Hearthstone Arena 4: Practise Makes Perfect

[PsyBomb]

I'll put up my votes for Cutpurse and Arcane Intellect

[Lethologica]

gimme, gimme
a magical mind

he carries a very small knife
and when he uses it
coins clink in his palm

PALADIN / ROGUE / DRUID

28. Polluted Hoarder / Backstab / Bloodsail Raider

well
that's quite a pack

Spoiler: DaDek

Show

1. Journey Below / Stampeding Kodo / Ogre Ninja
2. Tinker's Sharpsword Oil / Frost Elemental / Duskboar
3. Antique Healbot / Sap / Southsea Squidface
4. Eviscerate / Stoneskin Gargoyle / Chillwind Yeti
5. Injured Blademaster / Madder Bomber / Angry Chicken
6. Thrallmar Farseer / Gorillabot A-3 / Aberrant Berserker
7. Bluegill Warrior / Murloc Raider / Evil Heckler
8. Amani Berserker / Gnomeregan Infantry / Tentacle of N'Zoth
9. Ancient Brewmaster / Elven Archer / Assassin's Blade
10. Master Jouster / Argent Watchman / Argent Commander
11. Gilblin Stalker / Scarlet Crusader / Conceal
12. Thrallmar Farseer / Mad Bomber / Eviscerate
13. Eater of Secrets / One-Eyed Cheat / Shady Dealer
14. Stoneskin Gargoyle / Shadow Strike / Bladed Cultist
15. Wild Pyromancer / Coldlight Seer / Twilight Drake
16. Assassinate / Youthful Brewmaster / Frigid Snobold
17. Grotesque Dragonhawk / Blackwing Corruptor / North Sea Kraken
18. Duskboar / Kvaldir Raider / Argent Horserider
19. Blackwing Technician / Am'gam Rager / Fossilized Devilsaur
20. Sunfury Protector / Master Swordsmith / Corrupted Seer
21. Lance Carrier / Deadly Poison / Duskboar
22. Gorillabot A-3 / Boulderfist Ogre / Nerubian Prophet
23. Psych-o-Tron / Frost Elemental / Gnomish Inventor
24. Sap / Dark Iron Dwarf / Lord of the Arena
25. Eldritch Horror / Unstable Ghoul / Zombie Chow
26. Force-Tank MAX / Dancing Swords / Tinkertown Technician
27. Blade Flurry / Cutpurse / Ogre Ninja

Spell: 8
Weapon: 1
Combo: 3
Taunt: 1
Charge: 2
AOE: 2
Draw: 1
Divine Shield: 4
Mech: 1
Weapon synergy: 2
Pirate synergy: 1
Beast synergy: 1
Spell synergy: 1
Murloc/Synergy: 1

Curve:
1: MSS
2: MMMSSS
3: MMMS
4: MMMMS
5: MSW
6: MMM
7:
+: MMM

[Hamste]

Bloodsail is good in rogue but backstab is good tempo. Polluted Hoarder isn't really an option. I would go bloodsail as it can act as a 2 drop if you need it to and you need 2 drops.

[neriractor]

bloodsail is a pretty great two drop for rogue, try it out.

@draft: last pick, seems like an easy pick, but I don´t play too much arena, what´s the best card here?

Class:

mage/druid/hunter

30: mana wraith/polymorph: boar/ancient mage

Spoiler: picks

Show

1: alarm-o-bot/kirin-tor mage/lil´ exorcist
2: Shatter/Ironforge Rifleman/grotesque dragonhawk
3: cogmaster/Faceless Summoner/Ancient Brewmaster
4: Mirror Image/Nerubian Prophet/duplicate
5: scarlet crusader/silent knight/stoneskin gargoyle
6: duplicate/elven archer/dalaran aspirant
7: ethereal conjurer/leper gnome/volcanic drake
8: murloc tidehunter/mana wyrm/worgen infiltrator
9: aberrant berserker/forgotten torch/ice lance
10: unstable portal/eater of secrets/target dummy
11: Spawn of N'Zoth/cone of cold/acidic swamp ooze
12: Puddlestomper/Arcane Explosion/ethereal conjurer
13: flamewaker/murloc tidecaller/soot spewer
14: frostwolf grunt/grimscale oracle/acolyte of pain
15: lance carrier/lowly squire/mirror entity
16: tournament medic/polymorph/arcane missiles
17: evolved kobold/twilight flamecaller/faceless behemoth
18:gurubashi berserker/stonetusk boar/ice barrier
19: lost Tallstrider/frost nova/murloc tiny fin
20: arcane nullifier x-21/midnight drake/target dummy
21: dread corsair/scarlet crusader/Bilefin Tidehunter
22: squirming tentacle/gadgetzan duelist/sen´jin shieldmasta
23: Spiteful Smith/jeweled scarab/chillwind jeti
24:blizzard/eerie statue/abomination
25: water elemental/kobold geomancer/grotesque dragonhawk
26: argent commander/ancient shade/silithid swarmer
27: kobold geomancer/pit fighter/duskboar
28: murloc tidehunter/bluegill warrior/puddlestomper
29: volcanic drake/arcane intellect/oasis snapjaw

