Moderately playable on it's own accord. Extra spicy if you're playing enough dragons for that to matter, which I'm not entirely sold on yet. Also, Hunter's tribes are all the fuck over the place.
Yeah. It's completely messed up. If you want to go face, you will spend your mana on minions, not on hero power. And also you won't bother running a side quest. In the end, running a mid-range deck with some inspire stuff would be just a meme...
But we need to see the other unrevealed cards and what the meta will look like
Kind of meh. But because it combines two decent effects might make it corner case playable. Not sure if Dragon Hunter will be a thing, but obviously if it is, this card goes there.
Boy, I'm really sensing some power creep this expansion
I've always thought that was sort of the idea? Since each year's 3rd expansion will be Standard for the shortest amount of time (only 16 months instead of 20/24 like expansion 2 and 1), if it's not seriously impactful it'll end up being very "skippable."
I mean look at RR - aside from a few specific builds like OTK Shirvallah Paladin or Armor Druid, how much of that set is still really used? Maybe 1-2 cards form each class plus a handful of neutrals - maybe 20-30 in all out of 135?
Feels weak. "Inspire" Hunter will have to be much stronger than I'd guess it will be for this to see play. If we still had 2/1 Leper Gnomes, then I'd worry a bit more about it.
It's not even that good with the Vault Quest, because that deck wants to spend its mana playing minions, not hitting the hero power button.
I wouldn't be surprised if this ends up being one of the better cards from the set. Stats are just about vanilla. Effect is useful against a board or just to go face.
Chances are your opponent hasn't planned their deck or mulligans to take advantage of 10 mana on turn 4/5 while you have. I think the card has a chance.
Also I know everyone is obviously looking at the battlecry, but on its face it's still a FOUR-mana 8/8. That will see play late-game for sure - heck on turn turn 10 you could play Nozdormu and then Pharaoh's Blessing for a 12/12 with Divine Shield and Taunt. Or possibly even a 15/15 or 18/18 if you've managed to get some Dragon Speaker love on it
The only world I can imagine where this card isn't competitive is one where (for whatever reason) it isn't played in Quest Druid, and Quest Druid is clearly the best druid variant, pushing everything else out of its way.
Might be a competitive card purely based on the strength of Breath of Dreams. But only if Druid is really starved for dragons outside of Emerald Explorer.
I really shouldn't go for the $80 bundle, but I love dragons so much I think I'm going to have to.
Dragon Priest was my first "real" deck when I joined HS just before K&C, and I legit tried to make Dragon Warrior work after RR (to no avail) and I actually got a decent Dragon Paladin deck together after RoS. Now it looks like both of those decks might be able to make a comeback in a big way - plus very nice to finally see some Hunter dragon love after they printed Carrion Drake and Emeriss way back in WW and then nothing.
Sinti or Flux (i.e. someone actually watching all the streams) confirmed in another thread yes the EVIL classes will get their two normal legendaries plus Galakrond (so 3 in all for those 5 classes) - that's why this set is listed as having 140 cards instead of the normal 135.
Deathwing, Mad Aspect (5) - 8 mana 12/12 on empty board. Huge come back card, less good if ahead.
Dragonbane (5) - 6 mana, 7 face damage on empty board. Otherwise, better Auchenai Soulpriest ability. Insane card.
Nozdormu the Timeless (5) - Basically a 4 mana 8/8 in the mid/late game. Even turn 4, it's not easy to respond to an 8/8 without minions on the board or removal in hand even with 10 mana available.
Malygos, Aspect of Magic (5) - Upgraded spells are very powerful. Body is fair. Ability should trigger fairly consistently.
Sathrovarr (5) - Lots of Value packed into this card. Draw a card + 2x bodies for 9. Potential to blow a game open.
Waxadred (5) - Over sized body, but weak health makes it more manageable. Deathrattle is solid delayed upside.
Ysera, Unleashed (4) - Lots of value in this card and future tempo, but the initial body lacks is weak for a 9 drop and without initiative makes it less powerful. The value and tempo gained by the 7 dragon draws will make it up if you draw 1, let alone more.
