A nice Darkbomb replacement in most cases for Wild - the lack of face damage is a drawback, but not a huge one to me, as I'm not usually counting on a 2-cost spell to secure my victories. In Standard this will probably only be a staple in dedicated Fragment decks (I suggest Fraggle Lock as the name, but I'm old, haha). 3 damage on 2 is always fine, but I think non Fraggle Warlocks will usually have other plans and needs.
I agree with everyone who's already posted - this is a solid, strong minion, will be a great Arena card, but it's just not good enough to see play in current Demon Hunter lists. What it does is good, but it isn't anywhere near broken enough to warrant including over far better and more aggressive minions.
Don't know that there's enough big Demons in Standard to make her worth running, but I'm excited to try out some decks with her in Wild, even if they end up just being memes. The idea of summoning two huge demons to help her out is a fun fantasy - reminds me of cards like The Boomship.
A very old school type of card, reminiscent of Nerubian Egg and Haunted Creeper from the Naxx days. Warlocks generally have no trouble blowing up their own guys, so this will be easy to take advantage of when you want to get all Zoo-ey. The discard synergy is the cherry on top, for wild players especially - eggs and silverware and fists a'-flyin'!
Regarding Potion of Illusion - Preparation *does* still exist, much as we like to forget what happened to it. If you're running a Combo-heavy Rogue deck, which there might actually be enough support for now, having Prep would be a great way to activate Combos and also Potion of Illusion, which could rake in even more Combo cards. Is there anything better for Combo than a bunch of 1-mana cards? I think not!
Maybe an all-out burn aggro, doubling Lightning Bolt or Lava Burst and fishing the rest with Instructor Fireheart. I would try at least if I open the legendary (won't craft it, thanks, but no thanks).
Solid early AoE, can pop your spiders for you while clearing out the resistance, throws some shards into the deck - versatile, exactly the sort of thing I like to see in Warlock. Playable in anything, required in nothing.
Can hold so much aggro while you build up a Voltron-like minion. Paladin tried this buff route before, let's see if can be done this time (hope so, but I think not).
2nd August update: Memnarch's WILD Even Shaman: Journey to Legend / The Lurker Below is glorious! (1080p)
Last minute legend in the July 2020 season - Thanks to Memnarch's Even Shaman. (https://twitter.com/MemnarchHs/status/1289459476123144194).
Really enjoying playing The Lurker Below - I suppose board positioning really matters if trying to play around it. Deck code: AAEBAaoIBM30AqH4AualA5PCAw3TAb4G1g+yFLUU+6oCoLYC9r0ClO8CnaMD2qUD+aUDrK0DAA==
They are really pushing the weapon theme with Rogue/Warrior. Maybe a little too midrangy, but shows that Blizz can truly support a strat when they want to (looking at you Frost Shammy).
Great lore, meh card. 4 stealth can trade at almost anything around its cost, but dies to pretty much everything bellow it. Around turn 4-6, it's hard to have two optimal targets, so "half" will be wasted most of the times.
If you can play on curve and spellburst right after for a big buff spell from deck, it's terrific. Problem is, with too many steps, the pieces have a tendency to come all out of order; you may draw your buffs, or spellburst a small buff or never draw this at all. When it goes off, it's fireworks, otherwise, it's a subpar deck.
Maybe in zoolock, turning you little dudes into medium dudes, but only turn 5 forward, and thats usually close to GG for or against. For priest, even with deathrattle, I don't see why. Anyway, kinda lackluster.
Oh just thought of this. Where is Chromie? The time traveling dragon. She wasn't in Decent of Dragons, she is found in Andorhal (next to scholomance) in classic WoW.
Since bronze dragons tend to fall into the paladin class in hearthstone, she would of been a fun choice. Even not in her Dragon form (i.e. Wrathion). Hope she gets a card someday.
Great for getting spells to activate Spellburst- since it will probably be harder to balance spells and minions in your deck if you have a lot of spellburst minions.
So in The Boomsday Project Mage received the Research Project, a 2 mana spell that drew you and your opponent 2 cards.
For aggro mage this was fine, as they would refill their hand with burn to push lethal on their opponents.
In theory this spell can become BETTER than Research Project, as there's no upper limit to spell damage you can have, but reaching that spell damage can be tricky.
Namely, any minion that has spell damage has a soft taunt - your opponent will focus on that minion once it's on the board , with either their own minions or single target removal. Fortunately Mage does have 2 good spell damage minions that were introduced in this set - Lab Assistant and Mozaki, The Master Duelist. Lab Assistant is a cheap, flexible minion that grants spell damage +1, and Mozaki gains additional spell damage per spell played - Mozaki with this spell will always draw AT LEAST 2 cards, which is good.
Mage has ways to discount this spell as well, if aggro mage comes back the Sorcerer's Apprentices can discount this spell by (1) per apprentice and Incanter's Flow will reduce all spells in your deck by (1).
It's a good draw spell but this spell will require some work to make it GREAT, which may stop if from seeing play on the ladder
Any deck but Highlander would play this one. Has staying power, heals you-and only you- and can trade. I suppose it will replace Mistress of Mixtures in a lot of control-y wild decks.
Personally, I would craft a cool golden legendary and shoehorn it in every single jank deck instead of 2 on-meta, off-meta, on-meta, off-meta ones. But thats just me.
If you don't have the board to clean the weakened dudes, it's a "prevent from 5 to 15 damage" or something. Of course, could also be "dead in hand, but hey, it costs only (1)!". Never liked this effect that much, don't think I will start now.
Why does Fireside Gathering creation always result in 404 error for me?
Is it because I don't have an established tavern? Still can't create events.
New Rogue Minion - Shifty Sophomore
Decent, but decent won't cut for standard.
New Shaman/Mage Spell - Devolving Missiles
The flavor on this is just great. Gameplay-wise, you can hope to bypass taunts or deal with troublesome deathrattles. Still, not that good.
New Demon Hunter & Warlock Spell - Soul Shear
A nice Darkbomb replacement in most cases for Wild - the lack of face damage is a drawback, but not a huge one to me, as I'm not usually counting on a 2-cost spell to secure my victories. In Standard this will probably only be a staple in dedicated Fragment decks (I suggest Fraggle Lock as the name, but I'm old, haha). 3 damage on 2 is always fine, but I think non Fraggle Warlocks will usually have other plans and needs.
New Demon Hunter Minion - Vilefiend Trainer
I agree with everyone who's already posted - this is a solid, strong minion, will be a great Arena card, but it's just not good enough to see play in current Demon Hunter lists. What it does is good, but it isn't anywhere near broken enough to warrant including over far better and more aggressive minions.
New Warlock Minion - Archwitch Willow
Don't know that there's enough big Demons in Standard to make her worth running, but I'm excited to try out some decks with her in Wild, even if they end up just being memes. The idea of summoning two huge demons to help her out is a fun fantasy - reminds me of cards like The Boomship.
New Warlock Minion - Boneweb Egg
A very old school type of card, reminiscent of Nerubian Egg and Haunted Creeper from the Naxx days. Warlocks generally have no trouble blowing up their own guys, so this will be easy to take advantage of when you want to get all Zoo-ey. The discard synergy is the cherry on top, for wild players especially - eggs and silverware and fists a'-flyin'!
Our Thoughts on Hearthstone's Scholomance Academy Mage/Rogue Dual Class Cards
Regarding Potion of Illusion - Preparation *does* still exist, much as we like to forget what happened to it. If you're running a Combo-heavy Rogue deck, which there might actually be enough support for now, having Prep would be a great way to activate Combos and also Potion of Illusion, which could rake in even more Combo cards. Is there anything better for Combo than a bunch of 1-mana cards? I think not!
New Neutral Minion - Lake Thresher
Tried in different sizes and classes already with no success. Don't think making it neutral or this big will solve it.
New Shaman Minion - Diligent Notetaker
Maybe an all-out burn aggro, doubling Lightning Bolt or Lava Burst and fishing the rest with Instructor Fireheart. I would try at least if I open the legendary (won't craft it, thanks, but no thanks).
New Warlock Spell - School Spirits
Solid early AoE, can pop your spiders for you while clearing out the resistance, throws some shards into the deck - versatile, exactly the sort of thing I like to see in Warlock. Playable in anything, required in nothing.
New Paladin & Priest Minion - Devout Pupil
Can hold so much aggro while you build up a Voltron-like minion. Paladin tried this buff route before, let's see if can be done this time (hope so, but I think not).
New Priest Minion - Frazzled Freshman
Two words: Pack & Filler.
Darkseeker's channel - 13th November update: KOtsosKOtsos' Reno Evolve Shudderwock Shaman - ft. Archivist Elysiana
2nd August update: Memnarch's WILD Even Shaman: Journey to Legend / The Lurker Below is glorious! (1080p)
Last minute legend in the July 2020 season - Thanks to Memnarch's Even Shaman. (https://twitter.com/MemnarchHs/status/1289459476123144194).
