Hearthpwn

Arcane Minds

Version 2 - ready for Mean Streets of Gadgetzan
Difficulty: medium
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Leolph
Stream: https://www.twitch.tv/leolph
Blog: http://hearthstone.leolph.com
About me and my decks

UPDATE 11.12.2016:

Mindgames had to be changed in the current meta. Jade and Highlander decks don't have enough value targets and Pirate decks fell in love with Shadow Madness - so these cards changed places.
Also added 2x Dragonfire Potion for all those Jade decks - 1 Excavated Evil and 1 Cabal Shadow Priest had to go. Although Dragon Priest is now a very hard matchup it's still beatable.

I'll update the guide as soon as possible, just wanted to push the update live so you can see that the deck still has enough energy! :)

So I was bored of the current Shamanstone and thought I just make a fun troll deck to counter all those Shamans, Secret Hunters and Tempo Mages. It turned out that this deck was not only fun to play - it's also very frustrating to play against (as you can see at your opponents emoting).  

Mindgames in the current meta:

At first, let's have a look at Tempostorms current Meta Snapshot and the minions in the top tier 1 & 2 decks:

Shaman:
Bad targets: Tunnel Trogg, Flametongue Totem
Medium targets: Bloodmage Thalnos, Totem Golem, Mana Tide Totem, Barnes
Value targets: Azure Drake, Thunder Bluff Valiant, Thing from Below, Al'Akir the Windlord, Ragnaros the Firelord

Tempo Mage:
Bad Targets: Mana Wyrm
Medium targets: Bloodmage Thalnos, Cult Sorcerer, Sorcerer's Apprentice, Barnes
Value targets: Azure Drake, Ragnaros the Firelord

Secret Hunter:
Bad targets: -
Medium targets: Secretkeeper, Kindly Grandmother, Cloaked Huntress, Barnes
Value targets: Leeroy Jenkins, Savannah Highmane, Ragnaros the Firelord

Control Warrior:
Value targets: all minions

Malygos Druid:
Bad targets: -
Medium targets: Mire Keeper
Value targets: Azure Drake, Emperor Thaurissan, Baron Geddon, Ragnaros the Firelord, Malygos, Arcane Giant

Freeze Mage:
Bad targets: Novice Engineer, Doomsayer
Medium targets: Loot Hoarder, Acolyte of Pain, Evolved Kobold
Value targets: Emperor Thaurissan, Alexstrasza

Malygos Rogue:
Bad targets: Swashburglar, Edwin VanCleef
Medium targets: Bloodmage Thalnos, SI:7 Agent, Barnes
Value targets: Tomb Pillager, Azure Drake, Emperor Thaurissan, Gadgetzan Auctioneer, Malygos

Miracle Rogue:
Bad targets: Edwin VanCleef
Medium targets: Bloodmage Thalnos, SI7:Agent, Dark Iron Skulker
Value targets: Tomb Pillager, Azure Drake, Gadgetzan Auctioneer, Arcane Giant

Zoolock:
Bad targets: all minions except the ones from medium and value targets
Medium targets: Darkshire Councilman, Imp Gang Boss
Value targets: Doomguard

When you see these decks all of them (except for Zoolock) give you way more medium and value outcomes than bad targets. If you know the meta and pay attention to what your opponent might have mulliganed for (check the cards he kept) and what he already played you can mindgames yourself and choose if you want to play Mindgames or if you want to play a Priest of the Feast on turn 4 (or a (on turn 3) thoughtstolen card).
When you did not play play/lost Lightwell on turn 2/3 then your mindgamed minions might also be a possible good target to Resurrect. I had games with Mindgames into Ragnaros the Firelord with him doing 1 shot, killed on opponents turn and resurrected him the next turn for 2 mana and he got another shot. My opponent killed also the second Ragnaros the Firelord, but the prize he paid for that was insane. 2 removal spells + 1 minion to trade in, loosing initative and mentally totally frustrated. That's value ;)

Wombo-Combo with Atiesh

Medivh, the Guardian will equip you with Atiesh. With Entomb and Holy Fire you can get a 6-drop for free and with Mind Control even a 10-drop. Repeat that. A 10-drop for free. Deathwing, Deathwing, Dragonlord, Faceless Behemoth, Frost Giant, Sea Giant, Y'Shaarj, Rage Unbound, N'Zoth, the Corruptor, Varian Vrynn, Yogg-Saron, Hope's End, C'Thun (and soon Kun the Forgotten King). Best case 12/12, worst case 6/6. For what? I can't hear you! Yeeees. FOR FREE!

