While this card was good, I don't think it was in need of a nerf. At it's best, it was a 2 mana 4/3, but once they nerfed it to 3 mana, it's pretty basic in terms of stats. The only think that's better than it is where your opponent has a big minion and you have a couple 1/1's the the sides of it, but that's countered by the fact that if there are no minions on your board it's just a 3 mana 0/3. While it is definitely a good card, the reason it was good was because it was cheap; now, THE END, HAS COME
nerfing a classic card because of a wild deck that only exists because of a recent legendary, interesting.
this was the highest played and draw WR card in even shaman (standard) and the card that synergises best with the deck, so this is probably a huge nerf to that deck. It removes a lot of it's snowball potential and burst, and even shaman is generally a deck that needs every point of damage to get across the line.
so first they killed the only good tournament deck and only win condition for a control/combo shaman shell for no reason and now they're nerfing the only good deck left.
I'll try dire wolf alpha instead of this; flametongue totem gives +4 attack, but is the first minion to be killed before any other trading. So it's better during your turn and useless during opponent's one. DWAlpha has always been attacked first, but always give damage during opponent's turn.
This is the first nerf I've ever been upset about. Even Shaman is a powerful but fair deck in standard. As for wild... who gives a shit? Hopefully this is in preparation for Shaman getting a playable tempo/midrange deck with the next expansion.
Hard to give a simple Yes/No here. Short term the nerf is disastrous for Shaman. They have one archetype that sees any success and this nerf forces the most influential card to be cut from the list. Long term though, this probably makes some sense. Neutral 1/3 (1) drops are becoming a big theme in the game and being able to completely control the board in early by going 1/3 on 1 into 3/3 on 2 by dropping one of these next to your guy is guaranteed to end up being oppressive in board-based mirrors at some point if playing it isn't delayed.
I'll try dire wolf alpha instead of this; flametongue totem gives +4 attack, but is the first minion to be killed before any other trading. So it's better during your turn and useless during opponent's one. DWAlpha has always been attacked first, but always give damage during opponent's turn.
Some already run both... There are other decent replacements like Haunted Creeper in Wild, but it lacks the totem synergy. Almost every card in the deck gets better with this in hand.
I think it is sad day for Shaman as a class. For me, this card and they way you set can up totem tangoes to trade your board is at the very core of healthy shaman gameplay while the devolve/evolve random transforms should have been scrapped at the drawing board.
I think it is sad day for Shaman as a class. For me, this card and they way you set can up totem tangos to trade your board is at the very core of healthy shaman gameplay while the devolve/evolve random transforms should have been scrapped at the drawing board.
I love how they still won't touch Barnes, but somehow Flametongue Totem is the problem? They're obviously targeting even shaman in wild, but Big Priest still has the highest played population on wild. Cheating out 8-10 mana minions on turn 4 or 3 with a coin is still ok though. Mulligan win rate when Barnes in hand is 80.3%, but let's nerf Flametongue Totem.
This. While Barnes remains untouched, they opt to destroy the only deck which keeps Shaman as a class alive in Standard. Oh, the irony. Thank God they didn't nerf Devolve as well, else Wild Big Priest - which is already super popular across all ranks - would have a field day. Good thing is, with Flametongue Totem being a 3-drop they have the freedom to release powerful 1-drops for Shaman instead of shit like Air Elemental or Witch's Apprentice. The 2-mana slot is already filled with many viable cards, it's turn 1 where Shaman was lacking the most, as it had no option other than heropower (Even) or Fire Fly.
Anyway, it's on Team 5 to prove that they're actually capable to develop the class. No more Evolve shenanigans, no more RNG to the max. The Shaman community asked for reliable cards on so many occassions, yet they didn't listen and released half-assed crap such as the Freeze or pure Totem archetypes which never gained traction.
Another money grab from Bli$$ard. Go tell more new players this is a great game they can enjoy. Just jump in, open a few packs, and have fun with your collection!
This weakens Even Shaman severely. Since that is the only viable Shaman archetype right now, that's terrible for the class. Even Shaman is extremely powerful in wild and probably needed a nerf but i'm not sure if this was the right target. For standard though, this is really bad, because the deck is strong but not unfair. Without its early power plays with this card (for trading/pressuring), the deck will suffer too much to establish a threatening board presence before their opponent can play their board clears or other aggro decks rush you down. The one extra attack from the totem vs Direwolf Alpha is a big deal as trading will be way less efficient and damage won't accumulate fast enough.
Not really sure what Flametongue Totem did to deserve this :( It was such a nice card, rewarding setup and with a drawback of being extremely vulnerable if it gets left exposed. If this was just about reducing even shaman's wild winrate, there are plenty of other juicy nerf targets
I love how they still won't touch Barnes, but somehow Flametongue Totem is the problem? They're obviously targeting even shaman in wild, but Big Priest still has the highest played population on wild. Cheating out 8-10 mana minions on turn 4 or 3 with a coin is still ok though. Mulligan win rate when Barnes in hand is 80.3%, but let's nerf Flametongue Totem.
This guy gets it! As I said in the original nerf thread, I really hope Barnes to 6 mana and resurrect to 4 mana are the next nerfs! I am happy they think of wild too (like when naga seawitch was nerfed).
