It's extremely arguable whether this counts as a downside or not. Theoretically, it could give you better cards than what you already have.
Also, it has 5 lines of text in which it is an unwritten rule that a card in English does not have that many lines.
As an avid player of Espionage+Spectral Cutlass rogue I'd say that random class cards are almost always worse than your own class cards. Rogue loves it's Preparation, Shadowstep and Backstab, and I think think their loss and replacement is worth the +2 Attack.
Also, I'd really like suggestions how to shorten the text.
@ linkblade91: Both cards seem fair. Icy Guardian is a decentsized taunt, which makes up for the freeze part, and an elemental. It looks a tad weak, but it would probably seen some play. Sinestra is just great, on an empty board she's an unfair amount of stats, and minions summoned afterwards will still be at full health for trading. It might be hard to pull of enrage-stuff with Sinestra, but she might be strong enough without that.
@Demonxz95 : Z'kral seems unfun. Terrible if he gets removed easily, and even worse if he survives and kills you by round 6. But the latter won't happen a lot, which also makes this very weak. Eredar Twins: nice effect, but to be honest it looks like a copy of shaveyou's Cobalt Sky-Serpent.
@TheHoax91: Aponi Brightmane beautiful card and a good idea for paladin. Could work in some control decks, but the effect is neither deck-defining nor game-winning, so the rarity could be epic instead.
@shaveyou: Cobalt Sky-Serpent - I do not know what to say but praises. Seems mostly balanced but strong! Twisted Ancient: Strength in Numbers would be in the same rotation, making this a possible swing-turn in Druid.
@MenancingBagel: Tio the demented seems like a risky wager, but it doesn't seem particulary fun, since your opponent can't really do anything to hasten your doom. On the other hand, it's a really strong card for fast decks, like zoolock, where the game is decided by turn 11 anyway. The best comparable card would be Felguard, but here the stats make it gamewinning by itself.
@Xarkkal: Lord Daval Prestor: Flamewreathed Faceless, but worse drawback. As an all-in-card he is unfun and risky. The new effect makes it better, but it's still very high-rolly and it misses deathwing's powerful boardclear. Seems like it could work in a really aggro deck.
@Conduit: Toxic Raider: Unique twofold effect, which can be used for shenanigans, and overstatted - seems OP. Alpha Hoarder: very interesting, but a couple nitpicks- gets weak if you silence it is not a big weakness, but pretty normal. The name is not so great, since Alpha reminds oneself of the Omega cards of Boomsday. But the effect is unique, and could probably make some weird combo work - what happens if you control two of those? Can you return bagged cards multiple times?
@KANSAS: IIlidan: effect seems to weak for a legendary. But nice flavor. Crystal Imp : why isn't this a demon? And it's super strong. Reno,Dragonsoul: Nice effect and card, like the statline, but seems to be in the wrong competition. Shadow Imp: Where's the drawback? Short-Tempered Brute: The only card fitting the competition, the effect is very warrior-y, the stats are good. I'd put the rarity to rare, though. Satyr Spelleater: Interesting effect and good last ditch for aggro, but what spells does he eat?
@thepowrofcheese: Gurtogg Bloodboil : i like the unique bottom of your deck-effect, but sadly this won't ever see play. Because it looks like an aggro finisher, that you'll never ever draw with an aggro deck. Seems like a disappointment to open in packs.
'@Hordaki: Colossal Insectoid looks like a fair card, but not really playable. Back at Ungoro, there were fewer beast-buff-cards, which makes this at best a two card combo for 7 mana for playing this beast. Maybe put it in Uldum, I think there's more synergies there, and also room for giant insects.
@Almaniarra: Chef Cook: a fine effect, great taste, but the 3 armor gain to the enemy hero is well worth the extra stat. A 3/3 with a possible upside and a negligible downside seems almost to strong.
@Fedrion: Auchenai Defender: What great stats! But ouch is the drawback a big one. Too big sadly, if your opponent trades a few small minions in it, you're screwed. Like a few Lynxes. I like the simplicity, but it's to bad.
@Nirast: Dishonest Doomguard: fantastic idea, fits theme and expansion. But quite unplayable, which only speaks for it's fulfillment of the requirement.
@Wairlor: Spark Elemental: beautiful and simple, but probably to simple to win. IcecrownLich: looks cool, but the wording is not explaining much. Unstable Nightmare: Really nice, but the drawback seems negligible in a class with strong draw, only in about 1/15 of the cases, when this is the first card you pull this will be a dead card.
@anchorm4n Rabid Track Hound: I like the inclusion for the witchwood set, where hunter had few drawing tool. Seems fair enough.
@GameTheory345: Both cards are lovely in their flavor, but how do you return a minion politly? And any deck with Prince Malchezaar will get another possible lose condition!
In any other murloc class this could be killers, but Paladin doesn't have the boardbuff to really utilise these tokens. But a random discovery of this in shaman may turn games around.
Garrosh' heroic strike was so satisfying, even after only two day's of Illidan's reign.
As an avid player of Espionage+Spectral Cutlass rogue I'd say that random class cards are almost always worse than your own class cards. Rogue loves it's Preparation, Shadowstep and Backstab, and I think think their loss and replacement is worth the +2 Attack.
Also, I'd really like suggestions how to shorten the text.
