Last week I was lucky enough to get Al'Akir the Windlord in a pack and decided to go about creating a shaman control deck. With some help from the forums and friends this is the deck list I am almost done with. Please review and comment.
This is my Shaman Control deck. For those that are unfamiliar with control decks, the goal is to keep control of the board and get your "win" cards out. Keeping control of the board involves removal and taunt minions. In this deck I use cheap early spells and weapon to keep the board clear for first few turns. Having an early weapon creates a card advantage in your favor by destoying at least 2 minions and sometimes 3. Keep the board clear and get taunt minions out until turn 5/6 and then get the "win" cards into play.
Flametongue Totem - I only have 1 currently only because there is no other cards I want to remove. Rockbiter Weapon - This is primarily used on my hero for early removal as well
Silences
I am low on silence cards, but hex also works as a silence, and even if I do not have a silence, there is plenty of removal.
These are cards that when you put them on the playing field, they are expected to win you the game or require the opponent to put all their resources toward it, effectively giving you the advantage to win.
Deathwing - I personally never fall behind, so Deathwing is unnecessary for me. Illidain Stormrage Onyxia - Have seen this in some decks that run Bloodlust. I do not. Sylvanas Windrunner - Have seen this used well vs opponents "Win" cards, but sometimes RNG is not your friend.
Other General Possibilites
Here are some other possible cards that players use in control decks that are not mentioned above.
Looks pretty good. One thing I would try to do is sub in the Windrunner or whatever that minion is called that gives the other minion windufry. Would be pretty powerful to finish off foes.
Also I don't think you can make a shaman deck without bloodlust. One of the best cards in the entire game and has stolen me more wins then I can count even with poor cards.
Most Control decks don't bother with Bloodlust because they tend to have few minions on the board at any given time, although it does have some merit for turning totems into a threat and having surprise factor (a token swarm or murloc deck? yeah, they got Bloodlust, but Control? not so much). I do agree that one windfury in Control can also have some merit for surprise burst, but not entirely needed if done well. I'd run the Windfury spell over anything else though if I wanted one for the Auctioneer synergy.
For the deck itself, it looks solid, but I might be slightly concerned with no 2 or 3 cost minions, do you find that your early removal can carry you into the mid-late game where you can drop minions? With Sen'jin and Earth Ele, Feral Spirits might be a tad overkill on Taunt, but that's your call (although now that I think about it, they could/do count as your early minions).
it looks pretty solid, I might just add a Big Game Hunter some where to get rid of out of control enraged creatures or just big creatures in general. Maybe take out one of the Stormforged Axe for this.
Most Control decks don't bother with Bloodlust because they tend to have few minions on the board at any given time, although it does have some merit for turning totems into a threat and having surprise factor (a token swarm or murloc deck? yeah, they got Bloodlust, but Control? not so much). I do agree that one windfury in Control can also have some merit for surprise burst, but not entirely needed if done well. I'd run the Windfury spell over anything else though if I wanted one for the Auctioneer synergy.
For the deck itself, it looks solid, but I might be slightly concerned with no 2 or 3 cost minions, do you find that your early removal can carry you into the mid-late game where you can drop minions? With Sen'jin and Earth Ele, Feral Spirits might be a tad overkill on Taunt, but that's your call (although now that I think about it, they could/do count as your early minions).
Really like the thoughts here. I agree with your opinions on Bloodlust. I never think,"Man...wish I had a Bloodlust". This deck is really a slow killer. It gains a card advantage and keeps the board clear. By turns 5-8, the game is decided already and Bloodlust does not change the outcome. I typically do not have enough minions/totems at turn 5 for Bloodlust to be effective.
On your concern with 2-3 cost minions... I agree. I find myself taking damage early by using my weapon instead of creatures, but it never gets out of control. Spells and weapons keep me alive until Sen'jin and Wolves. I am looking to work in Faerie Dragon, but currently cannot decide what to remove. May see an update today with a change. Also, since I lost to a priest, Faerie Dragon would give them alot of trouble on a turn 1(w/ coin) or 2 drop. I also may add an Ironbeak Owl as well.
