Universal Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft (by Blizzard)

Yes Reynad is good. StrifeCro is definitely my favorite. He is outstanding at thinking out loud and really explaining why he does everything he does.

 

Nice, I'll definitely check out StrifeCro. That "thinking out loud" aspect is what I was hoping for.

 

I'd also suggest sites like http://www.icy-veins.com/hearthstone/ or hearthpwn. Regardless of net decking or not, reading the author's reason for card inclusion, what to mulligan for, and strategies for how to play certain decks has helped me a lot.

With hearthpwn, there are a ton of useless/gimmicky decks by every Tom, Dick and Harry but it has still taught me some further strategies and whatnot simply from reading people's thoughts (and even comments) on how to play decks, what cards can replace other cards etc etc.

The more I read on decks/strategies/mulligans has helped me form my own foundations for ongoing battles and ladder climbs. Still can't get beyond rank 5 but I consistently and easily rank up to at least 10 now...

 

I agree totally. I was a regular rank 5-3 player until I started really watching the pros like Strifecro and HotForm and Kibler and a few others just for fun. I watched different players to learn different thinking patterns and play styles. It helped me greatly and j got legend rank 2 months ago for the first time. It was pretty satisfying to say the least. Now this month back at rank 3 because I just don't have the time to grind out to legend and yes it's a GRIND. Once you hit rank 5 you stop getting bonus win stars so it's all give and take. Bad streaks cost you ranks quick. I've learned that if I lose 3 times then I stop and put it down to come back later. My legend trip was a literal rank 3 2 stars to legend without losing once though, but I floated for 8 days between rank 6 and rank 3 until I hit that streak. I was very lucky and played with the knowledge I learned and it was awesome. I'm content not getting legend every month but now I can go back to playing for fun haha good luck to everyone who hasn't made it yet and just find a deck and LEARN IT in and out. Know exactly what you need at all times and try to anticipate your opponents moves. It's a little harder with these discover mechanics now but still same concept. Know other decks too so you can get a feel for what they are playing or are about to play. Helps a lot

 

Really enjoying playing a highlander RenoWar control deck. Very fresh and fun take on the traditional warcontrol which i always liked. Unfortunately with less control spells (having only one of each) means there are more times where you are stuck with high cost cards in hand than a traditional warrior. I think this is where Elise will come into play... Still grinding gold to eventually get Elise, coz even if i go more control cards than threats into the deck, Elise will turn those cards into the needed threats to end the game.

 

Had to share because I am hyped. Just hit my best finish ever at finally hitting rank 5, which says a lot with my limited time to play. I did it over 159 games for the month with a 58.5% win rate, 93-66. I usually only play ranked with one deck for the whole month win or lose to learn it and tune it. I build my own decks, and this time it was a Dragon Priest. I think I am going to play it next month to see if I can do better! Especially because I added Entomb and Curator late, and spent a lot of time doing the LOE heroics.

 

Congrats! I like that approach. I've been doing that with a Renolock deck but haven't been able get many games in this month.

 

Got Elise yesterday, and since getting her my winrate (non-ladder yet coz im tweaking the deck) has improved drastically. I was at 11-3 for my last 14 games where one loss was against a face shaman (perfect curve starting with a coined monster totem, and the other 2 were combo druid which is pretty much a control warrior's worst nightmare.

I really love how Elise (one card) replaced about 4 legends in my deck to make way for more control focused cards. You can keep playing using control cards until you stabilize, and plop down the Golden Monkey to close the game out.

The only big difference i added so far as opposed to netdecks is Bouncing Blade. With Elise freeing up space, it was easy to add in a second brawl, and Bouncing Blade is a decent combo for a board clear, if Sylvanas isnt available. Also, after big brawl-clears, even Ysera can be traded one for one with the Blade.

Im mainly testing a Deathlord in and out. It's stellar against aggro, but it sucks against most midrange and control. The plus side is that a dead card later on becomes a legendary with the Golden Monkey, but the downside is that a dead card is still a dead card sitting on your hand or risk giving them a bigger threat.

 

Now that I've pretty much finished up atf I should have a bit more time to play. I'm lateralusrok#1589 if anyone wants to add me would be cool to play with the ta guys.

