Today we try to determine the most popular set in Standard mode, and try to disprove the myth that Classic Packs are the best choice for new players. To do this, we collected a huge amount of statistics and carried out special calculations. Also, we will announce the results of a large-scale Packs Value Experiment. As you all know, there is no universal advice on choosing a set to buy. There are many different factors that are significant. Only you can make the right decision, but we can help you find packs with the best cards and maximum profit. So which sets have the most value? Let's talk about each set in more detail.
Basic − 12.4% (55\132) cards played - 42%
Traditionally, we will start with the basic cards. Basic cards always have a stable share of presence in the meta-game; from 12 to 15%. Nerfs, new expansions, or rotations generally have no effect on this. In general, 42% of all basic cards are used in the Meta game.Here are the top 8 most popular cards. Each class has several very strong cards that are a solid foundation for the game, but the Rogue uses basic cards more often.
Witchwood − 7.4% (47\129) Legendary Popularity - 6%,
Cards played - 36%, Pack Benefit - 32%.
Now let's talk about the worst set. Unfortunately this is The Witchwood. This set has never had a global influence on the meta-game. After its release, it occupied only 15% of the popular decks. Subsequently, the cards were used less and less with each new nerf and new set. The only exceptions are two legendary cards, which had an incredible negative impact on the game. Now only 7 and a half percent of the cards in popular decks come from this set. This means that a 30 card deck contains only 2 Witchwood cards. Currently 47 out of 129 cards are used by players, which is only 36% of the cards. Also, on the screen you can see the number of cards distributed by rarity. Pay attention to epic and legendary cards. It shows the number of cards that have more than 1% popularity.The popularity of all legendary cards is only 6%. This means that only every 16th legendary card in the meta-game is a card from The Witchwood. The most popular of them is Hagatha The Witch.
Surely the premature movement of very popular legendary cards such as Baku and Genn to Wild had a negative effect on this set’s statistics. The Potential Benefit of Pack for the Witchwood is only 32%.
Every video we try to give you as much useful information as possible. This time we decided to add one new indicator. This is the Potential Benefit of Pack Buying. This indicator is affected by: popularity of cards in set, drop rate of this cards, and cost in arcane dust Using this indicator as a percentage, you can imagine how many useful card you can potentially receive in one pack. So, if this indicator is 100%, then all the cards from the set are used in the meta-game and you are guaranteed to get all 5 useful cards from your pack. If this figure is 20%, then potentially only one card from the pack may be useful.
Rastakhan's − 8.0% (53\135) Legendary Popularity - 6% (10)
Cards played - 39%, Pack Benefit - 31%.
Now let's talk about another outsider.
Rastakhan's Rumble is the least impactful set of cards we’ve ever seen. The use of these cards in the meta-game has fallen from the moment of the expansion’s release, from a maximum 12% to a minimum of 8% after the Rise of Shadows release. The Potential Benefit of a Rastakhan's Pack is only 31%, this is the lowest of any set.
Classic − 27.3% (99\237) Legendary Popularity - 38% (14)
cards played - 42%, Pack Benefit - 36%.
The Classic set is the invariable main component of the game, and always was the best choice for new players. Every guide claimed this. Even our past guide is no exception. But is this really true? We should pragmatically review this issue.
In general, more than 27% of the cards in the meta-game are from the Classic Set. This figure increased significantly after the rotation. This is definitely the highest result. In other words, on average, each deck contains 8 classic cards out of 30. But we always forget that this set contains almost two times more cards than other sets. But only 99 cards out of 237 are played. So, 42% of the cards are involved in the meta. The Potential Classic Pack Benefit is only 37%. This means that potentially only every third card in packs will be useful to you. We predict that this figure will decline with the release of each new expansion this year. In addition, every year the Classic Set gradually loses some powerful cards, which are sent to the Hall of Fame.
All this does not look very valuable for new players, so what’s the benefit of the classic packs? Certainly, the main advantage of the Classic cards is that they do not rotate out of the Standard format, aside from some cards that get added to the Hall of Fame. In any case, we came to the conclusion that the need to invest resources in classic packs for new players is greatly exaggerated.
Boomsday − 21.0% (68\135) Legendary Popularity - 14% (12)
Cards played - 50%, Pack Benefit - 43%.
Next in line is Boomsday. This set has experienced the most dramatic fall after the release of Rastakhan, but after the rotation and release of Rise of Shadows, the cards from this set provoked a huge explosion in the meta. The overall popularity of the legendary cards in this set is 14%. The main place is occupied by Zilliax. This card might be the most popular card we’ve ever seen. Every second popular deck uses it. Also, you should pay attention to Dr. Boom, Mad Genius. Almost all Warrior decks use this hero card. And do not forget about Whizbang, the most unique legendary card, which definitely remains a favorite for a large number of players. Whizbang will be useful if you don’t have a large collection, or if you love fun. Besides this, 7 other Legendary cards have more than 1% popularity. The Potential Benefit of a Boomsday Pack is 43%
Rise of Shadows − 23.9% (98\135) Legendary Popularity - 35% (23)
Cards played - 73%, Pack Benefit - 62%.
And finally, in first place is the Rise of Shadows. There are several reasons why this set is the best to buy. First of all, currently 73% of the cards are involved in competitive play. The second reason is that all 23 legendary cards are used with varying popularity in meta-decks. And now for the last reason. This set has the highest Potential Benefit ratio, with a potential of almost 62%. In other words, 3 out of 5 cards in your pack may be useful.
Recommendations
So, what should players do with their resources? This is an interesting question, and we can formulate several recommendations.
If you’re new to the game, it’s worth buying up to 10 packs of every set until you get a guaranteed legendary card. Do not buy The Witchwood and Rastakhan. The best solution is to craft the necessary cards from these sets. We also do not recommend buying Classic Packs if you want to get the maximum benefit. You will get a certain number of packs for free as a reward from quests and Tavern Brawls.
At the moment, the best set to buy is Rise of Shadows, and don’t forget that the cards from this set will be relevant for two years! You can also save your resources for the next expansion, or for solo content.
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Can't we buy the bundle from the in-game shop?