I think this might see play. Execute, even on 2, saw some play and I rather prefer to play something on board than to have to spend any mana to ping a minion in order to execute him.
It's easy to compare this spell with Arcane shot - both cost (1) mana, both deal 2 damage, both can be improved by spell damage.
Overwhelm however can only deal damage to a minion. It can also improve it's damage by the number of friendly beasts on your side of the field, up to 7, for a total of 9 damage for 1 mana. That's a colossal amount of damage for 1 mana.
Hunter's have been known for using tokens for a while now, they're top three choices being unleash the hounds, Swarm of Locusts and snake trap. While Unleash the hounds is dependent on your opponents board, swarm of Locusts and snake trap are not, allowing you to deal and additional 3-6 damage with this spell to a target of your choice.
This mean that taunts that would get in the way of your face damage can be easily removed for very cheap, and can even by played with the new Krolusk Barkstripper to remove 2 minions from your opponents board instead of just 1.
Cheap, flexible spells always see play initially, if beast hunter becomes dominant again we will absolutely see this card in the ladder.
If you want to get into Wild, Pirate Warrior is Tier 1 currently. It shares many common cards with the starter deck listed here, you only need to craft a few commons, Patches the Pirate and Leeroy Jenkins. Both of which are extremely safe crafts and are used in many other aggro decks.
Basically, you want to use it on your own minions to activate some deathrattle. You don't want to kill an enemy minion with this, since it will resummon it back (unless it's a buffed low health one, Battlefiend for example). But it's so expensive.
3 mana for 1/2 of stats is pretty bad. getting a 4/4 out of it makes it better, but you'll want to have a strategy in mind when running this minion.
Hunter's hand buff cards, Felboar, Scavenger's Ingenuity and Scrap Shot can make this minion MUCH better, 3 mana 2/4 have seen play, and 3/4 for 3 is very good, 4/5 for 3 mana is the best outcome.
This minion's deathrattle effect also gives it a strong synergy with Hunter's new card carrion studies, which can discount this minion's cost by (1), allowing you to play Carrion Studies on turn 1, and then this on turn 2.
If you're wanting to play this with an egg deck you'll want Teron Gorefiend in your deck as well as a way to not just activate it but to resummon it with +1/+1 along with other sticky death rattle minions.
aside from that, you can also play Houndmaster on curve following this minion to give it +2/+2 and taunt so that your opponent is forced to throw a minion at it and activate it's deathrattle.
But at 3 mana Midrange Hunter's 3 mana slot is already full with cards like Animal Companion, Kill Command, Zixor Apex Predator and EagleHorn Bow or Stormhammer. It might not be able to fit in this deck unless you're aiming for cheap beasts.
Interesting card. And not in a meme-way. A well timed Mindrender can win you a game vs combo decks (Quest warlock for example). As a control priest. Not too shaby, not too shaby.
I got a question with this card, the spellburst summon resolves before the spell is casted? If it is true that will be a 7/12 stats, if not just a 5/12 on 3 bodies, I don't know if this card will find a niche
It seems like Team 5 wants to remind players that Hunters are supposed to play with beasts!
this minion has average stats for cost, it's no Chillwind Yeti but it can still take some damage. Slightly below bar for Arena picks.
The effect is what's interesting about the card, being able to remove a random enemy once a turn is massive if your opponent is playing minions on curve.
Granted, this means you'll probably need to play spells and cheaper minions off curve, but with spells like say - Scrap shot to remove a minion, and using this minion's effect to remove another, you've cleared two minions for four mana. and if Scrap shot hit hunter's new 1 drop the Wolpertinger you can play it after the scrap shot for 8/8 worth of stats across two bodies (more on that on the Wolpertinger review).
However this minion's effect will make it a target for single removal spells or even rush minions so you don't snowball with it, and while there's ways to improve it's stats and make it stronger, there's some spells like siphon soul or assassinate that can remove this minion easily.
Due to it's spellburst ability you'll want to play spells with this minion, but you don't need to run removal. I think secret Hunter might adopt this minion for their deck.
So much powercreep compared to Dinosize. Yes - the old one was used as a finisher. But damn - this one cost only 5 mana, so you can even hero power + this on t7 and check if opponent has some silence/removal spell.
