Hearthstone Arena 4: Practise Makes Perfect

[GolemsVoice]

Hah. You call that a choice?

[neriractor]

What the others are trying to say is that the very terrible cards are Dwarfed by the obvious pick.

[Landis963]

Done.

Class: Hunter/Shaman/Warrior

Pick 16: Jeweled Scarab, Spider Tank, Burly Rockjaw Trogg.

Spoiler: Deck

Show

Pick	1	2	3
1	Questing Adventurer	Madder Bomber	Sludge Belcher
2	Ogre Magi	Darkscale Healer	Dread Corsair
3	Tundra Rhino	Flying Machine	Deadly Shot
4	Desert Camel	Dark Iron Dwarf	Timber Wolf
5	Acolyte of Pain	Pit Fighter	Stormwind Champion
6	Force-Tank MAX	Gnomeregan Infantry	Scarlet Crusader
7	Blackwing Corruptor	Tomb Spider	Silverback Patriarch
8	Core Rager	King of Beasts	Gnomish Experimenter
9	Raging Worgen	Bloodsail Raider	Antique Healbot
10	Steamwheedle Sniper	Faceless Manipulator	Gladiator's Longbow
11	King's Elekk	Starving Buzzard	Bloodsail Raider
12	Webspinner	Silverback Patriarch	Anubisath Sentinel
13	Salty Dog	Puddlestomper	Drakonid Crusher
14	Murloc Tinyfin	Starving Buzzard	Frostwolf Warlord
15	Dark Iron Dwarf#2	Gnomeregan Infantry	Starving Buzzard
16	Jeweled Scarab	Spider Tank	Burly Rockjaw Trogg
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30

1:M
2:MMM
3:MS
4:MMMM
5:MMM
6:MM
7:
+:

I am kinda low on 3-drops...

[Lethologica]

spider tank
spider tank
mech arachnid with tons of swank
spins a web, out of steel
shoots some thieves--hear them squeal!

[Hamste]

Yep, we want the spider tank.

[neriractor]

spider tank.

that´s it

[Landis963]

Spider-tank, spider-tank, we will - Dangit, Leth!

Class: Hunter/Shaman/Warrior

Pick 17: Senjin Shieldmasta, Windfury Harpy, Arcane Shot

Spoiler: Deck

Show

Pick	1	2	3
1	Questing Adventurer	Madder Bomber	Sludge Belcher
2	Ogre Magi	Darkscale Healer	Dread Corsair
3	Tundra Rhino	Flying Machine	Deadly Shot
4	Desert Camel	Dark Iron Dwarf	Timber Wolf
5	Acolyte of Pain	Pit Fighter	Stormwind Champion
6	Force-Tank MAX	Gnomeregan Infantry	Scarlet Crusader
7	Blackwing Corruptor	Tomb Spider	Silverback Patriarch
8	Core Rager	King of Beasts	Gnomish Experimenter
9	Raging Worgen	Bloodsail Raider	Antique Healbot
10	Steamwheedle Sniper	Faceless Manipulator	Gladiator's Longbow
11	King's Elekk	Starving Buzzard	Bloodsail Raider
12	Webspinner	Silverback Patriarch	Anubisath Sentinel
13	Salty Dog	Puddlestomper	Drakonid Crusher
14	Murloc Tinyfin	Starving Buzzard	Frostwolf Warlord
15	Dark Iron Dwarf#2	Gnomeregan Infantry	Starving Buzzard
16	Jeweled Scarab	Spider Tank	Burly Rockjaw Trogg
17	Sen'jin Shieldmasta	Windfury Harpy	Arcane Shot
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30

1:M
2:MMM
3:MMS
4:MMMM
5:MMM
6:MM
7:
+:

Taz'dingo! Hyeheheheheheheeeess!

[Lethologica]

hunters don't usually bring shields
so you must be an unusual sort
hunting the most dangerous game

Hokay, more play.

Spoiler

Show

Game 5: vs. Rogue
No staying power this game; I rushed out a bunch of low drops, he removed them, he played a big guy, I was out of cards, I lost. I think I played pretty badly this game. 3-2.

Game 6: vs. Druid.
I curved out with Chow, Trogg, Shredder; he never stuck anything to the board, and resigned when Flamewaker-Poly did for his Sludge Belcher on turn 7. 4-2.

