Crusader Strike could cost 0 or be +4, I think it's just desperation that I would take it as is in the current game. LSB I actually looked for a picture of Herod, makes more sense with his old axe in WoW, and yeah, it's an anti-zoo sort of card.
Avenger's Shield is kind of like the line between fireball and explosive shot, I think another cool mechanic would be if it like does 6 to the initial target, then bounces and does 3 to a random enemy, then 1 to a third random minion.
Rebuke would be cool just to give us something no other class can do. Maybe a wide-one like an anti Mass Dispel called Purify or Cleanse with a card draw on it.
Bolvar could probably be like 15 and still be okay, the idea is to get him down to like 6 mana to Blessing of Kings him and have a 10 damage burst like Grom or if he is low enough for another buff similar to Force of Nature + Savage Roar.
I dont understand the hate for Bolvar. I mean, clearly it isn't an amazing card but it is a very solid midrange legendary(which is kinda rare in the game atm). Its health for 5 mana is insane. The attack could easily be game ending depending on the situation. It has synergy with hero power, Muster for Battle, Redemption, and just the general theme of Paladin decks. (slow control, its one of the few decks where a dead card isn't a huge deal. He can sit in hand for a while and beef up without causing too many issues.) And at only 5 mana I can throw him out late in control matchups along with a Sludge Belcher, Truesilver Champion, Stampeding Kodo, or as a beefy threat after an equality/pyromancer combo.
The big downside is that he can be silenced. But TBH, I almost see that as a plus. I've seen many opponents silence their own minions after an Aldor. Silence Sludge Belchers or Sunwalkers. I just smile because Tirion is coming. There really isn't that much viable silence in the game and Paladin is already a deck that tries to bait out the limited amount people run. Everytime Bolvar gets silenced I know something else will get full value. You're basically forcing their silence to be a humility effect. I don't know about others but a lot of the time I find silence to be way more upsetting than an Aldor Peacekeeper.
I mean seriously, I understand why people would think he is unexciting but people are reacting like Blizzard announced a legendary version of The Angry Chicken.
And itd be great if Cairne had Divine Shield and Sylvannas had taunt and Ragnaros got to target his attack and was immune while attacking but that's not the point at all. We can come up with all kinds of ways to force it into something that its not.
The point is that he is an interesting alternate win condition/board presence/silence bait that can add a bit of significance to the hero power and force opponents to make sub-optimal plays.
Bolvar reminds me of a weaker version of Feugen. Sure, there's tremendous possible upside, but neither card fits into a deck very well, but rather have to shoehorned in. Choices like that usually make the deck sub-optimal. Bolvar also lacks the real upside that cards like Feugen offer.
Like I said, it's an interesting mechanic, but the card itself will likely not see play. Now if Tempo Paladin becomes a competitive deck that could change, but nothing spoiled so far makes me think Tempo Paladin will be anything but tier 2 at best.
Btw, this is coming from a guy who likes to shoe-horn Feugen/Stalagg into everything (knowing full well that other choices would make a slightly stronger build).
Bolvar reminds me of a weaker version of Feugen. Sure, there's tremendous possible upside, but neither card fits into a deck very well, but rather have to shoehorned in. Choices like that usually make the deck sub-optimal. Bolvar also lacks the real upside that cards like Feugen offer.
Like I said, it's an interesting mechanic, but the card itself will likely not see play. Now if Tempo Paladin becomes a competitive deck that could change, but nothing spoiled so far makes me think Tempo Paladin will be anything but tier 2 at best.
Btw, this is coming from a guy who likes to shoe-horn Feugen/Stalagg into everything (knowing full well that other choices would make a slightly stronger build).
I just don't see how he needs to be shoehorned in. Take a look at a typical control Paladin. There often are slots used up on things like Harrison Jones, Kel Thuzad, or Sylvannas. Things that are 0 help early game and late can be only moderate threats. Sure, they have big swing potential but lack synergy with equality. I would definitely test him in one of those slots.
Crusader Strike could cost 0 or be +4, I think it's just desperation that I would take it as is in the current game. LSB I actually looked for a picture of Herod, makes more sense with his old axe in WoW, and yeah, it's an anti-zoo sort of card.
Why not make it a 3/1 weapon? Would be unique since you can hold onto it and save that one mana later on.
