[SA] LEGEND 83% Tempo Rogue
- Last updated Sep 5, 2020 (Scholomance Academy)
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Wild
- 18 Minions
- 12 Spells
- Deck Type: Ranked Deck
- Deck Archetype: Tempo Rogue
- Crafting Cost: 9080
- Dust Needed: Loading Collection
- Created: 8/11/2020 (Scholomance Academy)
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Scholomance LEGEND Tempo Rogue
Hello! I'm GamerPanda and I primarily play Rogue, with Tempo Rogue being my favorite archetype of all time. I can't take credit for this list- it was sent to me by another user and HS friend, Reinan23 who modified the original tempo deck idea from the Pro Player Dog. The only modification I made was the addition of Sap.
*LAST UPDATE* After a bit more testing, I observed that the new list wasn't doing as well as the previous, so I have simply reverted back to the 2x Shifty Sophomore, added the 2nd Sap and put Akama back in. This list is one of the top 5 stealth rogue lists on HSReplay at the time of this update and I've taken to using it for laddering again this month. Interest in the deck has dwindled so I probably won't be updating it further unless something big happens- see below statement:
Want to acknowledge that much of the playtesting and editing for this deck was done by Reinan, a madman with 25k+ Rogue wins. If he creates an alternate list (I believe he is running a small weapon package + scorpids), please look to the comments for his updates as I am becoming too busy to keep updating the guides.
KDK VIDEO (Old List)
CrimsonPanda VIDEO (Old List)
LEGEND & WR PROOF (8/2020): Easiest climb of my HS life! Rogue has more options than ever: Aggro, Weapon, Tempo, Miracle, even Burgle.
The deck crushes Paladin and can be aggressive enough to beat out Druid the majority of the time. The only real issue I had during my climb was against the new Face Hunter (2 losses) and other very aggressive decks. But most of the time it was smooth sailing from D8 to Legend.
WIN CONDITION
Like any tempo deck, your goal is to use cheap removal while you develop your own board in the early to mid game, drawing very efficiently with Greyheart Sage and Secret Passage, and then deliver big damage with burst from hand in the form of Ashtongue Slayer, Eviscerate, and potentially other accrued damage cards (from discover or spellburst). Many of your stealth minions will also be able to get face damage in as you remove your opponents board with spells.
Snowball potential from Edwin VanCleef can win games outright. Smart use of Shadowstep is key, with many great targets.
Core Cards (Non-Removal)
I feel like Shadowstep is the key to success with this deck. There are so many options whether it's to fish for another mage spell (Wand Thief provides great removal and damage options- you can even discover dual class cards like Devolving Missiles), repeat Jandice, make an even larger VanCleef, activate a combo card, etc. Just make sure the use provides important payoff or removal.
If you cast Evocation before Secret Passage, you get to keep all of those spells when the hand is returned to you!
We all know Secret Passage is bonkers. Sometimes your hand just isn't that hot, and there's your 2nd chance or it can be used to fish for removal or finishers. You can typically dump a good number of cards, which also helps thin the deck.
With the number of 0 and 1 cost cards, it's usually very easy to activate combos and play multiple cards for a great VanCleef. You generate enough value in most cases that you're not starved for options and if you are you probably have passage for more gas. Coin-Barov on 4 can be devastating, especially if you can Shadowstep her for more next turn.
Core Removal Cards
Backstab has always been good as a combo activator but also is a great keep in the mulligan against most classes with early minions. Despite previously using Flik Skyshiv, re-adding 2x Brain Freeze allows us to more swiftly deal with the growing aggro threats and freeze large minions for a turn so we can ignore it and go in- sometimes that's enough to win! Sap is the primary way we get through taunts and unwanted deathrattles. Against Paladin and Druid you can send those buffed minions back to the hand with a smile and a wave as you push damage. Once they're low enough you'd be surprised how much burst the deck can pull off. Also keep in mind that Shifty Sophomore can produce Coerce, Kidnapper, and Brain Freeze for removal.
Full Stealth Package
Worgen Infiltrator, Spymistress, and Sneaky Delinquent are your early game stealth minions. Delinquent puts another stealth minion in your hand so you won't need to worry about having a stealth minion for Greyheart Sage most of the time. Shadowstep on Sage is usually a pretty good idea as a 4-mana Sprint. Infiltrator Lilian can easily cause 8 face damage, especially when you control her deathrattle and trade to kill the last of the opponent's minions.
Akama and Shifty Sophomore are healthier stealth minions that can withstand Priest AOE and provide value. Akama Prime can actually be useful but the 6-mana pricetag is hard to commit to. Sophomore can provide some great combo cards (Eviscerate, Cold Blood, Hooked Scimitar, SI:7 Agent, Wand Thief, Perdition's Blade (underrated)) but there are some crap options like Shadow Sculptor, Necrium Apothecary, Headcrack (not the worst).
Together they provide draw, value, face damage, or can trade as needed. This is NOT an aggro deck- trading early so we can dominate in the mid game is part of the game plan in many matchups.
FINISHERS
With essentially 13 stealth minions, you'll usually be able to get Ashtongue Slayer's damage to face, be it to kill the opponent or played on 2 on your Spymistress or Infiltrator for a very aggressive start, which is needed against some of the slower decks. Using Ashtongue for a good trade is not a bad play, use it as necessary. Shadowstep for an essential 2-mana Fireball on top of the stealth damage.
Not much to say about Eviscerate. It's your main finisher, but sometimes you just have to use it for removal and in the end that's OK because your stealth minions can put in work.
GENERAL MULLIGAN
ALWAYS: Greyheart Sage, Spymistress or Worgen Infiltrator, Sneaky Delinquent if you have a 1-drop or feel you'll be safe to pass on 1.
VS. AGGRO (DH, Rogue, Hunter, Shaman, Paladin, Zoolock): Backstab and Brain Freeze. I would also keep Sap against Paladin.
VS. SLOWER (Druid, Mage, Priest, Warrior): Ashtongue Slayer if you have Spymistress or Worgen. Trying to push out damage ASAP. Consider keeping Jandice Barov if you have a good early curve.
ON COIN: Edwin VanCleef
SUBSTITUTIONS
Infiltrator Lilian > Maiev Shadowsong or Questing Adventurer
Jandice Barov > Really hard to replace. Questing Adventurer or Maiev. Faceless Corruptor might be OK.
Akama > Hench-Clan Sneak or Burrowing Scorpid.Coerce for more removal.
VS. CLASS SYNOPSES *Updated in Red*
Paladin
Libram/Pure Paladin
One of our best matchups. I've rarely lost to a Paladin with this deck. Your goal is simple- do not allow them to buff by keeping their board clear at all times through Backstab, Dagger, and trades if necessary. If they can't buff, they have to hero power and waste 2 mana to apply their buff. Then you Sap and/or Flik their giant taunt or minion away as you push damage face. Sap eliminates Libram of Wisdom which is nice and Flik is best against Libram of Hope or Devout Pupil. If you keep up the damage they won't even have time to apply enough buffs to put down Devout Pupil for cheap. Beware of opening your board up to a Consecration wipe as some lists are running 2x.
Not seeing a lot of Paladin recently, which is definitely one of if not our best matchup. Don't need to add any new information, game plan is the same and you'll rarely see Murloc Paladin which your Backstab/Brain Freeze will be essential for. Even though it's aggro it's still quite winnable as long as you are in control before Tip the Scales takes over.
Warrior
Big/Bomb Control Warrior
Most Warriors are playing control style right now and this can be a very hard matchup, one of the worst imo. Since they have both armor gain and removal that often goes through stealth, we can get hit hard. Try to play around Bladestorm by keeping a 1 health stealth minion on board with other minions (not 1 health) that you want to protect. They're then forced to Coerce or Brawl to remove a big threat like Edwin or Questing. If you're able to keep their armor down, they may not be able to Shield Slam, but they could always Shield Block first, which sucks.
When playing minions, watch out for Reaper's Scythe- positioning something like Worgen inbetween your higher health minions can help protect one or force him to facetank damage.
Infiltrator Lilian is an important card in this matchup as Warrior removal usually doesn't involve them putting their own minions on the board until the late game. She can get 4 to face naturally, then if she is brawled that's another 8 you can push if Forsaken Lilian isn't removed.
If you Secret Passage into Bombs, the Bombs do not explode, they just take up a spot in your hand.
Like the Priest matchup, you're sometimes at the mercy of what clears they have. Present a board without over committing- make sure you can refill next turn if they have an answer and when they don't, you have to make your push.
Bomb Control Warriors are still the main threat. No change needed here, I still consider this an unfavorable match-up but not auto-concede.
Warlock
Galakrond/Pain/Zoolock
Really don't see a lot of this personally, even at the guide update. Warlock has a lot of answers that go through stealth, so the control variants are going to be around the same difficulty as Warrior.
Very similar idea in that you can present threats with a backup to draw or present a new board and see if they've got an answer. Accruing face damage spells can really help close things out from 15 or so health as they won't expect it. Their heal mainly comes from Aranasi Broodmother in Quest and Nether Breath and Soul Fragment more commonly, but not much you can do about this except Flik the Broodmother and accumulate as much burst as possible.
In terms of difficulty, Control Warrior and Warlock are on similar levels. The more aggressive pain/zoolocks should be manageable so long as you get your Backstab/Brain Freezes for removal. They'll beat themselves up low enough in the pain version that you'll be able to push lethal through stealth.
Still not seeing a lot of Warlock. No update needed. Control version is still unfavorable like Warrior but not an auto-concede. Should do better against Zoo/Aggro with the new list.
Demon Hunter
Aggro/Tempo and Control DH
Aggro/Tempo DH plague is still around. We generally lose to extremes- very very aggro or very very control and DH only exists in extremes. If you're up against the heavily aggressive version you really need to bank on your removals and early minions or you're in trouble. Brain Freeze used to help quite a bit in this matchup so if you're seeing lots of this, I'd recommend putting Brain Freezes back in. This match will probably be decided by around Turn 5 based on what removals and minions you're able to put forth.
Overall aggro is not the worst matchup, you have a lot of low cost options and draw, so it's probably more of a 50/50. DH isn't as popular as it was in my experience so far, so this shouldn't be seen all that often.
Control DH is absolutely abysmal to go against. They have plenty of stealth-reaching AOE and massive heals from Aldrachi Warblades and attack buffs. They clear your stealth boards and continuously smack you in the face with weapons and heal back up. I included a loss I had in the replays below so you can see it. Like Priest and Warrior, you're at the mercy of their clears and need to strike when they show they can't clear anymore.
Seeing less Tempo and more Control DH but on the whole is still not too common. Akama and Shifty Sophomore can survive the 3 damage AOE to push damage but still a challenge with all their healing and clears. Like other control decks, one inability to clear your board can be the opportunity you need to win.
Hunter
Highlander& Face Hunter
Highlander is probably less of a threat but can still draw nuts on you. Normal gameplay and try to play around Rotnest Drake if you have a big boy on board. Outside of Zephrys, he's got rush minions and he'll have to trade everything into a Edwin or Questing. I think we're pretty favored here if you play the deck on curve/normally.
Face Hunter on the other hand is almost an auto-concede. It's too much damage too quickly. If it turns into a face war we probably won't win unless we can clear efficiently as we push. Discovering Ice Barrier is very helpful but may not be enough. Getting a big Edwin might be one of the only ways to ensure a win here. There is a secret face hunter version going around as well that is a little more mid, which we do better against.
Doing better against Face Hunter with the 2x Brain Freeze back in the deck. Great against buffed Wolpertinger and other minions they barf out. Saving HP in the early game through trade/removal can lead to a mid game victory. I think we're still unfavored, but not as heavily as before.
Priest
Highlander Galakrond
Priest is definitely improved since the last expansion. I find the matchup to be dependent on what clears they draw. Don't put a huge stealth board into Breath of the Infinite or a potential Holy Nova and try to bait inefficient removals.
Akama and Shifty Sophomore can survive most Priest AOE and are thus valuable in this matchup.
Jandice Barov has a decent shot at making 4 attack minions and Lilian can also be a great card in this matchup since they usually don't run silence and will have to take 4-12 damage off of it if they're spending their turns removing and not developing.
Not too concerned about Cabal Acolyte and Cabal Shadow Priest your minions are usually 3 attack and the only big thing worth taking would be an Edwin through Wave of Apathy. If they do, you can Sap or Freeze it if it's a real threat or ignore and go face.
It's definitely one of those 50/50s but feels bad to play against every time. You have the damage but need to test for removals and not over-commit on turns where they could get a full wipe. Of course, if they don't draw the clears, you'll be favored.
Still feeling the same about Priest. No change needed. Not fun but winnable.
Rogue
Aggro Stealth / Face / Mirror
A lot of Rogues are playing hyper aggro. I find this playstyle unappealing but it does well against us as we lose to extremes. We can be aggressive too but have to try to conserve health as much as possible. Another match where Backstab, Brain Freeze and trades are important since we don't want to facetank if we can avoid it. Winnable but we have no way of getting through stealth without discovering something so we're taking that damage if they want to deliver it face. Discovering AOE off Wand Thief or a Frostbolt for the opponent's face can help stall for a turn. Discovering Frost Nova can win the game in this match if they can't push their stealth minions forward for a turn.
If you're seeing a lot of Warrior and Rogue, consider teching Acidic Swamp Ooze in place of a Shifty or Akama.
The mirror is something I have played a little of but will be just dependent on who has the better draw, who gets their Greyheart Sage off and can make the best tempo play. Who gets Jandice on 5? Who has The Coin? Going aggressive can be good since Rogue has no heal.
Face Rogue is still a menace. Discovering mage cards can be essential, as is drawing your removal pieces to conserve health. Going too long will result in a loss as almost all of their cards are damage dealers. Try to remove without trading if possible so you can twist their arm into spending resources to remove/trade rather than go face, but it's hard for them to go against their smorc instinct.
Shaman
Totem & Spell Damage Shaman
Pretty rare to see. You should have plenty of tools for removing their totems. Trade into them if necessary. As in the Paladin matchup, give them no totems to work with and you will be able to naturally turn the tide. We should be very favored here.
Spell Damage can be tough but still favored. They can't hit your stealth minions unless they run Lightning Storm (but now they run Molten Blast in it's slot). Sap their Squallhunter and use your trades and removals on the smaller pieces, then push for face damage before they can draw and cast all their damage spells.
Beware of Ras Frostwhisper- if you can't answer it, it will auto-kill a lot of your stealth minions and put you in a bind.
What is Shaman? I haven't seen a Shaman or Warlock in a while. No change needed- we should be favored against any type, with control variants being a little trickier.
Mage
Mozaki/Spell Damage & Highlander
Generally feel that we are favored vs. both Mage decks, especially Highlander since it starts off fairly slow and you can get pretty good damage in, force pings as you continue to build. Spell Damage mage can play a lot of minions out for pretty cheap. Use your backstabs on Sorcerer's Apprentice trade into the Lab Partner. Keeping their spell damage down will slow them. If they manage to Mozaki, Sap it and it loses all it's power. They're usually dead from there but can put up a good fight. Super RNG feels bad though.
Seeing same mage decks but usually come out on top. No changes. Should do better against spell damage with the brain freezes back in.
Druid
Guardians & Maly Druid
These are really the primary Druid deck I've encountered, though I've seen some Token decks. I think we're more favored after the Kael'thas nerf but an early Animals or crazy ramp can still make life hard. Early on we want to be as aggro as possible so they're unable to play the ramp cards they want. Seeing them spend 3 on a Bogbeam or hero power a 1-drop are good signs. Preventing them from ramping or seeing them ramp when you have a threatening board is a big part of success. I've seen some insane Turn 2-3 Guardian Animals and it can be tough to come back after that.
Sap I generally try to use for a giant Ironbark'ed Kael'thas Sunstrider or other large minion but can be used on a Teacher's Pet if it helps push good damage. Build up early, push through taunts without trading if possible, and try to close out as soon as possible. If it runs too long or they ramp too quickly, they're going to overpower you with their Animals and then it might be gg. You're not down and out after 1 Guardian Animals, keep fighting!
As I added above, more favored, seeing less Druid since the nerf. Still hard in certain situations but winnable, similar 50/50 type feeling that I have about Priest, maybe slightly favored now.
REPLAYS: (More to come)
A few from the old list:
Tempo Rogue Mirror (slightly different version)
Control DH (Loss)
Tempo Rogue is back, it's powerful, and here to stay for SA! Any comments or questions please let me know and I will add replays and more updates at +10! vs. class guides at +30 updated replays and guides at +50 not sure what else I can offer but further updates to replays and guides at +80. More updates and replays at +100! Wow! Thanks for your support :)
Run it instead of questing adventurer?
GamerPanda, i think it's worth mentioning that new Control Demon Hunter with Soul fragments and Magtheridon it's getting popular and it's a really really bad matchup for this deck, they have heals, weapons to hit your face, board clears to get rid of the stealth minions and silence for Edwin/Questing #FeelsBadMan .
Yeah I totally agree new Control DH is a terrible matchup. Ooze might not even save us in that one.
Really nice job about the guide!
The deck itself is also very well performing and fun to play.
The rogue theme match so well with the stealth and unpredictability you get from 1 mana discover mage spell and lackeys.
One thing i swapped out,and it was suggested in comments. -Questing + Akama. Reason being not only Akama is another stealth boy who benefits from "stealth lovers" but he also isn't bad to play alone like let's say on turn 3. More often than not i found questing just sitting there dead in my hand and waiting for him to get value.
But overall feels good to beat all these huge,slow value decks :)
I liked this man, I was stuck around D2 playing galakrond priest. Fell all the way to D4. Tried this exact list and ran it to legend with probably 6 losses. It felt so fast to climb with this deck.
Just hit Legend with this deck from 9 diamond. I kept it the same as listed and didn't change a card. The deck has a great feel and is consistent. Hardly ever feel out of a match except occasionally against priest. Thanks for the deck.
Congrats!! I think the deck does really well generally but I've been seeing a LOT of Priests and Druid in Legend and it's very annoying.
Hi GamerPanda.
I love this list you posted and I have made a video deckspotlight for the deck I hope you enjoy.
https://youtu.be/-skQtsUZQpw
Thanks fellow Panda! Honestly when I saw Hunter I thought you were dead if it was face but it wasn't! I think you missed lethal on your last turn backstab trade jandice then go face with the dragon and warden and dagger for 7? Either way you won gg I'll add it to the top in a bit!
Great deck! I made some modification after playing with the original to suit my playstyle: Akama instead of questing, poison instead of brain freeze, SI 7 instead of evil lackeys, maiev instead of flik.
Over all I think its more consistent with a smoother curve from my experience, eg, you get to play akama right away with stealth synergy avoiding questing some time being dead card and Edwin basically fill the same role only downside being you might draw the prime which in most cases is too slow. Si 7 consistent 2 damage, poison kinda of fill the 1 mana 3 damage spot and can go face. sometime in the worst scenario you can just play maiev on curve to keep up the aggression instead of a 6 mana 4-4 being dead, for match up vs classes that play big taunts the two turn dormant is good enough and it doesn't trigger disgusting deathrattle/res.
Thanks for the deck archetype, it helped me greatly.
Hey thanks for the feedback! I am starting to agree that I find questing and Flik kind of lackluster, esp questing even though others say he's amazing. Maiev is a good sub for Flik and Akama is good for questing if you want more stealth minions. Drawback as you said draw prime later probably won't get to play him but maybe you do. It's certainly a more aggressive list you made. Brain freeze is so good I'd have a hard time putting in poison for them... Lackeys can be hit or miss... I will have to try your version out and see how it goes! Do you do better again warrior hunter and priest with it?
Flik Skyshiv is absolutely necessary in my experience there is alot of premium targets she can turn around the game by itself, Maiev Shadowsong is pretty underwhelming only better against hyper aggro but i would play Burrowing Scorpid if i wanted something like that. I do sometimes play with Akama instead of Questing Adventurer and it's fine , akama prime is surprisingly good most of the time for me. also play with Pharaoh Cat instead of Brain Freeze from time to time, 1 drops are underrated in Rogue but at the same time Brain Freeze is such a clutch removal.
Oh lol you just told me this a few minutes ago. I didn't even see this. Seems like the biggest suggestion is to try Cat over Freeze, but you recommend leaving flik and questing and I trust your opinion so I will try it, at least put it in the sub section.
I tried Kayden's list and didn't really like poisons, but actually thought SI:7 was a nice little damage boost. Maiev didn't feel bad to me but I'm going to take Reinan's advice and leave Flik and Questing over Maiev and Akama. If it works out I'll think about changing freezes to cats and maybe miscreant to si but miscreant can give a lot of value so hard call.
With the few losses I have is to hunters, it’s kinda surprising considering the deck deals well vs other aggro. Vs priest you get screwed with hand swap, like most other decks do I suppose. Otherwise it’s rather easy match up even if they have perfect answers to your board, the deck is able to keep up the pressure turn after turn thanks to the resource generations. A particular example I remembered vividly would be a priest thought steal into worgen sage, and got enough resources to clear my board efficiently with a reset with plague( he even got secret passage into card generation into mass dispel into clear my stealth board in one turn) not that I had to but I ended up pyroblasting his stupid face for the win. Warrior is basically the same as priest without hand swap and bullshit steals, their minions are no way near as disgusting as priests, I’ve chewed through two bulwarks two brawls bladestorm clears in one game and still win comfortably. Only class with enough Consistent clears is warlock but they tend to kill themselves at the same time.
With the lackeys I often find myself fishing for the 2damage, then I was like, wait! rogue has a card that do exactly that! Filk can do amazing things, but I do prefer maive in a tempo based deck. I’ve often secret passage into poison for last bit damage, but at the same time maybe it’s what causes hunter to be such a tough matchup.
The problem i had with Brain Freeze and Questing Adventurer is that it gets a bit cluncky to combo all that stuff, the deck is working better for me with Pharaoh Cat and Akama right now. I just helped a friend to get legend today he didn't lost any game from D8 to legend it was really nice, the deck have massive tempo even without Brain Freeze, Secret Passage turns are the most complicated, i highly recommend use decktracker for this deck haha you gotta know what to draw with it and plan from there.
best cards in the deck are Edwin VanCleef ofc, Jandice Barov and lots of people overlook that card but it's so crucial in any matchup Ashtongue Slayer, this card alone farm paladin it's not even funny.
Anyway, the deck is still killing it for me, so smooth and so good i love it.
There is definitely a strong argument for including the cat in this deck, need to try later. For me, the undisputed MVP of the deck is shadow step and secret passage, without them I don’t think the deck would work.
Akama prime is yet to prove itself to me as after turn 6 ppl generally find ways to remove it before it gets to do damage, it would be great if the prime is a 6 mana Leroy, would round up the whole deck so nicely. Akama itself is great considering how absurd stealth synergy can be during early game.
regarding to maiev vs flik, I think flik is A lot better in a controlish deck due to its effect and mana cost, maiev on the other hand, generate immense tempo regardless of what you are facing, without triggering death rattle effects.
Two mana difference can be night and day for tempo rogue in particular, easier to shadow step two taunts, and when pally has a big taunt and the 4-2 divine shield, you get to maiev si7 it on turn 7, allowing the rest of your minions to go face, most of the time the two turn dormant is no different than removing it outright.
I mean there is a very good reason people dont use maiev, ever. It's just not good enough man and i wish it was i even crafted her golden because like most people i thought it would be a 5 star card lol also i really like the character from WoW lore. But she is not even good for hyper aggro Rogue decks since Sap is a card.
I agree most decks should not run Maiev, ever. However in this particular deck she has won me so many games due to tempo alone, even if the dormant card comes back, you have two turns to prepare for it, we all know how much resources/board pressure this deck can generate in this time.
If I didnt have Maiev I would run another sap instead, but Maiev is basically a sap that doesnt give another battle cry with a body that can be shadowsteped if necessary. Shes just too good to be replaced by sap in my opinion.
Made an account on here to tell you how much I love this deck! Returning player, just hit legend playing this deck from D3. Fits my play style perfectly and just super powerful. Actually played a mirror against it on my way up which was interesting, I was lucky to draw into both of my greyhearts. Thank you and props for the great deck-making!
That's so nice of you! Cool that you're seeing others play it too. I wish I could take credit though the original idea belongs to Dog and most of the deviations are from Reinan23. All I did was add a Sap and do the writeup :)