I've played easily 100 arenas at this point - possibly more, and I just can't get the hang of this. I'm not an amazing ladder player, but I casually grind to rank 10 (if not only for a moment) each season.
I've tried using tier lists and heartharena.com, but I think there's something fundamental that I'm missing about arena play. I go into each game just trying to hold board control, and being mindful of the other class's flamestrikes, etc. I've tried reading articles on arena, and I'm about ready to give up on it entirely. I think the format just isn't for me.
Any ideas, articles or suggestions before i swear off arena all together? Anything you guys have would be appreciated.
I am no great arena player myself but maybe change it up... try to get good at 2-3 classes and instead of board control style maybe try a much more agressive style or heavy midrange.
Also I found that Areamastery and other such "valuation" tools can be helpful, but you should not be afraid to pick against them, especially after pick 12-15 or so. At that point you should have a plan for your deck and work more on curve. Small things like weapons and minions can often be better than a slightly better spell...
Anyway, my main point is that if you enjoy arena and want to play it, but are stuck change your method. Control and slow tempo play is ok but can be tough in arena since you don't have that combo finisher that you can make in constructed.
I learned how to make good drafts and mulligan properly by watching ADWCTA and Merps. I learned advanced drafting techniques and playing styles by watching Ratsmah and Shadybunny. Watching these streamers made me switch to a more aggressive and tempo approach with less emphasis on value.
I learned how to play well by playing lots of constructed, not arena. The quality of players in arena is much lower than constructed. Playing around ranks 5-4 in constructed really helped me understand the classes and make better plays in arena.
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4x Top 150 arena player #95 June 2017 6.80, #108 Aug 2017 7.67, #127 Feb 2018 Wildfest 7.7, #33 Nov 2018 7.53
HCT Challenger Finals qualifier: 2018 Season 1, 2, 3
How bad is it going normally? 0-3? 6-3? Different people tend to consider different results as "bad" ones.
When I'm playing I consider 3 wins to be a victory (since I get to open that 3rd present box - woot woot!) Most of the time I'm 1-3, 2-3 or 0-3.
My 3 best arena runs are 7-3, 5-3, and 5-3 and they were fluke decks that just fit my play style (Beast Hunter, Beast Druid, and spell-heavy mage)
Thank you to everyone who suggested shady bunny - i will give it a try.
No joke, a few months back I had almost the EXACT same feelings and ratios as you seem to have right now. You know what I did? I stopped worrying about it. I focused on ladder and just did Arena when I felt like it. I used to think that I had to grind Arena to learn the tricks and be better etc. No man. That just means you are playing something that you aren't excited about. That will lose you games far more consistently than any misplays. I have now had 3 different 12 win runs in my last 15 or so Arenas. Not an amazing ratio but I had a hell of a lot more fun and success than I was when I forced myself to play. My most recent run was a 12-1 and the 1 was only due to a disconnect.
Just relax and focus on having fun and learning instead of your ratios and stats.
Oh also, add Simcopter to your list of streamers to check out. I credit him a ton with how much better I have gotten. I thoroughly enjoy his stream and have thanked him on multiple occassions for making me a better player and a more thoughtful person.
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I've played easily 100 arenas at this point - possibly more, and I just can't get the hang of this. I'm not an amazing ladder player, but I casually grind to rank 10 (if not only for a moment) each season.
I've tried using tier lists and heartharena.com, but I think there's something fundamental that I'm missing about arena play. I go into each game just trying to hold board control, and being mindful of the other class's flamestrikes, etc. I've tried reading articles on arena, and I'm about ready to give up on it entirely. I think the format just isn't for me.
Any ideas, articles or suggestions before i swear off arena all together? Anything you guys have would be appreciated.
What I'm Currently Playing: Purify Priest
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.
.
.
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Check it out!
How bad is it going normally? 0-3? 6-3? Different people tend to consider different results as "bad" ones.
I bring life and pffffffffffffff!
When I'm playing I consider 3 wins to be a victory (since I get to open that 3rd present box - woot woot!) Most of the time I'm 1-3, 2-3 or 0-3.
My 3 best arena runs are 7-3, 5-3, and 5-3 and they were fluke decks that just fit my play style (Beast Hunter, Beast Druid, and spell-heavy mage)
Thank you to everyone who suggested shady bunny - i will give it a try.
What I'm Currently Playing: Purify Priest
.
.
.
.
.
Check it out!
I recommend watching Ratsmah on Twitch. He just play arenas and also coaches. Great player.
Agree, ratsmah is my new favorite, and does a decent job explaining plays.
I am no great arena player myself but maybe change it up... try to get good at 2-3 classes and instead of board control style maybe try a much more agressive style or heavy midrange.
Also I found that Areamastery and other such "valuation" tools can be helpful, but you should not be afraid to pick against them, especially after pick 12-15 or so. At that point you should have a plan for your deck and work more on curve. Small things like weapons and minions can often be better than a slightly better spell...
Anyway, my main point is that if you enjoy arena and want to play it, but are stuck change your method. Control and slow tempo play is ok but can be tough in arena since you don't have that combo finisher that you can make in constructed.
I learned how to make good drafts and mulligan properly by watching ADWCTA and Merps. I learned advanced drafting techniques and playing styles by watching Ratsmah and Shadybunny. Watching these streamers made me switch to a more aggressive and tempo approach with less emphasis on value.
I learned how to play well by playing lots of constructed, not arena. The quality of players in arena is much lower than constructed. Playing around ranks 5-4 in constructed really helped me understand the classes and make better plays in arena.
4x Top 150 arena player
#95 June 2017 6.80, #108 Aug 2017 7.67, #127 Feb 2018 Wildfest 7.7, #33 Nov 2018 7.53
HCT Challenger Finals qualifier: 2018 Season 1, 2, 3
No joke, a few months back I had almost the EXACT same feelings and ratios as you seem to have right now. You know what I did? I stopped worrying about it. I focused on ladder and just did Arena when I felt like it. I used to think that I had to grind Arena to learn the tricks and be better etc. No man. That just means you are playing something that you aren't excited about. That will lose you games far more consistently than any misplays. I have now had 3 different 12 win runs in my last 15 or so Arenas. Not an amazing ratio but I had a hell of a lot more fun and success than I was when I forced myself to play. My most recent run was a 12-1 and the 1 was only due to a disconnect.
Just relax and focus on having fun and learning instead of your ratios and stats.
Oh also, add Simcopter to your list of streamers to check out. I credit him a ton with how much better I have gotten. I thoroughly enjoy his stream and have thanked him on multiple occassions for making me a better player and a more thoughtful person.