Goldhound 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
First strike Menace (This creature can't be blocked except by two or more creatures.), Sacrifice this creature: Add one mana of any color.
Complete guide
Goldhound is an efficient red one-drop that packs a punch with multiple keywords and utility. As an Artifact Creature with the Treasure subtype, it offers early aggression and the flexibility to accelerate your mana when needed.
More Than Just a Token
Goldhound is unique because it is a Treasure card, not just a token. This means it has the Treasure artifact subtype naturally. It features First strike and Menace, making it difficult to block effectively in the early turns of the game while retaining the classic Treasure ability to sacrifice itself for one mana of any color.
Sacrifice and Mana Timing
To activate Goldhound's mana ability, you must tap it and sacrifice it as a cost. Because it is a creature, it is subject to summoning sickness. You cannot tap it to add mana the same turn it enters the battlefield unless it somehow gains haste. Once activated, the ability goes on the stack and resolves, providing one mana of any color chosen at that time.
Common Misunderstandings
Players often confuse its subtypes. Treasure is an artifact type, not a creature type; Dog is a creature type, not an artifact type. Effects that care about 'Treasure artifacts' will see Goldhound even though it is a non-token creature. Additionally, because sacrificing it is part of the activation cost, your opponent cannot respond to the sacrifice by trying to destroy Goldhound to stop the mana production.
Strategic Deployment
Play Goldhound early to pressure opponents who lack multiple blockers. Its First strike allows it to win combat against many other small creatures. Hold onto it until you need to 'fix' your mana colors or reach a high-cost spell one turn earlier than your land drops would normally allow.
Interaction examples
Ornithopter of ParadiseWhile both creatures provide mana of any color, they function differently. Ornithopter of Paradise can be tapped repeatedly across multiple turns to add mana. Goldhound, however, is a 'one-time use' ritual; you must sacrifice it to get the mana, but it offers better combat stats like Menace and First strike for its lower cost.
Ragavan, Nimble PilfererIf you play Goldhound on turn one, it can attack on turn two with Menace. This helps clear the way or force unfavorable blocks before you play Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer. If you need to cast Ragavan's Dash cost later, you can sacrifice Goldhound to provide the necessary red mana if you missed a land drop.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Goldhound
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
If an effect refers to a Treasure, it means any Treasure artifact, not just a Treasure artifact token.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
Even when it is on a creature, Treasure is an artifact type and not a creature type. Similarly, Dog is always a creature type and not an artifact type.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
Since Goldhound is a creature, its
ability can't be activated the turn that it enters the battlefield or the turn a player gains control of it unless it has haste.No other card is named in this ruling.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Goldhound
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.