I hate to stick my face in this but how does anyone think Al'Akir is bad? He has immediate value and is a guaranteed 2+ for 1, it's like what Argent Commander wishes it could be for only 2 more mana. The deck posted in this thread doesn't look like pure control to me, closer to midrange, and in that case I understand excluding Al'Akir though that doesn't mean the card is bad. And when I say it looks like midrange I don't mean to insult it by any means, I simply mean your control appears to be almost entirely dependent on creatures so you've loaded up on value critters. Many of your cards don't necessarily = card advantage though fat bodies often produce it. If anyone wants to flame me that's fine; my hope for this post is to spark an intelligent discussion on the validity of a card and the strengths of the deck presented here. I like your deck and it's influenced my own Shaman deck to some extent, I also enjoyed your reasoning for including Faerie Dragon. I'd love to hear about how you feel it has influenced your matches/match-ups.
I think as well that Al'akir is one of the worst legends especially for a controll deck, It's body is soso for 8 mana and a spot removal /silence effect blow you up. Even in aggro leoric + windfury or leoric + 3/+0 is a much better and undercosted finisher usually (yeah, I love leoric in shaman aggro).
I don't like ragnaros since it's bad in too many mu (paladin, mirror, it's random even in a 1 presence board situation).
I do run onyxia+1x bloodlust. 1 bloodlust is basically a spot removal if you are not too much behind on the board state AND an amazing finisher that balance the drawback to be a dead card when you need a comeback.
I don't understand goblin in this deck. Also, why you are not playing +2/+0 totem? Again, a spot removal with any random totem on the board that give you board presence and make favorable treads (since powering up a mana sink like a random totem for a "real" card is card advantage by it's own).
I don't think that you are playing the deck correctly. Having no sinergy on your class ability is just not the right way to play this game.
My 2cents
Thanks for the advice.
Manatide: My problem with manatide is you need a taunt minion out before you play a manatide, otherwise it is targeted and you get 1 card draw for 3 mana. It is worth it if the opponent uses a high cost spell on it though. I am thinking of replacing the auctioneers for manatides, because I already have drakes as my 5 drop card draw. I will have to play around with this.
Flametongue: I have taken these in and out of my deck for multiple reasons. I am thinking of replacing Ragnaros with something like flametongue. With agro decks becoming less popular, my totems are staying alive longer, making a flametongue more valuable. I do not see what else to remove from my deck other than a spell, which could be possible.
Onyxia: By turn nine, my side of the board is generally near full which does not allow for the full effect of Onyxia. I am looking for better "win" cards. I may try out Illidan, which gives similar effect of Onyxia, but is brought out earlier.
Bloodlust: I have asked myself in games that I lose whether Bloodlust would have won me the game and I have yet to say yes. Sometimes it can win the game earlier, but it does not act a game changer like it does in agro decks that have 3-5 creatures out on turn 5. Bloodlust, to me, is a turn 5 or 6 win, but my deck is not designed that way.
Onyxia + Bloodlust is powerful certainly for midrange aggression/aggro decks as a win condition, but its not a fit for all decks.
I agree that Drakes and Auctioneers can conflict for board space, being similar cost and stats, so I'd experiment with either Drakes/Mana Tide or just Auctioneers/Replacement for Drake.
I also agree that flametongue can be pretty strong in any shaman deck, letting your mana sink totems trade up with 3/2's, soften targets, or get 2 damage in on the hero for basically free. It also lets your other minions do potential trade ups as well and supports Al'Akir.
I'm honestly a fan of 2 Lightning Bolt/ 1 Rockbiter if there has to be three 1mana removals. Lightning Bolt can scale off Spell Damage. When you have an axe equipped, Rockbiter + Attack and Lightning Bolt + Attack are almost identical; except that if need be you can redirect that 3 from Lightning Bolt to another target, where Rockbiter + Axe is all on one target without the ability to redirect it. They both have their pros and cons though, and I might be biased because I'll be experimenting with Unbound Elemental in Control/Hybrid decks (for an early game snowball minion they have/want to answer).
I'm on the fence about Al'Akir myself, on one hand all the card text makes him versatile, one the other hand, his stats are kinda garbage and he needs support to shine against late game minions. I feel with proper support, he can be a monster; but do you want a legendary who wants support, or one who can support? I'd experiment with Ysera in his place if you have her, she's so insane that some people literally have counter cards in their decks just to beat her.
I am looking for some help on 1 things: What card to remove for a 2nd Flametongue Totem?
My deck is shaping up to be a mid range/control as Jordawes points out. My totems in combination with elementals, Drakes, and Hoggar are giving me wins at 6-8 turns without needing big "win" cards. Al'Akir is being used as a finisher, if used at all. This is mostly been forced by the high # of priests I run into. Winning b4 turn 8 guantees that Mind Control does not become a factor. Even if he does, my creatures are not hard to get rid of. I have thought about using Ysera as another "win" card, but against a priest, I'd rather not have to get rid off a 12 health minion... unless I purposely save hexes.
To Jordawes question on Faerie Dragon: They are amazing right now. With high popularity of contol decks (priest mostly), they are a terror for my opponents. Not a better (2) drop that I can think of. Also Jordawes, please link your shaman deck. I love looking at shaman deck builds.
I am looking for some help on 1 things: What card to remove for a 2nd Flametongue Totem?
To Jordawes question on Faerie Dragon: They are amazing right now. With high popularity of contol decks (priest mostly), they are a terror for my opponents. Not a better (2) drop that I can think of. Also Jordawes, please link your shaman deck. I love looking at shaman deck builds.
I'm glad I'm not the only one who likes looking at others shaman decks, it's the class I intend to main for constructed in Hearthstone :P. I'd debate Al'Akir for your 2nd flametongue if you find that all his tools aren't clutching games and is only really there to finish them; might as well run the totem for surprise up trading/damage or Leeroy if you want a 6 damage finisher since hes 4 mana. I might link my own aggressive/control hybrid which also tries Al'Akir support, but last thing I want to do is hijack a thread with my builds.
I am looking for some help on 1 things: What card to remove for a 2nd Flametongue Totem?
To Jordawes question on Faerie Dragon: They are amazing right now. With high popularity of contol decks (priest mostly), they are a terror for my opponents. Not a better (2) drop that I can think of. Also Jordawes, please link your shaman deck. I love looking at shaman deck builds.
I'm glad I'm not the only one who likes looking at others shaman decks, it's the class I intend to main for constructed in Hearthstone :P. I'd debate Al'Akir for your 2nd flametongue if you find that all his tools aren't clutching games and is only really there to finish them; might as well run the totem for surprise up trading/damage or Leeroy if you want a 6 damage finisher since hes 4 mana. I might link my own aggressive/control hybrid which also tries Al'Akir support, but last thing I want to do is hijack a thread with my builds.
Hijack away or just provide a link. I am sold on shaman due to the fact I played shaman through first 3 Wow expansions (killed hard mode lich king and quit that night). Since I am stuck on shaman, I want to get the best at it and reviewing others decks is part of the process. I will craft a leeroy soon and see if I like him as a finisher,
I don't have all the cards I want just yet but this is roughly what my current Shaman control deck looks like. It's a slow deck with little to do in the early game besides spam hero power / try to maintain a somewhat clean board. Changes in mind: +1 Earth Elemental, +1 Feral Spirit, ~other stuff. I'm at work at the moment and can't recall exactly what changes I'd had in mind for the deck, it's power level is currently: good enough. Warrior is my true calling and where I'm investing most of my dust.
The basic premise is using powerful 2 for 1 minions along with board control staples in a pseudo hybrid of styles. Ancestral Spirit is arguably the only oddball, but I treat it as a "X damage removal spell that you cast on minions", with X being the minions damage.
Injured Blademaster + Ancestral Spirit next turn is a 4/7 (since it doesn't trigger his "Battlecry") for 5 mana that is also a 4 damage removal spell. Faceless + Ancestral is a neat combo to steal two "copies" of an enemies minion, while Ancestral + Faceless your own minion gives you 2 copies that respawn when killed. Argent Commander is a pretty mean target to Ancestral if he lives to the end of a turn, since he'll respawn with Charge AND Divine Shield, ready to 2 for 1 all over again. I want to test Al'Akir with all this support (potential Faceless copy, Ancestral Spirit, Flametongue) before I rule him out completely.
Reading this thread has inspired me to look into certain aspects of my deck (it didn't have flametongue before, the debate of Al'Akir, looking into Mana Tide over Auctioneer, etc). I think it's nice that a discussion and refinement of one man's deck can help others notice things about theirs, while still allowing them to do something different.
