Seeing so many people saying Mana Geode is good or OP, I feel like I really have to say it here that IT ISN'T A GOOD 2-DROP AT ALL. I don't know why I have such strong opinion about it, but honestly, this card shouldn't get any hype or praise at all.
First of all, I must admit that it is nice to see Blizzard giving Priest a 2-drop. It works extremely well, and is extremely powerful, in three situations listed below:
However, in my opinion, this is exactly why this 2-drop is bad. It is too situational. I can only see it works in 2-3 games out of 10 games, meaning it is not consistent enough to be good, to be an epic card. If you can't activate its effect, it has no difference from a vanilla 2 mana 2/3 minion.
This brings me to my next point. Mana Geode has no immediate effect on the game, meaning if it's traded immediately (which is 99% of the games), it just does nothing. Let's compare Mana Geode with some other 2-drops for other classes:
Sorcerer's Apprentice: the good thing about thihs card is that it has an ongoing effect, and this effect is immediate. For example, you can play it on turn 2 and immediately drop any 1-cost spells like Mirror Image or Arcane Missiles. It also has value late game obviously, because all your spells cost one less, enabling many combos or tempo plays.
King's Elekk: this card once again has an immediate effect. It potentially draws you card. Just imagine this trading into Mana Geode. You have drawn a card, while the priest has done nothing. You gained the upper hand.
Armorsmith: this card has an ongoing effect. It doesn't matter if this card got removed immediately, because it will at least give you one armor.
Undercity Huckster: again, deathrattle effect, doesn't matter if it's removed instantly. There is still value.
Simply put, we all know that in 99% of the situation, a 2 drop will get removed immediately (except for Totem Golem I guess). So, it is reasonable to assume that Mana Geode will also get removed immediately. If that's the case, it basically has zero value. different from other class 2-drops in which they have an effect on the game even if they are removed immediately. Also, Mana Geode has very very little value late game, unlike Sorcerer's Apprentice. It is extremely difficult to get Mana Geode damaged and survive in the late game, and getting a 2/2 by healing it and it only, isn't good enough for late game.
All in all, there will be situations in which Mana Geode shines, but I seriously don't think it is consistent enough to see play in standard constructed. However, if in the two remaining unrevealed priest cards, there is a cheap spell that buffs a minion's health (something like a cheap version of Velen's Chosen), then Mana Geode will be consistent enough, because it now has a third option, apart from Power Word: Shield and Kabal Talonpriest.
All other two drops in the current metagme need, just like this card, something else to make them good. Sorcerors Apprentice, Cult Sorceror, Thalnos, Flametongue, Pyromancer.
There's a difference, though. Every single one of those cards you just mentioned can very easily do something on the turn they're played. None of them would be played very often if their effect didn't take effect until the next turn. It's extremely difficult and/or inefficient for this card to get any result whatsoever on the turn that it's played.
And there can be situations in which this cards effect takes effect on the same turn as it is played as well, just like those mentioned. The point here was they need other cards to be instantly useful and the same goes for this card. It wasn't that their effect can't be used immediately but that they need other cards.
This card is junk, a 2/3 for 2 is not good, that simple. It might as well be a Sparring Partner. Even the 2/4 dragon priest 2 drop isn't that good anymore... This should have been a 2/4, basically an Imp Gang Boss with a stronger ability but requires more investment from healing it as opposed to just taking damage.
Look at the good 2 drops, things like Totem Golem, Alextraza's Champion, Fiery War Ax, Frost Bolt, Cult Sorcerer, Shielded Minibot, etc.
Most things kill this, or at the very least you get a little value off of it and then it dies. It's basically another Shadow Boxer which can be ok but really isn't as good as something like Flame Juggler even :/.
Just asked Reynad on stream and he replied that this card is "much worse than a vanilla [2-mana] 2/4." Not sure if that actually makes the card bad or if a 2/4 would be THAT ridiculous in Priest.
EDIT: Reynad said this card is "average" and that most priest decks might not want 2-drops but the ones that do "may consider it".
They did it. The 2 drop priest has been waiting for.
One wonders why it took the Purify backlash for them to figure out Priest needed help?
Come on. Think about it. This card is trash. It has no difference from River Crocolisk. And:
Quote:
Just asked Reynad on stream and he replied that this card is "much worse than a vanilla [2-mana] 2/4." Not sure if that actually makes the card bad or if a 2/4 would be THAT ridiculous in Priest.
EDIT: Reynad said this card is "average" and that most priest decks might not want 2-drops but the ones that do "may consider it".
Wait until you don't have a way to remove this card on turn two and he plays Dark Arrakoa.
It's like a Justicar hit your Paladin hero power, and requires a minion to be in play, and for it to be able to be healed by your hero power. And if it doesn't take damage, it's maybe a 2/3 or 2/6 that does nothing for a lot of investment.
A quick question to the 77% of players who said this was better than playable - would you play this over Dirty Rat in your priest deck?
