I'm a casual player, F2P as well - since launch. Never really focused on Ranked mode, but I did get my hunter up to 500 wins, so having that golden crest is pretty cool. Apparently I started around the fad of everyone wanting to golden their heroes as I've seen topics like this discussed in other posts. And I do have to look up the ranked mode changes - but I've noticed something happening?
First off - I typically play a few games a day, sometimes more - and my usual rank play gets me around 13-12 by the end of the month. Last half of the previous month, coupled with the week or so in this month, I have not been able to get above rank 15. In fact, I've been floating around 1 -2 stars only. I've been playing mostly against the meta decks, in rotation of cubelock/dudepally/spiteful priest/etc. Now my play usually involves completing quests, but I'm thinking I need to craft a deck to combat these types.
Now to my point - in the past I've noticed trends:
Beginning of the month - strong deck types, typically the popular ones=tough matches/low win rate
Middle of the month - various deck types, increased variety, increase of win%
End of the month - new round of popular decks, last minute ladder climbers - 50/50 win rate, maintain rank
The trend I have noticed lately - lots of Golden Heroes/Strong Decks all the time. ALL THE TIME. So my theory?
Ranked play traditionally has been not a challenge for most players. There is a fad if you want to call it, to get golden heroes. Grinding 500 wins can take a lot of time - unless you focus on one of the more powerful meta decks. So you start off in the 15-10 bracket - you win up to rank 11.4, then you switch over to a bad deck - relapse all the way back to 15.0 - rinse and repeat. It has the most efficiency and given the traditional players in that rank, the highest % of wins. At the start of the new month, you only have recorded a rank 15 chest, so you get 5 or so stars, putting you back into the 15-10 range.
Ok, I removed my tin foil hat. I could be just having a bad few weeks. Thoughts?
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"In a world without gold, we might have been heroes!" - Blackbeard, AC4
I noticed the same thing, I've always been toying with off meta decks and been able to finish between 10-5, but since WW, it's hard for me to get past 15.
There always has been lots of meta decks opponents, but I think this meta is stronger than before and harder to beat with T3+ decks, even if the opponent misses key components- like dude paladin
When I switched to wild, like two months before the new Hearthstone year came out, I was constantly facing golden heroes, at ranks 25-20. Almost 50% of my games were against a golden hero. At first I was really shocked. I slowly accepted the fact, that I have to face much more experienced and skilled players now, just because I want to enjoy the game (because without Yogg-Saron, Hope's End or Prince Malchezaar or some other cards it simply won't be the same).
The very next season, however, told me otherwise, as I faced almost no golden heroes. That's the lesson: bad luck can always happen and when it does it's unexpected.
I'm a casual player, F2P as well - since launch. Never really focused on Ranked mode, but I did get my hunter up to 500 wins, so having that golden crest is pretty cool. Apparently I started around the fad of everyone wanting to golden their heroes as I've seen topics like this discussed in other posts. And I do have to look up the ranked mode changes - but I've noticed something happening?
First off - I typically play a few games a day, sometimes more - and my usual rank play gets me around 13-12 by the end of the month. Last half of the previous month, coupled with the week or so in this month, I have not been able to get above rank 15. In fact, I've been floating around 1 -2 stars only. I've been playing mostly against the meta decks, in rotation of cubelock/dudepally/spiteful priest/etc. Now my play usually involves completing quests, but I'm thinking I need to craft a deck to combat these types.
Now to my point - in the past I've noticed trends:
Beginning of the month - strong deck types, typically the popular ones=tough matches/low win rate
Middle of the month - various deck types, increased variety, increase of win%
End of the month - new round of popular decks, last minute ladder climbers - 50/50 win rate, maintain rank
The trend I have noticed lately - lots of Golden Heroes/Strong Decks all the time. ALL THE TIME. So my theory?
Ranked play traditionally has been not a challenge for most players. There is a fad if you want to call it, to get golden heroes. Grinding 500 wins can take a lot of time - unless you focus on one of the more powerful meta decks. So you start off in the 15-10 bracket - you win up to rank 11.4, then you switch over to a bad deck - relapse all the way back to 15.0 - rinse and repeat. It has the most efficiency and given the traditional players in that rank, the highest % of wins. At the start of the new month, you only have recorded a rank 15 chest, so you get 5 or so stars, putting you back into the 15-10 range.
Ok, I removed my tin foil hat. I could be just having a bad few weeks. Thoughts?
"In a world without gold, we might have been heroes!" - Blackbeard, AC4
Honestly, everyone is just super boring for all playing the same decks.
Thats right cubelock and Paladin.
I dunno I'm never that low in the rankings since the March change so couldn't say.
I noticed the same thing, I've always been toying with off meta decks and been able to finish between 10-5, but since WW, it's hard for me to get past 15.
There always has been lots of meta decks opponents, but I think this meta is stronger than before and harder to beat with T3+ decks, even if the opponent misses key components- like dude paladin
When I switched to wild, like two months before the new Hearthstone year came out, I was constantly facing golden heroes, at ranks 25-20. Almost 50% of my games were against a golden hero. At first I was really shocked. I slowly accepted the fact, that I have to face much more experienced and skilled players now, just because I want to enjoy the game (because without Yogg-Saron, Hope's End or Prince Malchezaar or some other cards it simply won't be the same).
The very next season, however, told me otherwise, as I faced almost no golden heroes. That's the lesson: bad luck can always happen and when it does it's unexpected.
Lots of people think they could reach legend just by net decking top tier decks so that's what we see.