I crafted golden Grom to play the Recruit warrior back in the KnC days. This card looks just like the 6 mana warrior recruit card, but for 1 mana more you get divine shield and taunt. But you had the recruit weapon back then. Still - cheating out big minions is the thing I probably enjoy the most while playing.
Expectations set to Wild mode will always need to be tempered. It's rare we see an entirely new archetype come out of an expansion, though it has/will happen . The power level of a few decks in wild just make it too difficult to displace them and that means, as pointed out by OP, there are generally fewer cards that shake up the meta. Even then, it tends to be only as a new addition to an existing theme.
Standard looks like it will see a ton of powerful cards that impact the meta. I'm loving what a deathrattle hunter could look like.
Arena is getting a huge influx of insane power level cards. With the set bonus re-instituted, there will be a big jump in power for arena players.
Leona and Aurelion Sol looks so dope and have a lot of potential to be cool champions with unique abilities. A shame Pantheon being the unique without the files, it's pretty amazing too.
So, we will live in a time where warriors can divine shield and extra buff their already buffed with rampage damaged minions. What a time to be alive...
Robes of Protection
Dr Strange approves!
Downgraded Anti-Magic Shell on a body
New Rogue & Warrior Spell - Coerce
I think this might see play. Execute, even on 2, saw some play and I rather prefer to play something on board than to have to spend any mana to ping a minion in order to execute him.
New Hunter Spell - Overwhelm
It's easy to compare this spell with Arcane shot - both cost (1) mana, both deal 2 damage, both can be improved by spell damage.
Overwhelm however can only deal damage to a minion. It can also improve it's damage by the number of friendly beasts on your side of the field, up to 7, for a total of 9 damage for 1 mana. That's a colossal amount of damage for 1 mana.
Hunter's have been known for using tokens for a while now, they're top three choices being unleash the hounds, Swarm of Locusts and snake trap. While Unleash the hounds is dependent on your opponents board, swarm of Locusts and snake trap are not, allowing you to deal and additional 3-6 damage with this spell to a target of your choice.
This mean that taunts that would get in the way of your face damage can be easily removed for very cheap, and can even by played with the new Krolusk Barkstripper to remove 2 minions from your opponents board instead of just 1.
Cheap, flexible spells always see play initially, if beast hunter becomes dominant again we will absolutely see this card in the ladder.
Trick Totem
lol when Trick Totem cast Lava Burst to your own face
What Are the Free Hearthstone Decks for New and Returning Players? Decklists
If you want to get into Wild, Pirate Warrior is Tier 1 currently. It shares many common cards with the starter deck listed here, you only need to craft a few commons, Patches the Pirate and Leeroy Jenkins. Both of which are extremely safe crafts and are used in many other aggro decks.
New Priest Spell - Initiation
Basically, you want to use it on your own minions to activate some deathrattle. You don't want to kill an enemy minion with this, since it will resummon it back (unless it's a buffed low health one, Battlefiend for example). But it's so expensive.
New Hunter Minion - Bloated Python
3 mana for 1/2 of stats is pretty bad. getting a 4/4 out of it makes it better, but you'll want to have a strategy in mind when running this minion.
Hunter's hand buff cards, Felboar, Scavenger's Ingenuity and Scrap Shot can make this minion MUCH better, 3 mana 2/4 have seen play, and 3/4 for 3 is very good, 4/5 for 3 mana is the best outcome.
This minion's deathrattle effect also gives it a strong synergy with Hunter's new card carrion studies, which can discount this minion's cost by (1), allowing you to play Carrion Studies on turn 1, and then this on turn 2.
If you're wanting to play this with an egg deck you'll want Teron Gorefiend in your deck as well as a way to not just activate it but to resummon it with +1/+1 along with other sticky death rattle minions.
aside from that, you can also play Houndmaster on curve following this minion to give it +2/+2 and taunt so that your opponent is forced to throw a minion at it and activate it's deathrattle.
But at 3 mana Midrange Hunter's 3 mana slot is already full with cards like Animal Companion, Kill Command, Zixor Apex Predator and EagleHorn Bow or Stormhammer. It might not be able to fit in this deck unless you're aiming for cheap beasts.
New Priest & Warlock Spell - Raise Dead
The 0-cost is also a nice, cheap enabler for any spellburst effects that you might be interested in playing and activating immediately.
