I'd argue Druid and shaman are also endangered, not because of the rotation itself but because how hard the past and future nerfs hit them both. (with flametongue probably weakening even shaman by a significant margin).
I'd argue Druid and shaman are also endangered, not because of the rotation itself but because how hard the past and future nerfs hit them both. (with flametongue probably weakening even shaman by a significant margin).
Hunter, rogue & warlock will always find a way. Midrange, miracle and zoo architypes are so strong and need only a few cards to be tier 2 decks atleast.
I kept saying Priest was fked with the last two expansions. Luckily enough for Priest there were no rotations so far but in the coming rotation everyone will see how much the devs have fked up with this class. Absolutely 0% reason to play Priest after the rotation.
So what will happen? The devs will notice this and make rediculous OP cards to make Priest viable again. Instead of what they should have done in the first place, making decent cards the last two expansions.
Not that I will miss Druid being dominant, like it was for a good while, but Druid got nerfed and hit the hardest, with cards rotating out AND changes to Wild Growth and Nourish. They are no longer the Ramp class they were and have no good board clears. They are pushing the beast and token style druid hard.
Priest is always bad with all the older sets rotating out. It's why we need a rotating standard of classic and basic cards. Pick a pool of 'Wild' or HOF cards and rearrange what is considered Classic and Basic for the new year. So Holy Nova could be gone, but we get something in its place instead from older sets, like Excavated Evil. So priest is doomed as a class. Mass Hysteria is not enough control.
So, good job on the breakdown and analysis. While I think some things are slightly off, it is very helpful and an interesting read.
Odd paladin is likely to still be decent, but I actually think the card they lose are a very big deal (even Tarim from Stonehill is one of the main ways I lose to them on ladder).
So I honestly don't think it's likely to be a rogue, hunter and paladin top meta after rotation, however it will obviously depend on the cards released.
I've updated the post to take the nerfs and previous feedback into account. I also added class-specific conclusions (feel free to disagree) and made some cosmetic changes;
I would put Wall Priest as doomed, considering resurrect shenanigans are an important mechanic in that archetype. Otherwise, they just put out 1 or 2 fat taunts on the board, which can be answered effectively by any half decent aggro or midrange deck. If a deck is unable to answer the taunts 1 or 2 turns after they are played, they've as good as lost.
I like how you coloured the texts depending on whether a certain archtype is preserved, endangered or doomed. Well done!
I agree with most of what you said except for 2 shaman archtypes. I think Even Shaman is weakened - it's not endangered, but it's not "the least affected" either. It just loses too many good cards. I have big hopes for the Burn deck. I know this isn't popular, but if this is the least affected shaman archtype, then wouldn't it be logical to see it after the rotation? I would say, that shaman's state is uncertain.
I also don't agree with the state of Even Paladin. I haven't looked at statistics, but imho the loss to Tarim will be a huge one. This archtype received another hit a while ago (nerf to equality), so I don't think it will enter the upcoming Hearthstone Year as smoothly as you think.
First off, this was an excellent right-up/thread, so thanks for posting. I do have some different thought about Priest, though. Even if I’m wrong about my prediction below, Priest players should relax. Blizzard is not going to let Priest die. They will reprint useful Priest cards. Don’t worry. If anything they will help them out more than others because they have struggled in Standard Tier 1 for too long.
I know it looks like Clone Priest is doomed in Standard, but I predict it’s going to be back in a new form. I say this because Zerek’s Cloning Gallery is not going anywhere. This card is too, good, too fun, and too much “in the spirit of Priest” play to become a dead card. There are two new cards that could help build a new type of Clone Priest—Senace and Princess Talanji. Right now, Talanji is more of a ”fun” card, but I can see her being more impactful in the future. If you were to Seance your Velen and Malygos, you could play them both with Talanji. The problem is that you need something to discount your Mind Blasts by one ( because Radiant Elemental is rotating). You also need something to discount Maly in order to Seance because Maly and ZCG both cost nine. Anyway, I do think Zerek’s Cloning Gallery/Seance/Princess Talanji could be the backbone of Clone Priest after rotation, in some form of another. Any thoughts?
