[BRM] Stormfrost's GvG Freeze Mage [Updated!]
- Last updated May 10, 2015 (Blackrock Launch)
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Wild
- 12 Minions
- 18 Spells
- Deck Type: Ranked Deck
- Deck Archetype: Unknown
- Crafting Cost: 8460
- Dust Needed: Loading Collection
- Created: 3/21/2015 (Undertaker Nerf)
- Stormfrost13
- Registered User
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Battle Tag:
Stromfrsot#1266
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Region:
US
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Total Deck Rating
123
Hi Guys!!!
So, I honestly didn't expect this guide to get any attention, so much to my surprise when I saw it on the front page! This deck is very similar to Hyp3d's freeze mage list from GvG. His list can be found on this video, and he also goes on to do a series of games with the deck to help show how the deck should be played. In the videos his list is +1 Pyroblast -1 Explosive Sheep.
So for those of you that don't know, Freeze Mage is an archetype based around stalling the game out with high value board clears, (Doomsayer, Flamestrike, and Explosive Sheep) freeze spells, (Cone of Cold, Blizzard, and Frost Nova) and secrets, (Ice Block, Ice Barrier, and Mad Scientist) while you draw through your deck with large amounts of card draw. Eventually you draw into Alexstrasza and your other burn spells.
UPDATE!!!
So I decided to give Emperor Thaurissan and Malygos a shot in fereze mage, and damn am I impressed! These two cards add a lot of flexibility to you end-game, giving you oppurtunities to get lethal without Alex, something that could rarely be said for Freeze mage in the past.
Also, if you guys would like to see a Budget Freeze Mage I can put one of those together for you guys! Let me know if you guys wanna see one.
Side-Board Options:
Polymorph: This one can be subbed in if you get tired of dying to Ragnaros the Firelord. Rag's damage cannot be frozen, and therefore he presents a huge problem. Thankfully, Polymorph turns him into a lovely little sheep.
Antique Healbot/Illuminator: These healing cards can be very useful in aggro matchups if you don't find explosive sheep to be doing enough work. Both cards provide healing that can save you from the persistence of hunter's hero power or the spike from mech mage. They have their upsides and downsides but in general I think the Antique Healbot is better.
Pyroblast: Pyroblast helps in the slower games, especially against classes with life gain. If you find yourself facing lots of priests, paladins, and warriors, teching in a Pyroblast might be helpful, but you might want to consider another deck archetype, as freeze mage does not do well against decks with large amounts of life gain.
Mulligan Guide:
I jokingly say that when you're mulliganing for freeze mage you keep anything that has the words "draw a card" or "scientist" in it, but its actually fairly accurate. If I say to keep card draw in the below sections, I mean keep card draw and Mad Scientist. In most situations, Arcane Intellect does not count as a card draw card in most situations because it doesn't give any minions to soak early damage or trade into your opponents minions. I also prefer to save Bloodmage Thalnos for burn, but against some matchups (matchups with low life gain) this isn't necessary and he can be used to cycle a card.
Mage:
Assume it's Mech Mage, and keep the explosive sheeps if you see them, in addition to Frostbolts and card draw, scientists. Mech mage is a fairly good matchup for freeze mage, especially if your Doomsayer or Explosive Sheep gets Mirror Entity'd.
Thalnos: usually cycle
THE DREAM: Explosive Sheep, Mad Scientist, and Loot Hoarder/Frostbolt
Shaman:
No shaman deck is the same, but this is an alright matchup overall as long as RNGesus doesn't totally hate you and your card draw. Keeping a sheep probably isn't a terrible plan, as it kills totems and other small shammy drops, butHaunted Creeper makes sheep much weaker.
Mulligan for Card Draw and maybe sheep.
Thalnos: Usually cycle
THE DREAM: Explosive Sheep, Mad Scientist, and Loot Hoarder/Frostbolt
Paladin:
Thankfully most paladin decks I've run into these days are running less healing than the healadins of old, and this matchup has become a little better as a result. Archmage Antonidas may be necessary to create enough Fireballs to cut through a Lay on Hands or Guardian of Kings. Explosive Sheep is important here to kill the dudes, so I would keep one in the opening hand if I saw it. If yu find yourself up against a lot of paladins I may suggest subbing in a Polymorph, as Tirion Fordring can be annoying to deal with safely in some situations.
Thalnos: burn or cycle, depends on when you draw him. If I draw him turn 8, I'd probably save him until burn, but if you get him on turn 2 then just use him to cycle. Don't keep him in the opening hand.
Mulligan for card draw and sheep.
THE DREAM: Explosive Sheep, Mad Scientist, and Loot Hoarder/Frostbolt
Hunter:
This guy was the reason that freeze mage was bad before GvG! (actually just Flare) Now its time we get our revenge! Hunter isn't too badof a matchup, unless you get very unlucky. Explosive Sheep is powerful here, keep it in the opening hand. Don't be afraid to Alex yourself to heal; Hunters usually won't be able to remove her, and you can just repeatedly smack his face until he dies.
