[Legend #3] - Discardlock Guide
- Last updated Apr 10, 2017 (Un'Goro Launch)
- Edit
- |
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
-
- 8
- 13
- 44
-
Battle Tag:
N/A
-
Region:
EU
-
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've made a very similar deck before finding this guide.
Isn't Ravasaur Runt not absolutely awful on curve?
What's the purpose of 2x Defender of Argus in this meta, how does it compare to say Tar Creeper?
How viable is it playing a 0 attack Devilsaur Egg when trying to apply as much pressure as possible, does it not allow the opponent to regain control and establish back on the board? Is it a dead drop if you don't have Argus or Pterrordax to play next turn?
Defender of Argus can defend your egg (I'm playing with two Eggs) against hunters, it's very useful feature. You are correct that Ravasaur Runt is not a key card in this deck, when you play it you can get 2/5, 2/2 with taunt, 2/2 with divine shield. I'm not sure what to replace it with. Problem with this deck, is that it is not very good against Taunt Warriors and also not very good against Hunters (which makes about 40% of this meta), so perhaps add two Tar Elementals to make it more viable against aggro decks, or have one Black Night to have it more viable against Taunt Warriors (with Brawls).
Defended is great because it not only gives you 2 taunt but also +1+1, while synergizing with the egg and the councilman
I've dropped 1 defender of Argus for Tar Lurker and it has increased win rate against Hunters. Taunt warrior remains a problem, even Black Knight is not enough against the variant that runs no spells and just plays curvestone taunt minions every turn.
Forgot to add that I still don't like Ravasaur Runt the only good adaptation is +3 health but as you say I don't know what to replace it with.
Any taunt including Tar Lurker is good against Hunters but my concern is that way you are making the deck weaker against Warriors. If you play against Warriors with the coin, your Runt can become 5/2 on turn 2. My win rate against Taunt Warriors was not that bad, however, I noticed that Hunters became much better. Flame Imp is pretty shitty against Hunters as health is your most important resource.
Anyway you can try to remove 2 Flame Imp, 2 Knife Jungler and 2 Ravasaur Runt for 2x Argent Squire, 2x Tar Lurker, 1 x The Black Knight and 1 another taunt of your choice (maybe another taunt elemental or other card which seems to be good against Hunters or Taunt Warriors).
Had the "play 50 warlock class cards" quest and built this because I only had to craft one card and have played zoolock in the past. 13-11 and went 4-0 or 5-0 (can't remember the exact number was just grinding the quest). I know I played the first game sloppy as I've been playing control but the deck actually helped me get out of it.
Great deck with no epics or legendaries! Even if this isn't the best deck in the meta, people should play this deck. It's cheap and zoolock is almost always viable in standard and understanding the archetype really helps.
The author's guides helped me shake off the Zoolock rust very easily. +1 to you man!
Its bleh
Would there be anyway to make Cruel Dinomancer work in this deck?
I think it'd be more viable in a quest focused deck, an probably that'd be in a handlock like build due to the high cost and you'd have to use a lot of high cost minions which would become discard fodders and give you the upperhand in tempo. Also, it's dependant on two RNGs: One for discarding a valuable minion and one for summoning it through all the minions you discarded, so it's not a very consistent mechanic.
At a first glance that card seems decent, but then when you consider its basically reliant on two rngs, its not so decent.
Great JOB!
Thx
This deck marks the first time someone I beat friending me in order to curse me out in French...haha! Good times...I mean bon temps.
I'm so glad you are back in business man! Thank you so much for publishing this awesome guide+deck. I tried this out on the ladder and I gotta say it really puts the pressure on those questing rogues XD
I made a video showcasing the deck which I hope you guys enjoy!! GL exploring Un'goro
nope
Thanks for the deck!
I was able to reach rank 5 with this deck.
I did a video showing a little of the gameplay of the deck and the great match I had against the miracle rogue.
discarding doomguard feels bad
No, It's the card that makes Discardlock a viable archetype
Will Black Knight be bad in this deck?
Pretty soon Blizzard will release a power creep Black Knight... I said it 1st