Looking for peoples input for what exactly counters zoo priest and control priest. My taunt druid deck is getting wrecked by them and im not sure what to do to counter it.
on paper, ramp druid dominates priest....many 4 attack+ minions, opponent has at most 2 shadow word:death, innervate+wild growth = win, if you dont get innervate, wildgrowth, wraith, swipe, keeper, 3-4 drops and only picks up 6-8 mana minions you're going to die fast!
on paper + in actual games, token druid gets owned by priest unless you get out ur minions super quick and have enough dmg on your opponent face that you can play finishers super early, once priest stablizes it's tough for you!
control priest is actually a bit tougher, considering the fact that they might thoughtsteal your good stuff, also try to maintain the board, which shouldn't be hard, if the control priest keeps clearing your board, you might have a more difficult time...worse is turn 6 cabal, 8 rag, turn 9 ysera, turn 10 mind control ,beware!
for both priests you have to play around holy nova (2 dmg to all minions for 5 mana), shadow madness(4mana steals your 3 dmg or lower minions to use immediately that turn)...auchenai+circle = 4 mana flamestrike.....6 mana = auchenai+circle+hero power on 6 health minions+board clear
be super mindful when you have a sluge belcher+ another minion out...he might shadow madness your sludge and run it into a minion then have a 1/2 slime taunt for free
I appreciate your feedback. I seem to face a variation of either aggro or a control version
the aggro version seems to be very high in tempo and I cant seem to stabilize till waaaay late in the game till the point that its 50/50 on whoever top decks what but most the time its tough to even get late game.
Control priest variations seem to be messing me up hard with all there board clears. I never know who to use swipe/wrath on it seems like they bait it out slowly while I dont have my high attack minions out. For instance say I have 2 creatures out with 2 attack he plays a senjin. So either I have to swipe/attack with one or swipe/hero or ram both my guys into him. And they bait most my removals out like this till i get my high attack minions out. I feel anything with 5 attack gets instantly Shadow word death'ed then anything else with 5 attack (besides rag and second 5/10 taunt) gets cleared with anuchi priest / circle of healing or pyro /shield /holy nova or some crazy combos lol..
And even worse anything of mine late game mind controlled is gg if they use it on my 5/10 taunt or rag i have no hard clear for them. Big game hunter has been pretty weak I feel so i dont really run him.
I appreciate your feedback. I seem to face a variation of either aggro or a control version
the aggro version seems to be very high in tempo and I cant seem to stabilize till waaaay late in the game till the point that its 50/50 on whoever top decks what but most the time its tough to even get late game.
Control priest variations seem to be messing me up hard with all there board clears. I never know who to use swipe/wrath on it seems like they bait it out slowly while I dont have my high attack minions out. For instance say I have 2 creatures out with 2 attack he plays a senjin. So either I have to swipe/attack with one or swipe/hero or ram both my guys into him. And they bait most my removals out like this till i get my high attack minions out. I feel anything with 5 attack gets instantly Shadow word death'ed then anything else with 5 attack (besides rag and second 5/10 taunt) gets cleared with anuchi priest / circle of healing or pyro /shield /holy nova or some crazy combos lol..
And even worse anything of mine late game mind controlled is gg if they use it on my 5/10 taunt or rag i have no hard clear for them. Big game hunter has been pretty weak I feel so i dont really run him.
well most ramp druids have good 3+4 drops(seijin+harvest) not too hard to stabilize early...as for board clear...um..there are times when you board clear and times when you save your removals....so when to use it is super dependant on each situations..
if shit hits the fan if they have like a 4-5 attack undertakers, you can silence with your keeper...keeper is like your best fd you always save them for tough situations like this!
as for the board clears from control priest, this is why you try to play around them...you try to maintain board, while they try to stabilize, if they can't stabilize you win! simple?
and i dont understand how you have 2 creatures with 2 attack with a ramp druid unless you have like 2 keeper out...lol
and priest dont run seijins lol
as for the shadow word death, you bait out them with your ancient of lore before playing ancient of wars/rag
you always try to play around their board clear and beware of turn 10 mind control, this is why you keep ancient of war until they've used up all their hard removals like 2x deaths+mind control on you if they are control priest
if they are death rattle priest, board control is the most important
and keeep in mind they don't have burst, you only die if you lose board control!
*edit* and if you really still needs help dealing with priest or other decks/classes, try watching dog streams, he often plays ramp druid, good luck bro
if you need help with token druid, go watch kolento, although he plays many many different types of decks lol
Priest is like a life leeching creature, you leave them at 1 hp, they will just clean the board and heal back up. So it's best to set up a combo to finish them off. First play a little bit aggressive to bait out the Soul Priest + Circle. If they doesn't seem to have it or are holding it for even more value then play Loatheb, they will get stuck for 1 turn. Next turn Roar to finish them off.
Also I think it's best to play Keeper of the Grove as early as possible because 90% of Priest are running Cabal Shadow Priest.
As mainly a priest player (both varieties listed above):
- DR "zoo": you have to have a good start to pressure the druid into making rushed decisions. If you start slow and can't get damage in early, you lose. Most of these decks don't run thoughtsteal so no real need to worry about that, and only one SWD, so if you can get two ancients out, you probably win unless he MCs.
Try to keep the board clean early game whilst not taking too much damage, and flood with 4 attack minions (Neireas version with yetis is quite annoying if he gets them out quick). Don't play small minions past turn 6 (5 if he still has coin) and try to bait out SWD with lore/loatheb. Also don't hesitate to silence undertakers before they get too big, the only taunts they run are usually belchers. Maybe keep one silence for sylv if that's the only way you can deal with her.
- Control: tougher due to 2SWD, thoughtsteal, and usually a silence but still manageable. Same principles apply, but keep the 2nd SWD in mind. Also has more board clears (even though a lot now cut down to one nova, one holy fire)
OR you can take the other approach and play aggressively. If they don't have a good start and you get innervates/growth then you can grab the tempo and usually keep it.
(sorry if this doesn't make much sense, it does to me but I just woke up :p)
Priest i faced ran a seijin. And im currently at rank 11. I had a keeper out and a harvest thus 2 attack each.
Trying to stabalize is easier said then done. Two novas two circle clears and shadow word deaths..
I do get for the most part what to do and what they have I just dont know how to effectively counter them.
I do try to bait out SWD with ancient loatheb and sylvanas before i play rag or wars sometimes they can effectively clear all of my 5/5's so i doesnt work so well.. I will try and watch Dog's stream tho thank you
Flexr I appreciate the advice. However Im trying a taunt version out so i have no finisher that im running in it. I really do not like to rely on finding two cards. And I dont want to double up on both SR and FON
Nyjn no it made sense! I will have to not use any 2 or less attack out i have been forgetting to do that.
I feel every thoughtsteel is redic what they seem to get of mine lol.. Between ancient of war black knight swipe.. ive had some really bad luck haha. I do feel control is alot harder to win against. Alot of times its either play one of my big guys and risk them having mind control or dont play anything and pass and keep battling for board control. I will try to play slower I guess against them more. Thank you all!
in case of the zoo priest... probably any control deck that ever existed.
Control priest is better, but idk, people will spam handlock today, IMO just go for the pally (I know I am, just waiting for the F*ing nerf to go live so I can DE my leeroy and make that tirion)
in case of the zoo priest... probably any control deck that ever existed.
Control priest is better, but idk, people will spam handlock today, IMO just go for the pally (I know I am, just waiting for the F*ing nerf to go live so I can DE my leeroy and make that tirion)
From my own experience, and from tournament results, Handlock's been the most consistent counter to the Zoo priests.
Hellfire, Shadowflame and Soulfire are all very difficult for the priest to play around. Giants and drakes are difficult for the priests to answer without hurting their other matchups.
Understandable about handlock but i dont find that it was that viable obviously with the nerf it will be more..
