Hearthpwn

Quote from Superkowboj1 >>

Right now, Wardruid Loti is almost a staple in any druid deck, from token to highlander quest. I know it is a little early to say something like this, but I think she should be moved from tier 3 to tier 2.

Agreed.  A few legendaries have found new homes of late including Loti, Hex Lord Malacrass, Flobbidinous Floop, Grommash, Cenarius.  Busy time for SlydE :)

Quote from Highwayman37 >>

Quote from Superkowboj1 >>

Right now, Wardruid Loti is almost a staple in any druid deck, from token to highlander quest. I know it is a little early to say something like this, but I think she should be moved from tier 3 to tier 2.

Agreed.  A few legendaries have found new homes of late including Loti, Hex Lord Malacrass, Flobbidinous Floop, Grommash, Cenarius.  Busy time for SlydE :)

Yes it is... At least I you can see I have done something, adding some expected quite wide tiers.

The legendaries of this expansion seem like the most powerful since I started making this guide soon 2 years ago, and they might even rival MSG and KFT for overall power in standard.

One quite challenging part of an expansion is finding winners and especially losers among other cards.

Thanks for the feedback. My first craft was Armagedillo and he has not disappointed me!

I was bummed at first that I got Making Mummies as my free quest, but having built a paladin deck around it I now think it's the most underrated quest of the expansion. HSReplay seems to agree.

Some updates have now started to tick in, including the first SoU card being placed:
Wardruid Loti Tier 3 to 2
Barista Lynchen
Zephrys the Great To tier 1
Cenarius Tier 3 to 2

Feedback appreciated as always!

Some more updates, getting there slowly but surely!
Bloodmage Thalnos Tier 1 to 2
Alexstrasza Tier 2 to 1
Armagedillo To tier 1
Siamat To tier 1
Corrupt the Waters To tier 2

Reno the Relicologist To tier 1
Raid the Sky Temple To tier 4
Supreme Archaeology To tier 4
Anka, the Buried To tier 5

We've now had over a complete week of Saviors of Uldum meta and while it is in no way settled, it's to the point where we can talk tier lists for legendaries, both SoA's and what it has done with the existing ones.

I'd also like to point out that while Zephrys the Great may soon be a candidate for the elite 'recommended craft' group that Leeroy Jenkins and Zilliax occupy, SN1P-SN4P is definitely a candidate for the coveted unicorn icon. Condolences to everyone who missed out on the Rise of the Mech golden copy; not only do you have to deal with only having a regular version but you have to spend dust crafting it too. :(

Vicious Syndicate has put out their first data reaper report of the meta. This tier list is derived from that report as well as the usual suspects including horseplay hsreplay.net and the CompetitiveHS subreddit.

Tier 1

• Armagedillo - Staple in taunt control warrior.
• Dinotamer Brann - Highlander hunter is tier 1 and Brann provides amazing tempo swing (as well as lethal).
• High Priest Amet - Staple in combo priest.
• Reno the Relicologist - Highlander mage is tier 1 and Reno provides amazing tempo swing.
• Siamat - Great in highlander decks. All around useful and versatile. While good, he is not the new Zilliax due to no lifesteal.
• Zephrys the Great - Must have in highlander decks. Great even in regular decks that draw out the duplicates.

Tier 2

• King Phaoris - Great finisher for decks that use large amount of spells.
• Vessina - Staple in aggro overload shaman.

Tier 3

• Corrupt the Waters - Quest shaman is playable if you lean more aggro.
• Dark Pharaoh Tekahn - Good in zoolock but replaceable.
• Elise the Enlightened - Required for druid late game against powerful control decks.
• Making Mummies - The best performing quest because it eats control warrior.
• Sir Finley of the Sands - Useful in Tip the Scales paladin but highlander paladin is performing poorly.
• Untapped Potential - Quest druid has difficulty but is workable.

Tier 4

• Activate the Obelisk - Quest priest is having difficulty in the meta.
• Bazaar Burglary - Quest rogue is having difficulty in the meta.
• Colossus of the Moon - "Big" decks are performing very poorly at the moment.
• Unseal the Vault - Quest hunter is having difficulty in the meta.

Tier 5

• Anka the Buried - Combo rogue isn't working out.
• Hack the System - Aggro warrior is doing a lot better once they cut the quest.
• Octosari - Decks with it are even worse if they actually play it.
• Raid the Sky Temple - Mage quest isn't even performing well in highlander mage.
• Supreme Archaeology - Warlock quest is terrible. Fun, but terrible.