New Shaman/Mage Spell - Devolving Missiles
Does anyone know if this is affected by spell damage? Either with more missiles or by upgrading (downgrading?) the devolution?
New Priest Minion - Mindrender Illucia
Interesting card. And not in a meme-way. A well timed Mindrender can win you a game vs combo decks (Quest warlock for example). As a control priest. Not too shaby, not too shaby.
Cram Session
If you manage to accumulate some spell power, this will be a powerful draw engine
New Priest Spell - Draconic Studies
Maybe priest will get some dragons again, someday. But for now - there are more exciting stuff to put in your deck.
Wyrm Weaver
I got a question with this card, the spellburst summon resolves before the spell is casted?
If it is true that will be a 7/12 stats, if not just a 5/12 on 3 bodies, I don't know if this card will find a niche
New Priest Spell - Power Word: Feast
Hahaha, it's always funny to see how things turn out in the end.
There will be a lot of snowballing this expansion ;)
New Hunter Minion - Krolusk Barkstripper
It seems like Team 5 wants to remind players that Hunters are supposed to play with beasts!
this minion has average stats for cost, it's no Chillwind Yeti but it can still take some damage. Slightly below bar for Arena picks.
The effect is what's interesting about the card, being able to remove a random enemy once a turn is massive if your opponent is playing minions on curve.
Granted, this means you'll probably need to play spells and cheaper minions off curve, but with spells like say - Scrap shot to remove a minion, and using this minion's effect to remove another, you've cleared two minions for four mana. and if Scrap shot hit hunter's new 1 drop the Wolpertinger you can play it after the scrap shot for 8/8 worth of stats across two bodies (more on that on the Wolpertinger review).
However this minion's effect will make it a target for single removal spells or even rush minions so you don't snowball with it, and while there's ways to improve it's stats and make it stronger, there's some spells like siphon soul or assassinate that can remove this minion easily.
Due to it's spellburst ability you'll want to play spells with this minion, but you don't need to run removal. I think secret Hunter might adopt this minion for their deck.
New Paladin Spell - Blessing of Authority
So much powercreep compared to Dinosize. Yes - the old one was used as a finisher. But damn - this one cost only 5 mana, so you can even hero power + this on t7 and check if opponent has some silence/removal spell.
New Rogue Spell - Plagiarize
If that's how it works then it's a potential Time Warp. Take another turn.
Teacher's Pet
Stats above the average for taunt and deathrattle, good for hold board presence.
New Paladin & Warrior Spell - Commencement
I crafted golden Grom to play the Recruit warrior back in the KnC days. This card looks just like the 6 mana warrior recruit card, but for 1 mana more you get divine shield and taunt. But you had the recruit weapon back then. Still - cheating out big minions is the thing I probably enjoy the most while playing.
So far SA leaves me feeling...
Expectations set to Wild mode will always need to be tempered. It's rare we see an entirely new archetype come out of an expansion, though it has/will happen . The power level of a few decks in wild just make it too difficult to displace them and that means, as pointed out by OP, there are generally fewer cards that shake up the meta. Even then, it tends to be only as a new addition to an existing theme.
Standard looks like it will see a ton of powerful cards that impact the meta. I'm loving what a deathrattle hunter could look like.
Arena is getting a huge influx of insane power level cards. With the set bonus re-instituted, there will be a big jump in power for arena players.
New Paladin & Priest Spell - Wave of Apathy
This can be used to combo with shadow madness I guess - it's cheap. Or just to activate some spellburst proc and survive to the next turn :).
We May Already Know the Next Legends of Runeterra Region for Release in August
Leona and Aurelion Sol looks so dope and have a lot of potential to be cool champions with unique abilities. A shame Pantheon being the unique without the files, it's pretty amazing too.
New Paladin Minion - Judicious Junior
A lot of stats, but is there any point of playing this one at all? Maybe in Arena.
Spirit Jailer
8 Soul Fragments synergy with Felosophy and premium stats for a 1 drop for 2-3 turns.
Can turn the game into your favor easily
New Paladin & Warrior Spell - Shield of Honor
So, we will live in a time where warriors can divine shield and extra buff their already buffed with rampage damaged minions. What a time to be alive...