Arthas | 5 years, 7 months ago |

Card Reveal

New Targon Spell - Astral Protection

A new Common Targon Spell, Astral Protection, has been revealed! [runecardimg rating]774[/runecardimg] Discuss this card below or head on over to the card page to give it a rating! Learn more abou…

5

Arthas | 5 years, 7 months ago |

Card Reveal

New Targon Champion - Soraka

A new Champion Targon Unit, Soraka, has been revealed! [runecardimg rating]775[/runecardimg] [runecardimg token]Soraka[/runecardimg] [runecardimg]Soraka's Wish[/runecardimg] Discuss this card below…

4

Arthas | 5 years, 7 months ago |

Card Reveal

New Targon Card - Stargazer

A new Rare Targon Unit, Stargazer, has been revealed! [runecardimg rating]773[/runecardimg] Discuss this card below or head on over to the card page to give it a rating! Learn more about Monuments…

3

Swizard | 5 years, 7 months ago |

Discussion

Help with inserting infinite Fireheart Spells combo into decks

I played a [card]Dwarven Archeologist[/card] in arena and suddenly realized its synergy with [card]Instructor Fireheart[/card].  I made an initial deck that just draws through the deck to play t…

I played a [Hearthstone Card (Dwarven Archeologist) Not Found] in arena and suddenly realized its synergy with Instructor Fireheart. I made an initial deck that just draws through the deck to play that combo

Infinite Fireheart Spells

Wild · Unknown Shaman · by Swizard · 5 years, 7 months ago

, but I feel like it might be better in some control shaman deck as a value generator rather than a win condition. If you play one archaeologist and Fireheart you can generate a lot of value, with 2 even more, and it’s easier to put 1 or 2 in the deck than doing a Thaurrisan combo for faceless manipulators.

I only play wild, but maybe someone has ideas for standard as to how to insert this combo into decks. If anyone has any ideas for either standard or wild (doesn’t have to be in competitive decks) about how to insert that combo into any decks I would be happy to hear them.

6

Arthas | 5 years, 7 months ago |

Card Reveal

New Targon Card - Crystal Ibex

A new Common Targon Unit, Crystal Ibex, has been revealed! [runecardimg rating]767[/runecardimg] Discuss this card below or head on over to the card page to give it a rating! Learn more about Monu…

8

minuano28 | 5 years, 7 months ago |

Discussion

New Expansion : Monuments of Power

Riot just teased the second part of the set : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSz0IwiqD1E&feature=emb_title So we are getting 3 new champions with this one who do you think they're gonna be ? &…

29

Arthas | 5 years, 7 months ago |

Card Reveal

New Freljord Landmark - The Howling Abyss

A new Epic Freljord Landmark, The Howling Abyss, has been revealed! [runecardimg rating]765[/runecardimg] Discuss this card below or head on over to the card page to give it a rating! Learn more abo…

24

OldManSanns | 5 years, 7 months ago |

Discussion

Monuments of Power Theorycrafting

Just a reminder: the unreleased cards are in the deckbuilder, so you can theorycraft to your heart's content. Or if you want to check out what other people are scheming up, you can either click on th…

1

Wendeee | 5 years, 7 months ago |

Discussion

How to approach the wildcard/shards hoarding in the long term

Hi. I believe that I am not the only one that has tons of Common and Rare wildcards but just a few Epic and Champion wildcards. I guess that it will always be like this, that the two most rare types…

9

Arthas | 5 years, 7 months ago |

Card Reveal

New Targon Spell - Divergent Paths

A new Common Targon Spell, Divergent Paths, has been revealed! [runecardimg rating]769[/runecardimg] Discuss this card below or head on over to the card page to give it a rating! Learn more about …

6

Cheese | 5 years, 7 months ago |

Fan Creations

Cheese's custom revamp of the HUNTER core sets!

HUNTER CORE SET REVAMP Introduction Neoguli's post kickstarted me to finish my own After Priest and Shaman, it is Hunter's turn to have its core sets revised. I have all classes ready. Howev…

HUNTER CORE SET REVAMP

WoW Class emblem

Introduction

Neoguli's post kickstarted me to finish my own

After Priest and Shaman, it is Hunter's turn to have its core sets revised. I have all classes ready. However, neoguli already dealt with Warlock, Druid, Rogue, Warrior, and Paladin. For the moment, I will focus on classes that weren't modified yet.

