What sort of things lead you to construct the decks that you do?
Two things for the most part. I either like to base it off of a dumb combo, then having every other card support that niche/help me draw into it, or when it comes to making a competitive deck, I focus primarily on taking a concept that is almost there/doing well and building off of that.
What are some common strategies and combinations that you really enjoy playing and iterating on?
The biggest strategy I use a ton of is Packages, which is devoting a small subset of cards towards a group of highly synergistic cards. An example of this would be with Spirit of the Frog and including spells to curve out with it, or with slotting in Morag Artificers into literally any warlock deck under the sun as it synergizes heavily with the rest of the deck.
In the past, which mechanics or interactions really caught your attention and made you want to try them yourself?
Interactions that have made me excited to build decks around them are with things that just let me obliterate the opponent, often with an OTK. This tends to extend to other games as well, considering my favorite MTG mechanic is Storm.
Do you prefer building new lists from the ground up, or iterating on existing archetypes?
I start from the ground up, but often include existing archetypes if they are strong enough to justify running.
Has the meta ever influenced you to try building something new to counter it?
Yes, I like rolling people and playing anti-meta stuff rolls things.
When you get an idea, does it typically involve a particular strategy, or do you focus on a card you like to build around?
I do a bit of both. Often an idea starts with a single card looking sweet, but if there aren't enough cards to support it I tend to just put it on the shelf for later.
Do you make use of tech cards often, or just play a particular list as is?
If the meta requires a specific tech card, I'd try to shoehorn it in but most the time tech cards come last and I only get around to finely tuning a deck after playing it a ton.
I think this is probably pretty good based on the cards it resembles. Stealth is always undervalued. Felmaw, which is similar, was underrated. Another rogue legendary which looked shitty actually was pretty good b/c it had the word "stealth" on it.
It’s stealth so the most reliable way to remove it when on board is with AOE, which will cause it to attack, on your opponents turn, something. Good disruption. Can go face. Can do shenanigans. A fun and interesting card.
This card is -busted- and there will be an OTK with it. This + 2x Lava Burst + 2 Lightning Bolt + 2 Lightning Bloom + 4 Lightning Bolt = 28 Damage. In Wild, you can blow the stack and just unlock all your mana crystals.
How will you get 6x Lightning Bolts? This minion will return only one of the first two
By playing this game in the Shadow Realm, duh! But real talk, my brain hasn't been as sharp as I needed it to be, so I didn't wrap my head around the spellburst keyword properly.
Pretty good. It'll be interesting to see where this finds homes. 6 mana to destroy a minion is nothing new, but with added modular aspect of the card, you may find it in more tempo based archetypes.
it's a good control card, terrible for tempo tho, since you need to either spend mana to change your health OR have an effect like that set up the turn prior, in which case your opponent will spend THEIR turn removing THAT card.
Not particularly exciting but it's solid, I'm sure it'll see play.
not really powercreeped, just expanded upon if you really think about it. Keli'dan is still good in Plot Twist...and who says you can't run him alongside these? Extra removal with tempo never hurts....well I guess you have to hurt yourself first.
Onyx Magescribe
Another chunky dragon for Druid ramp decks.
Cult Neophyte
Blah blah Doomed Apprentice blah blah powercreep
What Inspires You To Build A Deck?
Two things for the most part. I either like to base it off of a dumb combo, then having every other card support that niche/help me draw into it, or when it comes to making a competitive deck, I focus primarily on taking a concept that is almost there/doing well and building off of that.
The biggest strategy I use a ton of is Packages, which is devoting a small subset of cards towards a group of highly synergistic cards. An example of this would be with Spirit of the Frog and including spells to curve out with it, or with slotting in Morag Artificers into literally any warlock deck under the sun as it synergizes heavily with the rest of the deck.
Interactions that have made me excited to build decks around them are with things that just let me obliterate the opponent, often with an OTK. This tends to extend to other games as well, considering my favorite MTG mechanic is Storm.
I start from the ground up, but often include existing archetypes if they are strong enough to justify running.
Yes, I like rolling people and playing anti-meta stuff rolls things.
I do a bit of both. Often an idea starts with a single card looking sweet, but if there aren't enough cards to support it I tend to just put it on the shelf for later.
If the meta requires a specific tech card, I'd try to shoehorn it in but most the time tech cards come last and I only get around to finely tuning a deck after playing it a ton.
New Neutral Minion - Headmaster Kel'Thuzad
This will probably see a good amount of play. It provides a massive tempo swing for control decks.
Brittlebone Destroyer
Fairly easy to activate, powerful effect. Vilespine Slayer anyone?
Yet another shadow word 4 for priest...
New Demon Hunter Spell - Cycle of Hatred
Probably requires a specific metagame, but it's amazing in that metagame.
Transfer Student
Having seen all the effects, it is an overall good tempo card, but extremelly random
New Rogue Minion - Infiltrator Lilian
I think this is probably pretty good based on the cards it resembles. Stealth is always undervalued. Felmaw, which is similar, was underrated. Another rogue legendary which looked shitty actually was pretty good b/c it had the word "stealth" on it.
Headmaster Kel'Thuzad
Good for Reno decks, but maybe not in Wild
Troublemaker
Honestly - this is what a 8 drop without taunt have to look like to see play.
Rattlegore
I ll take it for my wild Big Warrior, thank you very much
Infiltrator Lilian is a New Rogue Legendary Revealed for Hearthstone's Scholomance Academy Expansion
It’s stealth so the most reliable way to remove it when on board is with AOE, which will cause it to attack, on your opponents turn, something. Good disruption. Can go face. Can do shenanigans. A fun and interesting card.
New Shaman Minion - Diligent Notetaker
By playing this game in the Shadow Realm, duh! But real talk, my brain hasn't been as sharp as I needed it to be, so I didn't wrap my head around the spellburst keyword properly.
Infiltrator Lilian
Boring, but good tempo and probably means more stealth support
New Priest & Warlock Minion - Brittlebone Destroyer
Pretty good. It'll be interesting to see where this finds homes. 6 mana to destroy a minion is nothing new, but with added modular aspect of the card, you may find it in more tempo based archetypes.
Diligent Notetaker
Really good, can be played in pretty much any Shaman deck
Frazzled Freshman
Boring, but powerful
Combustion is a New Epic Mage Spell Card Revealed for Hearthstone's Scholomance Academy Expansion
I mean who runs betrayal in 2020 tho?
First Day of School
2 of in Pure pally, otherwise - meh
Goody Two-Shields
Extremelly good stats for 3 drop, even w/o spellburst
New Priest & Warlock Minion - Brittlebone Destroyer
it's a good control card, terrible for tempo tho, since you need to either spend mana to change your health OR have an effect like that set up the turn prior, in which case your opponent will spend THEIR turn removing THAT card.
Not particularly exciting but it's solid, I'm sure it'll see play.
Brittlebone Destroyer is a New Priest & Warlock Card Revealed for Hearthstone's Scholomance Academy Expansion
Well, I like the interaction with the heal/damage class duality.
Combustion
Actually really good early removal, musthave
Brittlebone Destroyer is a New Priest & Warlock Card Revealed for Hearthstone's Scholomance Academy Expansion
not really powercreeped, just expanded upon if you really think about it. Keli'dan is still good in Plot Twist...and who says you can't run him alongside these? Extra removal with tempo never hurts....well I guess you have to hurt yourself first.
Nature Studies
So it is basically discover a druid spell for free? Thats good.