Epic
Toxic Reinforcements (1) - Generally garbage, 3 turns of hero powering is reserved for the late game, is this worth a card in the late game? Hell no.
Rare
Breath of Dreams (2) - 2 mana cycle a card, so pretty bad. Really good if you open with this for ramp.
Dragon's Hoard (3) - Will be higher value then other discover cards, although, less flexible if you needed an answer, as opposed to a value minion.
Lightning Breath (4) - Very solid, and potentially a 3 mana mini Flamestrike. Can be insane.
Molten Breath (4) - Good removal card. Armor bonus is less valuable in Warrior.
Phase Stalker (4) - Deck thinning for 2 mana, as well as some value. Otherwise generic 2 drop beast which is good for Hunter.
Common
Azure Explorer (4) - Cycles itself and cheap enough to spell damage boost cards in a relevant class. Body is on the weaker side, but the dragon discover is high value.
Candle Breath (3) - Fine card, 3 for 3 is great upside, but not game breaking.
Corrosive Breath (4) - Solid removal for cost, with upside that could matter.
Dwarven Sharpshooter (5) - Premium 1 drop that improves your hero power and protects itself from 2 drops.
Emerald Explorer (5) - Bonkers card. Properly statted with high value battlecry.
Evasive Drakonid (5) - Another bonkers card. There's a reason not many large untargetable minions exist, it blows out games. This will likely do that. It's a common so it will be in Arena a lot.
Learn Draconic (2) - Redeeming factor is you can play this on turn 9 and spend 8 mana worth of spells for a free 6/6. It's controllable to an extent which keeps this from being total garbage.
Primordial Explorer (5) - How did Emperor Cobra get a discover effect. Makes no sense. Insane power creep.
Sand Breath (4) - Busted in the first couple turns. Less good late, but the shield has value in the late game.
Twin Tyrant (5) - A better Multi-Shot attached to a fair 7 drop for 8 mana. Massive threat that will lately win games when played.
Man, thank you. I havent had such a good laugh in a while :)
But yeah, you need to have Galakrond in your hand, deck or be Galakrond already for Invoke to do anything. Which means discarding it sucks, also getting Invoke cards via random effects sucks, unless you are already playing a Galakrond deck.
Zoo-ish Galakrond Warlock looks like it could be a thing.
so the whole galakrond package is absent from arena then.
Well its twice as good as the original...which is in accordance with the overall feel of the upgrades in my opinion. But I miss some spells like Pyroblast? Why isn't that on the list.
The list contains only basic spells, not all Classic ones.
I am sort of in that camp. My boycott is more limited to the amount of time Blitzchung is suspended but the 100 pack bundle is extremely enticing and won't be available later... :(
I guess we each have our own parameters/thoughts on how long we #boycottblizzard but the value is so hard to just outright discard.
Fire and Ice guest deck
If you still need it:
If you don't have Magnus and Bragi, you may be able to replace them with a couple Thunderclaps. Not sure about the rest of the rares.
New Hunter Spell - Corrosive Breath
Moderately playable on it's own accord. Extra spicy if you're playing enough dragons for that to matter, which I'm not entirely sold on yet. Also, Hunter's tribes are all the fuck over the place.
New Hunter Spell - Toxic Reinforcements
Yeah. It's completely messed up. If you want to go face, you will spend your mana on minions, not on hero power. And also you won't bother running a side quest. In the end, running a mid-range deck with some inspire stuff would be just a meme...
But we need to see the other unrevealed cards and what the meta will look like
New Hunter Minion - Primordial Explorer
Kind of meh. But because it combines two decent effects might make it corner case playable. Not sure if Dragon Hunter will be a thing, but obviously if it is, this card goes there.
The Descent of Dragons Announcement Trailer Features 3 More Cards!
I've always thought that was sort of the idea? Since each year's 3rd expansion will be Standard for the shortest amount of time (only 16 months instead of 20/24 like expansion 2 and 1), if it's not seriously impactful it'll end up being very "skippable."
