[S33 LEGEND TOP 300] MIDRANGE = META COUNTER
- Last updated Jan 3, 2017 (Gadgetzan)
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Wild
- 18 Minions
- 8 Spells
- 4 Weapons
- Deck Type: Ranked Deck
- Deck Archetype: Midrange Shaman
- Crafting Cost: 11060
- Dust Needed: Loading Collection
- Created: 12/27/2016 (Gadgetzan)
- dontbemad
- Registered User
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- 8
- 32
- 65
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Battle Tag:
dontbemad#2121
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Region:
EU
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Total Deck Rating
449
Hi, I am dontbemad (3 x legend) and this is my second guide on hearthpwn.
After I climbed to rank 5 this season with my own Pirate Warrior list, I switched to
Aggro Shaman to reach legend at 23.12.16.
During Christmas I was enjoying the dumbster legend meta for some days and tested several decks - lost ranks and found myself at rank 6000 afterwards.
Yesterday Tempostorm brought a new meta report and I noticed that midrange shaman is back in Tier 1. I have played it a lot in pre MsoG seasons and shaman has been my favourite class since I am playing HS (April 2015) so I really had to test the "new midrange" and when I saw their list, including Rag + Al'Akir, I had to give it a try.
Unfortunately I could not track my games but I reached Top 800 ranks in less than 4 hours yesterday and will definitly go for top 100 this season with this decklist.
I can only remember that I lost 2 games, not sure how many I won but it felt like this deck has not got any bad match up's at the moment since people are playing reno or aggro decks.
This is not my own list, I have took it from Tempostorm's meta report and noticed, that nobody posted it on hearthpwn yet and since I had such good results, I want to share it here.
In most match up's, it felt like the suprise factor is real with this deck:
Most people expect usual aggro shaman since you have the pirate package early game.
In many games, your opponent will not even notice that you play midrange until you drop a cheap thing from below or turn 8 Ragnaros so they often waste their removal in early game and this makes the difference.
Mulligan:
Druid:
You always want to pressure them early so mulligan for Tunnel Trogg, Totem Golem, Small-Time Buccaneer, Spirit Claws or Jade Claws.
This is a matchup where you can sometimes just burst them in 6-7 turns as you would play aggro version so also keep Flametongue Totem if you have a 1 drop.
Rogue:
Jade Claws is the key against their Small-Time Buccaneer + Patches the Pirate opener !
if you have the coin, always coin it to kill Small-Time Buccaneer turn 1! The dream is any 1 drop follow up on turn 2. This is enough to stop their early game aggression and win over distance. You can also keep Flametongue Totem if you have a 1 drop.
Reno Mage-Priest-Warlock :
Just play aggressive, mulligan for Tunnel Trogg, Totem Golem, Small-Time Buccaneer, Spirit Claws or Jade Claws and Flametongue Totem if you have a 1 drop. Again those are match up's where your opponent expects you to play aggro version, sometimes you can burst them in 5-6 turns but if they can play reno : not a problem ! you have the late game Thing from Below, Ragnaros the Firelord and Al'Akir the Windlord to win those matchups easily after turn 6.
Dragon Priest:
This match up can get tricky and you always have to play the value game : trade everything what they put on board and mulligan for early board control : Tunnel Trogg, Totem Golem, Small-Time Buccaneer, Spirit Claws or Jade Claws. They will often waste removals like Shadow Word: Pain or death too early and loose in late game because you have Ragnaros the Firelord and Al'Akir the Windlord.
Mirror:
I felt like I only met aggro shaman's and this is the easiest matchup.
Mulligan for Tunnel Trogg, Totem Golem, Small-Time Buccaneer, Spirit Claws or Jade Claws.
The game is over if you can win early board and follow up with cheap Thing from Below since they don't have any late game minions and need to waste their burst.
Warrior:
You will face pirate version in most cases so mulligan for Tunnel Trogg, Totem Golem, Small-Time Buccaneer, Spirit Claws or Jade Claws.
You can keep Maelstrom Portal to clear his early board.
Paladin + Hunter:
Never met them at high legend ranks.
Playstyle:
As you may have noticed in Mulligan : you always want to pressure the opponent with the aggro early game minions and weapon. Surprise factor is real when you suddenly play Barnes on curve or thing from below and most opponents will not even notice that you play midrange before turn 4-5 and waste removals in early game. In late game you can try to combo Flametongue Totem with Al'Akir the Windlord to do 10 damage burst which is always nice. Try to use Lightning Storm correctly and never waste it too early.
I know that everyone wants to see proofs so here it is :
(as you can see, reno mage has frozen my board with 7 health so I get lucky with Barnes to pull out Ragnaros the Firelord - pass turn and won this game :D)
edit: I finished the season on rank 215 (did not have the time to push for top 100 on last day of the season :/
I am playing on EU server!
I would highly appreciate if you would upvote this guide in case that you like it.
If you are looking for a deck to climb fast in Season 34, you can check my new version of aggro shaman !
of course !
I would consider that card non-replaceable--he has single-handedly won me many games. He can help push to lethal, or help clear the minions vs. an aggro deck. Hell, earlier today, a Mage played Dirty Rat on turn 2, he summoned my Al'Akir the Windlord and he just quit on turn 4. I've actually won games because he was summoned by Barnes too, when being off lethal by 2, or needing just two more damage to break a taunt.
Ironically, I saw in a youtube video today (Ben Brode on Al'Akir) (made mid-last year), that at that time, they were going to buff this card due to community perception, but then analysis showed that Shamans were statistically more likely to win a match if they drew Al'Akir the Windlord than any other card.
I had the same case yesterday when a reno mage played rat and pulled my al'akir = concede in turn 4 :D
honestly, you cannot replace him in this deck.
No manatides working well?
yes totally ! 2 x drakes + thalnos is enough draw for this deck :)
sorry to ask but could it maybe depends on the player and his skill also since I reached legend rank 215 with this deck last season ?
This is Tempostorm's tier 1 decklist but since you say it is really bad, maybe you should go and teach them senpai ?
"senpai"? 10/10 cringe
The only card I don't have is rag, he's the next legendary I want to craft. Should I not play this deck without him? Or is there a replacement
yes sorry but you should not play it without him because also Barnes makes no sence in this list than so you would already have to replace 2 cards and I cannot see any good replacement on 8 mana slot atm anyway.
patches with only 2 pirates? chance to draw it before you play a buccaneer is rly high
it is not even that much of an issue to draw him with this deck since you can combo him very effective with flametongue totem from hand for 3 dmg burst to clear a minion for example.
what do you mulligan for warrior?
added it to the guide !
Thanks for the deck. Used this deck for the final push to reach legend.
Strong, good deck :)
nice ! gz for hit legend :)
thank you for the video !! appreciate it :)
just a few things about your gameplay :
Never waste 3 dmg weapon charge for 0/1 frog (turn 4).
In turn 5 you should always take the 2 dmg face and trade horserider with weapon instead of trading the spell power totem :)
Hate pirates! :)
And those who play them :D
You must be kidding :)