How is this card in general being reviewed as terrible? In essence, it costs 1 mana more than Flamestrike does (8 up from 7), with the chance of dealing 5 damage to some minions as well. The 'problem' here is that you pay 5 mana the next turn, but this is simply the concept of the Shaman class in Hearthstone. It's comparable to Earth Elemental vs. Ironbark Protector (and many others for that matter), and I am fairly sure most people would argue Earth Elemental is the better card here. Whether you like the overload concept or not is a whole other topic of discussion.
Now obviously killing your own minions with this is not exactly efficient, but think about it; How often do you play Flamestrike when you have a full board yourself? Not to mention that this can also work wonders in combination with cards such as Nerubian Egg for a free 4/4 body on an otherwise empty board, Explosive Sheep for even more insane AOE damage, Acolyte of Pain for a quick last card draw, and perhaps more.
The fact that this is a 3-mana card does not mean you have to play it on turn 3 either. Playing this on turn 7+ (like Flamestrike) will make this card great. Yes, it is more situational than Flamestrike, but when used in the right way, it can give you a LOT more value too. And yes, it might somehow make your next turn less efficient, but using this on turn 7 allows you to spend 4 mana elsewhere in that current turn (e.g. clear the board completely and play a 4-mana minion yourself). Besides that, this card is a huge buff to Lava Shock for obvious reasons.
Honestly, Shaman needed a somewhat more reliable AOE than Lightning Storm that can kill of big minions too, and eventhough we would have probably thought of something else if we could do that ourselves, this is that card.
This card is definintely not "terrible". It will see lots of play in arena, and even adding one of these into your deck in constructed is likely not going to be a strange sight.
Its ok card with straight foward meaning = made for malygos deck only.
How is this card in general being reviewed as terrible?
Its not about being terrible its about shaman allways geting worse version of thing that the other classes already have.
You get a random aoe that counting overload (a stupid amount) cost more than flamestrike and kill your owns stuff.Sure theres flexibility with the fact tha you can play this early but the card has both drawback 5 overload and it kill your stuff was that really necesary?. Imagine if flamestrike hits all minions?You say that a lot of times you have nothing on the board when you use it,sure, on freeze mage but havent you seen tempo/waker/echo mage running 1 flamestrike?I'm sure they would love flamestrike killing their own stuff and would call it fair right?
For malygos/slow shaman sure its probably good but why can this be good with midrange.Again I fell like this card its getting taxed both ways overload and hitting your own stuff.
Like I said this is going to see play but only because shaman have to allways play with worst versions of already existing cards.
Might work well for Rattle-Shaman though. Egg + wipe enemy board at turn 5, and also the possibility of Lava. The 3 mana makes it really great, although it sacrifices the next turn. One thing Shaman really lacked was coming back if they loses the board, usually if they're behind, they just lose. This card give a new option.
^.^ yay an answer to grim patron. The thing is. The overload is so hardcore. You won't be able to cast lava shock at all unless you are at 5 mana
It's a board clearn that is cheap enough to let you play a board AFTER you cast this mid to late game, this is a good card. WIth Laval shock it's obviously better.
You know something? I'm not even mad. No really. I been playing around with a Grinder Shaman deck and most of the time I had a bunch of totems from my hero power on board so I don't care if they get blown up. With this I can just laugh it up and destroy strong board states. Give me Justicar Trueheart as well so I can control when I get my Wrath of Air Totem and I can blow up all minions between 5-6 health.
In my opinion it is slightly better than flamestrike. You can clear the board earlier if your opponent flooded all his cards or clear some 5-6 health minions with a spell totem later in the game. Lava Shock will help you to reduce the cost of the card.
Interesting. Very powerful effect but the Overload can be a bit of a bummer. I guess this makes Lightning Storm almost irrelevant? This could be amazing/unbeatable with Kel'Thuzad (Ancestral Spirit of course) and extra Spell Damage.
So, in theory on turn 10, you could play this to wipe the board, and then Neptulon, and then next turn, you play Lava Shock, into Ragnaros the Firelord or something ( Or most of the murlocs you got from Neptulon. )
Seems like it would compete with Lightning Storm for slots but the downsides (wiping your own side + the steep overload cost) seem to outweigh the +1-2 damage. Not loving this card but it gives Shammies another powerful aoe at least :/
Rejoice, now for 2 more damage you can get overloaded for 5 with Elemental Destruction!
But that's not all... you can wipe your own board now too!
But wait, bro, i heard you like bad cards, so i put a bad card ( Lava Shock ) in your bad cards ( Lightning Storm ) so you can play more bad cards ( Elemental Destruction )when we release them!
Heralds the return of Egg to Shaman? I mean, this card would still be fair if it only dealt 2-3 damage to friendly minions; you are giving up two turns for it. Heck, maybe if it didn't even hit friendly minions at all it might still be fair.
This just reminds me of how much of a massive drawback Overload tends to be. I mean, how often have you folks out there wished Lighting Bolt was just a Darkbomb? That Lighting Storm was a Consecration? That new 2 mana, draw 2, overload 2, is probably worse than a simple 4-mana draw 2 cards would be. In some cases, there will be a tempo gain to be had by being able to play an overload card sooner, or having more mana when you need to dig for one out you need to win or survive, but very often it mostly feels like you're wasting mana this turn by being unable to use your mana efficiently, and unable to make a good play the next turn, either. Such a garbage mechanic. Blizzard really needs to make Overload optional - the choice pay now (if able) or pay later.