That's true, but you're forgetting that half the new mechs are actually aimed at mid/late-game plays. The Piloted mechs for instance, although RNG, offer WAY more guaranteed value. Bolvar requires counter-productive setup (killing your own board) for a questionable upside. KT actually offers better synergy with Paladin then any other class by allowing things like Equality, trade the board, KT to revive everything at full health.
That's true, but you're forgetting that half the new mechs are actually aimed at mid/late-game plays. The Piloted mechs for instance, although RNG, offer WAY more guaranteed value. Bolvar requires counter-productive setup (killing your own board) for a questionable upside. KT actually offers better synergy with Paladin then any other class by allowing things like Equality, trade the board, KT to revive everything at full health.
I guess I just totally disagree with the premise that its counter-productive setup. Not only is it inevitable that you will have minions die but many times you're actively killing your own board with equality combos with no upside other than a clear board. Bolvar gives those plays more upside.
As for KT, I find that most my games with Paladin are spent keeping the board as clean as possible for as long as possible. Most of the time I get very little value or play him to an empty board after having him in my hand for a long time. And due to his cost, I can't really play anything else when I play him. I'm imagining all those games where I played him to an empty board instead being Bolvar and something else on that turn. It seems like something that should definitely be experimented with before it is dismissed. Its clearly not a super sexy legendary but I feel like the tempo fits in nicely.
We definitely play control Pally quite a bit differently, but I suspect I play control Pally different from most.
I tend not to wipe the board anymore, preferring trades, and in my latest decks I started removing Wild Pyromancer entirely.
In other news, good news, the 2 Mana Mech and Wrench weapon look really solid for Mid-range and Tempo Paladin builds, which as I said earlier, is the one deck type I can see Bolvar fitting and was looking forward to experimenting with.
This is my deck that I'll try out. Even though I have give so much hate to Bolvar, I'll craft him for the hell of it because I'm going to play only Paladin anyway.
Please critique my deck and see if there any improvements that could be made.
Alright, here's is something I wanna work on for the next couple of days, let me know what you think?
New combos:*turns are a suggestion
a) turn 3Muster for Battle + turn 4Cult Master: this could give us a much needed card draw, as an alternative to Acolyte of Pain. If we are able to draw 3 cards of this it will be a great turn. Not always reliable, depending on the board state, but it's an option.
b) turn 3-4Muster for Battle + turn 5Quartermaster / Bolvar Fordragon: Bolvar is probably best used later, but Quartermaster can make a couple of 3/3's by turn 5 which is no laughing matter.
c) turn 2Nerubian Egg + turn 3Scarlet Purifier: this allows for a 4/4 and a 4/3 on turn 3, hopefully we also wiped the enemy board for a big tempo advantage.
d) turn 2Wild Pyromancer + turn 3Seal of Light (or both on turn 4): a mini Swipe that heals, if we use it on turn 4, we can play Acolyte of Pain on turn 3 for Heal + 3+1+1+... damage + Draw; which is amazing value. Very good against Aggro.
e) more combo's to come, there's even a Mech route we can go once we figure out the strengths and weaknesses of those cards.
Old Combos:
a) Aldor Peacekeeper / Humility + Stampeding Kodo: I'm predicting Kodo having a lot of value in the GvG meta; and we should always run Aldor. This combo will most likely still be a part of Paladin decks in the future.
Those are all nice and viable combos, and what's good is you can't fit them all in one deck, you have to build smart. I am working on a deck that will make use of the hero power, MfB, Bolvar and Quartermaster. My first iteration of the deck is following
I like the wild pyro seal combo, i think this deck needs more tokens, thou im not sure which ones to include. With the new xpac it will also require at least 1 silence. Maybe 2 SoJ is too much, I'm using repentance because you will find yourself with at least 1 attack weapon most of the time. I welcome all ideas and suggestions.
Seems like everyone else read the cards a little more carefully than I did and that I was the only one majorly disappointed that our Muster for Battle guys don't get buffed by Hobgoblin. Just crushed my idea of a token deck.
I'm still wondering if Bolvar gets buffed by Hobgoblin even if his attack is buffed.
I feel that Troggzor would work better in a midrange deck then either aggro or control. Troggzor is interesting in that it is extremely, horrifyingly powerful on an even or controlled board, but if you don't have control when you play it, some smaller guys are just gonna trade into it, and it's gonna die for close to nothing.
An aggro deck can't afford to have dead cards in their hand early game, because mana efficiency is their lifeblood. In aggro, you want to win before the game gets to this point, so Troggzor isn't gonna help you.
