Exactly :) Now even considering what we just said, it is also possible that Priest will be running Silence in the future, just for stopping a buffed C'Thun, Y'Shaarj, Rage Unbound, Deathwing, Dragonlord, N'Zoth the Corruptor and more cards. This would serve the purpose to counter with the exact or similar high mana card. After all a combination of the owl or Spellbreaker with Ragnaros is not possible, theoretically speaking. Not sure if this will happen as long as Priest have Entomb and maybe the possibility of Mind Control, but it is worth to consider to see Silence more often in the future, just because of the owl nerf.
Yeah that makes a huge difference, even though if you play a silence minion, it is all about countering an effect and 3 mana is better than 4. However, as you said, the owl is has now a really bad body for a 3 drop, while Spellbreaker has actually pretty good body for 4 mana. With Piloted Shredder leaving the constant 4 drop slot in some decks, Spellbreaker should find a new place, if you ask me. After all it looks like the game will slow down significantly, since aggro decks will not have as much damage potential as they used to have (expect Aggro Shaman?).
I like that thought- we will see. At this moment apparently nobody can answer this question, unless you are a developer or some sort... Well, Just few weeks until the expansion comes out :)
Usually I would assume that like with golden Mirror Entity, you definitely will get a golden minion, however this is merging two of the same minions into one. Unlike Mimiron's Head, The blood of the ancient one is more likely to be twice on the field. In fact it is far less likely to activate Mimiron's Head fusion into V-07-TR-0N. Additionally they have even two different card texts… Mimiron’s Head is talking about destroying all mechs and The Blood of the ancient one is all about merging.
Probably strong in a dragon paladin deck. Many of those top minions do not use battlecry effects and can have a relevant role by being summoned through this card
If Deathrattle rogue isn't becoming really strong, I can see that Malygos decks with a Leeroy Jenkins in it could become new meta - both function fantastically with this legendary. Leeroy would works with this 1 mana shadowstep and +3 attack, while Malygos with the 2 damage and stealth. Of course it would not be perfect, but instead of building a miracle rouge were you have to add real a 0mana shadowsteps in to your deck, you just add this legendary. In a mirical rouge a real 0mana shadowstep alone without Leeroy Jenkins can lead to a potential "death draw", but getting one maybe for free (through rng) isn't taking away any deck space and leaves space for cards that contribute to a Malygos deck. A alone standing Leereoy is not a necessary death draw, in this deck and with luck can become a second finisher.
I am just sharing my thoughts, how this card could come to its maximum potential. :)
Yes, Fadeleaf Toxin is equal to Finicky Cloakfield, but giving a minion stealth for one turn can make the huge difference between Gadgetzan Auctioneer or Malygos surviving for one really important turn. Finicky Cloakfield is by far the best spare part, that was and still is extremely good with Archmage Antonidas in mage decks enabling sometimes to turn around a whole game. Imagine to do the same thing with Malygos in turn 10, who could also functions well with Firebloom Toxin in that turn.
Bloodthistle Toxin, which is unfortunately a 1 mana Shadowstep, is probably the worst of all these toxins, but in combination with for example Leeroy Jenkins, who also combos with Briarthorn Toxin, it can become the deadly (miracle) rouge finisher. Time Rewinder could not pull off a double Leeroy combo.
Spare parts have far less an impact on the game than these toxins and, as I said in another similar comment 3 or 4 pages back, everybody who compares this legendary with Toshley did not really think it through… This card is far more similar to a 4 mana delayed Arcane Intellect that has a 3/2 body as bonus, because of these toxin cards. It is not the same but quite similar, when it comes to value.
This card has huge potential, but it might not be very convincing because of its stats. The thing is by comparing it with Toshley, who has great stats, Xaril looks terrible, if we do not take the effects of the toxins into account. Fact is the toxins effects are mostly equal to regular cards Blessing of Might, Holy Smite, a 1 mana Shadowstep, or a non-discover Raven Idol that simply draws from your deck card. Heck, I even considered Finicky Cloakfield as the best spare part.
The point is this legendary card should be more seen as a 4 mana delayed Arcane Intellect that has a 3/2 minion body as bonus, because of these toxin cards. Yes, it can be silenced for stopping the second toxin draw, but I am not sure if it is really worth it when there are better targets, like Sylvanas Windrunner. And yes, the damn toxins are random, but we know it will be a partly useful 1 mana spell, so cards like Violet Teacher, Leeroy Jenkins and more can combo well these toxins.
Sylvanas Windrunner is quite hard to replace, because she is really strong. Good replacments might be: Loatheb, Sludge Belcher, Piloted Sky Golem, maybe Cairne Bloodhoof, Antique Healbot and since you don't have Thalnos Azure Drake is a good temporarily choice. Toshley is not a bad card and could work well sometimes, but generally speaking he does not have much impact when played. I personally prefer Loot Hoarder over Kobold Geomancer, because Loot Hoarder is less likely a death draw – most people would probably agree with me on that one.
2
Does a golden version of this card actually play golden minions? After all we are Talking about removing cards (and replacing them?) - not drawing.
Just asking, under the consideration of creating a golden Licht king.
3
He became literally unplayable in a warlock deck once you have become Lord Jaraxxus… unless you are really lucky with Emperor Thaurissan. :/
2
Exactly :) Now even considering what we just said, it is also possible that Priest will be running Silence in the future, just for stopping a buffed C'Thun, Y'Shaarj, Rage Unbound, Deathwing, Dragonlord, N'Zoth the Corruptor and more cards. This would serve the purpose to counter with the exact or similar high mana card. After all a combination of the owl or Spellbreaker with Ragnaros is not possible, theoretically speaking. Not sure if this will happen as long as Priest have Entomb and maybe the possibility of Mind Control, but it is worth to consider to see Silence more often in the future, just because of the owl nerf.
