Regardless of whether they’re a force to be reckoned with or just a novelty, Tribal decks have always had a home in Commander. From Angles to Zombies, there are plenty of tribal decks to choose from. However, they’re not all worth your time.
Dogs may not be the strongest tribal deck in Commander; however, the format’s beauty still makes this niche deck fun to play. With a handful of powerful creatures and a suite of enchantments, even Dogs can become a powerful and playable Commander deck.
Before we get into things, it’s important to note that all Hounds have been errata’d to be Dogs. Ruff, Underdog Champ has even been printed to prove it.
Without any further ado, let’s get into which MTG Dogs are the best and the goodest boys for your next Commander deck!
Honorable Mention – Underworld Cerberus
We’re starting our list of the top 10 Dogs in MTG with an honorable mention. This time the dubious honor of not quite making the list goes to Underworld Cerberus. With the possibility to go very right and very wrong in equal measure, Underworld Cerberus doesn’t have the consistency to merit a spot on this list.
Nevertheless, in the right deck, Underworld Cerberus can be a powerhouse that’s deserving of not just inclusion in the 99 but being tutored. While potentially powerful, Underworld Cerberus is unfortunately also hampered by its colors. Being black and red makes Underworld Cerberus practically unplayable in Commander, as there are no Legendary Dogs in those colors.
10 – Pako, Arcane Retriever
When played with its partner, Haldan, Avid Arcanist, Pako, Arcane Retriever can be an effective mini Karn, Scion of Urza. Even on its own, Pako, Arcane Retriever is still a good boy capable of denying your opponent’s threats.
As a symmetrical effect, Pako, Arcane Retriever also risks denying your own threats from being topdecked. Thankfully this potential risk is offset by the reward of a +1/+1 counter for each noncreature card exiled this way. This allows Pako, Arcane Retriever to elevate beyond a consistently annoying threat to a powerful one.
9 – Tanuki Transplanter
While not cheap, Tanuki Transplanter gives Dogs some much-needed ramp. By gaining green mana equal to the power of itself or what it’s equipped to when attacking, Tanuki Transplanter can set you up for some huge plays with Finale of Devastation and other X-costed cards.
8 – Loyal Warhound
With many MTG Dogs costing a remarkable amount of mana, Loyal Warhound is a must-have in this tribal deck. Even after fetching a Plains, provided that your opponents have more land than you, Loyal Warhound still proves its worth as a valuable blocker capable of taking down some more expensive threats.
7 – Komainu Battle Armor
Thanks to its ability to Goad each of an opponent’s creatures, Komainu Battle Armor can be a seriously chaotic powerhouse. To mitigate the requirement of dealing combat damage for the Goad effect, Komainu Battle Armor even has, or gives an equipped creature, Menace.
If Menace isn’t enough, Komainu Battle Armor is a prime target for Aqueous Form and other enchantments that’ll let this Dog cause havoc.
6 – Kunoros, Hound of Athreos
As a 3/3 for three mana, Kunoros, Hound of Athreos is already a powerful Dog just for being on curve. With Vigilance, Menace, and Lifelink, Kunoros, Hound of Athreos can be a very potent threat in the early game.
Alongside its ability to dish out damage, Kunoros, Hound of Athreos also shuts down graveyard strategies. Similar to the invaluably helpful Grafdigger’s Cage, this can be used to completely nullify several decks you’ll face in Commander.
5 – Isamaru, Hound of Konda
As a 2/2 for just one white mana, Isamaru, Hound of Konda is straight value. With the ability to poke in Commander Damage from the start of the game, Isamaru, Hound of Konda is a consistent threat your opponents need to be wary of.
When combined with Auras and Enchantments such as Aqueious Form and Finest Hour, Isamaru, Hound of Konda can even threaten to take opponents out of the game with Commander Damage alone.
4 – Jinnie Fay, Jetmir’s Second
Jinnie Fay, Jetmir’s Second may not technically be a Dog; however, they’re an excellent card for generating Dog tokens. With the ability to create 3/1 Dog tokens with Vigilance in place of other tokens, Jinnie Fay, Jetmir’s Second allows you to create a powerful army of Dogs quickly.
When combined with White Sun’s Zenith or Felidar Retreat, Jinnie Fay, Jetmir’s Second can easily be the core of any dog tribal deck, despite none of those cards actually being dogs.
3 – Selfless Savior
As an aggressive staple and friend of Lurrus of the Dream-Den Selfless Savior can provide much-needed protection in the early game. Whether Selfless Savior dies valiantly protecting your commander or just a blocker, you’ll want it in your deck.
On top of its useful ability, Selfless Savior has the added benefit of being one of the cheaper dogs you can play, making it great for expanding your board and going wide.
2 – Pack Leader
Unlike Cats who get a whole cattery of lords, Dog tribal decks only get Pack Leader. Thankfully, Pack Leader is more than just a basic +1/+1 lord to make up for this. That’s because, alongside its buffing ability, Pack Leader also prevents all combat damage to dogs you control when it attacks.
When played with Overrun and Titanic Ultimatum, this can turn a once adorable army into a game-ending force that doesn’t fret with survival.
1 – Rin and Seri, Inseparable
Other dogs may be cute, but Rin and Seri, Inseparable is the only real choice for an MTG Dog tribal commander. Offering a broad color identity for your deck and powerful token-generating abilities, Rin and Seri, Inseparable makes Dog tribal work.
Alongside generating tokens, Rin and Seri, Inseparable is also an excellent tool for removal and life gain. As a Dog Cat, Rin and Seri, Inseparable may disrupt the theme of the deck thanks to generating cat tokens; the sacrifice is well worth it for the sheer power of this Commander.
Filling out the deck
With few creatures acting as lords to provide juicy buffs, making the MTG Dog tribal deck work rests on the shoulders of artifacts and enchantments. With Rin and Seri, Inseparable, and Jinnie Fay, Jetmir’s Second providing us with powerful tokens, we’d recommend going wide with an aggressive deck that keeps the pressure on.
To accomplish this aggressive strategy, we’ll need a lot of tokens and a lot of buffs. Parallel Lives and Doubling Season are both fantastic options for just that. Mirari’s Wake, Rally the Ranks, and Cathar’s Crusade will also ensure we’re attacking with more than just a 1/1.
With board wipes like Damnation being a constant threat, we’ll also need plenty of protection. This makes Heroic Intervention and Teferi’s Protection incredibly important picks. To ensure consistency in the deck, we’d also recommend tutors like Enlightened Tutor and Idyllic Tutor.
Read More: The best MTG tutor cards for EDH
Overall, while MTG Dogs may not be the strongest tribal decks, they are one of the most beloved. With adorable faces and a smattering of good abilities, it’s obvious why this deck can be a ton of fun. Ultimately, however, we’d recommend fusing Cats and Dogs together for a potent Commander deck that’s the best of both worlds.