I mean look at RR - aside from a few specific builds like OTK Shirvallah Paladin or Armor Druid, how much of that set is still really used? Maybe 1-2 cards form each class plus a handful of neutrals - maybe 20-30 in all out of 135?
New Hunter Minion - Phase Stalker
Feels like a completely reasonable card. Slates into Secret Highlander Hunter on day 1.
New Hunter Spell - Toxic Reinforcements
Feels weak. "Inspire" Hunter will have to be much stronger than I'd guess it will be for this to see play. If we still had 2/1 Leper Gnomes, then I'd worry a bit more about it.
It's not even that good with the Vault Quest, because that deck wants to spend its mana playing minions, not hitting the hero power button.
Galakrond, the Nightmare
Hero power for this one?
New Hunter Minion - Dragonbane
I wouldn't be surprised if this ends up being one of the better cards from the set. Stats are just about vanilla. Effect is useful against a board or just to go face.
The Descent of Dragons Announcement Trailer Features 3 More Cards!
Also I know everyone is obviously looking at the battlecry, but on its face it's still a FOUR-mana 8/8. That will see play late-game for sure - heck on turn turn 10 you could play Nozdormu and then Pharaoh's Blessing for a 12/12 with Divine Shield and Taunt. Or possibly even a 15/15 or 18/18 if you've managed to get some Dragon Speaker love on it
Will Questing Explorer work with side quests?
Oh, that's nice. I like it. Thank you all.
New Druid Minion - Emerald Explorer
So strong, stand alone. If Dragon Druid is somehow not pushed completely out of the picture by the Quest, this card is a no brainer.
New Druid Spell - Breath of Dreams
The only world I can imagine where this card isn't competitive is one where (for whatever reason) it isn't played in Quest Druid, and Quest Druid is clearly the best druid variant, pushing everything else out of its way.
New Druid Minion - Ysera, Unleashed
Might be a competitive card purely based on the strength of Breath of Dreams. But only if Druid is really starved for dragons outside of Emerald Explorer.
New Neutral Minion - Evasive Drakonid
Also good in a Dragon Paladin deck alongside Dragon Speaker and Glowstone Technician!
Will Questing Explorer work with side quests?
That makes Sidequests much more playable
New Rogue Spell - Seal Fate
It seemed overly expensive to me, but your calculations are right. It may see play in many decks with Galakrond.
The Descent of Dragons Announcement Trailer Features 3 More Cards!
I really shouldn't go for the $80 bundle, but I love dragons so much I think I'm going to have to.
Dragon Priest was my first "real" deck when I joined HS just before K&C, and I legit tried to make Dragon Warrior work after RR (to no avail) and I actually got a decent Dragon Paladin deck together after RoS. Now it looks like both of those decks might be able to make a comeback in a big way - plus very nice to finally see some Hunter dragon love after they printed Carrion Drake and Emeriss way back in WW and then nothing.
Descent of Dragons
Sinti or Flux (i.e. someone actually watching all the streams) confirmed in another thread yes the EVIL classes will get their two normal legendaries plus Galakrond (so 3 in all for those 5 classes) - that's why this set is listed as having 140 cards instead of the normal 135.
Descent of Dragons: Arena Impact
Question about Invoke Ability
so the whole galakrond package is absent from arena then.
Will Questing Explorer work with side quests?
It's been confirmed by Blizzard that yes, they do.
New Mage Minion - Malygos, Aspect of Magic
but Tome of Intellect is a common.
I wonder why they would do all the basic mage spells, and then one random common one, it doesn't make much sense to me.
BlizzCon 2019 Recap - Everything You Need to Know
I am sort of in that camp. My boycott is more limited to the amount of time Blitzchung is suspended but the 100 pack bundle is extremely enticing and won't be available later... :(
I guess we each have our own parameters/thoughts on how long we #boycottblizzard but the value is so hard to just outright discard.
I am totally conflicted right now.
Will Questing Explorer work with side quests?
They do, indeed.
Source: https://twitter.com/Celestalon/status/1191062771355414528