Very cool card! I dont think this is meta defining though, In constructed i only see this played in a combo with4 / 5 drops since this is a very high priority target for the opponent. If it however survives another turn the increase in value is insane! I love these kind of cards that are ok to play but have huge potential
I think this card is great in the right deck. Even if you only get to Raven Idol with him, you're still discovering 2 cards for 1 mana. Druids also have Innervate, so you can Innervate out a Wrath for 4 damage + a card or Innervate out any other choose one minion. Very comparable to Brann, it's got a strong effect and average body, and can just be played on curve for tempo. Really solid card.
If we ignore the fact that no one in their right mind would ever play Wisps of the Old Gods in the first place, it's a 3-card combo over 2 turns. You expect this to happen often? My prediction is that it'll happen about 1 in 50 games, even if you hold the innervate (which would be wrong in the vast majority of cases).
I have seen a few people mention that AoW could be silenced when used as a combo with this card. I'm not so sure. Blizzard said that minions would have another form. To me that means they will be a whole new card whose base stats are 10/10 or 4/6 so I'm not so sure the silence will do anything.
It's funny how all scenarios that people claim this card can be good involves it survinving a turn ( almost impossible ), or 3 card combos, or it being played out of curve, or being comboed with bad cards...
Although it seems really good, it will be immediately dead most of the time, so you will get its bonus on 1 card in average. Its still good, but definitely not meta defining.
I have seen a few people mention that AoW could be silenced when used as a combo with this card. I'm not so sure. Blizzard said that minions would have another form. To me that means they will be a whole new card whose base stats are 10/10 or 4/6 so I'm not so sure the silence will do anything.
It's funny how all scenarios that people claim this card can be good involves it survinving a turn ( almost impossible ), or 3 card combos, or it being played out of curve, or being comboed with bad cards...
This card is just BAD, accept it
surviving a turn is a problem for most card that a considered a threat, Tt has 5 health for 4 mana, so it's not bad compared to other card that cost the same. Plenty of combo cards are played out of curve, that's how you combo most of the time because you need the mana to play 2+ cards on same turn. And usually the point of combo is to improve the value so making bad/okay good/great when played together. This card is GOOD, just wait see for yourself, then maybe you'll accept it.
I side with those that think that Ancient of Lore will not see play anymore. Simply becuase you will want to have 5- cost of "choose one" . You want to either play those cards together with this legendary or after playing him on curve
AoL cant be played together with him :) and its bad played t6 into t7. t7 into t8 is also weak, you loose mana.
It is an interesting card for sure, but the deck has to be built around him with many "choose one" cards. This seems very feasible as a ramp style, but the viability and efficiency hypotheses need to start from the condition of a one-turn combo, without really expecting him to live for more than the turn he's played in. It's exactly the same question and wet theorycraft dreams that Naga Sea Witch created in the past (and still does). How did these turn out?
Sadly, most of the posters here are not taking that into account. I can understand the thrill for a potentially great card, especially in a class that was nerfed down a lot, but let's be realistic. A guy here even said it's in the same meta-defining class with Brann Bronzebeard (facepalm). Needless to say, Brann is a neutral legendary playable by all classes and not just druid, and the battlecry cards he affects are way, WAY more than the "choose one"s.
Plus, even if you pull one (or even two) Fandral combos, is that really a huge thing that significantly raises the chances of you winning the game? Or should it just be one potential element in a bigger frame with other big guys usually seen in ramp? Can it be? We don't know that yet, and so far he certainly seems interesting but doesn't seem to have the magnitude of being "meta-defining" (??!?).
PS. I must note that what I wrote above is coming from a long-time dedicated Aviana ramp player, so I know very well what considerations come with a card like that.
At first I thought this card was going to be OP. However, it's not a battlecry ability which means the effect only lasts while it's in play. At most it will hang around two turns unless you protect it with a taunt in play. Most of them time you will get to use it's ability like roots once before it dies in one turn.
It's funny how all scenarios that people claim this card can be good involves it survinving a turn ( almost impossible ), or 3 card combos, or it being played out of curve, or being comboed with bad cards...
This card is just BAD, accept it
surviving a turn is a problem for most card that a considered a threat, Tt has 5 health for 4 mana, so it's not bad compared to other card that cost the same. Plenty of combo cards are played out of curve, that's how you combo most of the time because you need the mana to play 2+ cards on same turn. And usually the point of combo is to improve the value so making bad/okay good/great when played together. This card is GOOD, just wait see for yourself, then maybe you'll accept it.
