Hearthpwn

Fun. Got pack 1st try. Luna stuck to the board and easy win through card advantage.

One of the cooler cardbacks! Love the clean, green, gloopy robo-corners.

Packed a Golden Whizbang and couldn't be happier! Works as advertised. Played one game, got a golden warrior mech deck which was fun to play, but I got trounced by a better constructed deck in one game on ladder. 

My favorite reveal video BY FAR. Not that i've watched any others. But, that was seriously entertaining.

This card may end up being a very specific tutor card to give redundancy for getting an important Deathrattle in hand. Maybe in a new sort of priest combo deck. But I don’t think we have the right cards in standard yet. 

Playable in quest priest as a potentially better loot hoarder. But, I want to believe there is something More special to do with this card. (I also wish that for Vivid Nightmare from Witchwood). 

3/5 playable but potential to be very good in the right deck

Effect seems similar to Anyfin Can Happen. I bet this card eventually settles into a late game threat with a small but powerful “mech package,” similar to the water package we saw in past metas. 

We might not get optimal set of mechs and buffs in this set but this card has potential. 

3/5 ranking: playable but not meta defining

Dirty Rat in control decks ruins slow druid's day. You can try to tech Equality in paladin decks to beat spreading plague. That plus Sunkeeper Tarim is often enough, but it can be a frustrating matchup.

Better strategy is to open Un'Goro packs if you have all the legendary cards from that set. Guaranteed to get The Caverns Below for full value. That's my pack opening strategy tonight!! Guaranteed 1600 dust once every 20 packs or so. This is a major buff to opening packs!

I did the math and opening K&C packs isn't nearly as beneficial (for me), because there is no dupes rule for epics or rares. 

If you don't have close to a full set it is probably better to open K&C packs, but you shouldn't expect to open nerfed cards; you'll have to get pretty lucky. 

I really really want to try this archetype and hope it doesnt die. But, i won't be playing it until the meta settles a bit.

I think you want Rebuke to protect a horseman from spell-based removal. That and Blackwald Pixie seem core. I'm hoping that the sets released later this year also help make Exodia archetype even stronger.

I'm not convinced the secret package helps the game plan. I think you'd rather run Lynessa Sunsorrow pacakage with: Spikeridged Steed, Potion of Heroism, and the new echo spell: give minion +1/+2. 

And Zola, the Gorgon to copy Lynessa or a Horseman for the combo. 

I hope you've had success in your climb with this deck!

I tried adding a 2nd Consecration when I was facing even MORE paladins. But, it feels terrible to have two in hand vs Priest or Warlock. Coghammer is extremely strong vs Paladin or any board-based match-up and has synergy with Nerubian Egg. Coghammer is serviceable in other match-ups which IMO makes it a better choice than a 2nd Consecration.

BIG Malygos / Prophet Velen Priest

I love watching Counterstrike or Starcraft or other competitive games that I played growing up. I understand the game mechanics, but don't have the time or desire to develop the skills to play competitively myself. Only view events though... don't participate in game community that much.

I simply cannot get into LoL or DOTA or any of the MOBA games because i really don't understand the mechanics. I've tried a couple of times, but even with e-sports casters i can't figure out what is going on so it isn't fun for me to engage in the game or community.

I read about almost every PC game that comes out, especially turn-based strategy, CCG, 4x, and simulation games. I read reviews on RPS and PCGAMER. I love reading gamers experiences with the new games, especially multiplayer games.

I love keeping up with the new games, but i spend literally all of my actual gaming time playing HS. Why? Because I can actually be competitive! I'm good at hearthstone! It goes my speed. I can think about decisions. I can try to read the meta and make smart choices that have an impact on my success (after many games to balance out the RNG of course). I don't need to learn muscle memory skills or micro managing mouse skills. I can climb the ladder! I am legend!

This is the reason I play HS and this is the reason i spend money on the game. It is worth it to me to have this one multiplayer game that I am good at and its not worth it to me to grind for gold and dust to make incomplete decks.  Other games won't fit into my lifestyle, even if it would fit into my budget.

So, to answer the OP question, yes, i follow closely even for games i don't play. But, not for games I don't understand. I took about a 1 year break from HS after my first casual foray into the game. During that time I didnt play any HS or read about it at all. I came back right before Un'Goro and that's when i found the community (hearthpwn + other sites and forums) which has really kept me MORE engaged than i ever was before.

Also, this won't be a compelling response to people who belittle others for spending money on this game. I just want to say that there are a lot of things you can spend money on. Am i the only one who has spent $300 for a nice dinner at a fancy restaurant and gotten less enjoyment out of that meal or that $100 bottle of wine then 4 months of being able to play every meta deck in the game? Am i the only one who has paid $200 for a lift ticket and a meal on the ski slope for a single day? Or $200 for a round of golf at a nice course? You should be okay to pay money for the things you value. The problem is when they stop providing value and are only addiction.

These games like mobile strike or slot machines seem different. They don't provide value. They ONLY engage that gambling nerve, which is very dangerous. Hearthstone also touches that nerve for sure!! But, it actually provides some real value as well (to me at least). If this game doesn't give you value or satisfaction, then it is time to walk away.

I'm gonna be opening a ton of Witchwood packs in April. Sorry for long post.

You can make it!

My advice is to keep mashing play button when you're on a win streak and take breaks when you lose 3 in a row (or queue into secret mage or big priest over and over again).

In my experience, matchup luck is one huge factor in getting legend. Sometimes, for various and unpredictable reasons, EVERYONE will be playing combo priest or EVERYONE will be queueing dude paladin. Maybe it's a popular streamer. Maybe it's a feature deck on hearthpwn front page, or maybe there's a writeup on competitiveHS, or maybe the VS meta report just came out. But, as a Control Warlock, you want to be playing when all the Paladins are on the ladder.

This isn't backed by data, but after midnight, it feels like greedy control decks are more prevalent. In commuting hours and afternoon it feels like aggro is a little more popular.

I feel like greedy control killer decks like kingsbane rogue and exodia mage are more common at rank floors and then disappear when you get to rank 4. For that reason, I like to play a proactive tempo deck at rank floors.

I have a very competitive and nearly complete collection. When i reach certain milestones, i craft myself a golden card or three. Just hit legend with paladin so I crafted a pair of Righteous Protector and Knife Juggler. And then i ran out of dust... even common golden cards are $pen$o! 

I made it last night!! Used the new hotness: Egg Paladin for the majority of the climb. It was my most successful deck by far.

I had an eggcellent matchup vs. other paladins which seemed to make up 50% of the meta after rank 5. Warlock is winnable but not easy. This deck absolutely farms secret mages. I made a writeup about the climb here: