Bolt Hound MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Elemental Dog
Abilities Haste
Power 2
Toughness 2

Key Takeaways

  1. Bolt Hound boosts your creatures’ power, enabling formidable attacks to pressure opponents quickly.
  2. Its moderate cost and immediate board influence make it a solid choice for resource maximization.
  3. While powerful, strategic play is essential to counteract its potential downsides effectively.

Text of card

Haste (This creature can attack and as soon as it comes under your control.) Whenever Bolt Hound attacks, other creatures you control get +1/+0 until end of turn.

Its spark is worse than its bite.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Bolt Hound itself doesn’t directly allow you to draw cards, it significantly boosts the potency of your creature-based strategies by buffing all other creatures you control when it attacks. This can lead to overrunning your opponent and gaining an advantageous board state, indirectly contributing to card advantage.

Resource Acceleration: Bolt Hound’s moderate casting cost combined with its potential for immediate impact provides a form of resource acceleration by maximizing the utility of your mana. Deploying a hasty threat can apply pressure and shift the pace of the game in your favor more quickly than many other cards at similar mana costs.

Instant Speed: Though the Bolt Hound itself doesn’t operate at instant speed, its presence on the battlefield can instantly alter combat dynamics, acting as a force multiplier for your attacking creatures. This allows for a more aggressive playstyle, enabling you to capitalize on an unsuspecting opponent’s unpreparedness during the combat phase.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Bolt Hound can certainly accelerate the pace of a game with its ability, it does not come without a cost. Summoning this creature does not require a direct discard from your hand, but its presence on the battlefield can condition player decisions. Careful strategizing is necessary to ensure you don’t end up with an empty hand too quickly.

Specific Mana Cost: Bolt Hound’s casting cost requires both red and generic mana, which can be a disadvantage in multicolored decks that run on a tight mana base. Its specific requirement for red mana means you’ll need a reliable source of red mana early in the game to deploy Bolt Hound effectively.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: At a total cost of three mana, including two of which are red, Bolt Hound’s cost is on the higher side for a creature with its power and toughness. In aggressive red decks, players might find that other creatures or spells could offer a better value for the mana spent and contribute to a faster victory.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Bolt Hound is a chameleon on the battlefield, seamlessly integrating into aggressive red decks or complementing a diverse array of strategies. Its ability to boost other creatures’ power makes it a formidable ally in any combat-focused collection.

Combo Potential: With its power-enhancing ability for each other creature you control, it thrives in token and creature-heavy builds, providing exponential value and a swift path to reduce your opponent’s life total in the blink of an eye.

Meta-Relevance: In a game where tempo can dictate the victor, Bolt Hound excels. Its presence can tip the scales in your favor against a variety of decks, proving its worth in the ever-evolving meta, where speed and surprise attacks are key to claiming victory.


How to beat

Bolt Hound is a dynamic creature that can energize aggressive red strategies with its ability to provide an immediate impact on the battlefield. This nifty card boosts each of your creatures with a power bump during combat, potentially turning the tides in your favor. However, despite its prowess, there are several effective strategies to counteract this canine’s charge.

One tactic is to maintain removal spells ready in your hand, such as Shock or Frost Bite, which can eliminate Bolt Hound before its ability becomes a concern. Permission spells like Essence Scatter can also prevent this hasty hound from hitting the board in the first place. Additionally, since Bolt Hound fits comfortably in decks that tend to overcommit to the board, sweepers like Sweltering Suns or Shatter the Sky can clear the way, leaving your opponent at a devastating disadvantage. It’s crucial to manage the board state and prevent the accumulation of creatures that would benefit from Bolt Hound’s attack trigger.

In essence, dealing with Bolt Hound involves strategic timing, understanding red’s aggressive nature, and having the right answers on hand. By dictating the pace and controlling the creature flow, you can negate the impact of this fiery four-legged friend and maintain dominance in the game.


