Dragon Warrior To Beat the Bomb
- Last updated Apr 12, 2019 (Rise of Shadows)
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Wild
- 16 Minions
- 11 Spells
- 2 Weapons
- Deck Type: Ranked Deck
- Deck Archetype: Dragon Warrior
- Crafting Cost: 11240
- Dust Needed: Loading Collection
- Created: 4/11/2019 (Rise of Shadows)
- Shadowrisen
- Registered User
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- 2
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- 28
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Battle Tag:
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Region:
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Total Deck Rating
7
Bear with me, some of the jankier choices (ONE SHIELD BLOCK?!?!?!) will be explained.
Trump just put out a video on Dragon Warrior calling it "Super Insane Value Levels", but ironically, he chose the least value-producing version of the deck. Yes, he has the Assemblies and Roars, but he skips the Firetree WItchdoctors and Scaleworms (which kill a lot of juicy 3/3 and 3/4 rogue minions) in favor of more control options.
Dragon Warrior is a rare type of deck that can play the value game without having to go full control. In fact, the value generation goes hand in hand with excellent tempo play if you're willing to embrace a more minion-focused strategy.
This version of Dragon Warrior is designed to be as strong as possible against Token Druid and Tempo Rogue, but NEVER drop a game against Bomb or other Dragon Warriors. Aside from drawing 5 bombs with 18 cards left in the deck, I have not lost to any warrior matchup with this.
The reason this deck excels against other warriors is that most people will be netdecking the more Control version of the deck, dropping dragon synergies and Ysera for Brawls, another Shield Block, and in some cases, another Devastator and a third weapon removal in the form of Harrison Jones. This version will nearly always win against the more controlling Dragon Warrior because it simply presents more threats and draw less cards.
You will nearly ALWAYS go to fatigue against the mirror. And you are better equipped to win the game.
The last reason you want to use this version is that the Jepetto Hunter deck is lurking on the ladder from time to time. Having the additional threats make that matchup a lot safer, as you can prevent early damage and actually pressure his life total, as opposed to sitting back with 2 brawls in hand waiting for him to burn you out.
SPECIFIC CARD CHOICES:
ONE Shield Block
Believe it or not, I wasn't looking for a way to get the second copy in, I was looking for a way to get the first copy OUT. This is the 30th card in the deck, and I highly recommend taking it out if you want to add another Devastator or perhaps a Dragonmaw Scorcher. However, I ended up leaving one in because the two Weapons Projects were not enough to fuel the Shield Slams on their own. DO NOT PLAY THIS SHIELD BLOCK AGAINST WARRIOR. Every single card you can avoid drawing is vital.
Firetree Witchdoctor AND Scaleworm:
The key difference in this version of the deck. Firetree really shines when you can pull another Assembly or Dragon Roar, but even if you aren't that lucky, having a turn 2 tempo play can be huge and perhaps pulling another removal can be good against a wide variety of decks.
Scaleworm is very good against tempo rogue. You can take out Fences, SI Agents, and Wolves without having your creature die, meaning that your opponent will have to take 5 to finish him off. Yes, I know they run Burglar which can straight trade, but try not to hit him first.
This is no longer an optional include. And it is not here to erase bombs. You have to out armor and weapon destruct the bomb game, because this card is reserved for the turn you run out of cards. You need every turn of fatigue in the mirror, and the only circumstance you play this before your deck is completely gone is if you have multiple bombs and fewer non-bomb cards.
First and foremost, this is simply the 7th dragon of the deck (counting roars as one). Statistically, you would really like to have 8 in order to have a good chance of having one in hand by turn 2, but I can't find a spot for the Dragonmaw Scorcher that would inevitably fill the 8th dragon slot. Beyond that, Ysera is missing from a lot of popular lists, which means the opponent may not save a shield slam or execute effect for it. Without those, Ysera is hard to clear from an empty board, and might actually stick.
Two Weapons Project
The two most popular classes are Warrior and Rogue. You need weapon destruction for the Wrenchcaliburs, and hitting a Pick on your turn can destroy their tempo plays. Don't be shy about bouncing a battlecry minion in rogue, the tempo gains are worth it.
SPECIFIC CARD OMISSIONS:
Jones used to be in this deck in lieu of a 2nd Weapons Project. After the 5th mirror matchup that went to at least 8th turn fatigue, I have decided that drawing cards is bad. Jones is always good for an extra card against Rogue, but too much of a liability against Warrior. Also, with only one Shield Block in deck, I need the armor gain from the Project.
