The deck-thinning argument is pretty weak IMO, depending on how your deck is built.
Assuming you mulligan for early-game plays, and assuming a fairly even curve distribution beyond 3 mana, chances are not super-small that your old Tracking would fail to live up to the dream of "draw a big one and trash two small ones." You would often end up trashing at least one medium-to-big card. That kind of deck-thinning isn't all that great.
Old Tracking was good, but only because it was a poor man's Discover. Now it's actual Discover, which means combos are less risky and longer games are less risky. Enabling a non-aggro Hunter, even if indirectly, can only be a good thing.
I have to be honest, I don't like the removal of charge from everything. Team5 could've just left at least one in standard, this one for instance, so the dream of pulling out some combo will still be possible. I remember the dead days of boar hunter, in AoO, made possible precisely because it had charge, and gave hunter a semblance of a chance in that trying tempo dhunter period. Guess we won't ever be seeing any more of that.
On its own, its bad. Basically for a class that can't draw for shit, every card must count, and this one happily runs itself to its death the same turn you play him, with no obvious combo of either keeping him alive or doing some really powerful stuff. Is there any reason to not play say, Arcane Shot, or Backstab, or in fact any other card, instead of a 1 mana deal 2 to a minion? The only thing I can think of to justify a card slot would be Saddlemaster, an equally weak card in its own right.
Perhaps this signals that team5 is going to print something that will cheapen beasts in hand, in which case there's a sliver of an opportunity for new boar to actually see play. But until then, this is trash, topped only by new Bluegill Warrior.
There are other game modes other than Constructed, you know. It will be pretty good Arena card, probably Duels too, and can appear in Brawls. Definitely not a useless card by any means in the set.
By that reasoning, there are no 'bad' cards. The context of my review/rant is obviously standard constructed because that's where the decision to include into a deck is pertinent and I simply cannot see why anyone would want it. Paladin is the only class that comes closes because there's no 1 mana removal in that class currently, and even then I cannot see why boar would be taken over the deluge of other 1 drops.
True, but even small buff from Omen Hawk is pretty impactful.
With Ancestral Boon, all allies you draw for the rest of the game have +2 / +2 which is very overwhelming for the opponent. (And you can play it play 3 times for up to +6 / +6).
Still, you need to play Freljord mono deck, but the payoff is big. It supports more minion-heavy deck style for sure.
Buddy I gues you misread the card: It says ENLIGHTEN not Allegiance for the +2/+2 bonus so you need to play this buff very late in the game to give all units in the deck +2/+2
Haha yeah that exactly what happened.
I misread and thought it was the allegiance card. Thanks for pointing this out.
Regarding my opinion Ancestral Boon is obviously much much weaker than I thought previously.
Its a small buff. But its still will not see any play. Part of the reason why BGH was a staple back then wasn't simply because it only costs 3, but also because Mountain Giants on 4 used to just end games. Now that that's no longer the case, BGH even at 4 is just not having any real targets to take down.
you underestimate how important removal will become now that the core set has eliminated a lot of flex cards. Druids can't really deal with big threats efficiently (even less than before) so this might just be necessary if there's a deck that runs big minions like that.
Ironically I'm more excited for sand swept tomb than the champion announcement. Just having a reliable shark chariot activator without a build around cost is actually really strong.
I love that Altruis and Twin Slice are leaving but losing Nethrandamus is something that pushes me even farther away from this class. I have absolutely no reason to play it anymore as the dragon was the only card that i liked. I don't dislike Zai but without cool things to copy it isn't all that interesting.
I like the design. Not sure that any of these reputation cards are gonna be that exciting. The obvious pairing for Sivir is with Noxus in a 5 attack style deck but its able to work in other factions, maybe Demacia. I do worry that the reputation effect is just really awkward to trigger in most other factions, but I suppose you don't need to do so to make Sivir decent.