Other movers and shakers:

• Luna's Pocket Galaxy - Up to Tier 1 from Tier 2. Luna's is used in every mage deck and provides enormous value.
• Chef Nomi - Up to Tier 2 from Tier 3. Nomi is a fallback win condition for TTS paladin as well as a late game plan for druid.
• Harrison Jones - Down to Tier 2 from Tier 3. Weapon removal isn't as big of a priority as it used to be.
• Arch-Villain Rafaam - Down to Tier 3 from Tier 2. Zoolock is focusing on more aggro.
• Darius Crowley - Down to Tier 3 from Tier 1. With the meta being either extreme control or extreme aggro, tempo Crowley doesn't have a place to fit.
• Hagatha the Witch - Down to Tier 3 from Tier 2. Shaman is not winning the control game
• Heistbaron Togwaggle - Down to Tier 3 from Tier 2. Rogue is focusing on more aggro.
• Hex Lord Malacrass - Up to Tier 3 from Tier 4. Malacrass is providing excellent value in highlander mage.
• Madame Lazul - Up to Tier 4 from Tier 5. Lazul is finding some successful experimentation in combo priest.

In general, Zephrys is a safe craft. Siamat is also likely to be a safe craft albeit less flashy. The other Tier 1 SoU cards are required if you're going to be playing tier 1 decks. I would not recommend crafting any quest though as they are evenly divided between 'Playable', 'Almost Playable', and 'Bad'. If there is a nerf that allows tempo decks to shine, the non-bad quests (everything except warrior, mage, and warlock) might be worth it.

A note about Sir Finley. (AKA: Please don't hate me SlydE) Tip the Scales pally is a Tier 1 deck, and Sir Finley can provide extra reach toward lethal in that deck. If you are playing TTS pally, by all means add Sir Finley. However, Finley's value in other decks gets worse the longer the game goes on, unlike the other singleton cards (especially Zephris and Elise). Unless someone can come up with a working highlander deck, Finley's success will be tied to TTS.

A note about nerfs. With the meta dominated by extreme control decks and extreme aggro decks trying to confront them, there is little room for tempo decks. If value kings Dr. Boom, Mad Genius or Luna's Pocket Galaxy are nerfed, the meta should open wide. So don't go dusting those tempo cards just yet.

Question for you psykechan

Aggro Overload Shaman has a fairly low winrate (just barely Tier 2 according to HS) but you feel Vessina is Tier 2?

 

More updates on older cards, thanks to SnoderFaner for these:
Swampqueen Hagatha Tier 2 to 3
Vereesa Windrunner Tier 3 to 4
High Priest Thekal Tier 2 to 3
The Boomship Tier 3 to 4
Darius Crowley Tier 1 to 2
Floop's Glorious Gloop Tier 3 to 4
Grommash Hellscream Tier 3 to 2
Flobbidinous Floop Tier 4 to 3
Captain Hooktusk Tier 2 to 4
Zentimo Tier 2 to 4

• Zephrys the Great - Must have in highlander decks. Great even in regular decks that draw out the duplicates.

Yes, I am adding one, the card is really good, and is even played in decks that are thinning rather than straight up Highlander.

Thanks for the feedback to psychechan too, I will look into it. Please note that I am very reluctant to place cards in tier 5 as I HATE to promote them from there (even though it is some times unavoidable because of weird new synergies.) Also, some cards that seem to have fallen out of flavour have found new homes.

For Luna's Pocket Galaxy, I am a bit on the fence of tier 1, as one would have to move all the other lengendaries which should be considered staples in higlander mage as well. I feel we should wait a bit to make sure the deck is THAT strong.

Harrison Jones isn't seeing much play right now, but once people realise that Bomb Warrior is the best counter to highlander decks, he will probably appear again (this time on "no duplicate" decks) as an answer to Wrenchcalibur.

Quote from samuellima91 >>

Harrison Jones isn't seeing much play right now, but once people realise that Bomb Warrior is the best counter to highlander decks, he will probably appear again (this time on "no duplicate" decks) as an answer to Wrenchcalibur.

True, but he does not deserve tier 1 status, that was a result of being exceptionally strong previously and being promoted.

He is back to tier 2.

