Hearthpwn

This is just a short filler writeup until I get the time to make a full guide. The list is the standard Freeze list. A lot of the cards are staples and have been since the dawn of time so I won't go too in depth for the moment; instead I'll quickly highlight the main "flex" cards that differ from older lists which set this deck apart and allow it to thrive in the current meta.

Card Choices:

Evolved Kobold - This card looks terrible on paper, but in Freeze Mage we don't care about minion stats, only minion efficiency, and this Kobold is super efficient at augmenting your damage. Since Malygos is too expensive and slow to play in Freeze this card fits into the nice flexible 4 mana slot (3 with an Emperor tick) that allows it to be played alongside burn even when nothing is discounted. Going by the standard 4 mana for 6 damage of a classic Fireball, in order to get value, you need to play at least 3 burn spells alongside the Kobold. This is easily achievable with a Frostbolt + Ice Lance + Ice Lance and with discounts on a couple cards even Roaring Torches and Fireballs can be added in allowing for upwards of 10 or even 12 damage coming from the Kobold's augmentation. The card this replaced in the old list was the Pyroblast, which filled a similar role of being a high cost finisher. The key difference that allowed Kobold to make the cut is it's flexibility which lets it be played on much earlier turns where Pyroblast would be a dead card and it's ability to easily be on par or surpass Pyroblast's damage.

Double Ice Barrier - Flamestrike too expensive and slow. Lots of aggro/midrange decks in meta. Need more health. 'Nuff said. The two Blizzards and Frost Novas should be more than fine to stall out a couple big boards for you to draw your burn.

Forgotten Torch - These cards have slipped in and replaced good 'ol Archmage Antonidas. For the same reason we're running double barrier and the Kobold: again the fast paced metagame means a 7 mana card that requires combination with multiple other cards to get value is too slow to warrant play; especially when you can get cheap early tempo removal like the Torches that then add extra burn into your deck (which is all that Antonidas is for, burn generation). In a slower, more warrior controlled, meta, maybe Antonidas will find a place back in the list, but for the time being he's sidelined.

Lack of Card Choices:

Cone of Cold - Can only hit 3 minions. Shaman boards are a minimum of 4 at all turns after 4. Hence, this card is unusable. Blizzard and Nova do the trick and I prefer the consistency that Blizzard provides in freezing the whole board to having a cheaper alternative.

Reno Jackson - I like having two Ice Blocks. And two Fireballs. And two Blizzards. And two Frost Novas. And two Doomsayers. And two Acolytes. And two Arcane Intellects. And two....you get the picture.

Flamestrike - You often have enough stall to get your burn that a full heavy-cost board clear is unnecessary. And with so many 5 health minions nowadays, this often doesn't even completely clear the board unless you are following up a Blizzard turn. Frost Nova + Doomsayer is often your better option.

Mirror Image - Realistically this could only fit into the Kobold slot or the Barrier slot, and I'd prefer my guaranteed 8 health as opposed to blocking 2 attacks of unknown power. Similarly having extra reach with my burn is more valuable than having an extra survival card. If the deck ran Antonidas, this might find it's way back in since it's cheap and can often protect him for a turn if your opponent lacks hard removal and doesn't have more than 3 sources of damage available to them, but since Antonidas is out this card just doesn't fit.

Azure Drake - Why spend 5 mana to draw 1 when you can spend 5 mana to draw 2 or 3 with Acolyte? Every card counts and the bodies are irrelevant since your opponent likely will kill it anyways and you're not going to be connecting with their face at a frequent rate, so the attack rating doesn't matter. While the spellpower is nice, the cost is too prohibitive to fit burn alongside playing it, and Bloodmage/Kobold are better suited to the task.

Coldlight Oracle - Only useful in the "Aggro Freeze Mage" variant where you dump your hand at your opponent's face and need to refuel while not caring about what cards you give to them. Acolyte is again better since you, and you alone, benefit from it's effect.

Barnes - Why.....just.....why.....