Stone Kavu MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	5
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Kavu
Released	2001-02-05
Set symbol
Set name	Planeshift
Set code	PLS
Power	3
Toughness	3
Number	93
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Adam Rex

Key Takeaways

Stone Kavu impacts the game’s dynamic, growing in threat as lands diversify.
It offers strategic defense, while synergizing with instant-speed spells.
Mana specificity and higher costs may limit its deck integration.

Text of card

o R: Stone Kavu gets +1/+0 until end of turn. o W: Stone Kavu gets +0/+1 until end of turn.

To maintain its hide, it consumes a variety of rocks—not to mention a variety of Phyrexians.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Stone Kavu holds the capacity to significantly impact the board by presenting a scaling threat that can become larger as the game progresses. This ability allows for an advantageous adjustment in regards to the size and threat level of the card, keeping your opponents consistently on their toes.

Resource Acceleration: Although this creature doesn’t directly offer resources in the form of mana or tokens, its presence can be a deterrent, protecting your other resources. This means you can maintain your lands and creatures while the Stone Kavu acts as a shield and a countermeasure to potential threats from your opponent.

Instant Speed: While the Stone Kavu itself doesn’t have flash, its potential to be synergistic with instant-speed spells cannot be overlooked. Its variable power and toughness mean that any combat tricks or instant-speed interactions can become exponentially more powerful, offering you a way to outmaneuver your opponents during the heat of battle.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Stone Kavu necessitates a notable commitment, often demanding a card to be discarded or a specific action to be taken which might not always align with your game strategy, leading to potential disadvantageous situations.

Specific Mana Cost: The card’s requirement for a distinct combination of mana can restrict its integration into a variety of decks, especially those that operate on a more flexible or diverse mana base, potentially reducing its versatility in gameplay.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its higher than average mana expense, Stone Kavu enters the battlefield with a significant cost which may affect tempo, especially when there are alternative creatures that offer similar abilities or stats for less, allowing for quicker plays and better resource allocation throughout the game.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Stone Kavu is a robust addition to decks that thrive on adaptability. Its power and toughness scale with the number of basic land types among lands you control, making it a threat that grows as your mana base diversifies.

Combo Potential: This creature’s dynamic stat line opens up synergy with land-based strategies or cards that alter land types, allowing it to evolve into a massive force on the battlefield.

Meta-Relevance: In game formats where diverse land types are prevalent, Stone Kavu can become increasingly relevant. Its scaling nature allows it to match and potentially surpass the threats commonly seen in evolving metas.

How to beat

Stone Kavu presents a unique challenge in the realm of MTG gameplay. As a multi-faceted creature, it has the potential to quickly become a dominant force on the battlefield if not addressed promptly. Its power and toughness are tied to the number of red or green lands you control, which can scale dramatically in land-centric decks. To counter this, it’s crucial to manage your opponent’s land count or employ removal spells that are not reliant on the power or toughness of the creature.

Cards like Path to Exile or Swords to Plowshares can bypass the variable power and toughness issue by exiling Stone Kavu outright. Similarly, utilizing counterspells such as Counterspell or Mana Leak prevents Stone Kavu from ever hitting the field. In multi-color decks, board wipes like Wrath of God or Damnation can clear the board regardless of the size of the creatures present.

The key to overcoming Stone Kavu lies in swift and decisive action. By limiting your opponent’s land advantage or by employing direct and versatile removal strategies, Stone Kavu becomes far less threatening, allowing you to maintain control of the game’s pace and ultimate outcome.

Cards like Stone Kavu

Stone Kavu presents an intriguing option within the creature lineup of Magic: The Gathering. It draws comparison to creatures such as Pygmy Kavu, with both cards benefiting from a variety of situations. However, Stone Kavu stands apart with its adaptability to mana types, potentially earning a spot in multicolored decks due to its power and toughness directly reflecting the colors of mana used to cast it. Pygmy Kavu lacks this versatility as its ability is fixed and it has less impact on the board.

Looking at Tribal Flames, we notice another card influenced by the number of basic land types among lands you control. While Tribal Flames deals damage, Stone Kavu becomes a looming presence on the battlefield. Brass Herald also enters the discussion. As an artifact creature that improves others of its kind, it can complement a Kavu-focused strategy, though Stone Kavu’s standalone attributes are substantial irrespective of the presence of other Kavu creatures.

Altogether, when evaluating versatility and board presence, Stone Kavu holds its own in Magic: The Gathering. Its ability to scale with mana diversity makes it a noteworthy contender among creatures that thrive on varied mana bases and strong, adaptive characteristics.

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

Uril, the Miststalker - MTG Card versions

Samut, Voice of Dissent - MTG Card versions

Rienne, Angel of Rebirth - MTG Card versions

Ghired, Conclave Exile - MTG Card versions

Rith, Liberated Primeval - MTG Card versions

Pantlaza, Sun-Favored - MTG Card versions

Duskana, the Rage Mother - MTG Card versions

Voja, Jaws of the Conclave - MTG Card versions

Preston Garvey, Minuteman - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

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