Hearthstone

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Fallen Kell

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
6,225
541
126
Arena has gotten harder the past two weeks. Ran into decks with Blaine/Ysera/Rag/other legendaries at 5 wins. Best way to consistently get at least 5 wins is to draft plenty of 3/2 2 drops. Alot of the time, you can dominate your opponent with board control and go for the win. After that, its a crapshoot.

And that is nothing compared to ranked play anymore. It is why I almost never do ranked because I don't have 10+ legendaries in my decks. I think now, if you don't have your hero's legendary + rag + Ysera + hogger (well not as good a card anymore) + black knight + .... you are simply outmatched.

While good play is still needed, these cards are so much more useful and devastating than normal minions. Yes, some legendaries are highly situational, and in fact may be a bad play. But overall, for their mana cost, they are typically good cards. Most have counters, and most will be countered, but people will only have so many counters in their decks that can deal with these cards, plus other powerful cards (sea giants, stormwinds, ogres...).
 
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Kev

Lifer
Dec 17, 2001
16,367
4
81
For example, if I've got the Tazzdingo on the board, and he has a 2/2, I can most likely ignore his 2/2 and just attack him.

Not sure I agree with this. It's almost always correct to clear your opponent's board whenever possible. There's just so much that can be done to remove your taunt like instant removal spells or black knight, or to buff your opponents card, or both.

Now if I have an 8/8 taunt and they only have a 2/2 on the board, I'm probably going for the face because there's more value there.
 

Kev

Lifer
Dec 17, 2001
16,367
4
81
And that is nothing compared to ranked play anymore. It is why I almost never do ranked because I don't have 10+ legendaries in my decks. I think now, if you don't have your hero's legendary + rag + Ysera + hogger (well not as good a card anymore) + black knight + .... you are simply outmatched.

While good play is still needed, these cards are so much more useful and devastating than normal minions. Yes, some legendaries are highly situational, and in fact may be a bad play. But overall, for their mana cost, they are typically good cards. Most have counters, and most will be countered, but people will only have so many counters in their decks that can deal with these cards, plus other powerful cards (sea giants, stormwinds, ogres...).

The only legendary you really need in this meta is leeroy jenkins.
 

Aikouka

Lifer
Nov 27, 2001
30,383
912
126
The 2 mana Iron Owlbeaks are almost a requirement in every deck. The silence + 2/1 minion is an incredible value for the cost, even if you simply silence a taunt with them, they will many times be a game changer allowing you to get that little bit more damage that you need to win the fight when someone thinks they are protected with taunt(s).

You know what's amusing? I used to run Ironbeak Owls quite a lot, and I usually hear comments while watching high-level players like, "No one plays owls!" I've started swapping them out with Spellbreakers or Keeper of the Grove (Druid only). I do like the owl, but they are also very easy to take out. So, is it more worthwhile to just forgo the minion and use a Silence as a priest? Silence is a 0-cost card, and the owl normally dies without doing much anyway.

Not sure I agree with this. It's almost always correct to clear your opponent's board whenever possible. There's just so much that can be done to remove your taunt like instant removal spells or black knight, or to buff your opponents card, or both.

Now if I have an 8/8 taunt and they only have a 2/2 on the board, I'm probably going for the face because there's more value there.

I understand what you mean, and I do sometimes debate with myself over what's the right course of action. A lot of what I do in that case depends on what class I'm fighting, which determines what sort of ways he can beat my card. Also, I don't care so much if he wastes 2 buff cards on a cheaper minion to defeat one card. He just spent 3 cards to beat 1!

Although, the example in question is normally at lower mana levels where I may not have to worry about this so much. Also, it depends on what creature is on the board. For example, if I'm fighting a Warlock, and that's a Murloc on the board, you're darn tootin' that I'm going to kill it! :p

In other words, some decisions you chalk up to experience. Although, your rule of clearing the board (i.e. maintain board control) as rule #1 is probably the better advice for a newer player.
 

lupi

Lifer
Apr 8, 2001
32,539
260
126
I do like the 4-3 silence much better. Actually leaves a consequential minion to remove after.
 

Fallen Kell

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
6,225
541
126
I do like the 4-3 silence much better. Actually leaves a consequential minion to remove after.

Don't get me wrong, the 4/3 silence is a very good card as well. The difference is that you can play a stormwind champion and the owl in the same turn silencing the taunt and buffing all your other minions that can then facestomp the opposing player. You can't do that with the 4/3 silence. I like the 4/3 silence as a good mid game card, but the owl has benefits both in the early and end game.

Also, don't just look at the owl as an easy to kill minion. Yes, it is easy to do 1 damage to something, almost every class has an ability or card in their deck that will get rid of that minion easily. However, it is also forcing them to use that card or ability. A mage will usually just fireblast it with their skill, but that costs then 2 mana. A thief might attack it with their knife skill (costing them 1 mana if you consider they get 2 attacks for 2 mana cost), but will also take 2 damage, or they use something like shiv, that still cost them 2 mana and 1 card. Or a paladin might use one of his 1/1 minions, again, 2 mana... The point being, that it costs the other play mana to deal with the card, and in most cases, costs them at least 2 mana, which means your 2 mana cost, for using the card netted you essentially a net of a free silence.
 
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lupi

Lifer
Apr 8, 2001
32,539
260
126
Logged in for the first time this season last night to see where I was at and do a couple quest. Did five matches to get my 3 wins needed to complete most. First lost was against a pally that did odd plays (like doing a 6 heal card when at 28 health) but my draw order sucked so bad it didn't matter. Second was against a shammy who won on RNG. Had 2 infernals down both buffed by argus. He had the windfury weapon out so he had been able to hit a bunch of health off my previously, but he only had enough minions on the board to kill one of my 2 taunted mobs. He did a randomly damage 2 mobs and both my infernals where hit, allowing him to kill one with his strong minion and play a buff on his other to finish my second. Then he hit my hero again finishing up his weapon.

