Dread Mastiff

About Dread Mastiff

Dread Mastiff, Retainer, designed by Krasen Maximov first released in October 2025 in the set Sabbat V5.

Dread Mastiff is most useful in an Animalism combat deck that wants to stay at close range and grind through opposing minions: its basic ability adds a point of damage during normal strike resolution, while superior Animalism also gives the employer an optional press each combat. It’s inexpensive and persistent, but the damage is modest, requires close range, and the press is less valuable if your combat plan already controls range or ends fights quickly. For a dedicated combat retainer, Leather Jacket is generally the more dependable alternative for survival, while Raven Spy is often a stronger Animalism utility retainer for its intercept; neither duplicates Mastiff’s damage-plus-press role, so the better choice depends on the deck’s needs. Dread Mastiff can see play in a slow, close-range Animalism build with spare retainer capacity, but it is usually a niche inclusion rather than a staple.