The Curator Paladin (Dragons, Beasts, Murlocs)
- Last updated Sep 3, 2016 (Karazhan)
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Wild
- 26 Minions
- 2 Spells
- 2 Weapons
- Deck Type: Ranked Deck
- Deck Archetype: Dragon Paladin
- Crafting Cost: 7840
- Dust Needed: Loading Collection
- Created: 8/26/2016 (Karazhan)
- DarknessOfMyth
- Registered User
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- 4
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- 17
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Battle Tag:
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Total Deck Rating
143
Thank you for all the support guys! I've added specific match-ups mulligan like promised and some extra card swap decisions based on what you're facing a lot on ladder.
Newly Added: - Specific Match-up Mulligans and Match-up Swap Outs
Currently Working On: This week we see the release of the final wing of the Kharazan adventure and thus the release of a couple new dragon syngery cards. I will be testing them out on ladder and see if any of them fit this deck! Also working on specific match up strategies.
Introduction
If any of you know me, I love the dragon decks, and with some of the new cards released this week I bring to you guys a twist on the "dragon" theme.
I will write a specific matchup strategy and tips section at 50 upvotes.
Went from rank 9 to rank 3 with this fast deck midrange deck so far, its 30-12, which is sitting nicely just above 70% winrate. It's essentially a midrange / tempo dragon paladin deck with a dash of murlocs and beasts, in order to make The Curator gain insane value. It almost always draws 3 cards in this deck, sometimes 2 but even then it's great because we aren't forcing too many weak cards into the deck while The Curator remains a great play at 2 draws.
Remember 2 draws is like the mage card Arcane Intellect which almost every mage runs for 3 mana. That combined into The Curator is like playing a 4 mana 4/6 taunt that also casts arcane intellect for useful creatures! Combining it into one card is also worth more than playing these 2 things separately. So imagine how much value we are gaining over the opponent when we draw 3 with The Curator.
Explanation of Why I run Sir Finley Mrgglton and Possible Replacement:
So a lot of people are asking why I run Sir FInely Murgleton instead of Vilefin Inquistitor or at all. The first reason is due to the fact that this deck does not run Zooboth, lowering the value of Vilefin's hero power. If you run a faster deck with zoobots you could swap in Vilefin's for Sir Finely and one Bluegill Warrior.
The second reason is that Vilefin Inquistitor does not do anything except change the type of your hero power until you play Menagerie Magician or if you swapped out a couple of cards for them, Zoobot. Sir FInely Murgleton on the other hand will give you a chance of choosing a hero power that benefits your match up - card draw against slower decks, removal / heal or armor against faster decks. Yes the paladin hero power is good, but this deck does not utilize them in any way, and having a mage, rogue, or druid hero power is better for removing something immediately rather than making a 1/1 on the board.
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Match-Up Card Swaps (for when you're struggling against certain deck types):
If struggling or facing on ladder more against:
Control Match Ups: Swap out a Bluegill Warrior and Consecration for Ysera or Ragnaros the Firelord for more late game, and another copy of Blackwing Corruptor for more mid-game stability.
Aggro Match Ups: Swap out a Blackwing Corruptor or Menagerie Magician (test out both and see what works for you better) for Blackwing Technician for more early game contesting, and add a Doomsayer and swap out a copy of Bluegill Warrior to halt early board development. Also consider having Ivory Knight instead of Sylvanas for a heal or potential second heal / board clear.
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General Deck Design and Strategy:
So The Curator draws a murloc, beast, and dragon, so it obviously easily draws a dragon for us in a dragon paladin deck - but what about the beast and murlocs you say? Well a card that is naturally good for paladin is a beast! And that's the Stampeding Kodo! We still play 2 Aldor Peacekeepers like most paladin decks and so this combos well with the kodo, and there are quite a few 2 or less attack minions that it can usually snipe off as well (Acolyte of Pain, Flamewaker, Tunnel Troggs, etc).
We also have 2x Huge Toad to make this deck even better against aggro and tempo that is flooding the ranked ladder atm (also can be drawn for value later with The Curator!).
As for the murlocs, we use one of the best murlocs for tempo play in Sir FInely Murgleton and the Bluegill Warriors to trade into minions as a kind pseudo-removal or perhaps help us hit that lethal during late game.
The rest of the synergy comes in the form of dragon syngery, with the new card Nightbane Templar pushing the midrange dragon dream closer into reality. Play this deck like a tempo deck - play on curve and trade efficiently, using dragon synergies to gain advantage and value. Gain even more value with The Curator, and then see your opponents crumble as you reach late game and drop Ysera or Tirion Fordring.
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General Mulligans:
Against Aggro: Bluegill Warrior, Loot Hoarder, Sir Finley Mrrgglton, Faerie Dragon, or Nightbane Templar (with coin or at least one other 2 drop).
Against Control: Loot Hoarder, Sir Finley Mrrgglton, Nightbane Templar, or Twilight Guardian (with coin or at least one other early game card). Mulligan for curve.
SPECIFIC MATCH-UPS MULLIGAN GUIDE:
Zoolock
Main Mulligan - Bluegill Warrior, Huge Toad, Sir Finley Mrrgglton, Faerie Dragon.
Situational - Nightbane Templar or Blackwing Technician (with coin or at least one other main mulligan card). Also consider keeping consecration if you have another main mulligan card and or a good curve (e.g. 2 and 3 drop).
Aggro / Midrange Shaman
Main Mulligan - Bluegill Warrior, Huge Toad, Sir Finley Mrrgglton, Faerie Dragon.
