Hearthpwn

Elemental Hero Power Mage

-Galakrond's Awakening-

Galakrond's awakening is bringing some new life to hero power mage!  Arcane Amplifier just released and I've created a hero power/elemental combination, along the lines of minion mage with the bonus of using Mountain Giants, which are also elementals.  Fun & effective so far!

Out of 58 matches total, mixed casual/ranked. It's been a few months since I last got into HS so I'm playing at Rank 14 but I've been playing for years, usually between Legend and Rank 5.

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I found an Italian HS Streamer Poly playing this deck through HSReplay- super nice guy played the older version (- amalgam/zilliax) and posted a video for those looking to see the deck in play: (Thanks!)

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UPDATE 2/3/20:  I'm glad this deck is getting some traction and people are having fun with it.  I added a card breakdown/general mulligan and plan to add class specific notes when I can.

The most recent change was to remove 2X Arcanosaur :( since it wasn't really pulling it's mana cost.  We replaced it with 2X Nightmare Amalgam and a Zilliax to replace the 2 lost elementals and the amalgams have synergy with both elementals and act as a mech to magnetize Zilliax for heals which we didn't have before.

I also added an Italian streamer, Poly's video clip to show the deck being played!

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DECK GUIDE: WIN CONDITION/PLAYSTYLE

This is a midrange minion mage variant.  You're looking to stick big threats (Mountain Giant, Animated Avalanche, Jan'alai, the Dragonhawk, Siamat) and get big damage with these + Fireball finishers, 2 of which you often will have in hand near Turn 8 for 12 damage. 

Recover early-mid game board control using Arcane Missiles, Spirit of the Dragonhawk + Hero Power buffs (Arcane Amplifier + Daring Fire-Eater, a surprisingly effective combo which auto-activates Jan'alai in most cases). Cheating out minions early (Elemental Evocation) can lead to big pressure or control. 

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 SUBSTITUTIONS

I would suggest Voodoo Doll if you need spot removal

Scorch to help bring minions down into pingable range or just remove for cheap/make handspace (beware specters draw risk)

Sunfury Protector on giants or other beefy minions as anti-aggro

Zephrys the Great since there is a lot of draw and he is also an elemental. 

Teching 1X Spellbreaker might not be a bad idea against taunts and can also be used on Ragnaros the Firelord to allow him to hit face himself.

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GENERAL MULLIGAN

Always: Book of Specters, Mountain Giant (could hard mulligan for Book), Elemental Allies, Elemental Evocation, Daring Fire-Eater.

Vs. Aggro:  Violet Spellwing, Spirit of the Dragonhawk, Daring Fire-Eater, Arcane Amplifier (esp. with Elemental Evocation play on 1).

Vs. Control/Combo:  What do we want? BIG THREATS. When do we want them? NOW.  Mountain Giant, Animated Avalanche, Elemental Evocation, Look to Jan'alai as soon as possible, keep the pressure on them to remove until they can't.  3 dmg pings are great if you can get an Arcane Amplifier early.  Completing the sidequest should help inch you closer to an Turn 8-10 Fireball lethal.

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CARD CHOICES

Draw Mechanisms

Multiple ways to keep a full hand for when you draw that Mountain Giant or need a specific card (ex. need Spirit of the Dragonhawk and have a HP buff card in hand).  Book of Specters is fantastic with only 7 other spells in the deck. It's fairly unlikely to draw a spell, but happens sometimes, not usually more than 1.  Completing Elemental Allies makes playing Book even safer.  Bonfire Elemental usually gets played naturally to keep elemental synergy and has the bonus of 1 draw and the 5/5 body is just fine.

The 1X Elemental Allies sidequest is great- no need for 2 since there's only 7 other spells, some of which you'll natural draw.  EZ to complete and you'll typically tutor a Fireball (finisher), Elemental Evocation (for pressure plays), and a Book of Specters so you can re-fill without fear since most of your spells are already drawn!

Hero Power Synergies

 

Assembling Spirit + either HP buff card makes for a great clear for as cheap as 5 mana (Fire-Eater (or Evocation > Amplifier) > Spirit > Ping) to deal 9 damage. Jan'alai activated.  Important to have against aggressive decks.  I'm sure it's very frustrating for them see Evocation > Amplifier on 1 since any 3 health minion won't survive and they're forced to remove it before they can stick anything below 4 health. It's 5 health is very beefy for a 3 drop- remember the old EVIL Miscreant?  Of course Pyromaniac also fits in this category. Obviously playing Jan'alai is good, better on a clear board so the 8 damage goes face and sets up fireball lethal after they spend their next turn removing Ragnaros the Firelord

Elemental Synergies

 

There are 15 elementals in the deck. You should always have a tribal card for sidequest or to activate the next play.  Rarely should you not have your elemental synergies active. 

Water Elemental's freeze effect is devastating on weapon classes, especially Galakrond Warrior. If you can consistently freeze the face the invokes are useless.  Consider Evocation > Water Elemental on 2 if you think you'll get value.

Your other elementals are bigger bodies that you want to prioritize getting out ASAP.  Siamat and Avalanche can be out on 5, you can try the aggressive Windfury/DS combo if you think they can't handle it.  Giant can be out on 3 with coin and successful Book on 2. 

You can play Violet Spellwing on 1 even if you're gearing up for Giant since it returns a spell to your hand on death.  If you aren't against aggro it's better saved as an activator or cheap quest completer.  

Nightmare Amalgam + Zilliax provide the most heals possible in the deck, which were notably lacking, especially needed against aggro and face hunter.

Remnant of Conjurer Mage

Certainly better than the previous Fire Hawk, it does bring a potentially powerful punch to the party.  Khadgar and Conjurer's Calling go together to create game-winning swings by casting Conjurer's Calling, preferably on a weakened Mountain Giant, Animated Avalanche, and also works great on Arcanosaur's weak 3/3 body to create multiple 6 drops.  The synergy of these cards + Jan'alai (Turn 9 Summon 2 Ragnaros!!) is worth the extra risk of drawing a spell during a T2 Book of Specters. 

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Hope you found the description useful! It's the first iteration of this archetype in GA so I would really appreciate some good feedback and  a +1 if you like the deck.  I'm not sure what else to make an upvote goal for, but I'll add some example matches if I can't get someone to make a video showcasing the deck hehe  :)  Thanks!