For the time being I suspect burn mages would run both copies of this card, in order to counter odd paladin and other aggro decks (which are somewhat popular).
Check the frequency score of some of the high tier decks. But you are right to think, that the 3/2 would come in and out depending on the meta. Flame Ward though, as long as there are swarm decks on the ladder, would always stay. Even as a one-of, but it would stay. The 3-damage AoE is just too good, because, like I said earlier, it can clear most 1-, 2-, 3- and even 4-drops.
Yes good point. I suppose the question remains as to whether including Arcane Flakmage and Flame Ward will add enough percentages onto the flood deck MU without harming the already favoured MU against control decks.
EDIT - what i do know is that I'm gonna hate playing against Aluneth Mage even more
Yeah, fair point. I guess you'd use Kezan if your deck is more tempo-oriented than control.
Makes me wonder if the best way to play burn mage is to spam fewer secrets....probably?
I'm not an expert, but I think against control it would be much better to spam the secrets, so that you would overwhelm the opponent in the early game and win with your threatening board and/or burn spells later on. Explosive Runes denies the opponent from summoning a taunt, Counterspell denies them from casting an AoE, Ice Block keeps your Medivh's Valets always active and the more secrets you cast, the cheaper Kabal Crystal Runner becomes.
In the next meta I suspect Burn Mage players would hold onto their secrets when facing aggro, in order to proc Arcane Flakmage's effect a bunch of times. If secret techs become very popular, mage players would play their secrets more frugally like you suspect.
Interesting analysis - I pretty much agree! I'm unsure about whether Arcane Flakmage will make the cut...perhaps as a one-of...but I imagine it will come in and out of decklists depending on the meta (I expect the same will be true of Flame Ward)
Regarding Eater of Secrets etc. vs. Kezan Mystic… i think it depends on how Secret Mages play out in the new meta. In other words, will they be more strategic (one secret at a time) or just spam "?"'s everywhere lol.
Good question, but as a control player I would prefer the prior tech just because burn mages normally spam "?"s left and right and I would be more comfortable in dealing with them at once.
Yeah, fair point. I guess you'd use Kezan if your deck is more tempo-oriented than control.
Makes me wonder if the best way to play burn mage is to spam fewer secrets....probably?
Also, I've noticed that on the Amazon App Store they now give you a few free coins every day when you open the app. You can get enough for a few packs every few months...not great, but its FREE. :D
I think this only happens in certain regions, however.
That is one hell of a legendary. I dont think it would fit into Spiteful Decks, cause there usually isnt that many spells, tho i suppose two 10 cost minions would be enough value. More like a Big Spell Mage or maybe some kind of Paladin deck in wild with Dinosize and Steed and stuff like that. The new Pharaoh's Blessing would fit in there too.
I dunno, I think it helps mitigate the poor outcome that occasionally happens when your Spiteful Summoner can't pull anything from your deck...though i agree most times it'll just have the same effect (summon 1 minion) for 3 mana more...
Will this actually help Secret Mage counter Odd Paladin in Wild?
I'm a bit anxious about what the format will look like after this expac drops.
Get your Kezan Mystic at the ready guys and gals...
Ikr? Aluneth Mage is one of my most hated decks (even when it was still in standard) and if this archtype gains a lot of popularity in wild, I might take a break from that format for a while.
Yeah, Secret Mage is one of those decks that treads a fine line between feeling strong and downright oppressive to play against...
Regarding Eater of Secrets etc. vs. Kezan Mystic... i think it depends on how Secret Mages play out in the new meta. In other words, will they be more strategic (one secret at a time) or just spam "?"'s everywhere lol.
Also worth noting that odd pally has access to Chief Inspector but i doubt it'll be worth it for consistency reasons
This card is amazing, but as pointed out, not Zilliax amazing, cause of the lifesteal and mana cost. But that is ok! It will serve a different purpose, but it will see play.
You kidding....for a mere 9 mana you can whack a Lightforged Blessing on this bad boy and have yourself a DIY Zilliax?!
I'm not convinced it's that good. Other than the useful (if probably inconsistent) synergies with Necrium Blade and the new Anka, the Buried, this just seems like a less flexible (but faster) Kidnapper to me.
In a meta with big guys then it's better, but it's useless against wide boards. It may be better in Arena than Constructed modes if the Arena meta favours it.
I'm not convinced it's that good. Other than the useful (if probably inconsistent) synergies with Necrium Blade and the new Anka, the Buried, this just seems like a less flexible Kidnapper to me.
I'm quite worried about skipping this expansion, I skipped the Lichking Expansion and found myself really wanting to try he different quest decks. I seem them as basically a legemdary card from each class worth having when in other expansions theres usually only 4 or 5 legemdaries i want to have.
This has got me thinking, should I pre order the cheaper bundle before I regret it?
Firstly, I'd say only consider preordering if you can afford it.
As to whether you do preorder or not... it's a judgement call, based on what cards you like. If you're mostly bothered with having powerful cards, then I'd recommend you spend some time checking out reviews of the set from pro players. That should give you a better feel for if the expansion is likely to be powerful and worth your money.
