Note to self: avoid Rush against Priest if you have another minion that can kill the Rusher.
I'd just like to to remind everyone that Shadow Madness used to be played and that card had a much bigger restriction, imo. Because just a 1/4 for 4 mana to kill off a Rusher and another minion is decent enough. And while fringe synergy is there (Focused Will, Youthful Brewmaster), just as a standalone card, Najak Hexxen can also put a ton of work. And as far as Deathrattle synergies go, old Big Priest ran Barnes despite Barnes itself being anti synergystic with ressurrect effects.
And when the best payoff to Deathrattle Priest in Xyrella, the Devout just doesn't care about Najak Hexxen, the antisynergy seems to matter less. The only reason I see for this not to see play is that we are in an anti-minion meta, even with a nerfed Questline mage.
The card is amazing, yes, but I feel it falls a bit short to questline warlock (for example) as by the time you really want to use the value of the Battlecry, he's deck deep into Blightborn Tamsin and ready to outburst you.
Basically, Xyrella, the Devout is a win condition for a control deck against other control (and a pretty decent one at that), and with combo around, her effectiveness as a win condition diminishes.
Great flavor as a Priest card, though. Works with existing Priest archetypes while being very balanced.
Control Warrior wants this. The lack of draw the archetype has these days is one of the reasons the deck doesn't see play (the other being it's outclassed hard by Big Warrior), but tutoring out both Snowed In or Shield Shatter can be very useful in a minion centric meta.
You just need one minion in your hand for Stormpike Quartermaster's effect, making the target much more threatening. That being said, maybe Tempo Rogue can make a pseudo Edwin VanCleef? It's the only option I can think outside of Librams and even then, it feels very Tier 5.
Most of the time this will read "Battlecry: Draw 3 cards" as there aren't enough great Choose One cards for this to abuse. That being said, it allows Druids to be more open minded with ramping with Nourish, so any deck that relies on some late game strategy will at least consider Pathmaker.
At worst, it's a 2/3 that deals one damage. In the past, Flame Juggler actually saw constructed play (it was because the 2-drop slot was much worse back then, but still). Also, yay, more token Druid support, I can't wait :^ )
This is obviously best after equipping a 1-mana weapon on turn 1, but I don't really believe in Dreadprison Glaive. Maybe in some kind of tempo deck with deathrattle minions that runs Tuskpiercer?
Lifesteal OTK DH runs Tuskpiercer targeting only Persistent Peddler as the Deathrattle target. This will always be a powerful 4 card package to cycle through your deck. I believe Battleworn Vanguard might be enough of a payoff to include this package on token DH.
I have a feeling big demon DH will live and die by the availability of this card. The comparisons with Skull of the Man'ari aren't very apt as DH doesn't have the quality of AoE Warlock has (just compare Defile with Immolation Aura) but DH maybe has enough small AoE and Lifesteal to survive the early game.
The pay-off Token DH needed. I don't like it that much, but I have to say it is a strong card even when ignoring the Felfire Deadeye + Expendable Performers combo. In fact, I'd argue that any deck that includes Kurtrus, Demon-Render will include Felfire Deadeye as long as it is in standard. Due to the ability DHs have to always have something on the board ready to attack, Felfire Deadeye will guarantee a lot of free Hero Power triggers.
Waxmancy was a very similar card which saw little to no play. The differences between the cards are that Battlecries are faster than Deathrattles so point to Waxmancy but Reconnaissance has an overall better minion pool as it's restricted to class cards, which are better overall than neutral ones. There is some synergy with the Deathrattle minions, particularly from Forsaken Lieutenant, which can give those Deathrattle effects similar speed to Battlecry ones.
I really like how every hero so far does a million things on the Battlecry... except Bru'kan of the Elements. Every Hero Power is decribing a card worth between 2 and 3 mana and the Battlecry is, therefore worth 5-6 mana (maybe 1 more for the flexibility). Bru'kan looks the most balanced Hero of all so far. In fact, al three Hero cards for Shaman look very balanced yet flavorful in their own ways, which is good.
Bru'kan does millions things on the battlecry.
You can aoe the enemy minions, heal your board, deal damage to the enemy Hero, summon taunt minions... The flexibility of that card is really good.
Oh yes, he does, but not to the extent the other heroes do. Like I said, Bru'kan is the most balanced hero. Everything he does, he does well, but every other hero revealed so far (aside from Guff) does what Bru'kan does either better or cheaper.
When I say Bru'kan doesn't do a million things, it's not a criticism towards Bru'kan, it's a criticism towards every other hero revealed so far. Bru'kan is the good guy here.
Note to self: avoid Rush against Priest if you have another minion that can kill the Rusher.
I'd just like to to remind everyone that Shadow Madness used to be played and that card had a much bigger restriction, imo. Because just a 1/4 for 4 mana to kill off a Rusher and another minion is decent enough. And while fringe synergy is there (Focused Will, Youthful Brewmaster), just as a standalone card, Najak Hexxen can also put a ton of work. And as far as Deathrattle synergies go, old Big Priest ran Barnes despite Barnes itself being anti synergystic with ressurrect effects.
And when the best payoff to Deathrattle Priest in Xyrella, the Devout just doesn't care about Najak Hexxen, the antisynergy seems to matter less. The only reason I see for this not to see play is that we are in an anti-minion meta, even with a nerfed Questline mage.
The card is amazing, yes, but I feel it falls a bit short to questline warlock (for example) as by the time you really want to use the value of the Battlecry, he's deck deep into Blightborn Tamsin and ready to outburst you.
Basically, Xyrella, the Devout is a win condition for a control deck against other control (and a pretty decent one at that), and with combo around, her effectiveness as a win condition diminishes.
Great flavor as a Priest card, though. Works with existing Priest archetypes while being very balanced.
This into Doggie Biscuit is a pretty game winning opener if you ask me.
Infested Goblin is crying. In the past, if people wanted to have fun with Fire Plume's Heart, they could count on him. Now, he's just outclassed.
Control Warrior wants this. The lack of draw the archetype has these days is one of the reasons the deck doesn't see play (the other being it's outclassed hard by Big Warrior), but tutoring out both Snowed In or Shield Shatter can be very useful in a minion centric meta.
Cursed Disciple saw fringe constructed play in Jungle Giants Druid, but it only did because it developed the quest hard. Although Piggyback Imp is a better card than Cursed Disciple, without that utility the latter provides, I don't see a way Piggyback Imp can see play (and like Cursed Disciple, Piggyback Imp is a very decent arena card).
You just need one minion in your hand for Stormpike Quartermaster's effect, making the target much more threatening. That being said, maybe Tempo Rogue can make a pseudo Edwin VanCleef? It's the only option I can think outside of Librams and even then, it feels very Tier 5.
Arena card through and through, very good in that environment. In constructed, Tour Guide is so much better it's not even funny.
There's Savannah Highmane, Mountain Bear (a.k.a. better Savannah Highmane) and Humongous Owl as the best pulls for Wing Commander Ichman. If Hunters had some way to make these cards less bad when drawn, big beast Hunter has a chance. Until then, the deck feels too clunky to be good.
Most of the time this will read "Battlecry: Draw 3 cards" as there aren't enough great Choose One cards for this to abuse. That being said, it allows Druids to be more open minded with ramping with Nourish, so any deck that relies on some late game strategy will at least consider Pathmaker.
At worst, it's the equivalent of a Blessing of Kings when targeting a beast. Everything else is bonus.
At worst, it's a 2/3 that deals one damage. In the past, Flame Juggler actually saw constructed play (it was because the 2-drop slot was much worse back then, but still). Also, yay, more token Druid support, I can't wait :^ )
So, this is how ramp Druids will deal with Overgrowth leaving standard next expansion.
It's basically Soul of the Forest, but with a 2/5 Rush attached to it. Gives the deck a lot more staying power before Arbor Up deals the killing blow.
Lifesteal OTK DH runs Tuskpiercer targeting only Persistent Peddler as the Deathrattle target. This will always be a powerful 4 card package to cycle through your deck. I believe Battleworn Vanguard might be enough of a payoff to include this package on token DH.
The best DH card in this expansion, Flanking Maneuver is just an insane tool against early aggression.
I have a feeling big demon DH will live and die by the availability of this card. The comparisons with Skull of the Man'ari aren't very apt as DH doesn't have the quality of AoE Warlock has (just compare Defile with Immolation Aura) but DH maybe has enough small AoE and Lifesteal to survive the early game.
The pay-off Token DH needed. I don't like it that much, but I have to say it is a strong card even when ignoring the Felfire Deadeye + Expendable Performers combo. In fact, I'd argue that any deck that includes Kurtrus, Demon-Render will include Felfire Deadeye as long as it is in standard. Due to the ability DHs have to always have something on the board ready to attack, Felfire Deadeye will guarantee a lot of free Hero Power triggers.
Waxmancy was a very similar card which saw little to no play. The differences between the cards are that Battlecries are faster than Deathrattles so point to Waxmancy but Reconnaissance has an overall better minion pool as it's restricted to class cards, which are better overall than neutral ones. There is some synergy with the Deathrattle minions, particularly from Forsaken Lieutenant, which can give those Deathrattle effects similar speed to Battlecry ones.
Oh yes, he does, but not to the extent the other heroes do. Like I said, Bru'kan is the most balanced hero. Everything he does, he does well, but every other hero revealed so far (aside from Guff) does what Bru'kan does either better or cheaper.
When I say Bru'kan doesn't do a million things, it's not a criticism towards Bru'kan, it's a criticism towards every other hero revealed so far. Bru'kan is the good guy here.