Flametongue Kavu — ruling 1

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.

Flametongue Kavu : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

Flametongue Kavu is one of those cards players keep asking about. Here is, in plain words, what its official text says, the rulings published by Wizards of the Coast, and the combos players actually run.

Official card text

When this creature enters, it deals 4 damage to target creature.

How it works : Flametongue Kavu

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1December 8, 2022· Wizards of the Coast
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.
No other card is named in this ruling.

Popular combos

Real combos played by the community, sorted by popularity.

#1
Flametongue Kavu + Justice Strike + Scythe of the Wretched + Impact Tremors
Infinite damageInfinite death triggersInfinite creature ETBInfinite creature LTB
1Cast Justice Strike by paying , causing Flametongue Kavu to deal damage to itself equal to its power.
2Flametongue Kavu dies as a state-based action due to having zero or less toughness.
3Scythe of the Wretched triggers, returning Flametongue Kavu from your graveyard to the battlefield and attaching itself to Flametongue Kavu.
4Flametongue Kavu enters the battlefield, triggering itself and Impact Tremors.
5Resolve the Impact Tremors trigger, dealing 1 damage to each opponent.
6Resolve the Flametongue Kavu trigger, dealing 4 damage to itself.
7Repeat from step 2.

#1
Flametongue Kavu + Justice Strike + Scythe of the Wretched + Impact Tremors
Infinite damageInfinite death triggersInfinite creature ETBInfinite creature LTB
1Cast Justice Strike by paying , causing Flametongue Kavu to deal damage to itself equal to its power.
2Flametongue Kavu dies as a state-based action due to having zero or less toughness.
3Scythe of the Wretched triggers, returning Flametongue Kavu from your graveyard to the battlefield and attaching itself to Flametongue Kavu.
4Flametongue Kavu enters the battlefield, triggering itself and Impact Tremors.
5Resolve the Impact Tremors trigger, dealing 1 damage to each opponent.
6Resolve the Flametongue Kavu trigger, dealing 4 damage to itself.
7Repeat from step 2.

Interactions with other cards

These cards' text mentions Flametongue Kavu.

Mine Security

Trample When this creature enters, conjure a card named Flametongue Kavu into the top eight cards of your library at random. It perpetually gains "You may pay {0} rather than pay this spell's mana cost."