In terms of core set quality, Hunter is above average, although its sets aren't as good as Mage's or Rogue's. The main issue with Hunter's current set is its one-dimensionality. Up to 2017, Hunter was a one-dimensional class with an extremely linear gameplay. It had only one viable archetype (at best), oscillating between face and midrange.

After 2017, internal diversity increased: Egg, Cube, No-minion, Big, etc... Deathstalker Rexxar enabled late-game-oriented Hunter archetypes. Big Beast synergies enabled non-linear playstyles. One major constraint, as Blizz themselves noticed, is Hunter's lack of card draw. Lack of card draw intrinsically limits a class' design space. However Blizz developed workarounds such as card generation (Rhok'delar)or costly but powerful tutoring ([Hearthstone Card (Scavenger Ingenuity) Not Found], Ursatron) as opposed to general card draw, or "Recruit" mechanics.

Directions

General directions I follow for the core sets

Blizzard's official post on class identity is weird. It mixes class mechanics with strengths and weaknesses so most of the stuff doesn't make sense. The way I proceeded is completely different. I started by listing what should be the primary and secondary mechanics of the class, the strengths and weaknesses of the class as well as the archetypes available to it should follow from this list.

I say "core sets" a lot, but the Basic and Classic set are NOT interchangeable in their functions.

The Basic set is the spine of the class. It ensures the class' viability and establishes its primary mechanics.

Must be simple. Most cards must have 2 lines of text or less. Only simple keywords.
Versatile to support multiple playstyles
Minimal kit of everything a class needs to be viable (card draw; removal; direct damage; good standalone minions;...) even if not part of identity
Fine if slightly more OP than what you would expect from expansions

The Classic set is the limbs of the class. It ensures the class' internal diversity and estables its secondary mechanics.

Presents the more "complex" mechanics of the game (Deathrattle, etc...)
Because Classic packs are bought, there should be a sense of progression
Unlike the Basic set, Classic cards should be slightly below average to let room for expansions

About tribal synergies, each minion type has its own identity

Beasts

All size of minions
Good standalone value
Buff each other a lot
Each type of Beast has its subtheme (Bears=Taunt; Boars=Rush; Cats=Stealth; Wolves=buff other beasts; etc...)
Most common type of minions, as such their identity is less precise

Demons (Warlock & DH)

All size of minions
Powerful but with a drawback (taking damage; discard; ...)

Dragons

Medium to big minions
"If you're holding a Dragon"
Hand synergy
Lots of legendaries
4/12 statline as a signature

Elementals

All size of minions
"If you played an Elemental last turn"
Value generation
Battlecries

Mechs

Mechs were the focus of only 2 expansions (GvG and Boomsday) but they're otherwise a rare tribe and have no central identity!

Murlocs

Small minions
Board-wide buffs for other Murlocs
Relies on early-game snowballing. If allowed to stay on the board, they become nearly unstoppable

Pirates

Small to medium minions
Weapon synergy
Lots of direct damage

Totems (Shaman)

Small minions
0 attack with some exceptions
Powerful ongoing effects (aura/end of turn/whenever)

Tribal synergies are part of a class primary identity in only 3 cases

Beasts for Hunter
Totems for Shaman
Demons for Walocks and DHs

All other class-tribe associations are mostly a matter of coincidence as these tribes happen to fit in the class identity (eg pirates for Warrior/Rogue)

About which keywords I chose to keep in the core sets

Charge vs Rush - As you know, Charge is a dangerous keyword. This is why Rush was introduced...however there are a few cards that were meant to be finishers that wouldn't make sense without Rush. I will replace Charge with Rush on all core cards with Charge (and tweak stats accordingly) EXCEPT when Charge is on a legendary minion. There are 4 legendary minions with Charge in the classic set and they will keep Charge

Discover - Disover offers a choice between cards that are in standard. Due to how easy Discover can become skewed when the right cards are printed, there will be no Discover cards in my core sets.
Poisonous - There were originally no Poisonous cards in the Basic set before the introduction of [Hearthstone Card (Master Poisoner) Not Found]. I will therefore also have poisonous cards in my basic set
Lifesteal - There are currently no Lifesteal cards in the core sets. However the keyword is simple and I will therefore introduce some.

Hunter class identity

I tried not to steer away too much from what Blizzard defined for the class, although there are definitely some directions I disagree with and went against. I will signal it when it is the case.

PRIMARY MECHANICS

BEASTS (big and small): All classes have tribal synergies, but only in Hunter is this particular tribal synergy so central.
SMORC : Face is the place.
DEATHRATTLES : Through cards that trigger them.

SECONDARY MECHANICS

SECRETS - Hunter is a class with Secrets. Unlike Mage secrets (which are defensive) and Paladin secrets (which are situational), Hunter secrets are tempo-focused in nature, and helps you keep the lead on the board.
SUMMONING SPELLS : Hunter has a lot of them. This is what allows the class to have minionless archetypes.
TUTORING - Hunter has few "undiscriminated" card draw but has a lot of cards to tutor exactly the cards they need.
HANDBUFF - Alongside other "Grimy Goon" classes, Hunter has lots of handbuff. Hunter's handbuff tends to be focused on
PARTIAL REMOVALS - Hunter AOE removals tend to be very partial and position-hased. See Powershot.

Hunter is GOOD at

Direct damage : Through spells, charge minions, weapons, and of course Steady Shot. Face is the place.
Horizontal pressure : Mostly through summoning spells.
Vertical pressure : Big Beasts and ways to cheat and buff them.

Hunter is AVERAGE at

Tempo
Single-target removals
Board clears

Hunter is BAD at

Card draw : This is what keep the class in check. However, tutor cards (as opposed to generic card draw) is common.
Multi-target removals : Hunter has a few small and situational board clears ("shots"), but no big one.
Value generation (barring the anomalous data point that is Deathstalker Rexxar).

The new core sets

Hunter new Basic set

Timber Wolf Arcane Shot Deadly Shot Reload

Animal Companion Kill Command Multi-shot Houndmaster

Tundra Rhino Cobra Shot

Hunter new Classic set

COMMONS

Webspinner Explosive Trap Pressure Plate

Snipe Scavenging Hyena Unleash the Hounds

RARES

Venomstrike Trap Eaglehorn Bow Terrorscale Stalker

Infested Wolf Bursting Shot

EPICS

Snake Trap Abominable Bowman Call of the Wild

LEGENDARY

King Krush

Justifications

Basic

Timber Wolf (unchanged)
Arcane Shot (unchanged)
Deadly Shot (move to Classic from Basic) - The effect feels like a basic effect. It needs to be here.
Reload (custom) - Every class needs card draw to be viable. This doesn't mesh well with the "no card draw" identity of Blizzard. However, Reload strikes a compromise between the necessity of card draw and Hunter's class identity. By limiting the number of cards in your hand, Reload is effective without allowing Hunter to hoard cards like some other classes do.
Animal Companion (artwork changed; effect made more explicit) - The card is functionnaly unchanged, it still always summon Huffer, but a basic card like this needs to give new players and idea of what a "Beast companion" is. (Same reason why I don't like Shaman's HP btw).
Kill Command (artwork changed) - Like AC, I find this artwork much better. The current one is...weird. Especially since it pictures a bird but the animation clearly shows teeth.
Multi-Shot (damage increased by 1) - This will hopefully make it more polyvalent. At 4 damage, Multishot can clear a lot more stuff than before without being OP (I think).
Houndmaster (unchanged)
Tundra Rhino (cost reduced to 4; gives Rush instead of Charge) - Honestly, it's a miracle that this card has been dodging nerfs and HoFing since the inception of the game given the broken combos it allows and the design space it screws up. In line with my policy of removing Charge from non-legendary cards, Thunda Rhino now only gives your beasts Rush. I also reduced its cost to (4) because it loses combo potential
Cobra Shot (from GVG 2014; cost reduced to 4) - The original 5-mana Cobra Shot was printed at a time when HS games were very linera and Face Hunter tyrannized the meta. Devs probably thought it wasn't a good idea to give FH further face damage hence the 5-mana cost. Today, however, the game is much more "non-linear" and FH has been matched in degeneracy by another kind of Hunter (that hunts Demons). It can now cost 4 and be balanced. Also put into the basic set because it's a basic effet.

