Pretty evil, this one. I like the creativity, but what I don’t like with DH getting hand disruption is that they basically have ALL the tools this game could offer (except hard removal). DH will be even more polarising and annoying to play against wich I can’t see being healthy for the game. And the card is not even THAT good. But still, cool design and fun flavor.
We will now see demon hunter (who still defines the meta after 5 rounds of nerfs) getting more tech and tools to support an already powerful aggro class (that has access to things other aggro has been purposefully denied to keep them from singularly defining the meta... hmmmmm):
I don't like demon hunter, but I don't think the class is misplaced. I think it's completely new and thus Blizzard wanted it out of the starting gates with a bang, and overshot the power levels quite a bit. It's more manageable now, but the class has an unbelievable array of tools that address almost every major problem an aggro class could deal with.
Can't rush the combo deck fast enough, or control really riding you every turn? Just glide that turn, slow them down and reset your hand and theirs. Worried the opponent has a key card in hand? Why worry when you can Stelina and throw it back in their deck! Taunt wall? Not if you play Kayn (he really shouldn't exist, not in his current state. He erases a whole keyword from every match he's in). Drawing cards? Hunter wasn't allowed but demon hunter - the faster version of hunter - gets to draw 3 at a time and discount them if the hand placement is right). Tough board? Blur and Warglaives of Azzinoth can take care of at least 12 health worth of minions, no penalty to your face. Wide token board threatening to run you over? Not if you have a single copy of Cycle of Hatred in hand.
It seems pretty unfair that demon hunter as a class is given such specific and powerful tools, all of which eliminate the weaknesses that we were told by Blizzard is part of the balance in Hearthstone (I won't get into the levels of RNG they're introducing every expansion since that's a separate but just as relevant issue).
As long as one class has access to tech like this - tech that negates the class's own shortcomings - it creates a design problem for every other class. The solution becomes an arms race, culminating in "Who drew/played their nuke card first?" which comes down to draw RNG.
Had to think about it a moment, but in a class that rises and falls on drawing Galakrond or Togwaggle soon enough, this was great even if it didn't allow you to draw into some insane 10/10 Edwyn or questing adveturer without using up your entire current hand.
Slightly surprised it isn't legendary, but I currently see no Rogue that would not run 2 copies of this.
I'm really happy this card is in the game. Not necessarily because of its strength, but because of its effect. I've been dying for Scry to exist in the game for years as it's the basis of my Time Traveler class, and it's finally here.
This card's strength is extremely hard to measure without playtesting (more so than almost any other card in the entire game), but if anything, I feel like this could be decent as a "deck filler" card. If you're 29/30 cards in your deck and not sure what the remaining one card should be, put this in.
If you want to take aim at Demon Hunter's class identity, as your thread title suggests, then go right ahead. The class' main problem in my eyes is that it is designed to be excellent at all the basics, meaning it has no serious weaknesses, and now making them kings of disruption as well is going to be problematic.
But, that's not what you are doing here. You are making assumptions about the power levels of cards before seeing them in action, and letting those assumptions fuel anger before anyone can actually verify them. Of course the reveal season is all about making assumptions and projecting that forwards, but countless times people (and often the entire community) have called cards that end up seeing no play OP, or called some of the most notorious cards in the entire game trash.
You may well be right in your assessments and do not need to give Blizzard a penny, but you can still show some patience here because if experience of reveal seasons tells us anything, it is that you cannot trust your early assessments.
I won't engage in a discussion over all the cards you bring up, but I will wade in regarding Infiltrator Lilian to make a point. Your comparison to Piloted Shredder is appropriate, so let's break down that comparison and leave Kobold Barbarian out of it.
The first body is a 4/2 stealth vs a 4/3 mech. Which of these is better? Neither objectively, but most often I would take Lilian as it usually won't get caught in AoE crossfire unless you over-commit, and HS is a game which benefits the attacker more than the defender, so having more control on that with stealth is a significant plus point.
The mech tag can matter, but not much in rogue and certainly not in standard at the moment.
Meanwhile rogue wants things with stealth at the moment, so that's and extra plus.
What about the deathrattle: is a 4/2 instant random attack better than a random 2-drop? Again there is no objectively correct answer, but again I would side with Lilian here. Not only is 4/2 higher than average stats on a 2-drop, but similarly to stealth it denies your opponent the choice of how to deal with it before it attacks. Sure the attack won't always be optimal, but look at it this way: the worst it can do is run into the thing that your opponent would choose to trade into it with anyway.
So all put together, Infiltrator Lilian is usually better than Piloted Shredder on all fronts. At the very worst then it is a solid card, and nowhere near the pits in which Kobold Librarian lives.
You could also compare it to a Boom Bot, with the deathrattle always dealing 4 damage and possibly leaving a body behind too. Because the Boom Bot isn't a collectible card it is silly to read much into this, but keep in mind Boom Bots were always taken seriously and made Dr. Boom the first infamous card for good reason.
Smart design, very suitable for rogue. Could be a life-saver in some circumstances, maybe even more in arena where you more often have a terrible hand.
