I've always been pretty casual. I hit rank 10...once. I've been hitting rank 15ish for a long time, but I took a break in K&C. I played a lot of Dungeon Run but nothing else. Now in Witchwood I came back and have been playing more but, well, to put it bluntly, I REALLY suck. Like...I haven't sucked this much in my whole career (casual since Beta). I haven't been able to break 3 stars into Rank 19 yet. I've tried Vex Crow Mage, Control Priest, A different Control Priest, Control Shaman, and a Budget Hunter. I'm at my wits end. None of it is working. And, yeah, I was never an amazing player, but I swear my only wins tonight were because my opponent left. I can't even win on my own. I have to say that Arena hasn't changed for me. I still semi-suck at Arena. Average maybe 4 wins...that hasn't changed.
Has something about the game changed in a fundamental way that I missed? Like, yeah, I'm not good but...stuck at Rank 19? This hasn't happened before. I'm afraid that maybe the game has changed in a way that doesn't accomodate people like me anymore, who only play a couple days a week. Was the matchmaking changed or something?
There was a similar thing in the KotFT meta for a while, where all the decks had such marginal differences in win rates, because the rock paper skizzors mechanic was at one of its strongest so you had to wait for a lucky win streak to get anywhere.
That also combines with the fact that you have not played in a while and therefore may be simply out of practice. You said you have played Dungeon Run which is great, but doesnt provide the same test / experience as playing against human players.
I cant speak for Arena since that is a different kettle of fish - and there are some amazing Arena players out there which makes it a hard mode to do well at.
Regarding decks, tempo mage is generally not so good at the moment. Have a look and see which decks are doing the best and give one of them a go. I hate the taste of suggestig something like Even Paladin but it’s winrate cant be denied. Or try something like Spiteful Druid or Cubelock. Both very good decks.
Personal opinion: I dont think priest is as good as it used to be. It seems to struggle in this meta more.
It is also because of the new ranking system. Now, you have to win 5 (!) times to get a new rank instead of 2, so it is not strange that you are in a lower rank now.
I have no advice, and all I can offer is kind of a similar sentiment. At Witchwood's release time, I was steadily playing more Wild. I unpacked 5 legendaries and tried to make a Standard deck featuring each of them. The results were mixed, but it just felt....harder? Even my wins were somehow more mentally taxing than usual. Perhaps that pushed me to now playing Wild exclusively, but I think I would've ended up there anyways.
Tl;dr, yeah I can't really help but to say that I also felt like something was somehow different too. (Not necessarily worse)
I think a large part of it is the 5-star ranking system. It's just so difficult for anyone who can't spend 2-3 hours a day on Hearthstone to actually get anywhere.
It's very much become a pay-to-win game aswell. As much as people like to pretend it hasn't. All of the top decks are stupidly expensive. F2P casual players will forever struggle to get off the bottom ranks now. Can only see it getting worse aswell..
My wholeheart suggestion is to play a deck that you REALLY enjoy. Doing this you will be able to avoid the sufferings from opponent topdecks and emotes. At rank 18 it doesnt matter anyway, and to all who say that priest suck, do not even listen to them, it was the only deck that made me out of rank 4 this season. Think alot during mulligan because beside that, you cant work on draws and half match will be decided from RNG. I wish you the best.
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Best quotes: "Casual is perfectly fine" "warlock is not overpowered" "Playing odd paladin just to test it"
I think a large part of it is the 5-star ranking system. It's just so difficult for anyone who can't spend 2-3 hours a day on Hearthstone to actually get anywhere.
It is also because of the new ranking system. Now, you have to win 5 (!) times to get a new rank instead of 2, so it is not strange that you are in a lower rank now.
Oh shit I didn't even consider this...When I would get to Rank 15 it was usually on the backs of a good win streak...but now that's harder to get there with. This is likely part of it, most certainly.
It's very much become a pay-to-win game aswell. As much as people like to pretend it hasn't.
Thats not quite true. You certainly cant pay to ”win” in this game (especially since that would mean players would do literally that and it would undermine the whole point of playing competitively for Blizzard). That may be arguing semantics (I’ll grant) but the term is often misused since there are games that are literally that.
