Scholomance Academy Arena Impact - Mage Cards

Ras Frostwhisper by AbusingKel

I love the design for this minion. Nice combination for the Shaman/Mage mix and that ability can be incredible. I like it a bit better in Shaman where you have the extra chance at spell damage thanks to Wrath of Air Totem. The card pool isn't overflowing with spell damage minions but there are a few good ones. This effect would be bonkers if you can actually sustain it over more than one turn. 

Ras Frostwhisper by Boozor

Insane card, better then the old Despicable Dreadlord which was nuts in Arena. Frankly this card makes Mage discover cards even scarier like Messenger Raven.

Ras Frostwhisper by sinti

Despicable Dreadlord, potentially better. Yup, this card is crazy strong. I honestly wouldnt expect to get the Spell Damage Synergy very often, but even just the 1 damage is good enough.

Mozaki, Master Duelist by AbusingKel

Good stats to keep it alive and help clear boards for mage while potentially increasing spell damage. It's a class than can certainly have more spells than most arena decks and can support it. However, I find myself saying the same thing across the years in these arena reviews: spells are far less prevalent in arena. This is a legendary that would have to be offered late in a draft with good synergy already in place. Otherwise, there's probably a better legendary offered next to her.

Mozaki, Master Duelist by Boozor

Stats are hard to remove, but ability really requires heavy synergy to be useful. 

Mozaki, Master Duelist by sinti

This card is insane. The only thing that is stopping it is the (probably) small amount of spells, damage spells at that, you might have, but the stat-line is meant to help this survive and getting any Spell Damage will be amazing. It could even become your wincon. Crazy.

Jandice Barov by AbusingKel

It looks powerful but there are enough mediocre 5 drops that you hate the results of your random dice roll. Having 1 be extra fragile makes it even more concerning. Scoring this as a 4 for now but I'm not optimistic it will play well, and expect one of the other 2 legendary cards in the draft slot will be a better choice. 

Jandice Barov by Boozor

Very powerful card, it's effectively a huge stat stick. Consider the avg random 5 drop is about 4/4, you're getting a [Hearthstone Card (Silverhand Knight) Not Found], with another 4/4 (that dies to damage) - this is a very conservative outcome. Occasionally you'll blow out your opponent.  

Jandice Barov by sinti

Amazing card, even when one of those 5-drops dies to one hit, it will steal trade for something, at worst 2 Mana vs mage, lot more vs other classes. You could get Deathrattles too, so extra bonuses. There are like 3 or 4 outcomes that can be pretty abysmal, but there are also few dozen that are going to be great - see the list of possible minions here.

Potion of Illusion by AbusingKel

The upside is great but the cost is high and it may not have an immediate impact on the board, making it a tempo loss. There will be times when it plays incredibly well but the mid-range score is based on the reliability. 

Potion of Illusion by Boozor

Similar to Echo of Medivh from the past, some ups/downs, probably an average card overall. 

Potion of Illusion by sinti

Pretty strong win-more card, but one that could potentially win you the game. Tho as with most cards like these, if you are behind and/or in top-deck mode, it can be a big dud.

Combustion by AbusingKel

Excellent spell. 4 damage for 3 is already a good card for warlock and this has solid potential to be more impactful. 

Combustion by Boozor

Cheaper, worse Rolling Fireball which is a godly card. This card should perform well against smaller boards, or against early trouble minion.  

Combustion by sinti

Literally Shadow Bolt, but better. Super strong and versatile card. Positioning will again (or still?) matter against Mage. Will probably play similar to Explosive Shot most of the time, but the fact that you can play with this and the board state to get the outcome you want and this being just 3 Mana is very strong.

Devolving Missiles by AbusingKel

It wouldn't be reveal season without a shaman transform card! Great combination of classes, and a very good card. It'll help you (hopefully!) get by a taunt or eliminate a strong deathrattle. More importantly, it'll be super fun!

Devolving Missiles by Boozor

Good pseudo removal - it's cheap as well.  

