This isn't a traditional Freeze Mage card. In fact, I would never run this over Novice Engineer, because 2 mana unconditional draw is far more important than the body (especially considering the condition to be fulfilled). Instead I think this would be an excellent minion in a more Midrange Style Freeze deck that plays stuff like Freezing Potion, Cryomancer and Water Elemental (on top of the good board wide freezing effects), making freeze more prevalent and as a consequence making it more likely you can draw when playing this as well as making cards like Freezing Potion potentially OK and not completely dead cards. Since its a Midrange deck the body is also very important and 3/4 for 3 is an excellent statline.
Talking Standard. I don't feel this at all. The card works at it's earliest on turn 5 combined with Frostbolt, and even then you have to use your bolt on something that survives it. Beyond turn five it's just a highly conditional 3 mana draw a card. Acolyte of Pain and Arcane Intellect win this every time, since the 3/4 body is pretty much irrelevant late in the game, especially considering freeze/burn tactics.
It might work with some kinds of tempo-freeze tools not yet announced, but as is, I don't think so.
so freezemage just got a new draw tool frost nova coldwraith and suddenly you have a perfect hand to draw the game out for a combo, I expect acolyte to be cut for this.
edit: I misread, only gets one card, then back to my earlier theory that mage would be getting cards for a control freeze mage and not a combo freeze mage. freezemage might cut something for this still but not acolyte. Freeze mage no longer runs loot hoarder or novice engineer so I don't know what they would cut for this if they did.
Talking Standard. I don't feel this at all. The card works at it's earliest on turn 5 combined with Frostbolt, and even then you have to use your bolt on something that survives it. Beyond turn five it's just a highly conditional 3 mana draw a card. Acolyte of Pain and Arcane Intellect win this every time, since the 3/4 body is pretty much irrelevant late in the game, especially considering freeze/burn tactics.
It might work with some kinds of tempo-freeze tools not yet announced, but as is, I don't think so.
I think that is the point of the larger body right? You don't get the draw, well that kinda sucks but you don't feel too bad tempoing this card out. Meanwhile later in the game isn't not that bad, although conditional. Nova slows their tempo while you draw and develop your board. That being said, doomsayer plus nova will still likely be the reigning combo. This minion seems more like he is meant to be played on curve and will occasionally draw you a card. Not on curve it's easier to get the draw mechanic (still situational though) and still develop board.
This card is very good, because it gives you options.
Some people think this is bad, because it's not that easy to freeze a minion then play this card to draw another card.
The thing is, this card isn't meant for control/combo decks that need to draw a lot. These decks will still run Acolyte of Pain. Drawing a card is all that matters here, you don't care about stats.
Coldwraith is a tempo card, stats matter. If you play this on curve and don't draw a card, it's fine, just play the card if you have nothing else to do ! If you play this after a frostbolt or water elemental, well gg your odds of winning the game increased a lot. You can even go all-in aggro and play Freezing Potion and Mana Addict.
You already have arcanologist and AI for super strong, guaranteed card draw. The card draw on Coldwraith is just icing on the cake.
Anyway, don't know about anyone else, but Coldwraith is going straight into my Hemet mage, even though I only have Frostbolt to freeze stuff.
Don't have a hemet mage but I will certainly give this guy a try. Though to be honest I expected a few more elementals to show up. Sure we aren't done yet with reveals but I kinda expected it since I though the leak was legit. Now I am wonder.
A 3 mana 3/4 with potential upside is good in arena. Not Firelands Portal level good, but not a disappointing turn 3 play. Plus you can hold it if you have freezes in your deck for a free draw. Better than average arena card, great card in constructed.
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Free to play, average about a 5.7 or so in arena, give or take a bit as I'm not too sure.
I like this card. Good stats, plays on curve, potential extra draw, and is something Mage was lacking a bit at 3-mana. Who knows which other new cards this synergizes with.
on curve?
how often does mage leave a frozen enemy going into T3?
if you frostbolt T2 it usually kills the minion and leaves nothing frozen
ice lance is gone. unless mage receives some new freeze spells I don't see how this will get widespread play
freeze as a condition is hard to fulfill. see Cryomancer
While I don't claim to possess any precognitive capacities, I think it is fairly likely that we've not seen the end to Freeze effects. 120 cards to go, etc, etc . . . Most class 3/4s have seen play, precisely because the stat-line is good enough to compensate for the occasions for which its ability doesn't trigger. It seems perfectly likely to see play.
I like this card. Good stats, plays on curve, potential extra draw, and is something Mage was lacking a bit at 3-mana. Who knows which other new cards this synergizes with.
on curve?
how often does mage leave a frozen enemy going into T3?
if you frostbolt T2 it usually kills the minion and leaves nothing frozen
ice lance is gone. unless mage receives some new freeze spells I don't see how this will get widespread play
freeze as a condition is hard to fulfill. see Cryomancer
While I don't claim to possess any precognitive capacities, I think it is fairly likely that we've not seen the end to Freeze effects. 120 cards to go, etc, etc . . . Most class 3/4s have seen play, precisely because the stat-line is good enough to compensate for the occasions for which its ability doesn't trigger. It seems perfectly likely to see play.
