The "few other things" in 1.8 is most likely the next big expansion for LoR. Riot said months ago that the next expansion was scheduled for August and they would have said something here if it was delayed. Also, they've made significant balance changes in alternating patches since open beta. 1.7 doesn't have any balance changes, so 1.8 would be due for those changes, but it says it won't be a full-fledged balance patch. It doesn't make sense that they would plan to leave that out unless the patch included something else big.
So it's safe to say we'll be getting the next expansion in three weeks, which will be the biggest one yet. A full new region with 6 champions and one new champion for each existing region, along with a bunch of followers and spells to go along with them.
Buff spells have historically seen play as a way to develop stats for tempo while also pressuring the opponent by sending that damage face most of the time. This is like a 5 mana giant with rush that requires a minion on board, which I think the fact that Blessing of Authority can't go face makes the buff feel wasted if it's removed during your opponent's next turn. Also, since the buff requires a minion in play to have rush, the buff becomes less proactive. You can pull this with High Abbess Alura, but that isn't too consistent if you run Blessing of Authority just for that. Overall, I think the buff is too situational to be included in a deck.
Already proven to be busted in the theorycrafting streams. You ramp or play Lightning Bloom in the early game and you just auto win off the good beasts you put into the deck
Would love to know Blizzard's thought process behind this card. I guess it's ok when summoned off of Duel! or Commencement but there are so many better and bigger cards to put into your deck
Libram Paladin is the most (if not the only) competitively viable Paladin deck that is centered around buffs. Maybe Argent Braggart makes the cut in Libram Paladin? I think it's possible, but I also think the deck is as much as a tempo deck as it is a buff deck and would maybe rather run a 2 drop that is better on turn 2. When compared to Devout Pupil, Pupil has divine shield and taunt and is more proactive in its buff synergies than Braggart. Overall, I think Braggart may actually not make the cut in standard, but it is an interesting minion in Even Paladin in wild that already runs a lot of 2 drops.
Demon hunter in general is a combo killer, so it won't matter in that way.
Glide is a control killer because it punishes decks that play for value against demon Hunter, or just any deck that builds card advantage.
Glide is going to be problematic as long as it's a playable card because it invalidates the basics of Hearthstone for your opponent. Glide will only be balanced if it's nerfed to be a strict combo disruptor (aka at a mana cost of at least 6)
Well, at the end of they day it was just terrible design anyways because they never printed the support it needed (a 1-mana minion with Echo)
We all know by this point that playing a Quest on turn 1 is a huge downside, so no tempo based quest deck ever succeeded. This is especially damning when your deck is made up of mostly 1-cost minions which drop in efficiency for every turn beyond the first.
Additionally, since your main deck is mostly garbage to complete the deck, if you don't start chaining Raptors after playing Carnassa you effectively lose
I tried hard to make Quest Hunter work and the closest I got was in RR as a mostly spell-based deck trying to tutor Halazzi...and even then the deck was mainly carried by Zul'jin.
If you empty your hand to play Carnassa on 5 and don't topdeck a Raptor Chain on 6 you just lose straight away, it's that bad.
I think this is the first step toward the creation of Neutral spells.
For what regards the card in itself, I totally love it: I'm quite sure it won't be anywhere near an auto include in every single deck but I'll still be happy to unpack it.
The only deck in standard right now that cares about having high attack weapons is Pirate Warrior, which I couldn't even fit this into my Pirate Warrior as you aren't likely to have your high attack weapon by turn 4 and you have better plays post-turn 4. Maybe this sees play in Rogue with Hooked Scimitar, but I think that will prove to be inconsistent to have both of those cards curve into each other. Overall, this card seems awkward to line up on curve in standard, but I think this has potential in wild, especially with Kingsbane.
to be fair, Discolock worked out eventually in RR.
MOst of the Quests were overhyped because we didn't realize how much of a downside skipping turn 1 with one less card in your mulligan would be.
Lakkari Sacrifice was also the first time Discard became a legit archetype, so people didn't realize how inconsistent it was.
As a payoff card it was pretty damn strong, but it was very difficult to get there without getting overwhelmed since you couldn't rely on not discarding your answers and comeback tools.
I'm gonna be honest, I wasn't expecting a new Secret for Rogue. I love that they've decided to keep adding them - perhaps a hint to a rework of their Classic set in the future? Maybe Paladin can drop their Secrets too?
A Look Back At Historically Overhyped Hearthstone Cards
‘Dr. Boom? Meh, it’s no Troggzor!’ - Chakki (current member of a HS Design Team), 2014
Runeterra Patch 1.7 - Tri-Region Singleton, New Spirit Blossom Quests, Expeditions Refresh on Thursdays, Deckbuilder UI Improvements
The "few other things" in 1.8 is most likely the next big expansion for LoR. Riot said months ago that the next expansion was scheduled for August and they would have said something here if it was delayed. Also, they've made significant balance changes in alternating patches since open beta. 1.7 doesn't have any balance changes, so 1.8 would be due for those changes, but it says it won't be a full-fledged balance patch. It doesn't make sense that they would plan to leave that out unless the patch included something else big.
So it's safe to say we'll be getting the next expansion in three weeks, which will be the biggest one yet. A full new region with 6 champions and one new champion for each existing region, along with a bunch of followers and spells to go along with them.
Scholomance Buff Priest
I agree, the new zero mana self damage card that adds 2 minions that died this game to your hand would be decent in a deck like this.
