Last episode, we divvied up the best and worst of the neutral Old Gods cards and now we’re ready to lay down the verdict on every class’ cards as well!
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Hello!
- Scott is on the show this week
- Topic: Whispers of the Old Gods Review (Neutral)
- Reasons to be happy this week
- News: Whispers of the Old Gods!
The Review Format
- We want to give real, valuable insight into the cards we talk about, but there are too many cards in an expansion to do that for every one.
- So we picked the ones that we think are most important to talk about.
- This week we’re covering all of the neutral cards
- Look at each rarity level separately: Common, Rare, Epic, Legendary
- For each tier, each host chooses: The best card to CRAFT, DRAFT, and DUST
- Next episode: Class cards!
Druid
Best to Craft
- Scott says: Druid did really well in this set, but Fandral is a really fun card that can be quite good. It was fun using Raven Idols to discover a minion and draw another Raven Idol for one mana! Power of the Wild gives you a 4/3 panther and +1/+1 to all your other minions for 2 mana. Wisps of the Old Gods fills your boards with 3/3s and buffs existing minions for 7 mana. Ancient of War becomes a 10/10 taunt for 7. And so on.
- Josh says: Yeah, so many of the choose one cards are high-cost, which means you’re getting a lot for free. You only need one proc for this guy to be insane value.
Best to Draft
- Scott says: I usually chose the 2/2 token, giving me 5/5 across 2 bodies for 4 mana. But if I have an expensive hand, I can always ramp myself by giving me an extra crystal instead. Good options, good efficiency, and good versatility.
- Josh says: Yeah, one of the prized Choose-One cards where both options are actually above-value. You’ll always be happy to play one of them.
Best to Dust
- Scott says: I wouldn’t put a 4/1 weapon for 3 in my deck, nor an 8 armor spell for 3 in a class w/ no armor synergy. Giving myself the choice between them doesn’t help.
- Josh says: My ELO is pretty garbage, but I got super confused when I kept seeing this card played against me. Thank you for making me feel less crazy and confirming that this is just an awful card.
Hunter
Best to Craft
- Josh says: I opened it. I love it. Already a top-notch body (seems 6/5 is more popular than 5/6 right now), and the proc is incredibly unexpected and powerful.
- Scott says: Yeah, it’s a pretty cool effect, though its cost means most of the time you’ll need the card you’re activating to have lived a turn. With Feign Death gone, this is the next best thing.
Best to Draft
- Josh says: Gobble gobble gobble. All these minions taste so good! Combo with charge for an instant AOE. Guaranteed 2-for-1 if they don’t have hard removal.
- Scott says: Kill the small stuff first, adding up to 7 attack, then attack their biggest minion last for maximum control impact. Or maybe do some select removal, then punch face making your opponent kill it on their turn. Helps a bit that it’s a beast — this and Princess Huhuran are a big buff to Ram Wrangler.
Best to Dust
- Josh says: Hunter got great cards this time around. I’d happily take any of them. The worst thing about this guy is that he’s boring. He’ll do fine in a control deck, but I’d rather take something similar with Taunt in that case.
- Scott says: Agreed. Stats are fine, but it’s a class card so I’d expect more. By that measure, it’s fairly bad. I don’t know why anyone would put this in a deck, other than to target w/ Houndmaster.
Mage
Best to Craft
- Josh says: 8 mana value in two bodies for only 6 mana? I think the two-bodies part immediately off-sets the random downside, so this is pure mathematical value.
- Scott says: Not bad, and good if you want multiple bodies. But you don’t really know where your 3 mana is going to go. Could be invested in Battlecry or synergy effects you don’t support.
Best to Draft
- Josh says: Fact: Every mage loves spells. This card gives you so many spells you’ll weep with joy. BlizzPro put together an awesome infographic about this card that explains what you’re likely to get out of it: http://hearthstone.blizzpro.com/2016/05/05/cabalists-tome-infographic/ . It’s particularly good in Arena, where it’ll give you a second chance to get the high-rarity spells you were never offered during the draft.
- Scott says: Agreed, Arena’s the place it’s most likely to shine. 10% chance you’ll get a specific named card, including Cabalist’s Tome. Just sayin’.
Best to Dust
- Josh says: Mage might’ve gotten the best class cards in the whole expansion. I mean this card isn’t even ALWAYS bad, but it’s the worst option here. It will often be a good value, but the uncertainty puts it below all of the other always-great cards Mages got.
- Scott says: You’re paying 1 extra mana for a random not-huge spell with a random target. Some spells (secrets, Arcane Intellect) will always benefit you. Others could hurt you. Lots of fun will ensue, but isn’t necessarily good.
Paladin
Best to Craft
- Scott says: He’s no Tirion, but then again, who is? An 8/8 for 8 that heals for 8 each turn isn’t bad. And unlike the original Ragnaros, you can attack the target of your choice with him.
