Hearthstone Arena II: Pay Attention Class

[Anarion]

@Jormengand:

Assassin's Blade!

@Anarion: Priest!

Exclamation marks are extra convincing, so priest it is.

Paladin/Hunter/Priest

1st pick: shadow madness/defender of Argus/Mana Wraith

That's an exciting start.

[Sian]

Tough call between Shadow Madness and Defender, but i'd probably take Shadow Madness over Defender 'cause protential in trading one card for two of your opponents, or negating a low attack Taunt you need to get past to eat his face or small minions

[Zevox]

That was not sarcastic at all. Madder Bomber is OK, but Ravenhodt assassin is a pretty good card. It is often underestimated, but in my experience it's always worked well.

I concede there is not much of a difference in value, but I stand by my pick

I would reverse those descriptions, personally: Ravenholdt is okay, Madder Bomber is pretty good. Ravenholdt's undesirable stat distribution is a big problem compared to other beef. The only thing it does well is potentially giving you a big finisher the opponent might not be able to stop, if you're in a situation where that's useful. And they can still stop it with taunt, or healing. Madder Bomber meanwhile has better stats for its mana cost than the Assassin and an effect which can help you catch up from behind, which makes it easily the better card in my mind.

I'd only take Ravenholdt over bad cards. Madder Bomber I'd consider even when it's up against some good cards.

Current pick: easy Scarlet Crusader, as others have said.

@ Anarion - Shadow Madness. It's often a pretty high-value card in arena.

[Anarion]

Second vote for shadow madness=shadow madness. I'd have picked the Defender of Argus, but I'm probably undervaluing the big turn swing.

Paladin/Hunter/Priest

1st pick: shadow madness/defender of Argus*/Mana Wraith
2nd pick: power word: shield/holy smite/holy nova

[heronbpv]

@Anarion:
Take Holy Nova. I would rather garantee the potential board clear, though a case can be made for any of the 3 choices.

@Jormengand:
I second the Assasin's Blade.

@thirsting:
Same for the Scarlet Crusader.

[Lethologica]

#4: Scarlet Crusader / Frostwolf Grunt / Anodized Robo Cub

Crusader. Choosing between two similar mediocre 2-drops doesn't beat a good 3-drop.

Assassin's blade/Flying Machine/Booty Bay Bodyguard

Blade is value.

2nd pick: power word: shield/holy smite/holy nova

Holy Nova, because mass board clear is rare in Priest. PWS second, Smite third.

[The_Jackal]

Second vote for shadow madness=shadow madness. I'd have picked the Defender of Argus, but I'm probably undervaluing the big turn swing.

Paladin/Hunter/Priest

1st pick: shadow madness/defender of Argus*/Mana Wraith
2nd pick: power word: shield/holy smite/holy nova

Very tough call here, imo. PW:S is a great tempo card, but you probably need to take the nova, even though I think it's somewhat overrated in Arena (cost is a bit high, and the heal can often do little-to-nothing. Anyway, Nova is probably the pick.

[Anarion]

Holy nova it is, was where I was leaning too.

Paladin/Hunter/Priest

1st pick: shadow madness/defender of Argus*/Mana Wraith
2nd pick: power word: shield/holy smite/holy nova
3rd pick: dark cultist/scarlet crusader/divine spirit

[The Glyphstone]

Crusader is good. Cultist is great. Nab it.

[Anarion]

Crusader is good. Cultist is great. Nab it.

Indeed, I nearly skipped that one.

Paladin/Hunter/Priest

1st pick: shadow madness/defender of Argus*/Mana Wraith
2nd pick: power word: shield/holy smite/holy nova
3rd pick: dark cultist/scarlet crusader/divine spirit
4th pick: faerie dragon/cogmaster/thrallmar farseer

[thirsting]

Spoiler: Look at that druid's curves

Show

1:
2:
3: x
4: x
5: xx
6:
7+:

#1: Secret Keeper / Madder Bomber / Ravenholdt Assassin*
#2: Gnomeregan Infantry / Voodoo Doctor / Poison Seeds*
#3: Acolyte of Pain / Silvermoon Guardian / Stranglethorn Tiger*
#4: Scarlet Crusader* / Frostwolf Grunt / Anodized Robo Cub
#5: Explosive Sheep / Wild Growth / Grimscale Oracle


Jormengand: You've already got more than enough votes for more buttbuttination, but here's one more
Anarion: Faerie Dragon, even if it can't be buffed directly. It just survives to see the next round reliably, when played on empty board

[Anarion]

Anarion: Faerie Dragon, even if it can't be buffed directly. It just survives to see the next round reliably, when played on empty board

I concur. As for yours, you've got a 4 and a 5 that would be nice to get early. I'd say take the wild growth. I might be wrong though, I just find I always draw explosive sheep at times it would hurt me more than help.


