Xoloitzcuintle, the Hairless Hound

The myth

The xoloitzcuintle, or xolo, is a hairless dog bred in Mexico for thousands of years. Its name joins Xólotl, the dog-headed god, and itzcuintli, “dog.” According to beliefs recorded by Sahagún, the dead needed a dog’s help to cross the river of Mictlán; the dog, usually yellow or reddish, recognized its master and carried him across, but refused anyone who had mistreated it in life. That is why dogs were buried with people. The breed still exists today and is a symbol of Mexico.

Why it has this power

A Level 3 Common with 900 ATK and 800 DEF: a loyal dog, not a monster. Darkness and Moon tie it to night and to the road of the dead; Bull is the constellation of beasts. Its value is fusion: with any Undead it becomes Xólotl, Guide of Mictlán — the dog that becomes a god.

Did you know

Having no fur, xolos feel very warm to the touch, and were traditionally used as “hot-water bottles” against aches.

Connections

• Fuses into: + Undead → Xólotl, Guide of Mictlán
• In Tlali, Calmécac Student's deck

Where to get it

• Campaign drop: Tlali, Calmécac Student (Valley of the Fifth Sun) — grade B: 14% · grade C: 13% · grade D: 13%
• Daily Offering: 0% per pack (Common 64% per card)
• Welcome Pack: 0.97% per pack (Common 70% per card)
• Traveler's Pack: 0.88% per pack · 5.2% in the themed pack (Common 64% per card)
• Bronze Reliquary: 0.86% per pack · 5.1% in the themed pack (Common 62% per card)
• Silver Reliquary: 0.67% per pack · 4% in the themed pack (Common 49% per card)
• Golden Reliquary: 0.46% per pack · 2.7% in the themed pack (Common 33% per card)
• Daily Showcase: Shows up on about 0.69% of days · 150 gold
• Craft with card dust: 40 dust
• Crossing of Myths: Can be offered as a reward during a crossing (the card stays in the crossing deck).

Sources

1. Dogs of the Aztecs (Mexicolore) — Dody Fugate
2. Xólotl, el dios perro (Arqueología Mexicana) — Mercedes de la Garza
3. Mictlan and its inhabitants (Mexicolore) — Ignacio de la Garza Gálvez