Well. Leeroy's getting nerfed. (You can read all about it here: http://us.battle.net/hearthstone/en/forum/topic/14279128810#1) And all in all, I don't really love it (and I'm probably one of the few who thinks the starving buzzard change is a bit much). Miracle Rogue and Handlock (the latter of which being my Hearthstone love interest) are (obviously) dramatically affected (hurt) by this change. So, besides all the obvious discussions (that will take place elsewhere), the question here and now is this: What will handlock become now?
This isn't the first time I've been concerned about Handlock. Naxx scared me for a while just before it released, but the handlock players found a way to make it work. But this is a dramatic change that I don't think we can just ignore. Obviously modifications are gonna have to be made. So; how do we fix or even recreate handlock?
Will the deck even survive once this change goes live?
Handlock wasn't known for its burst with Leeroy in its early days, it was more as a control deck with Alex and Jaraxxus, either way, it's great that Handlock is once viable again.
Everyone seems to think Handlock will be okay. Huh. (Consider me puzzled, but pacified.)
I am curious, now, though. What does a handlock deck look like without the Leeroy burst? (I've tried to find them, but I can't seem to.) -Faceless and PO too? Or just Leeroy as the Faceless and PO could still be useful? Thanks. :)
Everyone seems to think Handlock will be okay. Huh. (Consider me puzzled, but pacified.)
I am curious, now, though. What does a handlock deck look like without the Leeroy burst? (I've tried to find them, but I can't seem to.) -Faceless and PO too? Or just Leeroy as the Faceless and PO could still be useful? Thanks. :)
At the end of the day, ideally the Handlock has board control and 8/8s mashing face, the burst with Leeroy isn't really necessary now is it? :) If anything, the burst was just there as surprise damage, that was it.
Everyone seems to think Handlock will be okay. Huh. (Consider me puzzled, but pacified.)
I am curious, now, though. What does a handlock deck look like without the Leeroy burst? (I've tried to find them, but I can't seem to.) -Faceless and PO too? Or just Leeroy as the Faceless and PO could still be useful? Thanks. :)
I can't give you a list, but faceless is probably staying since it's very good with your twilight drakes and giants.
also it is worth noting that the combo standalone wasn't worth much. Notice how paladin have never run leeroy+BoM+Blessed champion for 18.
The combo was run because of all the synergies they also had in that they were never dead cards. PO+ shadowflame, faceless + taunted giant or whatever pseudo removal was needed.
You can theoretically still pull off an arcane golem+PO+Faceless burst for 16 damage and 9 mana (or 24 with double PO and 10 mana). Not too shabby if you ask me.
I am curious, now, though. What does a handlock deck look like without the Leeroy burst? (I've tried to find them, but I can't seem to.) -Faceless and PO too? Or just Leeroy as the Faceless and PO could still be useful? Thanks. :)
Well, I don't call myself some Handlock mastermind, but you can look at the deck I've been using lately.
I don't get what the fuss is over hand lock and this nerf... Wasn't it basically a dead deck in the hunter format? Now you will be able to play it again.
Quite contrary, Handlock has been coming back quite a bit with the surge of hunter decks. People are playing counters to hunter which are usually beat by handlock. I tossed together a token-ish druid deck and my first 3 matches immediately afterwards were all handlock.
It's not rocket science just to replace Leeroy Jenkins with Arcane Golem, for a T9 16 damage burst instead of a T10 20 damage burst if you really want the "OOPs, I win" turn. I used that a lot as a budget Handlock and never thought it was comparably worse to Lerroy burst because I could out race Roar/Trees.
That said I don't think Handlock has to even run the combo now that Hunter is dead, Nerubian Eggs seem like a lot of fun and Sludge Belcher and Loatheb aren't as necessary.
Also a possible 24 damage combo with 2 Power Overwhelming on turn 10. Thinking probably running 2 Arcane Golem in a new handlock deck, decent trade value or cheap board clear with a Shadowflame.
Honestly, I'm thinking of keeping Leeroy in. I never use the faceless combo, and when I do, it's usually for about 9 points of overkill damage anyway. Leeroy's not core to the Handlock strategy at all - most of the time he's just an extra 6 damage on top of your giants to push you to lethal.