I want to be the guy winning the board with creatures. My creatures are in good shape to multi-trade against most of what is out there in the meta right now. Brawl is too passive.
Yes, I'm serious. If you find yourself having to Archivist early to avoid bombs, then this is an option to put a second one in your deck to fight the fatigue game as well. So far, I have not needed to use this particular tech, but I'm including it here to note that this is the next level in anti-fatigue play.
This deck is very slow and methodical when it needs to be, and very aggressive and tempo-oriented when called for. It does have weaknesses. The resurrection Priest deck and the Khadgar summoner Mage can make you wish you had played Brawls.
If you start seeing a lot of those, by all means, change it up. But if the meta continues to have a glut of Rogue, Warrior, and aggro variants, this seems to be a well-targeted list.
I like the analysis
How do u beat token druid?
First and foremost, I'm really glad to see viable Dragon Control Warrior list popping up, this one seems to have lots of potential!
There's couple things I'd want to ask however:
1. Why Scaleworms over Militia Commanders? They're both primarily used for effecient trading, but Commander doesn't require a trigger. Of course Scaleworm leaves a more threatening body behind, but getting in that 2-for-1 is the primary objective, right?
2. Weapons Project vs Ooze, how often do you get the Shield Slam synergy off of it? And giving a 2/3 weapon to token druid is bit dangerous, no?
3. Every time I've tried running Ysera in my C. Warrior it's always felt too slow and ends up sitting in my hand, especially since you're very likely to grab expensive dragons from 2x Dragon Roar anyway. I'm liking War Master Voone much more for value generating, I'm surprised you didn't even mention it in omitted cards.
I'm currently trying out this list with these specific changes:
- 1x Ysera
- 2x Scaleworm
- 2x Firetree Witchdoctor (I really like these, but I'm using too few Dragons to make 'em reliable T2 play)
- 1x Omega Devastator (don't have it yet, simple as that)
- 2x Weapons Project
+ 2x Town Crier
+ 2x Acidic Swamp Ooze (better tempo vs non-weapon classes imo)
+ 1x Baleful Banker (I'm using more card draw, so I want the Elysiana bounce/shuffle vs fatigue)
+ 2x Militia Commander (replaced Scaleworms for consistensy & draw from Criers)
+ 1x War Master Voone (Ysera's "replacement")
I know it alters the deck quite a bit, but I'm having tons of fun & success with it :)
So, because you're still using just one Shield Block, you'll have to make up your own mind on the Shield Slam thing.
I'd say more often than not, I'm holding the projects for weapon destruction, but the times when I use it to fuel the Slams are out-and-out lose-the-game-unless emergencies. So, few and far between, but important nonetheless.
I started with War Master Voone. How can you not? It's awesome. He was removed for the Omega Devastator, so if you don't have that, it makes sense.
I went with the Scaleworms specifically because I didn't run Town Crier. I think you are on the right track in that you are either going o run Firetrees or Town Criers, and if you go with the Criers, then there are several arguments for the Commanders. I can't overstate enough, however, that one or two extra draws can be the difference in the mirror matchup fatigue game.
Baleful Banker is becoming more and more popular. After the tenth game where we both went 20 cards into fatigue, I actually considered removing the Archivist/Baleful and the Scaleworms in order to put in the Mecha'thun package. It's surprising how often you can just draw your deck and play out the OTK. I haven't gone this route, because it's hard to fit the Mecha'thun and dragon packages in the same deck, but it's always worth considering.
If you are going to take out Ysera, you certainly need to pivot away from Firetree and Scaleworm. It is remarkable how the numbers change from 7 dragons (inc. roar) to 6 with regards to how often you'll have one in your hand. You also have to be VERY hesitant to play your final in-hand dragon.
Good luck.
i like ur changes, ill try them. What rank are u at?
I'm sitting at Rank 5 rather comfortably :)
It's always possible to lose vs Token Druid if your early draws suck, but otherwise I've been having fair success with it (small sample size, but roughly 65% WR so far).
Fun deck! I always seem to get Emeriss from Dragon Roar. 8/24 Ysera has no answer.
Yeah, Emeriss does seem to show up quite a bit. If you manage to get the turn to play him, the game is usually over, but I still find myself praying for more Roasters and Emberscales out of the Roars.