Looks bad on the surface because naturally you don't want to only discover spells not good enough to put in your deck. However, this could be very key for the new Shadow Priest thing since you can consistently discover good spells that you weren't able to put in your deck. this also applies to any future Spell-school focussed build (hell, you can technically run this in Shaman right now)
I like how they're focusing on Gold manipulation for Pirates, the only one that could do it good before was Deck Swabbie.Freedealing Gambler was effectively useless outside of Salty Looter and Southsea Strongarm, and Cap'n Hoggarr and Nat arrived way too late to be of any use. Speaking of, Nosy Looter seems busted if gotten from Top Shelf
Seems way to unreliable, and also kind of pointless. The best way to activate this is through Backfire, but even that feels kind of unlikely...and at the end of the day, what do you achieve? Warlock doesn't have any sick combos (yet) and even if they did they already have trouble staying alive against anything that isn't Priest
I mean, what's even the downside of running this. the only reason why Ooze is a bad inclusion most of the time is because it's always a dead draw if you're not facing a weapon class.
Not only is a 3/4 a much better tempo play, but the fact that you can just toss it backk into the deck whenever you want (and essentially becomes a 1-mana draw 1 if you aren't tossing it off the top). Maybe they should have saved it for the mini set so the new weapons actually get a chance.
If you think about it this is basically a gimped Shield Block. Control Warrior's biggest issue right now is the lack of actual armor gain to efficiently beat aggro decks (which it is way too weak against currently). Meanwhile, against a Control matchup you can just throw it back in the deck to find something better to spend your mana on.
cute and all, but what do you actually do with it? Control Mage doesn't currently exist and I doubt it will anytime soon because it's just so weak to straight up aggro (even accounting for the new heal cards). Spell Mage will probably run it and gain a few percentages until the devs finally wake up and nuke Incanter's Flow, but ultimately I don't see this being useful in the long run.
Realistically, this is never going to see competitive play ever. It eliminates a control approach because you can't play Control Priest without HOly Spells (not to mention you can find Shadowform in Control Priest most of the time anyways, so there's no real benefit). I really don't think we're gonna get some funky aggro Priest, at least no unless the entire set supports it.
That being said, it's still a good effect and should hopefully create some bottom tier 3 meme deck that you can maintain a 50% winrate at ranked floors. Might also improve as time goes on since the more Shadow Spells you can choose from the better.
But for me personally Scabbs doesn't solve the underlying issue. On his own, he is just another instance of when rogue gets a skin because it's part of a series that covers every class, and doesn't offer any evidence that the devs want to address the imbalance across the classes.
It's a good card, with lots of value, but that's not really hunter's thing. Also this at 3 mana screws up the Barak Kodobane and Olgra, Mankrik's Wife combo
on the contrary, it finally gives us a 3-mana spell for Kodobama that doesn't suck which is pretty important because Kodobane would be so much worse ina slower deck if he only draws 2 cards most of the time.
Cautiously optimistic about Midrange Hunter. This is basically a mini Ace Hunter Kreen and that card is about the only thing that Midrange has going for it these days.
Sweet card, have better Body/cost than Ooze (2 mana 3/2 < 3 mana 3/4) and the tradeable keyword helps you against decks that don't use weapons.
The only downside is the beast tag, you don't want to resurrect it with N'Zoth, God of the Deep, and that god increases his power when more expansions are revealed, can be a solid win condition for a lot of control decks in the second half of the year because more tribe minions will be revealed.
Nice idea, although stolen from the contest here some weeks ago. :D
Lokks very interesting, the ability to deal 2 damage each turn without playing a card (Like Shadowform or Wildfire) is really nice. It doesn't have to be an aggro deck, maybe a control deck with less stalling/bs could use this. Will try if opened!
I think this is the most solid card revealed from the new expansion yet. Great body for 3-mana, a useful effect, a beast tag, and could be cycled through your deck if you know your opponent doesn't have a weapon (which is a dream for tech cards). Very, very good card that you will definitely run over Ooze.
God, I hope this ends up being viable at some point. I'm so sick of the un-proactive Priest decks were seeing in meta after meta.
That restriction is really limiting though, considering that most of Priest's best spells are Holy. Hopefully the devs push this archetype in this expansion and introduce lots of good Shadow spells.
New Paladin Weapon - Prismatic Jewel Kit
Not exactly sold on handbuff Paladin in Standard, but weirder things have happened.
New Neutral Minion - Peasant
If this ever sees play the game is completely fucked
New Neutral Minion - Pandaren Importer
Looks bad on the surface because naturally you don't want to only discover spells not good enough to put in your deck. However, this could be very key for the new Shadow Priest thing since you can consistently discover good spells that you weren't able to put in your deck. this also applies to any future Spell-school focussed build (hell, you can technically run this in Shaman right now)
New Neutral Minion - Mailbox Dancer
Never underestimate the need for coins. Also never underestimate how much your opponent can fuck you over with one extra mana.
Hearthstone's Battlegrounds Gets a New Hero and Minion, Rebalancing, Future Minion and Tribe Overhaul
I like how they're focusing on Gold manipulation for Pirates, the only one that could do it good before was Deck Swabbie.Freedealing Gambler was effectively useless outside of Salty Looter and Southsea Strongarm, and Cap'n Hoggarr and Nat arrived way too late to be of any use. Speaking of, Nosy Looter seems busted if gotten from Top Shelf
They Are Fixing The Game :)
Yeah I would say that the new balance patches have been very sucessful.
Lurk doesn't feel op as of yet. There's always gonna.be that dice roll element.
Do I want to Yolo this attack and attempt to hit lurk, do I want to predict and loose card advantage.
As for the new P and Z Shurima, God its fun, but no I don't think that's overpowered either.
