[Legend #3] - Discardlock Guide
- Last updated Apr 10, 2017 (Un'Goro Launch)
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Wild
- 28 Minions
- 2 Spells
- Deck Type: Ranked Deck
- Deck Archetype: Discardlock
- Crafting Cost: 1640
- Dust Needed: Loading Collection
- Created: 4/7/2017 (Un'Goro Launch)
- Zananananan
- Registered User
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- 8
- 13
- 44
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Battle Tag:
N/A
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Region:
EU
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Total Deck Rating
2967
[Legend #3] - Discardlock Guide
"Your soul shall suffer!"
Zananananan here (https://twitter.com/Zanananan, https://www.twitch.tv/zanananan). I just wanted to share my new Zoo with you. Ravasaur Runt and Ravenous Pterrordax are just insane, you are almost always getting value.
I offer coachings for 20,00 €/hour. If you are interested, please leave me a message on Twitter or Hearthpwn.
Table of Content:
1. Intro
2. General Strategy
3. Stats
4. Placement
5. General Mulligan
6. Class Specific Mulligan + Tips
7. Questions
8. Possible Replacements
1. Intro
Hey Hearthpwn,
I'm Florian 'Zananananan' Marschner, 18 years old and a German Hearthstone player for Wolves esports. I've been playing Hearthstone for almost 2 years now. During my early days I was a huge fan of Zoo. I've been playing tons of Zoo on ladder and in tournaments and it's been doing very well for me. I'm also the guy who built the first refined Discardlock when Karazhan came out. This deck is probably easy to learn but I believe that it is one of the hardest decks to play perfectly in the game.
2. General Strategy
Classic Zoolock is a strategy that revolves around taking the board early, using minions and buffs to trade favorably with higher-value minions. It also relies on high-impact/swing turns (such as a free Silverware Golem or extra card draw from Malchezaar's Imp).
The key is to realize when you have to go all in and when you can afford to play around AOE.
3. Stats
I'm not a big fan of posting stats with a small sample size, it doesn't say anything. But people asked me over and over again, that's why they are here anyway.
4. Placement
Most of the time it doesn't matter, but it can still win or lose you some games. You always want to maximize the efficiency of Dire Wolf Alpha.
- In general you want big minions, minions with deathrattle or taunt on the side and small minions in the middle.
- Knife Juggler has to be on the side (Taunt or deathrattle doesn't matter). You don't want to trade with him.
5. General Mulligan
If you don't have the coin and you don't have a 1 drop throw everything away, it's key to have a turn 1 play.
- Keep Dire Wolf Alpha and Ravasaur Runt if you have the coin and 2 1 drops.
Ravasaur Runt is just insane. You can get a better Haunted Creeper with Living Spores and Haunted Creeper was already broken.
- You can keep Darkshire Councilman or Ravenous Pterrordax if you have the coin and a 1 drop.
Only good against slower decks. The Ravenous Pterrordax is so powerful, it could be a Flamewreathed Faceless without overload.
- If you have Malchezaar's Imp, Darkshire Librarian and Silverware Golem you can consider keeping everything.
You have a 33% Chance to discard the Silverware Golem and to win the game on turn 2.
6. Class Specific Mulligan + Tips
Quest Rogue
heavily favored - Keep Darkshire Councilman or Ravenous Pterrordax if you have the coin and a 1 drop.
This deck eats Quest Rogues for breakfast. The Caverns Below is way to slow, they can only win with an Edwin VanCleef. Make sure to play around Fan of Knives. Don't play around Sap, most lists aren't running it.
Pirate Warrior
slightly favored - You really want your 1 drops in this matchup. Soulfire is a fine keep if you have a good curve.
Soulfire deals with Frothing Berserker and Bloodsail Cultist. Make sure to clear his pirates because of Bloodsail Cultist and Southsea Captain. You can play around N'Zoth's First Mate and Patches the Pirate by playing Voidwalker or Malchezaar's Imp instead of Flame Imp turn 1.
Quest Warrior
unfavored - Keep Darkshire Councilman or Ravenous Pterrordax if you have the coin and a 1 drop.
The key is to realize when you have to go all in and when you can afford to play around Ravaging Ghoul or Brawl. You can play around Fiery War Axe by playing Possessed Villager or Argent Squire instead of Flame Imp turn 1.
Token Druid
slightly favored - You want your 1 drops in this matchup.
Always clear their stuff to play around Mark of the Lotus, Power of the Wild and Mark of Y'Shaarj. You win if they don't cheat with Innervate.
Jade Druid
heavily favored - Keep Darkshire Councilman or Ravenous Pterrordax if you have the coin and a 1 drop.
It's really hard for them to deal with Darkshire Councilman. Keep Wrath and Swipe in mind. Poison Spit on Ravasaur Runt is fine. They can't play Ancient of War then.
Face Hunter
even - You want your 1 drops, the early game is really important.
Dire Wolf Alpha is really good with Possessed Villager or Argent Squire. You can kill a Crackling Razormaw, a Knife Juggler or the deathrattle from Kindly Grandmother with it. Try to not give him beast synergy with Crackling Razormaw and Houndmaster. The only comeback mechanic they have is Knife Juggler + Unleash the Hounds. You are slightly favored if they don't run Knife Juggler.
Midrange Hunter
slightly favored - Same as Face Hunter but without the Knife Juggler Unleash the Hounds combo.
Quest Hunter
heavily favored - The Marsh Queen is bad, way to slow.
Quest Mage:
slightly favored - Keep Darkshire Councilman Ravenous Pterrordax if you have the coin and a 1 drop.
