New Warlock Spell - Imp Swarm (Rank 1)

This seems relatively underwhelming no matter when you play it.

At first it is just Bloodfen Raptor. By turn 5 getting a pair of 3/2 demons isn't really anything to worry about. Hunters can already do that with Petting Zoo (if not earlier). And if you are still trying to get your imps to stick by turn 10 it is too late and the extra dude isn't going to make much difference.

Call it a hunch, but I bet the usefulness of this card relies on the Fel tag. It's so far below the power level otherwise.

It's too early to actually call this card, since we have no idea what the Spell Schools mean yet.

It's more a zoo card, but doubt it would see much value on turn 10. Lets see what support the fel spells get

Will easily see play in Tokenlock

Probably not good. No control deck wants this, so the upgrade is pretty moot. Its viability is solely then on the fact that its a fel spell, and even then Im sure there's simply better spells. If only it made void walkers instead of flame imps, then we're talking some real value. But as it stands, its just not up to par.

Could be decent in Zoolock. Otherwise i think this will not see much play.

Definatly a zoo card, but it's WAY too slow for zoo. BUT i feel like Imp Swarm (Rank 1) has some hidden potential.. in it's Fell tag. My guess is that Warlock will get something similar to Bru'kan, a.k.a. a card that synergises with Fell tag spells. But untill we see that Imp Swarm (Rank 1) will just be a bad card. 

What do you even do with this? It's a mediocre reload for Zoo after turn 5 but you can't really afford to hold it that long. Plague of FLames is going away too so that's out of the picture.

Maybe they'll try some whacky no-minion archetype for Warlock and this is part of it. We do have Dark Portal after all, so maybe Big Warlock is the intended deck

Definitely feels like it belongs in a no minion or big demon deck. Something to play early while not cluttering your deck with small guys. Okay reload tool as well for zoo but probably too slow. 

I do love the rank up style of spells overall though. Nice simple way to keep them relevant but this one doesn't go far enough with it's improvements. So probably only played in niche deck building restriction decks.

I'm pretty certain 3 3/2s on turn 10 or later is crap. 2 after turn 5 isn't that great either. The upgrade effect just seems too weak to even bother having it.

Even Warlock gets a minion bump LoL

Flexible, but not sure if the power level is too low later in the game.

I don't like it. Zoo doesn't want this. Probably needs some Fel spell synergy. 

Seems weak. Maybe there are demon synergies or fel spell synergies but until those show up its not gonna be anything insane I don't think.

Obviously there will be Fel synergy. If you're dismissing this card because you think spell schools won't matter, you're in for some big surprises.

Imagine, if you will, a minion with the text: After you cast a Fel spell, give all friendly minions +1/+1.

That's just off the top of my head. I'm sure there are even more creative things in store.

Quote From Brandon

Definatly a zoo card, but it's WAY too slow for zoo. BUT i feel like Imp Swarm (Rank 1) has some hidden potential.. in it's Fell tag. My guess is that Warlock will get something similar to Bru'kan, a.k.a. a card that synergises with Fell tag spells. But untill we see that Imp Swarm (Rank 1) will just be a bad card. 

Yeah, rip. My warlock decks this year will be all J-Rax all day

Underwhelming on it's own.  Interested to see what it might pair well with.

Spell Warlock, anyone?  I imagine there will be some synergy cards released alongside this, otherwise it's a little boring, even with the upgrade mechanic.

2 mana summon 3/2 is nothing, especially when the powerlevel of previous expansion is quite high. And waiting for turn 5 or 10 is basically too long. For now, it's basically not good enough, but maybe better when all the card is revealed.

Not fantastic, but it should be a good arena card, and there's possiblity for spell school support which could make this good

I want to wait until more cards are released before judging this too much. With the right support it could be really good.

Not bad for token or zoo decks

3/2 for 2 mana start is weak and endgame 3/2 s are underwhelming

maybe turn 5 is good but it will be garbo in turn 10 dont think even zoolock will use this

interesting

Underwhelming early on, let's see if a deck needs this for later in the game.

Fair, which might mean it's bad in constructed.

Fel spell, no synergies, so far.

Not very powerful, probably won't see play in constructed

Might be useful on turn 5, seems almost worthless by turn 10.

Really looking forward to this mechanic. They tried something similar with the Omega cards, but they obviously were understatted before 10 mana. This could be a great solution.

I'm open to being surprised by some "Imp Warlock" imp-ending archetype, but based on what we have now, this is... meh!

OK for the full and middle effects, because of the mana cost. Not game breaking or win condition. 

I dont like it at all .Sure it can upgrade but the reward is bad .Maybe zoo but even zoo has more interesting cards to lay then this.

3 Imps on 10 is far from good. However, 2 Imps on 5 for 2 Mana? Not bad honestly...

The only archetype i could see this in is Zoo, but idk if that's gonna be a thing without Soulfire and Voidwalker.

I hope I am not right, but I think this cant see play as it is. Maybe new cards make me change my mind

Quote From samwisetarly

Quote From Brandon

Definatly a zoo card, but it's WAY too slow for zoo. BUT i feel like Imp Swarm (Rank 1) has some hidden potential.. in it's Fell tag. My guess is that Warlock will get something similar to Bru'kan, a.k.a. a card that synergises with Fell tag spells. But untill we see that Imp Swarm (Rank 1) will just be a bad card. 

Yeah, rip. My warlock decks this year will be all J-Rax all day

Agreed, J-rax all day.

Maybe in a zoo for late game?

[Hearthstone Card (Imp Swarm) Not Found] is solid reload for a Zoo deck, but these imps die easily to most classes' AOE - even after rotation (e.g. Immolation Aura, Consecration, Holy Nova, Lightning Storm). That doesn't mean it's a bad card, but might be a little underwhelming against any control deck. It's really going to depend on what synergies are out there.

Looks like a zoolock card, if you can cut a card for it, but not really sure.

Not really impressed, as other have stated the upgraded spell is "too little, too late". Maybe better in Arena or with synergy cards.

3 worthless imps for 2 mana if one can wait till the end

Decent when played for rank 2 in zoo (not sure zoo will reach rank 3)

Quote From FortyDust

Obviously there will be Fel synergy. If you're dismissing this card because you think spell schools won't matter, you're in for some big surprises.

Imagine, if you will, a minion with the text: After you cast a Fel spell, give all friendly minions +1/+1.

That's just off the top of my head. I'm sure there are even more creative things in store.

That's it. I was wondering why it looked so dull. It will make much more sense with school synergy

It's a Bloodfen Raptor, which is bad, but I can actually see it being relatively decent in Zoo. You want to run plenty of cheap cards, but those usually suck when topdecking them late game. This card is weaker in the earlygame, but still playable, while not being awful to topdeck later on.

After a "long" zoo vs zoo game, you're on turn 6 and the fact that this card is a 2 mana 6/4 over two minions might seal the deal in your favor. In any other situation, I don't see this card being useful in any other scenario, the same way Omega Agent ended up not having an impact. That being said, the condition I said where this card can be good is virtually what arena is all about.

I don't think you even want to pick this in arena, unless you are really going into zoolock in the arena picks.

Solid card for zoo decks

I don't think this card will see too much play seems too slow to wait for full potential and dropping early doesn't really give it value

Posting each rank for helpfulness:

Imp Swarm (Rank 1)

Imp Swarm (Rank 2)

Imp Swarm (Rank 3)

Fel, that might spice things up. 

Otherwise, 2 mana for 9/6 stats is crazy - having to wait till 10 mana... yeah, most zoo players won't even waste time with this card.

I think it will be some crazy control tool with some Fel synergy, got to wait for more cards revealed. 

Seems a tad slow and under-achieving, even at rank 2 ... 
I doubt it has enough punch to make the cut - could be wrong

Perhaps they are adding powerful demon buffs in the set? But geez, how powerful would they have to be to make this card worth playing?

Too low impact for Standard (let alone for wild)... but looks like a pretty good arena card: mediocre but playable on 2, great tempo if you can combine it with something else on 5-6, and certainly better than any other 2-drop when up in topdecking mode.  

We've seen variants like this before with fiendish circle and the much worse Rafaam's Scheme. I think we need to see more support but, in a positive light, a decent board fill with non - 1/1 stats when you have 10 mana. 

Bit weak, but will easily find itself in Zoolock

Hmm, as a standalone, a tad underwhelming, but with some support? Who knows where it might go.

Will never see play 2 mana 3/2 is bad, and late game it’s bad too

I don't know yet if it is for spell or demon synergy, is very slow for aggro zoo and not very weak for mid range or late game strategy

9/6 for 2 mana later in the game, I think will be strong. Good board presence, and you can still do other actions. Loving the look of upgradeables.

This card is too slow for zoolock and a control deck would not care too much about the imps that it gives in my opinion. If a control deck wanted to play a card that flooded the board with bodies, Carnival Clown is probably the better option as it also gives a bunch of taunt minions.

in aren its pretty good anywhere else its just usseless crap

weakest ranked spell imo. compare with hunter spellstone and Petting Zoo

nice for zoo i guess

Maybe worth it if you end up in late game as zoo?

Not very sure about how the fel schools will play out... Cautiously optimistic though about the upgrade with increased mana cards in general the flexibility seems nice. But it could go the way of the omega cards though - will probably have to see what the other cards are.

Zoolock wants to: Know your location

it seems ok, maybe an arena filler card? But I don't know about standard

Whilst I'm sure this card will find a place in Zoolock, I'm struggling to see its immediate value. Granted, the cost is always 2, and at 5 mana, having two 3/2s pop up that you can then buff with other cards isn't the worst.

Zoo Warlock 

So far all of the ranked spells seem underwhelming at rank 2 and 3.  I guess we will have to wait and see how the rest of the Barrens expansion and the Year of the Gryphon play out for support.

Interesting mechanics

Quote From Caro

It's more a zoo card, but doubt it would see much value on turn 10. Lets see what support the fel spells get

Basically this

Looks like Blizz wants to improve the swarm/demon archetype. I'm expecting more wide buff like Wicked Whispers, Imprisoned Scrap Imp or Shadow Council.

Kinda meh. No rank 2 features? How many of us have uses for a simple imp on Turn 2?

The green fel glow synergizes well enough with the purple border, but the art is somewhat unfocused, the imp is not really centerstage.  Not  a great design, not a great card.

Bad zoo card, you never reach turn 10 for the value.

Seems like it doesn't do much, I agree, but I have a feeling this card will be used. If your deck has enough draw power, this can be a nice curve filler mid-late game. 

Quote From greenfrog100

This card is too slow for zoolock and a control deck would not care too much about the imps that it gives in my opinion. If a control deck wanted to play a card that flooded the board with bodies, Carnival Clown is probably the better option as it also gives a bunch of taunt minions.

Good thing there's room for an archetype in the middle range between those two. We just have to think of a good name for it ...

But Imp Swarm is not just about the imps. I'm pretty sure the most important word on the card is Fel.

I've commented on the card page, i think the only good thing about those ranked spells is to draw it later in the game, anyway the flavor text is great

I wonder how this card can be utilised in current archetypes...

Its an ok card, I guess

Would like to see the upgrade.

One of the weakest cards revealed so far. I don't see it being playable unless warlock gets some strong swarm support.

Quote From Elfensilver

The green fel glow synergizes well enough with the purple border, but the art is somewhat unfocused, the imp is not really centerstage.  Not  a great design, not a great card.

About the art, if you look at all of the different versions you can see a story. First you have the imp who appears to be taunting the pig guy, then the pig guy is about to punch the imp and he dodges as a second imp sneaks up in the background, then in the last one you see the pig guy getting overwhelmed by a bunch of imps. It's a terrible card, but I like how they did the art

It's a good spell for Arena, something to play on turn 2, or if you can hold out, gives you some good stats for cost on later turns 

Very slow, needs a very good synergy card to be usefull.

Quote From Osh92

I wonder how this card can be utilised in current archetypes...

Unless you're talking about Wild, there's no point in wondering about that. At the yearly rotation, all existing archetypes should change drastically. Many fall by the wayside, and new ones rise up to take their place. If that doesn't happen -- especially this year -- Team 5 has done something horribly wrong.

this card is really bad :( dont think it will see play

On it's own this card is not strong enough. Modern Hearthstone is to fast for such a slow card.

Seems perhaps a tad on the weak side, but with Ritual of Doom, Blizzard seems like they will push board-swarm synergy for Warlock, which might make this good enough. There could also very well be Fel spell synergy. As is though, the card is going to need some support before a strong consideration.

Looks underwhelming to me so far.  

Only seems decent if you play it on curve, and even then it's not very enticing. Maybe Warlock will get board-buffing tools in the expansion. 

Seems very meh in the current light. Might end up with some more support and could be better, but still, slow for only an ok statline. 

It's...ok. I don't think you'll run it in your deck, but it will be a decent discover sometimes

seem a useless card unlees the fel school buff it or discover this card in later turn

Should work well in Zoolock. much better than 1/1s

Terrible card I'm sure it will get support but alone this card is terrible.

I can see zoo wanting something like this , but it still feels slow to get proper use. 

Probably doesn't make the cut. When it is good it is already easily removed

I would like this to be good in some way, because I like demon-based warlock stuff, but it's hard to imagine, with what's currently available, getting excited about any of these. It's better than I first thought though - I initially thought you'd have to pay 5 for that 2nd rank, but the mana cost freeze at 2 makes it ok. If we have something that buffs demons as they are summoned or something, 3 Imps for 2 mana could become valueable.

On its own, it's probably just a swarm spell for zoolock. However, I'd be interested if it comes with a demon package this expansion, might be cool to see.

Imp Swarm (Rank 1) looks inefficient in most of its potential uses. Cards that care about stats that see play today are run to be played on curve, and this is just a worse Cult Neophyte on turn two. By turns five and ten, the 3/2 bodies are way less likely to have an impact even if when summoning 2-3 of them. The only way I see this being competitive is if Warlock gets an impactful demon synergy card that Imp Swarm (Rank 1) can take advantage of, but Warlock will also have Fiendish Circle in the core set for a more efficient way to swarm demons if they need to.

Maybe effective in Wild mode with plague od flames. Other scenarios are not promising. Possibly  a synergy with unrevealed cards from Barrens may change the fate of the card.

Might be useful in a zoo deck? 

I don't like it. It's not enough to see play imho. The rank 3 is too slow and the rank 1 is just a 3/2 for 2 mana.

Maybe in a zoo style deck, but will have to see what support Fel cards get.

It looks kind of average, which means it might not be good enough to play. I don't think an aggro style of Warlock (or any other deck) cares how a card upgrades much past 5 mana.

I don't know...

Trash.

I don't know. Seems a bit on the weak side. I doubt it makes the cut

underwhelming

Underwhelming card, just like all the other level up cards so far.

maybe some kind of swarm warlock with wicked whispers?

going to take some time before i get used to these mana upgrade spells. tough to tell how well they will play

It's fine I guess, in arena it'll be strong

good card

Worst rank spell so far, just isn't strong at any point in the game. Doesn't even work with the legendary mercenary as it's not a shadow spell.

I'd consider this the weakest of the ranked spells tbh

Kinda meh. Without good combo potential I can't see any real use for this card. Yes you can play it later and cheat few minions but at 5 or 10 mana those 2/3 minions won't do you much good. 

Now that we know all the cards - No further synergy for this card. It'll see play in Arena, but that's about it.

Meh

Will need to see more synergies to see play.

this is my kind of zoo 

good

This card sucks. I am not a fan of summoning a couple of small bodies in the mid-game, even if you technically only had to spend 2 mana to do it. Deathmatch Pavilion doesn't see play, and I see no reason that this card does, either.

Seens bad 

Depend on released synergies - for today it's nothing interesting

Good card for aggro decks, since it can be played at any stage and still be worth it

Terri-bad.

Bit slow for zoo but could be nice fuel later in the game

Seems way too vanilla.  Not a strong card.

omegaslow for zoo

Probably not strong enough for even Zoolock. Just doesn't quite do enough at any stage of the game.