I think the change to tracking makes sense, but I am a little sad to see the old version go. It definitely was a very interesting card to think about, weighing the pros and cons of searching for a card in your deck while also discarding other cards.
The Tracking change in particular is something that is interesting to talk about. I almost feel that the card was changed so newer players would actually understand properly how the card works. Many new (and even some long time) players of the game tend to pass on the card due to the perception that discarding two cards in your deck will put you at a disadvantage.
This new design appears to just completely bypass that situation entirely. The card appears better than the current version to new players, but worse to more experienced players.
Yanno I was going to say it's weird that hunter loses animal companion but they really haven't since Open the Cages will still be in standard.
Dire Frenzy will be nice to see come back, it's super helpful for Hunters stuck in the late game, and it has some good synergy with Guardian Animals, which hasn't seen much play in Hunter decks...I think ever? Put a Dire Frenzy on a Trampling Rhino, and then Guardian Animals next turn for possibly 2 8/8's with Rush that deal chip damage to your opponents face.
Selective Breeder has multiple uses - if you wanna use Leoroxx as a finisher you can use it to fish for King Krush since Hunting Party and Ramkahen Wildtamer will be rotating out. Heck, even outside of a combo deck it's still useful - pull out a copy of Xizor Prime, or a minion that was buffed with Dire Frenzy. Heck, even discover something to play on curve like Bearshark.
New Hunter Spell - Tracking
The deck-thinning argument is pretty weak IMO, depending on how your deck is built.
Assuming you mulligan for early-game plays, and assuming a fairly even curve distribution beyond 3 mana, chances are not super-small that your old Tracking would fail to live up to the dream of "draw a big one and trash two small ones." You would often end up trashing at least one medium-to-big card. That kind of deck-thinning isn't all that great.
Old Tracking was good, but only because it was a poor man's Discover. Now it's actual Discover, which means combos are less risky and longer games are less risky. Enabling a non-aggro Hunter, even if indirectly, can only be a good thing.
New Neutral Minion - Stonetusk Boar
By that reasoning, there are no 'bad' cards. The context of my review/rant is obviously standard constructed because that's where the decision to include into a deck is pertinent and I simply cannot see why anyone would want it. Paladin is the only class that comes closes because there's no 1 mana removal in that class currently, and even then I cannot see why boar would be taken over the deluge of other 1 drops.
New Freljord Spell - Ancestral Boon
Haha yeah that exactly what happened.
I misread and thought it was the allegiance card. Thanks for pointing this out.
Regarding my opinion Ancestral Boon is obviously much much weaker than I thought previously.
New Neutral Minion - Big Game Hunter
you underestimate how important removal will become now that the core set has eliminated a lot of flex cards. Druids can't really deal with big threats efficiently (even less than before) so this might just be necessary if there's a deck that runs big minions like that.
Thieves Strike First
Ironically I'm more excited for sand swept tomb than the champion announcement. Just having a reliable shark chariot activator without a build around cost is actually really strong.
https://youtu.be/p6jEQ1NPPxw
How is Demon Hunter Going to Perform in Hearthstone's Year of the Gryphon? Core Set Review
I love that Altruis and Twin Slice are leaving but losing Nethrandamus is something that pushes me even farther away from this class. I have absolutely no reason to play it anymore as the dragon was the only card that i liked. I don't dislike Zai but without cool things to copy it isn't all that interesting.
New Shurima Champion - Sivir
Weird pose, vanilla gameplay. Yeah that's Sivir alright. Anyway her level 1 is solid and her level 2 is a win condition, so she is a good champion.
How is Warlock Going to Perform in Hearthstone's Year of the Gryphon? Core Set Review
Literally every streamer: Ritual of Doom may not be good because you'll never get that many minions to stick.
Me (yelling at my TV): Fiendish Circle is a thing!
There's no way they put cards like these in Core if they aren't planning to support them in expansion sets.
