Hearthpwn

Intro

This deck is similar in structure to Il'gynoth OTK decks, but forgoes the OTK for a stronger focus on Control. For why you may want to do that, please check out the bottom of this writeup!

With the addition of some newer cards (particularly Archdruid Naralex and Flightmaster Dungar), the effectiveness of this deck seems to have sharply increased. Not quite at legend yet this month, but so far I've climbed to Diamond 3 with only 3 losses in all this month.

How to play

In the early game you will kill a few key minions, and use Venomous Scorpid to slow the opponent down.  You will also use this time to start setting up your later game with Archdruid Naralex and Flightmaster Dungar. The important thing is to not panic if they are slowly chipping away at your life. The plan is to get the most effect out of your AoE and lifesteal spells using Mo'arg Artificer and Talented Arcanist, to turn a seemingly bad situation into a good one with little investment, and then to quickly turn the game around using multiple big hitters in quick succession.

Against aggro decks, you will generally want to use Felosophy to copy your  Mo'arg Artificers, as you will likely need to re-heal multiple times before you crush them under the weight of your high-end cards. You will also most likely want to choose Ironforge as your destination for Dungar (life gain).

Against slower decks where life gain isn't as important, it is generally better to aim to copy Illidari Inquisitor with Felosophy and to pick Eastern Plaguelands for Dungar (damage).

Zai, the Incredible is a huge help in slower matchups, usually generating two additional threats that will need to be dealt with. To ensure she gives you maximum value, you should ideally play her immediately after Felosophy or Kazakus, Golem Shaper to ensure there is a huge threat on the right-hand side of your hand.

Against faster decks, feel free to use Kazakus, Golem Shaper for tempo, picking a golem that will help you control the mid-game. Against slower decks, however, picking a 10-mana golem (and then copying it with Zai, the Incredible) is often a better play. You don't win this matchup through mid-game tempo. You win it by playing "must answer" threats turn after turn.

The two main threats in this deck are Illidari Inquisitor and Alexstrasza the Life-Binder. The reason for these specifically is because they can both hit face the turn they are played, which means you are killing your opponent (quite rapidly) at the same time as presenting them with threats that must be dealt with immediately. Aim to keep Alexstrasza the Life-Binder for last, as she is able to push the last damage through if your opponent puts up a taunt wall.

Why this deck?

You may be wondering why Il'gynoth is not in this deck, and the reason is simple: Kazakus, Golem Shaper is simply more effective in all matchups. Il'gynoth is great when the OTK is the prime focus for the deck, but that is not this deck. Too often I would find Il'gynoth in hand with no means of dealing enough damage to my opponent's face to be a good play. I usually would just prefer the life gain itself. When I switched Il'gynoth for Kazakus, Golem Shaper, I saw an instant improvement in the effectiveness of this deck.

And then you may ask "Why play this deck at all when I can just play the OTK deck?" Part of that is down to preference, but this deck does have some advantages over Il'gynoth OTK:

1) It's harder to disrupt. You have multiple win conditions, so cards like Tickatus, Mutanus the Devourer, and Mindrender Illucia are a lot less likely to leave you with no way of winning.
2) Against aggro decks you are a lot freer to use your life gain spells and damage buffers to actually gain life without risking losing your win condition.

On the flip side, it takes more time to actually win, which does mean the OTK deck is actually a bad matchup for this one.