I wanted to have a bit of a discussion centered around Emperor Cobra.
I've seen a lot of negativity surrounding this card, and I've been trying to figure out why. I've seen it declared "significantly worse" than all other 3 drops in the game, and a lot of people suggest disenchanting it, right along side Kidnapper. I can't see Emperor Cobra being even *close* to as worthless as Kidnapper...
I can understand it not fitting in every deck, but why does this card get such a bad rap? It's got a fair bit of potential, especially in the right deck.
Yeah, good in arena. Makes coining out Yeti on 3 pointless, or really any 4 drop, if you don't have board control on 2. It kinda keeps you board control in that sense, it's not a "playing from behind" kind of card. Basically, it guarantees a 1 for 1 (excluding spells).
Also good late game if you clear the board and want to have a cheap way to 1-1 the boulderfists or legendaries etc, but if you're not winning, don't expect Cobra to help.
WAaaaaaay better than kidnapper. Although Kidnapper is nicer when playing from behind (combo with some other card and hey, free sap), in arena you're not going to have any 0 or 1 mana cards to combo with, and 2+ means that kidnapper is out at 8+ mana (ugh).
Because it dies to everything, you can't protect it. At least patient assassin has stealth, but his hp is too low.
To counter this point - The majority of 3 drops die to anything, the only really reasonable exception is Harvest Golem.
The difference? Aside from dealing with 2 drops, Harvest Golem is, at best, a 1-for-1, and outright dies (0-to-1) to higher cost drops. For instance, it dies to a Chillwind Yeti (over two turns, maybe, but it does). If you're top decking and draw one on, say... turn 9, it's going to feel like a semi-weak draw.
Emperor Cobra may die to everything, but it's very close to a guaranteed 1 for 1. It doesn't die to most AoE (Blizzard, Holy Nova, Consecration, etc - one of the big things it has over Patient Assassin), will trade for anything at the same rate that Harvest Golem does, can actually be useful later in the game (unlike Harvest Golem), and to top it off, provides an amazing amount of control if you can drop it on an empty board... it throws a threat down that Harvest Golem can't even begin to compete with.
Again, I'm not saying it's even close to a top-tier card, but in the 3 drop slot, I think it's actually one of the better minions (in any stall/control deck at least, as it actually has some late game presence). Especially against Young Priestess/Blood Imp-pumped low cost taunters.
Anyways, just my thoughts, interested in hearing some counterpoints - honestly, I'm just trying to see the card from all angles, to make sure I'm not missing a weakness (or a better card for the slot) elsewhere. I've been playing it in my Paladin deck, and it's provided me with some incredibly strong trades in combination with some protection and Argent Protector.
It doesn't have a place in every deck, but think about in a Ramp Druid deck, for example. You get to fit another removal in a class that lacks it or you draw out some sort of removal, since you'll probably have a nice wall of taunts for it to hide behind. Ancient of War for a 3 drop? Yes please.
I've been running 2 in my Hunter Beast synergy deck and they're very useful for removal, damage output, and of course the synergy (especially with Starving Hyneas - throw it at a heavy Taunt or high Health minion, removal + boost to Hyena). Like others have said, not useful in every deck, but it has its places.
Was testing it with Mark of the wild in Watcher Druid deck. Unfortunately a lot of silences in current meta makes it not very useful. However, if opponent have no silences it can be devastating.
Another attempt was to place in Pally deck, to protect it with bubble and make good trades. However in general you trade 2 cards for 2 - Kobra+Shiled against two minions (in best case). Not so great
Lokking forward to сombine it with new Priest Dark cultist card.
Short story: It's a solid arena card and there is probably a place for it in constructed, but no one has been able to find it.
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"I am Richard, Chief Warlock of the Brothers of Darkness, Lord of the Thirteen Hells, Master of the Bones, Emperor of the Black, Lord of the Undead, and The Mayor of a little village up the coast."
The effect is good, but the card has awkward stats. Its 2 attack doesn't help much cuz the target still dies anyways while 3 health is pretty low for 3 mana card since it dies to most 2 drops and common spells such as Wrath, Lightning bolt, Hunter bow, etc. without giving much value. You are right in pointing that it the same case for other 3 drops except harvest but the difference is they already paid their value when you summon them. For example, Shatter sun cleric gives +1/+1 so even when it dies, it's still considered 2 for 1, same as Scarlet with unpopped divine shield.
I can see this card with huge potential if its stats is 1/4. It pushes the poison effect to the limit and 4 health guarantees 2 for 1.
Hey guys,
I wanted to have a bit of a discussion centered around Emperor Cobra.
I've seen a lot of negativity surrounding this card, and I've been trying to figure out why. I've seen it declared "significantly worse" than all other 3 drops in the game, and a lot of people suggest disenchanting it, right along side Kidnapper. I can't see Emperor Cobra being even *close* to as worthless as Kidnapper...
I can understand it not fitting in every deck, but why does this card get such a bad rap? It's got a fair bit of potential, especially in the right deck.
Because it dies to everything, you can't protect it. At least patient assassin has stealth, but his hp is too low.
Though he is sick in the right hunter deck, especially one with Tundra Rhino.
EDIT: Good card? Not so much in constructed, but still great in arena or a non-standard midrange/control hunter.
Unless explicitly stated, my posts are my opinion and mine only.
Yeah, good in arena. Makes coining out Yeti on 3 pointless, or really any 4 drop, if you don't have board control on 2. It kinda keeps you board control in that sense, it's not a "playing from behind" kind of card. Basically, it guarantees a 1 for 1 (excluding spells).
Also good late game if you clear the board and want to have a cheap way to 1-1 the boulderfists or legendaries etc, but if you're not winning, don't expect Cobra to help.
WAaaaaaay better than kidnapper. Although Kidnapper is nicer when playing from behind (combo with some other card and hey, free sap), in arena you're not going to have any 0 or 1 mana cards to combo with, and 2+ means that kidnapper is out at 8+ mana (ugh).
To counter this point - The majority of 3 drops die to anything, the only really reasonable exception is Harvest Golem.
The difference? Aside from dealing with 2 drops, Harvest Golem is, at best, a 1-for-1, and outright dies (0-to-1) to higher cost drops. For instance, it dies to a Chillwind Yeti (over two turns, maybe, but it does). If you're top decking and draw one on, say... turn 9, it's going to feel like a semi-weak draw.
Emperor Cobra may die to everything, but it's very close to a guaranteed 1 for 1. It doesn't die to most AoE (Blizzard, Holy Nova, Consecration, etc - one of the big things it has over Patient Assassin), will trade for anything at the same rate that Harvest Golem does, can actually be useful later in the game (unlike Harvest Golem), and to top it off, provides an amazing amount of control if you can drop it on an empty board... it throws a threat down that Harvest Golem can't even begin to compete with.
Again, I'm not saying it's even close to a top-tier card, but in the 3 drop slot, I think it's actually one of the better minions (in any stall/control deck at least, as it actually has some late game presence). Especially against Young Priestess/Blood Imp-pumped low cost taunters.
Anyways, just my thoughts, interested in hearing some counterpoints - honestly, I'm just trying to see the card from all angles, to make sure I'm not missing a weakness (or a better card for the slot) elsewhere. I've been playing it in my Paladin deck, and it's provided me with some incredibly strong trades in combination with some protection and Argent Protector.
It doesn't have a place in every deck, but think about in a Ramp Druid deck, for example. You get to fit another removal in a class that lacks it or you draw out some sort of removal, since you'll probably have a nice wall of taunts for it to hide behind. Ancient of War for a 3 drop? Yes please.
So no, not as bad as kidnapper.
I've been running 2 in my Hunter Beast synergy deck and they're very useful for removal, damage output, and of course the synergy (especially with Starving Hyneas - throw it at a heavy Taunt or high Health minion, removal + boost to Hyena). Like others have said, not useful in every deck, but it has its places.
Was testing it with Mark of the wild in Watcher Druid deck. Unfortunately a lot of silences in current meta makes it not very useful. However, if opponent have no silences it can be devastating.
Another attempt was to place in Pally deck, to protect it with bubble and make good trades. However in general you trade 2 cards for 2 - Kobra+Shiled against two minions (in best case). Not so great
Lokking forward to сombine it with new Priest Dark cultist card.
Someone's been watching Dreamhack.
Short story: It's a solid arena card and there is probably a place for it in constructed, but no one has been able to find it.
"I am Richard, Chief Warlock of the Brothers of Darkness, Lord of the Thirteen Hells, Master of the Bones, Emperor of the Black, Lord of the Undead, and The Mayor of a little village up the coast."
I take it in arena... but in my constructed, there are so much 3 drops, that synergys are much better...
The effect is good, but the card has awkward stats. Its 2 attack doesn't help much cuz the target still dies anyways while 3 health is pretty low for 3 mana card since it dies to most 2 drops and common spells such as Wrath, Lightning bolt, Hunter bow, etc. without giving much value. You are right in pointing that it the same case for other 3 drops except harvest but the difference is they already paid their value when you summon them. For example, Shatter sun cleric gives +1/+1 so even when it dies, it's still considered 2 for 1, same as Scarlet with unpopped divine shield.
I can see this card with huge potential if its stats is 1/4. It pushes the poison effect to the limit and 4 health guarantees 2 for 1.
I think this is a good example of a tech card that has it's uses, more so in a tournament format than on the ladder.
Unless explicitly stated, my posts are my opinion and mine only.
An Emperor Cobra behind a large taunt can definitely stall your opponent, especially in the late game.