Edit: I suppose you could discount Talanji with Spirit if the Dead? Then, you could play Velen and Malygos (via Talanji), plus two Mind Blasts and two Holy Smites on the same turn for seven mana? I guess you would first have to discount Maly with Spirit of the Dead to Seance on the same turn....
If Mecha'Thun Warrior can survive this meta, how good you think it'll be untouched except for Reckless Flurry (which will most likely see some kind of immediate replacement)? Unless they come up with some more Mecha'thun anti-tech, and IF they do nerf Genn/Baku, this could be the darkhorse in the meta. Just the Dr.Boom hero power can stall out decently now, with less impactful win conditions in a new Standard, something will have to give...I just hope we don't get another innundation of hyper aggro.
- Dudu: it appears only token would survive the rotation. - Hunt: only mid-range will be viable. - Mage: no comment. - Pally: Mech and Holy Wrath have the potential to survive. - Pop: no change. - ROUge: no change. - Shamy: well, let's hope the burn archtype thrives post-rotation. - Lock: RIP. - Warr: let's hope Rush and Mecha'thun thrive post-rotation.
Conclusion? I'd say only pally and warrior have the chance to enter Year of the Dragon smoothly. The future of the other classes is either uncertain or gray.
I'd argue Druid and shaman are also endangered, not because of the rotation itself but because how hard the past and future nerfs hit them both. (with flametongue probably weakening even shaman by a significant margin).
Their basic cards are not the best too.
Always expect the unexpectable!
You guys made some good points. I will update that after the nerfs go live. Still think Hunter and Rogue will be fine though.
Custom cards :
CLASSES : Alchemist (CCC#5 | Phase V) | Chef (CCC#4)
EXPANSIONS : Year of the Scorpion (Year Comp)
Hunter, rogue & warlock will always find a way. Midrange, miracle and zoo architypes are so strong and need only a few cards to be tier 2 decks atleast.
I lol'd at that. OP apparently doesn't like DK Jaina. :P
NOBODY LOSES ANYTHING! wild is a format just to let you know
Skidaddle skidoodle your Milhouse manastorm is now a noodle
Every rotation Priest loses everything…
Well done!
There are some points i disagree with (which other people have already mentioned) and some mistakes but... Well done!
Believe in potential; the multiverse blesses some beings with extraordinary traits, with the potential to do—to be—great things.
I kept saying Priest was fked with the last two expansions.
Luckily enough for Priest there were no rotations so far but in the coming rotation everyone will see how much the devs have fked up with this class. Absolutely 0% reason to play Priest after the rotation.
So what will happen? The devs will notice this and make rediculous OP cards to make Priest viable again.
Instead of what they should have done in the first place, making decent cards the last two expansions.
Not that I will miss Druid being dominant, like it was for a good while, but Druid got nerfed and hit the hardest, with cards rotating out AND changes to Wild Growth and Nourish. They are no longer the Ramp class they were and have no good board clears. They are pushing the beast and token style druid hard.
Priest is always bad with all the older sets rotating out. It's why we need a rotating standard of classic and basic cards. Pick a pool of 'Wild' or HOF cards and rearrange what is considered Classic and Basic for the new year. So Holy Nova could be gone, but we get something in its place instead from older sets, like Excavated Evil. So priest is doomed as a class. Mass Hysteria is not enough control.
So, good job on the breakdown and analysis. While I think some things are slightly off, it is very helpful and an interesting read.
Odd paladin is likely to still be decent, but I actually think the card they lose are a very big deal (even Tarim from Stonehill is one of the main ways I lose to them on ladder).
So I honestly don't think it's likely to be a rogue, hunter and paladin top meta after rotation, however it will obviously depend on the cards released.
I've updated the post to take the nerfs and previous feedback into account. I also added class-specific conclusions (feel free to disagree) and made some cosmetic changes;
Custom cards :
CLASSES : Alchemist (CCC#5 | Phase V) | Chef (CCC#4)
EXPANSIONS : Year of the Scorpion (Year Comp)
I would put Wall Priest as doomed, considering resurrect shenanigans are an important mechanic in that archetype. Otherwise, they just put out 1 or 2 fat taunts on the board, which can be answered effectively by any half decent aggro or midrange deck. If a deck is unable to answer the taunts 1 or 2 turns after they are played, they've as good as lost.