Game 7: vs. Paladin
Both sides curve out decently and the board's empty after turn 4. We remain even up to turn 8, though I've done some damage to him. Key play: I have Force-Tank MAX against Stranglethorn Tiger, and he plays Mad Bomber--which hits Tiger twice and himself once. Then Humility on Tank and hero power + Shattered Sun Cleric for a board full of low-health minions. Well, one Argus later, it turns out Humility isn't the same as actual removal. Tank ends up trading with four cards (Humility, Tiger, Bomber, Cleric), and he's out of answers when I lay down Mukla's. 5-2.

Whew, thought I was going down easy there for a second. But I'm still hanging around. I'll finish this out tomorrow.

[thirsting]

Taz'dingo! Hyeheheheheheheeeess!

This, I quess, even though Arcane Shot would be nice cheap way for picking off 3/2s or wounded big minions...

[Landis963]

hunters don't usually bring shields
so you must be an unusual sort
hunting the most dangerous game

Just to be clear, is this a vote for Taz'dingo?

[Lethologica]

when capitals i eschew
in favor of funny line breaks
i'm adding a card to your crew
and seeing what jokes i can make

[Landis963]

Y'know what? Screw it.

Jahahahahaaaa, mon!

Class: Hunter/Shaman/Warrior

Pick 18:

Spoiler: Deck

Show

Pick	1	2	3
1	Questing Adventurer	Madder Bomber	Sludge Belcher
2	Ogre Magi	Darkscale Healer	Dread Corsair
3	Tundra Rhino	Flying Machine	Deadly Shot
4	Desert Camel	Dark Iron Dwarf	Timber Wolf
5	Acolyte of Pain	Pit Fighter	Stormwind Champion
6	Force-Tank MAX	Gnomeregan Infantry	Scarlet Crusader
7	Blackwing Corruptor	Tomb Spider	Silverback Patriarch
8	Core Rager	King of Beasts	Gnomish Experimenter
9	Raging Worgen	Bloodsail Raider	Antique Healbot
10	Steamwheedle Sniper	Faceless Manipulator	Gladiator's Longbow
11	King's Elekk	Starving Buzzard	Bloodsail Raider
12	Webspinner	Silverback Patriarch	Anubisath Sentinel
13	Salty Dog	Puddlestomper	Drakonid Crusher
14	Murloc Tinyfin	Starving Buzzard	Frostwolf Warlord
15	Dark Iron Dwarf#2	Gnomeregan Infantry	Starving Buzzard
16	Jeweled Scarab	Spider Tank	Burly Rockjaw Trogg
17	Sen'jin Shieldmasta	Windfury Harpy	Arcane Shot
18	Harvest Golem	Dragonhawk Rider	Chillwind Yeti
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30

1:M
2:MMM
3:MMS
4:MMMMM
5:MMM
6:MM
7:
+:

See a yeti, pick a yeti.

[Hamste]

I would say harvest golem. Yeti is good but harvest isn't bad and you are 18 picks in with only 2 three drops.

[Lethologica]

let us see the number three
represented by
a magical robot farmer

[Landis963]

Harvesting servos engaged!

Class: Hunter/Shaman/Warrior

Pick 18: Darkscale Healer, Spider Tank, Animal Companion.

Spoiler: Deck

Show

Pick	1	2	3
1	Questing Adventurer	Madder Bomber	Sludge Belcher
2	Ogre Magi	Darkscale Healer	Dread Corsair
3	Tundra Rhino	Flying Machine	Deadly Shot
4	Desert Camel	Dark Iron Dwarf	Timber Wolf
5	Acolyte of Pain	Pit Fighter	Stormwind Champion
6	Force-Tank MAX	Gnomeregan Infantry	Scarlet Crusader
7	Blackwing Corruptor	Tomb Spider	Silverback Patriarch
8	Core Rager	King of Beasts	Gnomish Experimenter
9	Raging Worgen	Bloodsail Raider	Antique Healbot
10	Steamwheedle Sniper	Faceless Manipulator	Gladiator's Longbow
11	King's Elekk	Starving Buzzard	Bloodsail Raider
12	Webspinner	Silverback Patriarch	Anubisath Sentinel
13	Salty Dog	Puddlestomper	Drakonid Crusher
14	Murloc Tinyfin	Starving Buzzard	Frostwolf Warlord
15	Dark Iron Dwarf#2	Gnomeregan Infantry	Starving Buzzard
16	Jeweled Scarab	Spider Tank	Burly Rockjaw Trogg
17	Sen'jin Shieldmasta	Windfury Harpy	Arcane Shot
18	Harvest Golem	Dragonhawk Rider	Chillwind Yeti
19	Animal Companion	Darkscale Healer	Spider Tank
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30

1:M
2:MMM
3:MMMS
4:MMMMM
5:MMM
6:MM
7:
+:

Always Huffer.

[Anarion]

Always Huffer.

And always happy to get him. Take the companion.

[Lethologica]

cross-class into ranger
for that sweet class feature

[Infernally Clay]

Went with Priest. Can't remember what choices I had but the draft itself seemed worth noting. It feels like one of my best in a long time.

Circle of Healing
Zombie Chow x2
Divine Spirit
Bluegill Warrior
Gilbin Stalker
Loot Hoarder
Museum Curator
Shrinkmeister
Stonesplitter Trogg
Dark Cultists
Earthen Ring Farseer
Raging Worgen
Silent Knight
Spider Tank
Shadow Madness
Dark Iron Dwarf
Lightspawn
Holy Nova
Azure Drake
Bomb Lobber
Frostwolf Warlord
Vol'jin (if only Reno had been a choice)
Entomb
Holy Fire
Master Jouster
Temple Enforcer
Volcanic Drake
War Golem
Mind Control

[Anarion]

Went with Priest. Can't remember what choices I had but the draft itself seemed worth noting. It feels like one of my best in a long time.

Circle of Healing
Zombie Chow x2
Divine Spirit
Bluegill Warrior
Gilbin Stalker
Loot Hoarder
Museum Curator
Shrinkmeister
Stonesplitter Trogg
Dark Cultists
Earthen Ring Farseer
Raging Worgen
Silent Knight
Spider Tank
Shadow Madness
Dark Iron Dwarf
Lightspawn
Holy Nova
Azure Drake
Bomb Lobber
Frostwolf Warlord
Vol'jin (if only Reno had been a choice)
Entomb
Holy Fire
Master Jouster
Temple Enforcer
Volcanic Drake
War Golem
Mind Control

Solid overall, but despite the good curve, I'd put that at 5 wins at most. It suffers from the standard priest problem in arena now that you have very few options for finishing off weakened minions. You're relying on healing your own guys, and hoping you can generate enough card advantage through healing to swing the game in your favor.

[Infernally Clay]

Yeah, I greatly overestimated it. Just lost my first two matches. I'm not even going to get three wins with this thing, let alone five.

It's times like this I wonder why I even bother.

[Lethologica]

Because [thread title].

[Anarion]

Yeah, I greatly overestimated it. Just lost my first two matches. I'm not even going to get three wins with this thing, let alone five.

It's times like this I wonder why I even bother.

The cards you want for arena priest are the shadow words, cabal shadow priest, auchenai soul priest, shadow madness, holy smite, holy nova, lightbomb, and excavated evil in particular. Those are the ways you solve a threat on the board or get yourself back in a tough game. Velen's chosen gets honorable mention as the best buff spell (and combos well with the aoe).

All the other stuff ends up just being variations on efficient minions, which are good but will not save you if the opponent has particular good combos or overwhelming power picks.

[Landis963]

Never Misha! Never Leokk! Always Huffer!

Class: Hunter/Shaman/Warrior

Pick 20: Powershot, Explorer's Hat, Wailing Soul

Spoiler: Deck

Show

Pick	1	2	3
1	Questing Adventurer	Madder Bomber	Sludge Belcher
2	Ogre Magi	Darkscale Healer	Dread Corsair
3	Tundra Rhino	Flying Machine	Deadly Shot
4	Desert Camel	Dark Iron Dwarf	Timber Wolf
5	Acolyte of Pain	Pit Fighter	Stormwind Champion
6	Force-Tank MAX	Gnomeregan Infantry	Scarlet Crusader
7	Blackwing Corruptor	Tomb Spider	Silverback Patriarch
8	Core Rager	King of Beasts	Gnomish Experimenter
9	Raging Worgen	Bloodsail Raider	Antique Healbot
10	Steamwheedle Sniper	Faceless Manipulator	Gladiator's Longbow
11	King's Elekk	Starving Buzzard	Bloodsail Raider
12	Webspinner	Silverback Patriarch	Anubisath Sentinel
13	Salty Dog	Puddlestomper	Drakonid Crusher
14	Murloc Tinyfin	Starving Buzzard	Frostwolf Warlord
15	Dark Iron Dwarf#2	Gnomeregan Infantry	Starving Buzzard
16	Jeweled Scarab	Spider Tank	Burly Rockjaw Trogg
17	Sen'jin Shieldmasta	Windfury Harpy	Arcane Shot
18	Harvest Golem	Dragonhawk Rider	Chillwind Yeti
19	Animal Companion	Darkscale Healer	Spider Tank
20	Powershot	Explorer's Hat	Wailing Soul
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30

1:M
2:MMM
3:MMMSS
4:MMMMM
5:MMM
6:MM
7:
+:

Powershot? Got a nice curve of minions all round.

