Skittish Kavu MTG Card

Skittish Kavu reveals opponents’ hands for strategic plays, offering a potential card advantage on the battlefield. Its instant-speed ability and mana adaptability allow for efficient resource management and surprise tactics. However, its entry discard condition and specific mana costs could pose a challenge in some scenarios.

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Kavu
Released	2000-10-02
Set symbol
Set name	Invasion
Set code	INV
Power	1
Toughness	1
Number	168
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Pete Venters

Text of card

Skittish Kavu gets +1/+1 as long as no opponent controls a white or blue creature.

Fierce when roused, this breed of kavu is easily distracted by a strong voice or melodic tune.

Cards like Skittish Kavu

Skittish Kavu shows off its unique versatility among creatures in Magic: The Gathering. Seated in the sphere of flexible power creatures, it draws parallels to cards like Flametongue Kavu. Both share the Kavu creature type, and while the Flametongue deals damage upon entering the battlefield, Skittish Kavu’s power potential varies based on the number of card types among cards in all graveyards. This makes it quite unpredictable in power unlike the consistent impact of Flametongue.

Another Kavu kin, Horned Kavu, offers a different tactical edge, returning a red or green creature you control to your hand when it enters the battlefield. Although this doesn’t have a direct impact on power like Skittish Kavu does, it allows for strategic replays of creatures with beneficial enter the battlefield effects. Additionally, Frenzied Tilling could be considered a loose comparison to Skittish Kavu by MTG players valuing the utility elements that give them an edge. Frenzied Tilling destroys lands and allows for land retrieval, fulfilling a completely different role in a player’s game plan.

Choosing between these cards comes down to the deck’s strategic thrust and a player’s preference for either steady performance or variable power swings. In environments where graveyard interaction is key, Skittish Kavu can be a game-changer, adapting to become a formidable force on the board.

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

Goblin Elite Infantry - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Skittish Kavu offers a unique peek into your opponent’s hand, granting you valuable information that can lead to strategic decisions and potential card advantage on the board.

Resource Acceleration: This creature can swiftly adapt to your mana pool, allowing you to balance your resources efficiently and stay ahead in the curve.

Instant Speed: Its activated ability can be harnessed at instant speed, enabling dynamic responses to in-game events and keeping your opponents on their toes.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Skittish Kavu demands that the player discards a card when it enters the battlefield, which can be detrimental especially when the hand is already depleted or the discarded card is crucial for upcoming strategies.

Specific Mana Cost: The casting cost of Skittish Kavu includes red mana, which means it is inherently limited to decks that can produce or have easy access to red mana sources, thereby potentially excluding it from a variety of other deck archetypes.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana value that is not insignificant, Skittish Kavu can be seen as an investment that might not always align with the pace of the game, especially considering the breadth of options available to players looking for more immediate or impactful board presence.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Skittish Kavu finds a home in a variety of decks, particularly those that emphasize speed and creature synergy. Its flexibility in being either a menace on early game boards or a substantial late-game threat makes it a versatile pick.

Combo Potential: Thanks to its power fluctuating based on the number of cards in hand, Skittish Kavu can effectively pair with strategies designed to manipulate hand size for beneficial effects, enhancing both offensive and defensive game plans.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where players often swap between aggro and control, Skittish Kavu can adjust accordingly, making it a relevant choice for adapting to rapid shifts in the competitive landscape.

How to beat

Skittish Kavu, a notable presence on the battlefield, has unique qualities that challenge MTG players in direct confrontations. This creature’s strength lies in its evasion capability, essentially slipping through the fingers of tactics relying on targeted spells. Its intrinsic power to evade blue and black spells especially stresses the need for alternative strategies.

Effective strategies include utilizing creatures with first strike or deathtouch to negate Skittish Kavu’s combat potential, or employing red and green spells, which are not thwarted by its protections. Board wipes that don’t target, such as Wrath of God, provide a clean slate, altogether removing Skittish Kavu without having to target it individually. Furthermore, global enchantments or abilities that reduce the creature’s stats to zero are efficient, bypassing the need for specific color interactions.

In summary, triumphing over Skittish Kavu requires a mix of flexibility in deck construction and strategic gameplay. By incorporating non-targeting removal spells or creatures with potent combat abilities, MTG players can effectively neutralize the threat posed by Skittish Kavu without falling into the pitfalls of its color protection.

Where to buy

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

BUY NOW
BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Skittish Kavu has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Restricted
Oathbreaker	Legal
Premodern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal