I am loving mercs. I am not getting nearly as much XP as I would in the other game modes (grinding PVE content yields very little), but I don't mind at all. I am missing just 5-6 legendary mercs (crafting them), and I am enjoying the little bits of mercs PVP that I've done + the PVE.
Level 232, as of today. I have three daily quests and two weeklies still to do (that's a sign of how much mercs has dominated my HS time lately!).
First off, GREAT article. Really enjoyed reading through it.
I've been playing F2P (except for the $5 bundle), and have been loving the new mode. I am a grinder at heart, so I have not minded repeating low level heroics to get specific coins, etc and targeting the Mysterious Stranger on a smaller map.
I did not realize that lame mechanic about pack opening (the possibility of opening a portrait for a Merc you own before a brand new one of the same rarity). I've just opened up too few packs to experience that for myself.
I've been enjoying the new mode. I only bought the Welcome Bundle ($5 USD).
I am two bounties into Winterspring, and I don't mind the grinding. I have been trying to level all of my mercies equally, so I rotate teams almost every run to catch up the stragglers (crazy, I know). All 6 of my protectors are Level 30 now, but no one in the other two roles are maxed.
I've dabbled a tiny bit in PVP, and have faced equal amounts AI and other actual players. Seems fun - I know I don't have an optimal squad at all, so I am not taking it too seriously.
Thonson's thoughts earlier in the chain sum up well how I feel - I am definitely still having fun with the game.
Diamond 5 is my "goal" each month in Wild and Standard - anything past that is just gravy (I've made legend about a dozen times over the years). I play a few hours of battlegrounds a week, don't touch duels or arena (too cheap to "risk gold"), but I have a large enough collection to switch things up every day in constructed if I need to. The key for me is not taking it too seriously, and finding a comfortable rank floor where I don't mind getting stomped on once in a while. I really enjoy the collecting aspect of the game, I love incrementally adding to my collection, and I am really looking forward to mercs as a new mode next week
I hit level 156 today for Stormwind. I hit legend last month in Wild, but this month I've just been grinding/memeing at the D5 level in both standard and wild (which is my usual goal). I finished all the XP accomplishments for Stormwind weeks ago except for the Priest quest line one (because I don't have that card - one of 3 legendaries that I am missing from the new set).
I buy both pre-orders and the tavern pass each expansion (have done so for a couple years), but that's about it, so not quite at the $2 a day level! (See post above).
I am really looking forward to mercenaries' release. Looking forward to showing that mode to my kids and letting them take the reins with that one (PVE) a bit.
I am hyped for the new mode, too! Looks fun, and another way to engage with mostly well-loved characters from the old WoW universe. I also like the Pokemon-esque collection/upgrade your fighters element to this mode.
I took time to watch each of the three reveal videos posted on OoC - I would first recommend Trump's - he has the best grasp on the mechanics etc. (and the new mode in general), although Slyssa is the only one who showed (limited) PVP at the end of her video.
FWIW: I plan to be fully F2P for mercenaries ( I buy pre-orders and tavern pass normally).
I'm halfway through level 74, still grinding achievements. Nearly done with the ones that don't require a dose of RNG or the couple that are dependent on cards I don't have (Priest quest, for example).
I am at level 49 now in the track (bought the Tavern pass for the cosmetics and the XP boost). I have been farming the XP achievements (to the detriment of rank, but I'm at the Diamond 5 floor in both standard and wild, so I don't mind at all). Some of them are a real grind. Currently I am halfway through the "damage your opponent" one (the Tamsin questline), but people tend to concede when she gets dropped if things look bad on board. Overall, I am enjoying Stormwind and the new decks I have been able to play with what I unpacked.
I was in serial disconnect/re-connect land too for the first 2 days. Very frustrating, but it seems like performance has improved a bit in the last 24 hours. Here's hoping.
I am farming achievements at the Diamond 5 floor. Painful to lose so much, but the at least I am getting XP for now.
Here are my first impressions - similar to what some have already said. For what it's worth, I have ONLY played a super janky home-brew rogue list that is built with the sole purpose of completing achievements (mainly the unfun grind ones in the neutral cards section). As I complete an achievement, I swap out the relevant cards and replace them with "good" rogue cards. It's probably 3-40 so far since launch.
