I never thought it should have been nerfed in the first place, but adding 1 mana to it has done absolutley zero to the power level of the card. Anyone with half a brain could see it's the mechanic that shuts down decks, not mana cost. Playing it 1 turn later does nothing to make spell mage / pure pala better.
I never thought it should have been nerfed in the first place, but adding 1 mana to it has done absolutley zero to the power level of the card. Anyone with half a brain could see it's the mechanic that shuts down decks, not mana cost. Playing it 1 turn later does nothing to make spell mage / pure pala better.
Make a huge diference vs tempo decks, 4/3 for 3 manas is not great but don't is a huge tempo loss because 4 attack can trade well vs 3 ou 4 manas minions, 4/3 for 4 is a completely diferent history because the opponent can trade a 2 manas 3/2 minion for your 4 manas minion, in tempo matchs 1 mana is the diference between broken and unplayable.
The point is not deny the tech aspect of the card but make worse when play vs other decks, no problem the card be good vs some archetypes as long don't is a brainless inclusion in everything, the same principle works with Flare, was only 1 mana before and every hunter deck put x2 because have little to nothing penaulty vs non secret decks and was extremely good vs secret decks, for 2 manas make the card a lot worse vs non secret decks.
Spell Mage and Pure Paladin won't be viable even if you remove Albatross from standard, they are just too weak to DH and Galakrond. The problem is with the power level of these decks rather than with Albatross.
What you said is correct, but my belief is that blizz nerfed the card to allow certain archetypes to become viable. Nerfing the card by 1 mana doesn't make any difference to make these archetypes viable as it is still the ultimate shut down card played on 4. If any of these decks did start to look like they were performing well at least 1 BLA would still be an auto include in most decks even at 4 mana. I would say Apexis Blast is an absolutley vital card for spell mage that is the tempo swing it needs to win. 4 'pure pala cards and pretty much nullified if BLA is played on 4. If you're playing anything but highlander / pure pala / spell mage even if you got the albatross it wasn't much to worry about even on turn 3. Plus ress Priest doesn't care, and after playing a couple of games since the nerfs where the priest has managed to get at least 6 BLA, again a 1 mana nerf doesn't really matter.
I never thought it should have been nerfed in the first place, but adding 1 mana to it has done absolutley zero to the power level of the card. Anyone with half a brain could see it's the mechanic that shuts down decks, not mana cost. Playing it 1 turn later does nothing to make spell mage / pure pala better.
Make a huge diference vs tempo decks, 4/3 for 3 manas is not great but don't is a huge tempo loss because 4 attack can trade well vs 3 ou 4 manas minions, 4/3 for 4 is a completely diferent history because the opponent can trade a 2 manas 3/2 minion for your 4 manas minion, in tempo matchs 1 mana is the diference between broken and unplayable.
The point is not deny the tech aspect of the card but make worse when play vs other decks, no problem the card be good vs some archetypes as long don't is a brainless inclusion in everything, the same principle works with Flare, was only 1 mana before and every hunter deck put x2 because have little to nothing penaulty vs non secret decks and was extremely good vs secret decks, for 2 manas make the card a lot worse vs non secret decks.
Tempo decks didn't run Albatross. Only real toxic control decks ran it.
And still, it wasn't a great card before and not now, it's just obnoxious as all hell. Mana increase did nothing to change this
Spell Mage and Pure Paladin won't be viable even if you remove Albatross from standard, they are just too weak to DH and Galakrond. The problem is with the power level of these decks rather than with Albatross.
At least they'd be fun to play if it wasn't for BLA. Spell mage is a blast to play but why would you play it when in most games you just get shut down by 1 card. I still think blizz should make it so the 1/1 albatross' draw them selves. At least then BLA counters these decks to some degree without completley shutting them down for pretty much the whole game.
Spell Mage and Pure Paladin won't be viable even if you remove Albatross from standard, they are just too weak to DH and Galakrond. The problem is with the power level of these decks rather than with Albatross.
At least they'd be fun to play if it wasn't for BLA. Spell mage is a blast to play but why would you play it when in most games you just get shut down by 1 card. I still think blizz should make it so the 1/1 albatross' draw them selves. At least then BLA counters these decks to some degree without completley shutting them down for pretty much the whole game.