But you could say it was Pay to Progress Faster (which is a much more realistic term (if less roll off the tongue)) - since no amount of bought packs will help you win any more than before. But it will certainly help you finish your collection faster than if you grind gold for them (or Arena etc)
For ranking up to 5, the trick is win streak. If you lose 3-in-a-row and then win 3-in-row, your rank will be up by 1 stars after 6 games despite 50% win rate. After that, If you win 3-in-a-row and then lost 3-in-a-row, your rank will be up by 4 stars while maintaining 50% winrate.
It seems confusing but Blizzard match-making usually match people with a specific archetype in 2 to 3 continuous games. I dont know how it actually works but it is very common to face 3 dude paladins in a row and then 3 warlocks in a row. The moment when you face a favored archetype again and again is the moment when you climb up fast.
That means your deck should win consistently against one or two popular archetypes and it should be okay lose against the rest.
Your deck doesnt need to be perfect. It just need to be strong at one aspect and exploit it to the fullest.
In summary, imbalance decks usually climb up better than balance or jack-of-all-trades decks. Just pay attention to what other people are playing and play a hard counter to their decks.
It seems confusing but Blizzard match-making usually match people with a specific archetype in 2 to 3 continuous games. I dont know how it actually works but it is very common to face 3 dude paladins in a row and then 3 warlocks in a row. The moment when you face a favored archetype again and again is the moment when you climb up fast.
Intriguing. I’m not saying you’re wrong but has there been anything to show this? I am legitimately curious. If so, it would add a means in which to switch decks if you know you are likely to start facing a different archetype for a set number each time.
I REALLY suck. Like...I haven't sucked this much in my whole career (casual since Beta). I haven't been able to break 3 stars into Rank 19 yet. I've tried Vex Crow Mage, Control Priest, A different Control Priest, Control Shaman, and a Budget Hunter.
I couldn't say if you suck or not without watching you play, but... Crow mage... not so good, really fragile. Control Priest - pretty good, very hard to pilot well IMO. Control Shaman... pretty awful. Budget Hunter, not in this meta, hardly anything in hunter works well and consistently right now.
You handicapped yourself by choosing off-meta decks (except for control priest which is just plain hard to play in this meta). If you were struggling while running Even Paladin or Control Warlock, I'd say, hmmm ya, you might suck. Those are super strong decks that are on the easy side to play pretty well.
So you may not be the wunderkin of Hearthstone, but you shouldn't feel too bad for struggling with that lineup.
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Check out my gaming blog: Downy Owlbear Designs and download free P&P games. Or argue with me about games on Qallout, the video debate site.
It seems confusing but Blizzard match-making usually match people with a specific archetype in 2 to 3 continuous games. I dont know how it actually works but it is very common to face 3 dude paladins in a row and then 3 warlocks in a row. The moment when you face a favored archetype again and again is the moment when you climb up fast.
Intriguing. I’m not saying you’re wrong but has there been anything to show this? I am legitimately curious. If so, it would add a means in which to switch decks if you know you are likely to start facing a different archetype for a set number each time.
Confirmation bias is biased. Use a deck tracker for 100+ games, and you will find streaks against popular decks about as often as you would expect. No streaks at all is pretty unlikely too...
If you are not getting the ranks you were before maybe consider playing a tier 1/2 deck that gives you a genuine chance. Perhaps play a deck like Murloc Pally, Warlock, Spiteful Druid, Odd Rogue or Zoo Lock (maybe).
You would be surprised on how much those decks were holding you back, playing the wrong deck in the meta and losing constantly can make you feel a worse player than you actually are.
Use tracker to save your games. You can see some interesting patterns.
I stopped using Hearthstone Deck Tracker a long time ago. Nowadays I mostly play on phone. But this is the data I got in August 2017
6 Streaks in 28 matches is far from a pattern it's probably just an anomaly, i checked my last 200 matches and i faced the same opponent class twice in a row only 19 times and 3 times in a row only 3 times.
Well, the decks you tried are not so smooth, and Control Priest is powerful, but does not offer an easy run, especially for a player who isn't used to the meta and its most recurring threats.