And any control deck does not wreck zoo priest. Alot of times it is a good match.
Both answers a bit smart assish but okay haa.
Which pally are you considering?
Kafziel Thank you
ur2ezchoas- And thanks.. I get that but that doesnt really help HOW lol.
i think this goes for all decks when i say this but just go watch tournaments and see how the deck performs against other matchups and see which is its weakest, or see which cards specifically cause it problems. thats what i do if im having trouble with a particular deck
Looking for peoples input for what exactly counters zoo priest and control priest. My taunt druid deck is getting wrecked by them and im not sure what to do to counter it.
on paper, ramp druid dominates priest....many 4 attack+ minions, opponent has at most 2 shadow word:death, innervate+wild growth = win, if you dont get innervate, wildgrowth, wraith, swipe, keeper, 3-4 drops and only picks up 6-8 mana minions you're going to die fast!
on paper + in actual games, token druid gets owned by priest unless you get out ur minions super quick and have enough dmg on your opponent face that you can play finishers super early, once priest stablizes it's tough for you!
control priest is actually a bit tougher, considering the fact that they might thoughtsteal your good stuff, also try to maintain the board, which shouldn't be hard, if the control priest keeps clearing your board, you might have a more difficult time...worse is turn 6 cabal, 8 rag, turn 9 ysera, turn 10 mind control ,beware!
for both priests you have to play around holy nova (2 dmg to all minions for 5 mana), shadow madness(4mana steals your 3 dmg or lower minions to use immediately that turn)...auchenai+circle = 4 mana flamestrike.....6 mana = auchenai+circle+hero power on 6 health minions+board clear
be super mindful when you have a sluge belcher+ another minion out...he might shadow madness your sludge and run it into a minion then have a 1/2 slime taunt for free
so play around them and you'll be fine bro!
I appreciate your feedback. I seem to face a variation of either aggro or a control version
the aggro version seems to be very high in tempo and I cant seem to stabilize till waaaay late in the game till the point that its 50/50 on whoever top decks what but most the time its tough to even get late game.
Control priest variations seem to be messing me up hard with all there board clears. I never know who to use swipe/wrath on it seems like they bait it out slowly while I dont have my high attack minions out. For instance say I have 2 creatures out with 2 attack he plays a senjin. So either I have to swipe/attack with one or swipe/hero or ram both my guys into him. And they bait most my removals out like this till i get my high attack minions out. I feel anything with 5 attack gets instantly Shadow word death'ed then anything else with 5 attack (besides rag and second 5/10 taunt) gets cleared with anuchi priest / circle of healing or pyro /shield /holy nova or some crazy combos lol..
And even worse anything of mine late game mind controlled is gg if they use it on my 5/10 taunt or rag i have no hard clear for them. Big game hunter has been pretty weak I feel so i dont really run him.
well most ramp druids have good 3+4 drops(seijin+harvest) not too hard to stabilize early...as for board clear...um..there are times when you board clear and times when you save your removals....so when to use it is super dependant on each situations..
if shit hits the fan if they have like a 4-5 attack undertakers, you can silence with your keeper...keeper is like your best fd you always save them for tough situations like this!
as for the board clears from control priest, this is why you try to play around them...you try to maintain board, while they try to stabilize, if they can't stabilize you win! simple?
and i dont understand how you have 2 creatures with 2 attack with a ramp druid unless you have like 2 keeper out...lol
and priest dont run seijins lol
as for the shadow word death, you bait out them with your ancient of lore before playing ancient of wars/rag
you always try to play around their board clear and beware of turn 10 mind control, this is why you keep ancient of war until they've used up all their hard removals like 2x deaths+mind control on you if they are control priest
if they are death rattle priest, board control is the most important
and keeep in mind they don't have burst, you only die if you lose board control!
