Hound of the Farbogs MTG Card
2016-04-08 - Number 117
2019-11-07 - Number 687
2020-09-26 - Number SOI-117
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Zombie Dog |
| Abilities | Delirium |
| Power | 5 |
| Toughness | 3 |
Text of card
Delirium — Hound of the Farbogs has menace as long as there are four or more card types among cards in your graveyard. (A creature with menace can't be blocked except by two or more creatures.)
As you hear it baying in the distance, you'll feel its breath on your neck.
Cards like Hound of the Farbogs
The Hound of the Farbogs card enriches the array of zombie hounds in Magic: The Gathering. It shares some traits with Rotted Hound, as both belong to the thematic canine breeds of the undead. However, Hound of the Farbogs steps ahead with its delirium ability, which grants it a considerable power-up if there are enough card types in your graveyard. Rotted Hound does not offer this edge.
Looking to the famed Rotting Regisaur, we notice a significant difference in power dynamics. Rotting Regisaur boasts a higher power level right out of the starting gate, but this comes with a card cost, forcing players to discard each turn. Hound of the Farbogs does not impose such a hefty price on its user. Plague Dogs stands out in this comparison as well, trading with card draw upon its demise, a unique aspect that Hound of the Farbogs lacks.
Ultimately, Hound of the Farbogs holds its ground within the MTG horde of zombie canines. With its potential power boost from delirium, it’s a card that synergizes effectively with graveyard-strategies, distinguishing itself in the strategic formation of certain deck types.
Cards similar to Hound of the Farbogs by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Hound of the Farbogs might not directly provide card draw, but its presence can lead to a more favorable board state, potentially causing your opponent to expend more resources to handle it. This can passively yield card advantage as your opponent is forced to deal with the threat it presents.
Resource Acceleration: While the Hound itself doesn’t ramp up mana, it may allow for more aggressive plays in a synergistic deck, especially those that benefit from its Zombie typing. Its inclusion could be the catalyst for a more swift and overwhelming setup against your adversary.
Instant Speed: The creature card does not operate at instant speed, but in a deck designed with reactive spells, it might serve as a reliable play during your main phase, after you’ve kept mana available for instant-speed interactions on your opponent’s turn. This ensures that your strategic options remain open without compromising on developing your board.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: To fully leverage Hound of the Farbogs’ potential, some versions may require discarding a card, potentially depleting valuable hand resources.
Specific Mana Cost: This creature card could be restrictive in some deck builds due to its black mana cost, potentially limiting its versatility in multi-color decks.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost that might be considered steep for its stats and abilities, there are alternative creatures that could provide a better cost-to-power ratio.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Hound of the Farbogs offers a robust option for decks that capitalize on Delirium or graveyard synergies. Its inclusion can enhance strategies that thrive on having various card types in the graveyard, amplifying both offensive and defensive gameplay.
Combo Potential: This card provides a synergy with setups that bolster the strength of zombie creatures or those that utilize death-triggered abilities, making it a potentially valuable piece in intricate combo chains. Its potential to gain Deathtouch can be particularly effective with equipment or auras that leverage this attribute.
Meta-Relevance: With graveyard mechanics often prominent in various formats, Hound of the Farbogs could slot in smoothly against decks that are unprepared for the resilience and recurring threats posed by graveyard-based strategies. Its inherent strengths become more pronounced in environments where creature removal is prevalent, maintaining board presence through its tenacious, undying nature.
How to beat
Hound of the Farbogs presents a unique challenge on the battlefield with its formidable presence in MTG. This zombie hound becomes even more threatening due to its ability to gain menace when delirium is active, making it unblockable by a single creature. To effectively counter this card, strategic removal is key. Cards like Murder or Doom Blade can cleanly remove it from play before delirium takes effect.
Another strategy is to control the game early on, preventing the graveyard from filling up with the diverse card types needed to trigger delirium. Graveyard hate cards such as Tormod’s Crypt can help you stifle your opponent’s ability to reach delirium, nullifying the menace capability of Hound of the Farbogs. Lastly, employing creatures with strong defensive abilities or those that can block multiple creatures can negate the advantage menace provides. Cards like Guardian of the Gateless shine in blocking creatures like the Hound, ensuring your defense remains unbreachable.
While Hound of the Farbogs can be a daunting adversary, understanding its mechanics and preparing your deck with efficient answers will allow you to maintain control of the game and ultimately emerge victorious in your MTG matches.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Hound of the Farbogs MTG card by a specific set like Shadows over Innistrad and Mystery Booster, 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 Hound of the Farbogs and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
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Printings
The Hound of the Farbogs Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2016-04-08 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by Christine Choi.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2016-04-08 | Shadows over Innistrad | SOI | 117 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Christine Choi | |
| 2 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 687 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Christine Choi | |
| 3 | The List | PLST | SOI-117 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Christine Choi |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Hound of the Farbogs has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Hound of the Farbogs card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2016-04-08 | Because you consider only the characteristics of a double-faced card’s front face while it’s not on the battlefield, the types of its back face won’t be counted for delirium. |
| 2016-04-08 | In some rare cases, you can have a token or a copy of a spell in your graveyard at the moment that an object’s delirium ability counts the card types among cards in your graveyard, before that token or copy ceases to exist. Because tokens and copies of spells are not cards, even if they are copies of cards, their types will never be counted. |
| 2016-04-08 | Menace only matters as blockers are chosen. Causing Hound of the Farbogs to gain menace after blockers are chosen won’t cause it to become unblocked. |
| 2016-04-08 | The card types in Magic are artifact, creature, enchantment, instant, land, planeswalker, sorcery, and tribal (a card type that appears on some older cards). Supertypes (such as legendary and basic) and subtypes (such as Human and Equipment) are not counted. |
| 2016-04-08 | The number of card types matters, not the number of cards. For example, Wicker Witch (an artifact creature) along with Catalog (an instant) and Chaplain’s Blessing (a sorcery) will enable delirium. |