Flametongue Kavu MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 25 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Kavu
Power 4
Toughness 2

Key Takeaways

  1. It promises immediate creature removal upon entry, disrupting the opponent’s board effectively.
  2. Resource sparing traits enable a more robust board development for the player.
  3. Despite mana costs, its ability to fit into various strategies makes it versatile.

Text of card

When Flametongue Kavu comes into play, it deals 4 damage to target creature.

"For dim-witted, thick-skulled genetic mutants, they have pretty good aim." —Sisay


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Flametongue Kavu provides immediate impact upon entering the battlefield by allowing you to remove a creature. This potentially disrupts your opponent’s board presence, giving you a numeric advantage in terms of creatures and maintaining pressure on your adversary.

Resource Acceleration: While Flametongue Kavu doesn’t directly accelerate resources in the traditional sense of mana generation, it effectively saves resources you might otherwise spend on removal spells. This indirect resource conservation can accelerate your game plan by allowing more mana to be allocated to developing your board further.

Instant Speed: Although Flametongue Kavu itself does not operate at instant speed, its enter-the-battlefield ability has a similar effect by providing an immediate answer to threats. This allows for strategic timing during your main phases to best disrupt the opponent’s strategy, mimicking the flexibility often associated with instant speed interactions.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Flametongue Kavu doesn’t ask you to discard cards directly, the compulsion to play additional creatures to maximize its enter-the-battlefield ability can deplete your hand, echoing a discard effect when you’re forced to play our creatures preemptively.

Specific Mana Cost: The casting cost is locked into red mana, allocated as 2RR. This requirement may not sync with decks of varied colors, making this card optimal primarily within mono-red or dual-colored decks that can consistently produce the necessary red mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of four mana, Flametongue Kavu’s effectiveness is debated especially when compared to lower-cost removal options. In fast-paced games, the mana investment could hinder your capacity to respond to an evolving board state.


Reasons to Include Flametongue Kavu in Your Collection

Versatility: Flametongue Kavu has a broad appeal due to its ability to slot into multiple deck archetypes. As a creature that doubles as removal upon entry, it can shift the board state in your favor regardless of the format.

Combo Potential: With its enter the battlefield effect that deals 4 damage to a target creature, Flametongue Kavu effortlessly synergizes with strategies that manipulate or reuse creature abilities. This enables it to become a recurring threat in the right setup.

Meta-Relevance: Considering how creature-centric most meta games tend to be, Flametongue Kavu holds its value as it can remove key threats upon entering the battlefield. Its presence can disrupt opponent strategies and help you maintain board control.


How to Beat Flametongue Kavu

Flametongue Kavu has been a known powerhouse in the world of Magic: The Gathering for its ability to offer both a solid creature and an immediate impact on the board state. As a 4/2 creature that can take out most midrange creatures with its enter-the-battlefield effect dealing 4 damage to a target creature, it can be a hurdle to overcome. To strategically counteract Flametongue Kavu, it’s essential to minimize its impact.

One effective tactic is to limit the number of viable targets for its ability. This can be achieved through the use of hexproof or indestructible creatures that withstand the initial damage. Utilizing instant-speed removal spells or effects that can either bounce Flametongue Kavu back to its owner’s hand or sacrifice it before the ability resolves also erodes its value. Lastly, playing around the Kavu requires careful mana-management and keeping up the right spells to react to its cast.

Each game with a Flametongue Kavu on the other side of the table is a lesson in resource management and strategic planning, showcasing the depths of gameplay and decision-making available to players of Magic: The Gathering.


Cards like Flametongue Kavu

Flametongue Kavu is a stand-out creature in Magic: The Gathering that has made a name for itself by offering immediate impact upon entering the battlefield. Comparable to its fiery entrance is the Ravenous Chupacabra, which also delivers a creature removal ability without any additional cost. However, the key difference lies in the Kavu’s higher power which not only helps in board control but also provides a more threatening presence.

Another similar card worth noting is the Shriekmaw. It brings to the table a creature destruction effect coupled with evasion in the form of flying. However, its evocation ability is a double-edged sword, presenting a temporary solution unlike the permanent stay of Flametongue Kavu. Additionally, the Inferno Titan can be considered a scaled-up variant, capable of distributing multiple points of damage upon entry and during each attack, but with a higher mana investment.

Putting it all together, Flametongue Kavu holds a solid place among creature removal cards. Its blend of a respectable body with a powerful enter-the-battlefield effect provides players with a dual advantage which is a scarce find, making it a valued inclusion in many MTG decks.

