Kibler's Elemental Mage [Explained]
- Last updated Jul 3, 2018 (Spiteful Nerf)
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Wild
- 25 Minions
- 4 Spells
- Deck Type: Ranked Deck
- Deck Archetype: Elemental Mage
- Crafting Cost: 9260
- Dust Needed: Loading Collection
- Created: 6/30/2018 (Spiteful Nerf)
- Kibler
- Pro Player
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Country:
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Tournament Decks:
9
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Ladder Decks:
1277
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++Update: It seems, this deck will get a solid buff. In the upcoming Patch Mountain Giant will get an Elemental-Tag, which will of course give this deck an additional synergy-factor++
So this is a Guide for Mage-Fans such as myself.
Concerning the Meta, I've heard so much about this being a real Midrange-Meta and even though Big Spell Mage is not a bad deck atm (with so many different lists and interesting twists) I sometimes had the feeling that it's Board Wipes wouldn't be as necessary or effective even. You could even say, these Big Spells aren't even countering certain Decks in the current Meta but are hindering you from building up your own Board and forcing you to rely on the Death Knight too much.
So I stumbled upon Kibler's Elemental Mage as a Midrange Deck, doing great against various Decks.
I've basically seen every Video on YouTube, uploaded and played by Brian Kibler. So first of all, here is a Video from OmniStone, where he presents and explains his list himself:
The deck's concept besides being a midrange deck is having a full hand throughout nearly the whole game, filled with board-centric options and beefy minions.
The strongest part of course is Book of Specters which the deck is built around.
In combination with this, there are so many cards that generate more ammunition such as Fire Fly, Bonfire Elemental, Lesser Ruby Spellstone, Pyros and many more. Book of Specters on Turn 2 not only allows a Turn 4 Mountain Giant (Turn 3 even if you start with the coin), he stays a 3-5 Mana Card throughout the whole game.
Cards that not only draw us more cards but generate cards outside of our deck also have great synergy with Leyline Manipulator.
Concerning different card choices:
Glacial Shard
Glacial Shard has proven to be a great and underrated choice, as it allows us against decks like Greymane-Lock or any Spiteful-Decks to build up a board as an answer to a Mountain Giant or a buffed Hooked Reaver.
Besides playing Frostlich Jaina on Turn 10+, freezing a threat as well as keeping up the elemental synergy for the upcoming turn makes playing Jaina much easier and threatening.
It can also be recycled into a 3-Mana Water Elemental with Jaina's Hero Power.
Servant of Kalimos
Playing this deck the first few games I realized, with a hand filled with options, Servant of Kalimos had always been the last choice. It doesn't make much sense, since a 5-Mana 4/5 is not that bad of a play, especially with the Leyline Manipulator synergy going forward, but there was never a great time to play this card. The elementals you could discover did never make a great difference, since the only choice you pretty much always want is Blazecaller. In conclusion: There are too many elementals that do not make a difference in a midrange race that justify a 5-Mana 4/5.
Baron Geddon
I had always perceived Baron Geddon as a Reno Jackson kind of a guy in combination with Jaina. But in this deck, you rarely play it for it's life gain purpose, but rather because any boardwipe-ish effect in a minion-based deck is pretty important. Especially in Matchups like Baku-Paladin or Midrange-Hand-Druids. As a more defensive card with same purpose, you could switch it for a Primordial Drake, but you'd be loosing the life gain option and elemental synergy.
If your Matchups allow it, you could switch it for a Water Elemental or Steam Surger for being able to play beefy minions earlier in the game.
Archmage Arugal
Kibler tried Arugal in the first lists of this deck, but it always turned out to be overkill and just adding more Minions that generate more cards themselves worked out quite nicely.
Polymorph
With the addition of Mountain Giant, you really want to pull off the successful turn 2 Book of Specters as consistent as possible, which is why Polymorph did not survive this version of the deck.
In addition to this, being able to pressure slower decks is more important in general.
When i have earned more experience with the deck, i could add matchup guides, if there is enough demand.
Please let me know, how you would change this deck and what your opinion on this deck is and of course watch as many Videos of Kibler playing this deck, because he explains many cards and choices pretty convincingly, in my opinion.
This deck is insane, I already liked Elemental Mage, but this is like Elemental Mage With Tits.
Great re work of elemental mage. A lot of fun. Geddon is a great part of the fun.
Good against shudderwocks, but top 4 decks 3 are aggro, sadly this deck can't work against them due to no board clears
I know i get downvoted by noobs again who celebrate her favorite streamer, but this deck is so insanly bad in this meta. you are dead before turn 6 every singel game. 0 removels and everyone plays aggro shit. dont waste your duste for this deck or you will regret it.
I beat aggro every time with this deck.
Just tried it. Burned Jaina first game. Deleted Deck.
Stuck at rank 5 with this deck. Aggro decks are impossible to hold off.
hi I love this deck. more in control than bsm I feel... anyway any mulligan tips?
It is an ok deck, just a shame it gets completely crushed by paladin which makes up about 50% of the ladder.
This deck was great deck before, today Mountain Giant became an Elemental, making it even better.
Great deck. I always had the Servant of Kalimoss in my elemental decks, but leaving him out has actually improved my winrate. It always felt like forced to play him...and with this deck there is more than enough draw.
The only cards I am not sure about are the 2x Leyline Manipulator . I get the great synergy potential, but: most of the time I play him when I am winning anyway. I will try to replace at least on copy with some freeze elemental variations.
Im lacking Pyros and the dolls from the deck, what are good budget cards to replace them?
Polymorph works as good single target removal instead of the dolls I've found. Just a bit more expensive if you want to ping the sheep, only downside being they dont work on can't be targeted minions.
if u play control ans face this
u can instant concede and stop wasting your time
Quick question, does Leyline Manipulator reduce the cost of the cards you get from Archmage Arugal?
yes
Any suggestions for odd Pally matchup? That deck seems to wreck this one.
Mulligan for Fire Fly, Stonehill Defender and Tar Creeper. Use Glacial Shard on your opponent after he/she played that turn 3 weapon to force trading with minions. Don't try to get out your big stuff because even the giant can only trade with one Recruit and these are the guys you want to get rid of. Obviously board control is key and you don't want to allow your opponent a board where they can play a strong Level Up on. Rather get cheap stuff (like these elemental tokens) on the board than just pinging one recruit with your hero power. Unless of course you have spare mana ;)
Love this deck Brian, thank you. Only thing is voodoo doll feels clunky. Also personally I run Archmage Arugal, he's a solid 2 drop that your opponent is forced to kill or he can snowball the game by himself. I do like the giants addition. Any idea when the elemental tag will be placed?
Which is more essential for the deck, Pyros or Baron?