Although Scholomance Academy has only been out for a day, we have seen the emergence of many powerful decks defined from these meta-breaking cards. Thus, let's get our prediction blindfolds on and predict the top 10 cards that Blizzard will nerf over the upcoming weeks!

In the consideration of this list, the cards judged are not judged based solely on their power level, but on how polarizing it would be to face against these cards specifically in these decks. Without further ado, let's jump right into it!

Disclaimer: Do note that due to the meta instability, it is highly recommended not to craft any cards currently.
OutOfCards is not responsible for any dust lost in crafting these cards if Blizzard chooses to buff Desk Imp instead!


#1 and #2 - Twilight Runner and Guardian Animals

Twilight Runner Card ImageGuardian Animals Card Image

While these cards are powerful individually to play on curve, the synergistic value of both effectively breaks Guardian Animals as an Ultimate Infestation 2.0.

PropertiesUltimate InfestationGuardian Animals (summoning Twilight Runner and Teacher's Pet)
Mana Cost107
Damage5

At least 9 damage to minions due to damage if Twilight Runner and Teacher's Pet are summoned.

Cards Drawn52 cards from Guardian Animals that is played for free.
2 cards from Twilight Runner.
Armour5Nil
Minion Body5/5 GhoulIf both minions survive, at least a 5/1 and a 4/1 body.

It is worth noting that although draw RNG can ruin the Guardian Animals combo, the payoff is tremendous if you are able to pull it off. Who knew recruiting Beasts and giving them Rush could be so strong? I'm sure Possessed Lackey did.

Deck Spotlight

Nerf Predictions

  • Twilight Runner will get the Ancient of Lore treatment and get its card text changed to "...draw one card" instead.
  • Guardian Animals' Mana cost will go up from 7 to 8.

Other Comments

  • Survival of the Fittest - In our opinion, the card is balanced for its mana cost if played on curve. However, it is worth noting that the card is the huge payoff of cheating the card out earlier due to other cards such as Kael'thas Sunstrider. Thus, we believe that it will not be touched by the nerf bat this expansion.

#3 - Lightning Bloom

Lightning Bloom Card Image

Looks like the community was right all along! As the second most-top rated card of the set in our Community Compendium at a score of 83, who knew that pre-nerf Innervate. which was used in every Druid deck in existence, would now be used in every Druid AND Shaman deck instead?

Deck Spotlight

P.S - List of decks containing Lightning Bloom is non-exhaustive, considering that every Shaman and Druid deck is playing it now.

Nerf Predictions

  • Lightning Bloom's effect will get changed entirely. Blizzard, may we suggest that it be changed to "Deal 3 damage, gain 1 Mana Crystal this turn. Overload: (1)" instead?

#4 - Secret Passage

Secret Passage Card Image

Standing as the king of the set in our Community Compendium with a score of 85, we have... this. Drawing 5 cards at 1-mana is pretty absurd, as it is able to trigger Combo cards that you have drawn as well to act as a finisher. This card is an auto-include in every Rogue deck currently, ranging from the hyper-aggressive Stealth Rogue to Tempo Rogues.

Deck Spotlight

Nerf Predictions

  • Secret Passage's effect will get reduced from "... 5 cards from your deck" to "... 4 cards from your deck". 

#5 and #6 - Raise Dead and Flesh Giant

Raise Dead Card ImageFlesh Giant Card Image

As card-game professionals will say, Health is just a resource until there's one hit point remaining. We'd argue that the cost of Raise Dead, at 3 Health currently, is too little for its' effect of adding two great minions to your hand. Furthermore, it synergizes with the Soul Fragment mechanics and the support cards, which would result in an easily-discounted Flesh Giant early on.

Deck Spotlight

Nerf Predictions

  • Either Raise Dead's Health cost will go up from 3 to 5, or its' card effect will be changed from "Return two friendly minions..." to "Return a friendly minion..." instead.
  • Flesh Giant's Mana cost will go up from 8 to 10.

#7 and #8 - High Abbess Alura and Goody Two-Shields

 

High Abbess Alura Card ImageGoody Two-Shields Card Image

The effects of both cards' Spellburst is insane in gaining tempo on the board, which is why they make it onto the list of potential nerfed cards.

For Alura, we'd say that even her low-roll of First Day of School isn't too bad if she is played on curve, while her high-roll spells such as Libram of Hope could essentially end the game if the opponent has no way to deal with it.

For Goody Two-Shields, if played on-curve, her 4-Attack could potentially trade into 3 early-game minions with the Spellburst'd Divine Shield, thus setting up the board heavily in the Paladin's favour in the mid-game.

Deck Spotlight

Nerf Predictions

  • High Abbess Alura's Mana cost will go up from 4 to 5.
  • Goody Two-Shields' Attack will go down from 4 to 3.

Other Comments

  • Blessing of Authority - While the effect of buffing minions by +8/+8 signifies a threat that your opponents must be dealt with immediately, currently, our view is that Pure Paladin has too many good cards in the current rotation to add Blessing of Authority into the list.

#9 and #10 - Tour Guide and Voracious Reader

Tour Guide Card ImageVoracious Reader Card Image

Slow decks hate them while Aggro decks love them! Tour Guide offers Hunters an early shot at shooting your opponent's face, while Voracious Reader allows you to draw at most 3 cards a turn if you have managed to hit your opponent in the face successfully with all of your cards. All in all, if the Hunter is really lucky with their game, they could close the game up before their Mana hits 8!

Deck Spotlight

In MrYagut's words... "Face, face, we just need to go face."

Nerf Predictions

  • Tour Guide's Mana cost will go up from 1 to 2, or its' card effect is changed to "Your next Hero Power costs (1)" instead.
  • Voracious Reader's Mana cost will go up from 2 to 3.

Honourable Mention - Kael'Thas Sunstrider

Kael'thas Sunstrider Card Image

The high-roll potential of getting a 0-cost Guardian Animals or Survival of the Fittest makes the match very un-fun for the opponent. Furthermore, the design of the card poses a card design limitation on printing interesting high-cost spells. Thus, we predict that in this expansion cycle, Kael'Thas will once again receive the aforementioned Nerf Bat from our disciplinarian... not that he's been hit hard enough in the Outlands.

Nerf Predictions

  • Kael'Thas Sunstrider will get The Caverns Below treatment and get its' card effect changed from "...every three spells" to "...every four spells" instead.

We can't wait to see how many of our predictions turn out to be... right? Currently, our prediction rate is 100%, considering that we have never done this before!

If your nerf list synergizes or differs from ours, do post a comment down below and let's discuss!