The Mage quest seems REALLY strong. Before launch everyone was wondering in forums/streams "what kind of a deck wants to play fire/frost/arcane?". I guess we have the answer. I have seen the quest completed on curve, and then you get smacked in the face with their 9 damage Ignite and a couple of reduced cost fireballs on Turn 8 for the game.
The Warlock quest also seems strong. The deck has ample healing and board clears (unless you have big SI:7 minions in stealth in my rare case).
I have not seen the Paladin quest yet. Actually, only a couple paladins out there, period.
The Hunter quest seems strong. There's a ton of burn in that deck, and upgrading the HP is pretty nuts.
Priest quest - I saw someone play High Abbess Alura on 9 or 10 after dropping the quest reward (they completed on curve). And then they played the 0 mana heal both heroes spell to proc Alura and the Shard was cast from deck. I was impressed!
Warrior quest - I played the VS list for the quest for 3 games right after the expansion. Seemed slow (in Standard).
Have not played wild yet. It's hard to gauge what's the strongest thing out there given that I have been playing total garbage (and losing to pretty much everything), but so far it feels like Mage and Warlock are toughest. Honorable mention to the Garrote rogue list that runs Gadgetzan Auctioneer and can kill you on turn 8 as it draws through the entire deck.
I got to level 288, with the pass. In DMF, I got well over level 300, but played a little less HS this expansion because I was busy IRL and with other games. Happy with my haul, and lots of gold on hand to supplement my packs from the pre-orders as needed. I am really hyped for UiS.
I visit the site daily (on PC or mobile) to check for Hearthstone news and insights. I enjoy a lot of the article series, and I enjoy the forums, although I wish they were a bit more active. I am a serial up-voter on comments and tend to only add a comment of my own when I feel it would add to the discussion or underscore a point made by someone else.
I am loving mercs. I am not getting nearly as much XP as I would in the other game modes (grinding PVE content yields very little), but I don't mind at all. I am missing just 5-6 legendary mercs (crafting them), and I am enjoying the little bits of mercs PVP that I've done + the PVE.
Level 232, as of today. I have three daily quests and two weeklies still to do (that's a sign of how much mercs has dominated my HS time lately!).
+1 for "Role playing as John Hammond..." LOL
This write-up had me in stitches! Thank you for the enjoyable read, and kudos for the creative decklist!
First off, GREAT article. Really enjoyed reading through it.
I've been playing F2P (except for the $5 bundle), and have been loving the new mode. I am a grinder at heart, so I have not minded repeating low level heroics to get specific coins, etc and targeting the Mysterious Stranger on a smaller map.
I did not realize that lame mechanic about pack opening (the possibility of opening a portrait for a Merc you own before a brand new one of the same rarity). I've just opened up too few packs to experience that for myself.
Overall, enjoying the new mode.
I've been enjoying the new mode. I only bought the Welcome Bundle ($5 USD).
I am two bounties into Winterspring, and I don't mind the grinding. I have been trying to level all of my mercies equally, so I rotate teams almost every run to catch up the stragglers (crazy, I know). All 6 of my protectors are Level 30 now, but no one in the other two roles are maxed.
I've dabbled a tiny bit in PVP, and have faced equal amounts AI and other actual players. Seems fun - I know I don't have an optimal squad at all, so I am not taking it too seriously.
Overall, very happy with the new mode.
Thonson's thoughts earlier in the chain sum up well how I feel - I am definitely still having fun with the game.
Diamond 5 is my "goal" each month in Wild and Standard - anything past that is just gravy (I've made legend about a dozen times over the years). I play a few hours of battlegrounds a week, don't touch duels or arena (too cheap to "risk gold"), but I have a large enough collection to switch things up every day in constructed if I need to. The key for me is not taking it too seriously, and finding a comfortable rank floor where I don't mind getting stomped on once in a while. I really enjoy the collecting aspect of the game, I love incrementally adding to my collection, and I am really looking forward to mercs as a new mode next week
I hit level 156 today for Stormwind. I hit legend last month in Wild, but this month I've just been grinding/memeing at the D5 level in both standard and wild (which is my usual goal). I finished all the XP accomplishments for Stormwind weeks ago except for the Priest quest line one (because I don't have that card - one of 3 legendaries that I am missing from the new set).