secret synergy: 1
direct damage minion: 1
spell damage: 1
discover (spells):2
spell sinergy: 2
discover(3 drop):1

curve:
1:SM
2:SMMMM
3:MMMMSSS
4:MSMMMM
5:MMMM
6:MSM
7+:M

[/QUOTE]

[CarpeGuitarrem]

Bloodsail is good in rogue but backstab is good tempo. Polluted Hoarder isn't really an option. I would go bloodsail as it can act as a 2 drop if you need it to and you need 2 drops.

Seconded. Backstab is really good, as removal, but that draft is way way top-heavy and needs as many 2-drops as it can scrounge up, or else you'll never survive to the lategame.

@draft: last pick, seems like an easy pick, but I don´t play too much arena, what´s the best card here?

Class:

mage/druid/hunter

30: mana wraith/polymorph: boar/ancient mage

Polymorph: Boar is an interesting pick, and it supplements your aggressive minion curve pretty well, since it lets one of your small minions effectively trade into one of their huge minions. Mana Wraith also anti-synergizes with cheap minions, since the more minions you play, the more tempo you lose.

[Lethologica]

mage huffer isn't as good as beast huffer
but it's still miles better than the others

i gots me a saber lass
she's full of class
kicks tons of ass
so give the treachery a pass

PALADIN / ROGUE / DRUID

29. Magma Rager / Tauren Warrior / Razorfen Hunter

well
that's...also quite a pick
at least it's an obvious choice

30. Loatheb / Chillmaw / Y'Shaarj, Rage Unbound

well now
well now

Spoiler: DaDek

Show

1. Journey Below / Stampeding Kodo / Ogre Ninja
2. Tinker's Sharpsword Oil / Frost Elemental / Duskboar
3. Antique Healbot / Sap / Southsea Squidface
4. Eviscerate / Stoneskin Gargoyle / Chillwind Yeti
5. Injured Blademaster / Madder Bomber / Angry Chicken
6. Thrallmar Farseer / Gorillabot A-3 / Aberrant Berserker
7. Bluegill Warrior / Murloc Raider / Evil Heckler
8. Amani Berserker / Gnomeregan Infantry / Tentacle of N'Zoth
9. Ancient Brewmaster / Elven Archer / Assassin's Blade
10. Master Jouster / Argent Watchman / Argent Commander
11. Gilblin Stalker / Scarlet Crusader / Conceal
12. Thrallmar Farseer / Mad Bomber / Eviscerate
13. Eater of Secrets / One-Eyed Cheat / Shady Dealer
14. Stoneskin Gargoyle / Shadow Strike / Bladed Cultist
15. Wild Pyromancer / Coldlight Seer / Twilight Drake
16. Assassinate / Youthful Brewmaster / Frigid Snobold
17. Grotesque Dragonhawk / Blackwing Corruptor / North Sea Kraken
18. Duskboar / Kvaldir Raider / Argent Horserider
19. Blackwing Technician / Am'gam Rager / Fossilized Devilsaur
20. Sunfury Protector / Master Swordsmith / Corrupted Seer
21. Lance Carrier / Deadly Poison / Duskboar
22. Gorillabot A-3 / Boulderfist Ogre / Nerubian Prophet
23. Psych-o-Tron / Frost Elemental / Gnomish Inventor
24. Sap / Dark Iron Dwarf / Lord of the Arena
25. Eldritch Horror / Unstable Ghoul / Zombie Chow
26. Force-Tank MAX / Dancing Swords / Tinkertown Technician
27. Blade Flurry / Cutpurse / Ogre Ninja
28. Polluted Hoarder / Backstab / Bloodsail Raider
29. Magma Rager / Tauren Warrior / Razorfen Hunter