Paladin/Hunter/Priest

1st pick: shadow madness/defender of Argus*/Mana Wraith
2nd pick: power word: shield/holy smite/holy nova
3rd pick: dark cultist/scarlet crusader/divine spirit
4th pick: faerie dragon/cogmaster/thrallmar farseer
5th pick: Novice engineer/divine spirit/inner fire

I lean strongly towards the divine spirit. Engineer adds some smoothness to the curve, but divine spirit has some big play moments.

[Zevox]

2nd pick: power word: shield/holy smite/holy nova

I know it's already passed, but I want to say that's a very tough call between Shield and Nova. On the one hand, AoE can be huge in arena and can be hard to pick up; on the other, Nova isn't one of the better AoE cards out there, and it's easy to overestimate it. Power Word: Shield meanwhile is just a strong card, full stop - a buff that can save a minion's life for 1 mana, and it cantrips so there's no issue with it potentially becoming card disadvantage.

I don't think there is a wrong pick there, but I might lean towards the Shield. Mostly because your first pick was Shadow Madness, which is itself AoE of a sort, and sometimes much better than Nova, so you do already have that in a way.

#5: Explosive Sheep / Wild Growth / Grimscale Oracle

Sadly, Growth is the least bad there. Sheep is just too often counter-productive in arena, even in Mage, the class best-suited to use it.

5th pick: Novice engineer/divine spirit/inner fire

I lean strongly towards the divine spirit. Engineer adds some smoothness to the curve, but divine spirit has some big play moments.

I lean strongly towards Novice Engineer. Paladin hero power in card form isn't impressive, but it's not terrible. Those buffs, on the other hand, are often terrible.

[Gandariel]

Agree with Zevox on all 3 points.

And i invite you to try out Ravenhodt next time you catch it in Arena and see it work

[Infernally Clay]

Make that three for Novice Engineer. It's actually "pay two mana, draw a card" and for that it's consistent value. The body is neglible but could come in handy other ways, like breaking Divine Shields or something.

I do think Holy Nova was the right pick, though. Love me some AoE.

[Anarion]

Novice engineer it is then.

Paladin/Hunter/Priest

1st pick: shadow madness/defender of Argus*/Mana Wraith
2nd pick: power word: shield/holy smite/holy nova
3rd pick: dark cultist/scarlet crusader/divine spirit
4th pick: faerie dragon/cogmaster/thrallmar farseer
5th pick: Novice engineer/divine spirit/inner fire
6th pick: Northshire cleric/sen'jin shieldmasta/Ancient Brewmaster (not going to waste everyone's time on that one)
7th pick: puddlestomper/frostwolf warlord/Dalaran Mage

The mage is awful, but I'm on the fence about whether I want a potentially strong 5 drop or the 3/2 for 2.

[Zevox]

And i invite you to try out Ravenhodt next time you catch it in Arena and see it work

Um, it's not like I've never used it in arena before. I certainly have. What I said about it is based on those experiences, and my experiences with Madder Bomber.

7th pick: puddlestomper/frostwolf warlord/Dalaran Mage

The mage is awful, but I'm on the fence about whether I want a potentially strong 5 drop or the 3/2 for 2.

The 3/2 for 2. Frostwolf Warlord can fairly consistently be a 5/5 for 5, which makes it not bad, but you really can't count on more than that. And as vanilla cards go, a 3/2 for 2 is more important to have than a 5/5 for 5, since having something good to play on turn 2 is much more important than having something mediocre to play on turn 5.

[Anarion]

The 3/2 for 2. Frostwolf Warlord can fairly consistently be a 5/5 for 5, which makes it not bad, but you really can't count on more than that. And as vanilla cards go, a 3/2 for 2 is more important to have than a 5/5 for 5, since having something good to play on turn 2 is much more important than having something mediocre to play on turn 5.

Done and done.

Paladin/Hunter/Priest

1st pick: shadow madness/defender of Argus*/Mana Wraith
2nd pick: power word: shield/holy smite/holy nova
3rd pick: dark cultist/scarlet crusader/divine spirit
4th pick: faerie dragon/cogmaster/thrallmar farseer
5th pick: Novice engineer/divine spirit*/inner fire
6th pick: Northshire cleric/sen'jin shieldmasta/Ancient Brewmaster
7th pick: puddlestomper/frostwolf warlord/Dalaran Mage
8th pick: lightspawn/stoneskin gargoyle/raging worgen (too obvious to ask)
9th pick: piloted shredder/bloodfen raptor/wisp (again too obvious)
10th pick: abomination/auchenai soulpriest/pint-sized summoner

And I'm going to bed, so I'll look at thoughts tomorrow.

[Gandariel]

Not much to think about. Easy Auchenai

[Infernally Clay]

Waaaait... You picked Sen'jin over Northshire? As nice as taunt is, the card draw you'd get from Northshire isn't the kind of thing you pass up. Moreso since card draw is super important, especially in Arena.

I would've picked Frostwolf, at any rate. Arena is all about aggressive board control and, while he won't win you games you're already losing, dropping an 8/8 on turn whatever because you built and maintained board control is pretty big. It's also better to topdeck a 4/4 than a 3/2 and you're currently lacking big, "win more", cards anyway.

Auchenai is a no brainer, though.

[Gandariel]

Oh yeah, i didn't check. Northshire was probably better than Senjin. Senjin isn't completely wrong, but i would have taken the Cleric

And lightspawn over Raging Worgen, while correct, is not such a no-brainer. Don't skip picks! :)

[Jormengand]

But Jormengand, however will we buttbuttinate anything without a buttbuttin's blade?

GARROSH HELLSCREAM/REXXAR/VALEERA SANGUINAR
Bomb lobber/Sludge Belcher/Stampeding Kodo
Tinker's Sharpsword Oil/Ironfur Grizzly/Abusive Sergeant
Dread corsair/Worgen Infiltrator/Betrayal
Nightblade/Bloodfen Raptor/Stormwind Knight
Betrayal/Gang Up/Frostwolf Warlord
Unstable Ghoul/Gurubashi Berserker/Grimscale Oracle
Young Dragonhawk/Defias Ringleader/Explosive Sheep
Betrayal/Sinister Strike/Bloodfen Raptor
Eviscerate/Ancient Brewmaster/Faerie Dragon
Hobgoblin/Doomsayer/Recombobulator
Worgen Infiltrator/Sinister Strike/Voodoo Doctor
Magma Rager/Silverback Patriarch/Salty Dog
Faerie Dragon/Booty Bay Bodyguard/Amani Berserker
Ship's Cannon/Haunted Creeper/Shiv
Ogre Brute/Core Hound/Antique Healbot
Spellbreaker/Anub'ar Ambusher/Nerub'ar Weblord
Spectral Knight/Fan of Knives/Raid Leader
Silverback Patriarch/Frost Elemental/Clockwork Gnome
Ironfur Grizzly/Mechwarper/Ogre Brute
Hungry Crab/Piloted Sky Golem/Sabotage
Windfury Harpy/Reckless Rocketeer/Vanish
Explosive Sheep/Anub'ar Ambusher/Assassinate
Assassin's blade/Flying Machine/Booty Bay Bodyguard
Antique Healer/Amani Berserker/Booty Bay Bodyguard

That BBB is really trying to get into this deck. Also, what is it with this deck and 2-drops and 5-drops?

(112222222233444555555666)

[thirsting]

There's already so many 2's, so some healing might be nice at this point. Medic!

[Jormengand]

Let's avoid our 2-drop problem by contributing to our 5-drop problem!

GARROSH HELLSCREAM/REXXAR/VALEERA SANGUINAR
Bomb lobber/Sludge Belcher/Stampeding Kodo
Tinker's Sharpsword Oil/Ironfur Grizzly/Abusive Sergeant
Dread corsair/Worgen Infiltrator/Betrayal
Nightblade/Bloodfen Raptor/Stormwind Knight
Betrayal/Gang Up/Frostwolf Warlord
Unstable Ghoul/Gurubashi Berserker/Grimscale Oracle
Young Dragonhawk/Defias Ringleader/Explosive Sheep
Betrayal/Sinister Strike/Bloodfen Raptor
Eviscerate/Ancient Brewmaster/Faerie Dragon
Hobgoblin/Doomsayer/Recombobulator
Worgen Infiltrator/Sinister Strike/Voodoo Doctor
Magma Rager/Silverback Patriarch/Salty Dog
Faerie Dragon/Booty Bay Bodyguard/Amani Berserker
Ship's Cannon/Haunted Creeper/Shiv
Ogre Brute/Core Hound/Antique Healbot
Spellbreaker/Anub'ar Ambusher/Nerub'ar Weblord
Spectral Knight/Fan of Knives/Raid Leader
Silverback Patriarch/Frost Elemental/Clockwork Gnome
Ironfur Grizzly/Mechwarper/Ogre Brute
Hungry Crab/Piloted Sky Golem/Sabotage
Windfury Harpy/Reckless Rocketeer/Vanish
Explosive Sheep/Anub'ar Ambusher/Assassinate
Assassin's blade/Flying Machine/Booty Bay Bodyguard
Antique Healer/Amani Berserker/Booty Bay Bodyguard
Dragonling Mechanic/Shieldbearer/Dark Iron Dwarf

Did someone just play Emperor on our curve?

