Let's talk about Rastakhan's Rumble.
Rastakhan's Rumble isn't exactly my favorite hearthstone expansion, but it still holds a place in my heart because it's the expansion that got me playing hearthstone again. It's the only expansion i've bought a preoder for. And it's the ex…
Rastakhan's Rumble isn't exactly my favorite hearthstone expansion, but it still holds a place in my heart because it's the expansion that got me playing hearthstone again. It's the only expansion i've bought a preoder for. And it's the expansion with, in my opinion, the best trailer theme. Roll it.
This is my favorite hearthstone trailer yet, and i listen to the instrumental version all the time when i'm working because i enjoy it so much. But i feel that this expansion had a lot of potential even though it was such a letdown let's start with the set mechanic Overkill.
Overkill was the set mechanic for Rastakhan's Rumble and if you haven't checked in a while like i hadn't you'd notice there are only 14 cards with the mechanic, compare that to other sets at the time like boomsday project(magnetic-12), or witchwood(echo-13) and you'll notice a trend. There were very few cards with the mechanic back in the day. Which i will explain later as a detriment for the set. But staying on topic. Compare that to recent expansions. Rise of Shadows(Twinspell-8, Lackey-7), Saviors of Uldum(reborn-18), Decent of Dragons(invoke-17, Lackey-2)(galakrond's awakening giving more of old set mechanics(Twinspell-3, Reborn-2, Lackey-2)), Scholo(Spellburst-20), And this trend is not slowing down so far with Madness at the Darkmoon Faire having 27 corrupt cards, and that's not counting the miniset still to come, which i believe will add more corrupt cards to make Y'Shaarj, the Defiler worth using.
And that's my point. There wasn't enough of the mechanic for it to work, and there weren't good enough effect for the mechanic to see play. Some would argue we're running into that second problem with corrupt. And people ask: "Where are the good overkill effects, Why weren't there any that see play at all?" And i lead into the crux of my argument. Rumble. Run.
If you haven't thought about this game mode in a while, i can't blame you, let me give you a refresher.
You play as this guy Rikkar, And whichever path you choose for him, based on a Zandalari deity he changes his style and way of play which i think is really cool.
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You know what this HEAVILY reminds me of? Transfer Student, This could have been a 2 mana 2/2 "transfer student like" effect or galakrond like effect where the neutral card would change style depending on which class you played it in and have an effect from the rumble run. Either acting as a "Mini-shrine" of sorts or maybe even a mini version of the Rastakhan deity. My personal thoughts for the rikkar effects based on the shrines would have been:
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AKA a form of Speaker Gidra before it was released
As a form of Phase Stalker before it was released
Perhaps a controversial shrine to pick here, but mage had a lot of synergy that was waste with hero power in RR
Djinni of Zephyrs That would actually see play as a 2 mana 2/2 Plus it works with the paladin spirit
All of the priest shrines would be controversial picks here, i would change this to only minions if it were to be added.
Another class with three controversial shrines if added, i feel this is the least controversial pick and it's an effect that can be dealt with easily on a 2/2
Shaman is interesting since 2/3 shrines have already been added as of late with Vessina and Corrupt the Waters
Another class with three degenerate shrines, if added it would be either a one turn effect or a one time effect, Potential otks involved…
An easy pick. And since warriors are basically the Rush class it should be fineNow to answer the question from earlier "Where are all the good overkill cards?" They were sent to rumble run to spare the main game mode. Rumble Run was not a balanced game mode if you remember right. And all the broken cards were very broken, but some of these i think can be EASILY salvaged into working cards for the main game mode with stat and cost changes, especially with what powercreep we've gotten since.
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If you're wondering where the good overkill cards went? There they are. Some better than others obviously but can you imagine? Imagine ravenous familiar in discard warlock. Redcrest rocker in dragon warrior which struggled so hard to remain relevant over doctor boom. Showstopping conjurer to fish for luna's pocket galaxy. Direhorn stomper and astral raptor. Even The fan favorite could have been a 10 mana 10/10 pack filler that would have been a GREAT pull off of Oondasta.
When people say this expansion is bad i get a little upset because i know it is bad. But it had so much potential to not be. And i think it was a great inspiration for future sets to come. Thanks for reading if you did, praise gonk.
