If you are building a Soul Fragment deck, this is a must have pay off card.
I had the same first impression as the others: Blastmaster Boom but with fragments instead of bombs, and souls instead of boom bots. If I unpack enough soul fragment cards, will definitely try this.
This makes a whole lot of sense, and I agree with you that it does not necessarily mean its "rigged". After all, good players would still have positive win-rates and they would still climb the ranks, just much more slowly. Bad players will still have negative win-rates and would fall the ranks much more slowly. Notice how you cant even fall below a certain rank once achieved... this can't be a "player experience" based decision right? That's not a thing apparently. What about giving lower win-rate players a bias toward nicer match-ups so they don't lose SO much? Maybe then they have a better experience and keep playing. Sure they wont be high-rank and still likely have a negative win-rate, but they wont lose so much. Anyone who does not see how this sort of a system would massively improve the experience for more casual players (that are likely the bulk of HS players/clients) needs to think about this for a few more minutes.
For example in my Galakrond Warlock deck I linked earlier, where 29% of my games have been versus Demon Hunters:
Once I learned the deck, it seemed like I couldn't lose playing in Silver/Gold/Plat (where I live basically LOL). The win-rate got to 65%-70% about 20 games after I "learned the deck". Keep in mind that was after losing many games "learning the deck". So my win-rate for those ~20 games that brought me to 65-70% was quite high. I suddenly felt that I started facing demon hunters NON-STOP at some point. Salty as hell one night, I checked the match history and it simply did not confirm my suspicions. Historically I was actually barely facing Demon Hunters more than any other class (had ~40 games total on the deck at this point). Almost 100 games into the deck now, with the majority played while maintaining a 60%+ win-rate, DH opponents account for almost 1/3 of my lifetime games for that deck (which is the worst match-up for that specific deck w/ a ~43% win-rate). I was mind-blown. The top 7 best match-ups against my deck only account for 37% of all the opponents I have faced.
I look at the classes I faced using other decks, like my DH tempo deck, the distribution looks nothing like the my Galakrond Warlock deck. But I'm playing all of these decks at the same ranks, and often I literally alternate between them throughout a HS session. So its not that there is simply a ton of X or Y class queuing at the same time as me... so its not a concentration of a specific class at my rank.... what is it then?
What's with the super skewed distribution? Why do my lower win-rate decks have a MUCH MORE even distribution of games spread out between opponents in all classes?
Decks:
Galakrond WL
https://imgur.com/a/r3GAoSg
Tempo BH
https://imgur.com/a/uPQShMY
Also shout out to the user who posted their deck data as well @Claeshj . It showed a difference from what my matchmaking data showed. Others' summaries are exactly what I was hoping to see. I just don't know what program they were using to track and therefore I don't know certain important facts like if all the games were played with the EXACT same deck to the tee, and what the global win-rate statistics are for that deck against each class (not just the posters' win-rate). He is also Top 1000 legend which for many reasons is way different than the plebeian Gold/Plat ranks for the masses that I live at. I would love to see similarly ranked players' stats too if possible (shoutout my fellow noobies) too.Particularly anyone using a deck that is getting them 60%+ win-rates or substantially higher win-rates than the global averages for that deck. PLSS.
When we compare soul fragment with bomb on warrior, i believe that this will as good as dr.boom combine. But dh and warlock likes to draw cards fast, so theres this pessimism in me that it will not be as strong as we think.. maybe wrong, though.
This is mulligan material right here!! On a better day this is played on T1 you can argue that control DH and Warlock will have answer on your board for couple turns ahead. Just scary.
This card just feels like tempo suicide and unless the opponent draws a decent sized minion, like 5+ mana, the effect doesn't seem great. Its been a long time since a 6/8 body has been considered good on a 7 drop and when you compare it to other 7 drops that have been seeing play recently, like Exotic Mountseller and Galakronds, all of them have a large impact the turn they are played or set up a massive swing turn in the case of the Rogue Galakrond.
Unless this is a very control heavy meta where being as greedy as possible is important, I think I'd rather just run a different card to improve other matchups, especially when there's still alternatives that do this better for the most part, like Archivist Elysiana and the Priest Galakrond. If we see more cards that combo with it, this card could be pretty fun, not to mention it hard counters Plot Twist and that seems like it'd be a hilarious thing to happen, but it just seems too slow right now.
What is that in the art? It's kinda cool. Well the basic DH Truesilver with a delayed healing, maybe for control DH but who knows someone maybe make it work on aggro as well.. overall good.