And as someone just mentioned, Wild is a thing, and Snowchugger still exists.
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"Why, you never expected justice from a company, did you? They have neither a soul to lose nor a body to kick." -- Lady Saba Holland
I like this card. Good stats, plays on curve, potential extra draw, and is something Mage was lacking a bit at 3-mana. Who knows which other new cards this synergizes with.
on curve?
how often does mage leave a frozen enemy going into T3?
if you frostbolt T2 it usually kills the minion and leaves nothing frozen
ice lance is gone. unless mage receives some new freeze spells I don't see how this will get widespread play
freeze as a condition is hard to fulfill. see Cryomancer
While I don't claim to possess any precognitive capacities, I think it is fairly likely that we've not seen the end to Freeze effects. 120 cards to go, etc, etc . . . Most class 3/4s have seen play, precisely because the stat-line is good enough to compensate for the occasions for which its ability doesn't trigger. It seems perfectly likely to see play.
And as someone just mentioned, Wild is a thing, and Snowchugger still exists.
Also it's not as if you feel that bad just playing this guy on curve. His draw I don't think is his main purpose. His main purpose is a solid on curve play that if pulled later in the game could net you a draw as well.
Im an Arena player and even though this card won't make Arena Mages more broken it will solidify their status as top class (maybe shared with Rogue). This card fills a hole and weakness Mages had in Arena which is a good early game card which can be played in all three variants of an Arena deck...
Me sad, especially considering other cards that have been revealed thus far... with some of them I've had the feeling they needed to be removed from Arena for their respective classes, but not the Rogue or Mage cards smh
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This isn't a traditional Freeze Mage card. In fact, I would never run this over Novice Engineer, because 2 mana unconditional draw is far more important than the body (especially considering the condition to be fulfilled). Instead I think this would be an excellent minion in a more Midrange Style Freeze deck that plays stuff like Freezing Potion, Cryomancer and Water Elemental (on top of the good board wide freezing effects), making freeze more prevalent and as a consequence making it more likely you can draw when playing this as well as making cards like Freezing Potion potentially OK and not completely dead cards. Since its a Midrange deck the body is also very important and 3/4 for 3 is an excellent statline.
Talking Standard. I don't feel this at all. The card works at it's earliest on turn 5 combined with Frostbolt, and even then you have to use your bolt on something that survives it. Beyond turn five it's just a highly conditional 3 mana draw a card. Acolyte of Pain and Arcane Intellect win this every time, since the 3/4 body is pretty much irrelevant late in the game, especially considering freeze/burn tactics.
It might work with some kinds of tempo-freeze tools not yet announced, but as is, I don't think so.
Love it, fits the current meta well. Solid 3 manna stats and a potential card draw. 4 stars.
1-of in freeze mage.. maybe
I like it, but I dont think it will replace acolyte in terms of role/cost.
so freezemage just got a new draw tool frost nova coldwraith and suddenly you have a perfect hand to draw the game out for a combo, I expect acolyte to be cut for this.
edit: I misread, only gets one card, then back to my earlier theory that mage would be getting cards for a control freeze mage and not a combo freeze mage. freezemage might cut something for this still but not acolyte. Freeze mage no longer runs loot hoarder or novice engineer so I don't know what they would cut for this if they did.
Just fill your deck with one drops, that is creative deck design, right?
What mage has really been missing is a strong 3 drop.
Oh, wait a minute...
Glacial Shard
A 3 mana 3/4 with potential upside is good in arena. Not Firelands Portal level good, but not a disappointing turn 3 play. Plus you can hold it if you have freezes in your deck for a free draw. Better than average arena card, great card in constructed.
Free to play, average about a 5.7 or so in arena, give or take a bit as I'm not too sure.
This card is gonna be sick in an aggro freeze archetype. The aggro freeze was already viable before this card now it's gonna make it even stronger
Elemental Mage will be a REAL strong deck. I see Glacial Shard and Shatter actually being played!
Spider Tank that can draw a card, nice if you can get full value fairly often.
"Why, you never expected justice from a company, did you? They have neither a soul to lose nor a body to kick." -- Lady Saba Holland
Oh Blizzard what have ye done?
Im an Arena player and even though this card won't make Arena Mages more broken it will solidify their status as top class (maybe shared with Rogue). This card fills a hole and weakness Mages had in Arena which is a good early game card which can be played in all three variants of an Arena deck...
Me sad, especially considering other cards that have been revealed thus far... with some of them I've had the feeling they needed to be removed from Arena for their respective classes, but not the Rogue or Mage cards smh