Welcome back to Ben's Reviews! If you want, you can find my old reviews here, here, here, and here.
Unfortunately, a lot of the work I did on this set was lost due to user error (and wine). The reviews of each card won't be as detailed. But, maybe this leads to more discussion...I hope?
This rating system is on a scale of 1 to 4. 1 star - Bad. Pack filler. Timmy card. 2 stars - Fine. It needs a lot of support, it is the support, or it is a tech card. 3 stars - Good. It will see reasonably widespread play. 4 stars - Great. It is the focal point of good decks.
Before we begin, I have to say that this is a very interesting set. The top end isn't incredibly impressive, but very few cards are awful. Even most of the worst cards are interesting.
Druid
Gonk, the Raptor: 1 star - Feral Druid is bad for a lot of reasons. I'm not even sure this card is good in that deck even if it were good. Understatted.
Wardruid Loti: 2 stars - This is a fine card, but it's like the 30th card in any druid deck. It will always be replaceable.
Stampeding Roar: 2 stars - Big Beast Druid may be a thing in the future, and this will be a part of that, but it's not good now.
Treespeaker: 2 stars - This card is great with Landscaping. Why are you playing Landscaping?
Predatory Instincts: 2 stars - I have difficulty rating specific tutors poorly. This card costs too much, but Druid is a class that can absorb the cost.
Mark of the Loa: 1 star - This card doesn't do anything very good. It costs a lot. The buff is bad, and the Raptors are really underwhelming.
Ironhide Direhorn: 2 stars - Even if Big Beast Druid becomes a thing, this is like the worst card in that deck. But it's a big beast for Stampeding Roar.
Savage Striker: 1 star - This can't even go face. Maybe we had something if it could.
Zul'jin: 4 stars - Hero cards are always 4 stars. Deal with it. As long as your Hunter plays reasonable spells that work with it, you should play this.
Halazzi, the Lynx: 1 star - I just don't see anything special happening here. The stats suck. Fat Dry Gulch Jailor isn't a great card. I don't think it makes the Quest Competitive.
Master's Call: 2 stars - Surprisingly, you have to make your deck a good bit worse to use this card well. It's very cool and worth watching though.
The Beast Within: 1 star - I don't think any of the cool tricks you can do with this are better than running a different card.
Bloodscalp Strategist: 2 stars - There may be a universe where aggo hunters play enough weapons that this card is run as extra gas. Not even sure you want it there. Pretty sure you don't want it anywhere else.
Spirit of the Lynx: 1 star - The cost is really prohibitive. Heads up, most spirits are trash.
Revenge of the Wild: 2 stars - I think this card is more Flametongue Totem than it is Ancestral Spirit. Watch out for this card. It could easily be better.
Baited Arrow: 2 stars - Spell Hunter has to play a lot of garbage like this sometimes. I'm not even sure this make the cut. WTF does this card do after rotation?
Headhunter's Hatchet: 3 stars - Aggo hunters like 6 damage for 2 mana. In other decks, Candleshot outclasses this by a mile.
Springpaw: 3 stars - We've seen cards similar to this before, and they are always pretty good.
Mage
Hex Lord Malacrass: 2 stars - A very interesting card for control mage. It's about as good as Sindragosa or Astromancer, which is to say only okay.
Jan'alai, the Dragonhawk: 4 stars - This is much better than the aforementioned control mage options for top end.
Blast Wave: 2 stars - Holy Nova is really bad, but Odd Mage can't play Blizzard. Maybe this gets some run.
Scorch: 2 stars - I'm close to giving this 1 star. The elemental condition is always underestimated in how bad it is.
Pyromaniac: 3 stars - I think Odd Mage is a deck. I think this is always played in that deck. Good at all stages of the game. Reasonable in other decks.
Spirit of the Dragonhawk: 1 star - Ramping the Dragonhawk isn't hard, you don't need this trash.
Acranosaur: 2 stars - It's very good in elemental mage. I'm not sure you want to play elemental mage.
Daring Fire-Eater: 3 stars - This seems to be the best way to ramp your Dragonhawk. It's a reasonable little dude in Control or Odd mage.
Elemental Evocation: 2 stars - I am not sold that ramping Water Elemental with this is better than ramping Mountain Giant with Book of Specters.
Paladin
Shirvallah, the Tiger: 3 stars - I am buying into control paladin, so I am buying into this as it's end game.
High Priest Thekal: 3 stars - This is one of those cards that isn't great, but it's solid. It will probably be in most Paladin's until it rotates.
A New Challenger...: 2 stars - I want to like this card more, but the low rolls are too low. Check back after Spikeridge Steed rotates.
Immortal Prelate: 3 stars - I think this card has 4 months to be good before it's a trash heap. Call to Arms, Undataka, Quest. Lots of good synergies. I'm excited for it.
Farraki Battleaxe: 1 star - Weapons that are only good after you've played Equality or Shrink Ray aren't good weapons.
Zandalari Templar: 2 stars - The condition is much harder to reach than Hooked Reaver. You are never playing this on turn 4. It's okay as a late game card against aggro.
Spirit of the Tiger: 4 stars - I think this is the only good spirit in the set. It generates tempo on top of spells, which are generating tempo.
Time Out!: 2 stars - It's worse than Ice Block or Frost Nova, but it's better than Rebuke. This might be a tech option depending on the metagame.
Flash of Light: 3 stars - I think this is just good value. 5 heal is worth 1 mana. 1 draw is worth about 1.5 mana.
Bloodclaw: 2 stars - 1/6 of your health is a lot to pay when there are a number of 1 drops that play similar roles in both aggro and control.
Priest
Princess Talanji: 1 star - Bad Conditional Boomship doesn't impress me. Is there a combo I'm missing?
Bwonsamdi, the Dead: 2 stars - I think this might be good enough to play more or less on its own with a very small 1-drop package.
Surrender to Madness: 1 star - This is like if Quest Rogue got nerfed a third AND fourth time.
Auchenai Phantasm: 3 stars - We've seen this card be good in spell form. It's better in minion form.
Grave Horror: 2 stars - Is Miracle Priest good? This is probably better than trashy Grizzly in cloning priest.
Mass Hysteria: 3 stars - It's AOE for priest. It's not great. But it's AOE for priest.
Spirit of the Dead: 2 stars - Some niche applications in combo decks and in packages with Bwonsamdi.
Sand Drudge: 2 stars - A better Violet Teacher. Unfortunately, Priest never wanted Violet Teacher.
Seance: 2 stars - This card isn't bad, but it feels more like a role player in a deck that's doing other things.
Regenerate: 3 stars - Great synergy with the stuff Priest does. Auchenai, Velen, Maly, Cleric, Lyra. Seems like it's a thing you want to be doing.
Rogue
Captain Hooktusk: 2 stars - Because I think Serrated Tooth is good enough to make Ticket Scalper playable, I think this card also playable. Watch out for this one in the future. Recruit* is the best mechanic in the game.
Gral, the Shark: 2 stars - It's kind of like a worse Azure Drake with some high roll potential. Decent synergy in Rogue though. Probably never necessary.
Gurubashi Hypemon: 1 star - Bad stats, mon. Lots of bad discover options, mon.
Cannon Barrage: 2 stars - It feels too weak. But, preparation is a card, and that skews a lot of ratings.
Spirit of the Shark: 1 star - I don't think there are battlecries that swing the game enough to justify spending 4 mana on this.
Raiding Party: 3 stars - There are good pirates and good weapons that synergize with this card. Also, Kingsbane.
Bloodsail Howler: 2 stars - I think this card is trash, but Even Rogue will be played to some extent and this card probably fits there.
Walk the Plank: 3 stars - Vilespine won't be here forever, but Preparation will be.
Stolen Steel: 1 stars - I rate this fun out of 10.
Serrated Tooth: 3 stars - Another great board control tool for one of the classes that does it best. Granting rush alters your perception of a lot of cards.
Shaman
Krag'wa, the Frog: 3 stars - I think this is just solid. There's Shudderwock synergy too (not the combo).
Zentimo: 3 stars - I think this is about as good as Electra, which is to say pretty good but not busted.
Haunting Visions: 2 stars - It's a worse Primodial Glyph, but that still has a place. Unfortunately, there aren't a lot of Shaman spells I want to discover.
Big Bad Voodoo: 1 star - More like Voo-don't! <crickets>
Spirit of the Frog: 2 stars - This card is too interesting to give 1 star. But I think that's probably what it is.
Bog Slosher: 2 stars - Don't play this in Combo Shudderwock, dummies. Is it good enough to make elementals good? Probably not. But it's an okay card.
Likkim: 4 stars - Feels great in most types of Shaman you want to be playing. Great in Even with Thunderhead. Probably good in Shudderwock.
Rain of Toads: 3 stars - With Likkim, I don't think you feel bad about the (3) overload. Front loaded Phantom Militia isn't bad in that case.
Totemic Smash: 2 stars - Maly shaman probably won't be a thing, but this can be played there. Otherwise, Lightning Bolt is better.
Wartbringer: 1 star - I think Thalnos or Air Totem adds +2 damage to two spells well enough.
Warlock
Hir'eek, the Bat: 1 star - Not enough synergy for this. Just play Onyxia. But also, don't play Onyxia either because that's bad.
High Priestess Jeklik: 2 stars - I love this card in theory. But in practice, discarding is still too random and the dream hard to achieve.
Void Contract: 1 star - The void contracted syphilis because this card is a STD.
Soulwarden: 3 stars - I think this gives Warlock leeway to consider Soul Fire, Doomgaurd, and Shriek in regular decks.
Spirit of the Bat: 1 star - Is not Keleseth. And it's bad tempo in a deck that is playing for tempo.
Shriek: 3 stars - TEMPO! It's not as good as defile, but it's in the neighborhood!
Grim Rally: 2 stars - Egg Zoo is already like a T3 deck. Now it gets Scarab Egg and this. That's not too bad after Keleseth rotates.
Demonbolt: 1 star - You're never going to play this.
Blood Troll Sapper: 1 star - Or this. It just doesn't do anything you want to be doing.
Reckless Diretroll: 2 stars - If you have Zavas in your hand, you're doing pretty well. Otherwise, 2 attack is disappointing.
Warrior
Akali, the Rhino: 2 stars - This is slightly better than it's getting credit for. It's a "fast" 8 mana, that draws and buffs another "fast" card. And there are good control rush cards. Notably not Odd costed.
War Master Voone: 2 stars - I think this card is going to be tricky to activate. And you're adding a lot of mana to your hand. It's not an odd cost, which also hurts. The value bomb is there and interesting though. But...Omega Assembly exists.
Sul'thraze: 2 stars - I don't know if I want to play a warrior without Tank Up. But if I do, it's probably because of this card. It scales well with weapon buffs which is cool. And that deadly arsenal synergy!
Spirit of the Rhino: 2 stars - This is one of the slightly better spirits. It's cheap. It gives some tempo. I don't think it's what Rush Warrior needs to be good though.
Overlord's Whip: 1 star - Enrage decks aren't a thing. This isn't going to change that. Now Wild, on the other hand....
Dragon Roar: 2 stars - Honestly, this is a pretty good card. But it's not Odd, so I'm skeptical.
Devastate: 3 stars - Odd: Check. Removal: Check. We're kind of piling on at this point though.
Neutrals
Hakkar, the Soulflayer: 2 stars - I don't think this is a complete meme I think you can draw comparisons to Mecha'Thun.
Oondasta: 4 stars - Great in Hunter. Some applications in other classes as well. Works well with some good neutrals.Good tempo card if you can swing it.
Da Undatakah: 2 stars - There's a lot of good deathrattle synergy right now. That said, I'm not sure where this goes and/or if it's needed there. Maybe more interesting after Lich King is gone.
Mojomaster Zihi: 2 stars - I am very glad this card exists. I'm not sure how good it is, or where you want it. Maybe something like Control Mage? Even Shaman?
Griftah: 2 stars - A neat card, but that's kind of it.
Snapjaw Shellfighter: 2 stars - I'm mildly interested in protecting my Silver Hand Recruits or Hench Clan Thugs from AOE. 3/8 is about the right stat line too.
Sightless Ranger: 1 star - I am open to the possibility that there is a metagame where this card is actually good. If things get really aggressive, this is a great counterplay in the aggro mirror.
Ticket Scalper: 2 stars - I was already going to give this card 2 stars before I saw the Rogue weapon. I think decks like Even Paladin and Shaman really struggle for card draw, and while this isn't good it's something, and both classes could protect this with buffs.
Sharkfin Fan: 3 stars - Shades of Hench Clan Thug. Not as good, but in the same neighborhood. Even Rogue or just Rogue with the new weapon.
Scarab Egg: 3 stars - Sadly, Keleseth is a problem right now, but I do think some decks will want this.
Spellzerker: 2 stars - This seems entirely reasonable in an Aggro Mage or Even Paladin.
Saronite Taskmaster: 4 stars - We haven't seen a neutral 1-drop this good since Firefly. The free agent could be tricky, but hopefully this has bought you enough tempo for it not to matter.
What formula you using for value/stats? I know traditionally cards were expected to have stats = mana cost * 2 + 1 in order to be considered average. I'm sure people assign different values to Taunt, Lifesteal, Rush, Divine Shield, Windfury, etc.
Krag'wa, the Frog: How many spells are you really going to play in a turn as shaman? Can yo afford to just drop a 6 mana 4/6 afterwards? (because you'll probably be overloaded). With Hagatha already giving you spells, do you really need an extra spell generator?
Devastate: Execute is better and in odd decks you already have Shield Slam (which also costs one and will probably deal more damage because of the hero power and Emberscale Drake
Former Champ: cards like this have existed before in times where there were also double battlecry and evolve effects, and never saw play.
Aside from that,
Spellzerker: 2 stars - This seems entirely reasonable in an Aggro Mage or Even Paladin.
I really think Zul'jin has potential to really be busted in the right deck haha. Setting up a christmas tree of secrets, Deadly Shot, Crushing Walls, Animal Companion, Call of the Wild. The tempo swing can be insane late game. Maybe even moreso than a Gul'dan death knight play.
P.S. I do enjoy reading these reviews of yours haha. I'd make some of my own, but I'm just too lazy. I always think about making video reviews. Maybe next time =P
Good review, but with Hunter I felt like you tought of the new support as only an Aggro/Face one, and not for the fact that can make Quest Hunter at least Tier 3 (which is not bad).
Good review, but with Hunter I felt like you tought of the new support as only an Aggro/Face one, and not for the fact that can make Quest Hunter at least Tier 3 (which is not bad).
Well, for one, I do quite well with my own odd Druid deck, and I did quite well with a feral Druid style deck almost two years ago. It just isn’t explored much by the all-powerful “meta”. But with Brian Kibbler talking a lot about it recently, I can imagine that the sheep will start lining up at some point.
There’s an awful lot of group-think in Hearthstone, and especially here on Hearthpwn.