At least I got a good laugh off of one of my victories. Against a hunter with mostly gold cards, including using 2 trackers. Not sure why someone would want to toss 4 cards out of a limited deck. Got all of my removal cards early so was able on several occasions to wipe the board after he dropped several mobs while only having one or two down myself until after he used his buzzard/hounds. Then I got illidan and a couple others out and he left game.
 

Fallen Kell

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
6,225
541
126
Yeah, so I played some ranked with my Priest deck. I have found that it does have some weaknesses such as a board wipe, which I need to fix, but in all, it didn't do too bad. Turn 10 was pretty funny one match, where I had put up Ysera on the turn before. Given the only 3 cards left in my deck were the the 2 faceless manipulators and Ysera on turn 9. I then had 3 Ysera's on the board, giving me 3 dream cards (I also got a double health on turn 10 and on turn 11 got a set attack = health, which made one of my 3 Yersa's 24/24).

It seems almost everyone is using rush decks now, even mages. I fought one of them last night where on turn 4 when I used the coin and popped out a 2/7 +2 attack on damage minion, the mage ignored it with his 4 minions and instead plopped 2 more low level rush minions and just continued attacking my hero. That is something you CAN'T do against a priest. Turn 5 was double health, double health, attack = health and an instant 28/28 smack from that minion... Turn 6 he did threw everything he had at that minion, but it was obvious he didn't have a silence or a sheep in his deck (he hit it with every minion on the board that he had, a fireball, and 2 of the do 3 damage to random enemys, but that just made it angry with it now being 50/9). For good measure to show how beat he was (because he didn't concede), I used the faceless manip to make a second 50/9 on the board and then killed him with the one.

This is why I love this deck, there are way too many minions that are or can become monsters for you to be able to deal with using cheap auto-kill cards.
 
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lupi

Lifer
Apr 8, 2001
32,539
260
126
Expansion supposedly coming "this summer". Current debate is whether that means july or august.
 

Rhezuss

Diamond Member
Jan 31, 2006
4,118
34
91
Hmmm I have 1900+ dust right now...and don't have Leery...think i'll craft him!
I got King Krush yesterday in a pack...useful or not? DE?
 

Hacp

Lifer
Jun 8, 2005
13,923
2
81
Making new F2P account with druid as the main class. Managed to luck out by getting a FON in on eof my first packs. Crafted an Ancient of Lore. Hardest parts will be getting the second FON and Ancient.
 

Hacp

Lifer
Jun 8, 2005
13,923
2
81
WTF would you start a new acount?

Mainly to have more quests so I can arena more. I seem to be only able to hit 7 wins with Druid, Shaman, and sometimes Mage. That makes it hard to stay even in gold while enjoying Arena.
 

Udgnim

Diamond Member
Apr 16, 2008
3,681
124
106
Mainly to have more quests so I can arena more. I seem to be only able to hit 7 wins with Druid, Shaman, and sometimes Mage. That makes it hard to stay even in gold while enjoying Arena.

I use one account and switch between NA, EU, Asia for that
 

Rhezuss

Diamond Member
Jan 31, 2006
4,118
34
91
I can't seem to go past Rank 12...I always get some nice win streaks but when I hit 12 I win/lose/lose/win/lose/lose/lose/win..etc

MAybe I need to play something else then Paladin at that rank? Warrior? Lock?
 

lupi

Lifer
Apr 8, 2001
32,539
260
126
Once you hit about rank 13, you need to be playing the meta game. Don't think a pally is going to get you much further from the point outside of abnormal circumstances.
 

Aikouka

Lifer
Nov 27, 2001
30,383
912
126
For anyone that owns an iPad and wants to get some cards for a bit cheaper, there's currently a sale on iTunes gift cards (20% off): http://slickdeals.net/f/7010182-20-off-itunes-gift-cards . If you're worried about the seller, I've bought them before, and it's legit.

Once you hit about rank 13, you need to be playing the meta game. Don't think a pally is going to get you much further from the point outside of abnormal circumstances.

What about a Pally Rush + "Arrows"? My friend was using that, and it seems to work pretty well overall. It gets around rush deck starvation using Divine Favor, but that works better against card hoarders rather than other rushers.
 

lupi

Lifer
Apr 8, 2001
32,539
260
126
9-3 with a pally currently my best, almost felt bad as I had 4 truesilvers in my deck. Only matches I lost were those where I went over half the deck before drawing my first.
 

Hacp

Lifer
Jun 8, 2005
13,923
2
81
I can't seem to go past Rank 12...I always get some nice win streaks but when I hit 12 I win/lose/lose/win/lose/lose/lose/win..etc

MAybe I need to play something else then Paladin at that rank? Warrior? Lock?

I played druid watcher with 2x FON/2x Savage Roar to get to rank 10. It took one sitting. Only Legendary I had in there was a Black Knight, which can be replaced by a second Azure Drake.
 

MikeyLSU

Platinum Member
Dec 21, 2005
2,747
0
71
just started playing recently. Have all players unlocked and up to lvl 19, then started playing arena. First time and went 2-3, then I just played again and won my first 11, lost 2, then won the third to get my 12 wins.

Rewards not the greatest...
220 gold
30 gold
gold common shadowstep
and 2 decks

Was hoping for a better card and more gold, from what I read the random gold is 20-175 so I got the extreme low end of that one.