Pure paladin would like a word with you. With the Librams, it actually feels alright. It says a lot for Paladin in Year of the Raven that we're one set in and it feels like they have a more clear class identity.
Pure Paladin is just one deck, with minor variations, Pure DH is a series of archetypes from Aggro to Midrange.
And Pure Paladin is not necessarily the best option for Paladin, while it probably is for DH.
All that while DH has a smaller card pool, as well as no card with an apparent Pure synergy: it's Pure coincidence of power.
Not saying DH is broken (yet), possibly just slightly overtuned in some cards, but the above is a sign of its power.
I second Maiev Shadowsong. She's just a Spellbreaker on steroids, a must-have for any Aggro/Tempo/Midrange deck.
I will definitely craft her after my first 10 packs, leaving the RNG of pity timers for other legendaries I'm more unsure about.
I will craft more after opening all my packs, because I have quite some dust and can afford it, but I am uncertain about the safe-craft status.
I think Metamorphosis will be much more important than Kayn (Kayn is NOT a finisher as Leeroy was, unless you are already ahead on the board) and Kargath may not be that relevant without Town Crier.
I tend to do it as well, but without expectations, since having a disadvantage is not really telling of the situation to come.
Also, new cards add further variables.
So, at the end of the day, removing rotating cards in advance is nearly useless: you don't really get a glimpse of the future available plays and meta.
It can help at understanding which packages in a deck survive, and which ones lose too many cards to stay viable, leaving even more room for future development starting Release day.
I agree that DH will be high on top tiers, if not at the very top, thanks to good cards and Aggro being fairly easy to figure out in the first days. Yet despite their card draw, DH have poor tools to swing back the game in their favor, if the opponent manages to play a Tempo swing turn. Which is why I expect DH to rise soon as Aggro king of the meta, then rapidly fall, as soon as people figure out how to stop them (in particular with Priests and maybe Warriors).
At that point, Dragon Hunter will take the lead of the meta, and probably keep it for a long while.
DH will make a comeback later with Tempo lists itself.
Which is also why I don't think Rogue will be so low in tiers: I am fairly sure they can adjust with a faster Galakrond, and be a fair match for DH in terms of Tempo.
I also expect some form of Galakrond Warrior to be there, considering Corsair Cache. The Rage package with Armorsmith and some extra Armor tools could be enough to repel a DH.
For similar reasons (ie healing and high hp), I expect a Midrange or Control Priest to be a fair threat in the meta. Lack of card draw will hold them back tho.
Libram Paladin will be a fair deck, but I don't think that good, since Librams still need quite some setup, and you can barely play a Midrange Paladin with them, with the risk of being vulnerable to Aggro and Tempo: at that point we have higher chances of a Big Beast Midrange Hunter to be way better. Paladins have many tools but will need a lot of refinement.
Overall, I think Mage will be the worst class, completely unplayable as soon as the meta refines
As for Warlock, I really don't know, but I think it will follow Mage pretty closely. I don't believe Shadow Council can be a thing, as it is RANDOM stuff, and I don't think current Standard Handlock can actually find a niche in a Tempo meta, since its powertools need setup, and in the meanwhile, its defenses are poor or need setup themselves (Plague of Flames).
Druid and Shaman may barely survive the onslaught, but low in tiers.
I do hope Kanrethad Ebonlocke can be useful in Evenlock or Zoolock, with properly tuned Demon lists.
Maiev Shadowsong is going to be great in any deck, especially against Cubelock.
There are many more interesting cards for Wild purposes but I am either not interested in the respective decks or I think they can't really contribute to the meta.
Quite often against slower decks I get to hold my cards to play around board clears, with this one I can actually spend that mana to make my board stick.
Surely Devolve and Psychic Scream still ruin this setup, but at least I can cover against a series of popular clears.
Well, good for Standard, maybe not enough.
But this kinda kills Odd DH.
Totally.
It's the second time now that they release stuff that is obviously utterly broken.
Do they even test cards?
I'm not sure whether I prefer to think that they knew or not...
Hopefully DH stays popular in Wild in its fastest iterations, we need more Aggro down there, to cripple Quest Mages (and revamp Control a little bit).
Druid Fiesta incoming.
Pure Paladin is just one deck, with minor variations, Pure DH is a series of archetypes from Aggro to Midrange.
And Pure Paladin is not necessarily the best option for Paladin, while it probably is for DH.
All that while DH has a smaller card pool, as well as no card with an apparent Pure synergy: it's Pure coincidence of power.
Not saying DH is broken (yet), possibly just slightly overtuned in some cards, but the above is a sign of its power.
DH can build a variety of Pure Class Cards decks at their first expansion.
Not even Wild can do that.
Anyway, I'm sure the meta will catch up soon in some way, although some nerfs might happen on DH in the not so far future.
See you in 2h!
Or, well, whenever the servers allow us!