I am mostly Casual as well, i usually average 3 at Arena when i try, but i can caually hit 15 with ease. This month i have been nearly winstreaking to 11 with my own Wild (tempo) Even Shaman and to 15 with Standard (murloc) Even Shaman.
So, it must be your own approach with a meta you don't know well enough. Try to analyse better the causes of your losses, and possibly find a deck that is more functional to your style.
I think a large part of it is the 5-star ranking system. It's just so difficult for anyone who can't spend 2-3 hours a day on Hearthstone to actually get anywhere.
It's very much become a pay-to-win game aswell. As much as people like to pretend it hasn't. All of the top decks are stupidly expensive. F2P casual players will forever struggle to get off the bottom ranks now. Can only see it getting worse aswell..
I disagree. I am f2p and hit legend this month in standard. With Tempo Mage I still achieve decent win streaks in wild. I can't make out any changes in how the ladder works since I started which is a bit more than a year ago.
Don't know where your problem lies but it's not in the way the Lader works. Just my experience.
It seems confusing but Blizzard match-making usually match people with a specific archetype in 2 to 3 continuous games. I dont know how it actually works but it is very common to face 3 dude paladins in a row and then 3 warlocks in a row. The moment when you face a favored archetype again and again is the moment when you climb up fast.
Intriguing. I’m not saying you’re wrong but has there been anything to show this? I am legitimately curious. If so, it would add a means in which to switch decks if you know you are likely to start facing a different archetype for a set number each time.
Confirmation bias is biased. Use a deck tracker for 100+ games, and you will find streaks against popular decks about as often as you would expect. No streaks at all is pretty unlikely too...
Thats what I would have assumed too. I figure it doesnt hurt to give a chap a chance to show what they have discovered. 😀
I've always been pretty casual. I hit rank 10...once. I've been hitting rank 15ish for a long time, but I took a break in K&C. I played a lot of Dungeon Run but nothing else. Now in Witchwood I came back and have been playing more but, well, to put it bluntly, I REALLY suck. Like...I haven't sucked this much in my whole career (casual since Beta). I haven't been able to break 3 stars into Rank 19 yet. I've tried Vex Crow Mage, Control Priest, A different Control Priest, Control Shaman, and a Budget Hunter. I'm at my wits end. None of it is working. And, yeah, I was never an amazing player, but I swear my only wins tonight were because my opponent left. I can't even win on my own. I have to say that Arena hasn't changed for me. I still semi-suck at Arena. Average maybe 4 wins...that hasn't changed.
Has something about the game changed in a fundamental way that I missed? Like, yeah, I'm not good but...stuck at Rank 19? This hasn't happened before. I'm afraid that maybe the game has changed in a way that doesn't accomodate people like me anymore, who only play a couple days a week. Was the matchmaking changed or something?
There was a similar thing in the KotFT meta for a while, where all the decks had such marginal differences in win rates, because the rock paper skizzors mechanic was at one of its strongest so you had to wait for a lucky win streak to get anywhere.
That also combines with the fact that you have not played in a while and therefore may be simply out of practice. You said you have played Dungeon Run which is great, but doesnt provide the same test / experience as playing against human players.
I cant speak for Arena since that is a different kettle of fish - and there are some amazing Arena players out there which makes it a hard mode to do well at.
Regarding decks, tempo mage is generally not so good at the moment. Have a look and see which decks are doing the best and give one of them a go. I hate the taste of suggestig something like Even Paladin but it’s winrate cant be denied. Or try something like Spiteful Druid or Cubelock. Both very good decks.
Personal opinion: I dont think priest is as good as it used to be. It seems to struggle in this meta more.
It is also because of the new ranking system. Now, you have to win 5 (!) times to get a new rank instead of 2, so it is not strange that you are in a lower rank now.
Hey! That sounds like a rough go, for sure.
I have no advice, and all I can offer is kind of a similar sentiment. At Witchwood's release time, I was steadily playing more Wild. I unpacked 5 legendaries and tried to make a Standard deck featuring each of them. The results were mixed, but it just felt....harder? Even my wins were somehow more mentally taxing than usual. Perhaps that pushed me to now playing Wild exclusively, but I think I would've ended up there anyways.