Classic

Webspinner (from NAXX OUT 2014) - I strongly hesitated to put this into the Classic set due to how obiquitous it was back in the day. I still put it back because the effect really feels very "core" and the Hunter class has more internal diversity than it had in 2014 so it might not be as ubiquitous nowadays.
Explosive Trap (unchanged)
Pressure Plate (from SOO 2019) - So that Hunter has Secret to counter spell-centric decks.
Snipe (unchanged)
Scavenging Hyena (nerfed to +1/+1) - Hyena's snowball potential is waaay too good for this effect to remain core. It has been in every aggro/midrange archetypes of Hunter since the game's inception.
Unleash the Hounds (nerfed from Charge to Rush) - Follows my policy of cutting Charge of all non-legendary core cards.
[Hearthstone Card (Venomous Trap) Not Found] (from KFT 2017) - Replaces other secrets I feel weren't basic enough or too weird.
Eaglehorn Bow (stats swapped, art changed, "after" for more clarity) - At 3 attack for 3 mana, this weapon is way too good. It's also a powercreep to Fiery War Axe. At 2/3, it is still playable and of acceptable power level. Again art changed as well.
Terrorscale Stalker (from UNG 2017) - Deathrattles, and in particular DR triggers, have been establised as a Hunter archetype. Terrorscale is less risky than either Play Dead or Feign Death because of its high mana cost.
Infested Wolf (from WOTOG 2016) - Replaces Savannah Highmane. A decent, simple, and balanced Deathrattle Beast.
Bursting Shot (custom) - Replaces Explosive Shot which sucks. I wanted to give Hunter some form of board control for late-game oriented decks, while keeping the flavor of Shots only touching certain minions.
Snake Trap (unchanged)
Abominable Bowman (from KFT 2017) - Although the card has never seen competitive play, it is a very good building brick for cool but non-degenerate Big Beast decks
Call of the Wild (from WOTOG 2016; re-nerfed to 9 mana) - Honestly CotW is such an obvious and basic effect that it can't possibly NOT be in the core set. CotW originally costed 8. It was nerfed to 9 mana because HS games were fair back in the day. They they rebuffed it to 8 mana because powercreep. However, Classic cards needs to be fair, which is why I'm reversing the cost AGAIN.
King Krush (unchanged)

Hall of Fame

Tracking - Waaay too complicated for a basic card. Also goes against the rule of "no Discover in the core sets" (though it's not strictly a Discover).
Starving Buzzard - Unplayable since it was nerfed, unbalanceable effect because remember: Hunter card draw bad.
Hunter's Mark - This is a Paladin effect, not a Hunter effect.
Misdirection - Too random and situtational to be core.
Freezing Trap - The effect (1) is too OP (2) is weird for a card with "freezing" in its name (3) doesn't fit hunter (4) is frustrating when it affects a 9+cost minion.
Flare - Tech cards should be neutral.
Savannah Highmane - Broken. Replaced by Infested Wolf.
Explosive Shot - Straight up bad. Replaced by Volley.
Bestial Wrath - Sucks + doesn't bring anything to the class.
[Hearthstone Card (Gladiator Longbow) Not Found] - Sucks + doesn't bring anything to the class.

Shortlisted cards

Shorlisted cards

The following cards almost made it into my core sets, but didn't because there were no room left for them.

Hunter's Pack (from SOU 2019) - A flavorful and effective way to reload your hand. Scrapped for card draw instead.
Scarlet Webweaver (from SOU 2019) - Interesting for Big Hunter archetypes, but ultimately too dangerous.
Goblin Prank (from TBP 2018) - Interesting effect for Hunter, but it doesn't really fit the class.
Dire Frenzy (from Witchwood 2019) - Late-game potential for Hunter, would be too annoying in a core set. More than 10 Huffers per game is not healthy.
Piranha Launcher (from MSG 2016) - Nice effect, but I didn't have room for more weapons.
Powershot (from TGT 2015) - Almost replaced [Hearthstone Card (Multishot) Not Found] but it just felt too weak.
Quick Shot (from BRM 2015) - Too OP. Cobra Shot is more interesting and flavorful.