I think it's fair to put both Amet and Dinotamer Brann in Tier 1.

 

Edit: Also Barrista Lynchen is NOT a staple in Highlander Mage.

More updates, will place the rest in my next session.
Dark Pharaoh Tekahn To tier 3
High Priest Amet To tier 2
Making Mummies To tier 2
King Phaoris To tier 1
Vessina To tier 2
Dinotamer Brann To tier 1
Sir Finley of the Sands To tier 2
Arch-Villain Rafaam Tier 2 to 4
Chef Nomi Tier 3 to 2

"King Phaoris* - Good card in slower decks running expensive spells, notably for mage, priest and mage". That's a lotta mage.

Also Soundmaster Shaw

*stealth edit*

Isn’t time to finally put The Black Knight in tier 4?

I’ve never encountered one, not even in the Litch King days, and never put him in any deck as a ‘tech’ choice. 

I always wondered why he keeps showing up in lists higher than numbers and reality would suggest.

Nostalgia maybe?

 

 

One thing I noticed is that Tier 4 seems extremely large, and I think it's really being used as a dumping ground for legendaries which should be either higher or lower. I suggest the following edits:

Supreme Archaeology really should be in Tier 5. It's comparable to Fel Lord Betrug: both of them have a similar playrate, they see play in the same types of decks, but Fel Lord Betrug has a slightly higher winrate despite being Tier 5. They should be placed together.

Lucentbark can be moved up to Tier 3. It's a common choice in Quest Druid and performs respectably there. Yes, it has a low winrate, but that's because said winrate is diluted by those terrible Heal Druid decks from last expansion.

Nozari should also be in Tier 5. Low winrate? Check. Low playrate? Check. Archetype it was designed for performing horribly? Check. Inability to fit into currently existing Paladin archetypes? Check. This card really has no redeeming qualities and I can't see much of a justification for placing it above ANY RoS legendary (hell, even Tak Nozwhisker saw fringe play in Pogo Rogue).

Hex Lord Malacrass got a massive facelift this expansion: enough for him to be placed in Tier 2. He's got a spectacular winrate, he frequently sees play in Highlander Mage (and Reno the Relicologist is Tier 1, mind you), and he helps alleviate one of the biggest weaknesses of Highlander decks: the lack of duplicates. He can even give you extra Renos and Zephryses!

Halazzi, the Lynx has always been criminally underrated and underplayed, and with SoU I think it's time to move him to Tier 3. He's usable in pretty much any Hunter archetype, and he's got a decent winrate to boot. If you decide to put Unseal the Vault in Tier 3 (which you should do), Halazzi should join it there, since Halazzi is a staple in Quest Hunter as well as being a usable option in other Hunter decks.

Princess Talanji should honestly be Tier 5. She's got a bad playrate and a REALLY bad winrate, and she hasn't really seen any play ever since she was released. The explanation blurb says she "really struggles to find a home after the standard rotation", but did she really have much of a home before?

The Boomship isn't THAT bad; I'd put it in Tier 3 along with its buddy Mecha'thun. Both these cards can really be grouped together, since they only really see play in Mecha'thun Warrior, but are both good choices for that deck.

As for the Witchwood legendaries, Tess Greymane and Face Collector seem to be doing well enough in Quest Rogue that they should be moved up to Tier 3. Quest Rogue in particular is, IMO, a better archetype than the data suggests, since a lot of the weaker builds are running terrible cards like Pilfer and Spirit of the Shark, which really bring down the average winrate.

Lastly, King Krush is also good enough for Tier 3. It's a solid finisher in Highlander Hunter and Secret Hunter, and it also has a positive winrate. I have personally used King Krush myself in various Hunter decks and have always been impressed by its performance.

Also worth mentioning: a lot of Rastakhan legendaries are erroneously being listed as Rise of Shadows legendaries, which reinforces my idea that Tier 4 is not really being paid much attention to right now. I'd also say that dropping Captain Hooktusk all the way down to Tier 4 strikes me as a liiiiiiiiiiiiittle excessive, but I guess she's got a low playrate, so whatever.

Quote from user-17030651 >>

Isn’t time to finally put The Black Knight in tier 4?

I’ve never encountered one, not even in the Litch King days, and never put him in any deck as a ‘tech’ choice. 

I always wondered why he keeps showing up in lists higher than numbers and reality would suggest.

Nostalgia maybe?

