It's difficult to judge this in a vacuum. With a lot of spells this can be played at a significant discount, but that might mean you don't have a minion to play it on. Too many minions and obviously it's terrible.
Honestly, I'm not very excited about this. The lifesteal is nice, but mostly it just seems like a slightly stronger arcane missiles that costs three times as much and doesn't hit face. It just doesn't strike me as being all that great, unless you're facing murlocs or your opponent only has one minion, in which case it would be better to just deal 4 damage in one hit.
I can imagine a couple strategies here: If you empty your deck you can create a new minion each turn and then draw it immediately. Alternately, find a reliable way to pull your new ones from the deck, such as using lots of Beast tutors with this as the only Beast. It’s hard to believe that either one will work consistently, especially since this card doesn’t have Rush and is vulnerable to being removed before the Frenzy triggers. I think even the meme players will give up on it eventually.
With the hand buff cards that are coming I'm hoping that this is more than just a 4/4 most of the time, but even if it is it's still decent value with the battlecry, which isn't too difficult to activate.
A one mana 1/3 isn't bad. Add to that an effect that could be pretty strong when coupled with something like whirlwind and now we've really got something! If there isn't an achievement for getting this to 17 attack I'll be disappointed.
Lots of value potential, that's for sure. If you're just playing vanilla taunt minions then it's pretty boring, but if you start adding deathrattles to the mix that's where this will shine.
This is an interesting card. The stats are kind of average for the cost, but the taunt is nice. The most armor you can get out of it (without buffs) is 6. The problem is if you can't trigger the frenzy yourself you're at your opponent's mercy, in which case you have to hope that they can't just ping it.
It's weird that such a good effect doesn't seem to have much of a place right now. It being Neutral means you can at least experiment with it in a variety of classes, I guess.
Such a weird card. I mean, it's good in Arena and might find a place in Constructed if you want spells but would prefer not to have them in your deck (I've had ideas with Starscryer) but what a funky flavour.
Decent on turn 2, but with the proper setup this can add some decent buffs to the board. I rather like the idea of this in a rush warrior deck, where you can potentially go from nothing to a big board fairly quickly.
Makes it a bit trickier to trade into, but I don't see this being a powerhouse unless you plan on giving it Rush so you can force the Shield to pop up.
New Priest Spell - Power Word: Fortitude
It's difficult to judge this in a vacuum. With a lot of spells this can be played at a significant discount, but that might mean you don't have a minion to play it on. Too many minions and obviously it's terrible.
New Priest Spell - Devouring Plague
Honestly, I'm not very excited about this. The lifesteal is nice, but mostly it just seems like a slightly stronger arcane missiles that costs three times as much and doesn't hit face. It just doesn't strike me as being all that great, unless you're facing murlocs or your opponent only has one minion, in which case it would be better to just deal 4 damage in one hit.
New Warrior Minion - Warsong Envoy
good enough 1 mana option for the new rotation
New Hunter Minion - Sunscale Raptor
I can imagine a couple strategies here: If you empty your deck you can create a new minion each turn and then draw it immediately. Alternately, find a reliable way to pull your new ones from the deck, such as using lots of Beast tutors with this as the only Beast. It’s hard to believe that either one will work consistently, especially since this card doesn’t have Rush and is vulnerable to being removed before the Frenzy triggers. I think even the meme players will give up on it eventually.
New Warrior Minion - Mor'shan Elite
With the hand buff cards that are coming I'm hoping that this is more than just a 4/4 most of the time, but even if it is it's still decent value with the battlecry, which isn't too difficult to activate.
New Warrior Minion - Warsong Envoy
A one mana 1/3 isn't bad. Add to that an effect that could be pretty strong when coupled with something like whirlwind and now we've really got something! If there isn't an achievement for getting this to 17 attack I'll be disappointed.
I'm Forging into the Barrens! The Horde Has Sent a War Supply Crate to My Location (Thanks Blizzard)
Congratz Flux, nice little haul of some sweet swag.
New Druid Minion - Plaguemaw the Rotting
Lots of value potential, that's for sure. If you're just playing vanilla taunt minions then it's pretty boring, but if you start adding deathrattles to the mix that's where this will shine.
New Hunter Minion - Kolkar Pack Runner
It’s certainly not a BAD bonus on a 2 2/3, but Hunters are so good at summoning 1/1 rushers that I can’t imagine this being exciting.
Fun at the Crossroads
has anyone seen the "Fun in the Barrens" achievements section mentioned in the article? I really searched thoroughly, no result unfortunately
New Neutral Minion - Venomous Scorpid
Since it's poisonous the attack doesn't really matter. It's basically as good as emperor cobra, but it also comes with a spell. Not bad!
New Druid Minion - Plaguemaw the Rotting
Don’t worry. This will only be strong if there are Taunts with good Deathrattles.
New Neutral Minion - Gold Road Grunt
This is an interesting card. The stats are kind of average for the cost, but the taunt is nice. The most armor you can get out of it (without buffs) is 6. The problem is if you can't trigger the frenzy yourself you're at your opponent's mercy, in which case you have to hope that they can't just ping it.
New Neutral Minion - Injured Marauder
I've always liked self-damaging minions for quest priest, and this is no different. Great stats for the cost, once Circle of Healing gets involved.
New Neutral Minion - Gold Road Grunt
A Frenzy you don't want to activate yourself, which is interesting enough. Don't think it's actually that good for Constructed though.
New Neutral Minion - Razormane Raider
I guess it can hit back if the opponent doesn't kill it straight up, but I wouldn't want to waste a card triggering this myself.
New Neutral Minion - Barrens Trapper
With Undertaker being un-nerfed I'd say this has a decent chance of seeing play.
New Neutral Minion - Injured Marauder
Maybe Taunt Druid will be a thing in Wild... I don't think we have the support for this in Standard though.
New Neutral Minion - Darkspear Berserker
Mostly an Arena card, with a maybe for topping out an aggro deck if they really need it.
New Neutral Minion - Toad of the Wilds
Seems this could be good in some rogue decks, since all the poisons are nature spells
Just kidding. This clearly seems like a card meant for druid, when it benefits from the nature spells and some beast synergy
New Neutral Minion - Barrens Trapper
It's weird that such a good effect doesn't seem to have much of a place right now. It being Neutral means you can at least experiment with it in a variety of classes, I guess.
New Neutral Minion - Venomous Scorpid
Such a weird card. I mean, it's good in Arena and might find a place in Constructed if you want spells but would prefer not to have them in your deck (I've had ideas with Starscryer) but what a funky flavour.
New Warrior Minion - Rokara
Decent on turn 2, but with the proper setup this can add some decent buffs to the board. I rather like the idea of this in a rush warrior deck, where you can potentially go from nothing to a big board fairly quickly.
New Neutral Minion - Sunwell Initiate
Makes it a bit trickier to trade into, but I don't see this being a powerhouse unless you plan on giving it Rush so you can force the Shield to pop up.
New Neutral Minion - Hog Rancher
3 mana 3/2 deal 2 (with mild restrictions) is alright, but probably not going to see too much play. Zoo and Aggressive decks have much better options.