Slimy Kavu

Slimy Kavu was released in the 2000 Invasion expansion for the Magic: The Gathering trading card game. Created by Wizards of the Coast, the Invasion set marked the beginning of the Invasion block and focused heavily on the conflict between the plane of Dominaria and the invading Phyrexians. The set was designed to introduce a multi-colored theme, encouraging players to experiment with diverse mana bases, and the Kavu creature type was established here as a distinct, evolving race of beasts native to Dominaria that had recently emerged from hiding.

The card illustration was provided by artist Greg Staples, whose work often features dark, visceral textures suitable for the game's creature-focused cards. Staples was tasked with depicting the Kavu's aggressive, amphibious nature, resulting in a design that emphasized the creature's slimy, rugged aesthetic to fit its mechanical role as a creature that could tap to provide color fixing. It was received by players as a functional utility card within the set's broader strategy of multi-color synergy, remaining a representative piece of the design philosophy that defined the Invasion era.