 

 

No, he is actually doing better now than pre release. With Zilliax in almost every deck and 10-10 Ancient of Wars being a common sight he sits comfortably in tier 3.

Quote from HoraceStapleton>>

One thing I noticed is that Tier 4 seems extremely large, and I think it's really being used as a dumping ground for legendaries which should be either higher or lower. I suggest the following edits:

Supreme Archaeology really should be in Tier 5. It's comparable to Fel Lord Betrug: both of them have a similar playrate, they see play in the same types of decks, but Fel Lord Betrug has a slightly higher winrate despite being Tier 5. They should be placed together.

Good points, but I think it is wise to wait a bit on placing new cards in tier 5 right away. The worst quests will probably be demoted in a month's time or so, but remember they can possibly be buffed as well!

Lucentbark can be moved up to Tier 3. It's a common choice in Quest Druid and performs respectably there. Yes, it has a low winrate, but that's because said winrate is diluted by those terrible Heal Druid decks from last expansion.

Not even the best quest Druid decks with Lucentbark crack a 50% winrate so far but yes, there is potential, and I will mention it in the description. A card and archetype to watch!

Nozari should also be in Tier 5. Low winrate? Check. Low playrate? Check. Archetype it was designed for performing horribly? Check. Inability to fit into currently existing Paladin archetypes? Check. This card really has no redeeming qualities and I can't see much of a justification for placing it above ANY RoS legendary (hell, even Tak Nozwhisker saw fringe play in Pogo Rogue).

IMO, the synergy with High Priest Thekal alone is enough to keep him out of tier 5. Note that the effect can also be powerful in tavern brawls, single player missions etc, so I would not recommend dusting him unless you are EXTREMELY desperate.

Hex Lord Malacrass got a massive facelift this expansion: enough for him to be placed in Tier 2. He's got a spectacular winrate, he frequently sees play in Highlander Mage (and Reno the Relicologist is Tier 1, mind you), and he helps alleviate one of the biggest weaknesses of Highlander decks: the lack of duplicates. He can even give you extra Renos and Zephryses!

Yes, thanks.

Halazzi, the Lynx has always been criminally underrated and underplayed, and with SoU I think it's time to move him to Tier 3. He's usable in pretty much any Hunter archetype, and he's got a decent winrate to boot. If you decide to put Unseal the Vault in Tier 3 (which you should do), Halazzi should join it there, since Halazzi is a staple in Quest Hunter as well as being a usable option in other Hunter decks.

Promoted to tier 3.

Princess Talanji should honestly be Tier 5. She's got a bad playrate and a REALLY bad winrate, and she hasn't really seen any play ever since she was released. The explanation blurb says she "really struggles to find a home after the standard rotation", but did she really have much of a home before?

Yes, she is actually that bad and should probably have been demoted earlier. Moved to tier 5.

The Boomship isn't THAT bad; I'd put it in Tier 3 along with its buddy Mecha'thun. Both these cards can really be grouped together, since they only really see play in Mecha'thun Warrior, but are both good choices for that deck.

The Boomship is acutally doing worse after the release. Remember that Mecha'thun is neutral.

As for the Witchwood legendaries, Tess Greymane and Face Collector seem to be doing well enough in Quest Rogue that they should be moved up to Tier 3. Quest Rogue in particular is, IMO, a better archetype than the data suggests, since a lot of the weaker builds are running terrible cards like Pilfer and Spirit of the Shark, which really bring down the average winrate.

Yes, the best decks are doing ok. Tess Greymane is promoted and could be looking at tier 2 in the future but Face Collector is not nearly as strong nor important for the archetype.

Lastly, King Krush is also good enough for Tier 3. It's a solid finisher in Highlander Hunter and Secret Hunter, and it also has a positive winrate. I have personally used King Krush myself in various Hunter decks and have always been impressed by its performance.

Yes, promoted.

Also worth mentioning: a lot of Rastakhan legendaries are erroneously being listed as Rise of Shadows legendaries, which reinforces my idea that Tier 4 is not really being paid much attention to right now. I'd also say that dropping Captain Hooktusk all the way down to Tier 4 strikes me as a liiiiiiiiiiiiittle excessive, but I guess she's got a low playrate, so whatever.

 Yes, Captain Hooktusk has fallen out of flavour. 2 cards moved, I hope it is correct now!

On to place the last few legendaries!