I like how you coloured the texts depending on whether a certain archtype is preserved, endangered or doomed. Well done!
I agree with most of what you said except for 2 shaman archtypes. I think Even Shaman is weakened - it's not endangered, but it's not "the least affected" either. It just loses too many good cards. I have big hopes for the Burn deck. I know this isn't popular, but if this is the least affected shaman archtype, then wouldn't it be logical to see it after the rotation? I would say, that shaman's state is uncertain.
I also don't agree with the state of Even Paladin. I haven't looked at statistics, but imho the loss to Tarim will be a huge one. This archtype received another hit a while ago (nerf to equality), so I don't think it will enter the upcoming Hearthstone Year as smoothly as you think.
First off, this was an excellent right-up/thread, so thanks for posting. I do have some different thought about Priest, though. Even if I’m wrong about my prediction below, Priest players should relax. Blizzard is not going to let Priest die. They will reprint useful Priest cards. Don’t worry. If anything they will help them out more than others because they have struggled in Standard Tier 1 for too long.
I know it looks like Clone Priest is doomed in Standard, but I predict it’s going to be back in a new form. I say this because Zerek’s Cloning Gallery is not going anywhere. This card is too, good, too fun, and too much “in the spirit of Priest” play to become a dead card. There are two new cards that could help build a new type of Clone Priest—Senace and Princess Talanji. Right now, Talanji is more of a ”fun” card, but I can see her being more impactful in the future. If you were to Seance your Velen and Malygos, you could play them both with Talanji. The problem is that you need something to discount your Mind Blasts by one ( because Radiant Elemental is rotating). You also need something to discount Maly in order to Seance because Maly and ZCG both cost nine. Anyway, I do think Zerek’s Cloning Gallery/Seance/Princess Talanji could be the backbone of Clone Priest after rotation, in some form of another. Any thoughts?
Edit: I suppose you could discount Talanji with Spirit if the Dead? Then, you could play Velen and Malygos (via Talanji), plus two Mind Blasts and two Holy Smites on the same turn for seven mana? I guess you would first have to discount Maly with Spirit of the Dead to Seance on the same turn....
Good points. Talanji and Gallery are huge mana cheaters. I think that Priest's redemption will come from those (if it comes).
Custom cards :
CLASSES : Alchemist (CCC#5 | Phase V) | Chef (CCC#4)
EXPANSIONS : Year of the Scorpion (Year Comp)
I lose spell hunter. Feels friggin bad man.
If Mecha'Thun Warrior can survive this meta, how good you think it'll be untouched except for Reckless Flurry (which will most likely see some kind of immediate replacement)? Unless they come up with some more Mecha'thun anti-tech, and IF they do nerf Genn/Baku, this could be the darkhorse in the meta. Just the Dr.Boom hero power can stall out decently now, with less impactful win conditions in a new Standard, something will have to give...I just hope we don't get another innundation of hyper aggro.
If you thought you knew what you think I know, then you'd know I knew you knew I know.
Lol. Prepare for another update.
Some notes:
- Dudu: it appears only token would survive the rotation.
- Hunt: only mid-range will be viable.
- Mage: no comment.
- Pally: Mech and Holy Wrath have the potential to survive.
- Pop: no change.
- ROUge: no change.
- Shamy: well, let's hope the burn archtype thrives post-rotation.
- Lock: RIP.
- Warr: let's hope Rush and Mecha'thun thrive post-rotation.
Conclusion? I'd say only pally and warrior have the chance to enter Year of the Dragon smoothly. The future of the other classes is either uncertain or gray.
Oh...That didn't age well.
@Kovachut. Personaly I bet on MidhunterStone for one year. All of its bad matchups (read: Odd decks) will go away.
Custom cards :
CLASSES : Alchemist (CCC#5 | Phase V) | Chef (CCC#4)
EXPANSIONS : Year of the Scorpion (Year Comp)