Hearthstone

[Vivendi]

I have to admit, Shaman really did get some real useful love in the grand tournament expansion. Between the 3/4 totems, and the 3/2 totems that summon a random totem, as well as things like Mukla's Champ, and The Mistcaller, it really got some decent buffs. Enough so that I have won 2 games with it in ranked without even taking a single point in damage before I killed the enemy because he was always reacting to me and never able to get out ahead of me to force me to react to him.

I dunno... while Shaman did a few good cards, still not nearly enough to make Shaman competitive at the higher ranks. Other classes got good cards and have gotten better as well (except Rogue lol). Blizzard obviously knew Shaman needed help to become competitive again but I think their efforts fell far too short.

I've barely managed to play hearthstone at all this month so I'm not 100% sure but I don't really see many shamans anymore on ranked. And when I do, most are easy wins.

Mistcaller I think is way too slow. I've haven't lost a game to it unless I was already about to lose in the next 1 or 2 turns.

I've tried so many shaman decks myself, didn't find any that were consistent. My shaman has been sitting at level 58 for so long now...

 

[Aikouka]

I have to admit, Shaman really did get some real useful love in the grand tournament expansion. Between the 3/4 totems, and the 3/2 totems that summon a random totem, as well as things like Mukla's Champ, and The Mistcaller, it really got some decent buffs. Enough so that I have won 2 games with it in ranked without even taking a single point in damage before I killed the enemy because he was always reacting to me and never able to get out ahead of me to force me to react to him.

Mm... I'm a bit hesitant to agree. My biggest complaint with Totem Golem is that you have to ensure that you have a proper starting hand, or else the Overload will really screw with your curve. Essentially, you play 1-2-2-4, or if you go double golem, you play 1-2-2-3-5. It's certainly a strong card, and while it can give you an advantage for a turn or two, being held back can also hurt your progression enough that your enemy can overtake you.

One issue with the cards that you're mentioning is that only one of them is a card that's good by itself (Totem Golem). The rest of the cards really require you to have a board developed, or the card will most likely go to waste. In other words, if you're behind, you're probably screwed. Although, you could always play Elemental Destruction. :biggrin:

 

[darkewaffle]

I don't play much recently but Shaman was always one of my favorites. However I think they're just held back by the fact that so many of their strong cards cause Overload and overload just plain sucks. If you have just the right progression of cards you can play around it effectively but it's very easy for it to do more harm than good as well.

Also the amount of variance/randomness in Shaman spells/hero power can be a pain.

 

[Vivendi]

Shaman used to be my 2nd fav class after priests. But Shaman class cards just haven't aged well.

Eg: Feral Spirits: 3 mana - two 2/3 wolves, taunt, 2 mana overload.
There was a time when people used to complain about this card, calling it OP lol. It was auto include in every deck. Now the wolves are outclassed by so many new cards, and just trade poorly in general. Plus the overload screws you over next turn Spider tank, Dark cultist, Blackwing Tech, the new Bane legendaries, Spellslinger etc, all usually better.

I think the main problem is that all Shaman decks are basically "fair" decks. They can't cheat out big minions early like a warlock. Gain huge tempo from secrets. They can't consistently rush you down like hunters. Can't kill from an empty board like druids, etc. And the hero I consider to be one of the worst.

Blizzard either needs to go back and adjust the overload costs a bit or in the future, give some more love to shaman. Shaman needs another card like Unbound Elemental and/or lava shock to get some consistent overload syngergy going.

 

[HumblePie]

So my friend yesterday opened up the most ridiculous pack. He spent some gold on a random GvG pack and opened it.

Toshley
Gold Toshley
Dr Boom
Bouncing Blade
Mekagineer Thermaplugg

4 FREAKING legendaries, 1 of them gold and an epic card. WTF?!??!?!?! Lucky sob. I'm still shaking my head at him today at work. He dusted the Gold Toshley for a Sylvannas already since he didn't have her.

 

[Aikouka]

Can't kill from an empty board like druids, etc.

Charge minion (Arcane Golem, 4-cost) + Windfury (2-cost) + Rockbiter (1-cost) + Rockbiter (1-cost). 8 mana to deal 20 damage vs. 9 damage to deal 14 damage on a Druid. The only problem is if you need to spread the damage out. The Druid can do that (2 + 4 + 4 + 4), but the Shaman can't. Another issue is the number of cards required (4 vs. 2). However, it's still possible. Albeit, I think most people tend to prefer Doomhammer + Rockbiter + Rockbiter as the Doomhammer can be used on previous turns to help clear, and it's only 7 overall mana (+2 overload).