I think most people have no idea how many things kill this, and if they can't kill this they can ignore it. Mech Warper was a problem because if you didn't kill it, it would provide a huge mana benefit, along with a tribal type that is relevant, but this does nothing if they don't play into it when they can't answer it...
Dirty Rat, even if not that great, is far better than this.
They did it. The 2 drop priest has been waiting for.
One wonders why it took the Purify backlash for them to figure out Priest needed help?
Come on. Think about it. This card is trash. It has no difference from River Crocolisk. And:
Quote:
Just asked Reynad on stream and he replied that this card is "much worse than a vanilla [2-mana] 2/4." Not sure if that actually makes the card bad or if a 2/4 would be THAT ridiculous in Priest.
EDIT: Reynad said this card is "average" and that most priest decks might not want 2-drops but the ones that do "may consider it".
"Pro" Hearthstone players have never been wrong about a card, especially the ones who said Dr. Boom was bad.
so meta is already defined here
Goes great with Purify
Seeing so many people saying Mana Geode is good or OP, I feel like I really have to say it here that IT ISN'T A GOOD 2-DROP AT ALL. I don't know why I have such strong opinion about it, but honestly, this card shouldn't get any hype or praise at all.
First of all, I must admit that it is nice to see Blizzard giving Priest a 2-drop. It works extremely well, and is extremely powerful, in three situations listed below:
1) The Coin out Mana Geode on turn 1
2) Combo Mana Geode with Power Word: Shield
3) Combo Mana Geode with Kabal Talonpriest
However, in my opinion, this is exactly why this 2-drop is bad. It is too situational. I can only see it works in 2-3 games out of 10 games, meaning it is not consistent enough to be good, to be an epic card. If you can't activate its effect, it has no difference from a vanilla 2 mana 2/3 minion.
This brings me to my next point. Mana Geode has no immediate effect on the game, meaning if it's traded immediately (which is 99% of the games), it just does nothing. Let's compare Mana Geode with some other 2-drops for other classes:
Sorcerer's Apprentice: the good thing about thihs card is that it has an ongoing effect, and this effect is immediate. For example, you can play it on turn 2 and immediately drop any 1-cost spells like Mirror Image or Arcane Missiles. It also has value late game obviously, because all your spells cost one less, enabling many combos or tempo plays.
King's Elekk: this card once again has an immediate effect. It potentially draws you card. Just imagine this trading into Mana Geode. You have drawn a card, while the priest has done nothing. You gained the upper hand.
Armorsmith: this card has an ongoing effect. It doesn't matter if this card got removed immediately, because it will at least give you one armor.
Undercity Huckster: again, deathrattle effect, doesn't matter if it's removed instantly. There is still value.
Simply put, we all know that in 99% of the situation, a 2 drop will get removed immediately (except for Totem Golem I guess). So, it is reasonable to assume that Mana Geode will also get removed immediately. If that's the case, it basically has zero value. different from other class 2-drops in which they have an effect on the game even if they are removed immediately. Also, Mana Geode has very very little value late game, unlike Sorcerer's Apprentice. It is extremely difficult to get Mana Geode damaged and survive in the late game, and getting a 2/2 by healing it and it only, isn't good enough for late game.
All in all, there will be situations in which Mana Geode shines, but I seriously don't think it is consistent enough to see play in standard constructed. However, if in the two remaining unrevealed priest cards, there is a cheap spell that buffs a minion's health (something like a cheap version of Velen's Chosen), then Mana Geode will be consistent enough, because it now has a third option, apart from Power Word: Shield and Kabal Talonpriest.
This card is junk, a 2/3 for 2 is not good, that simple. It might as well be a Sparring Partner. Even the 2/4 dragon priest 2 drop isn't that good anymore... This should have been a 2/4, basically an Imp Gang Boss with a stronger ability but requires more investment from healing it as opposed to just taking damage.
Look at the good 2 drops, things like Totem Golem, Alextraza's Champion, Fiery War Ax, Frost Bolt, Cult Sorcerer, Shielded Minibot, etc.
Most things kill this, or at the very least you get a little value off of it and then it dies. It's basically another Shadow Boxer which can be ok but really isn't as good as something like Flame Juggler even :/.
This card is trash.
2 drop!
They did it. The 2 drop priest has been waiting for.
One wonders why it took the Purify backlash for them to figure out Priest needed help?
Yes, I'm so glad I've been playing with Priest since I started playing Hearthstone. I haven't gotten far, but now is my time.
Quote:
Just asked Reynad on stream and he replied that this card is "much worse than a vanilla [2-mana] 2/4." Not sure if that actually makes the card bad or if a 2/4 would be THAT ridiculous in Priest.
EDIT: Reynad said this card is "average" and that most priest decks might not want 2-drops but the ones that do "may consider it".
Very situational, very slow.
This is the 2-drop that Warrior has been waiting for.
A quick question to the 77% of players who said this was better than playable - would you play this over Dirty Rat in your priest deck?