Well. Leeroy's getting nerfed. (You can read all about it here: http://us.battle.net/hearthstone/en/forum/topic/14279128810#1) And all in all, I don't really love it (and I'm probably one of the few who thinks the starving buzzard change is a bit much). Miracle Rogue and Handlock (the latter of which being my Hearthstone love interest) are (obviously) dramatically affected (hurt) by this change. So, besides all the obvious discussions (that will take place elsewhere), the question here and now is this: What will handlock become now?
This isn't the first time I've been concerned about Handlock. Naxx scared me for a while just before it released, but the handlock players found a way to make it work. But this is a dramatic change that I don't think we can just ignore. Obviously modifications are gonna have to be made. So; how do we fix or even recreate handlock?
Will the deck even survive once this change goes live?
handlock is fine you will see a lot of handlock(YAY) and a lot of shaman countering it as well as a lot of new decks :)
Bye, bye hunter........
When life gives you lemons, trade'em for limes and get some Coronas!
I've never used Leeroy in my handlock decks...
I prefer solid cards that help me survive over a super-situational 3 card, 10 mana combo.
Handlock will be fine. There are a lot of variations on it and not all of em' even use leeroy.
Handlock wasn't known for its burst with Leeroy in its early days, it was more as a control deck with Alex and Jaraxxus, either way, it's great that Handlock is once viable again.
Handlock was strong in the olden days before they even started playing leeroy.
Back in the day it used to be a serious control deck.
Everyone seems to think Handlock will be okay. Huh. (Consider me puzzled, but pacified.)
I am curious, now, though. What does a handlock deck look like without the Leeroy burst? (I've tried to find them, but I can't seem to.) -Faceless and PO too? Or just Leeroy as the Faceless and PO could still be useful? Thanks. :)
At the end of the day, ideally the Handlock has board control and 8/8s mashing face, the burst with Leeroy isn't really necessary now is it? :) If anything, the burst was just there as surprise damage, that was it.
I can't give you a list, but faceless is probably staying since it's very good with your twilight drakes and giants.
I am now expectant that Jaraxxus (and/or Alex) will return to handlock. (Though I never cut Alex in the first place.)
That just means I get to make more people FACE JARAXXUS, EREDAR LORD OF THE BURNING LEGION. Which is cool. I miss Jaraxxus.
also it is worth noting that the combo standalone wasn't worth much. Notice how paladin have never run leeroy+BoM+Blessed champion for 18.
The combo was run because of all the synergies they also had in that they were never dead cards. PO+ shadowflame, faceless + taunted giant or whatever pseudo removal was needed.
You can theoretically still pull off an arcane golem+PO+Faceless burst for 16 damage and 9 mana (or 24 with double PO and 10 mana). Not too shabby if you ask me.
Well, I don't call myself some Handlock mastermind, but you can look at the deck I've been using lately.
I don't get what the fuss is over hand lock and this nerf... Wasn't it basically a dead deck in the hunter format? Now you will be able to play it again.
Quite contrary, Handlock has been coming back quite a bit with the surge of hunter decks. People are playing counters to hunter which are usually beat by handlock. I tossed together a token-ish druid deck and my first 3 matches immediately afterwards were all handlock.
It's not rocket science just to replace Leeroy Jenkins with Arcane Golem, for a T9 16 damage burst instead of a T10 20 damage burst if you really want the "OOPs, I win" turn. I used that a lot as a budget Handlock and never thought it was comparably worse to Lerroy burst because I could out race Roar/Trees.
That said I don't think Handlock has to even run the combo now that Hunter is dead, Nerubian Eggs seem like a lot of fun and Sludge Belcher and Loatheb aren't as necessary.
Also a possible 24 damage combo with 2 Power Overwhelming on turn 10. Thinking probably running 2 Arcane Golem in a new handlock deck, decent trade value or cheap board clear with a Shadowflame.
Honestly, I'm thinking of keeping Leeroy in. I never use the faceless combo, and when I do, it's usually for about 9 points of overkill damage anyway. Leeroy's not core to the Handlock strategy at all - most of the time he's just an extra 6 damage on top of your giants to push you to lethal.
I wouldn't be surprised to see a lot more Handlocks around after the nerfs.