If BLA continues to see a lot of play, maybe Spell Mage should consider adding Polymorph. It costs exactly the same as BLA now (it's not like opponent can drop BLA at turn 2 with coin and you have no answer... so mana change does make a little bit of a difference) and it is a perfect counter for it.
If BLA continues to see a lot of play, maybe Spell Mage should consider adding Polymorph. It costs exactly the same as BLA now (it's not like opponent can drop BLA at turn 2 with coin and you have no answer... so mana change does make a little bit of a difference) and it is a perfect counter for it.
I can't argue with that and it is a perfectly fine strategy. Maybe this is to do with the power level of the spell mage deck but I'm not sure it can afford to run 1 polymorph, never mind 2, and you'd need 2 I think to draw in consistently and counter BLA. If you don't get anything going in the first 2/3 turns with that decks it's proper feels bad man, regardless of BLA or not.
Spell Mage and Pure Paladin won't be viable even if you remove Albatross from standard, they are just too weak to DH and Galakrond. The problem is with the power level of these decks rather than with Albatross.
Kidding? A blind assumption of one who has never played spell mage. I have 12-2 vs DHs and 9-4 vs galalocks
If BLA continues to see a lot of play, maybe Spell Mage should consider adding Polymorph. It costs exactly the same as BLA now (it's not like opponent can drop BLA at turn 2 with coin and you have no answer... so mana change does make a little bit of a difference) and it is a perfect counter for it.
I can't argue with that and it is a perfectly fine strategy. Maybe this is to do with the power level of the spell mage deck but I'm not sure it can afford to run 1 polymorph, never mind 2, and you'd need 2 I think to draw in consistently and counter BLA. If you don't get anything going in the first 2/3 turns with that decks it's proper feels bad man, regardless of BLA or not.
I understand that adding 2 of Polymorph's would weaken the deck quite a bit, but If I were to build a Spell Mage deck today I would probably add 1 Polymorph in place of a 2nd Power of Creation or a 2nd Blizzard or a 5th secret. It is a situational card (most opponents don't run BLA - since most opponents play Tempo DH these days) and therefore no more than 1 copy. But this is all theoretical talk, we won't know in practice how it plays out until some decks give it a try
Spell Mage and Pure Paladin won't be viable even if you remove Albatross from standard, they are just too weak to DH and Galakrond. The problem is with the power level of these decks rather than with Albatross.
Kidding? A blind assumption of one who has never played spell mage. I have 12-2 vs DHs and 9-4 vs galalocks
That's what I am talking about, we need Albatross to counter these crazy OP Spell Mages with more than 70%+ wr against 50% of the meta.
Spell Mage and Pure Paladin won't be viable even if you remove Albatross from standard, they are just too weak to DH and Galakrond. The problem is with the power level of these decks rather than with Albatross.
At least they'd be fun to play if it wasn't for BLA. Spell mage is a blast to play but why would you play it when in most games you just get shut down by 1 card. I still think blizz should make it so the 1/1 albatross' draw them selves. At least then BLA counters these decks to some degree without completley shutting them down for pretty much the whole game.
That's true, it sucks for people playing these decks just for fun. They should probably change it so that Font of Power etc, check if the deck had any minions before the start of the game.
Spell Mage and Pure Paladin won't be viable even if you remove Albatross from standard, they are just too weak to DH and Galakrond. The problem is with the power level of these decks rather than with Albatross.
I’m currently at Platinum Rank 5 with Pure Paladin and rising... I constantly crush DH and do well against Galakrond.
The devs didn't plan well for the power level of highlander decks - the bottom line is that highlander decks are insanely strong right now, and need more of a counter than bomb warrior, which is tier 3 at best right now.
Pure paladin and Spell mage have to be sacrificed for BLA to be able to counter highlanders, sorry. Poor design honestly, they have created a situation they really can't nerf or buff their way out of this time.
The lesson to the devs is this- to just pull back on the goddam powercreep - or you are going to get situations like this more often going forwards. The game needs cool effects, not snowball power.
The devs didn't plan well for the power level of highlander decks - the bottom line is that highlander decks are insanely strong right now, and need more of a counter than bomb warrior, which is tier 3 at best right now.
Pure paladin and Spell mage have to be sacrificed for BLA to be able to counter highlanders, sorry. Poor design honestly, they have created a situation they really can't nerf or buff their way out of this time.