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Last week I was lucky enough to get Al'Akir the Windlord in a pack and decided to go about creating a shaman control deck. With some help from the forums and friends this is the deck list I am almost done with. Please review and comment.
-Huckit
Overview
This is my Shaman Control deck. For those that are unfamiliar with control decks, the goal is to keep control of the board and get your "win" cards out. Keeping control of the board involves removal and taunt minions. In this deck I use cheap early spells and weapon to keep the board clear for first few turns. Having an early weapon creates a card advantage in your favor by destoying at least 2 minions and sometimes 3. Keep the board clear and get taunt minions out until turn 5/6 and then get the "win" cards into play.
Removal
Forked Lightning
Lightning Storm
Hex
Lightning Bolt
Fire Elemental
Weapons
Weapons are additional sorce of removal. I do not use weapons to swing at their hero, unless it is for the win.
Stormforged Axe
Other Possibilites: Doomhammer
Minion Buffs
Flametongue Totem - I only have 1 currently only because there is no other cards I want to remove.
Rockbiter Weapon - This is primarily used on my hero for early removal as well
Silences
I am low on silence cards, but hex also works as a silence, and even if I do not have a silence, there is plenty of removal.
Earth Shock
Other possibilities: Ironbeak Owl, Spellbreaker
Basic Creatures
Faerie Dragon
Taunt
Feral Spirit
Sen'jin Shieldmaster
Earth Elemental
Hoggar
Al'Akir the Windlord
Other Posibilities: Defender of Argus
Card Draw
Azure Drake
Mana Tide Totem - I use this over Gadgetzan Auctioneer since I have Azure Drake as my (5) drop card draw.
Bloodmage Thalnos
Other Possibilities: Gadgetzan Auctioneer
"Win" Cards
These are cards that when you put them on the playing field, they are expected to win you the game or require the opponent to put all their resources toward it, effectively giving you the advantage to win.
Al'Akir the Windlord
Hoggar
Other "Win" Possibilities:
Deathwing - I personally never fall behind, so Deathwing is unnecessary for me.
Illidain Stormrage
Onyxia - Have seen this in some decks that run Bloodlust. I do not.
Sylvanas Windrunner - Have seen this used well vs opponents "Win" cards, but sometimes RNG is not your friend.
Other General Possibilites
Here are some other possible cards that players use in control decks that are not mentioned above.
Ancestral Spirit
Ancestral Healing
Cairne Bloodhoof
Faceless Manipulator
Change Notices
10/8/13 - Initial deck and description written.
10/9/13 - Removed Doomhammer and Forked Lightning for 2x Faerie Dragon. Reasoning: Control decks are becoming popular (especially priest) and Faerie Dragon is perfect against them.
10/11/13 - Removed Ragnaros the Firelord and Gadgetzan Auctioneers and replaced with Mana Tide Totems and Flametongue Totem. Reasoning: Ragnaros was not winning me games. My games are decided before turn 8, and priest have mind control then...I added Flametongue Totem to buff my hero power totems and Faerie Dragons early in the game. See "card draw" for retioning behind Mana Tide Totem vs Gadgetzan Auctioneer.
Looks pretty good. One thing I would try to do is sub in the Windrunner or whatever that minion is called that gives the other minion windufry. Would be pretty powerful to finish off foes.
Also I don't think you can make a shaman deck without bloodlust. One of the best cards in the entire game and has stolen me more wins then I can count even with poor cards.
Most Control decks don't bother with Bloodlust because they tend to have few minions on the board at any given time, although it does have some merit for turning totems into a threat and having surprise factor (a token swarm or murloc deck? yeah, they got Bloodlust, but Control? not so much). I do agree that one windfury in Control can also have some merit for surprise burst, but not entirely needed if done well. I'd run the Windfury spell over anything else though if I wanted one for the Auctioneer synergy.
For the deck itself, it looks solid, but I might be slightly concerned with no 2 or 3 cost minions, do you find that your early removal can carry you into the mid-late game where you can drop minions? With Sen'jin and Earth Ele, Feral Spirits might be a tad overkill on Taunt, but that's your call (although now that I think about it, they could/do count as your early minions).
it looks pretty solid, I might just add a Big Game Hunter some where to get rid of out of control enraged creatures or just big creatures in general. Maybe take out one of the Stormforged Axe for this.
Really like the thoughts here. I agree with your opinions on Bloodlust. I never think,"Man...wish I had a Bloodlust". This deck is really a slow killer. It gains a card advantage and keeps the board clear. By turns 5-8, the game is decided already and Bloodlust does not change the outcome. I typically do not have enough minions/totems at turn 5 for Bloodlust to be effective.
On your concern with 2-3 cost minions... I agree. I find myself taking damage early by using my weapon instead of creatures, but it never gets out of control. Spells and weapons keep me alive until Sen'jin and Wolves. I am looking to work in Faerie Dragon, but currently cannot decide what to remove. May see an update today with a change. Also, since I lost to a priest, Faerie Dragon would give them alot of trouble on a turn 1(w/ coin) or 2 drop. I also may add an Ironbeak Owl as well.
Updated 10/9/13 - Removed Doomhammer and Forked Lightning for 2x Faerie Dragon.
Reasoning: Control decks are becoming popular (especially priest) and Faerie Dragon is perfect against them.
Also, please +1 if you like the deck.
I would definitely try out some manatide totems. One of the best cards in the game for a control deck IMO. Looks like a great deck though nice job!
I hate to stick my face in this but how does anyone think Al'Akir is bad? He has immediate value and is a guaranteed 2+ for 1, it's like what Argent Commander wishes it could be for only 2 more mana. The deck posted in this thread doesn't look like pure control to me, closer to midrange, and in that case I understand excluding Al'Akir though that doesn't mean the card is bad. And when I say it looks like midrange I don't mean to insult it by any means, I simply mean your control appears to be almost entirely dependent on creatures so you've loaded up on value critters. Many of your cards don't necessarily = card advantage though fat bodies often produce it. If anyone wants to flame me that's fine; my hope for this post is to spark an intelligent discussion on the validity of a card and the strengths of the deck presented here. I like your deck and it's influenced my own Shaman deck to some extent, I also enjoyed your reasoning for including Faerie Dragon. I'd love to hear about how you feel it has influenced your matches/match-ups.
Thanks for the advice.
Manatide: My problem with manatide is you need a taunt minion out before you play a manatide, otherwise it is targeted and you get 1 card draw for 3 mana. It is worth it if the opponent uses a high cost spell on it though. I am thinking of replacing the auctioneers for manatides, because I already have drakes as my 5 drop card draw. I will have to play around with this.
Flametongue: I have taken these in and out of my deck for multiple reasons. I am thinking of replacing Ragnaros with something like flametongue. With agro decks becoming less popular, my totems are staying alive longer, making a flametongue more valuable. I do not see what else to remove from my deck other than a spell, which could be possible.
Onyxia: By turn nine, my side of the board is generally near full which does not allow for the full effect of Onyxia. I am looking for better "win" cards. I may try out Illidan, which gives similar effect of Onyxia, but is brought out earlier.
Bloodlust: I have asked myself in games that I lose whether Bloodlust would have won me the game and I have yet to say yes. Sometimes it can win the game earlier, but it does not act a game changer like it does in agro decks that have 3-5 creatures out on turn 5. Bloodlust, to me, is a turn 5 or 6 win, but my deck is not designed that way.
Onyxia + Bloodlust is powerful certainly for midrange aggression/aggro decks as a win condition, but its not a fit for all decks.
I agree that Drakes and Auctioneers can conflict for board space, being similar cost and stats, so I'd experiment with either Drakes/Mana Tide or just Auctioneers/Replacement for Drake.
I also agree that flametongue can be pretty strong in any shaman deck, letting your mana sink totems trade up with 3/2's, soften targets, or get 2 damage in on the hero for basically free. It also lets your other minions do potential trade ups as well and supports Al'Akir.
I'm honestly a fan of 2 Lightning Bolt/ 1 Rockbiter if there has to be three 1mana removals. Lightning Bolt can scale off Spell Damage. When you have an axe equipped, Rockbiter + Attack and Lightning Bolt + Attack are almost identical; except that if need be you can redirect that 3 from Lightning Bolt to another target, where Rockbiter + Axe is all on one target without the ability to redirect it. They both have their pros and cons though, and I might be biased because I'll be experimenting with Unbound Elemental in Control/Hybrid decks (for an early game snowball minion they have/want to answer).