*edit* and if you really still needs help dealing with priest or other decks/classes, try watching dog streams, he often plays ramp druid, good luck bro
if you need help with token druid, go watch kolento, although he plays many many different types of decks lol
Priest is like a life leeching creature, you leave them at 1 hp, they will just clean the board and heal back up. So it's best to set up a combo to finish them off. First play a little bit aggressive to bait out the Soul Priest + Circle. If they doesn't seem to have it or are holding it for even more value then play Loatheb, they will get stuck for 1 turn. Next turn Roar to finish them off.
Also I think it's best to play Keeper of the Grove as early as possible because 90% of Priest are running Cabal Shadow Priest.
As mainly a priest player (both varieties listed above):
- DR "zoo": you have to have a good start to pressure the druid into making rushed decisions. If you start slow and can't get damage in early, you lose. Most of these decks don't run thoughtsteal so no real need to worry about that, and only one SWD, so if you can get two ancients out, you probably win unless he MCs.
Try to keep the board clean early game whilst not taking too much damage, and flood with 4 attack minions (Neireas version with yetis is quite annoying if he gets them out quick). Don't play small minions past turn 6 (5 if he still has coin) and try to bait out SWD with lore/loatheb. Also don't hesitate to silence undertakers before they get too big, the only taunts they run are usually belchers. Maybe keep one silence for sylv if that's the only way you can deal with her.
- Control: tougher due to 2SWD, thoughtsteal, and usually a silence but still manageable. Same principles apply, but keep the 2nd SWD in mind. Also has more board clears (even though a lot now cut down to one nova, one holy fire)
OR you can take the other approach and play aggressively. If they don't have a good start and you get innervates/growth then you can grab the tempo and usually keep it.
(sorry if this doesn't make much sense, it does to me but I just woke up :p)
Priest i faced ran a seijin. And im currently at rank 11. I had a keeper out and a harvest thus 2 attack each.
Trying to stabalize is easier said then done. Two novas two circle clears and shadow word deaths..
I do get for the most part what to do and what they have I just dont know how to effectively counter them.
I do try to bait out SWD with ancient loatheb and sylvanas before i play rag or wars sometimes they can effectively clear all of my 5/5's so i doesnt work so well.. I will try and watch Dog's stream tho thank you
Flexr I appreciate the advice. However Im trying a taunt version out so i have no finisher that im running in it. I really do not like to rely on finding two cards. And I dont want to double up on both SR and FON
Nyjn no it made sense! I will have to not use any 2 or less attack out i have been forgetting to do that.
I feel every thoughtsteel is redic what they seem to get of mine lol.. Between ancient of war black knight swipe.. ive had some really bad luck haha. I do feel control is alot harder to win against. Alot of times its either play one of my big guys and risk them having mind control or dont play anything and pass and keep battling for board control. I will try to play slower I guess against them more. Thank you all!
isnt it obvious? handlock mostly.
in case of the zoo priest... probably any control deck that ever existed.
Control priest is better, but idk, people will spam handlock today, IMO just go for the pally (I know I am, just waiting for the F*ing nerf to go live so I can DE my leeroy and make that tirion)
Retired Hearthstone Columnist
Probably will switch back to my pally as well.
From my own experience, and from tournament results, Handlock's been the most consistent counter to the Zoo priests.
Hellfire, Shadowflame and Soulfire are all very difficult for the priest to play around. Giants and drakes are difficult for the priests to answer without hurting their other matchups.
miracle and handlock are the best ways to deal with priest in my opinion. but other decks have good chances too its all about how you play the match
Understandable about handlock but i dont find that it was that viable obviously with the nerf it will be more..
And any control deck does not wreck zoo priest. Alot of times it is a good match.
Both answers a bit smart assish but okay haa.
Which pally are you considering?
Kafziel Thank you
ur2ezchoas- And thanks.. I get that but that doesnt really help HOW lol.
i think this goes for all decks when i say this but just go watch tournaments and see how the deck performs against other matchups and see which is its weakest, or see which cards specifically cause it problems. thats what i do if im having trouble with a particular deck
Thank you! i shall :)