I have to wonder because the text does not specify, does it mean any 2 drop minion or just neutrals? Cause this could swing any which way imagine-able if it's any 2 drop minion.
I hope this clears it up for this and any future unspecified discover cards.
Nope. People are going to keep asking the same stupid questions over and over XD
IMO the main thing this does is eliminate the bullshit swing turn from Galakrond into Scion. Which is great. That swing turn is fucking bullshit.
It also Reduces the turns where you play 3 copies of Scion or 2 copies of scion and copy them twice. Those have never felt as bad. But I suppose it doesn't hurt.
I actually think the deck is fine. Ancharr can still replicate itself with Pillager. And Upgrade and Greenskin aren't going anywhere.
It's definitely a big deal to draw 1 less card but I think there's a non-zero chance that the deck is still fine. It just moves a tad more midrange and cuts the bad pirates.
Now the Frog build is essentially pointless because there's no good 1-mana spell to replace this to fuel the train, meaning without the draw power it all goes back to running Mana Tide Totem and hoping to draw into your powerplays in time before your opponent'S snowball you to death.
Except Earth Shock, which was already being played at 1, and is at 2 in some decks.
Surprisingly, this was actually the best card in the deck. I didn't realize it until I tried to figure out why it was nerfed.
That said, it wasn't the best card in the deck in the way Ancharr or Apothecary were. It's win% was in line with things like Flame Imp. But I guess they had to target something.
Highlander Mage is a perfectly fine deck, but the meta is not kind to it. Like flux said, a few changes to the meta could definitely help Mage, without any unnecessary buffs.
I'm curious what your thoughts are on Vicious Syndicate's opinion of the druid deck you have posted. They don't like Blessing of the Ancients or Soul of the Forest because they require boards to be successful. And statistically, those cards do have the worst drawn win rate. I don't know if what they decided to play instead (Ziliax, SN1P) is any better, but I'd like to know your thoughts!
Just want to say I have zero issue with ads so long as they're not overly invasive or break the site (like when Hearthpwn would occasionally fail to load at all, or when you can't read vS because the pop up closes your mobile browser). You guys need to make some money in order to keep the site working.
For practical purposes, mill is incredibly difficult to balance. In most CCGs, it's either trash or broken. That's probably why it's rarely implemented in standard anymore.
I'm not sure you can do this kind of "analytics" with the methodology you briefly describe. Mainly because cards aren't created in a vacuum and the stronger cards tend to be highly synergistic with strong decks and/or in relations to standing/future "counter-cards", regardless of their overall "face strength".
To use your example:
Dragon's Pack is a spell, so can be stopped entirely by Counterspell. Scion of Ruin has no such "total" counter.
Additionally, Scion being a dragon means you have an innate tribal synergy (think of all the "if you're holding a dragon" cards or War Master Voone for examples) that you don't account for in your "EV." Also, Dragon Pack synergizes with the Evoke mechanic ONLY, whereas Scion can also synergize with the playing of Galakrond itself - i.e. be drawn/given +4/+4 so then you get three 7/6s with rush for 3 mana.
So to say that the Pack is "1.5 EV stronger" is based on an incomplete methodology.
You're right, but I'm considering the cards as standalones. I'm not taking in consideration synergies or counters.
I've compared 2 cards with the same condition to make a comparasion of their "vanilla" value. I would like to put the focus on the card itself and not on the possible interaction between other cards.
That was his point though. If you're doing that, you're completely ignoring important aspects of the card.
Corrupt Elementalist probably should have always cost 6. I still think it's a good card at 6. It was just incredibly overtuned at 5.
Sludge Slurper nerf was unexpected, but a good call. The difference between a 2/3 taunt and a 1/3 taunt, or a 3/1 rush and a 2/1 rush is very significant in the first 2-3 turns of the game.
Likewise, the Mogu nerf was very good. Not only is she prevented from coming down as early as turn 3, but there will be fewer targets for her to value trade and mutate when she's played (more likely) on turns 5 and 6. I think the 8-drop/10-drop distinction that I see some people complain about is irrelevant.
I'm not sure how Faceless Corruptor was ever released as a 5-mana 10/8. It's still an incredible card as a 5-mana 8/8, but we've had versions of this card before. And as someone noted below, the breakpoints matter. See Darius Crowley.
I think Shaman has to build itself like a real deck now. It can't be a perverted version of a hero power deck looking to drop 3 bombs during the course of the game. It's too slow for that now.
(1) I wish they'd have preemptively nerfed Apothecary. (2) I think the whelp version of that deck, while good, isn't a problem. (3) the Warbringer version promotes an unfun style of play. (4) with Shaman gone, people can play minions again. (5) It's possible that the Warbringer version is not good in that type of environment.
So I'm willing to wait and see...but still nervous.
Removing Amalgam from HSBG was great. I wish they'd have removed Rafaam instead of Bran. I think the other changes were smart and/or won't really have an impact.
Very good stand alone card. Synergy isn't there for it now, but it's eminently playable in a highlander deck.
Nope. People are going to keep asking the same stupid questions over and over XD
A DS/IF deck might play this. Indeed, it might be pretty reasonable in that deck.
Cute but meh.
It's 100% metagame dependent...and even then, I'm not sure this is a good option.
This is a pretty easily a 4 or 5 star card.
Great effect.
Great mana cost.
Good stats.
Great typing.
This kind of stuff doesn't win you games, but it does so much work in the early game, that it helps you get there.
IMO the main thing this does is eliminate the bullshit swing turn from Galakrond into Scion. Which is great. That swing turn is fucking bullshit.
It also Reduces the turns where you play 3 copies of Scion or 2 copies of scion and copy them twice. Those have never felt as bad. But I suppose it doesn't hurt.
I actually think the deck is fine. Ancharr can still replicate itself with Pillager. And Upgrade and Greenskin aren't going anywhere.
It's definitely a big deal to draw 1 less card but I think there's a non-zero chance that the deck is still fine. It just moves a tad more midrange and cuts the bad pirates.
Should have happened the first time
Except Earth Shock, which was already being played at 1, and is at 2 in some decks.
Surprisingly, this was actually the best card in the deck. I didn't realize it until I tried to figure out why it was nerfed.
That said, it wasn't the best card in the deck in the way Ancharr or Apothecary were. It's win% was in line with things like Flame Imp. But I guess they had to target something.
This card might be dead now.
It should also make qualifying for Grand Masters more reasonable.
Highlander Mage is a perfectly fine deck, but the meta is not kind to it. Like flux said, a few changes to the meta could definitely help Mage, without any unnecessary buffs.
I'm curious what your thoughts are on Vicious Syndicate's opinion of the druid deck you have posted. They don't like Blessing of the Ancients or Soul of the Forest because they require boards to be successful. And statistically, those cards do have the worst drawn win rate. I don't know if what they decided to play instead (Ziliax, SN1P) is any better, but I'd like to know your thoughts!
Glad to hear it! I know sometimes the bad ones will appear, but I'm happy to know you'll be on top of it.
Just want to say I have zero issue with ads so long as they're not overly invasive or break the site (like when Hearthpwn would occasionally fail to load at all, or when you can't read vS because the pop up closes your mobile browser). You guys need to make some money in order to keep the site working.
For practical purposes, mill is incredibly difficult to balance. In most CCGs, it's either trash or broken. That's probably why it's rarely implemented in standard anymore.
Has Schrutebucks come back?
That was his point though. If you're doing that, you're completely ignoring important aspects of the card.