Since it's played as a one-of, the chances of drawing Staghelm on curve are about 7/30. As a general rule, when evaluating new cards, people tend to place too much emphasis on what happens when a card is played on curve - especially with early-game minions. A 3-drop is played off-curve almost two-thirds of the time - some 3-drops "play well with others," like Disciple of C'Thun, and gain value as the game shifts into the mid- to late-game. Some 3-drops don't play well with others, like Twilight Elder, which is always just a Spider Tank, and dies for free in the mid- to late-game against opposing minions which are played on curve. The same holds for virtually every legendary - they are rarely drawn on curve, let alone played on curve.
Like Brann Bronzebeard, Fandral Staghelm will usually be drawn later in the game, when you already have cards in hand that combo with it - when you decide to play him, it's precisely because you can get immediate value, and aren't "waiting" to combo him. Sometimes, he's in your hand on turn 4, and he's your best play. You'll be sad when it happens, but the world won't stop spinning. Overall, I would guess that his power level exceeds that of Brann, and Brann sees plenty of play.
Ben Brode says it'll be a 5/5, but what does he know right?
Strange, it does not make any sense. He said that choose events will happen one after another in the same order as written on the card, so it should just transform to 5/2 and immediately after to 2/5. If they want it to be 5/5 they should change text on the card to gain +3/+0 or +0/+3.
The wrath value is real
I always liked Fandral Staghelm, before he went all psycho in Cataclysm. Fitting that he gets such a great card with nice art.
Fandral Staghelm + Innervate + Wisps of the Old Gods
You now got 6 3/3 and a 5/7 with a crazy effect
Instant Concede right there guys
Very cool card! I dont think this is meta defining though, In constructed i only see this played in a combo with4 / 5 drops since this is a very high priority target for the opponent. If it however survives another turn the increase in value is insane! I love these kind of cards that are ok to play but have huge potential
With Aviana, if she survives a turn, druid can be really ridiculous.
I think this card is great in the right deck. Even if you only get to Raven Idol with him, you're still discovering 2 cards for 1 mana. Druids also have Innervate, so you can Innervate out a Wrath for 4 damage + a card or Innervate out any other choose one minion. Very comparable to Brann, it's got a strong effect and average body, and can just be played on curve for tempo. Really solid card.
I wish Valeera had tentacles for arms
I have seen a few people mention that AoW could be silenced when used as a combo with this card. I'm not so sure. Blizzard said that minions would have another form. To me that means they will be a whole new card whose base stats are 10/10 or 4/6 so I'm not so sure the silence will do anything.
This + Nourish PogChamp
It's funny how all scenarios that people claim this card can be good involves it survinving a turn ( almost impossible ), or 3 card combos, or it being played out of curve, or being comboed with bad cards...
This card is just BAD, accept it
Although it seems really good, it will be immediately dead most of the time, so you will get its bonus on 1 card in average. Its still good, but definitely not meta defining.
Druid of the Flame will just be 2/5
It is an interesting card for sure, but the deck has to be built around him with many "choose one" cards. This seems very feasible as a ramp style, but the viability and efficiency hypotheses need to start from the condition of a one-turn combo, without really expecting him to live for more than the turn he's played in. It's exactly the same question and wet theorycraft dreams that Naga Sea Witch created in the past (and still does). How did these turn out?
Sadly, most of the posters here are not taking that into account. I can understand the thrill for a potentially great card, especially in a class that was nerfed down a lot, but let's be realistic. A guy here even said it's in the same meta-defining class with Brann Bronzebeard (facepalm). Needless to say, Brann is a neutral legendary playable by all classes and not just druid, and the battlecry cards he affects are way, WAY more than the "choose one"s.
Plus, even if you pull one (or even two) Fandral combos, is that really a huge thing that significantly raises the chances of you winning the game? Or should it just be one potential element in a bigger frame with other big guys usually seen in ramp? Can it be? We don't know that yet, and so far he certainly seems interesting but doesn't seem to have the magnitude of being "meta-defining" (??!?).
PS. I must note that what I wrote above is coming from a long-time dedicated Aviana ramp player, so I know very well what considerations come with a card like that.
At first I thought this card was going to be OP. However, it's not a battlecry ability which means the effect only lasts while it's in play. At most it will hang around two turns unless you protect it with a taunt in play. Most of them time you will get to use it's ability like roots once before it dies in one turn.