Kavu Howler MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 6 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Kavu |
| Released | 2001-06-04 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Apocalypse |
| Set code | APC |
| Power | 4 |
| Toughness | 5 |
| Number | 79 |
| Frame | 1997 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Wayne England |
Text of card
When Kavu Howler comes into play, reveal the top four cards of your library. Put all Kavu cards revealed this way into your hand and the rest on the bottom of your library.
Cards like Kavu Howler
The Kavu Howler packs a punch in the realm of creature-based decks in Magic: The Gathering. It’s akin to beasts like Stampeding Wildebeests and Wirewood Savage in that it showcases the potential for turning creatures into card advantage. The Kavu Howler, on entering the battlefield, allows you to reveal the top four cards of your library, and put all creature cards revealed this way into your hand. This can lead to a significant draw event, especially in creature-dense decks.
Addressing the same desire for card utility and deck efficiency, Garruk’s Horde comes to mind. The Horde permits you to play the top card of your library if it’s a creature card, providing a different but beneficial type of card advantage. Another comparable card is Soul of the Harvest, which grants you a card draw each time another nontoken creature enters the battlefield under your control. It trades the immediate multiple card potential of Kavu Howler for a steadier advantage over time.
Evaluating these options, Kavu Howler stands out for those explosive turns where filling your hand with creatures can quickly turn the tides. Its unique blend of creature recovery and card draw mechanics makes it a valuable asset in green decks emphasizing creature play.
Cards similar to Kavu Howler by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Kavu Howler provides a nuanced approach to card advantage by allowing you to potentially reveal numerous creature cards upon entering the battlefield, thus replenishing your hand and setting you up for future turns.
Resource Acceleration: While the Kavu Howler doesn’t directly produce mana, its ability to quickly populate your hand with creatures can expedite your board presence, indirectly accelerating your resource deployment and pressuring opponents.
Instant Speed: Although the Kavu Howler itself does not operate at instant speed, its ability can have synergy with instant-speed spells that manipulate the top of your library, ensuring the Howler’s entry to the battlefield is as impactful as possible.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Kavu Howler demands that you reveal your hand, potentially forcing you to discard valuable cards. This element of unpredictability can hinder your game plan, leaving you at a disadvantage if you’re not holding an optimal set of cards.
Specific Mana Cost: With a mana cost that necessitates both green and red mana, Kavu Howler’s place in a deck is limited to those colors. Players running multi-color decks or those not focused on a Gruul (red-green) strategy may find it challenging to accommodate this card.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Costing a total of five mana to cast, including both specific and generic mana, Kavu Howler comes with a hefty price tag. Considering the impact it brings to the battlefield, there are alternative creatures that could provide a greater threat or utility for the same, if not lower, mana investment.
Reasons to Include Kavu Howler in Your Collection
Versatility: Kavu Howler adapts to various playstyles, slotting into creature-based decks that capitalize on creature count and power. Its ability to provide card advantage through its reveal mechanic makes it a handy pick for diverse strategies.
Combo Potential: The card synergizes well with decks that manipulate the top of the library, potentially drawing out numerous creatures at once. It’s a pivotal piece in combos that aim to flood the board and benefit from creature-heavy hands.
Meta-Relevance: In a game state favoring ramp and large creatures, Kavu Howler stands out. Its ability to swing games with a significant creature presence makes it a worthwhile addition when facing slow-paced or control-oriented opponents.
How to beat
Kavu Howler can be a considerable threat on the battlefield in MTG due to its ability to potentially turn over powerful creatures upon entering the battlefield. It’s reminiscent of the cascade mechanic where a sequence of beneficial events may follow the casting of one spell. To counter Kavu Howler, efficient removal spells or counterspells prove to be effective. Instant speed removal like Path to Exile or Fatal Push can eliminate the Kavu Howler before its ability triggers, limiting the chance of putting multiple creatures onto the battlefield.
Alternatively, considering control strategies, you can prevent the Kavu Howler from even hitting the board by using counterspells such as Counterspell or Mana Leak at the precise moment it’s cast. With this preemptive measure, you negate not just the creature itself but also the potential cascade of creatures that follow. Board wipes like Wrath of God or Damnation can be instrumental strategies as well, removing the Kavu Howler along with any creatures it may have brought with it.
In essence, whether it’s through precisely timed removal or sweeping the board clean, disrupting the sequence of events that accompany Kavu Howler is key to overcoming its battlefield impact in MTG.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Kavu Howler MTG card by a specific set like Apocalypse, 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 Howler 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
See MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Kavu Howler has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |