Hearthpwn

THE NEW BOAR CAN HAVE HIS PLACE IN THE GAME NOW!

Hey guys, I'm Kurma, an old Hunter-non-face deck creator from this site. I've been working on this new deck for quite a while (because creating decks is the only fun I have in HS today), and turns out it feels very OP-ish, so I'm here to share with you guys this list before I get easy legend with it. 

Turn 7 seems OP.

I would say, though, initially, that this is a complex deck that requires experience to make the best decisions. In almost every game you will notice a lot of things you could have done in other way, and may have been better. Even me, after playing a lot with it, find myself thinking all the time about the different plans that could have been done. So reading my suggestions may help you a lot with learning the deck.

GENERAL IDEA:

As you might imagine, it revolves around getting the tools to sacrifice 7 Elwynn Boars, so you get the badass Sword of a Thousand Truths (here, in other words, you win).  

One funny thing about this deck is that it is literally impossible to lose against Quest Control Priest. Literally.

KEY CARDS TO UNDERSTAND THE DECK:

Devouring Swarm: Your main goal is to use this on at least two boars. Against aggro, you can use this on Armor Vendor or Spammy Arcanist.

Resizing Pouch: The main reason of this card is to give you more Devouring Swarms when used at 1 mana. As there are only 4 options of 0 mana cards for Hunter, you will discover this almost all of the time. At worst case scenario, though, you get Serpentbloom, which is useful (with Zixor, Apex Predator, or with one of your boars + Devouring Swarm).

Selective Breeder: Here, the decision making gets interesting. You got three beasts on your deck, so the picking is never random: Elwynn Boar, Zixor, Apex Predator and Venomous Scorpid.
1. Against control or midrange decks, go for the Boar sacrifice strategy. Always get the boars, until you can combo 2 or 3 of them with your Devouring Swarms.
2. Against aggro decks, I would prefer going with either Zixor, Apex Predator - because it can help you with the board until you can turn 5 Spammy Arcanist or turn 6 Beaststalker Tavish, and later maybe Zixor Prime - or Venomous Scorpid, so it can give you some spells to last through the game. But, even in this aggro scenario, there are times that going for the Boar strategy could work. If you have the tools and the health to do the combo and get the sword easily, this is definitely the best plan.

Doggie Biscuit: Flexible card that will help you in cycling through the deck; give your poisonous boys (or any minion you need) rush; trigger your last boar so you can get the Sword; or just help you with some trade you need sometime. This card is so sexy that it will always give rush to the minion that was played in the actual turn.

 Revive Pet: A lot of times you will prefer the 1-health boars, because they die easily (Spammy Arcanist likes it) and are weak, kindly letting other boars die with Devouring Swarm too.

Shan'do Wildclaw: Another Boar! Sometimes your boars are really buffed or with rush (sometimes, poisonous), so copying it most of the times is not only useful, but valuable too. Revive Pet and this card are useful to make easily 3 boars on the board, and 3 boars + Devouring Swarm usually gets you 1 or 2 turns close to victory.

Zixor, Apex Predator: This is useful to give you a card that helps you in BOARd control, and can be valuably buffed. With practice, you will feel the best strategy for you in particular games is to flood your opponent with buffed or non-buffed Zixor Primes. 

Dire Frenzy: This is for your boars, obviously. Sometimes, in the particular situation mentioned in the last card explanation, could be very good with Zixor Prime.

Warsong Wrangler: Play this to get and buff your boars, if possible, save it for after Dire Frenzy to get easy 1 mana 6/5 Boars. Sometimes, though, in some games against control decks where you just have a lot of Devouring Swarm already in your hand, you might prefer to keep your boars weak (max buff to 3/2 boars). In these games, you will get the Sword of a Thousand Truths very early.
There will be games, though, especially agressive ones, that you will prefer to use this on  Zixor Prime(s), and it will be right to play this particular way.

Spammy Arcanist: Very good to help you with aggro, and boars will most of the time help it's effect. It can kill all your boars when you need it, too, so it is also useful in slower matches. Very useful against paladin/druid boards.

There will be times that you will get the Sword very early, if playing correctly.

GENERAL MULLIGAN IDEAS

Against fast decks: always fish for Spammy Arcanist. Keep Armor Vendor, Tracking, Devouring Swarm (for cleaning and getting your minions back), Selective Breeder, Venomous Scorpid, Zixor, Apex Predator and Rinling's Rifle.

Against midrange decks: Keep Tracking, Armor Vendor and Resizing Pouch for turn 1. For turn 2, Selective Breeder or, in his absence, Scavenger's Ingenuity. Keep Venomous Scorpid or Zixor, Apex Predator for turn 3. Don't keep boars. Sometimes I like to keep Dire Frenzy for turn 5 boar.

Against slow decks: For turn 1, Tracking, Resizing Pouch. Keep Devouring Swarm: as it is a slower match, you can manage to fish for your combo parts, instead of caring about the board control in the beginning of the game. You can even keep one Elwynn Boar if the hand is good. For turn 2, only fish for Selective Breeder. For turn 3, keep Venomous Scorpid or Zixor, Apex Predator. Sometimes, if I have a good hand already, I keep Dire Frenzy for turn 5 boar, and even Warsong Wrangler.

SPECIFIC MATCH-UPS

Match Against Mage: At mulligan, you can keep one Elwynn Boar and try to fish for the combo parts as fast as you can (in other words, try to get Devouring Swarms, and boars with Selective Breeder). Keep Shan'do Wildclaw as he is also a boar.
The strategy here, for the match, is to keep your boars weak, so you can slam them on your opponent's low sized minions. In this match you are aiming to get your combo as fast as you can.

Against Shaman: If you know the shaman deck can transform your boars too, try to save them in your hand for surprise Devouring Swarm turns. It is very sad when they transform your three 8/6 boars. Keep Spammy Arcanist. 

Against Druid: Keep Spammy Arcanist because of the risk of Aggro Druid. If he is a slow Druid, you won't mind having one in your hand [because he is slow].

POSSIBLE CHANGES

Anti-Aggro Approach: -1 Dire Frenzy +1 Armor Vendor and -1 Shan'do Wildclaw +1 Bloodseeker

Thank you. I will be answering any questions in the comment section. And lastly, I ask you to please give this deck a thumbs up if you liked it. It will be more than enough reward for me making this guide!