Tl;dr, yeah I can't really help but to say that I also felt like something was somehow different too. (Not necessarily worse)
Good luck to you!
I'm having the same problem.
I think a large part of it is the 5-star ranking system. It's just so difficult for anyone who can't spend 2-3 hours a day on Hearthstone to actually get anywhere.
It's very much become a pay-to-win game aswell. As much as people like to pretend it hasn't. All of the top decks are stupidly expensive. F2P casual players will forever struggle to get off the bottom ranks now. Can only see it getting worse aswell..
My wholeheart suggestion is to play a deck that you REALLY enjoy. Doing this you will be able to avoid the sufferings from opponent topdecks and emotes.
At rank 18 it doesnt matter anyway, and to all who say that priest suck, do not even listen to them, it was the only deck that made me out of rank 4 this season.
Think alot during mulligan because beside that, you cant work on draws and half match will be decided from RNG.
I wish you the best.
Best quotes:
"Casual is perfectly fine"
"warlock is not overpowered"
"Playing odd paladin just to test it"
For ranking up to 5, the trick is win streak. If you lose 3-in-a-row and then win 3-in-row, your rank will be up by 1 stars after 6 games despite 50% win rate. After that, If you win 3-in-a-row and then lost 3-in-a-row, your rank will be up by 4 stars while maintaining 50% winrate.
It seems confusing but Blizzard match-making usually match people with a specific archetype in 2 to 3 continuous games. I dont know how it actually works but it is very common to face 3 dude paladins in a row and then 3 warlocks in a row. The moment when you face a favored archetype again and again is the moment when you climb up fast.
That means your deck should win consistently against one or two popular archetypes and it should be okay lose against the rest.
Your deck doesnt need to be perfect. It just need to be strong at one aspect and exploit it to the fullest.
In summary, imbalance decks usually climb up better than balance or jack-of-all-trades decks. Just pay attention to what other people are playing and play a hard counter to their decks.
Rongchoi's heroic adventure decks
You handicapped yourself by choosing off-meta decks (except for control priest which is just plain hard to play in this meta). If you were struggling while running Even Paladin or Control Warlock, I'd say, hmmm ya, you might suck. Those are super strong decks that are on the easy side to play pretty well.
Check out my gaming blog: Downy Owlbear Designs and download free P&P games.
Or argue with me about games on Qallout, the video debate site.
Editor of the Heartpwn Legendary Crafting Guide:
https://www.hearthpwn.com/forums/hearthstone-general/card-discussion/205920-legendary-tier-list-crafting-guide
Use tracker to save your games. You can see some interesting patterns.
I stopped using Hearthstone Deck Tracker a long time ago. Nowadays I mostly play on phone. But this is the data I got in August 2017
Rongchoi's heroic adventure decks
I'm stuck on rank 16, 40 games and counting, 56% Win rate.
Sucks.
If you are not getting the ranks you were before maybe consider playing a tier 1/2 deck that gives you a genuine chance. Perhaps play a deck like Murloc Pally, Warlock, Spiteful Druid, Odd Rogue or Zoo Lock (maybe).
You would be surprised on how much those decks were holding you back, playing the wrong deck in the meta and losing constantly can make you feel a worse player than you actually are.
Well, the decks you tried are not so smooth, and Control Priest is powerful, but does not offer an easy run, especially for a player who isn't used to the meta and its most recurring threats.
I am mostly Casual as well, i usually average 3 at Arena when i try, but i can caually hit 15 with ease. This month i have been nearly winstreaking to 11 with my own Wild (tempo) Even Shaman and to 15 with Standard (murloc) Even Shaman.
So, it must be your own approach with a meta you don't know well enough. Try to analyse better the causes of your losses, and possibly find a deck that is more functional to your style.
Editor of the Heartpwn Legendary Crafting Guide:
https://www.hearthpwn.com/forums/hearthstone-general/card-discussion/205920-legendary-tier-list-crafting-guide