Shadow Council Ft. Plot Twist (Updated)
- Last updated Jan 3, 2021 (Darkmoon Aggro Changes)
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Wild
- 18 Minions
- 10 Spells
- 1 Weapon
- Deck Type: Ranked Deck
- Deck Archetype: Demonlock
- Crafting Cost: 16540
- Dust Needed: Loading Collection
- Created: 4/8/2020 (Outland Release)
- BigCatJan
- Registered User
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- 3
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- 31
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Battle Tag:
psilostrasza
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Region:
EU
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Total Deck Rating
89
I discovered hearthstone in the middle of the Un’Goro Expansion and fell in love with the game as KoFT released. I’ve always loved playing warlock from the insane cards it was given from KoFT and KNC. Utilizing these nostalgic cards, the extremely fresh and fun Plot Twist package and the new demon cards from AOO, a control/midrange demon warlock archetype is generated which feels quite strong. I’ve climbed from gold 10 to diamond 5 with a very competitive win rate, I’d estimate around 60-70% (iPad pleb).
Our main win condition is eventually over powering our opponent with a strong board, with mana cheating achieved by Skull of the Man'ari, Bloodreaver Gul'dan and Fel Lord Betrug ft Plot Twist. The huge demons we cheat out are capable of threatening control/OTK and fending off aggro. As well as the big demon part of the deck, we use classic control warlock tools to preserve life and fend off threats from degenerate wild aggro to great success. The is supported by the ability for big demons to be huge threats but also provide defensive synergies in the deck. [cardShadow council[/card] fits a potentially game winning swing versus control matchups to convert useless removal cards into more threats.
I’ve tried Supreme Archaeology but unfortunately: we cheat out enough mana with Skull of the Man'ari and Voidcaller, losing the extra card at the beginning of the game is too much in wild vs aggro, but most importantly the hero power from Bloodreaver Gul'dan is way better for sustain vs aggro/midrange or burn vs control. I've tried Keli'dan the Breaker but it generally feels very bad for the constantly strong board this deck generates.
Key Card choices:
Shadow Council - Refills the hand with huge threats to cheat out with Skull of the Man'ari versus control matchups. It also converts useless cheap/removal cards into threats. It feels very good as we can often play smaller over statted demons as well as the free summon. Its also fantastic for if we're burning out as all the useless cards in hand create a huge swing turn at 10 mana. *Data in comments* - Credit to ZiombalaBoms for finding optimal usage of the card :)
Kanrethad Ebonlocke - Great to play on curve for stats and acts as a pseudo taunt. This card on 2 into early Voidcaller feels awesome. Although the prime minion can be summoned from Skull of the Man'ari, a free 8/6 is still insane tempo while we miss on value. One of the main reasons the Fel Lord Betrug and Plot Twist package is viable. The prime minion has a light anti-synergy with baby Voidlords but from the number of other big demons in the list it’s no trouble.
Plot Twist - Save at least one copy for Fel Lord Betrug on turn 10. Can be used to cycle to keep our hand fresh with demons for constant threats.
Hellfire - Board clear made viable by its synergy with Lesser Amethyst Spellstone
Lesser Amethyst Spellstone - great heal for the deck for sustain. Provides single target removal for the deck. Remains buffed in deck after Plot Twist has been played.
Voidcaller - facilitates the whole deck by helping cheat out big demons. Rolling a Fel Lord Betrug with a Plot Twist in hand on turn 5/6 is game winning. This is the god play of the deck, it’s happened twice and it feels awesome. Always keep in mulligan.
Skull of the Man'ari - Constantly cheats out big threats so we can utilize our mana protecting our board or developing other minions. Always keep in mulligan.
Aranasi Broodmother - big demon with taunt that facilitates Plot Twist package with healing. Another core card to the decks success but don’t keep in the mulligan.
Enhanced Dreadlord - great new addition to the warlock class, big taunt with lifesteal plus deathrattle synergy with Plot Twist. Lots of hard to deal with stats versus control, but also lifesteal and taunt to defend versus aggro. Very strong card from AOO, its core to the decks success but never keep it in the mulligan.
Fel Lord Betrug - The way this deck generates huge board. Cheating this card out early can be game winning with Plot Twist in hand. It’s most frequently played on turn 10 with Plot Twist. Often we have Skull of the Man'ari by the time this card is played so the large board generated is followed up with huge threats too.
Update 3/1/2021:
Its been a couple of expansions since I made the deck and thought I'd update it.
Removed:
2 copies of Hellfire - too expensive for its value
2 copies of Amethyst Spellstone - not much synergy in the deck following the removal of Hellfire
Added:
2 copies of Cascading Disaster - better removal option than spellstone/hellfire
1 copy of Archwitch Willow - Perfect synergy with the deck
For the last slot, I've experimented with a couple of cards. Demonic Studies has been the best so far.
What's your thoughts on Mo'arg Artificer? Seems like a good inclusion for this deck to me
It seems very strong, particularly with its synergy with Lesser Amethyst Spellstone. I haven’t packed the card yet so I’m yet to try it out, perhaps adding a one of by substituting a Hellfire could be sweet. Have you had any success?
Initially i also thought Shadow Council role is late game hand refill. Altough now i see this card as early game all in card.
With skull in hand, it’s always the turn 5/6 play for spice with no gul’dan in hand. The 2/2 buff was overlooked by a couple of reviewers, it’s serious tempo!
Let me share arguments to play it even faster than turn 6 with skull.
My general recommendation:
without coin, you should tap on turn 2 and play shadow council on turn 3.
With coin, you should play shadow council on turn 2.
How to read below table
(use ctrl + "+" to get 125% view in webbrowser)
Color red example:
You played shadow council on turn 1. You have 0 mana.
You start turn 2 with 2 mana and 3 random demons.
On turn 2 you have 64% chance that at least 1 demonis cheaper than 3 mana.
You were lucky, you played demon. On turn 3 you still have 2 random demons and there is 72% chance that you can play at least one of them.
On turn 4 your last random demon has 64% chance to be played.
Unfortunatelly all 3 events together have only 30% to happen. (not to mention that having specific card on turn 1 is also not common).
Blue color:
You played shadow council on turn 2. You have 1 mana.
you have 6 random demons and there 59% chance that you can play one immidietally.
So there is 50 chance % that you played random demon every turn since seond turn and 85% chane to play every turn since third turn.
These are some serious statistics! Against matchups like Druid, Quest Mage, slower decks which tend to have more control builds Shadow Council for turn 3 tempo is a serious strategy, with it being very strong with the coin. Perhaps we can even out tempo wild aggro decks in the mid/early game, I'm extremely curious to try. Have you had much success?
I play slow control warlock, so i have many anti aggro tools in my core deck.
Vs aggro I play council only, if i don't have proper anti aggro tools in hand. I assume that first aggro turns can be outtempo-ed only by removals, not perfect shadow council mana curve.
Vs non aggro i play council according to my probability table and it enchances winratio greatly. I started hard mulliganning for this card.
Yep I’ve found the exact same, we absolutely farm odd demon hunter and zoo lock with old school control warlock cards. Versus quest mage shadow council has secured the victory many times thanks to your data! Its often played with 4-6 dead control cards in hand but even low-rolling 1 big demon when they’ve used all their removal on the original demons in the list has been enough. Shadow Council has a solid place in the deck, I’m at rank 3 right now and I’m hoping to take this list to first time legend.