First let me adress something first so you can read with a clear mind: Im a Mage main with almost 1500 wins. I always create golden legendaries for Mage's class and I almost have all the classic set in golden as well (for mage ofc). I've tried and used every possible Mage deck with and without netdecking.
Oh and this wont be an expansion rant! Im actually enjoying it quite a bit. And this comes from someone who barely played last year (I honestly think, last year was the worst HS year for me). This will be about Mage in specific and towards Mage players (and the rest are more than welcome to give your opinion)
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Lets briefly talk about Mage, shall we. Mage was and is always a heavy spell class. Most of the times, her power comes from the spells itself which originate other sources (minions, damage, heal, etc). Regurally, Mage always had troubles with minion and only a few made the cut to be actually good and/or playable (be without getting the support to be playable, etc). Mage always had troubles to stay alive until they got the moment to get board control and originate a win condition, besides tempo Mage since its just burn everyone on opponents's before you die.
But BEFORE Mage had ice block. Ice block was one of the most, if not the most, important card in Mage decks. This card could carry them to the win but it got turn into, pardon my word, cancer when Quest Mage and Glyph become a thing. I still am a firm believer that rotating Ice Block was one of the biggest sins in HS history because it completly destroy any chances of making a solid Mage deck since the class itself doesn't have proper good minions with good effects with taunt, lifesteal, etc. And I think if they nerfed Quest Mage or the Glyph would have been appropiate. BUT Mage did get a good replacement! Arcane Articifer (if i wrote it correctly). This minion should have been moved to Mage's classic set to me because this card would make Mage be rewarded to use big spells more! It was a balanced minion and worth to keep in most Mage dekcs... And I know, DK Jaina was a thing but it was harder to set up. Most of you hated the card for some reason but I see it has one of the best control cards ever. You can counter it and actually takes strategy to use it... But the card never truly shined! Mage decks were still delibitated by the fact of Ice Block and without proper support to the archtypes (besides Tempo but I hate Tempo mage).
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So we come to the new expansion and every class got hit, some harder than the others. I think Mage is part of the ones who got hit hard. Mage now returned to where it was before after Ice Block got hall of famed. But I thought "They might print something for Mage that will pronlong their life a little more.." but I was wrong. And let me tell you first: I like the cards Mage got. Kalecgos and Kadghar are awesome! But Im having a blast with Power of Creation and Conjurier's Calling. The other cards are more specific to Tempo Mage and so I wont bother as much trying them out just yet.
Anyway, Mage now has no access to survivability at all! You got nothing to get you health, being immune or getting armor. Or even skip a turn for that matter! And we are talking about a class like Mage who desperately needs those things to actually stay alive and play their game! Mage always needed that. If we take in count the other classes, only Hunter doesn't have a proper survibility tool but Hunter (most of the times) never needed since their class is a rush down class (besides secret hunter but even then) but Im not a Hunter player at all so pardon my ignorance.
Early game to Mid game, mage is a glass cannon class now. And even late if you end up drawing your cards late. Although you have insane combos at 8 to 10 mana that can swing the whole game in your favor no matter the class you play against, you will have to survive until then... Obviously I don't want some OP, opressive stuff for mage in every single turn to be used but something that can at least give you a chance to get there. But you have nothing! or close to nothing.
No proper board clear prior to turn 6 (blasting wave is meh in my book)
No defensive minion prior to turn 5
Only good minion minion on turn 5 is Rotten Applebum (i know, i know....)
No good early drops for Mage
So I ask, Mage players, what do you think about all this? I know is a big text, but I would appreciate the time you had to rad this and share your opinions. Even the non mage players.
It was a surprise to me that Mage didn't get any this expac. But remember, this is a 3 point storyline, so they still might. But Ice Barrier being all that's left is a bit of a bummer for a class that typically has some manner of control deck.
