Kavu Scout MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Kavu Scout |
| Abilities | Domain |
| Released | 2000-10-02 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Invasion |
| Set code | INV |
| Power | 0 |
| Toughness | 2 |
| Number | 151 |
| Frame | 1997 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | DiTerlizzi |
Text of card
Kavu Scout gets +1/+0 for each basic land type among lands you control.
The kavu evolved for centuries deep inside Dominaria, and some can draw from its strength.
Cards like Kavu Scout
Kavu Scout stands out in the realm of Magic: The Gathering creature cards due to its unique characteristics. When examining creatures of a similar scope, Skyshroud Sentinel is one that comes to mind. Both cards share the Kavu creature type and boast an ability to impact the game through deck manipulation. Skyshroud Sentinel allows for a basic form of deck searching, granting the ability to rearrange the upcoming cards, whereas Kavu Scout offers players the advantage of Trample, potentially inflicting excess damage to the opponent.
Comparatively, Llanowar Scout is another creature that boasts an ability to interact with the land resources in a player’s deck, albeit through a different mechanic. This elf scout permits a player to put an additional land card onto the battlefield, slightly echoing the Kavu Scout’s domain but within a different tactical space. Where Llanowar Scout helps in land acceleration, Kavu Scout uses the player’s current land to flexibly adjust its power.
Analyzing Kavu Scout along with its contemporaries demonstrates its unique space within MTG. Its blend of power, tactical depth, and Trample ability ensures its status as a compelling choice for MTG players looking to exploit land-heavy decks to their advantage.
Cards similar to Kavu Scout by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Kavu Scout interacts with your deck to potentially put more lands into play, which can thin your deck and increase the chances of drawing into non-land cards in subsequent turns, providing an indirect form of card advantage.
Resource Acceleration: This card can effectively ramp up your mana resources by bringing additional lands onto the battlefield at a pace beyond one per turn. This acceleration can be essential for outpacing opponents and casting high-cost spells earlier in the game.
Instant Speed: While Kavu Scout may not be an instant itself, its ability to potentially put lands into play at instant speed through other card interactions. This can allow for strategic plays and greater flexibility during critical phases of the game or in response to an opponent’s actions.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One downside to playing Kavu Scout is that it comes with a discard requirement. This means you’re trading in another resource from your hand, which isn’t always ideal, particularly if you’re running out of cards or if each card you possess is crucial to your strategy.
Specific Mana Cost: Kavu Scout has a very specific mana cost that makes it a little less flexible in terms of deck construction. The requirement of red mana in its casting cost may restrict its inclusion to red-focused or multi-colored decks, potentially excluding it from mono-colored decks that do not feature red mana.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Costing three mana may seem reasonably priced, but when considering the overall mana curve of your deck, Kavu Scout can feel costly. Its abilities, while useful, may not fully justify the mana investment when there are other creatures or spells at similar costs that can provide either more significant board presence or additional utility.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Kavu Scout, with its ability to adapt to various land types, can be a flexible addition to any collection, ready to slot into multicolored decks or those relying on land synergies.
Combo Potential: Not only does Kavu Scout offer solid stats for its cost, but its potential interactions with landfall mechanics and deck acceleration strategies also make it a prime candidate for combo-centered decks.
Meta-Relevance: In a game where board presence and land utilisation are key, Kavu Scout has the prowess to stand its ground. Its relevance in the MTG metagame ensures that it can serve as a reliable creature choice in multiple formats.
How to beat
The Kavu Scout presents a strategic challenge in MTG, much like the chess-like maneuvering that the game is renowned for. In essence, Kavu Scout requires keen attention due to its Domain ability, which has the potential to turn it into a formidable creature as the number of basic land types among lands you control increases.
To counteract Kavu Scout, remove it swiftly before your opponent can leverage its growing power. Instant-speed removal spells, such as Path to Exile or Fatal Push, can efficiently deal with the Kavu Scout before it becomes a threat. Additionally, strategies incorporating board wipes, like Wrath of God or Damnation, can reset the playing field, thus neutralizing the advantage Kavu Scout might hold. One must stay vigilant and proactive in controlling the Scout’s potential before it dominates the battlefield.
Remember also that reducing your opponent’s ability to diversify their land types can inherently limit the Scout’s power. Land destruction or manipulation tactics can be a double-edged sword but used adeptly, it can stifle the Scout’s domain potential and keep it in check within MTG games.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Kavu Scout 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 Scout 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 Scout has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Kavu Scout card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2009-02-01 | A number of nonbasic lands have basic land types. Domain abilities don’t count the number of lands you control — they count the number of basic land types among lands you control, even if that means checking the same land twice. For example, if you control a Tundra, an Overgrown Tomb, and a Madblind Mountain, you’ll have a Plains, Island, Swamp, Mountain, and Forest among the lands you control. Your domain abilities will be maxed out. |
| 2009-02-01 | How many lands you control of a particular basic land type is irrelevant to a domain ability, as long as that number is greater than zero. As far as domain is concerned, ten Forests is the same as one Forest. |
| 2009-02-01 | To determine the number of basic land types among lands you control, look at the lands you have on the battlefield and ask yourself whether the subtypes Plains, Island, Swamp, Mountain, and Forest appear within that group. The number of times you say yes (topping out at five) tells you how powerful your domain abilities will be. |