Snarling Gorehound 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
Menace Whenever another creature you control with power 2 or less enters, surveil 1. (Look at the top card of your library. You may put it into your graveyard.)
Complete guide
Snarling Gorehound is a relentless common from Murders at Karlov Manor that provides incredible card selection for aggressive black decks. This one-mana Dog not only makes blocking difficult for your opponents but also helps you filter through your deck whenever you deploy more small threats.
Understanding the Trigger
Snarling Gorehound has a triggered ability that triggers whenever another creature you control with power 2 or less enters the battlefield. The ability uses the creature's power at the exact moment it enters. This includes any continuous effects or +1/+1 counters the creature enters with. Once the ability triggers, it doesn't matter if the creature's power changes later; you will still get to surveil 1.
How to Surveil Efficiently
When the ability resolves, you look at the top card of your library. You then have a choice: leave it on top or put it into your graveyard. This is particularly powerful in decks that treat the graveyard as a second hand or simply need to find specific land drops or finishers. Because Snarling Gorehound also has Menace, it can chip away at your opponent's life total while you set up your future turns.
Common Mistakes
A frequent error is forgetting that Snarling Gorehound checks power only at the moment of entry. If you play a 1/1 creature that would normally trigger the Gorehound, but an effect like a static anthem makes it enter as a 3/3, the Gorehound will not trigger. Conversely, if a 2/2 enters and triggers the Gorehound, but your opponent responds to the trigger by giving that creature +1/+1, you still get to surveil because the condition was met when the event occurred.
When to Play It
This card excels in 'Weenie' strategies or sacrifice-based decks where you are constantly cycling through low-power utility creatures. It provides early pressure and ensures you don't draw useless cards in the late game. It is best played on turn one to maximize the number of surveil triggers you receive throughout the match.
Interaction examples
Blood ArtistWith Snarling Gorehound on the battlefield, you cast Blood Artist. Since Blood Artist has a power of 0, it satisfies the 'power 2 or less' requirement. Upon Blood Artist entering the battlefield, the Gorehound's ability triggers, allowing you to surveil 1 before you take any other actions.
Ornithopter of ParadiseYou have Snarling Gorehound in play and cast Ornithopter of Paradise. The Ornithopter enters as a 0/2 creature. Even though it is an artifact creature, it still counts as a creature entering the battlefield. The Gorehound triggers, letting you look at the top card of your library to decide if you need more mana or a specific spell next turn.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Snarling Gorehound
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
Snarling Gorehound's ability checks the power of a creature only at the moment it enters the battlefield. If it enters with counters, those counters are included. If that creature's power is 2 or less when it enters the battlefield but becomes greater than 2 after the ability triggers, you'll still surveil 1.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Popular combos
Real combos played by the community, sorted by popularity.
Snarling Gorehound + Insidious Roots + Chalk Outline + Moss-Pit Skeleton
- 1Put a +1/+1 counter on a creature you control.
- 2Moss-Pit Skeleton triggers, putting itself on top of your library.
- 3Chalk Outline and Insidious Roots trigger.
- 4Resolve the Chalk Outline trigger, creating a 2/2 Detective creature token and a Clue token.
- 5When the Detective enters the battlefield, Snarling Gorehound triggers, causing you to surveil 1, putting Moss-Pit Skeleton into your graveyard from the top of your library.
- 6Resolve the Insidious Roots trigger, creating a 0/1 Plant creature token, then putting a +1/+1 counter on each Plant you control.
- 7Moss-Pit Skeleton and Snarling Gorehound trigger.
- 8Resolve the Snarling Gorehound trigger, causing you to surveil 1.
Tormod, the Desecrator + Insidious Roots + Snarling Gorehound + Moss-Pit Skeleton
- 1Put a +1/+1 counter on a creature you control.
- 2Moss-Pit Skeleton triggers, putting itself on top of your library.
- 3Tormod and Insidious Roots trigger.
- 4Resolve the Tormod trigger, creating a 2/2 Zombie creature token.
- 5When the Zombie enters the battlefield, Snarling Gorehound triggers, causing you to surveil 1, putting Moss-Pit Skeleton into your graveyard from the top of your library.
- 6Resolve the Insidious Roots trigger, creating a 0/1 Plant creature token, then putting a +1/+1 counter on each Plant you control.
- 7Moss-Pit Skeleton and Snarling Gorehound trigger.
- 8Resolve the Snarling Gorehound trigger, causing you to surveil 1.
Snarling Gorehound + Insidious Roots + Skeleton Crew + Moss-Pit Skeleton
- 1Put a +1/+1 counter on a creature you control.
- 2Moss-Pit Skeleton triggers, putting itself on top of your library.
- 3Skeleton Crew and Insidious Roots trigger.
- 4Resolve the Skeleton Crew trigger, creating a 2/2 Skeleton Pirate creature token.
- 5When the Skeleton Pirate enters the battlefield, Snarling Gorehound triggers, causing you to surveil 1, putting Moss-Pit Skeleton into your graveyard from the top of your library.
- 6Resolve the Insidious Roots trigger, creating a 0/1 Plant creature token, then putting a +1/+1 counter on each Plant you control.
- 7Moss-Pit Skeleton and Snarling Gorehound trigger.
- 8Resolve the Snarling Gorehound trigger, causing you to surveil 1.
Snarling Gorehound + Insidious Roots + Desecrated Tomb + Moss-Pit Skeleton
- 1Put a +1/+1 counter on a creature you control.
- 2Moss-Pit Skeleton triggers, putting itself on top of your library.
- 3Desecrated Tomb and Insidious Roots trigger.
- 4Resolve the Desecrated Tomb trigger, creating a 1/1 Bat creature token.
- 5When the Bat enters the battlefield, Snarling Gorehound triggers, causing you to surveil 1, putting Moss-Pit Skeleton into your graveyard from the top of your library.
- 6Resolve the Insidious Roots trigger, creating a 0/1 Plant creature token, then putting a +1/+1 counter on each Plant you control.
- 7Moss-Pit Skeleton and Snarling Gorehound trigger.
- 8Resolve the Snarling Gorehound trigger, causing you to surveil 1.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Snarling Gorehound
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