Ravenous Chupacabra - MTG Card versions
Shriekmaw - MTG Card versions
Inferno Titan - MTG Card versions
Ravenous Chupacabra - Rivals of Ixalan (RIX)
Shriekmaw - Lorwyn (LRW)
Inferno Titan - Magic 2011 (M11)

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

Keldon Warlord - MTG Card versions
Crimson Manticore - MTG Card versions
Márton Stromgald - MTG Card versions
Reckless Embermage - MTG Card versions
Wildfire Emissary - MTG Card versions
Flowstone Giant - MTG Card versions
Rathi Dragon - MTG Card versions
Mogg Bombers - MTG Card versions
Warmonger - MTG Card versions
Bloodfire Kavu - MTG Card versions
Whipkeeper - MTG Card versions
Anger - MTG Card versions
Nalathni Dragon - MTG Card versions
Everquill Phoenix - MTG Card versions
Lesser Gargadon - MTG Card versions
Krark-Clan Engineers - MTG Card versions
Shimatsu the Bloodcloaked - MTG Card versions
Ogre Taskmaster - MTG Card versions
Ogre Gatecrasher - MTG Card versions
Reckless One - MTG Card versions
Keldon Warlord - Unlimited Edition (2ED)
Crimson Manticore - Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border (4BB)
Márton Stromgald - Ice Age (ICE)
Reckless Embermage - Mirage (MIR)
Wildfire Emissary - Mirage (MIR)
Flowstone Giant - Tempest (TMP)
Rathi Dragon - Tempest (TMP)
Mogg Bombers - Stronghold (STH)
Warmonger - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Bloodfire Kavu - Apocalypse (APC)
Whipkeeper - Odyssey (ODY)
Anger - Judgment (JUD)
Nalathni Dragon - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Everquill Phoenix - Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths (IKO)
Lesser Gargadon - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Krark-Clan Engineers - Fifth Dawn (5DN)
Shimatsu the Bloodcloaked - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)
Ogre Taskmaster - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Ogre Gatecrasher - Dissension (DIS)
Reckless One - Duel Decks: Elves vs. Goblins (DD1)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Flametongue Kavu MTG card by a specific set like Planeshift and World Championship Decks 2001, 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 Flametongue Kavu and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Flametongue Kavu Magic the Gathering card was released in 19 different sets between 2001-02-05 and 2023-01-13. Illustrated by 3 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12001-02-05PlaneshiftPLS 601997normalblackPete Venters
22001-08-08World Championship Decks 2001WC01 tvdl60sb1997normalgoldPete Venters
32001-08-08World Championship Decks 2001WC01 jt601997normalgoldPete Venters
42001-08-08World Championship Decks 2001WC01 tvdl601997normalgoldPete Venters
52002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 314592003normalblackPete Venters
62002-08-14World Championship Decks 2002WC02 shh601997normalgoldPete Venters
72002-08-14World Championship Decks 2002WC02 bk601997normalgoldPete Venters
82002-08-14World Championship Decks 2002WC02 shh60sb1997normalgoldPete Venters
92008-11-07Duel Decks: Jace vs. ChandraDD2 422003normalblackPete Venters
102009-09-04PlanechaseHOP 542003normalblackPete Venters
112010-11-08Magic Online Theme DecksTD0 A571997normalblackPete Venters
122011-06-17Commander 2011CMD 1232003normalblackSlawomir Maniak
132014-06-16Vintage MastersVMA 1602015normalblackSlawomir Maniak
142014-11-07Commander 2014C14 1762015normalblackSlawomir Maniak
152014-12-05Duel Decks Anthology: Jace vs. ChandraJVC 422015normalblackPete Venters
162015-11-18Legendary Cube Prize PackPZ1 612015normalblackSlawomir Maniak
172017-06-16Archenemy: Nicol BolasE01 482015normalblackSlawomir Maniak
182018-06-08Commander Anthology Volume IICM2 992015normalblackSlawomir Maniak
192019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 9322015normalblackSlawomir Maniak
202020-07-17JumpstartJMP 3192015normalblackSlawomir Maniak
212020-09-26The ListPLST E01-482015normalblackSlawomir Maniak
222022-10-14Game Night: Free-for-AllGN3 782015normalblackSlawomir Maniak
232023-01-13Dominaria RemasteredDMR 1202015normalblackSlawomir Maniak
242023-01-13Dominaria RemasteredDMR 4322015normalborderlessRon Spencer
252023-01-13Dominaria RemasteredDMR 3201997normalblackSlawomir Maniak

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Flametongue Kavu has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Flametongue Kavu card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

DateText
2022-12-08 Flametongue Kavu’s ability can target itself. If it’s the only creature on the battlefield as its ability triggers, its ability must target itself.

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