It's actually not too bad. It's actually a pretty good 2-drop for decks that like their spells, especially small spells. For certain Spellburst effects, it's not too bad as it will give you a cheap spell to activate them, and 1-Cost spells are generally pretty decent in most classes.
It's not good for every deck obviously, but it's definitely playable somewhere.
Definitely insane for each and every class that doesn't use weapons. A little less good for ones that do, but still playable unless you rely ultra-heavily on weapons like Warrior and arguably Hunter and Demon Hunter (you can always use just a part of it and equip a weapon over it if you absolutely have to.
At first I thought ”Wow!” After reading some of your comments, this is propably not as good as one could think at first sight. Still like the creativity behind this card.
The effect can be strong, although it requires you to be smart and also build your deck in a certain way. Played at a bad time can ruin your deck. It will guarantee you to draw your expensive cards now when you want them, which is good. At the same token, it will turn off access to your cheap utility cards.
It's a very unique card for sure, and one to be experimented with. It'll either be a complete flop, or absolutely insane. Not that much in-between room.
I don't think this card is as OP as many people are crying it out to be? Frustrating, yes, but not overpowered. Returning 1 card to their deck will not always be a game-saver or affect your opponent that much.
Actually seems pretty decent. Rabid Worgen saw play, and this has a trade-off of -1 Attack in exchange for getting rid of Deathrattles or other various effects that would be annoying to deal with (Divine Shield or Lifesteal for example). Sometimes it might even silence more than 1 thing. It seems like it would be pretty nice to try out.
This card is just amazing for so many reasons. It allows you to redraw 5 cards in case you're looking for something specific without also losing your hand.
So if you really really need your galakrond dont want to waste a kronx, this is the spell to do it. Getting Eviscerate, prep into this and getting an Edwin VanCleef for an easy 8/8 on turn 3. The possibilities are endless
This should be very useful for Thief Rogues with Spectral Cutlass, though I'm not clear on one part - with the card being dual-classed, does the warrior aspect also adds another durability to the weapon?
Lorekeeper Polkelt is a New Legendary Revealed for Hearthstone's Scholomance Academy Expansion
Blizzard confirmed any card shuflled into your ordered deck shuffles the entire deck. Bad luck Albatross may be making a comeback in some decks.
New Demon Hunter Minion - Star Student Stelina
Pretty evil, this one. I like the creativity, but what I don’t like with DH getting hand disruption is that they basically have ALL the tools this game could offer (except hard removal). DH will be even more polarising and annoying to play against wich I can’t see being healthy for the game. And the card is not even THAT good.
But still, cool design and fun flavor.
Two New Scholomance Cards Revealed - Secret Passage (Rogue) & Wandmaker
Rogue is standard relies HEAVILY on Galakrond and Togwaggle, but what if you don't draw either? This card solves that problem.
Glide is a New Demon Hunter Card Revealed for Hearthstone's Scholomance Academy Expansion
Ok so currently, demon hunter has arguably the best aggro in the game and is equipped with the following:
We will now see demon hunter (who still defines the meta after 5 rounds of nerfs) getting more tech and tools to support an already powerful aggro class (that has access to things other aggro has been purposefully denied to keep them from singularly defining the meta... hmmmmm):
I don't like demon hunter, but I don't think the class is misplaced. I think it's completely new and thus Blizzard wanted it out of the starting gates with a bang, and overshot the power levels quite a bit. It's more manageable now, but the class has an unbelievable array of tools that address almost every major problem an aggro class could deal with.
Can't rush the combo deck fast enough, or control really riding you every turn? Just glide that turn, slow them down and reset your hand and theirs.
Worried the opponent has a key card in hand? Why worry when you can Stelina and throw it back in their deck!
Taunt wall? Not if you play Kayn (he really shouldn't exist, not in his current state. He erases a whole keyword from every match he's in).
Drawing cards? Hunter wasn't allowed but demon hunter - the faster version of hunter - gets to draw 3 at a time and discount them if the hand placement is right).
Tough board? Blur and Warglaives of Azzinoth can take care of at least 12 health worth of minions, no penalty to your face.
Wide token board threatening to run you over? Not if you have a single copy of Cycle of Hatred in hand.
It seems pretty unfair that demon hunter as a class is given such specific and powerful tools, all of which eliminate the weaknesses that we were told by Blizzard is part of the balance in Hearthstone (I won't get into the levels of RNG they're introducing every expansion since that's a separate but just as relevant issue).
As long as one class has access to tech like this - tech that negates the class's own shortcomings - it creates a design problem for every other class. The solution becomes an arms race, culminating in "Who drew/played their nuke card first?" which comes down to draw RNG.
Thanks for coming to my TED Talk.
Two New Scholomance Cards Revealed - Secret Passage (Rogue) & Wandmaker
Had to think about it a moment, but in a class that rises and falls on drawing Galakrond or Togwaggle soon enough, this was great even if it didn't allow you to draw into some insane 10/10 Edwyn or questing adveturer without using up your entire current hand.
Slightly surprised it isn't legendary, but I currently see no Rogue that would not run 2 copies of this.
