[Nuba]Ultimate Priest Deck Building Guide!
- Last updated Jun 1, 2014 (Live Patch 5506)
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Wild
- 18 Minions
- 12 Spells
- Deck Type: None
- Deck Archetype: Unknown
- Crafting Cost: 4920
- Dust Needed: Loading Collection
- Created: 5/28/2014 (Live Patch 5506)
- Nuba
- Deck Architect
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- 11
- 35
- 63
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Battle Tag:
N/A
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Region:
US
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Total Deck Rating
647
Warning: this is NOT a specific deck-related article!
Introduction
Hello Hearthpwn, today I decided to start a new, spread across multiple websites, sequence of articles, these will be about main deck-base, card choices and what all decks must have in common in order to have sucess in the constructed ranked ladder!
The main idea of these articles will be to talk about all the base-cards for different class decks, commenting the other options for the remaining slots and how you should choose these cards, acording to the meta game on whatever rank you are as well as personal preferences!
I had quite some trouble making priest to work, priest has been by far the worst class in the game, and the hardest to make an consistent deck. The reason for that is this word: "situational". A huge number of priest cards are situational, more than any other class has, and a lot more than any of us could take. Now, priest does have some pretty strong cards, such as Auchenai Soulpriest and Northshire Cleric, but these cards arent enough to justify playing the class itself, the only reason you should, currently, want to play priest is a personal taste for the class or its mechanics.
Before moving foward, keep in mind you will read the word "situational" a lot, the main problem with priest is that, most of the times, you will need 2 specific situational cards in order to have a desired outcome, few of the priest cards are good by themselves.
With that being said, and considering you are still reading, it means you either want to understand more about priests, or you are a cold-blood phychopath/masochist and actually want to play the class, doesnt matter what you are, lets start it with the Priest Control/Midrange deck base!
The Deck Base
2x Circle of Healing: an extremelly situational card, that barely does anything by itself. This card works wonders with some priest cards, most of them are also part of the basis of priest deck, the main reason one would play priest is the strong interaction that this card has with the other priest base cards.
2x Northshire Cleric: One of the few really good priest cards, the text for this guy is self-explanatory, sometimes you can combo this guy with Wild Pyromancer and Circle of healing to, after you casted ANOTHER spell, you CoH and draw a LOT of cards, but that only happens a few times, dont count on doing it all the time, this guy is one of the strongest 1-drop in the game regardless, due to the fact it synergizes with the priests hero power generating card advantage.
2x Power Word: Shield: A cycle card, the reason this is used is to try and have the least situational cards as possible by taking 2 slots off of the deck, the +2 Health helps sometimes giving you oportunity for good trades.
2x Injured Blademaster: Make no mistake, this IS a priest card. The fact it is neutral and can be used by other classes do not take away the huge sinergy this guy has with a lot of priest mechanics, you can heal this guy to make it stronger, it enters the battlefield injuried which means it can/should/will be healed, which can give you card advantage with northshire cleric without you even having to interact with your oponent. Keep in mind turn 2 (coin) or 3 Blademaster + CoH is a really strong play and generates a lot of tempo.
2x Auchenai Soulpriest: Another really good priest card, probably the last "good" priest card that isnt situational and doesnt depend on other cards to work. This card, combined with Circle of Healing can clear almost any weenie board, making the combo Soulpriest+CoH a feared one.
2x Holy Nova: A weak sweeper, as well as a good way to heal up your minions. sometimes this makes it so you draw some cards off of your Northshire Cleric, the reason I think this card is bad is because it costs a lot of mana when compared to other sweepers. Yet, since outside of Soulpriest+CoH there is not really other sweeper, so as priests we need to run this.
These are the must-have cards in priest decks, but these are only 12 cards, we are still 18 cards away from having a fully functional deck, let us take a look at the options, and let YOU decide how this priest deck would be best built.
Alternative Cards
Wild Pyromancer: Synergizes greatily with power word:shield, a very situational card and situational combo, nonetheless its a strong one because as said before priest desperately needs sweepers in order to get the game to last longer in match versus aggro decks. This also makes it so all minions in the board takes damage whenever you cast a spell, so if you manage to do that and have a northshire cleric in play, as well as a circle of healing in your hand, you can/should cast that circle in order to draw a huge amount of cards. usually this play define games.
Holy Smite: A less situational removal than shadow word pain, but it also helps you close the gap finishing off injuried oposing minions as well as can be used to deal damage to the oponent himself, finishing him off in some cases. This card has been getting more use than shadow word pain lately.
Crazed Alchemist: Shines when played against Shamans because it can kill unbuffed totems. This card is also used so you are able to hit removals such as shadow words, this can also make it so you are able to skillsteal damaged strong minions with your Cabal Shadow Priest:
Mind Blast: An extremelly situational card that sometimes is used to give priests reach in close games.
Shadow Word: Pain: a situational card, is stronger whenever aggro decks are popular.
Shadow Word: Death: situational card, stronger whenever control decks are popular, keep in mind that both shadow words will always be at MOST a 1 for 1, generating no card advantage thereafter. Still, great removals when presented the right situation.
Thoughtsteal: The oponents cards are usually better than yours, as well as less situational sometimes. Might as well use them! This card is really bad when playing against rogues, and usually weak when playing against aggro. But this does shines when played against Control and Midrange decks, because it becomes a stronger Arcane Intellect.
Earthen Ring Farseer: But nuba, why more healszzszs????? DDD: This guy also sinergizes well with Auchenai Soulpriest. I dont really like it, but some consider this to be a great option.
Shadow Madness: A very situational card. The reason people avoid this is because it is YET another situational card (tadaam) that relies on the oponent having 2 creatures that trade themselves, so you can steal one, attack the other and both die. This card is even more situational than previous priest cards, I dont like it but you can consider using it if you are having trouble with aggro.
Azure Drake and Bloodmage Thalnos: The +1 spellpower helps making your bad-holy-nova into a not-so-bad-holy-nova, the fact they cycle themselves is also a good reason as to why they should be picked. Most people like using Azure Drake because of its instant draw rather than a deathrattle, as well as the stronger body. Nonetheless Thalnos is still a good pick if you are also running smites! And as I like to say: why not both?
Chillwind Yeti and Sen'jin Shieldmasta: You have slots, dont fill them only with situational cards, these guys are always nice to be played, use some of those!
Defender of Argus and Sunfury Protector: These guys are sometimes used here because priests lack taunts. Given the fact you are low on minions I wouldnt use these, altho the flavor can change between players. Make no mistake, sometimes using at least one Sunfury is good enough because you'll have at least one way of having taunts in your deck, but I would rather just use a Shieldmastah.
Ancient Watcher: if you are using Argus and Sunfuries, you might as well use 2 of these guys, I would recommend also running Spellbreakers if you do so.
Spellbreaker: A silence! Nothing else priest has have the ability to silence oposing threats(outside of the horrible card: Silence), so this guy can be a good pick for your priest deck! its less situational than the owl because it has a stronger body.
Holy Fire: A good card, but with a very high cost. Yes, it works as a removal and also heals you, but the fact it costs too much means it will sometimes be the only play in your turn. Given the lack of decent removal and reach, most priests are forced to use 2 of these.
Cabal Shadow Priest: Another really good priest card, to complete the 3 guys I like about priest, the reason I put this here is because even tho this is a really strong card, possibly the strongest 6-drop in the game, it ALSO is a VERY situational card(just like The Black Knight), but whenever it works, it shines. Even when stealing a 2/3 wolf taunt it is a huge tempo swing. I love this card, but I can also see reasons not to use at least 1 of it.
Mind Control: ANOTHER Situational card, when it works it shines, but most of the times it is just a dead card in your hand. The slower the meta is, the bigger are the chances to use this card. Most people tend to avoid using this nowadays because once again: it is yet another situational card.
Strong Legends, such as Cairne Bloodhoof, Sylvanas Windrunner, The Black Knight, Alexstrasza, Ysera, Ragnaros the Firelord, Deathwing and so on: The slower the meta gets, the higher are the chances you will be able to use these cards. You can add any of these, acording to personal taste, eventually if you feel the meta is slow enough and you want to play those.
Other Neutral Tech Cards: Techs are always good, try to figure which techs do you feel more confortable running, such as Faceless Manipulator, Sunwalker, and so on, use your imagination! The sky is the limit(as well as the limit of cards in the game, haha!)!
With an exception of Mass Dispel, that could become useful whenever Naxx hits, I would avoid every other priest card not cited here as they are even worse than the ones I took note right here. Remember techs are always welcome, but in priests case try to aim for neutral cards until we have better priest cards around!
My decklist
Now, for what most of you have been waiting, this is the list that I can give you guys so you can try it out yourselves, the Abomination is a tech that I have not tested yet, but since it is the strongest 5-drop taunt, as well as forces aggro decks to make bad plays, I feel inclined to put it on the list!
The lack of Thoughsteal is justified by not only the meta, but the fact you have alternative card draw mechanics such as azure drake and thalnos.
Alexstrasza gives you a way to get your oponent down to low health if you were behind before, as well as works as emergency heals, I think its a good card for this deck as well as a good card in the meta.
Conclusion
I hope you all enjoyed my first free article since I got hired by hearthable, as said in the introduction these articles will be spread across multiple websites, I will be publishing links to these websites on the free versions of these articles as soon as they are launched! Follow me on hearthpwn so you know whenever theyre up!
PS: Remember if you liked me, and want to watch me playing, make sure to follow me on my twitch page: www.twitch.tv/budabudie
Any try replacing the Shadow Priest with a Mind Control Tech?
I feel like it might be stronger against aggro decks and hand lock.
Can Temple Enforcer replace Cabal Shadow Priest? Because I really don't feel like spending 400 dust on, in my opinion, a meh card I might use JUST to Complete the deck.
And to add, Temple Enforcer can synergize with almost all of the cards in the deck. Such as Wild Pyromancer etc.
My favorite deck is also a Priest deck but unfortunately, not anymore the one I play most often with. I do not have a terrible W/D ratio with it but its just not good enough for the ladder. On the lighter side, I also rarely lose to another Priest with it.
