Alpine Houndmaster MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Human Warrior
Released	2020-07-03
Set symbol
Set name	Core Set 2021
Set code	M21
Power	2
Toughness	2
Number	215
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Mark Behm

Key Takeaways

Alpine Houndmaster fetches creatures, optimizing hand potential and board development, enhancing strategic depth.
Specific mana and deck requirements may limit its versatility, yet when used effectively, it’s a powerful asset.
In the right meta, it adds value through adaptability and synergy, reinforcing early game tempo and control.

Text of card

When Alpine Houndmaster enters the battlefield, you may search your library for a card named Alpine Watchdog and/or a card named Igneous Cur, reveal them, put them into your hand, then shuffle your library. Whenever Alpine Houndmaster attacks, it gets +X/+0 until end of turn, where X is the number of other attacking creatures.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: When Alpine Houndmaster enters the battlefield, it empowers you by fetching two specific cards from your deck, essentially providing you with additional options and increasing your hand without losing card economy.

Resource Acceleration: These fetched cards are creatures that can be played quickly, enabling you to build a substantial board presence. They work synergistically with the Houndmaster to accelerate your game plan and apply pressure on the opponent.

Instant Speed: While Alpine Houndmaster itself isn’t an instant, the actions it enables can organize your plays around your opponent’s strategy. Post-deployment, you can hold mana for the creatures you’ve tutored, adapting to the game’s flow with Alpine Houndmaster’s immediate impact on the board and your hand.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Upon entering the battlefield, Alpine Houndmaster encourages you to search your library for specific cards, which could lead to an unfavorable position if those cards are not available or your deck is not tailored to maximize the benefit of this search mechanism.

Specific Mana Cost: The requirement of both red and white mana to cast Alpine Houndmaster might restrict it to Boros decks or those with a reliable mana base, potentially making it a less versatile choice in a format with a diverse color pie.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Alpine Houndmaster provides value by potentially drawing two cards, the combined mana cost of casting the houndmaster and the fetched cards might be seen as inefficient compared to other low-cost creatures that offer immediate impact on the game state.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: The Alpine Houndmaster is adaptable to numerous deck builds, particularly those revolving around aggressive strategies or tribal themes such as Warriors or Dogs. Its ability to search your deck for specific creature cards can help solidify your board presence early in the game.

Combo Potential: When paired with other cards that benefit from having Dogs or Warriors, such as Pack Leader or Kargan Warleader, Alpine Houndmaster can become a linchpin in a powerful synergy-based strategy that can apply pressure and maintain card advantage.

Meta-Relevance: As the MTG landscape continuously evolves, having creatures that can efficiently search for others is always beneficial. This card can shine in a meta where board presence and early tempo are crucial to outpacing your opponent’s setup, marksmanship in resource management, and dominance through synergy.

How to beat

The Alpine Houndmaster is an engaging card that players must handle strategically in Magic: The Gathering. This card, when played, allows the user to search their deck for Alpine Watchdog and Igneous Cur, ensuring a swift and beneficial buildup of board presence. To combat this, one must focus on removal strategies that disrupt this card’s ability to unify a powerful combo or synergy.

Effective tactics include targeted removal spells that can eliminate the Houndmaster before its ability triggers. Cards like Fatal Push or Path to Exile can be highly effective in this scenario. Additionally, board wipes are valuable in clearing multiple creatures, thus mitigating the impact of the fetched canines. Cards such as Wrath of God or Damnation can reset the board, negating the advantage your opponent hopes to gain from the Alpine Houndmaster and his faithful dogs.

Ultimately, prompt and decisive action is the key to preventing the Houndmaster from taking over the game. By interrupting your opponent’s plans early on, you ensure that their search for a perfect pack leads them instead into a strategic dead end.

Cards like Alpine Houndmaster

Alpine Houndmaster is a unique piece in the puzzle of creature cards within Magic: The Gathering. It bears resemblance to other creature cards that act as toolkits, similar to the way Squadron Hawk operates. Both the Houndmaster and Squadron Hawk provide a mechanism to pull other cards from your deck, offering an increase in hand advantage. However, Alpine Houndmaster goes a step further, also providing life gain when it attacks along with its fellow hounds.

Imperial Recruiter is another card that curates your creature search, boasting the ability to seek out any creature with power 2 or less. While the Recruiter provides broader search capabilities, it lacks the inherent synergies of the Houndmaster with dog and hound type creatures. Additionally, the Houndmaster offers the potential for direct card advantage and life gain in the right deck.

For players valuing immediate impact and aggressive strategies, Alpine Houndmaster presents a compelling choice. It blends card advantage with board presence and life gain, making it a versatile and aggressive addition to decks that can harness the power of hounds and dogs in the game.

Cards similar to Alpine Houndmaster by color, type and mana cost

Koll, the Forgemaster - MTG Card versions

Plargg, Dean of Chaos // Augusta, Dean of Order - MTG Card versions

Thundersong Trumpeter - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Alpine Houndmaster MTG card by a specific set like Core Set 2021, 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 Alpine Houndmaster and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Alpine Houndmaster has restrictions

Format	Legality
Historicbrawl	Legal
Historic	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Restricted
Oathbreaker	Legal
Gladiator	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Commander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Explorer	Legal
Timeless	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2020-06-23	The value of X is determined only as Alpine Houndmaster's last ability resolves. Once that happens, the value of X won't change later in the turn even if the number of attacking creatures changes.