Hearthpwn

Taunt & Armour Druid

Hello there. Do you also hate aggro players? Especially aggro players who think they can play aggro during the first week of the new expansion?! Are you ready to counter all meta decks with an original Druid deck? Did you just read "Original Druid Deck" in one sentence? Yup. It's time to play a cool druid deck that doesn't rely on full ramp, aggro or jades. Currently rank 4 with the deck, it fits perfectly in today's meta with many aggressive decks (mages, paladins, rogues, hunters) Or decks that are too slow. 

Strategy

Ramp up, get Oaken Summons out and then your board control will get out of hand. You have numerous ways to clear the board, produce new taunts or ways to access armour. Ultimate Infestation gives you a consistent "get-shit-on moment" to get your combos together. Profit massively from Oaken Summons, Hadronox and Master Oakheart. Final Step: look how aggro players cry about your average of 40 armour you will gain (excluding malfurion/DK hero powers and assuming you'll only play 1 Ultimate Infestation). 

Explanations

Let's look at some card synergies in depth. 

- Lesser Jade Spellstone: amazing removal spell that druid lacked. You don't need Syphon Soul or anything, you can just blast minions away for 1 mana while developing a good board. Fantastic in combination with Plated Beetle, Branching Paths, Oaken Summons, Malfurion and Ultimate Infestation. Also keep in mind that this card will upgrade when drawn from UI. 

- Injured Blademaster: strange card at first glance. It's perfect against Priest and provides so much power when drawn from Oaken Summons or Grizzled Guardian. Try it, you won't be disapointed. 

- Branching Paths: Weird card I know. Sometimes I even run two. The flexibility of this card is unparallelled, sometimes giving my taunt wall from Hadronox an extra 1 or 2 attack can make all the difference. Against aggro or burst decks (specifically mage or machine gun priest) adding an extra 12 armour out of nowhere can be really big. 

- Oaken Summons: the heart of the deck. I personally tend to keep this card in my hand against most classess. You see based on the lower end minions that it will always give you some sick value. Against aggro you completely shut them down by gaining 6 armour and most likely getting a taunt, a beetle to provide you armour and upgrade your spellstone or a big (non) injured bladmaster. One of the coolest cards in this whole set imo!

- Skulking Geist: depends on the meta. At rank 4 I have come across some Jade Druids or even Miracle Druids. You basically get a free win against them by having Geist. Also I don't need any more PTSD from Jade Druids so this card is mostly in my lists. I have also swapped it out for Harrison, Elise the Trailblazer or other cards, that honestly depends on your preferences & the meta you're facing. 

- Grizzled Guardian: see Oaken Summons. Also gets pulled from Master Oakheart. If you are on a budget, put in a second copy of Grizzled Guardians and you're good to go.

- Master Oakheart: Fantastic card to give you the board control & tempo, something this deck excells at, while also keeping you safe. Again you'll pull tar creepers, beetles, Ironwood Golems etc. The massive value happens when this card pulls either Grizzled Guardian or Hadronox. As these are 2 lategame cards, chances are it's going to be one of these you'll be drawing, unless you had an unlucky starting hand. Most other cards will have been gone at that point with Oaken Summons or just by playing them from your hand. 

- Hadronox: This card can be pulled by Master Oakheart. Gives you a taunt wall that is larger than the Chinese Wall. I have indeed never been in China, don't take that literally. 

- Ultimate Infestation: I absolutely hate this card and I wish I didn't need to play this, but it's too good to just leave it at the bench. Upgrades spellstone, draws you a massive amount of cards, gives board control, gives you armour,... Idk what Blizzard was thinking with this card. It gives the deck consistency. 

Possible changes for budget or preferences

- Lich King: Second Grizzled Guardian. Might even be better than some choices I currently made. Another option is adding one (or two if you also lack a card like Oakheart) Primordial Drake.

- Branching Paths: second Spreading Plague.

- Oakheart: some other big boy, such as Alexstrasza or whatever, as long as it gives you board control and some tempo. 

- Second Ultimate Infestation: try a copy of Nourish?

- A fantastic idea is to go for a N'zoth strategy as well. Then you will have to change some more cards. Consider going for Infested Tauren, add a second Grizzled Guardian and you're good to go! 

The End

I thoroughly hope you have as much fun as I have with this deck. If you discover any new busted synergies (like Oaken Summons giving you an Injured Blademaster or Master Oakheart giving you a Grizled Guardian or Hadronox), feel free to share! 

I just hope this deck inspires you. Don't just copy it, but try to adapt it to your playstyle, meta and preferences. 

Enjoy K&C!