Hearthpwn

''Tonight, a tale of wonder and magic!''

Deck Highlights (lucksack moments)

1. Making 5 fireballs on turn 6 with Antonidas.
2. Hitting Malygos with Barnes for a salty OTK.
3. Hitting Emperor Thaurissan with Barnes on turn 4, then drawing him and playing him turn 6.
4. Opponent played Malygos, I responded with my own Malygos and used a 12 damage arcane blast to kill his!

Deck concept

Maly-Barnes is a control/combo deck that utilizes Archmage Antonidas and/or Malygos as its win condition. It has some similarities with freeze mage, in that it also uses burn damage to finish off the opponent, however my take on Malygos mage does not run secrets, Frost Nova + Doomsayer and Alexstrasza. This makes room for many single target removal spells which in turn leaves you with more burn, more early game options and in turn a healthier life total. Furthermore, the absence of Doomsayer and Alexstrasza makes it possible to play Barnes to it's powerful potential.

I have never played a deck with Archmage Antonidas being so consistent. Forbidden Flame, the many cheap spells and Barnes increase the probability of making fireballs before turn 8 significantly. Malygos closes most games by turn 9-10 if you have it reduced with Emperor Thaurissan alongside burn spells.

Card choices and Synergy

Minions : They all synergize with Barnes, though some are more insane than others.

1. Barnes : Please note that this is not an all-in Barnes deck with two minions. Playing too few minions does make him hit insane 100% of the time , however it leaves your deck with a huge curve weakness. I have managed to build this deck to have no ''bad hits'' with Barnes while still playing some minions to contest the board. Slam him turn 4 without worry, we are not trying to get super lucky and get Maly for an OTK. The only so so minion you can get is Azure Drake which is usually better past turn 4 with leftover mana for Arcane Blast and other burn. Don't worry about hitting Tony without leftover mana, most of the time you can cycle Forbidden Flame or the coin for fireballs. Anyways, we are trying to contest the board in a powerful way not get lucky!
2. Loot Hoarder : Digs deeper into the deck and makes Barnes a Chillwind Yeti with deathrattle ''draw a card''.
3. Bloodmage Thalnos : Like loot hoarders, but even better with it's spell damage.
4. Acolyte of Pain : Digs deeper into the deck and forces your opponent to play differently. Same Barnes effect than with Bloodmage and Loot Hoarders.
5. Azure Drake : Digs deeper into the deck and enables spell damage for Arcane Blast and other removal.
6. Emperor Thaurissan : The best hit with Barnes on turn 4. Enables crazy early Tony and Maly turns.
7. Archmage Antonidas : One of two win conditions. I've never had as much crazy Tony turns than in this shell.
8. Malygos : One of two win conditions. It needs an Emperor Thaurissan turn to unleash it's potential. Hold it against control decks, slam it against decks that you know can't answer it. Know your possible damages. Four burn spells is guaranteed full life OTK. Three burn spells can be OTK, it deals around 23-28 damage.

Removal/survivabilty : The advantage of playing lots of different removal leaves you with flexibility and the possibility of keeping burn damage for where it matters : face.

1. Forbidden Flame : Is an easy cycle for fireballs with Tony. With Maly it's a deal 5 damage to a minion for 0 mana. In some cases it's early removal, in others it's a late game one. This underplayed card shines in this deck, you really have to try it to see.
2. Arcane Blast : Early game removal that synergizes with spell damage for tempo turns. Cheap and reliable with Tony. With Maly it's a sweet deal 12 damage!
3. Arcane Missiles : Either early game removal against zoolike decks, a cheap spell for Tony or a deal 8 damage with Maly.
4. Ice Lance,Frostbolt, Forgotten Torch, Fireball : Burn to the face or board control, your call.
5. Polymorph : A very nice card to have against N'zoth Pally, Midrange Hunter and even Shaman.
6. Arcane Explosion, Blizzard andFlamestrike : Are there to help against aggro decks or token druid.
7. Mirror Image : See this card as a ''gain life'' card, it lets the deck breathe a bit more. Oh and it's another cheap spell for Antonidas.

Thanks a lot for checking my deck out! Please share your opinion in the comment section down below and leave a +1 up above if you enjoy the deck! Let me know if you require my assistance (insert epic music) :)