Core hound

A core hound (also spelled corehound) is a quadrupedal elemental monster that originates in the Firelands of the Elemental Plane, and also live in the Molten Core. They are the vicious but faithful servants of the Firelord and his minions.

They come in two varieties, the much more common, and larger, two-headed variant, and the smaller one-headed variant. The latter are used by the Dark Iron dwarves as racial mounts.

The demonic fel green core hounds are also known as fel beasts or fel core hounds.

Description
A core hound has the appearance of a massive dog with one or two heads, with a mouth filled with rows of flaming teeth. Its body is covered with armored hide and the head is studded with bony spikes. A streak of flames runs down its spine from head to stubby tail.

Background
The oldest and most powerful of the core hounds is Magmadar, the alpha male and sire of the entire current pack. Every core hound can trace their lineage back to Magmadar.

Core hounds originate from the Firelands of the Elemental Plane, however, they also lived alongside their master Ragnaros in the Molten Core and recently started to invade Mount Hyjal. The largest is known is Magmadar, and Golemagg the Incinerator seems to treat them as pets. There is also a small captured one in upper Blackrock Spire known as the Beast, who has swallowed gnome explorer Finkle Einhorn.

Core hound hide called Core Leather can be used to fashion armor and bags.

Types


One-headed type:

As a mount

 * Core Hound Chain is occasionally listed at the Black Market Auction House for the starting bid of . It was originally the reward for the Feat of Strength Boldly, You Sought the Power of Ragnaros, available during WoW's 10th Anniversary celebration.
 * Dark Iron Core Hound is the Dark Iron dwarf racial mount, rewarded from Dark Iron Dwarves (quest).

As a companion pet


A Core Hound Pup is mailed out to the first character to logon on accounts that have a Blizzard Authenticator or Blizzard Mobile Authenticator attached, including accounts that are attached to an authenticator in the future. It represents the authenticator as being the "guard dog" of your account.

As a hunter pet
Core Hounds are a family of exotic Ferocity pets, only tamable by Beast Mastery hunters starting at level 39.

Core Hounds, through use of their Ancient Hysteria ability, can increase melee, ranged, and spell casting speed by 30% for all party and raid members for 40 seconds. This makes them a good choice in raids when player-provided buffs such as Bloodlust, Heroism or Time Warp are not available. They also have a special exotic ability, Lava Breath, which reduces the target's casting speed by 10% for 10 seconds. They retain their signature roar when tamed, though the loudest is Chromaggus.

"Traditional" red core hounds can be found and tamed in Molten Core, Mount Hyjal or Blackrock Spire. However, other beasts lore-wise not related to core hounds also count toward this pet family:
 * Fel beasts can be found in Shadowmoon Valley or Tol Barad, but unfortunately only knows Ancient Hysteria.
 * The Drakeadon and the s are also included in the core hound family and are thus tameable by hunters.
 * Players can travel out to Azuremyst Isle to easily tame, a unique white wolven-styled "Nian".

In the RPG


Core hounds use simple tactics, attacking the most obviously threatening target first. They will typically attempt an improved grab or bull rush to push their target into nearby lava. A core hound with flaming breath takes hold of a victim before using its flaming breath, thus preventing the victim from escaping the effect. Core hounds grow and gain power throughout their lives. Core hounds understand Kalimag but cannot speak.