I'm on the fence about Al'Akir myself, on one hand all the card text makes him versatile, one the other hand, his stats are kinda garbage and he needs support to shine against late game minions. I feel with proper support, he can be a monster; but do you want a legendary who wants support, or one who can support? I'd experiment with Ysera in his place if you have her, she's so insane that some people literally have counter cards in their decks just to beat her.
Update 10/11/13 - Removed Ragnaros the Firelord and Gadgetzan Auctioneers and replaced with Mana Tide Totems and Flametongue Totem. Reasoning: Ragnaros was not winning me games. My games are decided before turn 8, and priest have mind control then...I added Flametongue Totem to buff my hero power totems and Faerie Dragons early in the game. I removed Gadgetzan Auctioneer because I already have (5) drop card draw with drakes.
I am looking for some help on 1 things: What card to remove for a 2nd Flametongue Totem?
My deck is shaping up to be a mid range/control as Jordawes points out. My totems in combination with elementals, Drakes, and Hoggar are giving me wins at 6-8 turns without needing big "win" cards. Al'Akir is being used as a finisher, if used at all. This is mostly been forced by the high # of priests I run into. Winning b4 turn 8 guantees that Mind Control does not become a factor. Even if he does, my creatures are not hard to get rid of. I have thought about using Ysera as another "win" card, but against a priest, I'd rather not have to get rid off a 12 health minion... unless I purposely save hexes.
To Jordawes question on Faerie Dragon: They are amazing right now. With high popularity of contol decks (priest mostly), they are a terror for my opponents. Not a better (2) drop that I can think of. Also Jordawes, please link your shaman deck. I love looking at shaman deck builds.
I'm glad I'm not the only one who likes looking at others shaman decks, it's the class I intend to main for constructed in Hearthstone :P. I'd debate Al'Akir for your 2nd flametongue if you find that all his tools aren't clutching games and is only really there to finish them; might as well run the totem for surprise up trading/damage or Leeroy if you want a 6 damage finisher since hes 4 mana. I might link my own aggressive/control hybrid which also tries Al'Akir support, but last thing I want to do is hijack a thread with my builds.
Hijack away or just provide a link. I am sold on shaman due to the fact I played shaman through first 3 Wow expansions (killed hard mode lich king and quit that night). Since I am stuck on shaman, I want to get the best at it and reviewing others decks is part of the process. I will craft a leeroy soon and see if I like him as a finisher,
Pretty new to the forums, I think this'll link my deck... (hope)
I don't have all the cards I want just yet but this is roughly what my current Shaman control deck looks like. It's a slow deck with little to do in the early game besides spam hero power / try to maintain a somewhat clean board. Changes in mind: +1 Earth Elemental, +1 Feral Spirit, ~other stuff. I'm at work at the moment and can't recall exactly what changes I'd had in mind for the deck, it's power level is currently: good enough. Warrior is my true calling and where I'm investing most of my dust.
Fellow former shaman main huh? Guess we stick to what we know best :P. Well, Hijack inc-
The basic premise is using powerful 2 for 1 minions along with board control staples in a pseudo hybrid of styles. Ancestral Spirit is arguably the only oddball, but I treat it as a "X damage removal spell that you cast on minions", with X being the minions damage.
Injured Blademaster + Ancestral Spirit next turn is a 4/7 (since it doesn't trigger his "Battlecry") for 5 mana that is also a 4 damage removal spell. Faceless + Ancestral is a neat combo to steal two "copies" of an enemies minion, while Ancestral + Faceless your own minion gives you 2 copies that respawn when killed. Argent Commander is a pretty mean target to Ancestral if he lives to the end of a turn, since he'll respawn with Charge AND Divine Shield, ready to 2 for 1 all over again. I want to test Al'Akir with all this support (potential Faceless copy, Ancestral Spirit, Flametongue) before I rule him out completely.
Reading this thread has inspired me to look into certain aspects of my deck (it didn't have flametongue before, the debate of Al'Akir, looking into Mana Tide over Auctioneer, etc). I think it's nice that a discussion and refinement of one man's deck can help others notice things about theirs, while still allowing them to do something different.