Wowzers! As of writing this column I am sitting just at Rank 3 on Hearthstone’s Standard Ladder. For me that’s a pretty giant feat. I’m a casual Hearthstone player at best. I hop in and out every few weeks/months depending on how much Magic I’m playing and how I feel about either game. I have to say, right now, I’m feeling mighty good about both games. I’m talking about Hearthstone, so I’ll just stick to that.
My Credentials
Before I get into the deck that has me down this low on the Ladder, let me tell you how I started this season. I was Rank 19. After messing around with Un’Goro meta last month for a bit getting down to Rank 10. And honestly, Rank 10 is just about where I normally end up. I once won 8 rounds in Arena and I have 500 wins with one hero: Warlock (thank you Demon Handlock and then Zoolock for the last 100 wins). I’m no slouch, but I wouldn’t consider myself, one of the greatest Hearthstone players in my local area let alone in the vastness of the internet.
The Deck
I started this season playing the deck I was on Last season: Control Mage. Unfortunately the early month meta was unkind to me and I slid back to rank 20. Frustrated with the high end of the ladder, I adopted Pirate Warrior for the first 8 ranks back to a more civilized field. From there I went back to Control mage. Eventually , I hit Rank 10 (That was July 17th) I realized I was a full three days ahead of the season so I figured, I might as well aim for Legend. I tough task, for sure, but it’s like a lifetime achievement. Every few months I think to myself, “This is it, I’ll snap off some easy wins and just get a streak going.” Well, this time I stuttered a bit. But eventually I switched from Control Mage to Secret Tempo Mage. This is the deck I’m still playing with seven ranks later against some of Hearthstone’s toughest opponents. The deck was posted by @Surrender_HS on hearthpwn he’s made top 55 legend with it!
Here’s the Deck:
[Babbling Book] x 2
[Mana Wyrm] x 2
[Arcanologist] x 2
[Frostbolt] x 2
[Medivh’s Valet] x 2
[Primordial Glyph] x 2
[Arcane Intellect] x 2
[Counterspell] x 2
[Ice Block] x 1
[Kirin Tor Mage] x 2
[Mirror Entity] x 1
[Volcanic Potion] x 1
[Fireball] x 2
[Kabal Crystal Runner] x2
[Firelands Portal] x 2
[Yogg-Saron, Hope’s End] x 1
[Arcane Giant] x1
As you can see there’s a lot of Tempo here. All the classic culprits are at large in this deck. [Mana Wyrm], [Frostbolt], [Counterspell], [Mirror Entity], [Fireball]—the cards that are too good to not play two in almost all Mage decks. Then the spice: [Kirin Tor Mage], combo’d with [Arcane Giant]s and [Kabal Crystal Runner]s, [Medivh’s Valet]s and the top-end Hail Mary of [Yogg-Saron, Hope’s End].
This deck is incredible. Hopefully, I’ll be legend by the time you are finding out about this deck, because the mirror is tough. The best way to describe this deck is that it’s like playing Delver in Magic. I feel like I’m able to leverage my play skill versus the aggro decks and stall them out then then the corner, and the slower decks just eat my dirt as I don’t need to pivot from a losing position.
What’s funny is that you really don’t need a mulligan guide for this deck. You need early plays versus every deck. If you are playing right your curve will punish the slower guys and should just be about to catch up to the aggro Paladin (your worst match-up) and Pirate Warriors. The main thing to realize with this deck—in fact this is the secret to Hearthstone—you have to know exactly when it’s time to stop worrying about the board and start pointing fireballs at your opponents. That comes from taking the deck around the block a few times. It’s not an easy deck by any stretch but if you practice with it you should be able to dominate.
At 4,860 Dust you likely have most of these cards. The rest of the cards are good and if your worry is that Yogg got nerfed just remember, no other card can bring you back from the brink like that guy. Check out these videos there is plenty of Yogg just singlehandedly winning me matched I have no business winning. You can find me online @Rockertycoon posting my climb to ladder the rest of this month, cheer me on!
Zac Clark
Zac Clark is the Founder of Hipsters of the Coast. An avid gamer since his early teens, Zac can often be found in Brooklyn either playing games or taking photos. When he’s not drawing extra cards, wrathing boards and countering spells, he’s taking pictures of other peoples good times and listening to 90’s Music.