I see all these videos, even post expansion release, saying how apparently Jandice Barov is a good card, if not a must-craft... and honestly, I don't see it.
For starters, her stats are terrible. "Oh, but that doesn't matter because you get two 5-costs with good stats!" Well see here's the thing - the five-cost minion pool? Not that great, particularly for mage and rogue. Other than Krastinov, Mozaki and Frostwhisper, it's mostly just mediocre neutrals and minions with battlecry. Faceless manipulator, Shadow Sculptor, Cloud Prince, Necrium Apocethary, BGH, Cobalt Spellkin... it's really not the best mana cost Hearthstone has to offer. 4 drops and 6 drops typically are much better on average for their cost.
Let's say for the sake of argument, though, that you get two *decent* 5-costs. One of them is going bye-bye. If your opponent has so much as two murlocs on board, you can say goodbye to whichever one you choose to shaft because he can just run into it, get rid of half your value and leave you with a murloc raider and a random 5-drop which quite probably wasn't even worth the investment.
Can somebody tell me the appeal of this card? I'm legitimately baffled.
Also an adequate response involves some form of ping on turn 6 which can be incredibly awkward for several classes or just someone lacking the proper hand. Regular mage ping means rest of their turn is locked to 4 mana which might not be good enough for dealing with the 'real' 5 drop and Jandice herself.
For 5 mana, on average, you get a 5/5, a 5/1, and a 2/1... Highroll, and you get a lot more... On what planet is 12/7 worth of stats for 5 mana not great?
Consider how much you would have to low-roll to end up with Force of Nature equivalent stats...
Don't forget in rogue you can play in turn 6 with the lackey transforming the 2/1 into a random 6 manas minion.
Don't see much play because highlander rogue was hit hard by the Galakrond and Alex nerfs and other builds like weapon already have the cost 4 and 5 slots full.
If Alex don't be nerfed highlander rogue can see play and this card will in the list for sure.
If you compare the outcomes then you will see why she's good. Two good minions is amazing. One good and one bad/average is great. Two averages is still good (on curve it's enough stats to be an issue for your opponent). One bad and one average is average/mediocre. Two bad minions is terrible. She is only truly bad when you get the worst possible roll (let's say two Blood Heralds) but it's a good thing that she has a downside. Otherwise, she would be way too good. We also can't ignore any keywords or other effects the minions could have. And, like SummerWalker said, you won't play her against a board full of tokens because that's simply not very smart.
Even with an average outcome, it's still enough of a distraction to make your opponent hesitate about ignoring it. Even if they can destroy one minion with a ping or trade, they don't know which one is real or fake (unless one of the minions has only one health). And the fake minion can attack so, unless it's a 2/1 or a 1/1, your opponent can't simply ignore it. I'm taking the perspective of a slower matchup for this comparison. Against aggro decks she is very risky but if you don't have another choice you can try to roll the dice and pray for an Earth Elemental (or any other taunt). She is better in Rogue because they have Shadowstep but she is still a strong on curve play for Tempo Mage. Her upsides greatly outweigh her downsides.
Just the fact it summons multiple minions for such efficient mana cost. I’ve also pulled some pretty insane minions with it. That and the fact it was one of my golden legendaries I love it, great design card.
I ran it in my mage deck, but eventually removed it. It never really worked for me. I guess it's better than a lot of other 5 drops but it's a weird card, sort of good but also not. Probably better in Rogue I'd imagine.
I see all these videos, even post expansion release, saying how apparently Jandice Barov is a good card, if not a must-craft... and honestly, I don't see it.
For starters, her stats are terrible. "Oh, but that doesn't matter because you get two 5-costs with good stats!" Well see here's the thing - the five-cost minion pool? Not that great, particularly for mage and rogue. Other than Krastinov, Mozaki and Frostwhisper, it's mostly just mediocre neutrals and minions with battlecry. Faceless manipulator, Shadow Sculptor, Cloud Prince, Necrium Apocethary, BGH, Cobalt Spellkin... it's really not the best mana cost Hearthstone has to offer. 4 drops and 6 drops typically are much better on average for their cost.
Let's say for the sake of argument, though, that you get two *decent* 5-costs. One of them is going bye-bye. If your opponent has so much as two murlocs on board, you can say goodbye to whichever one you choose to shaft because he can just run into it, get rid of half your value and leave you with a murloc raider and a random 5-drop which quite probably wasn't even worth the investment.
Can somebody tell me the appeal of this card? I'm legitimately baffled.
Is a great tempo card.
Also to your argument you wouldn't play this card against a board full of cheap minions like murlocs.
Keymaster Alabaster come faster
In short she is a pile of stats splitted into 3 bodies that sometimes you highroll and win the game.
She can pull non-rogue or mage cards. It's random and the pool is okay. You can low roll, but it's just SO many stats.
Also an adequate response involves some form of ping on turn 6 which can be incredibly awkward for several classes or just someone lacking the proper hand. Regular mage ping means rest of their turn is locked to 4 mana which might not be good enough for dealing with the 'real' 5 drop and Jandice herself.
Don't understand why this is a question. She's a win more card.
Keymaster Alabaster come faster
For 5 mana, on average, you get a 5/5, a 5/1, and a 2/1... Highroll, and you get a lot more... On what planet is 12/7 worth of stats for 5 mana not great?
Consider how much you would have to low-roll to end up with Force of Nature equivalent stats...
I mean she's not. She's a great play on an empty board more than anything.
Cause shadowstep
Don't forget in rogue you can play in turn 6 with the lackey transforming the 2/1 into a random 6 manas minion.
Don't see much play because highlander rogue was hit hard by the Galakrond and Alex nerfs and other builds like weapon already have the cost 4 and 5 slots full.
If Alex don't be nerfed highlander rogue can see play and this card will in the list for sure.
If you compare the outcomes then you will see why she's good. Two good minions is amazing. One good and one bad/average is great. Two averages is still good (on curve it's enough stats to be an issue for your opponent). One bad and one average is average/mediocre. Two bad minions is terrible. She is only truly bad when you get the worst possible roll (let's say two Blood Heralds) but it's a good thing that she has a downside. Otherwise, she would be way too good. We also can't ignore any keywords or other effects the minions could have. And, like SummerWalker said, you won't play her against a board full of tokens because that's simply not very smart.
Even with an average outcome, it's still enough of a distraction to make your opponent hesitate about ignoring it. Even if they can destroy one minion with a ping or trade, they don't know which one is real or fake (unless one of the minions has only one health). And the fake minion can attack so, unless it's a 2/1 or a 1/1, your opponent can't simply ignore it. I'm taking the perspective of a slower matchup for this comparison. Against aggro decks she is very risky but if you don't have another choice you can try to roll the dice and pray for an Earth Elemental (or any other taunt). She is better in Rogue because they have Shadowstep but she is still a strong on curve play for Tempo Mage. Her upsides greatly outweigh her downsides.
I opened a golden copy, that's why I like it
Tundra Rhino + Twilight Runner is very satisfying.
Just the fact it summons multiple minions for such efficient mana cost. I’ve also pulled some pretty insane minions with it. That and the fact it was one of my golden legendaries I love it, great design card.
I ran it in my mage deck, but eventually removed it. It never really worked for me. I guess it's better than a lot of other 5 drops but it's a weird card, sort of good but also not. Probably better in Rogue I'd imagine.
Why do people like Jandice Barov?
Because she's good. Next question.
It’s a good card but I prefer Wyrm Weaver in temp mage I think from testing, has higher potential if unanswered and has won me several games.