For me, one of the major drives is how long the cards will be in standard. I feel like I'm getting more value if i open more packs of the first 2 expansions in a cycle (therefore more cards)
For the final expac i usually just hoard gold and craft any meta-defining cards.
It might sound strange since I mostly play wild, however most new cards have minimal effect on the wild metagame. For wild it seems better to craft what's good/what you want to play with.
All this drama about Toast is bad for both Toast and the community.
Has there been that much drama?
At the risk of being unpopular...it's just one card reveal and the final reveal stream is in two days time.
Not about the card but about Toast's recent involvement towards HS. At least from his tweet, it sounds like some drama happened, not sure about it.
Either way, his declaration is out of place. If he accepted the reveal, he should have performed it, if he didn't, it's blizz mistake for not handling this stuff privately.
Fair enough.
Personally, I wish Blizz still revealed the card even if they couldn't be bothered to give it to anyone else to reveal.
Yes good point. I suppose the question remains as to whether including Arcane Flakmage and Flame Ward will add enough percentages onto the flood deck MU without harming the already favoured MU against control decks.
EDIT - what i do know is that I'm gonna hate playing against Aluneth Mage even more
My understanding is that only collectable cards can be randomly summoned. Hence The Darkness shows up as dormant and not a 20/20 (yikes)
Interesting analysis - I pretty much agree! I'm unsure about whether Arcane Flakmage will make the cut...perhaps as a one-of...but I imagine it will come in and out of decklists depending on the meta (I expect the same will be true of Flame Ward)
Yeah, fair point. I guess you'd use Kezan if your deck is more tempo-oriented than control.
Makes me wonder if the best way to play burn mage is to spam fewer secrets....probably?
Also, I've noticed that on the Amazon App Store they now give you a few free coins every day when you open the app. You can get enough for a few packs every few months...not great, but its FREE. :D
I think this only happens in certain regions, however.
I dunno, I think it helps mitigate the poor outcome that occasionally happens when your Spiteful Summoner can't pull anything from your deck...though i agree most times it'll just have the same effect (summon 1 minion) for 3 mana more...
The coin flip of getting King Phaoris or Colossus of the Moon is gonna be a real feelsbadman moment for either you or the opponent....
Yeah, Secret Mage is one of those decks that treads a fine line between feeling strong and downright oppressive to play against...
Regarding Eater of Secrets etc. vs. Kezan Mystic... i think it depends on how Secret Mages play out in the new meta. In other words, will they be more strategic (one secret at a time) or just spam "?"'s everywhere lol.
Also worth noting that odd pally has access to Chief Inspector but i doubt it'll be worth it for consistency reasons
The animation on the regular card looks amazing. :D
Something for the old Spiteful Summoner decks in Wild too?
Seems strong but not completely overtuned in terms of power (looking at you Bloodreaver Gul'dan and Master Oakheart)
This might actually be a decent budget deck.
I think Mecharoo would probably be better than Jar Dealer however, though it sacrifices some consistency on non-Rogue class cards.
Will this actually help Secret Mage counter Odd Paladin in Wild?
I'm a bit anxious about what the format will look like after this expac drops.
Get your Kezan Mystic at the ready guys and gals...
You kidding....for a mere 9 mana you can whack a Lightforged Blessing on this bad boy and have yourself a DIY Zilliax?!
V A L U E
I love this.
It makes me want to make a flavour deck with Siamat, Magic Carpet and Djinni of Zephyrs
Oh...and Hooked Scimitar
I'm not convinced it's that good. Other than the useful (if probably inconsistent) synergies with Necrium Blade and the new Anka, the Buried, this just seems like a less flexible (but faster) Kidnapper to me.
In a meta with big guys then it's better, but it's useless against wide boards. It may be better in Arena than Constructed modes if the Arena meta favours it.
I'm not convinced it's that good. Other than the useful (if probably inconsistent) synergies with Necrium Blade and the new Anka, the Buried, this just seems like a less flexible Kidnapper to me.
Firstly, I'd say only consider preordering if you can afford it.
As to whether you do preorder or not... it's a judgement call, based on what cards you like. If you're mostly bothered with having powerful cards, then I'd recommend you spend some time checking out reviews of the set from pro players. That should give you a better feel for if the expansion is likely to be powerful and worth your money.
For me, one of the major drives is how long the cards will be in standard. I feel like I'm getting more value if i open more packs of the first 2 expansions in a cycle (therefore more cards)
For the final expac i usually just hoard gold and craft any meta-defining cards.
It might sound strange since I mostly play wild, however most new cards have minimal effect on the wild metagame. For wild it seems better to craft what's good/what you want to play with.
Fair enough.
Personally, I wish Blizz still revealed the card even if they couldn't be bothered to give it to anyone else to reveal.
Sorry if this is addressed elsewhere, but what's the verdict on Spirit of the Frog?
I run a version (I think one of the older Tempo Shudder decklists) with Spirit and Evolve.
Is it just that these cards are less anti-aggro, which doesn't fit with the current meta?
EDIT: PS thanks for the detailed write up!