Devolving Missiles by sinti

I'm honestly not entirely sure how will this card perform in Arena, but given its Cost, I suppose it doesn't have to do much to get good value. You can be sure that it will backfire on you eventually, but I dare to say that it will win you more games than it loses. The transform effect alone is pretty strong tho, getting rid of some powerful Deathrattles and/or buffed minions. The salt will be real with this one.

Wyrm Weaver by AbusingKel

With the wealth of low cost spells available to mage, this card will be very dangerous. Definitely not a good pick in the draft until you know you have the support, but the value is nuts if you can trigger the spellburst.

Wyrm Weaver by Boozor

Reasonable stats that create 2 minions with potential to snowball out of control.  

Wyrm Weaver by sinti

Decent enough stats on its own and potential for some strong power play.

Trick Totem by sinti

This card will have too much RNG in it for my taste, but playing it as a 2-drop might be the safest play. Lots of Secrets in the mix too.

Cram Session by AbusingKel

Highly conditional but cheap enough to be well worth it once you meet that condition. Spell damage is a theme in the set so we should be able to get the support we need. The 3 score is more about the overall card but it will play like a 5 while there's a lot of spell damage minions in the draft pool.

Cram Session by Boozor

Not unreasonable to draw 2 or 3 from this relatively easily. 

Cram Session by sinti

Draft dependent, tho even just +1 card is already amazing. At worse, it cycles itself. Most likely worth picking early even if you dont have any Spell Damage minions yet.

Brain Freeze by AbusingKel

Lightning Bolt with a slightly different downside. Unfortunately, the downside on this one may mean you don't get the 3 points of damage. Freeze on its own isn't worth drafting unless the cards alongside it are pretty terrible. 

Brain Freeze by Boozor

Good cheap spell. Better in Rogue. 

Brain Freeze by sinti

I have a suspicion that a lot of ppl will underestimate this card and will skip it in their draft. Dont. Yes, you "need" to activate the Combo, but that shouldnt be too hard and you get a minion-only-Frostbolt and yet another Spellburst activator.

Firebrand by AbusingKel

We know the 3/4 for 3 is a tough one to take down on curve. This will play well in most mage decks, even in arena.

Firebrand by Boozor

Dominating early game card with solid stats for the mana. Very powerful tempo card. 

Firebrand by sinti

Great 3-drop with a strong upside. Whats not to like?

Wand Thief by AbusingKel

Is it a 1 drop? No, and it's a bit tricky in that regard. Discovering a mage spell is an excellent ability and you get to do so for a low cost with a body attached. There's little to complain about, it's a very good card.

I like it a bit better for mage because you won't be tempted to use it to trigger another card's combo. 

Wand Thief by Boozor

Great for both classes. Effectively a 1 mana 1/2 discover a spell that can't be played on turn 1. Mage spells are some of the highest value as well.  

Wand Thief by sinti

The Combo part makes this a bit awkward, you can't just slap it down on T1, but other than that, this is a great card generator. Definitely something you want either as Mage or Rogue.

Primordial Studies by AbusingKel

Discover is great and both prime legendary minions are in the selection pool, along with some other solid choices. Then again, there is the chance for a huge disappointment if you have to choose between Ancient Mage, Dalaran Mage, and Mana Reservoir. 

Primordial Studies by sinti

Amazing card, there is going to be very narrow pool of minions, about 12, and there will be Malygos and Astromancer Solarian in the mix. And almost anything else is going to be a good tempo play thanks to the discount.

Lab Partner by AbusingKel

A solid 1 drop with an ability that looks like it's being featured in this set. An arena mage with early board presence can be pretty scary. 

Lab Partner by Boozor

For a 1 cost card it's pretty much max stats with a relevant ability. It's still a 1 cost minion though.  

Lab Partner by sinti

Super strong 1-drop with great synergy with a lot of cards in Scholomance and just damage spells in general. You will hate this card for helping mage kill of your minions that should have stayed at 1-hp and force them to use their hero power. This guy will make you angry, mark my words.