How to Complete the United in Stormwind Mage, Paladin, and Priest XP Achievements

Welcome, fellow achievement hunters.

Our stay in the famed Alliance city is finally coming to an end, and so now would be a perfect time to take one final look at your progress and decide just which Gameplay XP Achievements from this expansion could be reasonably finished in the little amount of time that remains. The clock is ticking once again. 

The expected timeframe we were working with here turned out to be on point, as we've now received the official confirmation:

Quote From Celestalon

Achievement XP swaps over from United in Stormwind achievements to Fractured in Alterac Valley achievements *tomorrow*, with the 22.0 patch.

Not much of an advanced warning there, and this mention didn't even make it into the published 22.0 patch notes. You might recall the whole confusion that took place at the end of Forged in the Barrens (back then it was all covered by us here): we did not get much information either, and what we got turned out to be wrong as the pre-expansion patch for United in Stormwind came with misleading notes that claimed players would still have an extra week to gather any remaining XP bonuses. Obviously that turned out to be an error, getting people's hopes up only to result in a fair share of anger and disappointment. 

And so we've made the reasonable assumption that Hearthstone team would continue following this philosophy until we hear otherwise. Then it came as no surprise to see this announcement of the pre-expansion patch for Fractured in Alterac Valley arriving as soon as November 30 on Tuesday and disabling all current XP Achievement gains in the process - just like its predecessors had done earlier this year. 

With all of that in mind, we wanted to send a fair reminder to everyone (better safe than sorry!), and provide a few condensed guides to take you through every achievement from United in Stormwind with the Deadmines Mini-Set included. A handful of relevant tips, tricks, and decks, without getting into all the smaller details. We will also include a relative speed rating where 1 = slowest and 5 = fastest, for quick reference. Each achievement has its own section below, so you can always scroll down or do a manual name search if looking for anything in particular. 

• Stormwind XP Achievements Set #1 - Achievements for Demon Hunter, Druid, and Hunter
• Stormwind XP Achievements Set #2 - Achievements for Mage, Paladin, and Priest
• Stormwind XP Achievements Set #3 - Achievements for Rogue, Shaman, and Warlock
• Stormwind XP Achievements Set #4 - Achievements for Warrior and Neutral Cards

A Few Things to Keep in Mind

• One extra small tip for later in the day: as long as you stay in the game even once the patch has been released (and the Battle.net client is ready to update), you would still be dealing with an older Hearthstone version where Stormwind XP Achievements have not yet been disabled. This might buy you a few extra hours at the very least! Just keep in mind that you will eventually get disconnected or kicked out, and the client will require that new 22.0 patch to proceed afterwards. For mobile devices, this "grace period" (before one is prompted to download a new patch) is actually even longer, and you could find the time to finish a few more achievements this way - as long as you don't update your game account version on the desktop (if they don't match, you likely won't be able to log in on mobile anymore until it's also patched).

Certain achievements are very grindy and will require dozens of attempts or cards being played, whereas others can be completed even within a single game or two. We try to mention this as we go. Check your current progress and identify what's in your reach within the time that remains. You may be able to finish playing 30 Deathrattle or Divine Shield minions, but perhaps not something like 100. 

Same as ever, achievements only count for Constructed, Duels, and Arena. For Standard or Wild it's good to stay at a Ranked floor where you can't lose any stars. For Duels, Casual mode is your best free ally.

Stormwind achievements as a whole seem better than many of the ones we faced with Darkmoon and Barrens. So if those discouraged you before or just weren't worth the time, it might be worth to take a closer look again. There are still some overly grindy tasks, but several achievements can be completed quickly and there is far less left to lucky chances or having to worry about pulling off wacky combos. 

If you still don't own some of the required Epics or Legendaries, best to skip any related achievements. It won't ever be worth that dust investment just for a small amount of extra Rewards Track experience. 

