Hearthstone Arena Guide

[Damien 1,514]

This thread is for comments about our Arena detailed guide for Hearthstone.

[Guest Bahumut]

I found this guide very informative, well written, and entertaining.  This guide has opened up my eyes to not only Arena play, but how to think while playing HS. So I just wanted to say thanks for the author of this guide. 

 

 

[Vlad 411]

I found this guide very informative, well written, and entertaining.  This guide has opened up my eyes to not only Arena play, but how to think while playing HS. So I just wanted to say thanks for the author of this guide. 

You are welcome! There's more to come, so keep checking back. And feel free to ask any questions you may have.

[Guest Winterhold]

Thanks for this guide! The Hunter's secrets I find especially difficult to work around, and the information you've provided here is really helpful. 

[Guest Johan]

Excellent guide! Got me a 12-1 run on the first try (lost one at 11-0, dammit)! And I'm usually happy if I get more wins than losses.

[Damien 1,514]

It's really great that you guys have found success in the Arena after reading the guide

[Guest Logan]

I've tried this guide on the last two out of three arena runs i've done.  My first run i just built a hunter without using this guide and got 9 wins.  then I get priest/sham/war choices for the second two arenas and picked priest both times, got 4 wins total both runs using the guide for priests.  Maybe its just bad luck (no legendarys ever, maybe 1 epic), but i feel like i could have just drafted better without looking at the card ratings.  Am i using this guide wrong or what could i be missing?

And maybe elaborating on how exactly you'd use/build a control deck with priest would help.

[Damien 1,514]

I've tried this guide on the last two out of three arena runs i've done.  My first run i just built a hunter without using this guide and got 9 wins.  then I get priest/sham/war choices for the second two arenas and picked priest both times, got 4 wins total both runs using the guide for priests.  Maybe its just bad luck (no legendarys ever, maybe 1 epic), but i feel like i could have just drafted better without looking at the card ratings.  Am i using this guide wrong or what could i be missing?

And maybe elaborating on how exactly you'd use/build a control deck with priest would help.

 

I remember having had the same issues the first times I used card ratings. At the time it was Kripparrian's spreadsheet on Google Docs. Then, I got the hang of it and my results got a lot better.

[Oltier 471]

I've tried this guide on the last two out of three arena runs i've done.  My first run i just built a hunter without using this guide and got 9 wins.  then I get priest/sham/war choices for the second two arenas and picked priest both times, got 4 wins total both runs using the guide for priests.  Maybe its just bad luck (no legendarys ever, maybe 1 epic), but i feel like i could have just drafted better without looking at the card ratings.  Am i using this guide wrong or what could i be missing?

And maybe elaborating on how exactly you'd use/build a control deck with priest would help.

 

 

I remember having had the same issues the first times I used card ratings. At the time it was Kripparrian's spreadsheet on Google Docs. Then, I got the hang of it and my results got a lot better.

 

Same here. On my first arena runs I didn't use anything just my brain. I've got 9/2 (out of 9) back then.

Then, in the recent ladder reset I went to Arena again with Trump's spreadsheet. I've got smashed with 2/3 (out of 12). Then, on second try up to 9/3. I can think of several reasons for Priest why you felt like it was bad.

 

• Your draft relies a lot on luck. This cannot be helped.
• Priests, in my opinion are quite underpowered with their class skill. It's not terrible, but most of the classes have a sort of board control ability, which -in my opinion- much better than healing. Life Tap is a different story.
• Using a spreadsheet blindly is a bad idea. The problem with these spreadsheets, that they give points to cards on a general basis, while the cards value gets upgraded/downgraded dynamically with almost any card you choose. Ie.: Houndmaster might have higher value rating than a Timber Wolf in general. But if you don't have any beasts in your deck, but you could use a Timberwolf for an Unleash the Hounds combo, then you should definitely go for that.

I hope this makes sense. :)

[Guest Michael Kelley]

Great guide! I'm just confused by one thing. It seems to me that the late mana curve is actually LIGHTER on heavy hitters than the medium mana curve, and has more 2's. Am I missing something? Were they misnamed?

[Poyo 41]

Great guide! I'm just confused by one thing. It seems to me that the late mana curve is actually LIGHTER on heavy hitters than the medium mana curve, and has more 2's. Am I missing something? Were they misnamed?

Hello!

