We're back at it with another Duels meta report. The introduction of the Wailing Caverns mini set in the game allowed people to experiment with new strategies in both Standard and Wild, but Duels is no less. Dedicated players tested some of the new toys and bring them all the way to 12 wins, and we're here to bring you those results.
As usual, here below you'll find a collection of 12 wins Duels starting decks that will surely inspire your future runs: most of them contains Wailing Caverns tools, but some others are as strong as they were before the mini set. Enjoy!
Dsorrow's Token Demon Hunter
Nor Forged in the Barrens neither the Wailing Caverns mini set brought cards worth consideration for Token Demon Hunter: the fact that Demon Hunter recently went all in on the Deathrattle archetype left nothing but crumbs to all the strategies. Therefore, this deck's starting 15 hasn't changed in the last 4 months or so. Still powerful, still the same.
Dsorrow hit 12 wins choosing Captured Flag as Passive Treasures, which is really a smart decision given all the token you'll always have around during your games; Illidari Strike was already a The Silver Hand on steroids, but this way you'll summon two 2/2s with Rush, which cannot possibly be bad.
Dsorrow's Deathrattle Hunter
Differently from Token DH, Deathrattle Hunter received quite a few good from both Forged in the Barrens and the inclusion of Journey to Un'Goro to the Duels card pool.
Devilsaur Egg into Terrorscale Stalker was a nutty combo back in the day, and we're pretty sure it hasn't lost that much power to the power creep. Moreover, Death's Head Cultist acts as nice early game healing and Tame Beast (Rank 1) is a cheap and straightforward removal. Burning Blade Acolyte is just a meat wall you cannot ignore with a recurring Play Dead as hero power.
Roost442's Big Paladin
The Wailing Caverns mini set brought us Selfless Sidekick, probably a win more card in constructed but a rather useful tool in Duels. In Paladin, for example, Sidekick acts as a tutor for Royal Greatsword, a very powerful Treasure that you want to equip as soon as possible. Just don't run any other weapon and you're good to go.
Dsorrow's Divine Shield Paladin
Forget Humble Blessings: now Divine Shield is the new jam for Paladin. Just as we featured in our last Duels report, Divine Shield Paladin is gaining lots of traction, to the point where people have started complaining about it. From Golden Light combined with a sticky Divine Shield minion like Goody Two-Shields, Cariel Roame and Taelan Fordring represents such a solid early game, even more if you consider than you can resurrect the dead minion multiple times over the course of the first few turns.
Is it Paladinstone once again? It's probably too early to say, but for now just choose Turalyon, the Tenured when offered.
In their 12 wins run, Dsorrow picked Divine Illumination as the first Passive Treasure: while there aren't many Holy spells in these lists, Paladin is definitely one of the classes (together with Priest) that can exploit Divine Illumination the most, with the chance of creating a Discover chain.
Hornnnnnnn's Elemental Shaman
Wailing Caverns was able to resurrect Shaman on Standard ladder, so there's no way Wailing Vapor and Primal Dungeoneer won't make an impact in Duels, a game mode where Elemental Shaman is already fairly popular and quite strong.
Of course, go for Battlecry-related Passives like All Together Now.
mushanyoung's Tempo Rogue
It's been a while since the last time we featured a Rogue list in our Duels reports, and this one definitely jumps to the eye for the presence of many 'bounce' effects: Tenwu of the Red Smoke, Shadowcaster and Youthful Brewmaster.
Even though we're oversimplifying, you want to keep pushing damage with cards like Oil Rig Ambusher, Jandice Barov and Mankrik (I sense harem vibes) while removing your opponent's threats through Green Tortollan Shell.
Hornnnnnnn's Control Warlock
The to-go Duels Control Warlock, with Tamsin Roame from Barrens and Mutanus the Devourer from the mini set. The deck was and is still solid, so you can give it a spin with no regrets.
mushanyoung's Menagerie Legendary Warrior
While there might be room for improvement, this archetype could be an idea for the new meta. Lots of Legendaries with a rather high powerlevel you can trade into your opponent's minions with Bruising and develop the board with gigantic walls of stats. Combine this with cards like Rokara, Kresh, Lord of Turtling and Overlord Runthak and you're in for a fun run.
Hitting Disks of Legend is obviously the nuts.
Do you like Duels? What are you playing right now? Let us know in the comments below!
Comments
Got my first 12 win run with the warrior deck. Got Disks of Legend and Battlecry discount
I also got my first 12 wins on first attempt with the warrior deck! Came back to say thanks for the great resource!
I appreciate these comments of support: they are what pushes me to look for new Duels content every time I have the chance :)
Congratulations for your result! If you want to try reaching 12 wins a second time, I suggest you trying the Divine Shield Paladin featured in the list: very solid and funny.
You're welcome! And thank you. Funnily enough I'm currently doing a run with that paladin deck and am 10-2. It's solid!! I got the rush and gain +2/+2 after losing divine shield passives
EDIT: got to 12 wins with it too!
That Warrior Legendary Deck is seriously the most fun I’ve had in duels. Went 12-1 with it on my first run: got the rush treasure and disks of legend. Worth a shot if you have the cards for it lol
Congratulations for the 12er! I am glad you found success with one of these lists :)