We tend to default to Standard format lists with the assumption that many players may not have the necessary older cards, then adding relevant notes for Wild and Duels modes where applicable. There are usually multiple alternatives or directions to take, depending on your entire collection. Let's continue with: 

Mage Stormwind Achievements - General

Mage achievements are quite a mixed bag: in fact, you have a grindy one, a couple of combo ones and finally something RNG-related. All in all, you will need some set-up to be able to clear these achievements, but we've seen way harder conditions to meet.

How to Complete the "BBQ Broiler" Stormwind Achievement

Speed Rating: 4/5.

People usually think that you have to complete this achievement by cycling Ignite over and over again; however, there's a far more practical way to pull it off, and it has to do with Mo'arg Artificer: in fact, this epic minion from Ashes of Outland duplicates the damage dealt to a minion by any spell, so you just need to do some math and you're good to go.

To be more precise, it all comes down to how many Mo'args you own:

• If you own 2, then Mo'arg + Mo'arg + 1 Spell Damage + Ignite equals 12.
• If you own just 1, then you need your Mo'arg, your Ignite and +3 Spell Damage.

• If you do not own Ignite, Mage has loads of card generation tools: just shove some Runed Orbs, Wand Thieves or Venomous Scorpids in your deck. Makes the achievement more RNG reliant, but it's still doable if you're patient enough.
• Aegwynn, the Guardian is a nice way to complete this achievement, as its Deathrattle can transfer the +2 Spell Damage to cheaper - and therefore more manageable - minions that will make your combo turn much easier to pull off.
• While Sorcerer's Gambit got nerfed and you should have collected that sweet dust refund, you could also simply play Mozaki, Master Duelist if you own the card - it's all the rage lately. 

How to Complete the "Caligraphy Lessons" Stormwind Achievement

Speed Rating: 3/5.

This achievement's requirement isn't correctly written. In fact, you do not need to discount spells for 300 mana: each Celestial Ink Set trigger counts for 5 (even if you discount a spell that costs less than 5 mana), so you'd have to read it as "Trigger Celestial Ink Set's effect 60 times". With this said, there are multiple ways you can pull this off. In fact, most - if not all - Mage archetypes run a fair share of spells, so you won't have any trouble triggering Celestial Ink Set. While the fastest way to progress this achievement is to include Celestial Ink Set in a cycle heavy deck, we think that the most fun way is to play some Big Spell Mage, waiting for Fractured in Alterac Valley to go live.

• Selfless Sidekick is a Neutral option (albeit with a high mana cost) that could tutor your Celestial Ink Set.
• Wild format note: Rummaging Kobold looks handy for this. Hoard Pillager wishes to assist as well.

How to Complete the "I Prefer Leftovers" Stormwind Achievement

Speed Rating: 3/5.

Arcane Overflow naturally deals 8 damage, so if you want to summon a 12/12 you have to target an enemy minion with 1 Health remaining while having at least +5 Spell Damage on board. Kind of hard on paper, but there are some things you can do to improve your situation. The deck we're going to use has the same core as the one for BBQ Broiler achievement, with just a few adjustments.

• Unlike for BBQ Broiler, Mo'arg Artificer won't help you in this one: I tried it myself and, to my surprise, it didn't work.

How to Complete the "Not The Face!" Stormwind Achievement

Speed Rating: 2/5.

By far the most difficult Mage achievement of the Stormwind expansion, not only because it requires insane setup (playing a Fire spell for three turns in a row while not losing the game and while keeping your opponent's board clear), but also because it takes very little to mess everything up. 

• Wild format note: we have received no news about this interaction being changed, but I've personally completed this achievement with Brann Bronzebeard duplicating the number of Fireballs cast. You can hit enemy minions with them, but as long as at least three of them hit and kill your opponent, you'll receive your XP.
• Duels format note: Duels runs start with short decks and low health total, so these two factors could definitely help you get this achievement. Avalon approved!

Paladin Stormwind Achievements - General

Another rather easy set of achievements, with tasks evenly split between grindy (but not frustrating) and one-turn-combos. Fortunately for us, no Oh My Yogg!-like achievements this time around!

How to Complete the "All Hands on Deck" Stormwind Achievement

Speed Rating: 3/5.

