The strength of the "Studies" is in their permanent mana-cost reduction. The only one that doesn't benefit too much is Nature Studies because 1) you can't double the discount; 2) it's hard to save the discount for a specific spell - it's a perfectly fair short-term ramp at best. But doubling discounts on deathrattles, dragons, and demons could provide some serious mana-cheating for classes that don't typically have them. The point is not cheating out the discovered card, but a specific one in your deck.
I think you're under-rating Malicia. If the card was simply Battlecry: Summon two 3/3 Souls with Rush, it would be more than good enough to see play. The other Warlock and Demon Hunter cards that put Soul Fragments in your deck are good enough to see play. It should be easier to get a value trigger off this card than Blastmaster Boom which sees plenty of play in its own archetype. I think we're going to see a lot of this card in Warlock, but I'm just generally not as confident about making predictions about Demon Hunter.
The nice thing about them is that they both allow for more class cards each set AND allow more powerful cards to be printed since they're restricted to two classes. It's a brilliant way to deal with power-creep in a multi-year cycle without printing a bunch of busted neutrals. I think 10 class combinations is perfect per expansion, but it's exciting to think about how there are actually 45 combinations. It's a way better implementation than Gadgetzen or even the cross-class themes for EVIL and Explorers.
Yeah, except DH has some of the best draw resources in the game. It's not fun to lose to a deck that hits fatigue 15 cards earlier than your draw-heavy control deck. It's no solace to think, ah, if only I had lasted another three turns they would have finally run out of resources.
The most fundamental design-flaw for DH is the 1-mana hero power. They needed to find a balanced 2-mana hero power.
Yeah, exactly. A 3/6 rush, windfury on turn 5 is fantastic. This is an amazing mid-range card where you probably want to play it turns 5-8. Synergizing with a big spell is not necessary to get amazing value from this.
I think it's a very good card that would definitely see play at 7-mana. At 8-mana it's never going to compete. Here's hoping for a mid-season buff like they've done in the past.
I give Ras 4-stars. Super-powerful card that might be close to an auto-include in most decks, but it doesn't define the meta itself. It's just a great, strong card on its own.
Groundskeeper is 5-stars. It's just so strong that it'll make playing slower Shaman/Druid decks possible. Without this tool, those archetypes might not be able to exist. Thus meta-defining.
A cheap 8/8 do-nothing in the late game isn't that great. These kinds of cards have only entered the meta when they can be played on turns 4-7. Technically possible with this, but not practical.
I've been playing a lot less constructed the past few weeks, but I hit Legend in May with Quest Warrior. And it was a grind. The Corsair Cache nerf makes me sad even though I know its power level is higher in better archetypes.
Dragonqueen needed a nerf, but I also worry it's veered into unplayability. Being unable to heal/taunt on turn 9 has a lot of consequences. Or you just need to drop tons of stats to put your opponent on a clock 1 tick faster than yours. That's not going to happen with just an 8/8 even if your next turn is very powerful. The Rogue Galakrond change still feels balanced and powerful because it affects 4 cards you've chosen to put in your deck. With Dragonqueen's RNG, the 1-mana nerf is a ton worse.
All the other changes lower the power-level of the game in a decent way. I don't have strong feelings on them.
The strength of the "Studies" is in their permanent mana-cost reduction. The only one that doesn't benefit too much is Nature Studies because 1) you can't double the discount; 2) it's hard to save the discount for a specific spell - it's a perfectly fair short-term ramp at best. But doubling discounts on deathrattles, dragons, and demons could provide some serious mana-cheating for classes that don't typically have them. The point is not cheating out the discovered card, but a specific one in your deck.
I think you're under-rating Malicia. If the card was simply Battlecry: Summon two 3/3 Souls with Rush, it would be more than good enough to see play. The other Warlock and Demon Hunter cards that put Soul Fragments in your deck are good enough to see play. It should be easier to get a value trigger off this card than Blastmaster Boom which sees plenty of play in its own archetype. I think we're going to see a lot of this card in Warlock, but I'm just generally not as confident about making predictions about Demon Hunter.
Does anyone know if this is affected by spell damage? Either with more missiles or by upgrading (downgrading?) the devolution?
If that's how it works then it's a potential Time Warp. Take another turn.
The nice thing about them is that they both allow for more class cards each set AND allow more powerful cards to be printed since they're restricted to two classes. It's a brilliant way to deal with power-creep in a multi-year cycle without printing a bunch of busted neutrals. I think 10 class combinations is perfect per expansion, but it's exciting to think about how there are actually 45 combinations. It's a way better implementation than Gadgetzen or even the cross-class themes for EVIL and Explorers.
Alec Dawson confirmed on Twitter that the discounts only accrue while it's in your hand. Must have run out of space for the text.
https://twitter.com/GW_Alec/status/1288611888851386368
More like Fencing Coach powercreep. The discount isn't limited to your current turn.
Yeah, except DH has some of the best draw resources in the game. It's not fun to lose to a deck that hits fatigue 15 cards earlier than your draw-heavy control deck. It's no solace to think, ah, if only I had lasted another three turns they would have finally run out of resources.
The most fundamental design-flaw for DH is the 1-mana hero power. They needed to find a balanced 2-mana hero power.
Yeah, exactly. A 3/6 rush, windfury on turn 5 is fantastic. This is an amazing mid-range card where you probably want to play it turns 5-8. Synergizing with a big spell is not necessary to get amazing value from this.
Trolden can probably make an entire episode out of the successful fishing that happens from just this card.
Screams in Bloodmage Thalnos.
I think it's a very good card that would definitely see play at 7-mana. At 8-mana it's never going to compete. Here's hoping for a mid-season buff like they've done in the past.
I give Ras 4-stars. Super-powerful card that might be close to an auto-include in most decks, but it doesn't define the meta itself. It's just a great, strong card on its own.
Groundskeeper is 5-stars. It's just so strong that it'll make playing slower Shaman/Druid decks possible. Without this tool, those archetypes might not be able to exist. Thus meta-defining.
Simpsons Herzog did it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNNGzMK5e4c
A cheap 8/8 do-nothing in the late game isn't that great. These kinds of cards have only entered the meta when they can be played on turns 4-7. Technically possible with this, but not practical.
My brain is tired today, but I'm pretty sure there's no good way to interact with Teron Gorefiend.
I love this. Forces different trades to maximize damage up to 7. But 4 for 3 in a pinch is also fine!
FLUFFY BROOM >>>>>
I've been playing a lot less constructed the past few weeks, but I hit Legend in May with Quest Warrior. And it was a grind. The Corsair Cache nerf makes me sad even though I know its power level is higher in better archetypes.
Dragonqueen needed a nerf, but I also worry it's veered into unplayability. Being unable to heal/taunt on turn 9 has a lot of consequences. Or you just need to drop tons of stats to put your opponent on a clock 1 tick faster than yours. That's not going to happen with just an 8/8 even if your next turn is very powerful. The Rogue Galakrond change still feels balanced and powerful because it affects 4 cards you've chosen to put in your deck. With Dragonqueen's RNG, the 1-mana nerf is a ton worse.
All the other changes lower the power-level of the game in a decent way. I don't have strong feelings on them.