Hearthpwn

I'm new to Hearthstone, but I'm a long-time M:TG player.  I have a pretty good idea of the mechanics of the game, but I'm still getting my feet under me - I'm working my way up the ranks now, and this is the deck I've been using (+/- 5 or so cards).  Comments or suggestions welcome!

BASIC STRATEGY

At it's core, this is a tempo-based deck.  Your plan is to call as many totems as possible, then buff them using AOE buffs to win the game.  It is rare to win a game without Bloodlust, but it does happen.  Use your little buffed totems to keep the board clear of little minions, and largely ignore big ones - don't be afraid to silence Taunts early and often.  After turn 4, you can put 2+ minions out a turn basically guaranteed, so don't be afraid to treat them as sacrifices.  You will lose on mana efficiency in the short game - after all, spending 2 to kill a 1 is a loss of tempo - but in the longer game, you will be way ahead as they play 4-and-5 drops while you are playing multiple little dudes.

The first thing you'll notice is a complete lack of cards costing more than 3 (other than the twoBloodlust).  There is a reason for this - the Overload mechanic makes it so that it can be harder to play 5+ cost cards "on curve", and by having a super-low curve, you can ensure that you always have more things to play.

Why no 1-drop minions?  Well, that is one of the things I'm still going back and forth on.  I'll get to that in a sec.  I haven't really missed them, but it is probably wrong to run none.

The idea is to flood the board with totems, repeatedly.  One of the things I was having real problems with using the "standard" Shaman list was the Hunter combo deck.  It is too hard to not overextend into their combo, and too hard to keep enough Taunt on the board to defend yourself from the onslaught.  This deck was my solution - by playing a whole lot of little must kill guys, you keep that deck on its back leg.

What about sweepers?  Well, this deck is remarkably resilient to them.  You can just flood the board with totems, then when they get swept away, do it again.  Sure, it is a mana loss, but if you are playing the deck right, you won't have trouble.  There is, after all, a TON of card draw!

CARD CHOICES + USES

Nat Pagle / Acolyte of Pain / Mana Tide Totem - These are your main card draw engine.  I know the fisher dude isn't as popular since he was nerfed (he used to trigger at end of turn, not beginning), but he is fine in this deck where your opponent will have other priorities.  His 4 health means he takes an inordinate amount of effort to kill.  Mana Tide Totem is your bread and butter - protect it at all costs!  The one Acolyte is in there as a 3rd totem - usually you'll get one or two cards off of it.  It may be unnecessary, though.

Bloodmage Thalnos / Loot Horder - the other card advantage options.  The Bloodmage should always be in this type of deck, if you have him - if not, it is fine to replace with something else.  I'm trying out the one Horder at the moment to have another "if it dies, draw" card, making for a total of 3.  Just more ways to recover from sweeps!

Earth Shock / Ironbeak Owl- don't be afraid to use the silencers for value, but they are usually best saved for taunts or divine shield.  I've found that three or four silencers are enough - right now I'm on three.

Hex / Lightning Bolt / Stormforged Axe - your basic "removal + survival" suite.  I'm only running one Lightning Bolt at the moment, but two is probably right - or maybe two axes.  I'm sure you'll notice the lack of Backbiter Weapon - Bolt is just a better card (no damage to the face or losing a totem), and running too much removal made it into too much of a control deck.

Lightning Storm / Forked Lightning - your AOE damage effects.  Usually good enough to keep you ahead of the crowd, especially combined with the buffs and things like Knife Juggler.  I know Forked Lightning isn't a popular card, and it really isn't a very good one either, but it is the only other option for crowd control that Shaman has.

Knife Juggler - the definition of a value creature.  I like him mainly because he has a huge target on his head - he usually trades 2-or-more-for-1.  That being said, he is also the most "gimmicky" and random part of the deck, other than Totemic Call itself.  These may be better as 1-drops.

Raid Leader / Dire Wolf Alpha / Flametongue Totem - Make your totems into threats.  These are the best options available at low cost.

Master Swordsmith - I'm on the fence on this one.  His 3 health makes him more resilient than other options, and he can easily take over the game, but mainly I just wanted one more thing to buff the little totems.  When he works, he makes me want Young Priestess in the deck.  When he doesn't, I find he usually trades at least 1-for-1, or takes the heat off your other little dudes.

Feral Spirit - This card is AWESOME.  It is the only taunt in the deck, because it is the only taunt that the deck seems to need!

Bloodlust!!! - Your game winner.  It is not unusual to kill from 20 with this card and a few measly totems.  I run two so I can burn one as a removal spell earlier - if you are a MTG player, think of it as Wrath of God in a white weenie deck.

CARDS UNDER CONSIDERATION

Young Priestess / Argent Squire - COMING SOON!!!

Loremaster Cho - I don't have one, and it may be as bad as everyone says (so I won't craft one), but it seems like the panda could be pretty good in this deck.  It has a big butt, and it forces an answer - or you can use it as a tempo play, then buff and trade or suicide it when you need to cast a spell.  Reminds me a lot of Standstill in MTG - I have to wonder if the card can be broken in a similar way...

Defender of Argus - COMING SOON!!!

MATCHUP NOTES - COMING SOON!!!