Hearthpwn

Thanks for doing this, great list.

Mostly agree with you, but I don't think you're giving Grumble and Hooked Reaver enough credit. 

Rather than nerfing grumble, they nerfed saronite chain gang, which you could argue was directly connected to Grumble's interaction. I definitely think infinite Shudderwok was meta defining for quite a while. It received heaps of play at both a professional level and 5-1 / Legend - which I happened to be during this phase. 

As for Hooked Reaver, people would pass up face damage against Warlock to avoid this thing. it synergized so well with hellfire setups into Hooked Reaver + upgraded Spell stone. The most important card in Evenlock (besides Genn :P) was probably Mountain Giant, but Hooked Reaver has to be a top 5 (maybe top 3 depending on the argument). 

Hope they nerf pocket galaxy to 6. 7 is unplayable but 5 is ridiculous.

I think there's still time for innovation. If I recall, Cloning/Mind Blast OTK priest came out of no where, late into expansions. I'm hoping something similar happens for SoU. 

I've messed around with a few decks but right now I'm enjoying Highlander Hunter the most. It's that nice balance between going straight face and fully reactive control, meaning my decisions feel a little more rewarded or punished. 

Took out the Snip and Ursatron package because I felt it didn't add as much around that period of the game. Instead I put in Scarlet Webweaver and Wild Bloodstinger. If webweaver reduces the cost of your Bloodstinger it's huge to snipe off an apprentice or something else low cost that can totally change the board state. 

I haven't had a chance to try it yet, but I'm also keen to try reducing Bloodstinger or Rhino, then playing both and seeing if Bloodstinger can get two attacks in? Snipe an apprentice or luna, then go face due to Rhino.

My hopes for this expansion:

- Some viable mecha'thun decks

- Boom, Mad Genius nerf to remove rush on all mechs

- Mountain Giant and Sea Giant moved to HoF

I miss difficult to pilot decks, particularly Togwaggle Druid. It was such a unique win condition and required thinking multiple turns ahead and pulling the trigger at the right time. There were times you were switching decks and denying Kings Ransom at like turn 8 or 9. I hope this new expansion encourages something unique like that again.

Do bombs count as duplicates in your deck? Because if they do that mechanic should be changed. 

How many rogue archetypes currently play 1 drops though? South Sea deckhand is virtually the only one. I'd say 90% of rogues I've versed (or when I play rogue) turn 1 is skipped. Turn 2 is more often than not, coin in to Miscreant. 

Pilfer is the only other 1 mana card I've seen Rogues use consistently, but that can be saved.

I'd say remove the rush Dr Boom provides every mech and limit it to the mech discovered from Delivery Drone and 3 x 1 microbots from Micro Squad. That seems completely fair to me.

Odd Paladin was a highlight? Flood the board every turn with as many things as you can. More often than not never holding back cards because you just reloaded another board of dudes, 1 cost and 2 cost minions. Fuck Odd Paladin.

That is a sweet character icon. Shieet. Whatever class it is, I'll be playing that.

There are so many awesome zones in WOW, but I always seem to land on Stranglethorn Vale when discussing favourites. It was that sweet spot of around level 30ish, where you were starting to obtain sweet gear and building up a tree of talents/spells. You could almost always expect to get some PVP action as well.

The environment was lush as well - waterfalls, ruins, trees. One of those really immersive zones.

Long story short, I'm glad this might be the focal point. I'd love to see lots of greens, jungle motifs and troll tribal imagery.