So if you played Medivh, the Guardian on turn 8 or 9 then your turn 10 will always be insane. Do not hesitate to Mind Control any good minion that is on the board, I even mindcontrolled a Healing Totem (which was his only minion) to get the free 10-drop. You always have to fear Acidic Swamp Ooze or Harrison Jones (especially in Reno / Control decks which want card draw), so get value out of Atiesh as soon as possible. You always have a backup for the mentioned cards and your opponent might count with a second Entomb and second Holy Fire but NO ONE plays double Mind Control in this meta. Except for you. Now :)

Well, and then there was light: Why Lightwell?
What does a control Priest on turn 2 (when it's not Dragon Priest)? Yes, he uses hero power or Shadow Word: Pain on the opponents 1 or 2 drop. But you want to save those SWPs for a Flamewaker or Thunder Bluff Valiant and just hero power is very weak. So Doomsayer is the usual pick but that would decrease your Resurrect value by a lot. With a Lightwell you start the game with 35 life and if your opponent is wasting a removal spell on it then it already got value. You made a good transition into the midgame and have an alternative play instead of SWP or hero power. In the lategame, when your opponent is low on removal spells this can be the MVP and your life saver, especially against Hunters where every point of life matters. You can  play Thoughtsteal or Resurrect the Lightwell on turn 3 and Mindgames or Priest of the Feast on turn 4. And then ist AOE time, if your opponent is smart enough he will not overextend past turn 4 against a Priest, who usually run at least three 5-cost AOE spells. You run 4 (2x Excavated Evil and 2x Holy Nova) and if your are lucky you already have thoughtstolen more AOE from your opponent.

Let me change your mind!
A very good tempo card against all tier 1 & 2 decks except for Malygos Druid, in that case you just slam her as a Chillwind Yeti.
I've chosen a second Cabal Shadow Priest over Sylvanas Windrunner because you get more tempo out of CSP. If your opponent counters your board with a Sylvanas Windrunner then you have that Entomb ready and what's that? Now you have a Sylvanas Windrunner in your deck. Pretty good if you already have thoughtstolen her before. Then you Entomb your opponent's N'Zoth, the Corruptor.

Damn, so much spells 'arcanebelieveit'! Yes, with 22 spells and 4 possible extra spells from Thoughtsteal your Arcane Giants will most likely be played for 0 mana.

Mulligan strategies and tactic tipps:
Against all decks except for Warlock: keep Shadow Word: Pain, Lightwell, Thoughtsteal, if you are on The Coin you can also keep a 4-drop.
Against Warlock: Pray it's a Renolock. If it's Zoolock, pray he has a slow start and you have 2-3 AOE ready on turn 5+. Comeback with Lightwell and selfheal + Priest of the Feast with spells.
Against Hunter: Do not give him bow charges. Fight for the board, selfheal. Do not give him bow charges. You will win the long game, not the mid/short one.
Against Shaman: SWP for Thunder Bluff Valiant, SWD for Thing from Below / Ragnaros the Firelord, Entomb for Azure Drake, rest assimilate with AOE.
Against M-Rogue, M-Druid: stay above 20 health at all cost, Priest of the Feast and Lightwell are your friends.
Against Tempo Mage: SWD for Flamewaker, Thoughtsteal their burn spells to remove the minion they got from Firelands Portal. Combo stolen low cost spells with Priest of the Feast for massive healing. Entomb Azure Drakes.
Against Freeze Mage: Save Holy Fire after Emperor Thaurissan / Alexstrasza turn, try to combo it with Priest of the Feast (hold 1 back), Entomb Emperor Thaurissan and get ticks for your heal comeback. Save Lightwell after they started burning you. Don't overextend the board, time is running for you, get some chip damage in with stolen card draw cards or use their burn spells to proc the Ice Block. SWD for Alexstrasza.