I think Pounce is extremely undervalued. It's easily at least a 3 star card simply because of auctioneer and it could be good in even druid/any hero power druid variants.
"Why are you playing landscaping?" This seems a bit arrogant to be honest but ill tell You why. Because its not a bad card, compared to doubling imp with enough support it may actually be pretty good. You can play oaken summons with it as well. Im not saying Treespeaker is enough but if mark of the lotus was still in standard i could see it being played.
Krag'wa, the Frog: How many spells are you really going to play in a turn as shaman? Can yo afford to just drop a 6 mana 4/6 afterwards? (because you'll probably be overloaded). With Hagatha already giving you spells, do you really need an extra spell generator?
Devastate: Execute is better and in odd decks you already have Shield Slam (which also costs one and will probably deal more damage because of the hero power and Emberscale Drake
Former Champ: cards like this have existed before in times where there were also double battlecry and evolve effects, and never saw play.
I admit - I probably rated Tiger too highly. But there's no changing it now. I do think it is very good though.
I think that if Krag'wa draws 1 spell, you're probably fine with that. Especially if that spell is something like Far Sight against Control, or Volcano against Aggro. That's why I think it's a good card, but nothing crazy.
I'm not sure what Ak'ali and the Lich King have to do with each other beyond their mana cost. Do you mind elaborating?
Devastate is redundant. I actually had it rated a 2 until right before I published this review. The Whirlwind dragon guy synergy made me change my mind.
You're totally right about former champ. Although, I only rated him a 2. I do think there are interesting potential Shudderwock implications after rotation.
I think Even Paladin is in a bad place, despite the stats. Spellzerker is almost definitely more of an aggro mage card than an even paladin card, but 4 damage consecration is appealing.
"Why are you playing landscaping?" This seems a bit arrogant to be honest but ill tell You why. Because its not a bad card, compared to doubling imp with enough support it may actually be pretty good. You can play oaken summons with it as well. Im not saying Treespeaker is enough but if mark of the lotus was still in standard i could see it being played.
What deck is playing Landscaping right now? And Mark of the Lotus isn't in standard.
I gave Treespeaker a 2 because it's a good card, but: (1) landscaping already doesn't see play (2) you almost always want to go face with treants from soul of the forest and (3) you can't play this with Living Mana.
The only time where I see this having application is in #2 where you maybe used your soul of the forest unwisely, and you have no other way to repopulate the board. I wonder if this card is worth including for those situations? (Serious question...it may very well be)
Well, for one, I do quite well with my own odd Druid deck, and I did quite well with a feral Druid style deck almost two years ago. It just isn’t explored much by the all-powerful “meta”. But with Brian Kibbler talking a lot about it recently, I can imagine that the sheep will start lining up at some point.
There’s an awful lot of group-think in Hearthstone, and especially here on Hearthpwn.
Why is Odd Druid good? What decks does it perform well against? It was good against Aggro Mage, but that deck died.
How did Odd Druid it benefit from the 1 card that it got in this set? (Pounce and Striker are even costed).
Does this 1 legendary make cards that have never seen play playable (Bite, Claw, Gnash)? Why?
Before you go around calling people immature sheep, maybe think a little more critically about your claims.
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Welcome back to Ben's Reviews! If you want, you can find my old reviews here, here, here, and here.
Unfortunately, a lot of the work I did on this set was lost due to user error (and wine). The reviews of each card won't be as detailed. But, maybe this leads to more discussion...I hope?
This rating system is on a scale of 1 to 4.
1 star - Bad. Pack filler. Timmy card.
2 stars - Fine. It needs a lot of support, it is the support, or it is a tech card.
3 stars - Good. It will see reasonably widespread play.
4 stars - Great. It is the focal point of good decks.
Before we begin, I have to say that this is a very interesting set. The top end isn't incredibly impressive, but very few cards are awful. Even most of the worst cards are interesting.
Druid
Gonk, the Raptor: 1 star
- Feral Druid is bad for a lot of reasons. I'm not even sure this card is good in that deck even if it were good. Understatted.
Wardruid Loti: 2 stars
- This is a fine card, but it's like the 30th card in any druid deck. It will always be replaceable.
Stampeding Roar: 2 stars
- Big Beast Druid may be a thing in the future, and this will be a part of that, but it's not good now.
Treespeaker: 2 stars
- This card is great with Landscaping. Why are you playing Landscaping?
Predatory Instincts: 2 stars
- I have difficulty rating specific tutors poorly. This card costs too much, but Druid is a class that can absorb the cost.
Mark of the Loa: 1 star
- This card doesn't do anything very good. It costs a lot. The buff is bad, and the Raptors are really underwhelming.
Spirit of the Raptor: 1 star
- Feral Druid is Freeze Shaman.
Ironhide Direhorn: 2 stars
- Even if Big Beast Druid becomes a thing, this is like the worst card in that deck. But it's a big beast for Stampeding Roar.
Savage Striker: 1 star
- This can't even go face. Maybe we had something if it could.
Pounce: 2 stars
- Feral Druid sucks, but 0-mana, 2 damage spells aren't bad.
Hunter
Zul'jin: 4 stars
- Hero cards are always 4 stars. Deal with it. As long as your Hunter plays reasonable spells that work with it, you should play this.
Halazzi, the Lynx: 1 star
- I just don't see anything special happening here. The stats suck. Fat Dry Gulch Jailor isn't a great card. I don't think it makes the Quest Competitive.
Master's Call: 2 stars
- Surprisingly, you have to make your deck a good bit worse to use this card well. It's very cool and worth watching though.
The Beast Within: 1 star
- I don't think any of the cool tricks you can do with this are better than running a different card.
Bloodscalp Strategist: 2 stars
- There may be a universe where aggo hunters play enough weapons that this card is run as extra gas. Not even sure you want it there. Pretty sure you don't want it anywhere else.
Spirit of the Lynx: 1 star
- The cost is really prohibitive. Heads up, most spirits are trash.
Revenge of the Wild: 2 stars
- I think this card is more Flametongue Totem than it is Ancestral Spirit. Watch out for this card. It could easily be better.
Baited Arrow: 2 stars
- Spell Hunter has to play a lot of garbage like this sometimes. I'm not even sure this make the cut. WTF does this card do after rotation?
Headhunter's Hatchet: 3 stars
- Aggo hunters like 6 damage for 2 mana. In other decks, Candleshot outclasses this by a mile.
Springpaw: 3 stars
- We've seen cards similar to this before, and they are always pretty good.
Mage
Hex Lord Malacrass: 2 stars
- A very interesting card for control mage. It's about as good as Sindragosa or Astromancer, which is to say only okay.
Jan'alai, the Dragonhawk: 4 stars
- This is much better than the aforementioned control mage options for top end.
Blast Wave: 2 stars
- Holy Nova is really bad, but Odd Mage can't play Blizzard. Maybe this gets some run.
Splitting Image: 1 star
- Why are you playing mage secrets?
Scorch: 2 stars
- I'm close to giving this 1 star. The elemental condition is always underestimated in how bad it is.
Pyromaniac: 3 stars
- I think Odd Mage is a deck. I think this is always played in that deck. Good at all stages of the game. Reasonable in other decks.
Spirit of the Dragonhawk: 1 star
- Ramping the Dragonhawk isn't hard, you don't need this trash.
Acranosaur: 2 stars
- It's very good in elemental mage. I'm not sure you want to play elemental mage.
Daring Fire-Eater: 3 stars
- This seems to be the best way to ramp your Dragonhawk. It's a reasonable little dude in Control or Odd mage.
Elemental Evocation: 2 stars
- I am not sold that ramping Water Elemental with this is better than ramping Mountain Giant with Book of Specters.
Paladin
Shirvallah, the Tiger: 3 stars
- I am buying into control paladin, so I am buying into this as it's end game.
High Priest Thekal: 3 stars
- This is one of those cards that isn't great, but it's solid. It will probably be in most Paladin's until it rotates.
A New Challenger...: 2 stars
- I want to like this card more, but the low rolls are too low. Check back after Spikeridge Steed rotates.
Immortal Prelate: 3 stars
- I think this card has 4 months to be good before it's a trash heap. Call to Arms, Undataka, Quest. Lots of good synergies. I'm excited for it.
Farraki Battleaxe: 1 star
- Weapons that are only good after you've played Equality or Shrink Ray aren't good weapons.
Zandalari Templar: 2 stars
- The condition is much harder to reach than Hooked Reaver. You are never playing this on turn 4. It's okay as a late game card against aggro.
Spirit of the Tiger: 4 stars
- I think this is the only good spirit in the set. It generates tempo on top of spells, which are generating tempo.
Time Out!: 2 stars
- It's worse than Ice Block or Frost Nova, but it's better than Rebuke. This might be a tech option depending on the metagame.
Flash of Light: 3 stars
- I think this is just good value. 5 heal is worth 1 mana. 1 draw is worth about 1.5 mana.
Bloodclaw: 2 stars
- 1/6 of your health is a lot to pay when there are a number of 1 drops that play similar roles in both aggro and control.
Priest
Princess Talanji: 1 star
- Bad Conditional Boomship doesn't impress me. Is there a combo I'm missing?
Bwonsamdi, the Dead: 2 stars
- I think this might be good enough to play more or less on its own with a very small 1-drop package.
Surrender to Madness: 1 star
- This is like if Quest Rogue got nerfed a third AND fourth time.
Auchenai Phantasm: 3 stars
- We've seen this card be good in spell form. It's better in minion form.
Grave Horror: 2 stars
- Is Miracle Priest good? This is probably better than trashy Grizzly in cloning priest.
Mass Hysteria: 3 stars
- It's AOE for priest. It's not great. But it's AOE for priest.
Spirit of the Dead: 2 stars
- Some niche applications in combo decks and in packages with Bwonsamdi.
Sand Drudge: 2 stars
- A better Violet Teacher. Unfortunately, Priest never wanted Violet Teacher.
Seance: 2 stars
- This card isn't bad, but it feels more like a role player in a deck that's doing other things.
