(OPS: If you´re having a hard time understanding what I write I have to apologize because my english is not so great, nor my first language, so sorry for that!)
We can clearly see that Blizzard is trying to make control into the meta and "nerf" aggro decks by making cards specificly targeting them (aswell as removing most of the aggro keycards which are rotated out because of wild and standard format, GvG), more and more control cards are coming. And I am now looking into shamans, Only 3 cards have been revealed so far, and all 3 of them are quite decent.
Now, whats make them great are that neither of them have overloads on them and decent stats for the mana aswell with the effects. So, could this be the start of control shaman (even more cards are coming), and with the "death" of the shiny days for aggro decks, what about Al Akir? Will it be viable now? Or would it still be too slow? Discuss your thoughts down below :) Thanks!
Al akir is really only good because of the charge and windfury abilities. Yeah he combos with rock biter but so does doom hammer so why wouldn't you run doom hammer and then a different big drop like ragnoros? Then again we don't know what the rest of the cards are on the set and what decks will be making up the meta so it's hard to say.
First of all, control shaman is already viable in this meta. Second, al-akir is jack of all trades but used mainly as finisher with rockbiters. That strategy is mostly used in midrange decks but is viable in control too, though rockbiters aren't as good in control since they have less targets and you often have to use them to trade(more than midrange). Third, its not too slow and neither it will be in WoG with the cards revealed so far. But what control shaman needs most is cards that generate card advantage (TBV, Boom, Neptulon) and the fact that neptulon leaves standard is quite sad since he alone let you win most slow matchups as you could bait their AoE and vomit murlocs and totems right away.
Creature removal is more common than weapon removal and shaman doesn't really run any of its other weapons. Not to meantion it's 2 overload on turn 5 gives you 4 the next turn which it looks like shaman midrange will have some powerful 4 or less drops.
Creature removal is more common than weapon removal and shaman doesn't really run any of its other weapons. Not to meantion it's 2 overload on turn 5 gives you 4 the next turn which it looks like shaman midrange will have some powerful 4 or less drops.
Weapon removal is just as common as weapons are, especially if doomhammer gets popular. Often midrange decks run 1 doom and 1 al-akir, but it usually depends on which you like more, multipurpose tool which works as taunt, minion clear, aggrowall or burst to name few uses for him, OR if you want more bursty cheaper option that forces enemy to race you rather than use his burst on a dangerous minion. Both are good options but tend to serve bit different purpose. Big problem with doomhammer used to be and might still be that you can't trade with minions as shamans heal options are kinda lackluster.( + of course Harrison and ooze techs if weapons are popular.)
Im not saying I play shaman all the time. Personally I play aggro shaman every once in a while but find it boring after a while. My point was doom hammer has a similar combo potential for less mana and can be used in an earlier turn to press damage or control the board. Late game all akir can be good but if I wanted to play a al akir or a ragnoros I'd normally feel better playing ragnoros especially if BGH is nerfed.
(OPS: If you´re having a hard time understanding what I write I have to apologize because my english is not so great, nor my first language, so sorry for that!)
We can clearly see that Blizzard is trying to make control into the meta and "nerf" aggro decks by making cards specificly targeting them (aswell as removing most of the aggro keycards which are rotated out because of wild and standard format, GvG), more and more control cards are coming. And I am now looking into shamans, Only 3 cards have been revealed so far, and all 3 of them are quite decent.
Now, whats make them great are that neither of them have overloads on them and decent stats for the mana aswell with the effects. So, could this be the start of control shaman (even more cards are coming), and with the "death" of the shiny days for aggro decks, what about Al Akir? Will it be viable now? Or would it still be too slow? Discuss your thoughts down below :) Thanks!
I've actually created a deck for people to try in standard involving Al'Akir as a main finisher, check my SIG ;). Anyways I play Shaman all the time as its my favirote class and I can tell you that it will see more play in standard, it's already a good finisher. One of the cards you can compare it to is Grommash Hellscream who is involved in pretty much over 90% (I assume) of Warrior decks and he's a pretty good finisher for the class right? Al'Akir is close to being on the level of Grommash in terms of finishing.
(OPS: If you´re having a hard time understanding what I write I have to apologize because my english is not so great, nor my first language, so sorry for that!)
We can clearly see that Blizzard is trying to make control into the meta and "nerf" aggro decks by making cards specificly targeting them (aswell as removing most of the aggro keycards which are rotated out because of wild and standard format, GvG), more and more control cards are coming. And I am now looking into shamans, Only 3 cards have been revealed so far, and all 3 of them are quite decent.
Now, whats make them great are that neither of them have overloads on them and decent stats for the mana aswell with the effects. So, could this be the start of control shaman (even more cards are coming), and with the "death" of the shiny days for aggro decks, what about Al Akir? Will it be viable now? Or would it still be too slow? Discuss your thoughts down below :) Thanks!
Al akir is really only good because of the charge and windfury abilities. Yeah he combos with rock biter but so does doom hammer so why wouldn't you run doom hammer and then a different big drop like ragnoros? Then again we don't know what the rest of the cards are on the set and what decks will be making up the meta so it's hard to say.
First of all, control shaman is already viable in this meta. Second, al-akir is jack of all trades but used mainly as finisher with rockbiters. That strategy is mostly used in midrange decks but is viable in control too, though rockbiters aren't as good in control since they have less targets and you often have to use them to trade(more than midrange). Third, its not too slow and neither it will be in WoG with the cards revealed so far. But what control shaman needs most is cards that generate card advantage (TBV, Boom, Neptulon) and the fact that neptulon leaves standard is quite sad since he alone let you win most slow matchups as you could bait their AoE and vomit murlocs and totems right away.
Surprise!
I just don't get why you'd want a 10 mana combo when doom hammer gives a 7 mana combo for only 2 less damage.
Creature removal is more common than weapon removal and shaman doesn't really run any of its other weapons. Not to meantion it's 2 overload on turn 5 gives you 4 the next turn which it looks like shaman midrange will have some powerful 4 or less drops.
Surprise!
[Card]
Editor of the Heartpwn Legendary Crafting Guide:
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Al'akir is always viable.
"The light shall burn you!" - heals face.
Im not saying I play shaman all the time. Personally I play aggro shaman every once in a while but find it boring after a while. My point was doom hammer has a similar combo potential for less mana and can be used in an earlier turn to press damage or control the board. Late game all akir can be good but if I wanted to play a al akir or a ragnoros I'd normally feel better playing ragnoros especially if BGH is nerfed.
If you run the rockbiters package though, Al'Akir is vastly superior to Ragnaros, thanks to his versatility and burst potential.
Blizzard once posted that their stats reporting shows higher win ratios on decks playing al akir
Al'Akir is viable right now. Definitely a stronger option for a midrange shaman than Doomhammer.