The most immediate way to complete this achievement is through Rise to the Occasion's Lightborn Cariel. Fortunately for those short on budget, there are a few workarounds. The one we're going to showcase involves bouncing back a Silver Hand Recruit with Youthful Brewmaster, buffing it up with cards like Overlord Runthak and Alliance Bannerman and then playing it. Easy peasy.

• Duels format note: Battle Totem can duplicate Lightborn Cariel's Battlecry, so that your Dudes will be summoned as 5/5s. There is also that Men at Arms signature treasure.
• Wild format note: just like Battle Totem works for Duels, Brann Bronzebeard works for Wild.
• Encumbered Pack Mule's inclusion works towards its own Neutral achievement.
• Catacomb Guard's inclusion works towards Dark Side of Light's achievement.

How to Complete the "Dark Side of Light" Stormwind Achievement

Speed Rating: 2/5.

All the Standard Paladin cards with Lifesteal are the following: City Tax, Lightbringer's Hammer, Catacomb Guard, Veteran Warmedic's tokens, Good Tamsin, Corrupted Libram of Judgment and High Exarch Yrel. As you might have noticed, the easiest way to gain 300 life is to play regular Handbuff Paladin and progress your achievement bit by bit.

• If you own it, you can consider including Lightbringer's Hammer in your deck, although it's not the best card in the world.
• Libram Paladin is also another valid strategy to complete this achievement, given that you run Libram of Judgment and City Tax.
• Technically, City Tax does stack with Spell Damage. The bigger the board, the better the numbers.

How to Complete the "Pop Goes Divine Shield" Stormwind Achievement

Speed Rating: 2/5.

Divine Shield is literally Paladin's jam, so it's not that hard of an achievement to grind and complete. However, you may want to kill two birds with one stone and play Handbuff Paladin again, so that you'll be able to complete Dark Side of Light as well.

• Duels format note: Turalyon, the Tenured has some pretty neat Divine Shield synergy in Duels. From Golden Light allows you to resurrect cheap Divine Shield units over and over again, while Righteous Reserves gives you more bubbles to pop!
• You actually stand to gain progress for this achievement by using Divine Shield minions in just about any class - something Arena regulars might've noticed. 

How to Complete the "Robin Hood" Stormwind Achievement

Speed Rating: 3/5.

10 mana 3 card combo with little set up: nothing more and nothing less. First up, you need a 3 Attack minion on board: doesn't matter if it's on your side of the board or on your opponent's. Secondly, you have to reach 10 mana, play Blessing of Authority on said minion, play your Desk Imp/Murloc Tinyfin and then Wealth Redistributor to cash in your XP. For this reason, you'll need lots of card draw to speed things up.

• Sunwing Squawker can re-cast Blessing of Authority and give you the 11 Attack minion you need for your combo.
• Wild format note: Blessing of Might is a really good card for this achievement.

Priest Stormwind Achievements - General

Not the flawless set of achievements for Stormwind, but still a reasonable one. The fact that neither Join the Dark Side nor Should Have Seen This Coming require you to complete the achievement with the card you're supposed to (respectively Darkbishop Benedictus and Copycat), gives you some room to work with. If you want to know more, make sure to keep reading.

How to Complete the "Circus Show" Stormwind Achievement

Speed Rating: 3/5.

The most reliable way to pull off this combo is to do it in a way that doesn't rely on your opponent doing something: long story short, Circus Show can be completed in a single turn, and we'll show you how. First of all, we will need some Miracle Priest shenanigans: the combination of Sethekk Veilweaver and Nazmani Bloodweaver grants you potentially infinite card generation and mana discounts, which in turn allows you to basically do as you please.

Here are all the steps you need to follow:

1. Have both Sethekk Veilweaver and Nazmani Bloodweaver on the board and start the cycle.
2. Cast the first Elekk Mount on a minion (the achievement doesn't state that it has to be friendly).
3. Destroy it with a generated spell of Shadow Word: Death.
4. Cast the second Elekk Mount on Xyrella's Elekk.