It was a surprise to me that Mage didn't get any this expac. But remember, this is a 3 point storyline, so they still might. But Ice Barrier being all that's left is a bit of a bummer for a class that typically has some manner of control deck.
Me too. I was expecting at least something, even if it was a neutral card. Specially to a class that is more fun (to me) to play as a control type of deck.
And yeah, I think they might add those tools on the next expansion but I hope its not to late.
It's very bad if you enjoy playing Control Mage like the old Big Mage style. It's good if you like the new direction the set has put Mage in with summoning large minions and more focus on spell damage. So, which category do you fall into?
Mage's defense is freezing the enemy. We got Ray of Frost as a new defensive tool and frost nova + doomsayer is still a thing (board clear at turn 5). Zilliax is also a good turn 5 minion which heals you and is a taunt.
Though I have to say I am kinda disappointed that there was no 1 drop for mage in this set. It was kinda needed and I hope that the next set has one
I'm a main mage since Old Gods, and this expansion is the saddest so far... I have all the cards for mage, but probably I'm going for warlock or wild this set. :(
Mage should be the class without healing spells or minions because... mage can't heal themselves, so that fits what the class actually do in games and its pretty balanced. But let's not compare it to another class please... Rogue doesn't have healing too but Rogue covers that problem with a good tempo play.
I tried the game with Magic Trick and Mana Cyclone, it was pretty fun but it doesn't feel that powerful enough. I think mage just needs good early game mage minions to put in her auto-included list like Menacing Nimbus, then we're good with it. (Elemental shaman was a thing before it get rotates out.)
Yup, mage is pretty screwed now, but because they gave them support for bad value gameplans (multiple random summons wtf?) along with removing more agressive, stall and healing tools from standard.
I reached for the very bottom of the barrel yesterday. I resorted to using Ice Cream Peddler and freezing my own minion for armor in true Freeze Shaman style. Spoiler alert: It did not work out too well!
Thematically it makes sense that mage is weak, the villian organization is attacking the mage capital dalaran, so mage is weak against such invasion.. but once mage gets more power during the year is will prevail.
Anyway you have proud defender on 4, you got a board clear in 5 with Doomsayer +Frost Nova
Mage got decent 2 mana cards, also the raven messenger is really good.. just that mage doesn't have enough survavility to play it, also mage got nice removal..
Oh and there are some small board clears that paired with spell damage (Which is plentiful this expansion) can be devastating (I was in the receiving end of such AOE :( )
After 1500 games it might be hard to look for previesly weak cards/combos but now it's the time to look at past year cards and some unused classic/basic cards that might be good to try and make mage work, while everyone is underestimating you (at least those that look at the data) you could be winning a lot cause of the surprise factor.
You are a mage main you should not dismiss all possibilities.
Did you try to go the dragon route BTW? that was the best mage deck before rotation according to blizzard's data (source:auto complete and I have almost all mage cards).
Here are some directions/cards you should try:
Dragon Mage,neutral cheap taunts(like proud defender),doomsayer + frost nova, tempo mage ,spell damage mage, miracle mage(with cheap spells and auctioneer, saw such a deck before in a firebat video it was interesting),
Ray of frost in control mage (if you didn't use it yet, it's very good vs high boards.. and even against wide you freeze 2 minions), ice barrier(probably not.. but it's a class heal, and it forces your opponent to make awkward plays specially if they don't know you are control yet)
Actually DO play blast wave, good against aggro boards which are the ones that cause you problems.
And that' it all that I could think for as of now..
It's very bad if you enjoy playing Control Mage like the old Big Mage style. It's good if you like the new direction the set has put Mage in with summoning large minions and more focus on spell damage. So, which category do you fall into?
I like pretty much anything remotely competitive, but unfortunately the "summoning large minions" plan just isn't that in a world where there's not a decent taunt or aoe clear below the 5 mana slot. The armor loss with Arcane Artificer is tough on its own, but it's compounded by the loss of neutral cards like Tar Creeper and Plated Beetle that stemmed the tide early. Then you look around the rest of the meta where other classes have lost cards like Defile and Duskbreaker that kept aggro in check... I know it's early and aggro usually dominates at this point, but I get the feeling we're in for a fast meta.