8

Nifty129 | 5 years, 7 months ago |

Discussion

Heimerdinger At His Best

So the numbers are in for mogwai's new Hiemer list, sitting at about a 51 percent winrate over 1000 games This puts it below Lee Sin lists, but it might get further optimized down the road or people…

1

Arthas | 5 years, 7 months ago |

Card Reveal

New Targon Card - Spring Guardian

A new Common Targon Unit, Spring Guardian, has been revealed! [runecardimg rating]768[/runecardimg] Discuss this card below or head on over to the card page to give it a rating! Learn more about M…

3

Arthas | 5 years, 7 months ago |

Card Reveal

New Freljord Spell - Voices of the Old Ones

A new Common Freljord Spell, Voices of the Old Ones, has been revealed! [runecardimg rating]764[/runecardimg] Discuss this card below or head on over to the card page to give it a rating! Learn mo…

7

kaladin | 5 years, 7 months ago |

Battlegrounds

Looking for help - extremely stuck at 6k

I had relatively smooth sailing to 6k, using a standard strategy and trying to hit power turns, but recently, most of my comps end up being garbage menagerie and I'm consistently hitting bottom 4, us…

16

Arthas | 5 years, 7 months ago |

Card Reveal

New Targon Card - Sneaky Zeebles

A new Common Targon Unit, Sneaky Zeebles, has been revealed! [runecardimg rating]766[/runecardimg] Discuss this card below or head on over to the card page to give it a rating! Learn more about Mo…

5

Grumpy000 | 5 years, 7 months ago |

Tavern Brawl

easy brawl win

with this deck :) [deck]19706[/deck]

1

brownhackwtf | 5 years, 7 months ago |

Fan Creations

New Hero Power for a custom class

Hey everybody, I just have a little question I want to ask here, because I don't have a satisfying answer for myself. After 2 finished custom expansions I wanted to try something new and started wi…

10

LutriSpellcaster | 5 years, 7 months ago |

Fan Creations

Rafaam vs Explorers 3 - A Custom 48-card Expansion

Hi, my name is Meepazor and I'd like to show my most recent complete expansion, Rafaam vs Explorers 3. This is a small One Night in Karazhan style expansion that would probably be accompanied by an a…

3

Arthas | 5 years, 7 months ago |

Card Reveal

New Bilgewater Card - Wise Fry

A new Rare Bilgewater Unit, Wise Fry, has been revealed! [runecardimg rating]757[/runecardimg] Discuss this card below or head on over to the card page to give it a rating! Learn more about Monume…

4

Arthas | 5 years, 7 months ago |

Card Reveal

New Bilgewater Spell - Shakedown

A new Rare Bilgewater Spell, Shakedown, has been revealed! [runecardimg rating]758[/runecardimg] Discuss this card below or head on over to the card page to give it a rating! Learn more about Monu…

6

Nifty129 | 5 years, 7 months ago |

Discussion

Karma and Taric Are The Worst...Statistically

Keep in mind that I absolutely love these champs and I don't believe winrates are the be all and end all But in this instance 42 percent is insanely low You know when Katarina is winning more than …

4

Arthas | 5 years, 7 months ago |

Card Reveal

New Shadow Isles Card - Vaults of Helia

A new Epic Shadow Isles Unit, Vaults of Helia, has been revealed! [runecardimg rating]749[/runecardimg] Discuss this card below or head on over to the card page to give it a rating! Learn more abo…

12

Nifty129 | 5 years, 7 months ago |

Discussion

New champ - Tahm Kench

I honestly have no idea were this guy goes, Swim keeps thinking that you run these self damage cards with healing, I don't necessarily agree. It's not enough to just play something slightly overstat…

4

Theodrinus | 5 years, 7 months ago |

Discussion

Hearthstone Lead Designer Looking for Feedback

Dean Ayala, Hearthstone Lead Designer just posted this tweet: https://twitter.com/IksarHS/status/1313315124048875520 I appreciate this as my own interest has been dwindling as well, and this looks l…

3

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HUNTER CORE SET REVAMP

Introduction

Directions

The new core sets

COMMONS

RARES

EPICS

LEGENDARY

Justifications

Basic

Classic

Hall of Fame

Shortlisted cards

Learn more about Monuments of Power

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