Playing a 4 mana champ that can just get mystic spotted is risky.
The changes to core cards are interesting. Ionia got buffs which is nice, because for a while it was like why ever play Ionia over shurima.
Bilgewater buffs for sure, I think kegs could be a thing again.
Everything just feels up in the air right now and I hope it stays that way for atleast a week.
New Warlock Weapon - Runed Mithril Rod
Seems way to unreliable, and also kind of pointless. The best way to activate this is through Backfire, but even that feels kind of unlikely...and at the end of the day, what do you achieve? Warlock doesn't have any sick combos (yet) and even if they did they already have trouble staying alive against anything that isn't Priest
New Neutral Minion - Rustrot Viper
rip weapon classes but for real this time.
I mean, what's even the downside of running this. the only reason why Ooze is a bad inclusion most of the time is because it's always a dead draw if you're not facing a weapon class.
Not only is a 3/4 a much better tempo play, but the fact that you can just toss it backk into the deck whenever you want (and essentially becomes a 1-mana draw 1 if you aren't tossing it off the top). Maybe they should have saved it for the mini set so the new weapons actually get a chance.
Also, unused Wailing Caverns artwork lul
Hearthstone's Battlegrounds Gets a New Hero and Minion, Rebalancing, Future Minion and Tribe Overhaul
New brann seems pretty op considering how many tavern 1 and 2 battlecries there are
New Neutral Minion - Impatient Shopkeep
Could be interesting if you pick it of Athletic Studies if your opening hand is really bad.
Also it could serve as a mediocre early game removal for classes that just don't have that.
New Warrior Spell - Heavy Plate
If you think about it this is basically a gimped Shield Block. Control Warrior's biggest issue right now is the lack of actual armor gain to efficiently beat aggro decks (which it is way too weak against currently). Meanwhile, against a Control matchup you can just throw it back in the deck to find something better to spend your mana on.
New Mage Spell - Fire Sale
cute and all, but what do you actually do with it? Control Mage doesn't currently exist and I doubt it will anytime soon because it's just so weak to straight up aggro (even accounting for the new heal cards). Spell Mage will probably run it and gain a few percentages until the devs finally wake up and nuke Incanter's Flow, but ultimately I don't see this being useful in the long run.
New Priest Minion - Darkbishop Benedictus
Realistically, this is never going to see competitive play ever. It eliminates a control approach because you can't play Control Priest without HOly Spells (not to mention you can find Shadowform in Control Priest most of the time anyways, so there's no real benefit). I really don't think we're gonna get some funky aggro Priest, at least no unless the entire set supports it.
That being said, it's still a good effect and should hopefully create some bottom tier 3 meme deck that you can maintain a 50% winrate at ranked floors. Might also improve as time goes on since the more Shadow Spells you can choose from the better.
Why the lack of rogue heroes is so frustrating
Very possibly, and if we get the chef art in the 'meet the mercenaries' post (https://playhearthstone.com/en-gb/news/23658052) then that's a double thumbs up.
But for me personally Scabbs doesn't solve the underlying issue. On his own, he is just another instance of when rogue gets a skin because it's part of a series that covers every class, and doesn't offer any evidence that the devs want to address the imbalance across the classes.
New Priest Spell - Elekk Mount
Noone'S going to actually run it, but it'S going to ruin your day anyways because "created by".
At least it should weaken Control Priests early game discover options (while still keeping the long game strong for obvious reasons)
New Hunter Spell - Ramming Mount
on the contrary, it finally gives us a 3-mana spell for Kodobama that doesn't suck which is pretty important because Kodobane would be so much worse ina slower deck if he only draws 2 cards most of the time.
New Hunter Spell - Ramming Mount
Cautiously optimistic about Midrange Hunter. This is basically a mini Ace Hunter Kreen and that card is about the only thing that Midrange has going for it these days.
United in Stormwind is Hearthstone's Next Expansion - Live Reveal and Recap
would have to be continuous considering that the card gets shuffled into the deck and thus would be reset to base value
New Neutral Minion - Rustrot Viper
Sweet card, have better Body/cost than Ooze (2 mana 3/2 < 3 mana 3/4) and the tradeable keyword helps you against decks that don't use weapons.
The only downside is the beast tag, you don't want to resurrect it with N'Zoth, God of the Deep, and that god increases his power when more expansions are revealed, can be a solid win condition for a lot of control decks in the second half of the year because more tribe minions will be revealed.
Why the lack of rogue heroes is so frustrating
There will be up to three Scabbs Portaits in the reward track. ( I assume)
New Priest Minion - Darkbishop Benedictus
Nice idea, although stolen from the contest here some weeks ago. :D
Lokks very interesting, the ability to deal 2 damage each turn without playing a card (Like Shadowform or Wildfire) is really nice. It doesn't have to be an aggro deck, maybe a control deck with less stalling/bs could use this. Will try if opened!
New Priest Minion - Darkbishop Benedictus
Oh, I wish it would work with Baku the Mooneater and give you an upgraded shadow form that deals 3 damage. Probably not though.
New Neutral Minion - Rustrot Viper
I think this is the most solid card revealed from the new expansion yet. Great body for 3-mana, a useful effect, a beast tag, and could be cycled through your deck if you know your opponent doesn't have a weapon (which is a dream for tech cards). Very, very good card that you will definitely run over Ooze.
Why the lack of rogue heroes is so frustrating
the fire festival rexxar right after the fire whatever rexxar really speaks volumes on the level of planning
New Priest Minion - Darkbishop Benedictus
God, I hope this ends up being viable at some point. I'm so sick of the un-proactive Priest decks were seeing in meta after meta.
That restriction is really limiting though, considering that most of Priest's best spells are Holy. Hopefully the devs push this archetype in this expansion and introduce lots of good Shadow spells.