Play Possessed Villager on turn 1 over Argent Squire to play around Doomsayer. This matchup comes down to Frost Nova + Doomsayer. It's nearly impossible for them to win without this combo. You can tech in Crazed Alchemist or Devilsaur Egg to make the matchup better. Most lists aren't running Volcanic Potion, you don't need to play around that. Be aware of Blizzard, you can buff 2 2 health minions with Defender of Argus to play around it. Make sure to not fill up your board, you want to be able to kill them with Doomguard if they freeze your minions. Other then that you have to hope that they don't highroll with Babbling Book Primordial Glyph or Cabalist's Tome.
Zoo
even - You want your 1 drops.
I love the mirror, you are getting punished for every single small mistake. The early game is very important, Zoo doesn't have a comeback mechanic. Make sure to always clear his minions to deny Dire Wolf Alpha, Ravasaur Runt, Ravenous Pterrordax and Defender of Argus value. You should also clear Malchezaar's Imp.
Handlock
heavily unfavored - Keep Darkshire Councilman Ravenous Pterrordax if you have the coin and a 1 drop.
This is probably the worst matchup, you can only win if they draw bad. They have big taunts and you can't do anything about it. Corrupting Mist is extremly powerful. Hellfire and Doomsayer destroys you too. Don't play around anything and hope they don't have the answer.
Elemental Shaman
unfavored - Keep Darkshire Councilman Ravenous Pterrordax if you have the coin and a 1 drop.
Be aware of Maelstrom Portal and Lightning Storm. You can't play around Devolve. Kalimos, Primal Lord is really annoying because of Invocation of Air and Invocation of Water. Most of the time you can play around 1 AOE but you never beat 2. Liquid Membrane on Ravenous Pterrordax is not that bad to play around Hex.
Aggro Shaman
favored - 1 drops are important.
They aren't playing AOE, you win.
I haven't really faced a lot of Paladins and Priests, they feel like bottom tier again. I'll update the guide when they are getting more popular.
7. Questions
Room for Clutchmother Zavas?
Just a worse Silverware Golem. Not enough impact if you discard her.
What about Lakkari Sacrifice?
Bad. Hard to discard 6 cards and it's way to slow.
Other discard cards, e.g. Lakkari Felhound?
You don't want to make the deck to inconsistent. Lakkari Felhound is terrible compared to Doomguard. It's only good with Malchezaar's Imp.
How does the Coaching work?
First of all I'll ask you a few questions, e.g. What was your highest rank so far? What are your goals? Then we'll start playing some games. I'll talk about the specific matchup and the gameplan. You'll suggest a play and then we'll talk about the reasoning behind it. We'll also talk about reading the opponent's hand and when you have to take risks.
We can obviously talk about the prize if you are booking more than 1 hour.
8. Possible Replacements
Devilsaur Egg for Argent Squire or Darkshire Librarian
I guess it depends on the meta. It's really good against Doomsayer or AOE. Also synergy with Ravenous Pterrordax on curve. Not to great in an aggro meta, that's why I'm not playing it at the moment.
Fire Fly for Argent Squire
Definantly possible, it's a good gap closer.
Crazed Alchemist for Argent Squire or Darkshire Librarian
Insane versus Doomsayer, also fine against Quest Warrior.
Update 10/04: -2 Argent Squire, +2 Fire Fly; -1 Darkshire Librarian, +1 Devilsaur Egg
I underestimated Fire Fly, it's a really good card. Darkshire Librarian is not that great of a card and the meta slowed down a bit, that's why I put 1 Devilsaur Egg in.
i love the original deck (yours) evolve in the same direction with me
i made this change 2 days ago and original creator made the change today. deck didnt have the egg before. i was just happy the creator changed it in a way that i did.
why did you guys give my deck "-" vote? :(
Pls giv coaching, you are so good!!!!
This deck eats quest rogues for breakfast
gets shat on by every shaman though
Thanks for this deck! Since I still don't own copies of Ravasaur Runt I'm running a copy of Crazed Alchemist and it's been of great value against Taunt Warriors.
Nice deck, thank you
Zavas is not in this deck.
Thanks for your deck, it's really good and feels much stronger than pre-patch version.
I needed a deck to poop on all the quest rogues. Thanks!
played 4 times against taunt quest warrior. impossible to win
Finally, a deck that counters those quests out there (even the Mage's quest that I hate!). I have been underrating the Zoo archetype for a long time but not anymore!
If I'm subbing in Devilsaur Eggs for Argent Squires, would it be a good idea to sub in Abusive Sergeants for Ravasaur Runts? Or is the value from the little Dino's too good to pass up? If so, maybe -1 Darkshire Librarian, -1 Ravasaur Runt for +2 Abusive Sergeants?
Thanks for your replies!
The difference is Ravasaur Runt post adapt are a still a threat, where as 0/3 Devilsaur Egg and a 1/1 Abusive Sergeant are not.
What do you think about Cruel Dinomancer for this deck?
too slow
can i play with not a Malchezaar's Imp ?
Sorry my man, he's fairly essential to any discard zoolock variant. Maybe you'd have more luck with a pure, non-discard version? The power level feels a little lower, but they're usually more consistent, and don't run Malchezaar's Imp.
I'm currently 9-5, I just recently changed argent squire for devilsaur eggs. Too many freeze mages out there. HELPS ALOT!
Good deck overall.
This deck rocks! Thank you so much for sharing it!!! I've gone 9-1 so far. My only loss was due to misplays learning the deck in my first game with it.