And even if you play none of the above, it shuffles 2 dead draws into your deck. This card is an ultimate tech card.
Can someone think of more archetypes that get shut down by albatross?
Albatross is by definition a counter to every archetype because it delays every archetype's draws.
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Standard, Wild, and Classic player.
Losing to Sire Denathrius makes me not want to play this game anymore. The Sire Denathrius nerf makes me want to play this game again. Losing to Deathrattle Rogue makes me not want to play this game anymore. The Prince Renathal nerf makes me not want to play this game anymore.
Why would you nerf a tech card that does exactly what it's supposed to do? It's not like it makes the mage spells completely dead, their effects are just weaker until the Albatross (albatrosses, albatri??) are drawn.
I could actually see them nerfing it to 1 albatross, depending on how hard they want to push the archetype, sadly.
Damn straight, also you were right the first time the plural of Albatross is albatross or albatrosses.
It can be fixed with changing the wording on spell-mage or similar paladin class-specific cards. They should read "if your starting deck had no minions... (or no neutral cards)". They hardly use any minions in their deck anyway (Kadgar, perhaps), since if not drawn early, they will make their theme cards much weaker. This way albatross will not ruin the idea of the deck, just give dead draws (which is what it should do). Albatross only mildly screws up highlander decks compared to spell mage, so no need for further tweaks here. Actually, there already was a neutral card with similar effect (weasel), but it was generally weaker, very poorly statted and epic. Albatross is a neutral rare with very decent stats. Even if not abused, like in res priest, it makes perfect sense to run 2 copies in virtually any deck just to have a better chance to screw highlander decks and totally fuck up spell mage decks just in case. So, yes, they offer an archetype which is completely unplayable due to a card which existed before and was widely played. Explanation? We all know. The devs don't playtest at all and aim only at monetizing (absolute incompetence might be an issue as well). Surprise? Hardly.
I love the spell mage deck, it's a blast to play. Albatross can break it but I find when opponents focus too much on playing it (I had an opponent waste removal on it) it tends to backfire in the long run (priest res pool with no taunts or heals, etc). Having said that, it should cost 4. Tech cards should have some downside, spellbreaker cost 4, so should this.
And even if you play none of the above, it shuffles 2 dead draws into your deck. This card is an ultimate tech card.
Can someone think of more archetypes that get shut down by albatross?
Some EVEN archetypes in wild. (Not against the "start of game" effect, but some class cards, like Murkspark Eel)
But that's okay! Including a tech card that will actually work against several different archetypes is exactly what is needed. And remember: It's not a guaranteed counter. You have to draw and play it in time. But if played too early (especially against highlander decks), your opponent might draw one of the albatrosses and the effect is gone. So I think it's pretty balanced and well playable exactly as it is.
Its perfectly fine as is. It effects few cards. If every mage card required no minions or dupes we would be talking. Its a tech card. Dont be upset someone teched against you
Its perfectly fine as is. It effects few cards. If every mage card required no minions or dupes we would be talking. Its a tech card. Dont be upset someone teched against you
No minion mage is a fun rng fiesta deck, and yet people want to tech against a meme... what a sad state...
I actually think it's a solid deck. Druid is a tough match up for sure though. And although I don't see many Hunters and Paladins, they're rough as well. But I feel like I have a slight edge on warlocks and rogues.
Personally, I beleive that the problem is not Albatros but the design of the cards. It should be “if your decked started without creatures/duplicates, then....” What gets me mad is those Zephrys in decks that draw a lot.
And yeah, I do not play Spell Mage because of the frustration of a possible Albatros.
Other strong tech cards in the past always had a downside and their stat sucked. Kezan Mystic, Eater of Secrets, even Harrison Jones... they were incredibly strong in the matchup you were targeting, but made your deck a lot less consistent against other classes. ie being forced to play a Kezan Mystic as your vanilla 4-drop against a Warrior was an incredibly weak play. Or Harrison against a mage.
Bad Luck Albatross is just too good... his stats are in line for a 3-drop, and I would argue that it being a 4/3 instead of a 3/4 is actually an advantage. On top of that, not only it functions as an hard counter for ALL highlander decks and now Spell Mage, but its effect is still an upside in any other matchup - combo decks especially! The issue with this card is that it doesn't have any downside whatsoever.
Now don't get me wrong, I don't think the card is so oppressive that it "needs" a nerf - although Res Priest being able to put like 8 fucking Albatrosses in your deck in a single game is kinda ridiculous. But it is definitely a shit and anti-fun card, and I hope not to see cards like this in future expansions.
Exactly. A neutral card, not even an epic, with very decent stats, strong enough to include in almost any deck and totally fucking up strategies that could diversify the field. Great call. Blizzard at its finest. While DH is a blatant money grab, this is I don't even know what. Lack of vision, incompetence, you name it. They create cards for decks that are not even powerful enough, but rather could be fun to play, and at the same time they print a card that would ruin these strategies and be good enough to be present in any deck. The albatross is not even a "tech" card, it's an overpowered card per se. As if the DH is not enough to make the meta even more degenerate.
