Serpentine Kavu MTG Card


Its card draw ability can lead to significant card advantage, making it a resourceful play. Discarding a card upon casting may impede momentum, crucially affecting your game plan. Flexibility and combo potential make Serpentine Kavu a valuable addition to various decks.
Serpentine Kavu - Invasion
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Kavu
Released2000-10-02
Set symbol
Set nameInvasion
Set codeINV
Power 4
Toughness 4
Number211
Frame1997
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byHeather Hudson

Text of card

oo R Serpentine Kavu gains haste until end of turn. (It may attack and oc T the turn it comes under your control.)

Under Yavimaya's peaceful facade beat the hearts of many savage beasts.


Cards like Serpentine Kavu

Serpentine Kavu fits snugly into the pantheon of mana-efficient creatures within Magic: The Gathering. Its allure comes from its sheer power and versatility as a 4/4 creature for four mana. In the realm of similar impactful creatures, the likes of Blastoderm come to mind, offering a sturdy 5/5 body for the same mana cost but with the perk of being untargetable. However, Serpentine Kavu has the added benefit of potentially boosting your mana pool or drawing a card depending on the colors of mana used to cast it.

Looking at creatures with conditional benefits, Llanowar Visionary also rings a bell. While being less potent with a 2/2 body, it guarantees a card draw plus the upside of tapping for mana, enhancing your game’s momentum. Additionally, the Thornscape Battlemage presents a comparable choice, with its kicker abilities offering direct damage or artifact destruction, though it lacks the raw power Serpentine Kavu brings to the battlefield.

Overall, while there are creatures that echo Serpentine Kavu’s flexibility or efficiency, its unique fusion of conditional advantages with a substantial body makes it a formidable player among MTG creature cards.

Blastoderm - MTG Card versions
Llanowar Visionary - MTG Card versions
Thornscape Battlemage - MTG Card versions
Blastoderm - MTG Card versions
Llanowar Visionary - MTG Card versions
Thornscape Battlemage - MTG Card versions

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

Sunastian Falconer - MTG Card versions
Sawback Manticore - MTG Card versions
Segmented Wurm - MTG Card versions
Shivan Wurm - MTG Card versions
Harbinger of the Hunt - MTG Card versions
Quartzwood Crasher - MTG Card versions
Streetbreaker Wurm - MTG Card versions
Steam Spitter - MTG Card versions
Stonebrow, Krosan Hero - MTG Card versions
Scuzzback Marauders - MTG Card versions
Deus of Calamity - MTG Card versions
Blitz Hellion - MTG Card versions
Gorger Wurm - MTG Card versions
Deadshot Minotaur - MTG Card versions
Thromok the Insatiable - MTG Card versions
Zhur-Taa Swine - MTG Card versions
Zhur-Taa Ancient - MTG Card versions
Ulrich of the Krallenhorde // Ulrich, Uncontested Alpha - MTG Card versions
Raging Swordtooth - MTG Card versions
Regisaur Alpha - MTG Card versions
Sunastian Falconer - MTG Card versions
Sawback Manticore - MTG Card versions
Segmented Wurm - MTG Card versions
Shivan Wurm - MTG Card versions
Harbinger of the Hunt - MTG Card versions
Quartzwood Crasher - MTG Card versions
Streetbreaker Wurm - MTG Card versions
Steam Spitter - MTG Card versions
Stonebrow, Krosan Hero - MTG Card versions
Scuzzback Marauders - MTG Card versions
Deus of Calamity - MTG Card versions
Blitz Hellion - MTG Card versions
Gorger Wurm - MTG Card versions
Deadshot Minotaur - MTG Card versions
Thromok the Insatiable - MTG Card versions
Zhur-Taa Swine - MTG Card versions
Zhur-Taa Ancient - MTG Card versions
Ulrich of the Krallenhorde // Ulrich, Uncontested Alpha - MTG Card versions
Raging Swordtooth - MTG Card versions
Regisaur Alpha - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: When Serpentine Kavu hits the battlefield, its power to draw cards proportional to the highest power among creatures you control can significantly bolster your hand, putting you ahead in resources.

Resource Acceleration: This creature’s potential to act as a sizeable mana source is invaluable, especially in decks that capitalize on creature-based strategies to outpace the competition.

Instant Speed: Though Serpentine Kavu itself may not operate at instant speed, its attribute of adding mana can tap into your pool of instant-speed spells, ensuring that your resources are maximized at crucial game moments.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: When you play Serpentine Kavu, you may be faced with a tough decision due to its requirement to discard another card. This effect can deplete your hand, especially if you’re already behind in card advantage.

Specific Mana Cost: With a mandated mix of green and red mana to cast, Serpentine Kavu demands a commitment to both colors. This can restrict deck-building options and make the card difficult to play in a timely manner if you don’t have the necessary mana available.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: At four mana, some players might find the cost of Serpentine Kavu steep, considering there are other creatures or spells at this mana range with potentially greater impact on the game. This can lead to it being overlooked in favor of cards with lower mana costs or more substantial effects.


Reasons to Include Serpentine Kavu in Your Collection

Versatility: Serpentine Kavu is not limited to a single type of deck. Its ability to scale with both red and green mana sources makes it a flexible addition for many colors and stratagems in the game.

Combo Potential: This creature’s power and toughness can grow exponentially in the right setup, offering strong synergies with cards that benefit from high-strength creatures or involve counter-related mechanics.

Meta-Relevance: Given the fluctuating meta, Serpentine Kavu can serve as a formidable contender against various popular deck archetypes, especially in environments where larger creatures dominate the battlefield.


How to beat

Serpentine Kavu is a dynamic creature that can be a substantial threat on the battlefield in MTG. With its power and toughness directly tied to the number of lands you control, it has the potential to swell to overwhelming sizes as the game progresses. To navigate this formidable adversary, focus on land disruption strategies. Utilizing cards like Ghost Quarter to dismantle your opponent’s land count can be particularly effective in minimizing the Serpentine Kavu’s impact.

Removal spells are also a wise choice against this creature. A well-timed Path to Exile or Doom Blade can eliminate it before it becomes unmanageable. Additionally, countering it upon casting with spells like Counterspell or Mana Leak ensures that it never even touches the board. Remember, once Serpentine Kavu hits the table, it’s all about swift action; letting it linger could spell defeat as it only grows stronger with each land drop. Therefore, quick removal or land control are your safest bets in claiming victory over this powerful Kavu.


Where to buy

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

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Serpentine Kavu has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal