can outpace your opponents and help maintain a full grip of options as the game progresses.

Resource Acceleration: Through its creature type interactivity, particularly in a deck built to synergize with Kavu or other relevant types, this card can serve as a resource acceleration tool. This means more mana could be available earlier in the game, allowing for bigger plays or faster deployment of your game plan.

Instant Speed: The abilities tied to Kavu Monarch might have synergy with instant speed spells or effects within your deck. Being able to interact or respond to your adversary’s moves at instant speed while also benefiting from Kavu Monarch’s attributes can position you advantageously on the game board.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One downside of Kavu Monarch is the necessity to discard a card to unlock certain abilities. This can set players back, especially when playing with a tightly curated hand that relies on synergistic play.

Specific Mana Cost: This card comes with a restrictive mana cost that demands an exclusive color combination. This requirement can be a drawback for players not operating within those specific colors, potentially limiting the card’s inclusion to certain deck archetypes.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Kavu Monarch has a high mana value which might be a stretch for some mana curves. When you’re striving for efficiency, there are alternatives that might bring you similar benefits without as much of a resource commitment.


Reasons to Include Kavu Monarch in Your Collection

Versatility: Kavu Monarch is a flexible card that can adapt to various deck types. Whether you’re playing green stompy decks or multi-color interactive builds, the blend of solid creature stats and beneficial effects makes it a sound addition.

Combo Potential: With its ability to manipulate +1/+1 counters, Kavu Monarch synergizes well with mechanics that exploit these counters for various benefits, thus enabling diverse combo opportunities within the deck.

Meta-Relevance: Given the dynamic state of the current meta, a card like Kavu Monarch could hold significant value. Its ability to impact the board presence while offering strategic advantages makes it a contender in various competitive scenarios.


How to beat

Kavu Monarch is a colorful presence on the battlefield, catching the eye of many Magic: The Gathering players. Favored for its blend of creature strength and strategic board presence, this card challenges opponents to adapt their gameplay to overcome it. The key to mastering an encounter against Kavu Monarch lies in its creature-based mechanics and the player’s ability to manage creatures on the board effectively.

Key strategies involve utilizing removal spells that can bypass Kavu Monarch’s potentially considerable power and toughness. Efficient removal options let players eliminate Kavu Monarch without trading in resources at a disadvantage. Another approach is to control the tempo by using counter-spells when Kavu Monarch is cast, preventing it from exerting influence over the game state. Players should also consider the wider deck strategy that includes Kavu Monarch, as it often signals a creature-heavy deck that may be vulnerable to board wipes or strategies that reward players for having fewer creatures on the battlefield.

Ultimately, understanding the potential impact of Kavu Monarch on the game and countering it with thoughtful deck building and sharp play remains the best way to dominate this MTG card in competitive play.


Cards like Kavu Monarch

Kavu Monarch is an intriguing creature card in the world of Magic: The Gathering that finds its kinship among other Kavu creatures. It shares traits with cards like Kavu Titan, as both start relatively small but have the potential to grow bigger. However, Kavu Monarch comes with a noticeable twist; it becomes more powerful as you cast spells, reminiscent of prowess-like effects.

There’s also the Flametongue Kavu, another Kavu family member well-loved for its direct damage ability upon entering the battlefield—a feature the Monarch does not offer. The Monarch instead leans towards a slower build-up of power, which presents a strategic variance in gameplay between the two. Comparisons could also be drawn to the charging Slate Street Ruffian, which, like Kavu Monarch, requires thoughtful play to optimize its growing strength over time.

Undoubtedly, each card serves a unique role within MTG’s ecosystem, and the Kavu Monarch carves out its niche. Through its accumulating power with every spell played, it provides a unique route for players looking to steadily increase their threat on the board.

Kavu Titan - MTG Card versions
Flametongue Kavu - MTG Card versions
Slate Street Ruffian - MTG Card versions
Kavu Titan - MTG Card versions
Flametongue Kavu - MTG Card versions
Slate Street Ruffian - MTG Card versions

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

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Keldon Warlord - MTG Card versions
Crimson Manticore - MTG Card versions
Márton Stromgald - MTG Card versions
Reckless Embermage - MTG Card versions
Wildfire Emissary - MTG Card versions
Flowstone Giant - MTG Card versions
Rathi Dragon - MTG Card versions
Mogg Bombers - MTG Card versions
Warmonger - MTG Card versions
Bloodfire Kavu - MTG Card versions
Whipkeeper - MTG Card versions
Anger - MTG Card versions
Nalathni Dragon - MTG Card versions
Everquill Phoenix - MTG Card versions
Goblin Goon - MTG Card versions
Lesser Gargadon - MTG Card versions
Krark-Clan Engineers - MTG Card versions
Shimatsu the Bloodcloaked - MTG Card versions
Ogre Taskmaster - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Kavu Monarch 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 Kavu Monarch and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Kavu Monarch has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Kavu Monarch card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2004-10-04 Does give itself Trample, but does not give itself a +1/+1 counter.

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