Spell: 8
Weapon: 1
Combo: 3
Taunt: 1
Charge: 2
AOE: 2
Draw: 1
Divine Shield: 4
Mech: 1
Pirate: 1
Weapon synergy: 3
Pirate synergy: 1
Beast synergy: 1
Spell synergy: 1
Murloc/Synergy: 1

Curve:
1: MSS
2: MMMMSSS
3: MMMMS
4: MMMMS
5: MSW
6: MMM
7:
+: MMM

[neriractor]

I think the pick here is loatheb, you can basically play him any time you to stall your opponent for a turn or two, and most of the higher end decks will have a lot of spells, plus is got nice stats for the cost and I don´t think you habe enough big minions to make Y´shaarj great (but it is really close).

@draft: alright, picked the boar, feel free to make your bets and lets see just how far I can get this thing.

Class:

mage/druid/hunter

Spoiler: Draft

Show

1: alarm-o-bot/kirin-tor mage/lil´ exorcist
2: Shatter/Ironforge Rifleman/grotesque dragonhawk
3: cogmaster/Faceless Summoner/Ancient Brewmaster
4: Mirror Image/Nerubian Prophet/duplicate
5: scarlet crusader/silent knight/stoneskin gargoyle
6: duplicate/elven archer/dalaran aspirant
7: ethereal conjurer/leper gnome/volcanic drake
8: murloc tidehunter/mana wyrm/worgen infiltrator
9: aberrant berserker/forgotten torch/ice lance
10: unstable portal/eater of secrets/target dummy
11: Spawn of N'Zoth/cone of cold/acidic swamp ooze
12: Puddlestomper/Arcane Explosion/ethereal conjurer
13: flamewaker/murloc tidecaller/soot spewer
14: frostwolf grunt/grimscale oracle/acolyte of pain
15: lance carrier/lowly squire/mirror entity
16: tournament medic/polymorph/arcane missiles
17: evolved kobold/twilight flamecaller/faceless behemoth
18:gurubashi berserker/stonetusk boar/ice barrier
19: lost Tallstrider/frost nova/murloc tiny fin
20: arcane nullifier x-21/midnight drake/target dummy
21: dread corsair/scarlet crusader/Bilefin Tidehunter
22: squirming tentacle/gadgetzan duelist/sen´jin shieldmasta
23: Spiteful Smith/jeweled scarab/chillwind jeti
24:blizzard/eerie statue/abomination
25: water elemental/kobold geomancer/grotesque dragonhawk
26: argent commander/ancient shade/silithid swarmer
27: kobold geomancer/pit fighter/duskboar
28: murloc tidehunter/bluegill warrior/puddlestomper
29: volcanic drake/arcane intellect/oasis snapjaw
30: mana wraith/polymorph: boar/ancient mage

secret synergy: 1
direct damage minion: 1
spell damage: 1
discover (spells):2
spell sinergy: 2
discover(3 drop):1

curve:
1:SM
2:SMMMMS
3:MMMMSSS
4:MSMMMM
5:MMMM
6:MSM
7+:M

[Mando Knight]

You have 4 big minions, which is probably good enough for Y'shaarj in an Arena deck where he's the last pick. He is a 10/10 himself, after all, and in Arena that can be extremely dangerous to deal with if the game isn't already basically decided by then.

Loatheb's kinda fallen off lately due to how cluttered the card pool is with minions, but there's enough low-curve cards that picking him means you can maybe curve out better, and delay the opponent's Fireball.

Chillmaw is a 6/6 Taunt for 7, and you can bluff the board clear since your opponent doesn't know you don't have dragons, giving you an additional turn and a softer opposition to drop a Kraken on later.

In all, I think I'd go with Y'shaarj here?

[Gandariel]

Very surprised to see picks 27 and 28 are not Ogre Ninja and Backstab.

I'd go Old God here. Slam it and see what happens.

[Hamste]

Very surprised to see picks 27 and 28 are not Ogre Ninja and Backstab.

I'd go Old God here. Slam it and see what happens.

On the ogre ninja pick they had 2 cards that could be played on two and zombie chow which they would play on one if they could. With how important curve is it makes the cutpurse the choice. The bloodsail over backstab comes from them already having a fair bit of cheap removal and still almost no plays on two.

I guess 5 wins

As for which legendary I'm not sure. The old god is a win condition if not dealt with but is also pretty slow tempo wise while Loatheb is pretty good at protecting the board against AoE or you from spell death. I would probably go the old god but it is close I think.

[PsyBomb]

I'll weigh in for Y'sharrj, but like the others it's REALLY close. I just think you are going to be able to hold the board to turn 10. and slamming him down is a VERY good way to end things.

[Lethologica]

spike tells me this is a close pick
timmy thinks spike should shut up
and appreciate the glorious fury
of the fantastically named old god

anyhoo here's the deck in all its glory, tell me how far i'll go and i'll tell you who's next

1. Journey Below / Stampeding Kodo / Ogre Ninja
2. Tinker's Sharpsword Oil / Frost Elemental / Duskboar
3. Antique Healbot / Sap / Southsea Squidface
4. Eviscerate / Stoneskin Gargoyle / Chillwind Yeti
5. Injured Blademaster / Madder Bomber / Angry Chicken
6. Thrallmar Farseer / Gorillabot A-3 / Aberrant Berserker
7. Bluegill Warrior / Murloc Raider / Evil Heckler
8. Amani Berserker / Gnomeregan Infantry / Tentacle of N'Zoth
9. Ancient Brewmaster / Elven Archer / Assassin's Blade
10. Master Jouster / Argent Watchman / Argent Commander
11. Gilblin Stalker / Scarlet Crusader / Conceal
12. Thrallmar Farseer / Mad Bomber / Eviscerate
13. Eater of Secrets / One-Eyed Cheat / Shady Dealer
14. Stoneskin Gargoyle / Shadow Strike / Bladed Cultist
15. Wild Pyromancer / Coldlight Seer / Twilight Drake
16. Assassinate / Youthful Brewmaster / Frigid Snobold
17. Grotesque Dragonhawk / Blackwing Corruptor / North Sea Kraken
18. Duskboar / Kvaldir Raider / Argent Horserider
19. Blackwing Technician / Am'gam Rager / Fossilized Devilsaur
20. Sunfury Protector / Master Swordsmith / Corrupted Seer
21. Lance Carrier / Deadly Poison / Duskboar
22. Gorillabot A-3 / Boulderfist Ogre / Nerubian Prophet
23. Psych-o-Tron / Frost Elemental / Gnomish Inventor
24. Sap / Dark Iron Dwarf / Lord of the Arena
25. Eldritch Horror / Unstable Ghoul / Zombie Chow
26. Force-Tank MAX / Dancing Swords / Tinkertown Technician
27. Blade Flurry / Cutpurse / Ogre Ninja
28. Polluted Hoarder / Backstab / Bloodsail Raider
29. Magma Rager / Tauren Warrior / Razorfen Hunter
30. Loatheb / Chillmaw / Y'Shaarj, Rage Unbound

Spell: 8
Weapon: 1
Combo: 3
Taunt: 1
Charge: 2
AOE: 2
Draw: 1
Divine Shield: 4
Mech: 1
Pirate: 1
Weapon synergy: 3
Pirate synergy: 1
Beast synergy: 1
Spell synergy: 1
Murloc/Synergy: 1

Curve:
1: MSS
2: MMMMSSS
3: MMMMS
4: MMMMS
5: MSW
6: MMM
7:
+: MMMM

[Hamste]

I guess 7.

[heronbpv]

I guess 10 for both neriractor and Lethologica. I believe in you guys!

[neriractor]

should probably wait more in case anybody wants to place some bets but I´ll forget the games if I take too long so here it is:

Spoiler: the games

Show

1st) vs paladin(defeat): I mulliganed for a two, three and four drop and my opponent dropped first turn zombie chow I play bilefin tide hunter to have something on the board, chow attacks the 1/1 and a flame kills the 2/1, the game goes downhill from there and ends with me losing on turn 6. 0-1

2nd) vs mage(defeat): we both play decent in the first few turns, I get a particularly good start with a mana wyrm but with no spells to fuel it I don´t get a huge advantage, at the middle we fought hard for the board but he/she had bigger big things and better small things. 0/2

3rd) vs warrior: I start the game with a risky play, coining arcane intellect to fuel the mana wyrm, from then on I get pretty good tempo drops and my opponent does not, I miss lethal once thanks to my poor internet, my opponent heals back up and I almost miss lethal a second time if it wasn´t because psybomb was watching the game and told me. 1-2

4th) vs mage: I went second and dropped the mana wyrm, my opponent drew a flame leviathan(!) dealing two damage to the entire board and then pinging the wyrm, we contested the board for a while, making the occasional face hit from time to time until turn seven came along, he took the board entirely with two 2-drops and the leviathan, I trew a blizzard killing the two drops, an ice lance I had picked up from the ethereal conjurer and ping to the leviathan, afterwards he starts top decking and we keep trading, he leaves my board empty and plays a harvest golem, I play faceless behemoth, next turn he lowered the behemoth to 7 health I played mirror image and pit fighter and he conceded. 2-2

[Lethologica]

I'll start posting up games...not tonight, in case anyone else wants to put their name in this here hat. After all, as it is now, Hamste and heron are guaranteed the next 2 drafts regardless of how we do.