Situational - Nightbane Templar or Blackwing Technician (with coin or at least one other main mulligan card). Also keep Consecration if you have a good hand with 2 main mulligan cards or a main mulligan along with a 3 drop.
Dragon Warrior
Main Mulligan - Bluegill Warrior, Huge Toad, Sir Finley Mrrgglton, Faerie Dragon, and Nightbane Templar.
Situational - Twilight Guardian (with coin and least one other main mulligan card).
C'thun/Control Warrior
Main Mulligan - Bluegill Warrior, Huge Toad, Sir Finley Mrrgglton, Faerie Dragon, Nightbane Templar and Blackwing Technician.
Situational - Cards to fill the curve, or keep a dragon as an activator if you have a main mulligan card along with a Nightbane Templar that may need activation.
Token / Beast Druid
Main Mulligan - Huge Toad, Sir Finley Mrrgglton, Faerie Dragon and Nightbane Templar.
Situational - Blackwing Technician with coin or Twilight Guardian(with coin and at least one other main mulligan card).
Tempo Mage
Main Mulligan - Bluegill Warrior, Huge Toad, Sir Finley Mrrgglton, Faerie Dragon.
Situational - Nightbane Templar or Blackwing Technician (with coin or at least one other main mulligan card).
Midrange / Secret Hunter
Main Mulligan - Bluegill Warrior, Huge Toad, Sir Finley Mrrgglton, Faerie Dragon.
Situational - Nightbane Templar or Blackwing Technician (with coin or at least one other main mulligan card).
Control Priest
Main Mulligan - Bluegill Warrior, Huge Toad, Sir Finley Mrrgglton, Faerie Dragon, Nightbane Templar and Blackwing Technician.
Situational - Cards to fill the curve, or keep a dragon as an activator if you have a main mulligan card along with a Nightbane Templar that may need activation.
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Note: Please also bear in mind that while I have done well with this deck and you will most likely be able too, this is a very new deck theory in a meta where people are trying new stuff! So report back any changes or weaknesses, and I will be updating the deck very soon.
Hope you enjoy the deck guys.
Edit 1: Tried with decent success to add in some beast, dragon, and murloc syngery with the new card Menagerie Magician. Temporarily added Huge Toad as extra beasts instead of loot hoarder, and swapped in an Azure Drake for a Blackwing Corruptor for more stable dragon activation as well as make up for the lost in card draw from removing loot hoarders. the two extra 5 drops are making our curve 5 drop-heavy. Shall make more changes soon depending on how this performs on ladder.
Ysera would be ok, but if you aren't reaching late game in many match ups (mostly up against fast decks) you can slot in another azure drake or just go with 7 drakes after removing the chillmaw and just play another syngery card like Zoobot or Blackwing Technician!
Curious why you would use Finley when Paladin has a fantastic hero power that gets better with VIlefin Inquisitor. Same cost, same body, but now you're guaranteed to always have a murloc to buff with the Menagerie cards.
Otherwise, deck looks nice. I'm running a slightly more aggressive version and the Curator/Menagerie/Dragon synergy in Paladin has definitely outperformed my expectations.
Pretty much the same as I explained above: I like the syngery with Vilefin too when I tested it, still needs more testing but basically I find sir finely helpful in a lot of match ups that are faster than this deck (for healing, card draw advantage, armor, removal) depending on the board state, where as sometimes against control mage / druid/ hunter hero powers can give you an insane lead. Whereas the vilefin's value comes when you get the syngery cards only. Paladin's hero power it self is great yes, but a quick example of turning the tides with sir finely is playing him late when both sides have low cards and you pull ahead by getting the warlock hero power, or he has a dangerous creature that you can take out with the help of rogue/druid/mage hero power where as the paladin requires its 1/1 recruit to survive the turn to do so.
Would Murloc Knight fit in this deck anywhere?
I could see murloc knight being in the deck definitely - swap it in for the keeper of uldaman, or a copy of bluegill warrior. Murloc knight is just a bit weaker than pre-standard mode however, so requires a bit more testing. You can tell me how it goes :)
Really?
Sorry that was before I swapped them out for more dragon, beast and murloc syngery. I will edit that part out now.
BTW. I tried this deck and it is much stronger than it looks on paper (10-4 on rank 5 to 4). The synergies are insane and you can play it aggressive against control decks and more control against aggro decks. I really like it. Have my upvote.
Thank you man glad you like it, it does work quite well currently! I'm continuing to refine it as I think there is still room for improvement,
Well I tested a bit further and have to partially take back what I said. This deck is good in a midrange meta. In super aggro decks and in super control matchups you'll get rekt. :-( So the deck is fun to play but not really strong if you are facing only Control Warriors and Zoolock. I'm now 20-20 so basically where I started. Other decks work much better right now.
I added in swaps that do well against those - I honestly haven't met a lot of super control match ups till rank 3, but I noticed I'm 6-0 and 2-0 against c'thun/control warrior and control priest when I had ysera in the deck. Check the swaps. And I never had trouble against zoolock - This game has so many early game board and also 2x consecration, if you mulligan properly it should be an ok matchup.
Yeah, maybe my draws were just bad too. But I lost 11 games in a row only against C'Thun/Control Warrior and Zoolock.
So I removed Finley because as someone mentioned above Vilefin Inquisitor gives you basically a guarantee to get value from Menagerie Magician. I also took out Sylvanas Windrunner because this card is just better when you are behind but the goal is to never be behind and I have the feeling this card is not performing very well in this deck. I added an Ivory Knight instead because you have very few spells and a bit of healing helps a lot.