- Josh says: This card blew my mind when it first dropped on the board against me. He’s a huge body that throws out huge heals AND he can attack? Out of control!
Best to Draft
- Scott says: The key word here is “summon.” This doesn’t just apply to minions you cast directly — it applies to tokens created from your hero power, spells, and other minions. Combine with Stand Against Darkness (a latest-set common) for good effect!
- Josh says: You and your crazy token decks! And don’t pretend you’re not salivating over the combo with Redemption — I know you love that card!
Best to Dust
- Scott says: Pure healing cards are always a hard sell. This isn’t really any different.
- Josh says: In the right meta (aka molasses-slow like our current one) I really like running one copy of this card. It fills the mana curve if you’re desperate early and is a 20-health heal late game if you’re desperate late.
Priest
Best to Craft
- Josh says: Healing on Priest cards is like Armor on Warrior cards — it’s actually stronger than you’d judge it on a neutral minion because of all the potential synergy the class has with it. No caveats, no conditions. This is just a great, always-decent value card for priest control decks.
- Scott says: Yup. Also goes well in an Auchenai deck since you can target friendly stuff or enemy stuff as appropriate. This is like casting 1.4 Earthen Ring Farseers at once (minus one stat point).
Best to Draft
- Josh says: The health is a liability and he’s likely to trade with a 2-cost or 3-cost minion if the board isn’t empty when you play him, but I’ve paid higher prices for a cantrip effect. I look at this as a more pro-active Thoughtsteal (will likely trade for 1 card to make up for the loss of 2nd card drawn).
- Scott says: This card seems fine, especially in Arena where people generally aren’t picking synergy-related cards. My biggest complaint is that I can’t figure out any way to get synergy out of these effects.
Best to Dust
- Josh says: There’s like 4 cards in the game that make this spell worthwhile, and most good decks aren’t running any of them. Velen’s Chosen spoiled us with 6 stats and a perk for 3 mana, so maybe I’m over-hating on this one.
- Scott says: Velen’s Chosen was definitely above curve. This is definitely below curve. But I’d still happily throw it on a Northshire Cleric or Holy Champion. Not sure I like combining it w/ a minion and another spell, as 3-card combos are asking a bit much.
Rogue
Best to Craft
- Josh says: Hope you like spending dust, because Miracle Rogue just got another must-have Legendary! Paying 1 mana and some change for the Toxin card, but the cards are all so good! And they proc Combo!
- Scott says: Overall, the poisons are definitely better than Spare Parts. But they’re more expensive, since you’re also paying a premium for them on Xaril’s cost as well. While there are Battlecry and Deathrattle shenanigans you can pull, you only get one poison each for doing them, so the stakes are low.
Best to Draft
- Josh says: This removal has a lot of drawbacks, but you’re getting it at an insanely cheap price. In Arena, you’ll have no problem finding targets for this. And since it’s common, you’ll definitely see it!
- Scott says: Agreed that you’ll generally not have a problem finding a target, but you will sometimes not be able to kill what you want. It’s worth noting that it can hit your opponent’s face too, but face-damage spells when the enemy is at full hp often isn’t great.
Best to Dust
- Josh says: Rogue has a lot of strong cards, so this is an easy pick to dust for me. If you want an early game combo trick, you already have Defias Bandit — which is a flat-out better version of this card.
- Scott says: Too low-impact. Its dream scenario is 2 in-hand w/ coin on turn 1. That’s not worth playing it for.
Shaman
Best to Craft
- Scott says: There were a few good options, but I chose Master of Evolution. At worst, he’s a Chillwind Yeti. At best, he can heal and upgrade a giant minion while still being a Chillwind Yeti. He’s especially useful with cost-reduced minions like Thing from Below or Nerubian Prophet or Giants.
- Josh says: I see this guy get used on totems all the time to turn them into a real 2-mana minion. The heal effect is the most underrated aspect of this card, I think. Lots of cool synergy here — and like you said, it’s all gravy. You don’t HAVE to get a big combo for this card to pull its weight.
Best to Draft
- Scott says: This is an insanely strong card in any deck, but in arena it’s even better. No synergy necessary, though it does work well with cards that leverage and/or remove your overload. This card feels like a design mistake in that it’s just blatantly overpowered.
- Josh says: This guy makes me not-so-happy-hearthstone. Who thought this was okay? Those stats are absolutely bonkers. Every shaman deck simply has to run 2 copies — no excuses.
Best to Dust
- Scott says: It says something when the worst card in a class is still totally fine. Hallazeal only wants to be in spell-heavy decks. The turn he comes out he probably won’t heal you for much, but he’s a lightning rod that will probably heal for a ton the next turn if he survives.
