I think the nerf will make it better in the first few matches of a run. If they are struggling to get early wins, those Vanndar decks maybe get abandoned to some extend. However, once they get into 30+ health and their survivability increases, it's still going to be a very dominant build. It is far to easy a strategy for it to be abandoned altogether. It's especially obnoxious with For the Alliance! since that makes their build more reliable (and makes Send in the Scout give only coins!), as well.
Nerfing Battle Tactics is a much needed change but it doesn't feel like enough. This change means you have less options for your insanely OP drop on turn 4 or 5 but it's still a similar procession of board bombs turn after turn.
These unlock requirements are brutal and should be eliminated. It's a grind that just sucks the fun right out of the shiny new toys. It's frustrating for all the reasons noted: the grind, the sporadic opportunity to even select the new heroes, the sub-optimal decks required.
I'm using casual to unlock and it feelsbadman to waste so much time. It's not fun for me (or my opponent, presumably) to immediately concede my first game with an old hero just so I have the option to retire the deck and re-roll for the new heroes. Then the games aren't much fun either, as I do my best to just spam the weak deck built solely to satisfy the random requirement. Blizz, please. Please stop with this locked HP & treasure combo. At least give us all the HP choices so unlocking the treasures doesn't feel so repetitive.
My first few duels runs with traditional heroes went fine. It was on my fourth run with Drek'Thar that caused the rewards screen to break. I was able to login on my phone and tap away at the area where the rewards handle would be and the door swung open (still behind the Resume Screen) and the loot boxes popped up. Collected, then was able to do another run.
FFS... I had a full Scholomance set but DE'd Mindrender Illucia when she was nerfed. I have Jandice Barov in gold but can't DE her or I'd then be missing that one and still wouldn't get her diamond copy. Quite the connundrum! lol
I should have enough dust if I DE some dupes. Off to check the collection...
That video and the Q&A in 11 comments gave me so much more info than the announcement debacle. I do like the idea now that it makes some sense to me. PVE has always been a favorite for me so I'll definitely give it a shot. I won't pay into it without a trial period, though.
Those changes to treasures are really needed so I'm happy to see them. I haven't played much in Duels! (or HS in general) because balance seemed pretty terrible. Getting the treasures noted here was a huge advantage. Builds without them had a massive, uphill battle.
Love the changes to HP Mage. I still love playing Spell Damage builds and HP builds. I think these changes will definitely boost the HP build in the format. Reckless Apprentice is such a powerful card and the combo with Wyrm Bolt can be a great swing turn. I'm excited to try it, especially with several of the most egregious balance issues being addressed with this update.
Also, Sick article Avalon: keep up the good work! ;)
I tried a few classes and did poorly overall, but it was definitely fun. 5 wins with a Questline Rogue (of all things! lol) was my best. The others were more minion heavy builds using Darkmoon Statue that weren't very good. However, I added him to my next non-challenge run with my favorite DH token build and it was quite effective there. Forced me to use a card... and realize it had potential elsewhere. :)
I definitely want to jump in early on the next challenge. Someone msg me if I don't show up!
Great article and many great posts. These questlines are simply too quick to complete, making them incredibly consistent and reliable. The Dr. 7 suggestion in the article is a very reasonable start. Those 80+% stats in wild make UTHunter look soft.
Questlines for Hunter, Warlock, and Mage are just too efficient and consistent in Wild. Each of those decks WILL close out the game by turn 9 at the latest Turn 6-8 are on possible quite easily, as well. They are all far to reliable. These nerfs do nothing to stop that, as I rarely see Stealer of Souls and the decks running giants are able to drop Molten Giant alongside the Flesh Giant.
A necessary change, as it was an auto-pick as a first bucket treasure. Even with this change, it may still be OP and need to be "Neutral minions you play..." or "in your hand" get the buff & discount to prevent token interaction.
I auto concede when Lock drops T1 quest in wild. Maybe enough of that will prompt faster action since they mentioned the high rate of similar concedes when nerfing priest a few months ago.
I appreciate the work the devs have put in, either way. Balance isn't an easy task and the process is so much better recently.
Duels runs did NOT get cancelled with the last set. Plus, Duels was offline earlier this week when they added the new cards, as well. (I couldn't start a new run just prior to the update.) I expect Duels will be handled the same way as last set - no cancelled run, no ticket.
I had the same issue. Closing the game completely and relaunching did the trick.
Won with the deck below. Reduced cost on Illidari Inquisitor is fun stuff! I was paired against a warlock with some odd choices in their deck, though. Seems like a brawl that isn't going to go many rounds.
100% crafting golden Kel even if he's terrible.
(Unless he's diamond on the reward track)
I think the nerf will make it better in the first few matches of a run. If they are struggling to get early wins, those Vanndar decks maybe get abandoned to some extend. However, once they get into 30+ health and their survivability increases, it's still going to be a very dominant build. It is far to easy a strategy for it to be abandoned altogether. It's especially obnoxious with For the Alliance! since that makes their build more reliable (and makes Send in the Scout give only coins!), as well.