Token Aggro
Ah yes, you beat me to it :D keen to make this deck on day one. Let the Gibberlings run rampant upon ranked
New Druid Minion - Gibberling
The chaining of spells onto this card will be incredible, especially with what we've already seen from the theorycrafting and trolden clips :D
New Paladin Spell - Blessing of Authority
Buff spells have historically seen play as a way to develop stats for tempo while also pressuring the opponent by sending that damage face most of the time. This is like a 5 mana giant with rush that requires a minion on board, which I think the fact that Blessing of Authority can't go face makes the buff feel wasted if it's removed during your opponent's next turn. Also, since the buff requires a minion in play to have rush, the buff becomes less proactive. You can pull this with High Abbess Alura, but that isn't too consistent if you run Blessing of Authority just for that. Overall, I think the buff is too situational to be included in a deck.
New Rogue Spell - Secret Passage
According to Kripp, this is the first guaranteed nerf target of the set, to be nerfed 8 days after expansion launch xD
New Druid & Hunter Spell - Guardian Animals
Already proven to be busted in the theorycrafting streams. You ramp or play Lightning Bloom in the early game and you just auto win off the good beasts you put into the deck
New Paladin Minion - Judicious Junior
Would love to know Blizzard's thought process behind this card. I guess it's ok when summoned off of Duel! or Commencement but there are so many better and bigger cards to put into your deck
New Paladin Minion - Argent Braggart
Libram Paladin is the most (if not the only) competitively viable Paladin deck that is centered around buffs. Maybe Argent Braggart makes the cut in Libram Paladin? I think it's possible, but I also think the deck is as much as a tempo deck as it is a buff deck and would maybe rather run a 2 drop that is better on turn 2. When compared to Devout Pupil, Pupil has divine shield and taunt and is more proactive in its buff synergies than Braggart. Overall, I think Braggart may actually not make the cut in standard, but it is an interesting minion in Even Paladin in wild that already runs a lot of 2 drops.
Our Thoughts on Hearthstone's Scholomance Academy Priest Cards
I am so looking forward to playing Mindrender Illucia. So amazing. :D I love effects that offer deck disruption.
New Neutral Weapon - Sphere of Sapience
Our first neutral weapon! ...But it's got such narrow applications? Combo maybe?
New Hunter Minion - Bloated Python
Best Flavor text. Good early game discover, like off Carrion Studies
A Look Back At Historically Overhyped Hearthstone Cards
Demon hunter in general is a combo killer, so it won't matter in that way.
Glide is a control killer because it punishes decks that play for value against demon Hunter, or just any deck that builds card advantage.
Glide is going to be problematic as long as it's a playable card because it invalidates the basics of Hearthstone for your opponent. Glide will only be balanced if it's nerfed to be a strict combo disruptor (aka at a mana cost of at least 6)
New Demon Hunter Minion - Ancient Void Hound
Would hate to see one of these off a Galakrond, the Wretched or any random demon generation. It won't be play other than that.
A Look Back At Historically Overhyped Hearthstone Cards
to be fair, Rebuke was justified because of Loatheb, a historically powerful card, being the only frame of reference.
I don't remember Void Contract being hyped as anything but a combo killer, which didn't happen because we never had a meta where it would pay off.
A Look Back At Historically Overhyped Hearthstone Cards
Turns out his only real skill was roping in Hearthstone :^)
A Look Back At Historically Overhyped Hearthstone Cards
Well, at the end of they day it was just terrible design anyways because they never printed the support it needed (a 1-mana minion with Echo)
We all know by this point that playing a Quest on turn 1 is a huge downside, so no tempo based quest deck ever succeeded. This is especially damning when your deck is made up of mostly 1-cost minions which drop in efficiency for every turn beyond the first.
Additionally, since your main deck is mostly garbage to complete the deck, if you don't start chaining Raptors after playing Carnassa you effectively lose
I tried hard to make Quest Hunter work and the closest I got was in RR as a mostly spell-based deck trying to tutor Halazzi...and even then the deck was mainly carried by Zul'jin.
If you empty your hand to play Carnassa on 5 and don't topdeck a Raptor Chain on 6 you just lose straight away, it's that bad.
New Neutral Weapon - Sphere of Sapience
I think this is the first step toward the creation of Neutral spells.
For what regards the card in itself, I totally love it: I'm quite sure it won't be anywhere near an auto include in every single deck but I'll still be happy to unpack it.
New Paladin & Warrior Spell - Commencement
I wonder if this card plus Dimensional Ripper and Kael'thas Sunstrider would make for a good big warrior deck?
New Rogue & Warrior Minion - Steeldancer
The only deck in standard right now that cares about having high attack weapons is Pirate Warrior, which I couldn't even fit this into my Pirate Warrior as you aren't likely to have your high attack weapon by turn 4 and you have better plays post-turn 4. Maybe this sees play in Rogue with Hooked Scimitar, but I think that will prove to be inconsistent to have both of those cards curve into each other. Overall, this card seems awkward to line up on curve in standard, but I think this has potential in wild, especially with Kingsbane.
A Look Back At Historically Overhyped Hearthstone Cards
to be fair, Discolock worked out eventually in RR.
MOst of the Quests were overhyped because we didn't realize how much of a downside skipping turn 1 with one less card in your mulligan would be.
Lakkari Sacrifice was also the first time Discard became a legit archetype, so people didn't realize how inconsistent it was.
As a payoff card it was pretty damn strong, but it was very difficult to get there without getting overwhelmed since you couldn't rely on not discarding your answers and comeback tools.
Midrange: Snowball Priest
Thanks for checking out the deck, i'm glad you're enjoying it!
New Mage & Shaman Minion - Ras Frostwhisper
Wrath of Air Totem just got a whole lot more deadly...
New Rogue Spell - Plagiarize
I'm gonna be honest, I wasn't expecting a new Secret for Rogue. I love that they've decided to keep adding them - perhaps a hint to a rework of their Classic set in the future? Maybe Paladin can drop their Secrets too?