I buy both pre-orders and the tavern pass each expansion (have done so for a couple years), but that's about it, so not quite at the $2 a day level! (See post above).
I am really looking forward to mercenaries' release. Looking forward to showing that mode to my kids and letting them take the reins with that one (PVE) a bit.
I am hyped for the new mode, too! Looks fun, and another way to engage with mostly well-loved characters from the old WoW universe. I also like the Pokemon-esque collection/upgrade your fighters element to this mode.
I took time to watch each of the three reveal videos posted on OoC - I would first recommend Trump's - he has the best grasp on the mechanics etc. (and the new mode in general), although Slyssa is the only one who showed (limited) PVP at the end of her video.
FWIW: I plan to be fully F2P for mercenaries ( I buy pre-orders and tavern pass normally).
Great deck guide and effort! I love reading guides like this and seeing the creative work people put in.
I hit level 100 yesterday. Took the Uther skin for the completed track.
I'm halfway through level 74, still grinding achievements. Nearly done with the ones that don't require a dose of RNG or the couple that are dependent on cards I don't have (Priest quest, for example).
I think he means the "new" Ben, not Ben Brode.
+1 for the achievement themed deck, the title, and the flavor! Can't wait to give this a try!
I am at level 49 now in the track (bought the Tavern pass for the cosmetics and the XP boost). I have been farming the XP achievements (to the detriment of rank, but I'm at the Diamond 5 floor in both standard and wild, so I don't mind at all). Some of them are a real grind. Currently I am halfway through the "damage your opponent" one (the Tamsin questline), but people tend to concede when she gets dropped if things look bad on board. Overall, I am enjoying Stormwind and the new decks I have been able to play with what I unpacked.
I was in serial disconnect/re-connect land too for the first 2 days. Very frustrating, but it seems like performance has improved a bit in the last 24 hours. Here's hoping.
I am farming achievements at the Diamond 5 floor. Painful to lose so much, but the at least I am getting XP for now.
Here are my first impressions - similar to what some have already said. For what it's worth, I have ONLY played a super janky home-brew rogue list that is built with the sole purpose of completing achievements (mainly the unfun grind ones in the neutral cards section). As I complete an achievement, I swap out the relevant cards and replace them with "good" rogue cards. It's probably 3-40 so far since launch.
The Mage quest seems REALLY strong. Before launch everyone was wondering in forums/streams "what kind of a deck wants to play fire/frost/arcane?". I guess we have the answer. I have seen the quest completed on curve, and then you get smacked in the face with their 9 damage Ignite and a couple of reduced cost fireballs on Turn 8 for the game.
The Warlock quest also seems strong. The deck has ample healing and board clears (unless you have big SI:7 minions in stealth in my rare case).
I have not seen the Paladin quest yet. Actually, only a couple paladins out there, period.
The Hunter quest seems strong. There's a ton of burn in that deck, and upgrading the HP is pretty nuts.
Priest quest - I saw someone play High Abbess Alura on 9 or 10 after dropping the quest reward (they completed on curve). And then they played the 0 mana heal both heroes spell to proc Alura and the Shard was cast from deck. I was impressed!
Warrior quest - I played the VS list for the quest for 3 games right after the expansion. Seemed slow (in Standard).
Have not played wild yet. It's hard to gauge what's the strongest thing out there given that I have been playing total garbage (and losing to pretty much everything), but so far it feels like Mage and Warlock are toughest. Honorable mention to the Garrote rogue list that runs Gadgetzan Auctioneer and can kill you on turn 8 as it draws through the entire deck.
I got to level 288, with the pass. In DMF, I got well over level 300, but played a little less HS this expansion because I was busy IRL and with other games. Happy with my haul, and lots of gold on hand to supplement my packs from the pre-orders as needed. I am really hyped for UiS.
Thanks for the PSA, as always! I never do Arena, so I have some extra tickets piled up from the last two Tavern Passes. Currently 1-1.
I had a good chuckle at "SORRY CAPS LOCK GOT STUCK".
I visit the site daily (on PC or mobile) to check for Hearthstone news and insights. I enjoy a lot of the article series, and I enjoy the forums, although I wish they were a bit more active. I am a serial up-voter on comments and tend to only add a comment of my own when I feel it would add to the discussion or underscore a point made by someone else.