The Witchwood, Hearthstone's next expansion coming out in mid-April, introduces new deck building strategies.
Today, Blizzard has revealed 4 new cards.
(Image source: Hearthstone Official Game Site)
Part of the fun pre-expansion is speculation. Keep in mind that odd-cost cards revolve around Baku (upgraded basic Hero Power) and even-cost cards Genn (Hero Power costs 1). Let's take a look what each card entails.
First Glance:Spell Power plus drawing a card is similar level to Azure Drake. It is a powerful utility card if its abilities can be activated consistently. |
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In Standard:
Mages who forgo their even-cost cards will find themselves without the classic staples such as Frost Bolt and Fireball. One could argue that Secret Mage will carry on in all their glory, but the card's restriction rules out the use of Archanologists to thin out the deck. The class requires heavy support for Black Cat to be worthwhile.In Wild:
First glance at Mages' arsenal suggests Black Cat could be an alternative inclusion in Tempo Mage, utilizing the Forbidden Torches, Flamewakers, and Azure Drakes. Archmage Antonidas can be included as a potential win condition.First Glance:Seems generic, but still useful for early tempo and ping. Two-mana 2/3 with an ability is always better than most at this level. |
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In Standard:
Shaman fell off the meta in the last year. The only surviving archetype has been the Token-Jade Shamans, which used Evolve high rolls or Bloodlust to finish off their opponents. Given this card requires even-cost cards, you can also say goodbye to Elemental decks. Unless Blizzard is going to make Freeze Shaman a thing, you cannot hope to build a viable deck by excluding all of the odd-cost cards.In Wild:
Aggro Shaman doesn't need it. Midrange and Control Shaman have too many tools in the odd numbers. It doesn't look good.First Glance:Five-mana 4/8 Taunt is pretty good. Taunt Druid may be a thing if all the good Taunt minions regularly used were not even-cost cards. |
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In Standard:
As the Jade package rotates out, Druids will have to reinvent themselves. Gloom Stag is anti-synergistic with Druids' current Recruit mechanic as well as class-specific Taunt minions. Having Hadronox being able to work with it is not going to cut it. You can't even use the Strongshell Scavenger with it. Not to mention, Spreading Plague would have to be entirely skipped over.In Wild:
In all the viable archetypes available to Druids in the Wild, Gloom Stag doesn't offer anything too different or spectacular. In most cases, if you want that 5-mana Taunt, Druid of the Claw will suffice and he's more flexible.First Glance:Potential to be great in Combo Priest, but disallowing Shadow Visions makes the Inner Fire attack buff that less consistent. |
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In Standard:
Could this card single-handedly make Temporus playable? Stay tuned.In Wild:
Priests currently have too many good cards that are even-cost to not include them in their arsenal. Glitter Moth looks great on paper, but would require more support from the expansion to be worthwhile.Final Thoughts:
- These cards would be horrible to draft in Arena.
- Cards like Beneath the Grounds, Psychic Scream, etc. will easily ruin your odd-even conditions. Another uncommon card to come across is Iron Juggernaut's Mines.
- Psychic Scream and Weasel Tunneler are still Standard in Year of the Raven. Also, beware of Darkness Candles.