Custt's Legendary Reinforced Face Hunter
- Last updated Dec 14, 2019 (Descent of Dragons)
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Wild
- 18 Minions
- 8 Spells
- 4 Weapons
- Deck Type: Ranked Deck
- Deck Archetype: Face Hunter
- Crafting Cost: 3540
- Dust Needed: Loading Collection
- Created: 12/14/2019 (Descent of Dragons)
- Custt
- Registered User
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- 1
- 5
- 10
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Battle Tag:
N/A
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Region:
N/A
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Total Deck Rating
91
Intro: Custt's Reinforced Face Hunter
I just reached Legend rank with this aggro hunter deck. It took me only a short time - so the win rate is very high. The deck is especially strong against all the Shamans in the current meta. This deck is a Descent of Dragons version of the classic Face Hunter archetype. It does not seem to be used yet by anyone - according to hsreplay. The deck is relatively cheap and contains several cards that are hardly used.
Beating the Benchmark
A Face Hunter disregards board control and focuses on going face. The aim of a Face Hunter is to win by Turn 7. That means you have 28 mana to do 30 damage (29 mana with the coin). When constructing a Face Hunter deck I therefore look for cards that ensure to do at least 1 damage / mana. For example that means I rather use a card like Wolfrider than a 3/4 minion for 3 mana.
How to play the deck
To reach lethal by turn 7 it is crucial to plan ahead and spend all of your mana every turn. It is also important to use your hero power every turn. Otherwise you will run out of cards very quickly. Your mana curve will then look something like this:
Turn 1: 1-drop
Turn 2: Hero Power
Turn 3: 1-drop + hero power (a 3-drop might be used as alternative but is not preferable)
Turn 4: 2-drop + hero power
etc.
When you have several choices it is often best to play the slower cards first. That means you save the chargers and especially the ranged attacks for turn 6 or 7.
While playing, keep track of how you're doing compared to the 1 damage/mana benchmark. For example, after turn 5 your opponent should be at or below 15 health.
The cards
Leper Gnome: ensures at least 2 damage for 1 mana. Good play for turn 1 or 3.
Stonetusk Boar: I often get questions from people who are surprised I use it. Piggy meets the benchmark and is also a cheap way to power up Kill Command or Headhunter's Hatchet. Play it at turn 1, 3 or combine it with Kill Command as a finisher.
Toxic Reinforcements: many people think this is a bad card and too slow. But it is in fact the star of a Face Hunter deck as it does at least 6 damage for 1 mana and we don't care about early board control. Should be played at turn 1 or 3. Toxic Reinforcements in your starting hand is an almost certain win!
Worgen Infiltrator is a great 1-drop to start the game with. When played early it hardly gets countered or blocked and often reaches the face twice. Beats the benchmark.
Explosive Trap is crucial card. It is there to keep Shaman swarms and aggro decks in check and at the same time it contributes 2 damage to the face.
Kobold Sandtrooper is a nice addition to Leper Gnome. Beats the benchmark by doing 3 damage for 2 mana.
Phase Stalker + hero power is the ideal combo for turn 4. Having this in your deck means you consistently get the crucial Explosive Trap into play. Also, it's a beast.
Headhunter's Hatchet and Eaglehorn Bow are star cards as they beat the benchmark when swinging twice. Can be powered up by a secret or beast to swing even 3 times.
Ironbeak Owl is here to remove taunts as well as lifesteal minions. It can also be used to counter dangerous cards like Hench-Clan Thug or Questing Adventurer before they spin out of control. And it's a beast.
Jungle Panther is the 3 mana version of Worgen Infiltrator. He beats the benchmark when connected to the face. Play him on turn 5 or 6 to combine him with Kill Command next turn as a finisher. I replaced Animal Companion with the Panther as the Panther is more stable. While Huffer is fantastic, Leokk can cost you the game and Misha does not ensure damage to the face.
Unleash the Hounds, Explosive Trap and Phase Stalker are the trio of cards that make you consistently beat aggro decks and Shamans. Mulligan it when facing a Shaman. The Hounds are also a great finisher.
Wolfrider is a solid card that does exactly what you pay for: 3 face damage for 3 mana.
Lifedrinker is one of the few cards in this deck that does not meet the damage/mana benchmark. The good thing about this beast is that it gives range damage to the face. Lifedrinker + Kill Command is a good finished on turn 7 that passes taunts. The healing can sometimes be useful when racing other aggro decks.
Leeroy Jenkins is the ultimate finisher and should be saved for lethal. If it does go to turn 8 Leeroy can be combined with Unleash the Hounds for a huge amount of damage.
Custt,
First off, I want to thank you for this deck. It literally was my first experience with hunters (had previously sworn them off), and it has brought continued success. I've since adapted a version of it for the current "standard" season (June 2020) and made it to Platinum. Secondly, I have two questions for you now that the deck is "wild":
1. With all cards open for play in "Wild", would you make any substitutions?
2. Do you have any thoughts on cards such as Play Dead and/or Feign Death? I've experimented with these cards in particular to varying degrees of success, pairing them with Kobold Sandtrooper and the Toxic Reinforcements quest proc, respectively (substituting a Headhunter's Hatchet).
Again, thank you and for those considering this deck, it functions like clockwork. Exceptional ease of use for entry-level or returning players, and has enough bite for experienced players as a fun way to hammer out some quick games.
Regards,
Madwick
Here's a link to a really incredible game I just had again using Toxic Reinforcements & Feign Death vs. a Priest, in case you're interested.
https://hsreplay.net/replay/Q4WyQ6Rm3Rdgk5jyuqrkpW
I've been using this deck the last few days and have noticed that Toxic Reinforcements gets drawn so infrequently that I want to cut it from my deck. I'm talking drawing it once every 10 full games infrequent.
Has anyone else noticed Toxic Reinforcements not getting drawn?
Same for me tbh I never draw it and it's sad because I'm not an experienced player so I lose against most classes if I don't draw it early.
Shaman is retarded 8 mana 5 hp -> 21
Galakrond is stupid two 8/8 storms and a 5/2 claw yes very nice
Nice budet deck. Good for idiots who don't appreciate the game and don't know how to play. Fuck you all.
Nice budget deck, good for farming gold but there are so many priests right now, it's impossible to get past their taunts and heals most time and they can resurrect them or have reborn.
The annoying priest deck I see everywhere:
https://www.hearthpwn.com/decks/1325222-rank-3-legend-70-winrate
Did a quick sample run of 10 games with this deck. Went 7-3 with it. 5 wins were there at turn 7, 2 at turn 8 (because Zilliax healed). Both times Zilliax popped, I had an Ironbeak waiting for it. Won with 1 health remaining in a mirror match.
Losses were to:
Pirate Warrior (He just outfaced me, would have died next turn)
Anubis Rogue: He Anka'd/Necrium bladed his Anubis and then popped like a 12/15 Zilliax
Paladin: Not sure what Archetype he was, but he used Kangor and then healed for 8 the next turn. I just gave up because my hand was not optimal.
Gonna continue playing because man it's super easy to play, and fun. Rank 9 currently.
Would love to see some mulligan strategies for this deck, particularly including when you have the coin!
hi RDarkfire,
My mulligan strategies:
- Keep 1-drops. You generally want to play a 1-drop in both turn 1 as well as turn 3.
- Keep Eaglehorn Bow. This weapon is one of your best cards as it does at least 6 damage for 3 mana. Use it on turn 5. Play it on turn 3 if you have a Phase Stalker or trap for turn 4 - to earn an extra swing with the bow.
- Keep Phase Stalker. Play it on turn 4 + Hero power: great value.
- With the coin: keep two 1-drops and play them both on turn 1. That early in the game it is unlikely your opponent can remove them both so chances are that at least one of them will hit the face twice, creating some additional value.
- When you might be up against an aggro or swarm deck, keep explosive trap or unleash the hounds - these cards can swing the game and give you the match.
- When you’re up against another face deck (pirate warrior or the mirror), speed up: play minions on turn 2 instead of your hero power. You might make some efficiënt trades here to take board control. Often the player with the fastest start wins the match in these cases.
I hope this helps you out.
cheers,
Custt
Thanks a lot for the reply! Appreciated.
To put it lightly... I've been having an absolute BLAST with this deck! It's so well put together and calculated, and it's really surged some life back into my love for Hearthstone. I love the fast-paced nature of the deck, how every card has a specific role, and how everything just synergizes and fits together perfectly. Play The Coin, Phase Stalker, and hero power on turn 3 for some SERIOUS value. I even went so far craft Leeroy Jenkins after I tried to sub him with a Reckless Rocketeer and lost a match by 1 damage.
I showed it some love by covering it on my channel, if you have a few minutes and want to see the deck in action and hear me break it down a bit, you can do so here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eE8DFvzZE3o&list=PLVMQqFJABF9YRW_P2xlIB-9G5FZM-gljM&index=2&t=0s
Seriously Custt, thanks for this great deck.
Hey Thatius,
Thanks for your great review and your nice video! Loved every minute of it. Enjoy!
Custt
Face only is the legendary way only. At least for me!!
Great Deck!
Thank you for the deck, I think it's more refined compared to the other versions. Rank 9 to Rank 5 in just a few hours. Won like 80% of the mirror matches and the only problem I had was quest priest.
fun
why face hunters are not using animal companion?
I believe it's because it's not as reliable as other alternatives when trying to get guaranteed damage to the face. If you get the Piggy, that's great, and you could get some serious value; but you also have a 2/3 chance of getting either Misha or Leokk, both of which don't serve your "go for the face" purpose as well.
I'm using a bit different list and it feels more refined both for ladder and tournament play within current meta:
### SMOrc
# Class: Hunter
# Format: Standard
# Year of the Dragon
#
# 2x (1) Arcane Shot
# 2x (1) Blazing Battlemage
# 2x (1) Dwarven Sharpshooter
# 2x (1) Leper Gnome
# 2x (1) Timber Wolf
# 2x (1) Toxic Reinforcements
# 2x (2) Explosive Trap
# 2x (2) Kobold Sandtrooper
# 2x (2) Phase Stalker
# 2x (2) Snake Trap
# 2x (3) Eaglehorn Bow
# 1x (3) Ironbeak Owl
# 2x (3) Kill Command
# 2x (3) Unleash the Hounds
# 2x (4) Lifedrinker
# 1x (5) Leeroy Jenkins
#
AAECAR8CogKvBA6oAscDyQTeBJIF7QbbCf4M7/EC86cD+a4D+68D/K8DhbADAA==
#
# To use this deck, copy it to your clipboard and create a new deck in Hearthstone
I haven't really climbed much, but I've gone 20-17 in roughly an hour. Gotten a bit unlucky to run into a Taunt Warrior and three other Face Hunters that have different builds. But this can outrun Quest and Galakrond Shaman, just need to hope you get cards on tempo.
Mulligan aggressively for one drops. Keep Leeroy if you have a one drop, doesn't matter if it's the Worgen, Leper Gnome, the Boar or the Sidequest.