 

[lupi]

Agree with shammy. To keep overload as is you'd really need to boost all the current cards that apply it.

 

[Vivendi]

Charge minion (Arcane Golem, 4-cost) + Windfury (2-cost) + Rockbiter (1-cost) + Rockbiter (1-cost). 8 mana to deal 20 damage vs. 9 damage to deal 14 damage on a Druid. The only problem is if you need to spread the damage out. The Druid can do that (2 + 4 + 4 + 4), but the Shaman can't. Another issue is the number of cards required (4 vs. 2). However, it's still possible. Albeit, I think most people tend to prefer Doomhammer + Rockbiter + Rockbiter as the Doomhammer can be used on previous turns to help clear, and it's only 7 overall mana (+2 overload).

Every class can OTK -- empty board, no discounts, no RNG -- except Paladins and Hunters. Although new TGT may have changed that.

When it comes to actually being able to burst your opponent down game after game consistently; druids can do that, shamans simply can't. Only thing these doomhammer/Al'Akir decks have going for them is that people don't expect them. The moment they become even remotely common, they're can be completely countered so easily.

Also like you said, since the damage is not spread out, good luck getting through taunts. boosted by any preexisting minions, which is why keeping their board clear becomes essential.

 

[Vivendi]

Charge minion (Arcane Golem, 4-cost) + Windfury (2-cost) + Rockbiter (1-cost) + Rockbiter (1-cost). 8 mana to deal 20 damage vs. 9 damage to deal 14 damage on a Druid. The only problem is if you need to spread the damage out. The Druid can do that (2 + 4 + 4 + 4), but the Shaman can't. Another issue is the number of cards required (4 vs. 2). However, it's still possible. Albeit, I think most people tend to prefer Doomhammer + Rockbiter + Rockbiter as the Doomhammer can be used on previous turns to help clear, and it's only 7 overall mana (+2 overload).

Arcane Golem is actually 3 mana.
Here's another one for shaman: Arcane Golem, Rock biter x2, Abusive Sergeant x2, Winfury + Bolt the face = 31 dmg for 10 mana.

 

[CalebRockeT]

So my friend yesterday opened up the most ridiculous pack. He spent some gold on a random GvG pack and opened it.

Toshley
Gold Toshley
Dr Boom
Bouncing Blade
Mekagineer Thermaplugg

4 FREAKING legendaries, 1 of them gold and an epic card. WTF?!??!?!?! Lucky sob. I'm still shaking my head at him today at work. He dusted the Gold Toshley for a Sylvannas already since he didn't have her.

This is definitely insane. Get him to share the screenshot with you, so you can share it with us. There's absolutely no way he opens a pack like that and doesn't screenshot it, right?

 

[justoh]

Had a rogue quest and included burgle in oil for the lols. Stole a paletress and thoughtsteal, into another thoughtsteal and sw: death, into more stuff.

 

[HumblePie]

This is definitely insane. Get him to share the screenshot with you, so you can share it with us. There's absolutely no way he opens a pack like that and doesn't screenshot it, right?

He only plays on his phone and forgot to get it one. I know the guy though and has only been playing a couple of months. He has more legendaries now than me and far less cards overall than me.

 

[Aikouka]

Hm, I think this week's brawl might be a bit slanted. It's Boom Bot vs. Annoy-O-Tron, which uses premade decks and custom heroes. I got my single win playing as Annoy-O-Tron, and frankly, I think it might be far more powerful. The two hero powers both cost 2 mana, and Boom Bot deals 2 damage split among the targets (a weaker Arcane Missiles) and Annoy-O-Tron grants Divine Shield and Taunt to the minion with the lowest attack.

I was utterly dominating my opponent the entire time. If Boom Bot is lucky, it can deal 2 damage to the same minion, but as long as you have a minion, you can ensure it doesn't die while dealing damage. You can also target any minion as long as only one exists on the board, which is what I did one turn by giving it to a Spider Tank (3-attack) and then putting down a Snowchugger (2-attack). My opponent eventually just gave up, but I would've killed him the next turn with the warrior card that grants all minions +2/+2 and Taunt as I had that 1/4 Windfury minion on the board that I already gave +2 attack via that 3-cost mech cat thing. So, I had a 3/4 with Windfury that would've became a 5/6 with Windfury. D:

 

[Vivendi]

Yep I also think annoy-o-tron is much more favoured. Not to say that it's an autoloss when playing as boombot. Boombot has the better deck overall, esp. with all the removal, just have to refrain from using that hero power, because it's horrible except to take off divine shield. I did win games with boombot, either by having a better opening or stalling till I could clear with lightbomb, twisting nether etc, and then dropping big threats.