In a control deck, it's a win more card. If you have full board control versus aggro or midrange by turn 7, (and you need to have board control or at least board equality for trogzor to get value) you've pretty much already won no matter what you play. You'd be better off using the card slot for a card that will get you to this point, rather than a card to carry you from it.
But this is where a midrange deck can really shine. Midrange should (on average) have stabilized versus aggro by turn 5/6, and shouldn't lose board control to control decks until ~8 or so. (depends on the exact matchup, but you know, averages)
I see Troggzor as one of the strongest "Play in midrange to improve control matchup" cards that there are. A control deck is usually going to want to use some type of combo to clear the board. (equality-consectation, flamestrike, swipe+favorible-trades, that sort of thing) Troggzor is going to shut down those clearing options hard, and force opponent to make some very unfavorable choices.
If it's a meta heavier with aggro, I'd probably swap it out with a "Play in midrange to improve aggro matchup" card.
Thanks for the input. :)
Crusader Strike could cost 0 or be +4, I think it's just desperation that I would take it as is in the current game. LSB I actually looked for a picture of Herod, makes more sense with his old axe in WoW, and yeah, it's an anti-zoo sort of card.
Avenger's Shield is kind of like the line between fireball and explosive shot, I think another cool mechanic would be if it like does 6 to the initial target, then bounces and does 3 to a random enemy, then 1 to a third random minion.
Rebuke would be cool just to give us something no other class can do. Maybe a wide-one like an anti Mass Dispel called Purify or Cleanse with a card draw on it.
Bolvar could probably be like 15 and still be okay, the idea is to get him down to like 6 mana to Blessing of Kings him and have a 10 damage burst like Grom or if he is low enough for another buff similar to Force of Nature + Savage Roar.
Hire me Blizzard!
I dont understand the hate for Bolvar. I mean, clearly it isn't an amazing card but it is a very solid midrange legendary(which is kinda rare in the game atm). Its health for 5 mana is insane. The attack could easily be game ending depending on the situation. It has synergy with hero power, Muster for Battle, Redemption, and just the general theme of Paladin decks. (slow control, its one of the few decks where a dead card isn't a huge deal. He can sit in hand for a while and beef up without causing too many issues.) And at only 5 mana I can throw him out late in control matchups along with a Sludge Belcher, Truesilver Champion, Stampeding Kodo, or as a beefy threat after an equality/pyromancer combo.
The big downside is that he can be silenced. But TBH, I almost see that as a plus. I've seen many opponents silence their own minions after an Aldor. Silence Sludge Belchers or Sunwalkers. I just smile because Tirion is coming. There really isn't that much viable silence in the game and Paladin is already a deck that tries to bait out the limited amount people run. Everytime Bolvar gets silenced I know something else will get full value. You're basically forcing their silence to be a humility effect. I don't know about others but a lot of the time I find silence to be way more upsetting than an Aldor Peacekeeper.
I mean seriously, I understand why people would think he is unexciting but people are reacting like Blizzard announced a legendary version of The Angry Chicken.
And itd be great if Cairne had Divine Shield and Sylvannas had taunt and Ragnaros got to target his attack and was immune while attacking but that's not the point at all. We can come up with all kinds of ways to force it into something that its not.
The point is that he is an interesting alternate win condition/board presence/silence bait that can add a bit of significance to the hero power and force opponents to make sub-optimal plays.
Bolvar reminds me of a weaker version of Feugen. Sure, there's tremendous possible upside, but neither card fits into a deck very well, but rather have to shoehorned in. Choices like that usually make the deck sub-optimal. Bolvar also lacks the real upside that cards like Feugen offer.
Like I said, it's an interesting mechanic, but the card itself will likely not see play. Now if Tempo Paladin becomes a competitive deck that could change, but nothing spoiled so far makes me think Tempo Paladin will be anything but tier 2 at best.
Btw, this is coming from a guy who likes to shoe-horn Feugen/Stalagg into everything (knowing full well that other choices would make a slightly stronger build).
I just don't see how he needs to be shoehorned in. Take a look at a typical control Paladin. There often are slots used up on things like Harrison Jones, Kel Thuzad, or Sylvannas. Things that are 0 help early game and late can be only moderate threats. Sure, they have big swing potential but lack synergy with equality. I would definitely test him in one of those slots.