New Neutral Weapon - Sphere of Sapience
I'm really happy this card is in the game. Not necessarily because of its strength, but because of its effect. I've been dying for Scry to exist in the game for years as it's the basis of my Time Traveler class, and it's finally here.
This card's strength is extremely hard to measure without playtesting (more so than almost any other card in the entire game), but if anything, I feel like this could be decent as a "deck filler" card. If you're 29/30 cards in your deck and not sure what the remaining one card should be, put this in.
Demon hunter class identity.
Then why didnt people play Kaboom Bot
New Rogue Spell - Secret Passage
Smart design, very suitable for rogue. Could be a life-saver in some circumstances, maybe even more in arena where you more often have a terrible hand.
New Neutral Minion - Wandmaker
Pretty good! Could fill out some decks in standard depending on the class, probably an easy pick in arena.
Pen Flinger is a New Card Revealed for Hearthstone's Scholomance Academy Expansion
Sounds like a nice combo activator for rogue.
Lorekeeper Polkelt
Actually . . .
Bombs cost 5 mana, so they would get shuffled pretty close to the top of your deck.
Also, as soon as your opponent shuffles another bomb into your deck the order will be scrambled again.
New Neutral Minion - Wandmaker
It's actually not too bad. It's actually a pretty good 2-drop for decks that like their spells, especially small spells. For certain Spellburst effects, it's not too bad as it will give you a cheap spell to activate them, and 1-Cost spells are generally pretty decent in most classes.
It's not good for every deck obviously, but it's definitely playable somewhere.
We're Getting a Collectible Neutral Weapon - Sphere of Sapience! Scholomance Academy is Crazy
4 opts in one weapon? Yes, please!
Definitely insane for each and every class that doesn't use weapons. A little less good for ones that do, but still playable unless you rely ultra-heavily on weapons like Warrior and arguably Hunter and Demon Hunter (you can always use just a part of it and equip a weapon over it if you absolutely have to.
New Neutral Weapon - Sphere of Sapience
At first I thought ”Wow!” After reading some of your comments, this is propably not as good as one could think at first sight. Still like the creativity behind this card.
New Rogue Spell - Secret Passage
Really cool effect with a lot of utility. I like it a lot. I kinda wish I played Rogue more often now.
It's a really good card for fetching cards you don't have when you need them, and you get to keep your hand afterwards too.
Lorekeeper Polkelt is a New Legendary Revealed for Hearthstone's Scholomance Academy Expansion
Dude.
Chillwind Yeti is the single best card in the game. I would gladly play a third, fourth, or even fifth copy in all of my decks.
New Neutral Minion - Lorekeeper Polkelt
The effect can be strong, although it requires you to be smart and also build your deck in a certain way. Played at a bad time can ruin your deck. It will guarantee you to draw your expensive cards now when you want them, which is good. At the same token, it will turn off access to your cheap utility cards.
It's a very unique card for sure, and one to be experimented with. It'll either be a complete flop, or absolutely insane. Not that much in-between room.
We're Getting a Collectible Neutral Weapon - Sphere of Sapience! Scholomance Academy is Crazy
So you're telling me that Twig of the World Tree wild druid has a potential easy 10 mana on turn 5 now (turn 3 with two innervates)
I might start playing wild afterall if I'm allowed to have that kind of meme.
New Demon Hunter Minion - Star Student Stelina
I don't think this card is as OP as many people are crying it out to be? Frustrating, yes, but not overpowered. Returning 1 card to their deck will not always be a game-saver or affect your opponent that much.
New Demon Hunter Minion - Magehunter
Actually seems pretty decent. Rabid Worgen saw play, and this has a trade-off of -1 Attack in exchange for getting rid of Deathrattles or other various effects that would be annoying to deal with (Divine Shield or Lifesteal for example). Sometimes it might even silence more than 1 thing. It seems like it would be pretty nice to try out.
New Rogue Spell - Secret Passage
This card is just amazing for so many reasons. It allows you to redraw 5 cards in case you're looking for something specific without also losing your hand.
So if you really really need your galakrond dont want to waste a kronx, this is the spell to do it. Getting Eviscerate, prep into this and getting an Edwin VanCleef for an easy 8/8 on turn 3. The possibilities are endless
New Neutral Minion - Lorekeeper Polkelt
The more I think about this card, the more powerful it is.
Take the deck in my signature. Lorekeeper GRANTS me the next order:
And I might consider adjusting the deck a bit in order to optimize that even more.
Basically this is another deckbuilding enhancer, which I like a lot.
Instacraft found.
Lorekeeper Polkelt is a New Legendary Revealed for Hearthstone's Scholomance Academy Expansion
But is it worth running a Chillwind Yeti in your aggro deck?
New Neutral Minion - Wandmaker
Its just a smaller cobalt [Hearthstone Card (spellkin) Not Found].
And that's good enough honestly. If getting spells is the game, then this is perhaps even better than the former.
Doctor Krastinov is a New Rogue & Warrior Legendary Revealed for Hearthstone's Scholomance Academy Expansion
This should be very useful for Thief Rogues with Spectral Cutlass, though I'm not clear on one part - with the card being dual-classed, does the warrior aspect also adds another durability to the weapon?