Zoo Algorithm
- Last updated Aug 11, 2014 (Naxx Launch)
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Wild
- 26 Minions
- 4 Spells
- Deck Type: Ranked Deck
- Deck Archetype: Unknown
- Crafting Cost: 1280
- Dust Needed: Loading Collection
- Created: 7/11/2014 (Live Patch 5506)
- Pyrolistical
- Registered User
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- 3
- 4
- 12
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Battle Tag:
N/A
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Region:
N/A
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Total Deck Rating
293
Zoo is easy to play, but it is often poorly explained to new players on how to actually play it. While climbing ladder I've repeatedly seen misplays when my opponent is playing Zoo.
There are very few decisions that need to made when playing Zoo. There is generally a single correct play. While I cannot describe all situations you will encounter, I have attempted to write down the general Zoo algorithm.
I use this deck to rush to Rank 5 every season. I believe anybody following this algorithm will be able to do the same.
While the algorithm applies to any Zoo variant, the details below will be talking about my Zoo variant (which includes double Hellfire).
Good luck, and see you at Rank 5
Strategy
Snowball your board to lethal by keeping their board clear with smart trades. Surprise your opponent by buffing your minions into trading range.
Deck Breakdown
Primary One Drops
Buff Minions
Charge Minions
Direct Damage
Indirect Damage
Mulligan
With Coin
If at least 2 Primary One Drops
then keep Dire Wolf Alpha
otherwise throw everything away except for Primary One Drops.
Without Coin
Throw everything away except for Primary One Drops.
Tapping
Tap if you can play you entire hand and still have 2 mana remaining. Tap first. You need to be careful not to tap below certain health levels against some match ups. For example never tap 14 HP against a Druid who is running the combo at 9 mana.
Main Algorithm
- Lethal check incrementally using
- direct damage
- played minions
- charge minions
- buff minions
- indirect damage with additional minions
- Clear the board best you can
- Use Hellfire if their board is way better than yours
- Almost always use Soulfire to clear 3+ health minions
- Use Buff Minions to bring played minions into range
- Try to match damage to enemy minion health exactly if possible
- When trading, favour keeping few strong/undamaged minions over many weak ones to avoid AoE clears
- Keep in mind of the increased damage with Dire Wolf Alpha when trading
- Consider order of play when Knife Juggler is in play
- Doomguard is typically used for trading, definitely use when discarding some 1 drops. Consider carefully when discarding 4+ mana minions.
- Avoid trading Young Priestess and Dire Wolf Alpha
- Build the board
- Place weaker minions in the middle with strong ones on both sides to maximize Defender of Argus and Dire Wolf Alpha options
- Buff weaker minions such as Shieldbearer and Argent Squire to realize their true value
- Avoid buffing Young Priestess and Dire Wolf Alpha
- If the opponents board is empty, play non-taunts first
- Avoid playing Buff Minions if the buffed target cannot attack this turn
- Play taunts and Defender of Argus if opponent is likely to have a lethal next turn
- Otherwise, maximize mana usage
- Attack the face with board
- Goto step 1
Naxxramas Update
Where are the Naxxramas cards? I tried replacing Shieldbearer and Young Priestess with Nerubian Egg and Haunted Creeper, but I really didn't like it. Losing two Primary One Drops is a huge problem. You need early 1 drops so you can snowball the game. If you are dropping a single minion at 2 mana as your first minion, you've lost the game.
This is zoo from 2 years ago lol. Much better cards to run in zoo now.
You should use fungalmancer instead of argus. much better buff for 1 more mana
Whew. Five games in and this deck is dominating between the 20-16 ranks. Nice work.
Oh my god... It`s perfect!! Big thnx!
Now, there are many amazing turn 1s and 2s, especially with the new Naxx cards using undertaker combos such as leper gnome, nerubian egg, zombie chow and more. Also, things like Zombie Chow and Nerubian Egg definitely have their place and i believe that they would definitely make a place in this deck, and if you don't add them, someone else will and will have a more favorable matchup.
I'm running this deck with a nerubian egg. I thought with all the attack buff cards it would be a good pick, and so far it's working well. Any thoughts guys?
Yes, it's very strong. Pretty much every zoo deck is running egg now for that very reason.
Just wondering. What card do you get rid of for the egg?
Thanks.
I swapped out the egg with the only other card with 0 attack, one Shieldbearer.
Ok Thanks.
No good anymore.. everyone is on to the Zoo time for something new.
I don't know if i don't play (grind) games enough, or i'm not doing it correctly. Built this deck and got from 20 to 17 only. I could beat the expert A.I. and got the 100 gold archievement tho, thank you about that!
Any tips what i wouldve done wrong?
Probably meta problems, try using a Naxx version of zoo
Im playing this deck right now, it is good. effective and cheap but somtimes you can lose even against almost F2P decks.
Thanks for this deck. It's silly OP.
The idea behind this is spot on, but the deck itself isn't. This didn't work for me at all. Too much trading and not enough damage. The lack of other charge minions besides the Doomguard is a real issue with this deck. Besides the Hellfire (which is a bad idea anyway), there is really no way to establish board control if you ever slightly lose it.
Hellfire should never be used in any type of Warlock aggro. The point of Zoo is to rush your opponent down while maintaining board control. If you're already far enough behind that you have to use Hellfire, then you now have a very low chance of winning since your opponent can now get ahead of you in terms of board control.
If you really want to use a board clear in this deck, I would suggest Power Overwhelming +Shadowflame since you don't lose your whole side of the field from one card.
I find it realy fun that there is a deck so simple it can be played with a 5 step algorithm xD
In any case I absolutely love the idea, keep it up!
Would it be possible to replace one of the Doomguard with Leeroy Jenkins?
Leeroy doesn't work great with this build because you give your opponent the capability to clear Leeroy. I'd sooner use Argent.