We will see!
2
Yeah that makes a huge difference, even though if you play a silence minion, it is all about countering an effect and 3 mana is better than 4. However, as you said, the owl is has now a really bad body for a 3 drop, while Spellbreaker has actually pretty good body for 4 mana. With Piloted Shredder leaving the constant 4 drop slot in some decks, Spellbreaker should find a new place, if you ask me. After all it looks like the game will slow down significantly, since aggro decks will not have as much damage potential as they used to have (expect Aggro Shaman?).
8
There we meet again, old friend! With [card] Ironbeak Owl[/card] becoming 3 mana, he will become the new replacement. :)
7
Spellbreaker - NEW SILENCE META!
0
I like that thought- we will see. At this moment apparently nobody can answer this question, unless you are a developer or some sort... Well, Just few weeks until the expansion comes out :)
3
No idea if anybody asked this yet, but will A golden Blood of The Ancient One and a non-golden Blood of The Ancient One result into a golden or non-golden The Ancient One?
Usually I would assume that like with golden Mirror Entity, you definitely will get a golden minion, however this is merging two of the same minions into one. Unlike Mimiron's Head, The blood of the ancient one is more likely to be twice on the field. In fact it is far less likely to activate Mimiron's Head fusion into V-07-TR-0N. Additionally they have even two different card texts… Mimiron’s Head is talking about destroying all mechs and The Blood of the ancient one is all about merging.
3
Crowd Favorite has finally a chance to be played in a (C'Thun) deck. He might not be seen as a very good card, but there is some potential.
After all Beckoner of Evil, C'Thun's Chosen, Skeram Cultist and C'Thun himself all have a battecry effects, so why not!? At the moment only Twilight Elder and Ancient Harbinger (if played) are the only not very "battecry"-supportive cards.
0
Probably strong in a dragon paladin deck. Many of those top minions do not use battlecry effects and can have a relevant role by being summoned through this card
2
If Deathrattle rogue isn't becoming really strong, I can see that Malygos decks with a Leeroy Jenkins in it could become new meta - both function fantastically with this legendary. Leeroy would works with this 1 mana shadowstep and +3 attack, while Malygos with the 2 damage and stealth. Of course it would not be perfect, but instead of building a miracle rouge were you have to add real a 0mana shadowsteps in to your deck, you just add this legendary. In a mirical rouge a real 0mana shadowstep alone without Leeroy Jenkins can lead to a potential "death draw", but getting one maybe for free (through rng) isn't taking away any deck space and leaves space for cards that contribute to a Malygos deck. A alone standing Leereoy is not a necessary death draw, in this deck and with luck can become a second finisher.
I am just sharing my thoughts, how this card could come to its maximum potential. :)
19
DO NOT COMPARE THESE TOXINS WITH SPARE PARTS.
Yes, Fadeleaf Toxin is equal to Finicky Cloakfield, but giving a minion stealth for one turn can make the huge difference between Gadgetzan Auctioneer or Malygos surviving for one really important turn. Finicky Cloakfield is by far the best spare part, that was and still is extremely good with Archmage Antonidas in mage decks enabling sometimes to turn around a whole game. Imagine to do the same thing with Malygos in turn 10, who could also functions well with Firebloom Toxin in that turn.
Bloodthistle Toxin, which is unfortunately a 1 mana Shadowstep, is probably the worst of all these toxins, but in combination with for example Leeroy Jenkins, who also combos with Briarthorn Toxin, it can become the deadly (miracle) rouge finisher. Time Rewinder could not pull off a double Leeroy combo.
Spare parts have far less an impact on the game than these toxins and, as I said in another similar comment 3 or 4 pages back, everybody who compares this legendary with Toshley did not really think it through… This card is far more similar to a 4 mana delayed Arcane Intellect that has a 3/2 body as bonus, because of these toxin cards. It is not the same but quite similar, when it comes to value.
4
This card has huge potential, but it might not be very convincing because of its stats. The thing is by comparing it with Toshley, who has great stats, Xaril looks terrible, if we do not take the effects of the toxins into account. Fact is the toxins effects are mostly equal to regular cards Blessing of Might, Holy Smite, a 1 mana Shadowstep, or a non-discover Raven Idol that simply draws from your deck card. Heck, I even considered Finicky Cloakfield as the best spare part.
The point is this legendary card should be more seen as a 4 mana delayed Arcane Intellect that has a 3/2 minion body as bonus, because of these toxin cards. Yes, it can be silenced for stopping the second toxin draw, but I am not sure if it is really worth it when there are better targets, like Sylvanas Windrunner. And yes, the damn toxins are random, but we know it will be a partly useful 1 mana spell, so cards like Violet Teacher, Leeroy Jenkins and more can combo well these toxins.
8
Perfectly Balanced
2
Sylvanas Windrunner is quite hard to replace, because she is really strong. Good replacments might be: Loatheb, Sludge Belcher, Piloted Sky Golem, maybe Cairne Bloodhoof, Antique Healbot and since you don't have Thalnos Azure Drake is a good temporarily choice. Toshley is not a bad card and could work well sometimes, but generally speaking he does not have much impact when played. I personally prefer Loot Hoarder over Kobold Geomancer, because Loot Hoarder is less likely a death draw – most people would probably agree with me on that one.