The lesson to the devs is this- to just pull back on the goddam powercreep - or you are going to get situations like this more often going forwards. The game needs cool effects, not snowball power.
Highlander decks are not strong lol there is not a single tier one highlander deck right now and impact of albatross on the highlander decks are so little since there is only two highlander card in the entire deck probability of drawing one of the albatross before needing the zephrys or alex is pretty high.
Stop servicing highlander decks like if they are OP they are not over powered even without albatross not even close to be over powered.
The devs didn't plan well for the power level of highlander decks - the bottom line is that highlander decks are insanely strong right now, and need more of a counter than bomb warrior, which is tier 3 at best right now.
Pure paladin and Spell mage have to be sacrificed for BLA to be able to counter highlanders, sorry. Poor design honestly, they have created a situation they really can't nerf or buff their way out of this time.
The lesson to the devs is this- to just pull back on the goddam powercreep - or you are going to get situations like this more often going forwards. The game needs cool effects, not snowball power.
Highlander decks are not strong lol there is not a single tier one highlander deck right now and impact of albatross on the highlander decks are so little since there is only two highlander card in the entire deck probability of drawing one of the albatross before needing the zephrys or alex is pretty high.
Stop servicing highlander decks like if they are OP they are not over powered even without albatross not even close to be over powered.
Are we playing the same game? Highlander Rogue is incredible right now. Highlander Demon Hunter shits all over combo demon hunter. Highlander hunter is almost as good as aggro hunter. Highlander mage is arguably the strongest mage deck right now. All these decks are easy 60% win decks in the hands of a good pilot.
A lot of this conversation seems to be focused on standard but the Mana change was a large hit to odd decks in wild. Reno style decks are very common and running 1-2 albatross was almost mandatory since you will face a lot of them. Odd decks no longer have that ace in the hole to counter the turn 6 full heal.
Would have preferred to see Albatross stat line changed to 2/3 instead of changing the mana cost. I think the mechanic that it introduces is necessary to allow an option to disrupt certain types of decks. The problem is that tech cards should have a downside, and the downside of Albatross is very small. Even if your opponent isn't playing Highlander or a pure deck, playing a 4/3 body that shuffles 2 1/1 dead-draws in to your opponent's deck is a good play (usually). The 4/3 body forces your opponent to either accept a 4-attack beating every turn, or accept the tempo disruption of drawing a 1/1. The 4 attack also allows it to counter-kill most 3 and 4 drops that it is going to be played towards. At 2/3, the Albatross would become much less of a threat, allowing you to more easily play around it and, in some cases, causing a more typical downside for playing it as a tech card.
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I never thought it should have been nerfed in the first place, but adding 1 mana to it has done absolutley zero to the power level of the card. Anyone with half a brain could see it's the mechanic that shuts down decks, not mana cost. Playing it 1 turn later does nothing to make spell mage / pure pala better.
Make a huge diference vs tempo decks, 4/3 for 3 manas is not great but don't is a huge tempo loss because 4 attack can trade well vs 3 ou 4 manas minions, 4/3 for 4 is a completely diferent history because the opponent can trade a 2 manas 3/2 minion for your 4 manas minion, in tempo matchs 1 mana is the diference between broken and unplayable.
The point is not deny the tech aspect of the card but make worse when play vs other decks, no problem the card be good vs some archetypes as long don't is a brainless inclusion in everything, the same principle works with Flare, was only 1 mana before and every hunter deck put x2 because have little to nothing penaulty vs non secret decks and was extremely good vs secret decks, for 2 manas make the card a lot worse vs non secret decks.
Spell Mage and Pure Paladin won't be viable even if you remove Albatross from standard, they are just too weak to DH and Galakrond. The problem is with the power level of these decks rather than with Albatross.
What you said is correct, but my belief is that blizz nerfed the card to allow certain archetypes to become viable. Nerfing the card by 1 mana doesn't make any difference to make these archetypes viable as it is still the ultimate shut down card played on 4. If any of these decks did start to look like they were performing well at least 1 BLA would still be an auto include in most decks even at 4 mana. I would say Apexis Blast is an absolutley vital card for spell mage that is the tempo swing it needs to win. 4 'pure pala cards and pretty much nullified if BLA is played on 4. If you're playing anything but highlander / pure pala / spell mage even if you got the albatross it wasn't much to worry about even on turn 3. Plus ress Priest doesn't care, and after playing a couple of games since the nerfs where the priest has managed to get at least 6 BLA, again a 1 mana nerf doesn't really matter.
