Hearthpwn

I used this deck to climb from rank 4 to Legend in April 2017. I played 33 matches with 79% winrate.

This is somewhat similar to the old good secret paladin, but instead of creating tempo swing with the Challenger it uses various Squire buffs to set the pace. It is a midrange tempo deck that aims to win before turn 10, but has some options to win in the late game if the opponent does not close the game rapidly.

Being a tempo deck it is very important to play on curve, from turn 1 onward. There are various important synergies to take into account:

- Lost in the Jungle and Muster for Battle are the fodder for the buffs, and dagger producers. When there is an alternative it is better to preserve Lost in the Jungle to be played together with Juggler, Steward, ecc. But if there are no alternatives use it to fill the curve.

- Noble sacrifice synergizes with Juggler and Steward: protects them from removal and gets a free dagger/shield.

- Haunted Creepers are better used as kamikaze when there is a Juggler or Steward around.

Lets take a look to some design choices:

- Mad Scientist: not many players use it in paladin, since it has weak secrets, but in fact it spawns a 2/2, draws a secret and plays it, everything for two mana. It is underpriced of around 1 mana, and has the effect of reducing the probability of drawing 1 mana cards in the mid/late game.

- Coghammer: huge tempo swing in the early game, and creates a protection in the late game with taunt + shield. Only drawbacks it that you may draw both ones, or you may wish for 4 damages in the late game and only have 2...

- Consecration: I tried to play without it since it is not synergic with the rest of the deck, but these days there are too many decks with small tokens that you may consecrate.

- Keeper of Uldaman: You may see it as a form of removal when the opponent plays something too big for your minions. Pally does not have hard removals, so these are needed.

- Justicar: I think the deck can work without it, but it gives a lot more possibilities when the game goes late. After justicar you are sure that even when topdecking there will be something to buff.

Update (26 April): it seems that pirate warrior is increased in popularity in ladder. As a consequence I teched in a Crawler (in place of a Steward, having 2 in your hand is generally bad) and a Redemption in place of a Noble Sacrifice, I need a 1 cost card that is not nullified by a 1 damage weapon attack.