EDIT: to the people complaining about Genn and Baku, how would you nerf them? Genuine question
While this card was good, I don't think it was in need of a nerf. At it's best, it was a 2 mana 4/3, but once they nerfed it to 3 mana, it's pretty basic in terms of stats. The only think that's better than it is where your opponent has a big minion and you have a couple 1/1's the the sides of it, but that's countered by the fact that if there are no minions on your board it's just a 3 mana 0/3. While it is definitely a good card, the reason it was good was because it was cheap; now, THE END, HAS COME
I will miss you old friend.
nerfing a classic card because of a wild deck that only exists because of a recent legendary, interesting.
this was the highest played and draw WR card in even shaman (standard) and the card that synergises best with the deck, so this is probably a huge nerf to that deck. It removes a lot of it's snowball potential and burst, and even shaman is generally a deck that needs every point of damage to get across the line.
so first they killed the only good tournament deck and only win condition for a control/combo shaman shell for no reason and now they're nerfing the only good deck left.
RIP sheyman.
I'll try dire wolf alpha instead of this; flametongue totem gives +4 attack, but is the first minion to be killed before any other trading. So it's better during your turn and useless during opponent's one. DWAlpha has always been attacked first, but always give damage during opponent's turn.
A wild player
Actually wild players like me care about it.
Hard to give a simple Yes/No here. Short term the nerf is disastrous for Shaman. They have one archetype that sees any success and this nerf forces the most influential card to be cut from the list. Long term though, this probably makes some sense. Neutral 1/3 (1) drops are becoming a big theme in the game and being able to completely control the board in early by going 1/3 on 1 into 3/3 on 2 by dropping one of these next to your guy is guaranteed to end up being oppressive in board-based mirrors at some point if playing it isn't delayed.
Some already run both... There are other decent replacements like Haunted Creeper in Wild, but it lacks the totem synergy. Almost every card in the deck gets better with this in hand.
I think it is sad day for Shaman as a class. For me, this card and they way you set can up totem tangoes to trade your board is at the very core of healthy shaman gameplay while the devolve/evolve random transforms should have been scrapped at the drawing board.
Genn Greymane and Thing from Below are the true offenders...
I hope they have something very cool in store now, maybe more strong battlecries?
Editor of the Heartpwn Legendary Crafting Guide:
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Can't agree more.
This. While Barnes remains untouched, they opt to destroy the only deck which keeps Shaman as a class alive in Standard. Oh, the irony. Thank God they didn't nerf Devolve as well, else Wild Big Priest - which is already super popular across all ranks - would have a field day. Good thing is, with Flametongue Totem being a 3-drop they have the freedom to release powerful 1-drops for Shaman instead of shit like Air Elemental or Witch's Apprentice. The 2-mana slot is already filled with many viable cards, it's turn 1 where Shaman was lacking the most, as it had no option other than heropower (Even) or Fire Fly.
Anyway, it's on Team 5 to prove that they're actually capable to develop the class. No more Evolve shenanigans, no more RNG to the max. The Shaman community asked for reliable cards on so many occassions, yet they didn't listen and released half-assed crap such as the Freeze or pure Totem archetypes which never gained traction.
Wish they would finally nerf Barnes or Genn/Baku. It seems like in recent nerfs they try to avoid nerfing legendaries at all cost, or?
I hate shaman so i'm happy about this.
It's objectively a bad day for the class in std though. And also I'm stunned about the fact that Big Priest have avoided the nerf bullet again.....
Another money grab from Bli$$ard. Go tell more new players this is a great game they can enjoy. Just jump in, open a few packs, and have fun with your collection!
Auto squelch. That's all I'm asking for.
This weakens Even Shaman severely. Since that is the only viable Shaman archetype right now, that's terrible for the class. Even Shaman is extremely powerful in wild and probably needed a nerf but i'm not sure if this was the right target. For standard though, this is really bad, because the deck is strong but not unfair. Without its early power plays with this card (for trading/pressuring), the deck will suffer too much to establish a threatening board presence before their opponent can play their board clears or other aggro decks rush you down. The one extra attack from the totem vs Direwolf Alpha is a big deal as trading will be way less efficient and damage won't accumulate fast enough.
NOT NECESSARY? EVEN SHAMAN HAD A DAMN 70% WINRATE RECENTLY... MHM NOT NECESSARY
Skidaddle skidoodle your Milhouse manastorm is now a noodle
Not really sure what Flametongue Totem did to deserve this :( It was such a nice card, rewarding setup and with a drawback of being extremely vulnerable if it gets left exposed. If this was just about reducing even shaman's wild winrate, there are plenty of other juicy nerf targets
Burner with thunderheads is pretty strong imo.
Although I agree that Flametongue is a powerful card, I want to know what Shaman is going to get in replacement for early board control. In Standard.
Hopefully this means the next card cycle will have powerful early totem enhancers.
Will this make Odd Shaman decent? I suspect it won't be enough and odd will still be a fringe shaman deck.
This guy gets it! As I said in the original nerf thread, I really hope Barnes to 6 mana and resurrect to 4 mana are the next nerfs! I am happy they think of wild too (like when naga seawitch was nerfed).
EDIT: to the people complaining about Genn and Baku, how would you nerf them? Genuine question
Should have changed to 0/1 for 1 mana if their goal was to nerf even Shaman. Otherwise, this should be a 0/4 at this cost.
DJ