I run it however more minion-oriented.... I must also say sometimes you do not need to run 2x of cards that you feel are not being useful in many situations... For example, I would not recomend running 2x SW:Death (specially since you already are proposing 2x Holy fire) nor 2x Abomination (again with the proposed Soulpriest/CoH combos). And I would hate having 2x Auchenai Soulpriest in your hand at the same time...
Dropping one each of these cards may free space for more, less situational cards.
Anyway, those were my two cents. Thanks for promoting the Priest class, I enjoyed Reading the article.
except for SWD, none of the other mentioned cards are "situational". abom is a tech and soulpriest is just too good.
6/10/2014 1:15:41 PM
if you have one, test it. whenver you have it in your hand think about if you wanted it to be a cabal shadow priest or not.
If you feel like there are many situations where that enforcer would have been better off being a cabal shadow priest, then go ahead and make one.
Really...praise someone for playing Alexstraza and then saying "it's totally replaceable!".. Give me a break. You people slurp anyone that streams.
Never posted on here before but I wanted to say that I've been playing with this deck tonight and I love it! Certainly there are a few ways a hand can go awry but on the whole I'm doing much better with this than any other priest deck I've played, so thanks so much!
What replacesthalnos?
anything really, the alexs is somewhat special in control ocasions, that is why I dont see it being replaceable with anything and grant the same effect. You can, however, choose to go for another strategy/idea that you might have, from ragnaros, to deathwing or ysera or anything you feel like could fit a good role here.
Nuba, thanks for the information. I have been struggling with Priests as well and trying to figure out some synergy.....
Thank you for your suggestions. Only had one Pyromancer and no Alextrasza so I replaced them with Chillwind Yeti and Prophet Velen.....
Will give it a try. Much thanks.
GG = Great Guide.
i despise priests. when im grinding out quests or gold in casual i just concede rather than drag out a 45 minute game with this worthless class. there is nothing worse than playing a priest that you have to do 55+ damage to and still have a chance to lose to fatiuge or a mindcontrol. blizz needs to seriously work on this class. i actually tried to play priest. i have all of the cards listed above. hell i could make the deck that is listed in this thread but priest is too slow against aggro and, like the author said, "the cards are situational at best" . i really hope that priest gets some much deserved love when naxx hits, but naxx only has 30 cards in it and we have seen about 10 or 11 of them and none are priest cards. so to all of you who play priest just kno if you run up on JBLOCK182 in casual you will get an auto win cause i dont even have the time to waste playing this class
Nuba,
First of all. Very Good Guide! Thanks for taking the time to help other players to enjoy this fantastic game.
Well, I relly enjoy playing Priest (I must be a sadistic). But I must say that some cards that everybody says that is shity cards, well... lets put our brains to work:
Shadowform: Lets start with one card that I started using it and... oww! fantastic card. This card will transform your hero power into the best hero power of the game. And keep in mind that if you are using 2 copies, you can use your hero power twice in the same turn! yes, having 7 manas you can do 5 damage (2 manas: 2 damage, cast another one, 2 manas: 3 damage). This cannot be killed or silenced.... very powerfull. (if you play Prophet Velen you can deal 6 damage!).
Inner Fire: Another card that is underated. This card played together with Lighwell , Northshire Cleric and perhaps Shieldbearer, means you are now an aggro Priest. I lost track of how many times the opponent conceded after I started the game with (coin+Lightwell, next turn Inner Fire). It can be used on your opponent minions sometimes to make that 6/2 into a 2/2. It is a very versatile and strong card once you start playing with it.
I have made a Zoo Priest deck using the cards above just to test it, and I manage to have 5 Wins in a row in rank 12. So it is worth to test more priest cards and adapt to different kind of decks.
if you are looking for a shadow form deck, look at dragon priest, and if you are looking for a inner fire deck check out inner fire deck/lightwell deck, i believe inner fire is to gimmicky with the amount of silences people run these days, and shadowform is to slow because on turn 3 if u drop shadowform you cant do anything else that turn
That's why I don't rely on shadow form to control and have board presence early in the game. The inner fire with shieldbearer, northshire and lightwell, as long with defender of argus and other zoo like creatures makes this deck very strong. Silence can save them from a 7/7 lightwell early in the game. But argus, and other buffers can make my well a strong defender after silenced.
Would u kindly include in your article what legendary rank are u? i wont even bother reading without knowing your rank first..
He has been legend every season since test 4.
Dat video / Sylvanas skillsteal :)
Very nice deck and write-up. Are you planning on doing any mulligan guides vs. other decks? (At least the ones popular in the current meta) I would be interested in knowing what you like to look for.
People ask this question all the time! The most obvious replacement is a Kobold Geomancer because it costs the same and gives the same effect in play. He obviously doesn't provide card draw, but seeing as most people use Thalnos as a utility to buff their spells for a turn it would be the best choice, it isn't so easily removed either.
Excellent! I really enjoyed the depth of your analysis, and the first time I tried your deck I won. What more could one ask for?
Nuba is the best. Thanks man.