Why Houndour Inclusion Rate Shifts Across Deck Archetypes

Houndour card art (Call of Legends) by Kagemaru Himeno

Image courtesy of TCGdex.net

Why Houndour Inclusion Rate Shifts Across Deck Archetypes ⚡

In the Pokémon TCG, inclusion rate isn’t just about raw power; it’s a careful dance between tempo, consistency, and the evolving meta. Houndour, a simple Basic Darkness type from the Call of Legends era, offers a focused case study in how a single card can rise or fall in prominence depending on the deck archetype. With 50 HP, a single, reliable attack, and a cost that presses players to balance Dark energy, this little hound isn’t the flashy centerpiece of a top-tier archetype. Yet in the hands of a thoughtful builder, it becomes a flexible tool for early pressure, learning curves for new players, and a collector’s piece that captures a nostalgic moment in the hobby. 🔥

Call of Legends reprints carry a certain charm, and Houndour’s art by Kagemaru Himeno sits at the heart of that nostalgia. The card’s common rarity keeps it approachable for budget-conscious decks, but its true story unfolds when you consider how it slots into different archetypes—from quick-start Dark strategies to evolving lines that chase a bigger payoff later in the game. The real question is not just “can this card work?” but “where does it fit best, and why does that placement shift over time as decks mature?” 🎴💎

Card at a glance: Houndour in Call of Legends

Name: Houndour
HP: 50
Type: Darkness
Stage: Basic
Attack: Jump On — Darkness energy. Flip a coin. If heads, this attack does 10 damage plus 10 more damage (20 total); if tails, it’s 10 damage.
Weakness: Fighting ×2
Resistance: Psychic −20
Rarity: Common
Illustrator: Kagemaru Himeno
Set: Call of Legends
Variants in the set: normal, holo, reverse (first edition not printed)
Legal formats: Not legal in Standard or Expanded (as of 2025)

That basic 50 HP figure and a single, straightforward attack makes Houndour a natural fit for early-game pressure in low-commitment archetypes. At the same time, its basic status means it shines as a stepping stone toward a more powerful evolution line. In darkness-focused or “budget tempo” decks, Houndour can help you hit early damage while you piece together the right energy mix. However, because Jump On becomes a coin-flip gamble, deck builders must weigh the potential for a strong heads result against the risk of a muted turn—especially when opponents are ready to punish a fragile opening.⚡

Inclusion rate across archetypes: where Houndour finds a home

Across different deck archetypes, Houndour tends to appear where players value consistency over sheer punch. In quick, budget-conscious Darkness archetypes, it serves as a reliable 1-of or 2-of starter that transitions into a Houndoom evolution down the line. The card’s cost effective energy requirement—Darkness energy only for Jump On—lets a player set up early board presence without overcommitting to a complicated energy curve. This makes Houndour a valuable anchor for players who are teaching new opponents the flow of a game or who want a forgiving entry point into the world of evolving lines. 🎮

In evolution-heavy Dark archetypes, the logic shifts: Houndour becomes a stepping-stone toward a bigger payoff with Houndoom. Even though the Call of Legends era provides a variety of reprints and older-school mechanics, the practical takeaway remains: a cheap Basic like Houndour lowers the barrier to entry for an otherwise aggressive engine. If you’re building a deck that plans to pivot into a stronger late-game threat, including a small number of Houndour can improve consistency without sacrificing too much speed. The key is to align its usage with energy acceleration and the timing of evolution lines, so the coin-flip risk doesn’t derail your late-game plan. 🔄

From a control or puzzle-deck perspective, Houndour also has a place as a flexible draw or bench filler. Its low HP and susceptibility to Fighting types demand careful matchup planning. When seen through the lens of market value and collector interest, the common rarity keeps it accessible for new players who want a real card with a real art credit, rather than a token filler. It’s this accessibility paired with a nostalgically drawn illustration that helps explain why inclusion rates can vary so dramatically even within a single archetype, depending on the specific build goals and meta shifts. 💎

Art, lore, and the collector’s eye 👁️✨

Kagemaru Himeno’s artistry for Houndour in Call of Legends captures the savage, flame-wreathed essence of the Pokémon while nodding to that classic era of the franchise. The holo and reverse-holo variants offer eye-catching options for collectors who chase the glow of rare finishes, and the set’s fan-favorite status contributes to a higher interest in the holo versions despite the card’s common rarity. For new collectors, the sight of Houndour snarling beneath embers is both a memory trigger and a gateway to exploring older sets that shaped how players think about risk, reward, and the thrill of a coin flip resolving in your favor. 🔥🎴

Market value trends: a snapshot for collectors and players

From a financial perspective, Houndour remains an approachable entry point into Call of Legends. CardMarket data (as of late 2025) shows the normal (non-holo) copy with a rough EUR average around 0.30, a low near 0.02, and a positive trend. TCGPlayer data paints a similar picture in USD: the standard version typically sits around a mid-price of about $0.31, with low values around $0.09 and high-end outliers around $3.41 for mint examples. For the reverse holo and holo variants, prices can climb, reflecting their appeal to collectors and set completionists. A holo version might fetch several dollars in well-graded copies, while a reverse holo can land in the $2–$4 range depending on condition and market demand. These shifts illustrate a broader pattern: common cards with iconic art can become coveted keepsakes, even as their play value remains modest. 🧭

For players, the practical takeaway is to weigh the card’s inclusion against your energy plan, your evolving strategy, and your local metagame. For collectors, it’s the narrative—Houndour as a door into a classic set, its art, its variants, and its small but steady role in the broader tapestry of the Call of Legends era. It’s a reminder that even a single, unassuming card can shift in importance as decks shift, meta evolves, and new or returning players rediscover the joys of building around a beloved starter. ⚡🎨

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