Really enjoying playing The Lurker Below - I suppose board positioning really matters if trying to play around it. Deck code: AAEBAaoIBM30AqH4AualA5PCAw3TAb4G1g+yFLUU+6oCoLYC9r0ClO8CnaMD2qUD+aUDrK0DAA==
https://youtu.be/_qTfZ3DLmoM
New Rogue & Warrior Minion - Steeldancer
They are really pushing the weapon theme with Rogue/Warrior. Maybe a little too midrangy, but shows that Blizz can truly support a strat when they want to (looking at you Frost Shammy).
New Rogue Minion - Infiltrator Lilian
Great lore, meh card. 4 stealth can trade at almost anything around its cost, but dies to pretty much everything bellow it. Around turn 4-6, it's hard to have two optimal targets, so "half" will be wasted most of the times.
New Paladin & Priest Minion - High Abbess Alura
If you can play on curve and spellburst right after for a big buff spell from deck, it's terrific. Problem is, with too many steps, the pieces have a tendency to come all out of order; you may draw your buffs, or spellburst a small buff or never draw this at all. When it goes off, it's fireworks, otherwise, it's a subpar deck.
New Priest & Warlock Minion - Disciplinarian Gandling
Maybe in zoolock, turning you little dudes into medium dudes, but only turn 5 forward, and thats usually close to GG for or against. For priest, even with deathrattle, I don't see why. Anyway, kinda lackluster.
New Paladin & Priest Minion - High Abbess Alura
Well, Blessed Champion, Pharaoh's Blessing, Blessing of Authority, Blessing of Kings are great cards to include in your paladin deck. The problem is, you can hardly include debuffs and control cards. But this could help greedy, top-heavy decks. If you include enough buff spells, you can even justify a Shirvallah, the Tiger!
The Lore and Backstories of Scholomance's Legendary Minions - Archivist's Lore
Oh just thought of this. Where is Chromie? The time traveling dragon. She wasn't in Decent of Dragons, she is found in Andorhal (next to scholomance) in classic WoW.
Since bronze dragons tend to fall into the paladin class in hearthstone, she would of been a fun choice. Even not in her Dragon form (i.e. Wrathion). Hope she gets a card someday.
New Neutral Minion - Steward of Scrolls
Great for getting spells to activate Spellburst- since it will probably be harder to balance spells and minions in your deck if you have a lot of spellburst minions.
New Mage Spell - Cram Session
So in The Boomsday Project Mage received the Research Project, a 2 mana spell that drew you and your opponent 2 cards.
For aggro mage this was fine, as they would refill their hand with burn to push lethal on their opponents.
In theory this spell can become BETTER than Research Project, as there's no upper limit to spell damage you can have, but reaching that spell damage can be tricky.
Namely, any minion that has spell damage has a soft taunt - your opponent will focus on that minion once it's on the board , with either their own minions or single target removal. Fortunately Mage does have 2 good spell damage minions that were introduced in this set - Lab Assistant and Mozaki, The Master Duelist. Lab Assistant is a cheap, flexible minion that grants spell damage +1, and Mozaki gains additional spell damage per spell played - Mozaki with this spell will always draw AT LEAST 2 cards, which is good.
Mage has ways to discount this spell as well, if aggro mage comes back the Sorcerer's Apprentices can discount this spell by (1) per apprentice and Incanter's Flow will reduce all spells in your deck by (1).
It's a good draw spell but this spell will require some work to make it GREAT, which may stop if from seeing play on the ladder
New Demon Hunter & Warlock Minion - Spirit Jailer
Any deck but Highlander would play this one. Has staying power, heals you-and only you- and can trade. I suppose it will replace Mistress of Mixtures in a lot of control-y wild decks.
Scholomance Academy Fireside Gatherings & Pre-Release Event This Weekend - Opening Your Packs Early
Personally, I would craft a cool golden legendary and shoehorn it in every single jank deck instead of 2 on-meta, off-meta, on-meta, off-meta ones. But thats just me.
New Paladin & Priest Spell - Wave of Apathy
If you don't have the board to clean the weakened dudes, it's a "prevent from 5 to 15 damage" or something. Of course, could also be "dead in hand, but hey, it costs only (1)!". Never liked this effect that much, don't think I will start now.