Bluetracker
Tracks Blizzard employees across various accounts.
Anyone else finding Echo kinda... dull so far?
So, here's the echo cards we've seen so far:
Glinda Crowskin: Oh, hey, kinda interesting! Maybe too expensive, and Cubelock's too strong for it to become competitive, but maybe someone can figure out something fun to do with it!
Face Collector: Oooh, okay, it's a bit silly, but up to three legendaries is up to three legendaries, that could get fun!
Hunting Mastiff: ...oh. Well. Okay, it's a echoing Bluegill, but a beast that can't punch face first turn. That... could be interesting.
Mistwraith: ...kay. Well... I guess the whole point of the Echo spells is that you get to cast them a bunch, so... maybe it's more than Unbound Elemental, but with 1 more of everything and Echo instead of Overload.
Pick Pocket: ...so, Burgle, but cheaper and less so, and with Echo.
Cheap Shot: ...so, Holy Smite. But Rogue, more expensive, and can't punch face. With Echo.
Phantom Militia: ...so, Squirming Tentacle. But Echos.
Sound the Bells!: ...literally a more expensive Divine Strength with Echo.
Warpath: ...literally a more expensive Whirlwind with Echo.
Sorry for the dinner theater quality writing there, but it feels like Echo isn't really going to have a chance with this expansion, not like Discover had. Everything just feels very... safe. No spells accessible to Priest or Mage yet, so no chance of discount shenanigans. The two cards that benefit from Discover are priced high enough that probably won't be able to get many combos with them. And... most of the cards that Echo... well, do stuff that other cards already do.
Maybe experimentation comes later. Discover didn't have many creative initial cards, after all (Etheral Conjour: Discover a Spell. Tomb Spider: Discover a Beast. Raven Idol: Discover a Minion or a Spell, oooh la la...), so maybe it's just a matter of "get it right on simple stuff first, then comes the "5 mana 5/6 with upside that nut-punches class balance for 16 months" type Echo card.
Just can't help but feel like this new mechanic... isn't quite there yet.
Mike Donais
That is the thing with echo cards, they have to be weaker than just making a play on curve because you have added flexibility.
It certainly makes them look a bit soft when you just compare them to a play on curve though.