I would rather have it be at 4-mana with the same effect except it doesn't damage your minions. That way, if you don't have The Coin, when you play it on turn 4 you will have to skip the next turn. It would make it a 9-mana Flamestrike that can be played 3 turns earlier and has a slight upside.
Its ok card with straight foward meaning = made for malygos deck only.
http://www.hearthpwn.com/decks/287291-tgt-theorycraft-midrange
Its not about being terrible its about shaman allways geting worse version of thing that the other classes already have.
You get a random aoe that counting overload (a stupid amount) cost more than flamestrike and kill your owns stuff.Sure theres flexibility with the fact tha you can play this early but the card has both drawback 5 overload and it kill your stuff was that really necesary?.
Imagine if flamestrike hits all minions?You say that a lot of times you have nothing on the board when you use it,sure, on freeze mage but havent you seen tempo/waker/echo mage running 1 flamestrike?I'm sure they would love flamestrike killing their own stuff and would call it fair right?
For malygos/slow shaman sure its probably good but why can this be good with midrange.Again I fell like this card its getting taxed both ways overload and hitting your own stuff.
Like I said this is going to see play but only because shaman have to allways play with worst versions of already existing cards.
Supreme anti-aggro card if you fall behind on board control. Use this, clear board, and hope the opponent has some bad topdecks.
its more situational then flamestrike because it can be used in more situations then flamestrike. its better
^.^ yay an answer to grim patron. The thing is. The overload is so hardcore. You won't be able to cast lava shock at all unless you are at 5 mana
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Might work well for Rattle-Shaman though. Egg + wipe enemy board at turn 5, and also the possibility of Lava. The 3 mana makes it really great, although it sacrifices the next turn. One thing Shaman really lacked was coming back if they loses the board, usually if they're behind, they just lose. This card give a new option.
It's a board clearn that is cheap enough to let you play a board AFTER you cast this mid to late game, this is a good card. WIth Laval shock it's obviously better.
You know something? I'm not even mad. No really. I been playing around with a Grinder Shaman deck and most of the time I had a bunch of totems from my hero power on board so I don't care if they get blown up. With this I can just laugh it up and destroy strong board states. Give me Justicar Trueheart as well so I can control when I get my Wrath of Air Totem and I can blow up all minions between 5-6 health.
Mrghl Mrghl!
In my opinion it is slightly better than flamestrike. You can clear the board earlier if your opponent flooded all his cards or clear some 5-6 health minions with a spell totem later in the game. Lava Shock will help you to reduce the cost of the card.
Interesting. Very powerful effect but the Overload can be a bit of a bummer. I guess this makes Lightning Storm almost irrelevant? This could be amazing/unbeatable with Kel'Thuzad (Ancestral Spirit of course) and extra Spell Damage.
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So, in theory on turn 10, you could play this to wipe the board, and then Neptulon, and then next turn, you play Lava Shock, into Ragnaros the Firelord or something ( Or most of the murlocs you got from Neptulon. )
well, thats what new expansion usually do, it normally makes shitty cards currently less shitty.
Anyone said about "ALL MINONS"? 5Head
Awesome card + Lava Shock buff!
12 wins in ArenA with: Mage and Paladin, first time legend with Rogue
This is in fact absolutely extremely great :D
Everyone just thinking how great this card is, and i'm here thinking this is such a shitty card.
Seems like it would compete with Lightning Storm for slots but the downsides (wiping your own side + the steep overload cost) seem to outweigh the +1-2 damage. Not loving this card but it gives Shammies another powerful aoe at least :/
You thought Lightning Storm was bad?
Rejoice, now for 2 more damage you can get overloaded for 5 with Elemental Destruction!
But that's not all... you can wipe your own board now too!
But wait, bro, i heard you like bad cards, so i put a bad card ( Lava Shock ) in your bad cards ( Lightning Storm ) so you can play more bad cards ( Elemental Destruction ) when we release them!
My comments refer mostly to the wild format.
Heralds the return of Egg to Shaman? I mean, this card would still be fair if it only dealt 2-3 damage to friendly minions; you are giving up two turns for it. Heck, maybe if it didn't even hit friendly minions at all it might still be fair.
This just reminds me of how much of a massive drawback Overload tends to be. I mean, how often have you folks out there wished Lighting Bolt was just a Darkbomb? That Lighting Storm was a Consecration? That new 2 mana, draw 2, overload 2, is probably worse than a simple 4-mana draw 2 cards would be. In some cases, there will be a tempo gain to be had by being able to play an overload card sooner, or having more mana when you need to dig for one out you need to win or survive, but very often it mostly feels like you're wasting mana this turn by being unable to use your mana efficiently, and unable to make a good play the next turn, either. Such a garbage mechanic. Blizzard really needs to make Overload optional - the choice pay now (if able) or pay later.
I would rather have it be at 4-mana with the same effect except it doesn't damage your minions. That way, if you don't have The Coin, when you play it on turn 4 you will have to skip the next turn. It would make it a 9-mana Flamestrike that can be played 3 turns earlier and has a slight upside.
That'll do, Huffer. That'll do.