I'd go for the Anodized Robo Cub. It's a nice, flexible two drop that you can change to fit the circumstances when you drop it. While it's still early in the draft, you haven't got any two drops yet and this is a pretty decent one.
I am a huge fan of Starfire, and those two two-drops are nothing spectacular - serviceable, but easily replaced by any other half-decent two-drop in the game. The Robo Cub is a nice card, though, and it's a mech, which is sometimes relevant.
You were spot-on for Naturalize - it's an enabler to game-ending burst damage, and it's one of the only hard removal spells Druids have access to, making it not as bad as some will have you believe. It is however a very risky spell, and I'm never happy picking it, whereas Yetis win games.
you're 25% of the way through and have no two drops so forget about the Starfire here. you won't have weapons so I go with robo cub for the taunt and flexibility.
tallstrider is definitely not flat out wrong - different opinions, different playstyles and there was no obvious choice. i would argue that 3/2 + ping to kill it is 1 card and 4 mana, equal trade. and Truesilver is just an OP card in arena so a bad comparison when you were presented with mediocre options.
I agree. The Tallstrider isn't necessarily wrong and the second Ironbark wouldn't be either. If you can get there and can slam two or three ironbarks in a row you should win the game most of the time. In arena people simple aren't going to have that much hard removal and by the second one almost everyone is going to be throwing multiple creatures at it to kill it giving you very favorable trades. Odds of someone actually being able to handle 3 is really low.
The bloodsail raider isn't necessarily bad even if the battlecry doesn't help for druid a 2/3 for two mana isn't actually bad. I find that I tend to do that. Look at a card and say that effect doesn't help me so that card is immediately excluded but a 2/3 or a 3/2 for two mana isn't bad. I'd say the robocub is strictly better. It can be a 2/3 or a 3/2 and has taunt. Personally I'd go with the cub over starfire as 5 dmg and draw on turn 6 is at best killing off their turn 5/6 drop and replacing itself.
Pick #8 was a really tough one. I, too, really like Starfire, but I wound up going with Anodized Robo Cub. My deck is already skewing to the right cost wise. Robo Cub is a solid two drop and the taunt could help me control the early game.
OPTIONS FOR PICK #9: Naturalize vs Moonfire vs Archmage. Yeesh. All around unexciting options. My gut reaction is to pick Archmage based on its value in a vacuum, but I'd be interested to see what some of you would pick.
Generally speaking, class cards will be stronger than similar-cost neutrals in arena. In the case where you had Druid of the Claw versus Frost Elemental, DotC is far and away a better choice.
But then again, if you have something like Succubus (a Warlock class card) against Mechwarper and Acidic Swamp Ooze (two neutrals), you're probably better off with one of the neutrals. Same goes for spells over weaker minions, like how you'd never want to pick Totemic Might over even the worst neutral unless you drew nothing but buffs and taunt-givers.
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Eesh not a great selection. I feel Archmage is the only playable card there, but it ain't excellent. Others may differ, I'd like to see what they have to say ^^.
It would appear that you have the makings of a very strong deck here. You have a win condition combo along with some strong late game minions. Ok, so Lost Tallstrider isn't the best pick, but not all the cards in arena you're going to get are. I believe your best option for your current deck is Anodized Robo Cub. You are in need of some early game, and the bonus of taunt can help you slow down any aggro plays.
You should consider some removal as you get toward the 1/3 mark of your draft. Starfire is pretty effective and it replaces itself with the card draw.
Archmage seems like the best of the bad set of options. The body is weak for the cost and the spell power isn't great for a druid but Moonfire and Naturalize seem worse.
Archmage has possible synergy with any other removal/damage cards you play. I might consider the Naturalize for hard removal though... could give you that last big push to end a game, even with a card disadvantage.
Quote from Dakaran»OPTIONS FOR PICK #9: Naturalize vs Moonfire vs Archmage. Yeesh. All around unexciting options. My gut reaction is to pick Archmage based on its value in a vacuum, but I'd be interested to see what some of you would pick.
I'd go Archmage. Moonfire is complete junk in Arena, and Naturalize is too dangerous since you actually give your opponent cards. Arena is the most likely place to have topdeck wars, and I'd rather have a big body with an ability that might never be truly realized over hard removal with a serious drawback for Arena.
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Stalagg is obviously out as a choice. Loatheb is a pretty solid card and may fit in your mana curve better but spells are typically less common in arena. Sneed's is bigger and pretty sticky which is nice but you could end up with 3 or more 8 mana drops if you end up drafting anymore ironbark protectors.
Sneed's Old Shredder, outside some fringe cases, is brutal and requires two answers to deal with. But, at 8 crystals, it does not put out as much pressure as you'd like, and you'll hate the game you lose because it turned into Loremaster Cho. Loatheb is always solid value, and is a nice preemptive answer to the ever-present Flamestrikes. I still would lean towards the first one, but I am a value player, and I'll be honest - Sneed is tons of fun.
tough one but i think you go with Sneed's over Loatheb. Arena is a lot more minion heavy (fewer spells)than constructed. More than that, Loatheb's primary strength is to disrupt your opponent's plans but in Arena there is a lot less risk
This one isn't all that tough. Sneed's all the way. Like others have said, there is a lot less spells in arena so you basically drop it just to get traded with his other minions. Sneed takes a lot more resources to remove.
Sounds like a resounding recommendation for Sneed's Old Shredder, which is interesting as my initial thought was that Loatheb would be the preferable selection. I suppose that does make sense that there would be fewer spells in a non-constructed environment. Picking Sneed is also a little easier to do since I didn't take the second Ironbark Protector earlier at pick #4. Thanks for the feedback, everyone! Okay, next up:
OPTIONS FOR PICK #11: Stonetusk Boar vs Moonfire vs Poison Seeds. I'm leaning towards Stonetusk Board for an early-game drop. Would that be the preferable pick to Poison Seeds?
I'd go for the Anodized Robo Cub. It's a nice, flexible two drop that you can change to fit the circumstances when you drop it. While it's still early in the draft, you haven't got any two drops yet and this is a pretty decent one.
I am a huge fan of Starfire, and those two two-drops are nothing spectacular - serviceable, but easily replaced by any other half-decent two-drop in the game. The Robo Cub is a nice card, though, and it's a mech, which is sometimes relevant.
You were spot-on for Naturalize - it's an enabler to game-ending burst damage, and it's one of the only hard removal spells Druids have access to, making it not as bad as some will have you believe. It is however a very risky spell, and I'm never happy picking it, whereas Yetis win games.
you're 25% of the way through and have no two drops so forget about the Starfire here. you won't have weapons so I go with robo cub for the taunt and flexibility.
tallstrider is definitely not flat out wrong - different opinions, different playstyles and there was no obvious choice. i would argue that 3/2 + ping to kill it is 1 card and 4 mana, equal trade. and Truesilver is just an OP card in arena so a bad comparison when you were presented with mediocre options.
ok whats next? :)
let me change your mind...
I agree. The Tallstrider isn't necessarily wrong and the second Ironbark wouldn't be either. If you can get there and can slam two or three ironbarks in a row you should win the game most of the time. In arena people simple aren't going to have that much hard removal and by the second one almost everyone is going to be throwing multiple creatures at it to kill it giving you very favorable trades. Odds of someone actually being able to handle 3 is really low.
The bloodsail raider isn't necessarily bad even if the battlecry doesn't help for druid a 2/3 for two mana isn't actually bad. I find that I tend to do that. Look at a card and say that effect doesn't help me so that card is immediately excluded but a 2/3 or a 3/2 for two mana isn't bad. I'd say the robocub is strictly better. It can be a 2/3 or a 3/2 and has taunt. Personally I'd go with the cub over starfire as 5 dmg and draw on turn 6 is at best killing off their turn 5/6 drop and replacing itself.
Pick #8 was a really tough one. I, too, really like Starfire, but I wound up going with Anodized Robo Cub. My deck is already skewing to the right cost wise. Robo Cub is a solid two drop and the taunt could help me control the early game.
OPTIONS FOR PICK #9: Naturalize vs Moonfire vs Archmage. Yeesh. All around unexciting options. My gut reaction is to pick Archmage based on its value in a vacuum, but I'd be interested to see what some of you would pick.
Generally speaking, class cards will be stronger than similar-cost neutrals in arena. In the case where you had Druid of the Claw versus Frost Elemental, DotC is far and away a better choice.
But then again, if you have something like Succubus (a Warlock class card) against Mechwarper and Acidic Swamp Ooze (two neutrals), you're probably better off with one of the neutrals. Same goes for spells over weaker minions, like how you'd never want to pick Totemic Might over even the worst neutral unless you drew nothing but buffs and taunt-givers.
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Eesh not a great selection. I feel Archmage is the only playable card there, but it ain't excellent. Others may differ, I'd like to see what they have to say ^^.
ouch your #9 options suck. i think you have to go with Archmage.
let me change your mind...
It would appear that you have the makings of a very strong deck here. You have a win condition combo along with some strong late game minions. Ok, so Lost Tallstrider isn't the best pick, but not all the cards in arena you're going to get are. I believe your best option for your current deck is Anodized Robo Cub. You are in need of some early game, and the bonus of taunt can help you slow down any aggro plays.
You should consider some removal as you get toward the 1/3 mark of your draft. Starfire is pretty effective and it replaces itself with the card draw.
Archmage seems like the best of the bad set of options. The body is weak for the cost and the spell power isn't great for a druid but Moonfire and Naturalize seem worse.
Archmage has possible synergy with any other removal/damage cards you play. I might consider the Naturalize for hard removal though... could give you that last big push to end a game, even with a card disadvantage.
I'd go Archmage. Moonfire is complete junk in Arena, and Naturalize is too dangerous since you actually give your opponent cards. Arena is the most likely place to have topdeck wars, and I'd rather have a big body with an ability that might never be truly realized over hard removal with a serious drawback for Arena.
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Okay, so making the best of a bad selection, I went with Archmage for pick #9.
This is probably the last pick I'll have time for today, so I'll leave things with a doozy of a conundrum for pick #10:
OPTIONS FOR PICK #10: Sneed's Old Shredder vs Stalagg vs Loatheb. Aaaand, discuss. :)
[card]Sneed's Old Shredder[/card]. Loatheb would certainly have some value against the ever present mage decks, but Sneed's is much more fun.
Stalagg is obviously out as a choice. Loatheb is a pretty solid card and may fit in your mana curve better but spells are typically less common in arena. Sneed's is bigger and pretty sticky which is nice but you could end up with 3 or more 8 mana drops if you end up drafting anymore ironbark protectors.
Sneed's Old Shredder, outside some fringe cases, is brutal and requires two answers to deal with. But, at 8 crystals, it does not put out as much pressure as you'd like, and you'll hate the game you lose because it turned into Loremaster Cho. Loatheb is always solid value, and is a nice preemptive answer to the ever-present Flamestrikes. I still would lean towards the first one, but I am a value player, and I'll be honest - Sneed is tons of fun.
tough one but i think you go with Sneed's over Loatheb. Arena is a lot more minion heavy (fewer spells)than constructed. More than that, Loatheb's primary strength is to disrupt your opponent's plans but in Arena there is a lot less risk
let me change your mind...
This one isn't all that tough. Sneed's all the way. Like others have said, there is a lot less spells in arena so you basically drop it just to get traded with his other minions. Sneed takes a lot more resources to remove.
'id say sneeds
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Sounds like a resounding recommendation for Sneed's Old Shredder, which is interesting as my initial thought was that Loatheb would be the preferable selection. I suppose that does make sense that there would be fewer spells in a non-constructed environment. Picking Sneed is also a little easier to do since I didn't take the second Ironbark Protector earlier at pick #4. Thanks for the feedback, everyone! Okay, next up:
OPTIONS FOR PICK #11: Stonetusk Boar vs Moonfire vs Poison Seeds. I'm leaning towards Stonetusk Board for an early-game drop. Would that be the preferable pick to Poison Seeds?