Slay Queen Slay
Kindred is the other half of the slay archetype, but the keyword seems flexible enough to be run in a lot of decks.
https://youtu.be/7BRT084GZrs
Sivir Champion Reveal and New Shurima Cards for Runeterra's Empires of the Ascended Expansion
I love the name 'Relics of Yore'.
Sivir Champion Reveal and New Shurima Cards for Runeterra's Empires of the Ascended Expansion
How early did they start making these videos? Lucky Find is called Relics of Yore in the video.
Sivir Champion Reveal and New Shurima Cards for Runeterra's Empires of the Ascended Expansion
I like the design. Not sure that any of these reputation cards are gonna be that exciting. The obvious pairing for Sivir is with Noxus in a 5 attack style deck but its able to work in other factions, maybe Demacia. I do worry that the reputation effect is just really awkward to trigger in most other factions, but I suppose you don't need to do so to make Sivir decent.
New Shurima Champion - Sivir
35 sounds a lot... but it is itsnt. I gouess this will be a very decent shuriman midrange card.
The only thing I don't like is that she is so vanilla
How is Hunter Going to Perform in Hearthstone's Year of the Gryphon? Core Set Review
I think the change to tracking makes sense, but I am a little sad to see the old version go. It definitely was a very interesting card to think about, weighing the pros and cons of searching for a card in your deck while also discarding other cards.
New Shurima Spell - Boomerang Blade
High commitment, on a slow and pricy spell that is clunky to use? No , absolutely not
New Shurima Spell - Payday
in a way this is a Weapon Hilt, ...a pretty bad weapon hilt may I add
How is Hunter Going to Perform in Hearthstone's Year of the Gryphon? Core Set Review
The Tracking change in particular is something that is interesting to talk about. I almost feel that the card was changed so newer players would actually understand properly how the card works. Many new (and even some long time) players of the game tend to pass on the card due to the perception that discarding two cards in your deck will put you at a disadvantage.
This new design appears to just completely bypass that situation entirely. The card appears better than the current version to new players, but worse to more experienced players.
New Shurima Landmark - Inner Sanctum
This can be very strong but will it be good? I have no idea tbh
New Shurima Spell - Waking Sands
A spell that summons a unit that even an Trifarian Hopeful can look down on... mediocre is too nice of a word to describe this card
New Shurima Landmark - Sandswept Tomb
It looks nuts when played with Stormclaw Ursine but is this going to be a good archetype? I doubt it?
New Shurima Card - Callous Bonecrusher
The question how fast you get this threshold done. If you get this to cost 2 mana in midgame it is really good if not this is quite pointless
New Shurima Card - Ruin Runner
this is a very good standalone follower will it be good enough? Maybe? It looks strong
New Shurima Spell - Ricochet
The question is how this interacts with spelldamage boosts... i mean imagine throwing this off with 2 Powder Kegs in play...
How is Hunter Going to Perform in Hearthstone's Year of the Gryphon? Core Set Review
Yanno I was going to say it's weird that hunter loses animal companion but they really haven't since Open the Cages will still be in standard.
Dire Frenzy will be nice to see come back, it's super helpful for Hunters stuck in the late game, and it has some good synergy with Guardian Animals, which hasn't seen much play in Hunter decks...I think ever? Put a Dire Frenzy on a Trampling Rhino, and then Guardian Animals next turn for possibly 2 8/8's with Rush that deal chip damage to your opponents face.
Selective Breeder has multiple uses - if you wanna use Leoroxx as a finisher you can use it to fish for King Krush since Hunting Party and Ramkahen Wildtamer will be rotating out. Heck, even outside of a combo deck it's still useful - pull out a copy of Xizor Prime, or a minion that was buffed with Dire Frenzy. Heck, even discover something to play on curve like Bearshark.
Hunter seems pretty strong at the moment.
How is Warlock Going to Perform in Hearthstone's Year of the Gryphon? Core Set Review
Youthful Brewmaster and Tickatus?!? OH BOY YES PLEASE