Warrior:
This is the tough one. To be honest, this match up probably isn't worth your time playing. Warriors build up armor, and lots of it, and freeze mage just doesn't have the damage to get through the armor that warrior has. If you do decide to play it, mulligan for the usual, but sheeps are not helpful here.
I usually concede when I see warrior, but if you're feeling lucky you can give it a shot.
I have all cards except the legendary cards in this deck, and I have 1600 dust, so which legend should I craft?
Archmage Antonidas or Malygos?
I don't have Alexstrasza, Bloodmage Thalnos or any Doomsayer. Is there still a way I can use this deck?
I was thinking about putting back the second Loot Hoarder, both Explosive Sheeps, and something like Nefarian or Chromaggus, which would also maybe let me place somewhere Blackwing Technician and/or Blackwing Corruptor. What do you think?
This isn't a dragon deck, its a freeze mage, and the issue with freeze mage is that Alextrasza is very, very vital. Nowadays its fairly easy to win games with Malygos + spells, but not nearly as safe as you would be with Alezstrasza.
My recommendations would be + Loot Hoarder +Fireball + Blizzard +Flamestrike.
On the other hand, if you want to try a dragon mage with Malygos, try something that looks more like a typical dragon control mage but addin Ice Lances to be used with Malygos. Freeze mage is too narrow of an archetype for dragon cards.
Hope that helped!
Stromfrost
Too many matchups are unwinnable unless you draw alex... I feel like you have to agressively mulligan for her. Seems like 25% of my games shes in the bottom 5-10 cards of my deck.
I would agree, but Freeze mage is designed to draw through the majority of you deck as soon as possible. Usually you end up with Alex in time, and occasionally you don't and those are games you either hope to make enough Fireballs with Antonidas, or you just lose. (sad, but most decks have games that are unwinnable right?)
That's true. I actually modified the deck and added in Emperor in place of an Arcane Intellect. Maybe I shouldn't have done that. The Emperor basically acts as a "Gain 5 life and 1-4 innervates". He dies almost every time the following turn, soaking 5 damage, and allows you to do some crazy things with archmage/alex. Thoughts on Emperor?
Yeah Intellect is not a good card to drop, card draw is exceedingly important, and AI is very good card draw. I have mixed feeling about Emperor, and haven't bothered to sit down and test him. Maybe that will be my project for tonight. I think that in some situations, he will open up combos that may very well be game winning, but in other situations he will simply reduce the cost of cards that don't need to be discounted. The more I think about it though, the more I think he might work. I'll do some experimenting and get back to you!
My one worry is finding a turn where you can play Thaurissan AND some ability to prevent you from dying
The Novice Engineer vs. Loot Hoarder debate is pretty interesting. I find that it is highly dependent on when you draw the card. Early game, Loot Hoarder is better than Novice because it trades better into things with 2 health, and the fact that the card draw is delayed isn't too important. However, late game, Novice Engineer is better like you said, because of the instant card draw. I find that the 2 attack is worth it for the delayed card draw because of its ability to kill early aggro minions, especially things like Knife Juggler and Shielded Minibot. Early game tends to be where freeze mage struggles the most, and Loot Hoarder helps cover that phase of the game. However, if you find Novice to be better, then by all means use that instead!
Hi Havlen!
I think Healbots are a possible consideration in this deck, as life gain is the key to beating face hunter usually. The only issue I have is that I'm not sure what to take out. You can also experiment with Illuminators, another strong healing card.
Are you using Alex defensively? Normally face hunter won't have a way to kill her and you can hit them with Alex to win the game instead of the standard combos.
I'm of the opinion that Thaurissan doesn't help freeze mage enough to make him worth the slot; the deck is already so optimized that dropping other cards that don't head in the direction that the deck is already going is somewhat inefficient. While he does allow following turns to be much easier, I can't think of too many turns that you have the mana to play him AND a card to help you not die other than turn 9/10, and at that point you should be alexing and killing.
Just my 2 cents. If you find that he's working for you, then go for it! Best of luck!
Stormfrost
I don't have mad scientists, because I only play mage on my 2nd account. Is it worth crafting this deck for me? And what to sub mad scientist for?
Mad Scientist is super powerful in freeze mage, but you should do okay without it. Sub in Novice Engineers to help draw through the deck faster and make sure you get to those secrets. While novice won't play them for you, you have to get to them at some point.
I'm having 0 luck with this deck. Once people know you're playing a freeze mage, they stop playing minions.
I apologize, I'm a little bit confused. If your opponent is not playing minions, what are you dying to? If your opponent doesn't present threats, then sit back and wait for Alexstrasza and the kill combo. If they decide to play threats again, then use standard freeze mage tactics and stall the game until you can use Alexstrasza.
i love this website so much
hi, im missing 1 Doomsayer and Bloodmage Thalnos any tips? i got Kobold for Bloodmage Thalnos, but dont know what to get instead of Doomsayer
I might recommend a Novice Engineer in place of Thalnos, as the cycling is usually more important that the spell power.
The Doomsayer can be replaced by a second Flamestrike.
I think you might be onto something there sir!
Just my personal taste but I like running Wild Pyro.