• Drek'Thar is not strictly necessary, but if you chose it over Vanndar Stormpike you may want to put it to good use.

How to Complete the "Instant Gratification" Stormwind Achievement

Speed Rating: 3/5.

Fringe interactions aside, there's no shortcut for this achievement: you need to own Seek Guidance if you want your XP. If you do, then it's pretty easy, as the requirement is to just draw the Purified Shard in the same turn you play Xyrella, the Sanctified; don't need to cast it. While Devout Dungeoneer is a spell tutor you can take into consideration, we think that nothing can quite beat the consistency of Cleric of An'she or Thrive in the Shadows.

We tried to cut down the list to be as budget as possible, but if you own any expensive cards you think may have a chance in there, please be sure to add them!

• Wild format note: using Shadow Visions will NOT count for this. Technically it just makes a copy and doesn't draw anything. 

How to Complete the "Join the Dark Side" Stormwind Achievement

Speed Rating: 2/5.

While Shadowform is in the 2021 Core Set, we think it would be too much work to rely on it for this achievement. Therefore, we have two different options: the first one is owning Darkbishop Benedictus and playing some Shadow (either Aggro or Big) Priest, while the other one regards the Duels game mode Avalon is so enthusiastic about. We'll talk about both, as we think they're very valid ways to complete this achievement with ease.

First up, Shadow Priest. Both the Aggro and the Control variant rely on Mind Spike to put in some work as a flexible version of Hunter's Steady Shot, so you won't have problems in progressing Join the Dark Side.

Secondly, we have Duels. In case you're not aware of this game mode's meta, Miracle Mind Tether Priest is currently one of the strongest (and most hated) decks in the format, and it works towards Join the Dark Side's completion - and it does it way faster than Constructed. In case you do not own some of the cards you see below, no worries: just replace them with some cheap spells and you're good to go.

• Wild format note: Shadowreaper Anduin's Voidform works too! Have at some Highlander shenanigans.

How to Complete the "Should Have Seen This Coming" Stormwind Achievement

Speed Rating: 1/5.

Beware: this achievement does not require the killing card to be generated by Copycat: sure, you can definitely try, but there are far more reliable ways to reach your goal. To be honest, Standard doesn't seem to have what it takes for you to complete this achievement with ease. Therefore, we advise you go with either Wild or Duels. Both these formats have incredibly good "thief" tools at disposal, like Psionic Probe, Mind Vision and Thoughtsteal, all of which give you a high chance to hit something relevant to knock out your opponent with.

For Wild, we think the best approach is to play some hardcore Thief Priest with lots of copy effects, sustainability tools and the good old Archbishop Benedictus on top of everything. Patience (and luck?) will eventually get you there.

For Duels, Mind Tether Priest is again the best answer.

Closing Words

It's probably not worth trying to chase them all, unless you are a die-hard completionist. Pick and choose based on what looks feasible with only so much time left. Simply playing various modes for the past few months might've brought you close to the finish line of particular achievements. Might not be a whole lot of bonus XP all in all, but it's still good for a few extra packs. 

Any provided speed rating is relative and we could argue about specific numbers (remember we are viewing this from the angle that is Standard format; having certain Wild cards could absolutely change the score for the better). Taking into consideration all the time and effort required to complete these goals, our reasoning was as follows: 

• 1 - Likely too random or too long if your progress is near 0%. If multiple stages, partial completion at least possible.
• 2 - Fairly time consuming, but with a clearer end in sight. Still not a great choice if near 0% progress.
• 3 - Doable with some patience, while not taking terribly long.
• 4 - Rather easy to set up and execute.
• 5 - Basically free XP if you got the cards.

Our community members were once again on point with separate achievement threads for Stormwind and Deadmines throughout the expansion. The special #achievements channel on our Discord server remains open for questions just as well, and we won't miss any comments here either. 

Best of luck if you attempt any last minute achievement hunting. Let us know how many of these have you managed to complete, and whether your final speed runs ended up in any bonus XP gains. Sharing other tips and tricks is also welcome!