Kabuto Moth MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Spirit |
| Abilities | Flying |
| Released | 2004-10-01 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Champions of Kamigawa |
| Set code | CHK |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 2 |
| Number | 20 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Tomas Giorello |
Text of card
Flying : Target creature gets +1/+2 until end of turn.
"Many great warriors died in the first days of the war, as the spirits of their weaponry turned against them with terrifying rage." —*Observations of the Kami War*
Cards like Kabuto Moth
Kabuto Moth stands out in Magic: The Gathering as a creature that offers tactical flexibility in combat. Much like its kin Lantern Kami, which can change the outcome of battles by giving a creature flying, Kabuto Moth can similarly shift the scales with its ability to boost a creature’s toughness. Yet, where Lantern Kami leans towards improving evasion, Kabuto Moth excels at bolstering defense through its +1/+2 ability.
Contrasting closer entities, Veteran Armorer enhances the battlefield presence by passively increasing the toughness of other creatures, applying constant pressure on the opponent. Whereas Kabuto Moth requires a more strategic usage, calling for untapped mana and being on the battlefield ready for activation. Then there’s Topan Freeblade, which shares the vigilance trait and offers a more aggressive approach with its renown ability, providing a permanent power/toughness boost after dealing combat damage to a player.
In the realm of creature augmentation, Kabuto Moth offers a unique blend of defensive maneuvering, allowing players to react and adapt during the combat phase, giving it a distinctive place among its counterparts within Magic: The Gathering’s vast array of creature cards.
Cards similar to Kabuto Moth by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Kabuto Moth provides tactical versatility on the battlefield, letting you bolster your creatures’ defenses, potentially deterring opponents from attacking or ensuring your creature’s survival during combat, thereby maintaining your presence on the board.
Resource Acceleration: While Kabuto Moth itself doesn’t directly accelerate resources, its ability to tap and give a creature +1/+2 until end of turn can turn any creature into a more formidable blocker. This indirectly protects your resources by keeping more of your creatures alive and your life total secure.
Instant Speed: The Moth’s ability functions at instant speed, offering the element of surprise against an opponent. By leaving mana open, you can effectively bluff having other responses in hand, which can lead to advantageous misplays from the opposing side.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Venturing into the cons of Kabuto Moth, players should be aware that it doesn’t exactly come with a downside of discarding. However, its role in your deck might force you to opt for other cards, indirectly causing you to discard this moth if your hand is cluttered with other high priority creatures or spells.
Specific Mana Cost: Kabuto Moth requires a white mana to cast. This specific mana requirement means that it will primarily fit into white or two-color decks that can readily provide white mana, potentially reducing its versatility in a multicolored or colorless deck that might benefit from its tapping ability.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although not exceedingly expensive, the moth’s casting cost is set at three mana—two colorless and one white. For a creature that offers a defensive boost, there are other options within magic that could compete for a deck slot with lower mana costs or offering additional benefits beyond the +1/+2 toughness increase to a single creature.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Kabuto Moth brings a unique level of adaptability to your deck, offering defensive capabilities that can be pivotal in protecting valuable creatures during combat.
Combo Potential: By tapping to give a creature +1/+2 until end of turn, this card seamlessly slots into strategies that capitalize on creature abilities, toughness alterations for damage prevention, and synergy with cards that have tap abilities.
Meta-Relevance: In an environment where creature-based strategies are prevalent, Kabuto Moth can serve as an effective countermeasure, enhancing your board’s resilience and potentially disrupting your opponent’s combat calculations.
How to beat
Kabuto Moth is a utility creature card that has been fluttering around in MTG decks with its unique ability to boost defense. Its capacity to grant +1/+2 to a target creature until end of turn makes it an asset in combat situations, particularly when fending off aggressive strategies. This card’s defensive capabilities shine even brighter when used in conjunction with creatures that have high toughness, turning them into formidable blockers that can outlive and outlast opponents’ threats.
To successfully tackle the challenge posed by Kabuto Moth, consider using removal spells that can bypass its ability, directly targeting and eliminating it before it can influence combat outcomes. Board wipes or removals that don’t rely on damage, such as ‘Path to Exile’ or ‘Swords to Plowshares’, can negate the Moth’s defensive buff completely. Additionally, employing instant-speed interactions will allow you to adapt to your opponent’s moves and disrupt their strategy during their turn, maintaining the upper hand. In essence, focusing on preemptive or reactive control elements will significantly diminish the Kabuto Moth’s impact on the game.
As a creature that enhances its fellow creatures’ survival chances, Kabuto Moth deserves attention during deck construction. Be equipped with strategies to neutralize it or risk letting your opponent’s defensive fortifications become an insurmountable obstacle.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Kabuto Moth MTG card by a specific set like Champions of Kamigawa, 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 Kabuto Moth and other MTG cards:
BUY NOW BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
- 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 Kabuto Moth has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |