People keep talking about it being 0 cost. But the truth is, you will reliably be able to play this on turn 3 for 3 mana if you keep one copy in your opening hand. (2 burgle type cards + this). Yes, a 0 mana 4/5 is great, but a 3 mana 4/5 is more realistic for tempo and not just losing to face hunter.
3 mana 6/6 is no joke. The real question is, will removel/tempo be up to par and make this easy to counter or will this allow Rogues to gain early game tempo?
I don't mind mana cheat and enabling wonky expensive turns at the cost of "do nothing" cards such as this. What I worry about is the resurgence/reappearance of Charge.
It seems that Charge is slowly making its way back into the game, which IMO is not a healthy aspect of the game I wish to re-engage. I still have PTSD from Leeroy days.
Mana cheat is always something to watch out for. First thing I'm looking at is some wacky OTK with Captain Galvangar and Faceless Manipulator, but I'm sure it can be very good in a tempo deck as well.
And I'll second both of you - mana cheat are always something to watch out for, and this is no exception. My original though was that it would discount pirates or something, but reading through the thread, some are even more creative. Something broken will result from this
In my mind, its support for secret rogue, because there's really not many burgle spells in standard to get this out on 3, and Swashburglar is but one card. You can play plagiarize on 2, or just hanar into secret which will get you what you need to make this work out.
It reads a 'copy of this'. Which means there's a chance for this to be better but probably rogue can never take advantage of it, and I think team5 tend to learn from their mistakes.
I guess my favorite would be the Red Mage. It has a combination of good magic selection and hit power. When it upgrades to Red Wizard it can even learn useful spells like Life.
In standard its a thinly disguised christmas tree.
What this can do is staggering enough that I think its just good, and will get better in time. And since you have a good control over what you get, its unlikely to backfire.
For this to work "on curve" you need powerful statline 1 and 2 drops to stick to the board. The best cards in these costs are:
Imprisoned Homunculus (wakes from dormant on the turn you can use the spell, and in fact dormant as a mechanic may work well with the passive effect if played at the right moments.)
Good card. Is there enough support though, because its not going to work with Cera'thine Fleetrunner.
The one way you'll get plenty of burgle cards quickly is via Plagiarize. Another way is via Shadowjeweler Hanar. That's basically it. Unless those things happen, this card will likely cost around 3 at best. Good, but Im yet to be convinced.
The powerlevel is there. Whether its consistent will be another thing.
Egglock support as others have identified. But....3 mana is a pretty critical turning point from early game to mid-game. This means lock will have to be strong on 1 and 2 drops. In a meta that supports this, this means other aggro decks or early control spells/aoe .
If this type of deck ever becomes meta, be prepared to see the return of Chain Lightning, Landslide, or Perpetual Flame in shaman decks. I'm fairly certain shaman in the next expansion will hard counter egglock pretty handily because of all the tools they have and are being given (namely the hero card).
Probably not good enough because priest simply doesn't flood boards like other classes, and you're unlikely to save up minions for a turn 4 flood.
But its definitely something to watch whenever theres a new expansion, because its a bit like Dun Baldar Bridge, if it works you've probably won the game.
Healing is never negligible, regardless of class. I fear that with all the secrets and tools facehunter is being given, healing will be more necessary than ever.
I think even at best only big pally will run it. In your average midrange pally deck you'll get 3-5 health on average, which in my opinion, may not be good enough unless we're talking hyper face aggro.
Decent value, and in a class that has excellent draw this could see play in some variant of zoo/midrange/aggro. I doubt it will gain traction though simply because people love to latch onto "unfun" cards purely for how they play out (See quest warlock, tickatus warlock, etc)
This is clearly setup for next year. There's no decent fel spells currently but I suspect that (as end of year expansions go) the power level will be insane later down the road.
New Priest Minion - Luminous Geode
Agreed. We already have Crimson Clergy and it doesn't see play so I doubt this will either.
New Shaman Spell - Glaciate
The only time this card is even remotely significant is when you get a taunt minion up because this thing isn't moving for 2 turns.
Don't think we'll be seeing much of this card anytime soon. Its likely more significant as a filler for other classes to unfortunately get/discover.
New Rogue Minion - Wildpaw Gnoll
People keep talking about it being 0 cost. But the truth is, you will reliably be able to play this on turn 3 for 3 mana if you keep one copy in your opening hand. (2 burgle type cards + this). Yes, a 0 mana 4/5 is great, but a 3 mana 4/5 is more realistic for tempo and not just losing to face hunter.
New Warrior Spell - Shield Shatter
This just seems like reckless flurry but generally better in all but the most extreme of circumstances.
New Rogue Minion - Double Agent
3 mana 6/6 is no joke. The real question is, will removel/tempo be up to par and make this easy to counter or will this allow Rogues to gain early game tempo?
New Warrior Spell - To the Front!
It looks like it will have to be pretty specific. I haven't heard of any OTK but there may be one.
Playing a bunch of 3 drops for cheap late in the game is awful
Ad infinitum avoid at all cost in Arena...
New Warrior Spell - To the Front!
I don't mind mana cheat and enabling wonky expensive turns at the cost of "do nothing" cards such as this. What I worry about is the resurgence/reappearance of Charge.
It seems that Charge is slowly making its way back into the game, which IMO is not a healthy aspect of the game I wish to re-engage. I still have PTSD from Leeroy days.
New Rogue Spell - Contraband Stash
Are you saying this is just going to copy a bunch of secrets? :)
New Warrior Spell - To the Front!
And I'll second both of you - mana cheat are always something to watch out for, and this is no exception.
My original though was that it would discount pirates or something, but reading through the thread, some are even more creative. Something broken will result from this
New Rogue Minion - Double Agent
In my mind, its support for secret rogue, because there's really not many burgle spells in standard to get this out on 3, and Swashburglar is but one card. You can play plagiarize on 2, or just hanar into secret which will get you what you need to make this work out.
It reads a 'copy of this'. Which means there's a chance for this to be better but probably rogue can never take advantage of it, and I think team5 tend to learn from their mistakes.
Favorite Merc
I guess my favorite would be the Red Mage. It has a combination of good magic selection and hit power. When it upgrades to Red Wizard it can even learn useful spells like Life.
New Rogue Spell - Contraband Stash
In standard its a thinly disguised christmas tree.
What this can do is staggering enough that I think its just good, and will get better in time. And since you have a good control over what you get, its unlikely to backfire.
New Warrior Spell - Shield Shatter
I'm unsure if its good enough to make the cut, but it sure is quite the removal
New Priest Spell - Stormpike Aid Station
For this to work "on curve" you need powerful statline 1 and 2 drops to stick to the board. The best cards in these costs are:
New Rogue Minion - Wildpaw Gnoll
Good card. Is there enough support though, because its not going to work with Cera'thine Fleetrunner.
The one way you'll get plenty of burgle cards quickly is via Plagiarize. Another way is via Shadowjeweler Hanar. That's basically it. Unless those things happen, this card will likely cost around 3 at best. Good, but Im yet to be convinced.
The powerlevel is there. Whether its consistent will be another thing.
New Priest Minion - Luminous Geode
Had pyromancer and circle of healing still be in standard this card is just nuts.
But right now? Not so much. Its suffers from the same problems as with Lightsteed. Just impractical to assume it'll work consistently every game.
New Warlock Spell - Desecrated Graveyard
Egglock support as others have identified. But....3 mana is a pretty critical turning point from early game to mid-game. This means lock will have to be strong on 1 and 2 drops. In a meta that supports this, this means other aggro decks or early control spells/aoe .
If this type of deck ever becomes meta, be prepared to see the return of Chain Lightning, Landslide, or Perpetual Flame in shaman decks. I'm fairly certain shaman in the next expansion will hard counter egglock pretty handily because of all the tools they have and are being given (namely the hero card).
New Priest Spell - Stormpike Aid Station
Probably not good enough because priest simply doesn't flood boards like other classes, and you're unlikely to save up minions for a turn 4 flood.
But its definitely something to watch whenever theres a new expansion, because its a bit like Dun Baldar Bridge, if it works you've probably won the game.
New Shaman Spell - Frostbite
Good removal tool with upside. Being able to disrupt your opponent is always a good thing.
New Shaman Spell - Windchill
Great card. That's it.
New Paladin Spell - Vitality Surge
I think even at best only big pally will run it. In your average midrange pally deck you'll get 3-5 health on average, which in my opinion, may not be good enough unless we're talking hyper face aggro.
New Warlock Spell - Seeds of Destruction
Decent value, and in a class that has excellent draw this could see play in some variant of zoo/midrange/aggro. I doubt it will gain traction though simply because people love to latch onto "unfun" cards purely for how they play out (See quest warlock, tickatus warlock, etc)
New Warlock Minion - Grave Defiler
Until more fel spells are printed, this will most likely not see much play barring meme decks or arena.
Fractured in Alterac Valley Final Card Reveals - See All 55 New Cards For Hearthstone's December Expansion
He can datamine, so the data may have been in the game files.
New Warlock Minion - Felwalker
This is clearly setup for next year. There's no decent fel spells currently but I suspect that (as end of year expansions go) the power level will be insane later down the road.