I second Maiev Shadowsong. She's just a Spellbreaker on steroids, a must-have for any Aggro/Tempo/Midrange deck.
I will definitely craft her after my first 10 packs, leaving the RNG of pity timers for other legendaries I'm more unsure about.
I will craft more after opening all my packs, because I have quite some dust and can afford it, but I am uncertain about the safe-craft status.
I think Metamorphosis will be much more important than Kayn (Kayn is NOT a finisher as Leeroy was, unless you are already ahead on the board) and Kargath may not be that relevant without Town Crier.
Quest Mage and Darkest Hour Warlock should be able to have their combo online before the Priest can do much about it (barred some shenanigans).
On the other hand, Raza Priest can easily be a t2 deck, or even a t1 one along with Even Shaman.
Not oppressive, but definitely a strong deck in the meta. Possibly the most versatile of the field.
Just to point out that despite The Coin and the extra card, who goes second is still at disadvantage, in average (stats-wise).
However, some decks are indeed at huge advantage having an extra free spell, namely Wild Quest Mage or Kael decks.
All in all, I believe they prefer to keep it as it is, because otherwise average stats would be even more unfavourable against who goes 2nd.
From my Wild point of view, having a soft nerf against Wild Quest Mage would still be risible against the other t1 (or tgod) decks of the meta.
The Lurker Below can be curved out with Mutate or Boggspine Knuckles.
If the board clear is consistent enough, the Tempo swing is HUGE.
I tend to do it as well, but without expectations, since having a disadvantage is not really telling of the situation to come.
Also, new cards add further variables.
So, at the end of the day, removing rotating cards in advance is nearly useless: you don't really get a glimpse of the future available plays and meta.
It can help at understanding which packages in a deck survive, and which ones lose too many cards to stay viable, leaving even more room for future development starting Release day.
I agree that DH will be high on top tiers, if not at the very top, thanks to good cards and Aggro being fairly easy to figure out in the first days. Yet despite their card draw, DH have poor tools to swing back the game in their favor, if the opponent manages to play a Tempo swing turn. Which is why I expect DH to rise soon as Aggro king of the meta, then rapidly fall, as soon as people figure out how to stop them (in particular with Priests and maybe Warriors).
At that point, Dragon Hunter will take the lead of the meta, and probably keep it for a long while.
DH will make a comeback later with Tempo lists itself.
Which is also why I don't think Rogue will be so low in tiers: I am fairly sure they can adjust with a faster Galakrond, and be a fair match for DH in terms of Tempo.
I also expect some form of Galakrond Warrior to be there, considering Corsair Cache. The Rage package with Armorsmith and some extra Armor tools could be enough to repel a DH.
For similar reasons (ie healing and high hp), I expect a Midrange or Control Priest to be a fair threat in the meta. Lack of card draw will hold them back tho.
Libram Paladin will be a fair deck, but I don't think that good, since Librams still need quite some setup, and you can barely play a Midrange Paladin with them, with the risk of being vulnerable to Aggro and Tempo: at that point we have higher chances of a Big Beast Midrange Hunter to be way better. Paladins have many tools but will need a lot of refinement.
Overall, I think Mage will be the worst class, completely unplayable as soon as the meta refines
As for Warlock, I really don't know, but I think it will follow Mage pretty closely. I don't believe Shadow Council can be a thing, as it is RANDOM stuff, and I don't think current Standard Handlock can actually find a niche in a Tempo meta, since its powertools need setup, and in the meanwhile, its defenses are poor or need setup themselves (Plague of Flames).
Druid and Shaman may barely survive the onslaught, but low in tiers.
1. Hunter t1
2. DH t1
3. Rogue t1
4. Paladin t2
5. Warrior t2
6. Priest t2
7. Druid t3
8. Shaman t3
9. Warlock t4 (t3 at best)
10. Mage t5
Here's the deck I wanna try the most in Wild:
Nothing really new, but the two extra legendaries should make quite some difference. As well as The Dark Portal.
Deck ID Not Found
I do hope Kanrethad Ebonlocke can be useful in Evenlock or Zoolock, with properly tuned Demon lists.
Maiev Shadowsong is going to be great in any deck, especially against Cubelock.
There are many more interesting cards for Wild purposes but I am either not interested in the respective decks or I think they can't really contribute to the meta.
Considering (1) spent for sheer draw, you spend (3) to discount (5), the neat mana cheat is (2), which is not bad at all.
You basically waste some Tempo to gain it back with interests later, or even in the same turn (which is the basic philosophy of Hand-decks).
And I think that is the best usage of this card, not really for Combo purposes.
I will try it in Even Shaman.
Quite often against slower decks I get to hold my cards to play around board clears, with this one I can actually spend that mana to make my board stick.
Surely Devolve and Psychic Scream still ruin this setup, but at least I can cover against a series of popular clears.
The WC3 Night Elf music!
On mobile I can't delete the unreleased DH deck slot...