[thirsting]

8 wins for both rogue and mage

[Fleeing Coward]

4 wins for both cause I'm a pessimist.

[Temotei]

Six wins for rogue.

[Lethologica]

Okay, that's a fair crowd. IDK about late bets on neri's games considering 2 losses are in, but I'll field those extras. Let's get started.

Spoiler

Show

Game 1: vs. Paladin
I tried coin-Cutpurse on turn 1 instead of Chow, in hopes of pseudo-Darnassus Aspirant shenanigans, but he just played Argent Lance. Oh, well; still the right play IMO. His hand is full of little guys with tricksy durability--Minibot, Infested Tauren, Argent Horserider, Noble Sac, Bloodfen Raptor--which he's trading with my solo fatties to leave a board full of little guys. Corrupted Seer claims the lot of them, and I have decisive board control and card advantage after that. 1-0.

Game 2: vs. Shaman
He played no cards at all on turns 1-3, and I dealt with his Flamewreathed Faceless easily. I had board control the whole way, but I did 13 quick damage to myself with weapons, and he nearly took me the rest of the way while I kept his board clear and waited for late-game minions to seal the deal. 2 from Mad Bomber's battlecry, 4 from Mech Yeti, 2 from Rumbling Elemental's ability, and 8 from North Sea Kraken+Time Rewinder. Yeah--I had Boulderfist Ogre, Baine Bloodhoof, Scarlet Crusader, and Fossilized Devilsaur in play with Assassin's Blade in hand against his empty board, but just 1 life. He left a card hovering for most of his final turn to make me sweat...turns out it was Gadgetzan Jouster. Bullet dodged, lesson learned: there's such a thing as too much emphasis on board control. (Holding back the Assassinate was the correct choice, though, as it cleared a Force-Tank.) 2-0.

Game 3: vs. Mage
Apparently I didn't learn from last game; board control went back and forth and eventually my way, but I did a good 12 damage to myself between weapons and Madder Bomber and he did the other 18 in the periods when he had board control. And holding Assassinate was a bad play this time; instead of taking out Thaurissian, I ended up using it on a 2/1 as a last-second try-to-stay-alive measure. 2-1.

Game 4: vs. Warlock
Mediocre start...but he disconnects on turn 4. 3-1.

Game 5: vs. Mage
Pretty even on board, but you know what, when a Mage has enough breathing room to play two Cabalist Tomes, you're gonna lose on cards soon enough even if his minions are all weenies. Final flourish: his Beneath the Grounds, gotten via Spellslinger, hit all three Ambushes on the same turn. 3-2.

Game 6: vs. Paladin
We trade evenly through the mid-game, with me being careful to play around Avenge for several turns until I can safely discharge it on an easily-killed Recruit. Kraken and Y'Shaarj go unanswered and seal the deal, though I'm sweating on health again. 4-2.

I should be 5-1, but that's what I get for bad play. That's why I always averaged 5 wins in Arena, instead of 7+ like people who know what they're doing. I'll finish this out tomorrow.

[neriractor]

Spoiler: game

Show

5th) vs Mage, at the middle of the game there was a connection failure... on my part, losing me the game 2-3 fleeing coward is got the win here.

[Lethologica]

Let's get playin'.

Spoiler

Show

Game 7: vs. Priest
Slow start both ways. His cards were slightly better, but always late: Ogre Brute on turn 4, Flame Juggler and Boneguard Lieutenant on turn 5, Spectral Knight on turn 7, Crowd Favorite on 8, Shadow Word: Death and nothing else on turn 9. Oh, and he suicided the Flame Juggler into Shady Dealer. So I had plenty of breathing room when Y'Shaarj came down--and put Kraken on the board. Oh, and I had Corrupted Seer to clear up his board. 5-2.