Regenerate: 3 stars
- Great synergy with the stuff Priest does. Auchenai, Velen, Maly, Cleric, Lyra. Seems like it's a thing you want to be doing.
Rogue
Captain Hooktusk: 2 stars
- Because I think Serrated Tooth is good enough to make Ticket Scalper playable, I think this card also playable. Watch out for this one in the future. Recruit* is the best mechanic in the game.
Gral, the Shark: 2 stars
- It's kind of like a worse Azure Drake with some high roll potential. Decent synergy in Rogue though. Probably never necessary.
Gurubashi Hypemon: 1 star
- Bad stats, mon. Lots of bad discover options, mon.
Cannon Barrage: 2 stars
- It feels too weak. But, preparation is a card, and that skews a lot of ratings.
Spirit of the Shark: 1 star
- I don't think there are battlecries that swing the game enough to justify spending 4 mana on this.
Raiding Party: 3 stars
- There are good pirates and good weapons that synergize with this card. Also, Kingsbane.
Bloodsail Howler: 2 stars
- I think this card is trash, but Even Rogue will be played to some extent and this card probably fits there.
Walk the Plank: 3 stars
- Vilespine won't be here forever, but Preparation will be.
Stolen Steel: 1 stars
- I rate this fun out of 10.
Serrated Tooth: 3 stars
- Another great board control tool for one of the classes that does it best. Granting rush alters your perception of a lot of cards.
Shaman
Krag'wa, the Frog: 3 stars
- I think this is just solid. There's Shudderwock synergy too (not the combo).
Zentimo: 3 stars
- I think this is about as good as Electra, which is to say pretty good but not busted.
Haunting Visions: 2 stars
- It's a worse Primodial Glyph, but that still has a place. Unfortunately, there aren't a lot of Shaman spells I want to discover.
Big Bad Voodoo: 1 star
- More like Voo-don't! <crickets>
Spirit of the Frog: 2 stars
- This card is too interesting to give 1 star. But I think that's probably what it is.
Bog Slosher: 2 stars
- Don't play this in Combo Shudderwock, dummies. Is it good enough to make elementals good? Probably not. But it's an okay card.
Likkim: 4 stars
- Feels great in most types of Shaman you want to be playing. Great in Even with Thunderhead. Probably good in Shudderwock.
Rain of Toads: 3 stars
- With Likkim, I don't think you feel bad about the (3) overload. Front loaded Phantom Militia isn't bad in that case.
Totemic Smash: 2 stars
- Maly shaman probably won't be a thing, but this can be played there. Otherwise, Lightning Bolt is better.
Wartbringer: 1 star
- I think Thalnos or Air Totem adds +2 damage to two spells well enough.
Warlock
Hir'eek, the Bat: 1 star
- Not enough synergy for this. Just play Onyxia. But also, don't play Onyxia either because that's bad.
High Priestess Jeklik: 2 stars
- I love this card in theory. But in practice, discarding is still too random and the dream hard to achieve.
Void Contract: 1 star
- The void contracted syphilis because this card is a STD.
Soulwarden: 3 stars
- I think this gives Warlock leeway to consider Soul Fire, Doomgaurd, and Shriek in regular decks.
Spirit of the Bat: 1 star
- Is not Keleseth. And it's bad tempo in a deck that is playing for tempo.
Shriek: 3 stars
- TEMPO! It's not as good as defile, but it's in the neighborhood!
Grim Rally: 2 stars
- Egg Zoo is already like a T3 deck. Now it gets Scarab Egg and this. That's not too bad after Keleseth rotates.
Demonbolt: 1 star
- You're never going to play this.
Blood Troll Sapper: 1 star
- Or this. It just doesn't do anything you want to be doing.
Reckless Diretroll: 2 stars
- If you have Zavas in your hand, you're doing pretty well. Otherwise, 2 attack is disappointing.
Warrior
Akali, the Rhino: 2 stars
- This is slightly better than it's getting credit for. It's a "fast" 8 mana, that draws and buffs another "fast" card. And there are good control rush cards. Notably not Odd costed.
War Master Voone: 2 stars
- I think this card is going to be tricky to activate. And you're adding a lot of mana to your hand. It's not an odd cost, which also hurts. The value bomb is there and interesting though. But...Omega Assembly exists.
Sul'thraze: 2 stars
- I don't know if I want to play a warrior without Tank Up. But if I do, it's probably because of this card. It scales well with weapon buffs which is cool. And that deadly arsenal synergy!
Smoulderthorn Lancer: 3 stars
- Odd: Check. Removal: Check.
Heavy Metal!: 1 star
- Big Warrior will not be a thing. RIP Woecleaver. You did not cleave the woe.
Emberscale Drake: 4 stars
- Odd: Check. Armor: Check. Vanilla stats: Almost check.
Spirit of the Rhino: 2 stars
- This is one of the slightly better spirits. It's cheap. It gives some tempo. I don't think it's what Rush Warrior needs to be good though.
Overlord's Whip: 1 star
- Enrage decks aren't a thing. This isn't going to change that. Now Wild, on the other hand....