The graphs are there to teach you, that regardless of what deck type you play, you will need a certain amount of cards to handle early, mid and late game. 

I think you misunderstood the idea behind the graphs. The impact your cards have on the game will determine whether your deck will pull ahead in early, mid or late game, the mana curve however, simply refers to the amount of cards that are required for a specific stage of the game so you can ramp up to your ultimate "end-game".

You could argue that the "Late-Game Manacurve" is in fact aggressive and has nothing to do with control decks and you would be right.

As an example, we can take the "Late-Game Manacurve" and compare an aggressive rogue and a control priest with similar mana curve. Priest will need solutions to early-mid stages of the match, where they will attempt to create card advantage and slowly establish board control in order to overpower you in late game with their bombs. Rogue on the other hand, might have similar mana curve, but the cards will have completely different impact on the game. You will try to keep up the tempo at all times and overpower your opponent before they can establish board control and prevent them from making card advantage through early stages of the match. So... as a Rogue, your strengths will lie in early game and your late game will most likely only include a Sprint or two to make up the card advantage you need to finish off your opponent, while as a Priest, you will most likely be drafting all possible solutions against aggressive and midrange decks so you can eventually establish board control and pull ahead in late game.

 

 

[Guest Jason]

Just wanted to say thanks for this guide.  First week I played I was averaging around 5 wins, and this guide plus some experience has helped bump me up to averaging 7-8.  Those few extra wins are the hardest since you're playing against the better decks but so important as now I'm earning gold in most arena runs.  Thanks for the help!

[Guest Guest]

Thanks for this great guide. I have a question about the preference of classes, I see you rate rogue as a great class but I see others rating it as a poor arena class (mostly saying they've been nerfed hard and arent as good as before). Just curious if this is true.

[Poyo 41]

Thanks for this great guide. I have a question about the preference of classes, I see you rate rogue as a great class but I see others rating it as a poor arena class (mostly saying they've been nerfed hard and arent as good as before). Just curious if this is true.

I'm glad you like the guide.

The preferences are a personal thing and I don't think there is anyone who can tell you what is the best thing to pick, because regardless of your choice, it will all come down to rng.

The only major nerf rogue got was at the start of beta when Dagger Mastery (hero power) was changed. It previously summoned a 1/2 Dagger and if you had a dagger on board, 2nd use gave it +1 Attack, which allowed you to take out 3/2 minions. This was insanely overpowered and it simply had to be nerfed.

I don't find anything wrong with rogues, in fact my favorites are Shaman, Paladin and Rogue. Once you start playing on a level where you make the best choices rather than simply good ones, you will pretty much complain more about the individual card choices you get during draft, rather than the class itself. 

 

[Guest Greenmizu]

Superb Guide. Thx a lot!

[Guest Balrogfan]

Do you feel any of the class tiers have changed since Naxx?

[Guest Niebling]

Great Guide! thx a lot, had my first 11 run last night, thx to this guide

[Guest Guest]

When will this guide get the update for GvG? Would appreciate a lot 

[Sottle 221]

To be perfectly honest, this is not a high priority for me right now, the guide doesn't include a great deal of specific information that needs changing for GvG, it's basically just a outline on Arena strategy. The Arena Tier list spreadsheets have been updated to include the GvG cards, and you can view them Here

 

Edit: If you're interested in a current Hero tier list for Arena, I think it goes like this.

A: Mage, Paladin

B: Rogue, Warlock, Priest

C: Shaman, Warrior

D: Druid, Hunter

[Guest Guest]

Awesome Guide! Thank you very much.

It's very detailed and if you read the whole article you can enhance your play massive!

[Guest PiscesPrince]

It seems that secret explanations and play strategy are missing from the Paladin, particulary Avenge. Great information, very informative and useful.

[Guest D3meZ]

[Guest Paklu]

Lately games have gotten harder IMO. Earlier when you lost first game or even were running 2-2 or so the next opponents played many unpickable cards. Lately I have managed to get even 0-3 runs with seemingly strong decks where every opponent was playing decent deck as well. 

 

Due to the increase in power level minion trading has higher risk as well: It used to be that the reader of this guide would pack superior deck and thus win most long games  making early game more of a survival /tempo, but against other strong decks the extra points of damage easily stack for lethal. 

 

 

[Guest Anon]

Typo: "and a Minibot played on turn will be"

[Sottle 221]

Thank you.