 

Thanks! I was going to try Highlander Warlock next month, but after doing so well with the late change to the Dragon Priest I think I'm going to try another month with it.

I find it the best way to learn the pros and cons of a deck, many people will play like 10 games with a deck and then tell you that it's trash or whatever, I think you really need 50 or more games with a deck to make that analysis. I started a few months ago and I did a control warrior, control warlock, zoo/rush warlock, and a freeze mage variant for one month each. When I'm tuning a deck and I'm thinking of a change, I play no less than 20 games with the change before I make a call on keeping it or not.

I just recently started doing win/loss tracking with an iOS app called innkeeper, it's really cool. Apparently you can use it to track cards also, but I just use it as a win/loss tracker. I think using a card tracker is just as bad as using an odds calculator in poker, it knocks the fun out of it. Some people just want to win that badly I guess...

E

 

Bouncing Blade can be insane. Add an Axe Flinger, and its 10 face damage on an empty board, or most of the time with a bigger minion on the other side. If you have two flingers on the board, it could be devastating. Like you said, I also love dropping it on a single big minion and watch it ping it until it dies.

 

Agreed. I like playing with some randomness so wins and losses can be streaky. I need 20 matches minimum to evaluate. I always make my own decks but I'll admit I steal a good idea or two.

 

Wouldnt recommend doing that with a Flinger, unless maybe to close the game out. 7-cost total for 2 cards to deal 10 damage and requiring an empty board doesnt seem too appealing especially in control warrior, but the 10 damage is nice.

 

I should have been more clear, not really a competitive play, but a fun one. I agree with you on all points. It is also good with one large minion on the other side, because you either get 10 to the face or their fatty dies. Admittedly, I've only pulled it off in arena.

 

We all steal good ideas. I just never copy/paste a deck. Sometimes deck building for me is more fun than playing the game, and even seeing an amazing play against you can inspire you to go back to the collection. I remember the first time a paladin played Pyromancer/Equality on me, lol

 

Just completed my most epic warrior elise win yet.

Was playing against an unorthodox control priest, which was more geeared towards taking down other control decks, so i had a pretty tough match. Was behind in cards too with only 7 in hand while he had 9 when we were about 2 cards from fatigue, and i fatigued 1 turn before he did coz of entomb (pretty OP card against fatigue control).

Fortunately, i had a good golden monkey convert, and he had pretty powerful ones too. Fortunately, i managed to get Thaurissan alive for 2 turns to get Iron Juggernaut down to 4-cost. Then when i dropped down Toshley, he gave me a time rewinder. Next turn was just enough to attack him down to less than 20 (18 iirc), and casted Juggernaut twice for the win, just right when the enemy had a 12 power (and growing) Gahzrilla.

Feels real great stealing wins in control vs control matchups when behind for most of the game.

 

I just had a totally epic win myself, I was completing a Rogue challenge with my deathrattle rogue when I got locked up with a fatigue Rogue. I HATE fatigue Rogue. I was down to my last two cards and had been trying to save my cards for a burst combo. Rogue was taunting the whole time. I had two cards left and I knew one was Bronzebeard, but couldn't remember what the other one was. It was a backstab... I proceeded to play and then backstab my own loot hoarder to draw Bronzebeard, the Rogue taunts "Thank You". I played Bronzebeard, double Abusive Sergeant on Kel'Thuzad and Cold Blood, smacked him in the face and then Eviscerated for 26 damage and the kill with no cards left! I was so hyped, I jumped off my couch and screamed "Happy Feast Of Winterveil, M#####F####R! Whooo!" My wife asks me what was going on, I explained it to her best I could, and she said "I love you Honey" before she went back to what she was doing with a roll of her eyes, lol...

Apologies for not knowing how to properly attach the images... I always screenshot those memorable plays.

http://imgur.com/a/FM8o4

 

Good one, E!

Our daughter got one of those new Kindle Fires for Christmas, and of course I snuck Hearthstone on there (she watches me play often)

First card of the first pack she opened was a gold Beast. And this month's cardback is all pink with hearts... She's totally set!

 

Awesome stories, guys! I love hearing about wins like this.