(1122222222334445555555666)

[Anarion]

I've never had much luck with Northshire cleric (it's either very hard to do more than use it as one mana cycling or it hits for a couple damage and dies), but I'll keep that in mind for the future. Next one looks like an easy spider tank to me, but I won't skip anymore.

Paladin/Hunter/Priest

1st pick: shadow madness/defender of Argus*/Mana Wraith
2nd pick: power word: shield/holy smite/holy nova
3rd pick: dark cultist/scarlet crusader/divine spirit
4th pick: faerie dragon/cogmaster/thrallmar farseer
5th pick: Novice engineer/divine spirit*/inner fire
6th pick: Northshire cleric/sen'jin shieldmasta/Ancient Brewmaster
7th pick: puddlestomper/frostwolf warlord/Dalaran Mage
8th pick: lightspawn/stoneskin gargoyle/raging worgen
9th pick: piloted shredder/bloodfen raptor/wisp
10th pick: abomination/auchenai soulpriest/pint-sized summoner
11th pick: frostwolf warlord/gilbin stalker/spider tank

[Lethologica]

#5: Explosive Sheep / Wild Growth / Grimscale Oracle

Wild Growth will be useful more often than Sheep will be.

Dragonling Mechanic/Shieldbearer/Dark Iron Dwarf

Dwarf is the clear pick.

11th pick: frostwolf warlord/gilbin stalker/spider tank

Stalker is a good on-curve 2-drop, but Spider Tank is ahead of the 3-drop curve, so it's better.

[thirsting]

Spoiler: Druid's curves

Show

1:
2: x
3: x
4: x
5: xx
6:
7+:

#1: Secret Keeper / Madder Bomber / Ravenholdt Assassin*
#2: Gnomeregan Infantry / Voodoo Doctor / Poison Seeds*
#3: Acolyte of Pain / Silvermoon Guardian / Stranglethorn Tiger*
#4: Scarlet Crusader* / Frostwolf Grunt / Anodized Robo Cub
#5: Explosive Sheep* / Wild Growth / Grimscale Oracle
#6: Healing Touch / Mechanical Yeti / Mad Scientist

Well... this one surely could have been skipped, but better not.

[Anarion]

Stalker is a good on-curve 2-drop, but Spider Tank is ahead of the 3-drop curve, so it's better.

Spider tank because it's ahead of the competition.

Paladin/Hunter/Priest

1st pick: shadow madness/defender of Argus*/Mana Wraith
2nd pick: power word: shield/holy smite/holy nova
3rd pick: dark cultist/scarlet crusader/divine spirit
4th pick: faerie dragon/cogmaster/thrallmar farseer
5th pick: Novice engineer/divine spirit*/inner fire
6th pick: Northshire cleric/sen'jin shieldmasta/Ancient Brewmaster
7th pick: puddlestomper/frostwolf warlord/Dalaran Mage
8th pick: lightspawn/stoneskin gargoyle/raging worgen
9th pick: piloted shredder/bloodfen raptor/wisp
10th pick: abomination/auchenai soulpriest/pint-sized summoner
11th pick: frostwolf warlord/gilbin stalker/spider tank
12th pick: flesheating ghoul/stranglethorn tiger/cogmaster

Edit: @thirsting, take your mech yeti and enjoy.

[thirsting]

Spoiler: Druid's curves

Show

1:
2: x
3: x
4: xx
5: xx
6:
7+:

#1: Secret Keeper / Madder Bomber / Ravenholdt Assassin*
#2: Gnomeregan Infantry / Voodoo Doctor / Poison Seeds*
#3: Acolyte of Pain / Silvermoon Guardian / Stranglethorn Tiger*
#4: Scarlet Crusader* / Frostwolf Grunt / Anodized Robo Cub
#5: Explosive Sheep* / Wild Growth / Grimscale Oracle
#6: Healing Touch / Mechanical Yeti* / Mad Scientist
#7: Wild Growth / Stormwind Champion / Gilblin Stalker


Anarion's pick... I would take Tiger, but don't listen me alone!

[Lethologica]

12th pick: flesheating ghoul/stranglethorn tiger/cogmaster

Not easy, but Tiger is more reliable than Ghoul. (Interesting to compare Warlord-Ghoul to Spider-Tiger in the last two picks.)

#7: Wild Growth / Stormwind Champion / Gilblin Stalker

Champion, I think. The curve's getting high, but we're still in the first third.