Overall good tempo in early to mid game, provide you can shuffle soul fragment consistently in the first turns prior. I foresee this card will fill every slow lock deck.
This is a general good value card, can slot in to many shaman deck. Obviously you want to play this later in the game, hopefully as a finisher (multiple lightning bolt with spell damage on board?) but overall this is just great.
Strong in battlecry and spell based Shamans lists alike, this card will definitely see play. It also has crazy synergy with Torrent since its the cheapest high damage spell you can get for board control.
Instructor Fireheart is a New Shaman Legendary Revealed for Hearthstone's Scholomance Academy Expansion
Shaman hijacked a Mage card.
Devout Pupil is a New Paladin & Priest Card Revealed for Hearthstone's Scholomance Academy Expansion
Getting Thing from Below vibes but hell, 4 atk is better than 5 when it comes to Priest.
New Demon Hunter & Warlock Minion - Spirit Jailer
Definitely, an auto-include in Soul Fragment decks.
I don't think I can add much more than those said above. Only downside I can think of is this dilutes the pool of Galakrond, the Wretched.
New Demon Hunter & Warlock Minion - Soulciologist Malicia
If you are building a Soul Fragment deck, this is a must have pay off card.
I had the same first impression as the others: Blastmaster Boom but with fragments instead of bombs, and souls instead of boom bots. If I unpack enough soul fragment cards, will definitely try this.
Devout Pupil
Sleeper card of the set honestly, its such a good card its ridiculous
Suspicious Matchmaking
This makes a whole lot of sense, and I agree with you that it does not necessarily mean its "rigged". After all, good players would still have positive win-rates and they would still climb the ranks, just much more slowly. Bad players will still have negative win-rates and would fall the ranks much more slowly. Notice how you cant even fall below a certain rank once achieved... this can't be a "player experience" based decision right? That's not a thing apparently. What about giving lower win-rate players a bias toward nicer match-ups so they don't lose SO much? Maybe then they have a better experience and keep playing. Sure they wont be high-rank and still likely have a negative win-rate, but they wont lose so much. Anyone who does not see how this sort of a system would massively improve the experience for more casual players (that are likely the bulk of HS players/clients) needs to think about this for a few more minutes.
For example in my Galakrond Warlock deck I linked earlier, where 29% of my games have been versus Demon Hunters:
Once I learned the deck, it seemed like I couldn't lose playing in Silver/Gold/Plat (where I live basically LOL). The win-rate got to 65%-70% about 20 games after I "learned the deck". Keep in mind that was after losing many games "learning the deck". So my win-rate for those ~20 games that brought me to 65-70% was quite high. I suddenly felt that I started facing demon hunters NON-STOP at some point. Salty as hell one night, I checked the match history and it simply did not confirm my suspicions. Historically I was actually barely facing Demon Hunters more than any other class (had ~40 games total on the deck at this point). Almost 100 games into the deck now, with the majority played while maintaining a 60%+ win-rate, DH opponents account for almost 1/3 of my lifetime games for that deck (which is the worst match-up for that specific deck w/ a ~43% win-rate). I was mind-blown. The top 7 best match-ups against my deck only account for 37% of all the opponents I have faced.
I look at the classes I faced using other decks, like my DH tempo deck, the distribution looks nothing like the my Galakrond Warlock deck. But I'm playing all of these decks at the same ranks, and often I literally alternate between them throughout a HS session. So its not that there is simply a ton of X or Y class queuing at the same time as me... so its not a concentration of a specific class at my rank.... what is it then?
What's with the super skewed distribution? Why do my lower win-rate decks have a MUCH MORE even distribution of games spread out between opponents in all classes?
Decks:
Galakrond WL
https://imgur.com/a/r3GAoSg
Tempo BH
https://imgur.com/a/uPQShMY
Also shout out to the user who posted their deck data as well @Claeshj . It showed a difference from what my matchmaking data showed. Others' summaries are exactly what I was hoping to see. I just don't know what program they were using to track and therefore I don't know certain important facts like if all the games were played with the EXACT same deck to the tee, and what the global win-rate statistics are for that deck against each class (not just the posters' win-rate). He is also Top 1000 legend which for many reasons is way different than the plebeian Gold/Plat ranks for the masses that I live at. I would love to see similarly ranked players' stats too if possible (shoutout my fellow noobies) too.Particularly anyone using a deck that is getting them 60%+ win-rates or substantially higher win-rates than the global averages for that deck. PLSS.
Thanks and much love,
jaypee
Nice deck this should be fun but I can't afford it
New Demon Hunter & Warlock Minion - Soulciologist Malicia
When we compare soul fragment with bomb on warrior, i believe that this will as good as dr.boom combine. But dh and warlock likes to draw cards fast, so theres this pessimism in me that it will not be as strong as we think.. maybe wrong, though.
New Mage & Rogue Minion - Jandice Barov
My first impression is this a good evolve target for shaman.
Boggspine Knuckles the turn before. Then drop this the following turn.
If the spawned targets aren't good, then swing. Otherwise hold off.
Another option is to Mutate the "illusion" minion to remove the downside.
Also has some synergy with Corrupt the Waters. 5 5-mana minions for the cost of 2 cards seems potent.
EDIT: Eh, misread. Thought the other half was Shaman.
I have a hard time seeing this is rogue. Only positive I see so far is you can Shadowstep the "illusion" minion to get more value.
New Demon Hunter & Warlock Minion - Spirit Jailer
This is mulligan material right here!! On a better day this is played on T1 you can argue that control DH and Warlock will have answer on your board for couple turns ahead. Just scary.
Keymaster Alabaster is a New Legendary Card Revealed for Hearthstone's Scholomance Academy Expansion
This card just feels like tempo suicide and unless the opponent draws a decent sized minion, like 5+ mana, the effect doesn't seem great. Its been a long time since a 6/8 body has been considered good on a 7 drop and when you compare it to other 7 drops that have been seeing play recently, like Exotic Mountseller and Galakronds, all of them have a large impact the turn they are played or set up a massive swing turn in the case of the Rogue Galakrond.
Unless this is a very control heavy meta where being as greedy as possible is important, I think I'd rather just run a different card to improve other matchups, especially when there's still alternatives that do this better for the most part, like Archivist Elysiana and the Priest Galakrond. If we see more cards that combo with it, this card could be pretty fun, not to mention it hard counters Plot Twist and that seems like it'd be a hilarious thing to happen, but it just seems too slow right now.
New Demon Hunter & Warlock Spell - Soul Shear
Curve nicely into all the soul pay off, ofc a staple in both respective class. See you on ladder!
Instructor Fireheart is a New Shaman Legendary Revealed for Hearthstone's Scholomance Academy Expansion
burn shaman
New Demon Hunter Weapon - Marrowslicer
What is that in the art? It's kinda cool. Well the basic DH Truesilver with a delayed healing, maybe for control DH but who knows someone maybe make it work on aggro as well.. overall good.
New Demon Hunter Minion - Shardshatter Mystic
So now Duskbreaker goes to DH town, this will be powerful if we can consistently shuffle soul fragment on the early impactful turns.
New Demon Hunter Minion - Soulshard Lapidary
Reminds me of Glaivebound Adept but you have to do the work yourself (attacking) so ofc this will see play or at least experimentation.
New Shaman Minion - Instructor Fireheart
I am assuming the effect is persistent as long as you cast the spell you discover.
If yes, this is a good card, you have multiple chances for the card you are fishing for.
New Warlock Minion - Void Drinker
I think the biggest pay off card for soul fragment lock so far, this one will most likely be the reason that soul-lock become competitive.
New Warlock Minion - Shadowlight Scholar
Overall good tempo in early to mid game, provide you can shuffle soul fragment consistently in the first turns prior. I foresee this card will fill every slow lock deck.
New Warlock Spell - School Spirits
If we can shuffle soul fragment consistently on the first 3 turn, i believe this will see much play. Especially against DH with a lot of 2-hp minions.
New Shaman Minion - Instructor Fireheart
This is a general good value card, can slot in to many shaman deck. Obviously you want to play this later in the game, hopefully as a finisher (multiple lightning bolt with spell damage on board?) but overall this is just great.
New Mage Minion - Lab Partner
BECAUSE WE DIDN’T HAVE ENOUGH 1 MANA 1/3 MINIONS RIGHT
Instructor Fireheart is a New Shaman Legendary Revealed for Hearthstone's Scholomance Academy Expansion
What in the world did you just say?
New Demon Hunter & Warlock Minion - Spirit Jailer
Solid card, like most 1-mana 1/3 bodies are. Will definitely see play.
That 3D-looking art looks weird, though. Pretty creepy, even...
New Shaman Minion - Instructor Fireheart
Strong in battlecry and spell based Shamans lists alike, this card will definitely see play. It also has crazy synergy with Torrent since its the cheapest high damage spell you can get for board control.