I honestly don't know exactly what happens when you are a "returning player". More specifically, I don't know if you are prompted to pick a free deck immediately, or if you can wait for it to get updated. Since you have no interest in Wild, I wouldn't pick a deck that features cards from Year of the Dragon (many of which you might have already anyway). I hope someone knows better how that works.
The packs thing that was mentioned is also not really clear to me. It might be more beneficial to wait.
However, there are also reasons to get back to the game before the next patch:
Demon Hunter will no longer be obtained through the prologue, and the Initial set (or large parts of it) will rotate. I assume that after the patch, you can no longer get the full initial set from completing the Prologue.
Also, getting back into the game now, you can pick up some of the early rewards from the reward track, namely the free Darkmoon legendaries at level 1 and level 25 (which you should be able to get to in the remaining time). Reward tracks are tied to an expansion, so the current one will run out once the new set comes out. (Sidenote: You should probably read up on all the changes regarding in-game rewards, quests, packs and ladder... a few things have changed over the last year)
Some general advice (about decks, packs, catching up strategy) was mentioned here earlier today: https://www.hearthpwn.com/forums/hearthstone-game-modes/standard-format/247591-blast-from-the-past#c5
About Duels: I hate to say this, but Duels is not a good mode for new or returning players, especially for those who don't like Wild at all. The way Duels works, is that you pick a class, a hero power, and a starting treasure. Hero powers and treasures are (currently!) locked behind having a lot of cards from Scholomance Academy and Darkmoon Faire. Then you build a deck of 16 cards, which will also include several Wild sets (like Naxxramas and Old Gods, currently).
So, without basically any cards from last year, you won't have many deckbuilding options in Duels, and depending on whether or not you still have your old cards from Wild sets, you might also feel like not having what you need for the mode. To give you an example: One hero power (for each class) is unlocked by having a legendary of that class from Scholomance only. One of the starting treasuers is unlocked by having 150 unique (!!) cards from Darkmoon Faire. It's not that essential to have specific cards in your collection, or specific hero powers, just to have fun (or do well, even) in Duels, but the mode feels a bit shit when your options appear rather limited.
I personally would recommend Battlegrounds more, though I know some people don't like it very much. It's just a pretty nice mode to play casually, since it has no entry fees, no collection requirements, and the few "perks" you can purchase are not essential at all. Also, it's arguably the best way to get exp.
3
The minute I saw that card I sent it to my best friend saying that I was throwing it in every single deck I own just a basically play "Speed Run Hearthstone Roulette" LMFAO 😂😂😂
5
Long as you keep innkeeper running (imho that should be number 1 priority) and previews updated, I welcome the change and appreciate it!
1
I got quests to complete and you didn't concede right away despite seeing lethal so nope. If you were gonna concede at all just do it, otherwise accept you gave them power over ending the game and they're free to use it as they wish.
Closest to "BMing" in this game is emote spams honestly. Anything else has alternate explanations (tho it ofc depends on the player, making this topic even moor subjective than it already is)
1
This entire game and literally any CCG is just an endless cash grab. Like literally, packs themselves are designed to trigger dopamine hits and spark an addiction, all so you buy more.
and hell this is one of the better discounts since Blizz rarely goes less than a dollar per pack, AND these still have a year relevance. Idk this whole comment sounds dumb and childish.
1
Big same, every damn day. It's gotten to the point i just don't come here on mobile.
1
If wild is so great and deserving of balance to the level of standard, why did they make standard at all???
Hard to convince players the format is worth anything when the company itself doesn't.
1
Sorry can't here you over how much i outplay your shitty autopilot decks by using something with multiple possible uses for each card.
Take your pirate/zoo/token playing self to the salt thread, or just quit. Doubt anyone would miss you.
2
If odd and even were going away at rotation anyways, why did they bother nerfing shit for those decks like flametongue and level up?
So you can undo those now that its wild only similar to molten giant right Blizzard?
1
There will be no hero card this set.
2
Simple enough, Pick a class and get a random deck, all targets and attacking are done randomly. (Also emotes, including sorry) Players start at 3 mana like in the hallucinate one too.