My thought's on cards:
@ linkblade91: Both cards seem fair. Icy Guardian is a decentsized taunt, which makes up for the freeze part, and an elemental. It looks a tad weak, but it would probably seen some play. Sinestra is just great, on an empty board she's an unfair amount of stats, and minions summoned afterwards will still be at full health for trading. It might be hard to pull of enrage-stuff with Sinestra, but she might be strong enough without that.
@Demonxz95 : Z'kral seems unfun. Terrible if he gets removed easily, and even worse if he survives and kills you by round 6. But the latter won't happen a lot, which also makes this very weak. Eredar Twins: nice effect, but to be honest it looks like a copy of shaveyou's Cobalt Sky-Serpent.
@TheHoax91: Aponi Brightmane beautiful card and a good idea for paladin. Could work in some control decks, but the effect is neither deck-defining nor game-winning, so the rarity could be epic instead.
@shaveyou: Cobalt Sky-Serpent - I do not know what to say but praises. Seems mostly balanced but strong! Twisted Ancient: Strength in Numbers would be in the same rotation, making this a possible swing-turn in Druid.
@MenancingBagel: Tio the demented seems like a risky wager, but it doesn't seem particulary fun, since your opponent can't really do anything to hasten your doom. On the other hand, it's a really strong card for fast decks, like zoolock, where the game is decided by turn 11 anyway. The best comparable card would be Felguard, but here the stats make it gamewinning by itself.
@Xarkkal: Lord Daval Prestor: Flamewreathed Faceless, but worse drawback. As an all-in-card he is unfun and risky. The new effect makes it better, but it's still very high-rolly and it misses deathwing's powerful boardclear. Seems like it could work in a really aggro deck.
@Conduit: Toxic Raider: Unique twofold effect, which can be used for shenanigans, and overstatted - seems OP. Alpha Hoarder: very interesting, but a couple nitpicks- gets weak if you silence it is not a big weakness, but pretty normal. The name is not so great, since Alpha reminds oneself of the Omega cards of Boomsday. But the effect is unique, and could probably make some weird combo work - what happens if you control two of those? Can you return bagged cards multiple times?
@KANSAS: IIlidan: effect seems to weak for a legendary. But nice flavor. Crystal Imp : why isn't this a demon? And it's super strong. Reno,Dragonsoul: Nice effect and card, like the statline, but seems to be in the wrong competition. Shadow Imp: Where's the drawback? Short-Tempered Brute: The only card fitting the competition, the effect is very warrior-y, the stats are good. I'd put the rarity to rare, though. Satyr Spelleater: Interesting effect and good last ditch for aggro, but what spells does he eat?
@thepowrofcheese: Gurtogg Bloodboil : i like the unique bottom of your deck-effect, but sadly this won't ever see play. Because it looks like an aggro finisher, that you'll never ever draw with an aggro deck. Seems like a disappointment to open in packs.
'@Hordaki: Colossal Insectoid looks like a fair card, but not really playable. Back at Ungoro, there were fewer beast-buff-cards, which makes this at best a two card combo for 7 mana for playing this beast. Maybe put it in Uldum, I think there's more synergies there, and also room for giant insects.
@Almaniarra: Chef Cook: a fine effect, great taste, but the 3 armor gain to the enemy hero is well worth the extra stat. A 3/3 with a possible upside and a negligible downside seems almost to strong.
@Fedrion: Auchenai Defender: What great stats! But ouch is the drawback a big one. Too big sadly, if your opponent trades a few small minions in it, you're screwed. Like a few Lynxes. I like the simplicity, but it's to bad.
@Nirast: Dishonest Doomguard: fantastic idea, fits theme and expansion. But quite unplayable, which only speaks for it's fulfillment of the requirement.
@Wairlor: Spark Elemental: beautiful and simple, but probably to simple to win. Icecrown Lich: looks cool, but the wording is not explaining much. Unstable Nightmare: Really nice, but the drawback seems negligible in a class with strong draw, only in about 1/15 of the cases, when this is the first card you pull this will be a dead card.
@anchorm4n Rabid Track Hound: I like the inclusion for the witchwood set, where hunter had few drawing tool. Seems fair enough.
@GameTheory345: Both cards are lovely in their flavor, but how do you return a minion politly? And any deck with Prince Malchezaar will get another possible lose condition!
I'll now try myself on feedback.
Did I watch to much critical role (DnD-liveshow), or is this a reference to Vex'ahlia and Vax'ildan?
This will mirror your dread, first small, just a bit of screaming, but in the end it's impossible to put down.
Playable, but only in control.
Good theme, fitting image, and sometimes usefull. Will see play.
Great for a new aggressive strategy.
It's the first card in the set where I can confidently say that it won't see any play whatsoever.
'Why is everybody in Outland replacing their hands?!' Yeah, there is a hand card, and the legendary paladin minion also lost one!
But probably good as a last resort in arena?
Huh. Bingo for Classcard in disguise.
A great tool for miracle priest. Nomi doesn't rotate out yet.
What a wonderful card. I'd love to see it together with Mass Hysteria, but that'd be just unfair.
In any other murloc class this could be killers, but Paladin doesn't have the boardbuff to really utilise these tokens. But a random discovery of this in shaman may turn games around.
All the DH flavour in one card. Seems fast, slightly unfair and sinister.
He is his own worst enemy.
Will probably see play in some sort of cylone mage, just for the mana cost, but no Minions is not possible with the tools of this set.
Get a sorcerer's apprentice or two, play this, profit!
Turn 1 it's playable, but afterwards it just gets progressivly worse.