Its a tech card, it supposed to counter some deck like highlander and no minion deck,putting albatross in your deck actually make your deck worst if no one play highlander
Albatross is by definition a counter to every archetype because it delays every archetype's draws.
Standard, Wild, and Classic player.Losing to Sire Denathrius makes me not want to play this game anymore.The Sire Denathrius nerf makes me want to play this game again.
Losing to Deathrattle Rogue makes me not want to play this game anymore.
The Prince Renathal nerf makes me not want to play this game anymore.
Damn straight, also you were right the first time the plural of Albatross is albatross or albatrosses.
It can be fixed with changing the wording on spell-mage or similar paladin class-specific cards. They should read "if your starting deck had no minions... (or no neutral cards)". They hardly use any minions in their deck anyway (Kadgar, perhaps), since if not drawn early, they will make their theme cards much weaker. This way albatross will not ruin the idea of the deck, just give dead draws (which is what it should do). Albatross only mildly screws up highlander decks compared to spell mage, so no need for further tweaks here. Actually, there already was a neutral card with similar effect (weasel), but it was generally weaker, very poorly statted and epic. Albatross is a neutral rare with very decent stats. Even if not abused, like in res priest, it makes perfect sense to run 2 copies in virtually any deck just to have a better chance to screw highlander decks and totally fuck up spell mage decks just in case. So, yes, they offer an archetype which is completely unplayable due to a card which existed before and was widely played. Explanation? We all know. The devs don't playtest at all and aim only at monetizing (absolute incompetence might be an issue as well). Surprise? Hardly.
Spell mage?
Mage?
Oh, that's something I have not seen trough all these Demon Hunters.
Don't let your Memes be dreams!
I love the spell mage deck, it's a blast to play. Albatross can break it but I find when opponents focus too much on playing it (I had an opponent waste removal on it) it tends to backfire in the long run (priest res pool with no taunts or heals, etc). Having said that, it should cost 4. Tech cards should have some downside, spellbreaker cost 4, so should this.
Some EVEN archetypes in wild. (Not against the "start of game" effect, but some class cards, like Murkspark Eel)
But that's okay! Including a tech card that will actually work against several different archetypes is exactly what is needed. And remember: It's not a guaranteed counter. You have to draw and play it in time. But if played too early (especially against highlander decks), your opponent might draw one of the albatrosses and the effect is gone. So I think it's pretty balanced and well playable exactly as it is.
Edit: typos
Its perfectly fine as is. It effects few cards. If every mage card required no minions or dupes we would be talking. Its a tech card. Dont be upset someone teched against you
I am not even encountering the albatross much. Is it really that common on the ladder?
It's not bad at all.
4.
No, it's undercosted for the stats and effect.
One Ironbeak Owl can help in highlander decks, but not useful in spellmage decks
No minion mage is a fun rng fiesta deck, and yet people want to tech against a meme... what a sad state...
I actually think it's a solid deck. Druid is a tough match up for sure though. And although I don't see many Hunters and Paladins, they're rough as well. But I feel like I have a slight edge on warlocks and rogues.
Personally, I beleive that the problem is not Albatros but the design of the cards. It should be “if your decked started without creatures/duplicates, then....” What gets me mad is those Zephrys in decks that draw a lot.
And yeah, I do not play Spell Mage because of the frustration of a possible Albatros.
Other strong tech cards in the past always had a downside and their stat sucked. Kezan Mystic, Eater of Secrets, even Harrison Jones... they were incredibly strong in the matchup you were targeting, but made your deck a lot less consistent against other classes. ie being forced to play a Kezan Mystic as your vanilla 4-drop against a Warrior was an incredibly weak play. Or Harrison against a mage.
Bad Luck Albatross is just too good... his stats are in line for a 3-drop, and I would argue that it being a 4/3 instead of a 3/4 is actually an advantage. On top of that, not only it functions as an hard counter for ALL highlander decks and now Spell Mage, but its effect is still an upside in any other matchup - combo decks especially! The issue with this card is that it doesn't have any downside whatsoever.
Now don't get me wrong, I don't think the card is so oppressive that it "needs" a nerf - although Res Priest being able to put like 8 fucking Albatrosses in your deck in a single game is kinda ridiculous. But it is definitely a shit and anti-fun card, and I hope not to see cards like this in future expansions.
Exactly. A neutral card, not even an epic, with very decent stats, strong enough to include in almost any deck and totally fucking up strategies that could diversify the field. Great call. Blizzard at its finest. While DH is a blatant money grab, this is I don't even know what. Lack of vision, incompetence, you name it. They create cards for decks that are not even powerful enough, but rather could be fun to play, and at the same time they print a card that would ruin these strategies and be good enough to be present in any deck. The albatross is not even a "tech" card, it's an overpowered card per se. As if the DH is not enough to make the meta even more degenerate.
Good joke very funny
Its a tech card, it supposed to counter some deck like highlander and no minion deck,putting albatross in your deck actually make your deck worst if no one play highlander
Wait a minute, you can't find x2 slots in a no minions deck for Polymorfs?