Nerfing Battle Tactics is a much needed change but it doesn't feel like enough. This change means you have less options for your insanely OP drop on turn 4 or 5 but it's still a similar procession of board bombs turn after turn.
These unlock requirements are brutal and should be eliminated. It's a grind that just sucks the fun right out of the shiny new toys. It's frustrating for all the reasons noted: the grind, the sporadic opportunity to even select the new heroes, the sub-optimal decks required.
I'm using casual to unlock and it feelsbadman to waste so much time. It's not fun for me (or my opponent, presumably) to immediately concede my first game with an old hero just so I have the option to retire the deck and re-roll for the new heroes. Then the games aren't much fun either, as I do my best to just spam the weak deck built solely to satisfy the random requirement. Blizz, please. Please stop with this locked HP & treasure combo. At least give us all the HP choices so unlocking the treasures doesn't feel so repetitive.
My first few duels runs with traditional heroes went fine. It was on my fourth run with Drek'Thar that caused the rewards screen to break. I was able to login on my phone and tap away at the area where the rewards handle would be and the door swung open (still behind the Resume Screen) and the loot boxes popped up. Collected, then was able to do another run.
This deck is so much fun. Thanks for sharing!
@Siegfrieddo - Cheaty Snobold only deals damage to enemies. Definitely worth the craft if possible, as it's crazy powerful.
Perfect timing, as I was about to start a run when the thread popped up!
FFS... I had a full Scholomance set but DE'd Mindrender Illucia when she was nerfed. I have Jandice Barov in gold but can't DE her or I'd then be missing that one and still wouldn't get her diamond copy. Quite the connundrum! lol
I should have enough dust if I DE some dupes. Off to check the collection...
That video and the Q&A in 11 comments gave me so much more info than the announcement debacle. I do like the idea now that it makes some sense to me. PVE has always been a favorite for me so I'll definitely give it a shot. I won't pay into it without a trial period, though.
Those changes to treasures are really needed so I'm happy to see them. I haven't played much in Duels! (or HS in general) because balance seemed pretty terrible. Getting the treasures noted here was a huge advantage. Builds without them had a massive, uphill battle.
Love the changes to HP Mage. I still love playing Spell Damage builds and HP builds. I think these changes will definitely boost the HP build in the format. Reckless Apprentice is such a powerful card and the combo with Wyrm Bolt can be a great swing turn. I'm excited to try it, especially with several of the most egregious balance issues being addressed with this update.
Also, Sick article Avalon: keep up the good work! ;)
I tried a few classes and did poorly overall, but it was definitely fun. 5 wins with a Questline Rogue (of all things! lol) was my best. The others were more minion heavy builds using Darkmoon Statue that weren't very good. However, I added him to my next non-challenge run with my favorite DH token build and it was quite effective there. Forced me to use a card... and realize it had potential elsewhere. :)
I definitely want to jump in early on the next challenge. Someone msg me if I don't show up!
Great article and many great posts. These questlines are simply too quick to complete, making them incredibly consistent and reliable. The Dr. 7 suggestion in the article is a very reasonable start. Those 80+% stats in wild make UTHunter look soft.
Questlines for Hunter, Warlock, and Mage are just too efficient and consistent in Wild. Each of those decks WILL close out the game by turn 9 at the latest Turn 6-8 are on possible quite easily, as well. They are all far to reliable. These nerfs do nothing to stop that, as I rarely see Stealer of Souls and the decks running giants are able to drop Molten Giant alongside the Flesh Giant.
A necessary change, as it was an auto-pick as a first bucket treasure. Even with this change, it may still be OP and need to be "Neutral minions you play..." or "in your hand" get the buff & discount to prevent token interaction.
Yep, I have been really busy and missed the original article, too. Definitely want to join in. Will look through the threads and take a crack at it.
I auto concede when Lock drops T1 quest in wild. Maybe enough of that will prompt faster action since they mentioned the high rate of similar concedes when nerfing priest a few months ago.
I appreciate the work the devs have put in, either way. Balance isn't an easy task and the process is so much better recently.
Duels runs did NOT get cancelled with the last set. Plus, Duels was offline earlier this week when they added the new cards, as well. (I couldn't start a new run just prior to the update.) I expect Duels will be handled the same way as last set - no cancelled run, no ticket.
Lost to Omu, then won with Omu b/c it's nearly impossible to beat Omu. lol.... what a stupid design.
Glad it worked. Il'gynoth was a throw in as the last card. While that would be a fun, memetastic way to win, a skull is a better choice, tbh. :)
I had the same issue. Closing the game completely and relaunching did the trick.
Won with the deck below. Reduced cost on Illidari Inquisitor is fun stuff! I was paired against a warlock with some odd choices in their deck, though. Seems like a brawl that isn't going to go many rounds.