BurnMana Recommendations

Bolt Hound is a striking addition for players looking to supercharge their MTG decks with speed and coordination. With its unique ability to invigorate your attacking horde, this card excels in aggressive strategies that crave a definitive push during combat phases. Embracing Bolt Hound within your arsenal ignites a wave of potential for swift victories against opponents. Whether you’re adapting to the evolving meta or seeking cards with multiplicative power, consider Bolt Hound’s capacity to amplify your deck’s aggression. Curious to discover how Bolt Hound can reconfigure your gameplay and lead you to triumph? Engage with us further to explore the synergies and strategies that unlock Bolt Hound’s full potential in your deck’s lineup.


Cards like Bolt Hound

Bolt Hound is a dynamic creature card that brings a unique blend of speed and power amplification to the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering. It possesses a resemblance to other creatures that can swiftly escalate the threat level on the board, such as Goblin Bushwhacker. Like Bolt Hound, Goblin Bushwhacker also offers a temporary boost in power but requires a kicker cost to activate its ability, whereas Bolt Hound’s effect is automatic upon attacking.

Another card that stands in comparison is Ember Hauler, which shares the same mana cost and also belongs to the red faction. However, Ember Hauler allows for direct damage to any target upon sacrifice, providing a different kind of versatility compared to Bolt Hound’s broad attack enhancement. Additionally, we have Hellrider, which extends impact across multiple creatures as it adds damage with each attacking creature, a synergistic strategy in creature-heavy decks much like the effect Bolt Hound has when it attacks with other creatures.

While each card has its place based on the deck’s overall strategy, Bolt Hound’s ability to empower multiple creatures makes it a powerful addition, especially in aggressive red decks that aim to overwhelm opponents swiftly. It exemplifies an excellent balance between cost and potential board impact in MTG play.

Goblin Bushwhacker - MTG Card versions
Ember Hauler - MTG Card versions
Hellrider - MTG Card versions
Goblin Bushwhacker - Zendikar (ZEN)
Ember Hauler - Magic 2011 (M11)
Hellrider - Dark Ascension (DKA)

Cards similar to Bolt Hound by color, type and mana cost

Dwarven Warriors - MTG Card versions
Raging Bull - MTG Card versions
Wall of Stone - MTG Card versions
Wall of Lava - MTG Card versions
Brassclaw Orcs - MTG Card versions
Sabretooth Tiger - MTG Card versions
Imperial Recruiter - MTG Card versions
Cavern Crawler - MTG Card versions
Uthden Troll - MTG Card versions
Hobgoblin Bandit Lord - MTG Card versions
Goblin Rabblemaster - MTG Card versions
Windseeker Centaur - MTG Card versions
Nosy Goblin - MTG Card versions
Goblin Sky Raider - MTG Card versions
Skirk Commando - MTG Card versions
Cosmic Larva - MTG Card versions
Mannichi, the Fevered Dream - MTG Card versions
Cunning Bandit // Azamuki, Treachery Incarnate - MTG Card versions
Ghost-Lit Raider - MTG Card versions
Goblin Chariot - MTG Card versions
Dwarven Warriors - Foreign Black Border (FBB)
Raging Bull - Legends (LEG)
Wall of Stone - Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border (4BB)
Wall of Lava - Ice Age (ICE)
Brassclaw Orcs - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Sabretooth Tiger - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Imperial Recruiter - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)
Cavern Crawler - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Uthden Troll - Battle Royale Box Set (BRB)
Hobgoblin Bandit Lord - Adventures in the Forgotten Realms Promos (PAFR)
Goblin Rabblemaster - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Windseeker Centaur - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Nosy Goblin - Onslaught (ONS)
Goblin Sky Raider - Onslaught (ONS)
Skirk Commando - Archenemy (ARC)
Cosmic Larva - Fifth Dawn (5DN)
Mannichi, the Fevered Dream - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Cunning Bandit // Azamuki, Treachery Incarnate - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Ghost-Lit Raider - Saviors of Kamigawa (SOK)
Goblin Chariot - Ninth Edition (9ED)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Bolt Hound MTG card by a specific set like Core Set 2021 and Jumpstart 2022, 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 Bolt Hound and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Bolt Hound Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2020-07-03 and 2022-12-02. Illustrated by Forrest Imel.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12020-07-03Core Set 2021M21 1312015normalblackForrest Imel
22022-12-02Jumpstart 2022J22 5042015normalblackForrest Imel

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Bolt Hound has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

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