I mean we still have Frost Nova Doomsayer also Spirit of the Dragonhawk on 2 can be pretty devastating against aggro.
Yeah but that requires 2 cards. And nowdays doomsayer is very easily countered specially on turn 5. Turn 2 he is still quite good against certain classes but past that... you need extremely luck so he doesn't get countered.
It's very bad if you enjoy playing Control Mage like the old Big Mage style. It's good if you like the new direction the set has put Mage in with summoning large minions and more focus on spell damage. So, which category do you fall into?
I fall intro Control Mage. So im screwed but I like Big Minions Mage more now but as it is right now? Damn.. not even that.
Mage's defense is freezing the enemy. We got Ray of Frost as a new defensive tool and frost nova + doomsayer is still a thing (board clear at turn 5). Zilliax is also a good turn 5 minion which heals you and is a taunt.
Though I have to say I am kinda disappointed that there was no 1 drop for mage in this set. It was kinda needed and I hope that the next set has one
Ray of frost is a good card but only usable on tempo mage to be honest. I actually think it can fall into a midrange/control type of deck if only those types get support.
Mage should be the class without healing spells or minions because... mage can't heal themselves, so that fits what the class actually do in games and its pretty balanced. But let's not compare it to another class please... Rogue doesn't have healing too but Rogue covers that problem with a good tempo play.
I tried the game with Magic Trick and Mana Cyclone, it was pretty fun but it doesn't feel that powerful enough. I think mage just needs good early game mage minions to put in her auto-included list like Menacing Nimbus, then we're good with it. (Elemental shaman was a thing before it get rotates out.)
True! Mage is not a minion/health gain class but it needs its specific tools to survive. Thats why ice block was amazing... And arcane articificer too. Mage is a class that needs a lot of mana usage to make plays, good plays. If they can get heal/armor then they need more control cards and board clear in early game.
First let me adress something first so you can read with a clear mind: Im a Mage main with almost 1500 wins. I always create golden legendaries for Mage's class and I almost have all the classic set in golden as well (for mage ofc). I've tried and used every possible Mage deck with and without netdecking.
Oh and this wont be an expansion rant! Im actually enjoying it quite a bit. And this comes from someone who barely played last year (I honestly think, last year was the worst HS year for me). This will be about Mage in specific and towards Mage players (and the rest are more than welcome to give your opinion)
--------------------
Lets briefly talk about Mage, shall we. Mage was and is always a heavy spell class. Most of the times, her power comes from the spells itself which originate other sources (minions, damage, heal, etc). Regurally, Mage always had troubles with minion and only a few made the cut to be actually good and/or playable (be without getting the support to be playable, etc). Mage always had troubles to stay alive until they got the moment to get board control and originate a win condition, besides tempo Mage since its just burn everyone on opponents's before you die.
But BEFORE Mage had ice block. Ice block was one of the most, if not the most, important card in Mage decks. This card could carry them to the win but it got turn into, pardon my word, cancer when Quest Mage and Glyph become a thing. I still am a firm believer that rotating Ice Block was one of the biggest sins in HS history because it completly destroy any chances of making a solid Mage deck since the class itself doesn't have proper good minions with good effects with taunt, lifesteal, etc. And I think if they nerfed Quest Mage or the Glyph would have been appropiate. BUT Mage did get a good replacement! Arcane Articifer (if i wrote it correctly). This minion should have been moved to Mage's classic set to me because this card would make Mage be rewarded to use big spells more! It was a balanced minion and worth to keep in most Mage dekcs... And I know, DK Jaina was a thing but it was harder to set up. Most of you hated the card for some reason but I see it has one of the best control cards ever. You can counter it and actually takes strategy to use it... But the card never truly shined! Mage decks were still delibitated by the fact of Ice Block and without proper support to the archtypes (besides Tempo but I hate Tempo mage).
----
So we come to the new expansion and every class got hit, some harder than the others. I think Mage is part of the ones who got hit hard. Mage now returned to where it was before after Ice Block got hall of famed. But I thought "They might print something for Mage that will pronlong their life a little more.." but I was wrong. And let me tell you first: I like the cards Mage got. Kalecgos and Kadghar are awesome! But Im having a blast with Power of Creation and Conjurier's Calling. The other cards are more specific to Tempo Mage and so I wont bother as much trying them out just yet.
Anyway, Mage now has no access to survivability at all! You got nothing to get you health, being immune or getting armor. Or even skip a turn for that matter! And we are talking about a class like Mage who desperately needs those things to actually stay alive and play their game! Mage always needed that. If we take in count the other classes, only Hunter doesn't have a proper survibility tool but Hunter (most of the times) never needed since their class is a rush down class (besides secret hunter but even then) but Im not a Hunter player at all so pardon my ignorance.
Early game to Mid game, mage is a glass cannon class now. And even late if you end up drawing your cards late. Although you have insane combos at 8 to 10 mana that can swing the whole game in your favor no matter the class you play against, you will have to survive until then... Obviously I don't want some OP, opressive stuff for mage in every single turn to be used but something that can at least give you a chance to get there. But you have nothing! or close to nothing.
So I ask, Mage players, what do you think about all this? I know is a big text, but I would appreciate the time you had to rad this and share your opinions. Even the non mage players.
<pre style="text-align: left;"> </pre>It was a surprise to me that Mage didn't get any this expac. But remember, this is a 3 point storyline, so they still might.
But Ice Barrier being all that's left is a bit of a bummer for a class that typically has some manner of control deck.
Me too. I was expecting at least something, even if it was a neutral card. Specially to a class that is more fun (to me) to play as a control type of deck.
And yeah, I think they might add those tools on the next expansion but I hope its not to late.
I mean we still have Frost Nova Doomsayer also Spirit of the Dragonhawk on 2 can be pretty devastating against aggro.
Aslong as Mage doesnt get such cancer as DK Jaina idc.
It's very bad if you enjoy playing Control Mage like the old Big Mage style. It's good if you like the new direction the set has put Mage in with summoning large minions and more focus on spell damage. So, which category do you fall into?
Mage's defense is freezing the enemy. We got Ray of Frost as a new defensive tool and frost nova + doomsayer is still a thing (board clear at turn 5). Zilliax is also a good turn 5 minion which heals you and is a taunt.
Though I have to say I am kinda disappointed that there was no 1 drop for mage in this set. It was kinda needed and I hope that the next set has one
Reno Jackson
Skidaddle skidoodle your Milhouse manastorm is now a noodle
That just goes to show you how cancerous Frost Lich Jaina really was
I'm a main mage since Old Gods, and this expansion is the saddest so far... I have all the cards for mage, but probably I'm going for warlock or wild this set. :(
"most of you hated the card for some reason"
Yeah because it was busted.
Mage should be the class without healing spells or minions because... mage can't heal themselves, so that fits what the class actually do in games and its pretty balanced. But let's not compare it to another class please... Rogue doesn't have healing too but Rogue covers that problem with a good tempo play.
I tried the game with Magic Trick and Mana Cyclone, it was pretty fun but it doesn't feel that powerful enough. I think mage just needs good early game mage minions to put in her auto-included list like Menacing Nimbus, then we're good with it. (Elemental shaman was a thing before it get rotates out.)
I like elementals and totems.
Yup, mage is pretty screwed now, but because they gave them support for bad value gameplans (multiple random summons wtf?) along with removing more agressive, stall and healing tools from standard.
Wait 4 months or play Wild.
Editor of the Heartpwn Legendary Crafting Guide:
https://www.hearthpwn.com/forums/hearthstone-general/card-discussion/205920-legendary-tier-list-crafting-guide
We cant forget about the adventure releasing in 1 month. Thats probably going to change everything in every class.
I would love to see more early AoE, more like Volcanic potion, defile, maelstrom portal etc.
Tempo decks just vomit on the board with no possible clear for the opponent. FeelsBadMan..
Play spell damage with the cheap efficient removal Shooting Star Arcane Explosion or Magic Dart Frog. Put some early game cards in your deck. Taunts? Proud Defender Belligerent Gnome. Can always use Frost Nova Doomsayer and if you are really desperate Cone of Cold.
I reached for the very bottom of the barrel yesterday. I resorted to using Ice Cream Peddler and freezing my own minion for armor in true Freeze Shaman style. Spoiler alert: It did not work out too well!
Thematically it makes sense that mage is weak, the villian organization is attacking the mage capital dalaran, so mage is weak against such invasion.. but once mage gets more power during the year is will prevail.
Anyway you have proud defender on 4, you got a board clear in 5 with Doomsayer +Frost Nova
Mage got decent 2 mana cards, also the raven messenger is really good.. just that mage doesn't have enough survavility to play it, also mage got nice removal..
Oh and there are some small board clears that paired with spell damage (Which is plentiful this expansion) can be devastating (I was in the receiving end of such AOE :( )
After 1500 games it might be hard to look for previesly weak cards/combos but now it's the time to look at past year cards and some unused classic/basic cards that might be good to try and make mage work, while everyone is underestimating you (at least those that look at the data) you could be winning a lot cause of the surprise factor.
You are a mage main you should not dismiss all possibilities.
Did you try to go the dragon route BTW? that was the best mage deck before rotation according to blizzard's data (source:auto complete and I have almost all mage cards).
Here are some directions/cards you should try:
Dragon Mage,neutral cheap taunts(like proud defender),doomsayer + frost nova, tempo mage ,spell damage mage, miracle mage(with cheap spells and auctioneer, saw such a deck before in a firebat video it was interesting),
Ray of frost in control mage (if you didn't use it yet, it's very good vs high boards.. and even against wide you freeze 2 minions), ice barrier(probably not.. but it's a class heal, and it forces your opponent to make awkward plays specially if they don't know you are control yet)
Actually DO play blast wave, good against aggro boards which are the ones that cause you problems.
And that' it all that I could think for as of now..
I like pretty much anything remotely competitive, but unfortunately the "summoning large minions" plan just isn't that in a world where there's not a decent taunt or aoe clear below the 5 mana slot. The armor loss with Arcane Artificer is tough on its own, but it's compounded by the loss of neutral cards like Tar Creeper and Plated Beetle that stemmed the tide early. Then you look around the rest of the meta where other classes have lost cards like Defile and Duskbreaker that kept aggro in check... I know it's early and aggro usually dominates at this point, but I get the feeling we're in for a fast meta.
Yeah but that requires 2 cards. And nowdays doomsayer is very easily countered specially on turn 5. Turn 2 he is still quite good against certain classes but past that... you need extremely luck so he doesn't get countered.
I fall intro Control Mage. So im screwed but I like Big Minions Mage more now but as it is right now? Damn.. not even that.
Ray of frost is a good card but only usable on tempo mage to be honest. I actually think it can fall into a midrange/control type of deck if only those types get support.
Zilliax good yes, i forgot about him.
Yeah I agree. A nice 1 drop would help a ton!!
True! Mage is not a minion/health gain class but it needs its specific tools to survive. Thats why ice block was amazing... And arcane articificer too. Mage is a class that needs a lot of mana usage to make plays, good plays. If they can get heal/armor then they need more control cards and board clear in early game.
Are those cards playable on standard?
Man.... I give it all to get a volcanic potion now...