- Josh says: Yeah, if you go into this card just trusting in the lightning-rod effect, I think he’s still solid, just like you said. I think he’s a bit of a trap if you’re dreaming of bigger combos. Shaman did insanely well if this is the worst they have!
Warlock
Best to Craft
- Scott says: Wow. Only needs one activation to be balanced, and in Warlock it’s easy to massively exceed that. Works on summons, not just minions played from hand. Insanely strong. Another “What were they thinking?” card.
- Josh says: Yeah, this card is the scariest thing Warlocks can drop onto the board right now. I suspect we’ll get a nerf to require “playing” the unit.
Best to Draft
- Scott says: Paladin has Stand Against Darkness, which is 5 for 5 1/1s. This is a clear upgrade to that card as it’s configurable. Also has lots of good synergy in Warlock decks, including Darkshire Councilman.
- Josh says: Without Darkshire Councilman, I’d be a lot less interested in this card. Warlock doesn’t have ways to do mass buffs like Paladins do — in fact, they’re more likely to do mass AoEs that kill these little guys — so I think it’s a lot less useful in Warlock. Still, the flexibility is great.
Best to Dust
- Scott says: Too expensive, and your opponent gets a head start filling the board. You’ll have a ton of cards, but will you still be alive?
- Josh says: But I opened 3 of them, so I need it to be good! I think this card works in the right deck (lots of removal) and the right meta (uuuuber slow). I think the meta is only going to speed up from here though. Tough sell at the 10 cost, but I love the effect. They’re only playing 1 card next turn, and you’ll have 3+ to deal with it and put your own body down — I actually like those chances.
Warrior
Best to Craft
- Josh says: Yes please. Shield Slam has a new best friend in C’thun decks. There’s a lot of competition for high-cost slots in the C’Thun deck, but the 7 slot is one of the most wide-open. Huge heal for 3 stats and it comes with bonus utility thanks to Warrior’s ability to combo off armor.
- Scott says: As pointed out last episode, survivability in C’Thun decks helps bide time until C’Thun arrives. You should have given C’Thun +4/+4 by turn 7 in a C’Thun deck, so this should pretty much always proc.
Best to Draft
- Josh says: Aww, look at Tauren Warrior all grown up. I think this archetype found its sweet spot at this cost. The opponent will need to use premium removal to deal with his huge health pool. This guy will be an easy 2-for-1 against most decks in arena.
- Scott says: Unless he’s hit by a 6/6 or bigger, he’s a blatant upgrade to Sen’jin Shieldmasta, which is already a fine card. Gets even better with Warrior-specific Taunt and Enrage synergies.
Best to Dust
- Josh says: Flavor win, value loss. This card is just plain awful. I woudn’t say no to dusting that Legendary either to get 800 dust! Or those Blood Brothers… or that 1-cost bug… Geeze, Warrior actually got a lot of weak cards!
- Scott says: If you’re playing an extreme long-game control warrior deck, this can help you deal damage each turn, like Head Crack. It’s less expensive, too.
Class Cards – Guilty Pleasures
- Scott says: I want to like him, but I just haven’t had very good luck w/ him. Best played on the same turn as other minions. You need to summon 2 other minions before he dies to make him profitable. At least it’s “summon” and not “play!”
- Josh says: The only time I’ve seen him work out is when I played against you, but I haven’t seen him much. It feels like he’ll be a key part of a token druid deck later this year.
- Josh says: She’s not my cup of tea, but we’ve got to talk about her. Instantly created a new deck type overnight.
- Scott says: Keep in mind it has 2 conditions: You need both a pirate and a weapon for her to do her thing. Not sure if it’s worth the effort for a free 1-cost spell or not.
- Josh says: I love these flexible-mana cards and even though you may sometimes be forced to overkill with this card, it’s ability to usually be exactly as powerful as you need it to makes me love it.
- Scott says: Hard to say how powerful this is. There will certainly be situations where it’s exactly what you want, but how many situations will you just be staring at it in your hand as an unwanted card?
- Josh says: Especially after Knife Juggler got nerfed, it seems like you’d be hard-pressed to find a better 2-cost minion in Shaman tempo. Even has solid value drawn later.
- Scott says: Not bad, but not good either. Can sometimes have a negative cost, which is nice. You can also just play it on curve if you start the game under pressure.
- Josh says: I just love this card. Couldn’t beat out Xaril for the rogue craft spot, but it’s pure value and lots of fun. No deck needs him, every deck wants him — that’s my kind of card.
- Scott says: A good value, assuming the card you get isn’t horrible.
Community
- Question: Should Brawls be fun and could some be permanent?
- iTunes Reviews
Donations
- Bert: $50
- Dan: $25
The Dust Bowl
- Bert: 50 Packs (Hogger Doom of Elwynn, Yogg-Saron Hope’s End, Twin Emperors)
- Dan: 25 Packs (Ragnaros Lightlord)
Card of the Week
Farewell
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