Hearthpwn

Had a really rough streak today falling 2 and a half ranks all the way to rank 5. Played vs more paladins then usual, and lost 2-3 games purely due to tilt from previous games(missed lethal vs patron) and few to ridiculous rng(like warrior getting ysera awakens+grom after I grinded out all his removal and threats, and desparate ysera play giving him the only card that matters).

However, after deciding to replace mana tide and argus with 2 ferals, i went very quickly back to rank 3, going 4-0 vs aggro and secret paladins along the way and 8-2 total.

I feel my deck was already winning by a lot when argus and mana tide could get appropriate value, so I should have replaced them long ago. They were pure, more win cards.

Had only 4-5 games vs zoo, went 3-1 I think, that's really a small sample though.

Mulligan hard for your 1/2 drops and 1 mana spells and storm (storm alone isn't good enough though), and play on curve always is all I can really say. Don't be afraid to even drop valiant on turn 5 if there is no better 5 drop in your hand. If I get chow+golem+tuscar hand and I have the coin, I play coin->golem if they go turn 1 voidwalker (and then chow), otherwise I go chow->golem->coin tucsar. Also plays that give you more board presence are usually better(if you have a choice), 2 drop+3 drop(apart from mana tide which is a desperation play vs zoo) instead of 5 drop for example, unless playing those would give you worse trades of course. I also don't save earthshocks for more valuable targets usually, and try to get 1 for 1 with any of their early game minions I can so I keep up in tempo. However don't play earthshock if you can't finish of a target that turn(unless it's an egg or huge void terror), it's way better to develop minions instead.

Btw, any ideas for tech against aggro paladins? I thought of running a copy of wild pyro instead of ooze, or maybe a kezan for tech for secret paladins? Or maybe doomhammer instead of al akir? Or 2 ferals spirits instead of mana tide+ooze?

I am currently rank 2.

Didn't play ladder in last 2 days, but I have 90% winrate vs any non-paladin decks, and abysmal 20-30% vs paladins(had 2 days in a row where I had 100% winrate vs non-paladins, beating druids, warriors, tempo and 1 freeze mages, priests). However, I met paladins every 3rd game usually, so I was still climbing.

I think I haven't lost a single game to druids since Tgt (match-up that was good, but just got even better),  control/dragon warriors are 90% match-up (patron is maybe 60%, but my winrate vs them is 4-1 I think) and vs dragon priest I am 8-1 I believe (I heard some people have problem with that match-up, but maybe it's the way I play vs them, you can outgrind them in the lategame, just don't overextend into lightbomb and win the game with valiant after). Hunters are a better match-up then before, but I feel it's still around 50%, but didn't meet enough of them to judge(only 5 matches, 3-2).

However, if meta goes 50% paladin, I think we shamans will be in a bad spot again.

My decklist(have ooze instead of 1 creeper):

 Edit: Forgot to mention, I am 100% in shaman mirrors, but haven't seen many shamans after first 2 days of tgt.

Yes, Neptulon is nearly always turn9 or 10 play, you have to keep your mana open for Fire ele.  Five mana drop and totem are also better tempo (especially TB valiant). Also if you yolo turn 7 Neptulon, bgh breaks your back sometimes.

With all due respect for people trying Mistcaller and knowledge, I am fairly certain that both would be cut for sure once aggro starts being more played(soon once people with poor deckbuilding start netdecking again).

Ancestral knowledge has more potential in Malygos shamans, but drakes and mana tide(totem synergy when silenced and can win games alone) are better for midrange and control. Neptulon is better late game, and even without him, you should win any games that go to lategame.

Mistcaller I see as a card that is just win-more vs decks that we already 70%+(control warrior, handlock), and it sucks vs our worst match-ups and in general, tempo matches(my bet is that tempo mage becomes dominant after a week). Neptulon is also a more sure win vs control, you don't have to play him early for him to be worth and he is slightly faster vs aggro.

Edit: Also, elemental destruction has 0 synergy with this deck, and on top of that I view it as a worse hellfire(that shamans wouldn't run, same reason because zoo doesn't), and even with lava shock you aren't getting that much of a better deal. Running 2 bad cards for a mediocre effect isn't worth it. Though, maybe in Malygos decks it sees play.

Healing wave at this moment can't be fit into this list, but if metagame shifts to hunters and face paladins, 1 Healing wave might make the list.

I forgot to add ooze instead of 1 creeper that I run as a tech against many paladins that I met and future patron match-ups.

Edit: Playing some casual right now testing pirate rogue and druid beast deck, and will report my future success with this deck in ranked tomorrow night when I play again :) Feel free to share your decklists that worked for you :)

Currently 5-0 at rank 4 and going up :D. Thunder Bluff valiant is so much better as a 2 of in this deck than I  imagined , and totem golems and tuscar totemics carry the early game so hard(best result that i got so far was double mana tide :) from 2 of them).

Also, it seems Strifecro was right, Thunder Bluff valiant is the best shaman card this expac(above totem golem even), I have even cut Dr boom to make room for another one(since you need Neptulon to win vs control).

Even though some people may be playing more subpar decks atm, I still see midrange shaman becoming one of the top creators of the new meta.

Here is my decklist:

Update(25th august): reached rank 3 today, 6-2 overall. Meta was mostly mage/paladin midrange and warrior control/dragon decks. 

I just love Neptulon too much to cut him. :) He has to be my favourite card from goblins vs gnomes.

In my opinion, prime cutting candidate in this deck is mistcaller, since this deck shouldn't really need him vs control(you already win that easy), and he is useless vs face aggro.

Regarding Varian's usability in current control warrior, here is my view from a shaman side of the matchup.(this matchup will hopefully be more common in TGT with shaman new additions)

Being one of the few freaks who play midrange shaman still, control warrior(and handlock) is my easiest matchup, 70-80% winrate. You have million years to draw your answers as shaman and totems are pure warrior counters. Only way to lose to them is to overextend into brawl, but smart shamans only have 2 real cards(or a lot of deathrattle stuff) on board at the time and spam totems to bait brawl. That way, even if warrior draws more cards total, you always have card advantage, because warrior answers to totems are really inefficient+you also win fatigue game since he drew more cards. Also, Neptulon(if you run him) wrecks control warrior(if played right after brawl).

However, Varian might change that, if you are playing this slow as a shaman, turn 10 Varian tempo swing can break your back if it pulls 2 big threats. However it also brings him further into fatigue, so card will need testing and maybe a different type of control warrior to be played in (Ysera instead of Alex(in 1/4 times you wreck shaman with awakens), Rag instead of Nefarian, Sneeds instead of Boom, and possibly -1 shieldmaiden or Harrison for Cairne/Sky Golem)