Tempo decks didn't run Albatross. Only real toxic control decks ran it.
And still, it wasn't a great card before and not now, it's just obnoxious as all hell. Mana increase did nothing to change this
At least they'd be fun to play if it wasn't for BLA. Spell mage is a blast to play but why would you play it when in most games you just get shut down by 1 card. I still think blizz should make it so the 1/1 albatross' draw them selves. At least then BLA counters these decks to some degree without completley shutting them down for pretty much the whole game.
This
If BLA continues to see a lot of play, maybe Spell Mage should consider adding Polymorph. It costs exactly the same as BLA now (it's not like opponent can drop BLA at turn 2 with coin and you have no answer... so mana change does make a little bit of a difference) and it is a perfect counter for it.
I can't argue with that and it is a perfectly fine strategy. Maybe this is to do with the power level of the spell mage deck but I'm not sure it can afford to run 1 polymorph, never mind 2, and you'd need 2 I think to draw in consistently and counter BLA. If you don't get anything going in the first 2/3 turns with that decks it's proper feels bad man, regardless of BLA or not.
Kidding? A blind assumption of one who has never played spell mage. I have 12-2 vs DHs and 9-4 vs galalocks
I understand that adding 2 of Polymorph's would weaken the deck quite a bit, but If I were to build a Spell Mage deck today I would probably add 1 Polymorph in place of a 2nd Power of Creation or a 2nd Blizzard or a 5th secret. It is a situational card (most opponents don't run BLA - since most opponents play Tempo DH these days) and therefore no more than 1 copy. But this is all theoretical talk, we won't know in practice how it plays out until some decks give it a try
That's what I am talking about, we need Albatross to counter these crazy OP Spell Mages with more than 70%+ wr against 50% of the meta.
That's true, it sucks for people playing these decks just for fun. They should probably change it so that Font of Power etc, check if the deck had any minions before the start of the game.
Albatross nerf was not enough not even close to being enough.
I’m currently at Platinum Rank 5 with Pure Paladin and rising... I constantly crush DH and do well against Galakrond.
The devs didn't plan well for the power level of highlander decks - the bottom line is that highlander decks are insanely strong right now, and need more of a counter than bomb warrior, which is tier 3 at best right now.
Pure paladin and Spell mage have to be sacrificed for BLA to be able to counter highlanders, sorry. Poor design honestly, they have created a situation they really can't nerf or buff their way out of this time.
The lesson to the devs is this- to just pull back on the goddam powercreep - or you are going to get situations like this more often going forwards. The game needs cool effects, not snowball power.
Highlander decks are not strong lol there is not a single tier one highlander deck right now and impact of albatross on the highlander decks are so little since there is only two highlander card in the entire deck probability of drawing one of the albatross before needing the zephrys or alex is pretty high.
Stop servicing highlander decks like if they are OP they are not over powered even without albatross not even close to be over powered.
Are we playing the same game? Highlander Rogue is incredible right now. Highlander Demon Hunter shits all over combo demon hunter. Highlander hunter is almost as good as aggro hunter. Highlander mage is arguably the strongest mage deck right now. All these decks are easy 60% win decks in the hands of a good pilot.
A lot of this conversation seems to be focused on standard but the Mana change was a large hit to odd decks in wild. Reno style decks are very common and running 1-2 albatross was almost mandatory since you will face a lot of them. Odd decks no longer have that ace in the hole to counter the turn 6 full heal.
Would have preferred to see Albatross stat line changed to 2/3 instead of changing the mana cost. I think the mechanic that it introduces is necessary to allow an option to disrupt certain types of decks. The problem is that tech cards should have a downside, and the downside of Albatross is very small. Even if your opponent isn't playing Highlander or a pure deck, playing a 4/3 body that shuffles 2 1/1 dead-draws in to your opponent's deck is a good play (usually). The 4/3 body forces your opponent to either accept a 4-attack beating every turn, or accept the tempo disruption of drawing a 1/1. The 4 attack also allows it to counter-kill most 3 and 4 drops that it is going to be played towards. At 2/3, the Albatross would become much less of a threat, allowing you to more easily play around it and, in some cases, causing a more typical downside for playing it as a tech card.