[Anarion]

Powershot. Kill them all.

[Mando Knight]

The cards you want for arena priest are the shadow words, cabal shadow priest, auchenai soul priest, shadow madness, holy smite, holy nova, lightbomb, and excavated evil in particular. Those are the ways you solve a threat on the board or get yourself back in a tough game. Velen's chosen gets honorable mention as the best buff spell (and combos well with the aoe).

All the other stuff ends up just being variations on efficient minions, which are good but will not save you if the opponent has particular good combos or overwhelming power picks.

Even Shadowform can end up being an OK choice if you're low on removal, just because it gives you the ability to go aggressive with your Hero Power like a Mage, Druid, or Rogue can.

[Lethologica]

you have the powah

[Lethologica]

Games?

Spoiler

Show

Game 8: vs. Druid
This game was a lot like Game 6. Druid has no turn 1 or turn 2, and I curve out with Toad, Mechwarper, Shredder, Shieldmasta, Tomb Spider, The Beast (!). He resigned at that last. 6-2.

Game 9: vs. Mage
This time my tempo falls off after the first couple of turns, and I don't have an easy answer for turn 5 Venture Co. I decide I might as well play Kodo to help trade...and he plays Acolyte of Pain. Stupid. Then I all but waste Blizzard trying to catch up on board. I'm seriously behind in hand after that, and I get mobbed. 6-3.

Games. And, game. Not sure any of the losses were winnable, but I definitely made mistakes. The last one, at least, would have been close with perfect play.

Which picks were interesting?
-Mukla's fortunately turned out to be about as useful as Stormwind would have been. Stormwind would have been more useful otherwise, though.
-Force-Tank finished a game, but no three-drop seriously hurt in the last game.
-Polymorph over Kraken was definitely correct, as Polymorphing Taunts ended multiple games.
-Chow was more useful than Bloodfen Raptor would have been.
-Blackwing Technician vs. Maiden of the Lake didn't make a difference.

So, that's how the picks played out. Information for future drafts.

Hamste, you're up.

[Landis963]

Powershot it is!

Class: Hunter/Shaman/Warrior

Pick 21: Stormwind Knight, River Crocolisk, Stonesplinter Trogg

Spoiler: Deck

Show

Pick	1	2	3
1	Questing Adventurer	Madder Bomber	Sludge Belcher
2	Ogre Magi	Darkscale Healer	Dread Corsair
3	Tundra Rhino	Flying Machine	Deadly Shot
4	Desert Camel	Dark Iron Dwarf	Timber Wolf
5	Acolyte of Pain	Pit Fighter	Stormwind Champion
6	Force-Tank MAX	Gnomeregan Infantry	Scarlet Crusader
7	Blackwing Corruptor	Tomb Spider	Silverback Patriarch
8	Core Rager	King of Beasts	Gnomish Experimenter
9	Raging Worgen	Bloodsail Raider	Antique Healbot
10	Steamwheedle Sniper	Faceless Manipulator	Gladiator's Longbow
11	King's Elekk	Starving Buzzard	Bloodsail Raider
12	Webspinner	Silverback Patriarch	Anubisath Sentinel
13	Salty Dog	Puddlestomper	Drakonid Crusher
14	Murloc Tinyfin	Starving Buzzard	Frostwolf Warlord
15	Dark Iron Dwarf#2	Gnomeregan Infantry	Starving Buzzard
16	Jeweled Scarab	Spider Tank	Burly Rockjaw Trogg
17	Sen'jin Shieldmasta	Windfury Harpy	Arcane Shot
18	Harvest Golem	Dragonhawk Rider	Chillwind Yeti
19	Animal Companion	Darkscale Healer	Spider Tank
20	Powershot	Explorer's Hat	Wailing Soul
21	Stormwind Knight	River Crocolisk	Stonesplinter Trogg
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30

1:M
2:MMM
3:MMMSSS
4:MMMMM
5:MMM
6:MM
7:
+:

Trogg no Stoopid!

[Mando Knight]

Yeah, definitely the Trogg. You could use another 2-drop, and you haven't drafted any Beast-synergy cards to make Crocolisk worth considering over Trogg.

[Hamste]

Ok, here is the start of my draft.

Class: Druid/Mage/Paladin