Man's best friend is coming to Magic: The Gathering, as the Core Set for 2021 will now feature Dog cards instead of Hounds. This will also not be limited to one set; all Hound cards from previous sets will be changed as well.
"Bill Rose was the champion for the Hound side," head designer Mark Rosewater wrote on Magic's blog. "His argument was that Hound felt more fantasy. Hell Hounds, for example, were a popular creature in Dungeons & Dragons. He felt it was important that we try and make the game feel more regal and less mundane."
"I was the champion for the Dog side. My argument was that we were going to make a lot of dogs over the years. People liked dogs. And there were a lot of different kinds of dogs," Rosewater continued. "Ultimately, when Erik Lauer joined the R&D division, Rosewater was able to convince him-and others-to make the change."
The new Dog cards featured are Pack Leader, Alpine Watchdog, Rambunctious Mutt, Selfless Savior, Bolt Hound, Chandra's Magmutt and Igneous Cur. An upcoming Magic: The Gathering box set will also allow players to create a Cat and Dog-themed deck.