Dragon Roar: 2 stars
- Honestly, this is a pretty good card. But it's not Odd, so I'm skeptical.
Devastate: 3 stars
- Odd: Check. Removal: Check. We're kind of piling on at this point though.
Neutrals
Hakkar, the Soulflayer: 2 stars
- I don't think this is a complete meme I think you can draw comparisons to Mecha'Thun.
Oondasta: 4 stars
- Great in Hunter. Some applications in other classes as well. Works well with some good neutrals.Good tempo card if you can swing it.
Da Undatakah: 2 stars
- There's a lot of good deathrattle synergy right now. That said, I'm not sure where this goes and/or if it's needed there. Maybe more interesting after Lich King is gone.
Mojomaster Zihi: 2 stars
- I am very glad this card exists. I'm not sure how good it is, or where you want it. Maybe something like Control Mage? Even Shaman?
Griftah: 2 stars
- A neat card, but that's kind of it.
Crowd Roaster: 3 stars
- Odd card: Check. Removal: Check. Dragon. Check.
Linecracker: 1 star
Mosh'Ogg Announcer: 1 star
Snapjaw Shellfighter: 2 stars
- I'm mildly interested in protecting my Silver Hand Recruits or Hench Clan Thugs from AOE. 3/8 is about the right stat line too.
Ice Cream Peddler: 1 star
Untamed Beast Master: 2 stars
- Hunter is going to have some interesting decisions to make. It got a lot of interesting things to work with.
Masked Contender: 3 stars
- No one attacks the first hunter secret. Always punished.
Drakkari Trickster: 2 star
- This might be close to playable in something like Odd Rogue instead of Blink Fox if you're looking for some gas.
Gurubashi Offering: 0 stars
- This card is so bad that it gets 0 stars.
Arena Patron: 1 star
Murloc Tastyfin: 1 star
- The discover murloc is just better.
Firetree Witchdoctor: 3 stars
- Why you no odd cost?!
Soup Vendor: 1 star
- Just play Acolyte of Pain
Waterboy: 1 star
Booty Bay Bookie: 1 star
Serpent Ward: 1 star
Shieldbreaker: 2 stars
- I have serious doubts that this replaces Spellbreaker or Iron Beak Owl.
Belligerent Gnome: 2 stars
Mosh'Ogg Enforcer: 2 stars
- Any class can play a nice Oakheart package now which is mildly interesting.
Amani War Bear: 3 stars
- This does just a little bit of everything and has great stats and mana. I bet we see it often.
Rabble Bouncer: 1 star
- Just play Mind Control Tech at this point
Dragonmaw Scorcher: 3 stars
- Whirlwind effects are good. Odd cards are good. Dragons are good. Check. Check. Check.
Former Champ: 2 stars
Sightless Ranger: 1 star
- I am open to the possibility that there is a metagame where this card is actually good. If things get really aggressive, this is a great counterplay in the aggro mirror.
Half-Time Scavenger: 2 stars
Arena Fanatic: 2 stars
Ticket Scalper: 2 stars
- I was already going to give this card 2 stars before I saw the Rogue weapon. I think decks like Even Paladin and Shaman really struggle for card draw, and while this isn't good it's something, and both classes could protect this with buffs.
Arena Treasure Chest: 1 star
Rumbletusk Shaker: 1 star
Regeneratin' Thug: 1 star
Banana Buffoon: 1 star
Ornery Tortise: 1 star
Dozing Marksman: 1 star
Cheaty Anklebiter: 1 star
Sharkfin Fan: 3 stars
- Shades of Hench Clan Thug. Not as good, but in the same neighborhood. Even Rogue or just Rogue with the new weapon.
Scarab Egg: 3 stars
- Sadly, Keleseth is a problem right now, but I do think some decks will want this.
Spellzerker: 2 stars
- This seems entirely reasonable in an Aggro Mage or Even Paladin.
Saronite Taskmaster: 4 stars
- We haven't seen a neutral 1-drop this good since Firefly. The free agent could be tricky, but hopefully this has bought you enough tempo for it not to matter.
Gurubashi Chicken: 1 star
Helpless Hatchling: 1 star
4 Star Cards:
Zul'jin
Jan'alai, the Dragonhawk
Spirit of the Tiger
Likkim
Emberscale Drake
Oondasta
Saronite Taskmaster
3 star cards
Headhunter's Hatchet
Springpaw
Pyromaniac
Daring Fire-Eater
Shirvallah, the Tiger
High Priest Thekal
Immortal Prelate
Flash of Light
Auchenai Phantasam
Mass Hysteria
Regenerate
Raiding Party
Walk the Plank
Serrated Tooth
Krag'wa, the Frog
Zentimo
Rain of Toads
Soulwarden
Shriek
Smoulderthorn Lancer
Devastate
Crowd Roaster
Masked Contender
Firetree Witchdoctor
Amani War Bear
Dragonmaw Scorcher
Sharkfin Fan
Scarab Egg
As I said, this is a very interesting set. Even a lot of the 1 star cards are interesting.