Also, here's my end of month ranked rewards (rank 5)

 

[Fallen Kell]

I will have to check mine. I made a small push last night to make it to rank 12, but I really only played enough games to finish the mage domination quest (took 8, so 6 wins 2 losses, RNG was poor on the 2 losses as I had plenty of cards in the deck to deal with the situations, just could not draw them). I did like using Harrison Jones on a Paladin after he mustarded and didn't attack with his weapon...

 

[Aikouka]

Extra Credits had an interesting video on Power Creep in Hearthstone that came out today. I figured some people in here might be interested in it!

 

[lupi]

have lost 3 annoy battles in a row, absolute crappy card draw order compared to my bomb opponent.

and win first game as boom. think that is the much easier side. annoy has combos that can work but boom can clear minions much easier.

 

[Fallen Kell]

have lost 3 annoy battles in a row, absolute crappy card draw order compared to my bomb opponent.

and win first game as boom. think that is the much easier side. annoy has combos that can work but boom can clear minions much easier.

I have had the exact opposite experience. If Annoy gets a minion on the board, the game is effectively over (he just needs to play control and he wins).

 

[Vivendi]

So today I made a dragon priest deck to start getting some ranked games in this month. It's not my best deck as I'm missing cards that I want to add to it, mainly Chillmaw, but I love playing priest.

So I queque in, first ranked match this month (started at 17) except a couple brawls, and opponent is...surprise, a paladin. I almost conceded, that's how much sick I am of paladins right now, but then I decide to continue as I don't want to start off the month with a concede.

I actually get a good mulligan, suspecting correctly that it is a secret paladin, so I decide to keep a shadow word death in the opening hand for the inevitable MC drop. We both get good openings, but thanks to me getting my dragon draws, my minions obviously trade better than his and I'm able to easily defuse his secrets. I'm ahead on the board and easily get rid of his MC and secrets, which he coins out. Next turn he drops another MC. I again defuse all the secrets by trading minions except Comp. spirit, and I couldn't manage to clear the MC, which is like a 10/9 now. Turn 7, he starts emote spamming before dropping Dr. Boom. He decides to ignore my small board and instead hits my face. I clear his board again, using a light bomb this time. Bots do 7 dmg to my face, so I'm getting a little worried, but now I slowly regain the board with taunts and while it's a close game right till the end, I'm confident he's out of threats and eventually I finish him off. He drew his whole deck thanks to the MC x2 and divine favour x2, except two cards.

Now comes the good part. I was planning to quit after just one game but after that win, I'm like OK, just one more match. I queque again right away, and it's the same guy lol. But this time, I know his whole deck, ie he's running 1x repentance, 1x comp. spirit., 2x divine favour, 2x redemption, Dr. Boom, 1x cog hammer, tirion, 2x blessing of kings, etc. I take him out easily enough.

He sends me a request after the match.
"Where are you from"
me: "Canada. U?"
"U Sux at hs" He blocked me before I could respond.

I admit I did BM him a little the 2nd match before finishing him, but that was only in response to his earlier BM. Glad the BM got to him lol.

 

[CPA]

Got to love an Arena draw with no Legendaries and no Epics, with only 4 Rares. sigh...looks like another 0-3 Arena.

 

[Imported]

Got to love an Arena draw with no Legendaries and no Epics, with only 4 Rares. sigh...looks like another 0-3 Arena.

Pretty much my standard arena draw.. :[

 

[Fallen Kell]

Got a gold Harrison Jones today. Since I already had a standard Harrison, I dusted it and crafted Prophet Vellen. I wasn't sure what I was going to craft, until I fought a massive heal priest. Decided it was relatively good deck and one worth my being able to make, so I went for Vellen. Nothing like being able to do 8 health heal for 2 cost (with the right cards played). It also works very well in a part dragon/part inspire deck (had a massive win already with it, turn 10 was a massive one with me playing Confessor Paletress, popping coin, healing myself 2 times for +8 health (garrison commander+previous play of justicar trueheart), spawning Dr Boom and Chromaggus.

 

[Vivendi]

Nice. I personally would've kept the golden Harrison Jones and dusted the normal one. Dust is so easy to get compared to a golden legendary.
I've got Prophet Velen for a long time now. I've rarely used him because he's so inconsistent. When he works though, you can just destroy the opponent.
One good thing about him, I used him to easily kill most heroic bosses, since it's easy to get him to stick.

 

[lupi]

what he said.

 

[HumblePie]

Pretty much my standard arena draw.. :[

Mine too. 9 out of 10 arenas I get the 4 standard rares and most of those are junk.