Why not make it a 3/1 weapon? Would be unique since you can hold onto it and save that one mana later on.
professional pilferers prefer proper preparation
That's true, but you're forgetting that half the new mechs are actually aimed at mid/late-game plays. The Piloted mechs for instance, although RNG, offer WAY more guaranteed value. Bolvar requires counter-productive setup (killing your own board) for a questionable upside. KT actually offers better synergy with Paladin then any other class by allowing things like Equality, trade the board, KT to revive everything at full health.
I guess I just totally disagree with the premise that its counter-productive setup. Not only is it inevitable that you will have minions die but many times you're actively killing your own board with equality combos with no upside other than a clear board. Bolvar gives those plays more upside.
As for KT, I find that most my games with Paladin are spent keeping the board as clean as possible for as long as possible. Most of the time I get very little value or play him to an empty board after having him in my hand for a long time. And due to his cost, I can't really play anything else when I play him. I'm imagining all those games where I played him to an empty board instead being Bolvar and something else on that turn. It seems like something that should definitely be experimented with before it is dismissed. Its clearly not a super sexy legendary but I feel like the tempo fits in nicely.
We definitely play control Pally quite a bit differently, but I suspect I play control Pally different from most.
I tend not to wipe the board anymore, preferring trades, and in my latest decks I started removing Wild Pyromancer entirely.
In other news, good news, the 2 Mana Mech and Wrench weapon look really solid for Mid-range and Tempo Paladin builds, which as I said earlier, is the one deck type I can see Bolvar fitting and was looking forward to experimenting with.
Question, does Hobgoblin work with Bolvar Fordragon?
Because if so, Bolvar becomes less bad I guess.
If Hobgoblin worked with the hero power as well that would be awesome.
This is my deck that I'll try out. Even though I have give so much hate to Bolvar, I'll craft him for the hell of it because I'm going to play only Paladin anyway.
Please critique my deck and see if there any improvements that could be made.
Those are all nice and viable combos, and what's good is you can't fit them all in one deck, you have to build smart. I am working on a deck that will make use of the hero power, MfB, Bolvar and Quartermaster. My first iteration of the deck is following
I like the wild pyro seal combo, i think this deck needs more tokens, thou im not sure which ones to include. With the new xpac it will also require at least 1 silence. Maybe 2 SoJ is too much, I'm using repentance because you will find yourself with at least 1 attack weapon most of the time. I welcome all ideas and suggestions.
I'm still wondering if Bolvar gets buffed by Hobgoblin even if his attack is buffed.
Not a single Coghammer (the best GvG Paly card IMHO) on anyone's decklist so far?
It's in my midrange pally!
Its so hard to put in a Paladin deck though.
If you have more than 4 weapons you get really clogged.
I think there will be a watcher Paladin that will be very viable, but I don't think coghammer is a staple in Paladin.
Interesting list. What was your thought process behind running Troggzor?
@Pally_Noob
I feel that Troggzor would work better in a midrange deck then either aggro or control. Troggzor is interesting in that it is extremely, horrifyingly powerful on an even or controlled board, but if you don't have control when you play it, some smaller guys are just gonna trade into it, and it's gonna die for close to nothing.
An aggro deck can't afford to have dead cards in their hand early game, because mana efficiency is their lifeblood. In aggro, you want to win before the game gets to this point, so Troggzor isn't gonna help you.
In a control deck, it's a win more card. If you have full board control versus aggro or midrange by turn 7, (and you need to have board control or at least board equality for trogzor to get value) you've pretty much already won no matter what you play. You'd be better off using the card slot for a card that will get you to this point, rather than a card to carry you from it.
But this is where a midrange deck can really shine. Midrange should (on average) have stabilized versus aggro by turn 5/6, and shouldn't lose board control to control decks until ~8 or so. (depends on the exact matchup, but you know, averages)
I see Troggzor as one of the strongest "Play in midrange to improve control matchup" cards that there are. A control deck is usually going to want to use some type of combo to clear the board. (equality-consectation, flamestrike, swipe+favorible-trades, that sort of thing) Troggzor is going to shut down those clearing options hard, and force opponent to make some very unfavorable choices.
If it's a meta heavier with aggro, I'd probably swap it out with a "Play in midrange to improve aggro matchup" card.
I really like the paladin cards. I have to say that Shielded Minibot, Coghammer and Seal of Light are the best added cards. I like Muster too.