Biggest Winners:
- Paladin
- Warrior
Big Losers:
- Just Druid. Everyone else got a lot of neat new toys to play with.
What formula you using for value/stats? I know traditionally cards were expected to have stats = mana cost * 2 + 1 in order to be considered average. I'm sure people assign different values to Taunt, Lifesteal, Rush, Divine Shield, Windfury, etc.
I agree for the most part, but I think I would give one less star to the following cards:
Spirit of the Tiger: I'm not sure if it's THAT good
Krag'wa, the Frog: How many spells are you really going to play in a turn as shaman? Can yo afford to just drop a 6 mana 4/6 afterwards? (because you'll probably be overloaded). With Hagatha already giving you spells, do you really need an extra spell generator?
Akali, the Rhino: once The Lich King rotates, I think this card will be 2 stars, but no right now.
Devastate: Execute is better and in odd decks you already have Shield Slam (which also costs one and will probably deal more damage because of the hero power and Emberscale Drake
Former Champ: cards like this have existed before in times where there were also double battlecry and evolve effects, and never saw play.
Aside from that,
I don't see why even paladin would want this over cards like Amani Berserker, Argent Protector, Acidic Swamp Ooze, Hydrologist, Crystalsmith Kangor or Plated Beetle
I really think Zul'jin has potential to really be busted in the right deck haha. Setting up a christmas tree of secrets, Deadly Shot, Crushing Walls, Animal Companion, Call of the Wild. The tempo swing can be insane late game. Maybe even moreso than a Gul'dan death knight play.
P.S. I do enjoy reading these reviews of yours haha. I'd make some of my own, but I'm just too lazy. I always think about making video reviews. Maybe next time =P
Twitch name: Anatak15
NA Legend Season 48, 49, 52, 53, 54, 74
Your evaluation of feral Druid is expected, but immature.
How do you figure?
Good review, but with Hunter I felt like you tought of the new support as only an Aggro/Face one, and not for the fact that can make Quest Hunter at least Tier 3 (which is not bad).
Good review, but with Hunter I felt like you tought of the new support as only an Aggro/Face one, and not for the fact that can make Quest Hunter at least Tier 3 (which is not bad).
Well, for one, I do quite well with my own odd Druid deck, and I did quite well with a feral Druid style deck almost two years ago. It just isn’t explored much by the all-powerful “meta”. But with Brian Kibbler talking a lot about it recently, I can imagine that the sheep will start lining up at some point.
There’s an awful lot of group-think in Hearthstone, and especially here on Hearthpwn.
Saronite Taskmaster is bad I think. You say the Free Agent could be tricky, I think it is reealllyy tricky..
I think Pounce is extremely undervalued. It's easily at least a 3 star card simply because of auctioneer and it could be good in even druid/any hero power druid variants.
High Priest is obviously a 4 star card simply because Molten Giant exist.
"Why are you playing landscaping?" This seems a bit arrogant to be honest but ill tell You why. Because its not a bad card, compared to doubling imp with enough support it may actually be pretty good. You can play oaken summons with it as well. Im not saying Treespeaker is enough but if mark of the lotus was still in standard i could see it being played.
I admit - I probably rated Tiger too highly. But there's no changing it now. I do think it is very good though.
I think that if Krag'wa draws 1 spell, you're probably fine with that. Especially if that spell is something like Far Sight against Control, or Volcano against Aggro. That's why I think it's a good card, but nothing crazy.
I'm not sure what Ak'ali and the Lich King have to do with each other beyond their mana cost. Do you mind elaborating?
Devastate is redundant. I actually had it rated a 2 until right before I published this review. The Whirlwind dragon guy synergy made me change my mind.
You're totally right about former champ. Although, I only rated him a 2. I do think there are interesting potential Shudderwock implications after rotation.
I think Even Paladin is in a bad place, despite the stats. Spellzerker is almost definitely more of an aggro mage card than an even paladin card, but 4 damage consecration is appealing.
Griftah can be a potential high roll card in even decks that struggle with card draw. I don't think it's great, obviously, that's why I gave it a 2.
Can you explain why you think Zihi is a 4? Remember that cards like Lich King and the Death Knights are 4's. Is Zihi that?
This is a review for standard sadly.
What deck is playing Landscaping right now? And Mark of the Lotus isn't in standard.
I gave Treespeaker a 2 because it's a good card, but: (1) landscaping already doesn't see play (2) you almost always want to go face with treants from soul of the forest and (3) you can't play this with Living Mana.
The only time where I see this having application is in #2 where you maybe used your soul of the forest unwisely, and you have no other way to repopulate the board. I wonder if this card is worth including for those situations? (Serious question...it may very well be)
That's a fair take. It might be.
Why is Odd Druid good? What decks does it perform well against? It was good against Aggro Mage, but that deck died.
How did Odd Druid it benefit from the 1 card that it got in this set? (Pounce and Striker are even costed).
Does this 1 legendary make cards that have never seen play playable (Bite, Claw, Gnash)? Why?
Before you go around calling people immature sheep, maybe think a little more critically about your claims.