Game 8: vs. Rogue
A step ahead the whole game on this one. Chow leads off, my Razorfen beats his to the punch, my Dark Iron Dwarf trumps Psych-o-Tron, Ogre trumps Anub'ar Ambusher, Force-Tank Max trumps Feugen. I have answers for his board, and Sharpsword Oil for my tank and my weapon; we crash through another Psych-o-Tron for the win. 6-2.

Game 9: vs. Rogue
He gets some board; I clear it with Corrupted Seer. I lay down Kraken; he has Assassinate. I'm a little behind on the damage race, and I happen to be short an answer when he plays Salty Dog, of all things; that and a Squidface setting up his weapon leave me facing lethal, despite his empty board. Evil Heckler's my only taunt in the deck. Last draw? Y'Shaarj. He pulls...Inventor. 6-3.

Rewards: 85 gold, Twilight Flamecaller, pack. Eh. Well, I got plenty of quest gold, so it's not a total loss.

Based on how the games went, Psych-o-Tron may have been the pick over Inventor. I couldn't know that ahead of time, of course, but Inventor felt relatively underwhelming when I played it, and I didn't usually have card advantage problems since my late game turned out to be very strong. I don't know if I would still feel that way if I hadn't gotten Y'Shaarj, though. I think this was at least an 8-win draft, so I'm sorry it stopped here, but it's better than a poke in the eye.

Temotei, you're up.

EDIT: Just jumping into another run, and all I can say is, WTF is Faceless Summoner? Like Mage really needed that? Blizzard pls.

[Anarion]

Based on how the games went, Psych-o-Tron may have been the pick over Inventor. I couldn't know that ahead of time, of course

*Cough cough*

[Lethologica]

*Cough cough*

I know, I know, but I didn't know I was going to get Force-Tank MAX and Y'Shaarj.

Other pick thoughts:
-I remember Journey fetching me a Cairne Bloodhoof in game 1, but I can't count on that every time, and it was an underwhelming play in game 5. Picking it over Kodo was probably a wash.
-Cutpurse was good, in that I needed a 2-drop when I had him; Ninja might have been useful, but not when Cutpurse showed up.
-I played Bloodsail Raider nearly every game, which is too many times to say whether Backstab would have been better or worse in the majority of them; all I can say is that Raider was definitely useful.
-Sap was useful once or twice, but on the whole I might have preferred Squidface. I know the health race was troublesome in several games, but I don't think I could have afforded to take time off for a Healbot anyway, and Sap is already useful in a health race. I think picking Sap is Just Better than picking Healbot, because Sap trades tempo and health advantage for card advantage, whereas Healbot trades tempo and card advantage for health advantage; it's Sap vs. Squidface in that pack, and I'll give a slight edge to Squidface until further notice.
-Corrupted Seer >>> Sunfury Protector this time, no question. Having AOE won multiple games.
-I think both Eviscerate picks ended up being correct.

[heronbpv]

And that sort of discussion above is the main reason I follow this thread. Keep up the good work, guys!

[Temotei]

Here we go.

Paladin // Shaman // Priest

[Anarion]

@Leth. While bloodsail raider is always going to be efficient in rogue, I still favor backstab. I think games of hearthstone are won and lost by the ability to make things happen instantly from your hand. That's why aoe, damage spells, and Sap for that matter, are so good. Especially with a deck that's strong overall and so gets some wins and starts to play better people, you won't win by curving out with strong minions. They'll have aoe, combo plays, or sometimes a powerful legendary, all of which demand an immediate answer from you to stay ahead.

Edit: and conversely, being the one to pick up strong synergy plays is also a way to win. Things that combo off spellcasts in mage, powerful combo cards in rogue, buffing your guys in paladin, or mech synergy for anybody are effective strategies to win the game, especially if you get strong early cards to support a particular strategy.

Here we go.

Paladin // Shaman // Priest

Paladin. Still really good.

[Lethologica]

Paladin. Though Shaman benefits from the most recent expansion.

I agree that Backstab is better in the abstract. All I meant to say is that it was difficult to evaluate in practice whether Backstab's potential matched Raider's actual, because I drew Raider so many times that it's impossible to remember all the counterfactual options.

[Temotei]

Paladin // Shaman // Priest

1. Shade of Naxxramas / Southsea Captain / Vilefin Inquisitor

EDIT: Whoopsie, edited this one instead of making a new post.

[Lethologica]

have faith in the light
on naxxramas night
to conjure up shade
whose power won't fade