[Archived] S8 Hearthstone Legendary Mage Control Deck

[Damien 1,514]

This thread is for comments about our Legendary Mage Control Deck.

[Guest Drift]

The legendary control deck that was posted here before March 25 seems to have disappeared... for good reason - it was awful. The change log says "revamped" but should say "shredded and started over." I lost a game with the old deck by running out of cards. How bad is that?

 

This new one, on the other hand, seems to be outstanding through the half dozen matches I've tried so far. The Taunts are key to surviving to the late rounds. If you live until turn seven, POW. I like this mage deck better than any one I've seen, including Trump's.

 

Nice job, Poyo. Huge improvement to the deck. And really appreciate the strategy discussion, too.

 

Some advice on getting this deck -- buy a 40 pack, mass disenchant the dupes, and use dust to create your missing cards. Rinse. Repeat. Don't buy packs hoping to get a drop, you'll go broke.

 

 

[Poyo 41]

Hey, Drift!

I have lost my fair share of games by decking myself out or fatigue burning my last health, however in most of those games I have done mistakes or plays that would lead to a different outcome if I had known how the rest of the game would play out. When you lose the game by running out of cards, I would suggest analyzing the lost game and considering the possibility of a different outcome if you made a different play at some point of the match. 

Generally when you run out of cards, it means that you were playing a rather evenly matched game where both you and your opponent found a solution to other player's threats, which shouldn't mean that the deck you play is bad.

Next time it happens to you, try to brainstorm a bit and see if a different play would have influence the outcome and pay most attention to how you used your finishers. (Generally running out of cards means that your opponent found a solution to all your finishers)

I'm really glad to hear that the new deck works for you.

Regards,
Poyo

[Drift 3]

Hey Poyo,

 

Point taken. I had a hand full of cards, why was I drawing? However, I had nothing to finish my opponent and three dead draws did me in. But that's old news.

 

I've played quite a few more games with this, and am liking it more all the time. Very balanced, and I often win early. If we get to the late game, lock it down - it's a win.

 

I see that you've recently joined IV, and I'm delighted you're overseeing all the decks. I put your latest legendary warrior control deck to the test today with great success. You're right - that one is tremendously fun to play. Keep up the great work!

 

Drift

[Vlad 411]

Hey Poyo,

 

Point taken. I had a hand full of cards, why was I drawing? However, I had nothing to finish my opponent and three dead draws did me in. But that's old news.

 

I've played quite a few more games with this, and am liking it more all the time. Very balanced, and I often win early. If we get to the late game, lock it down - it's a win.

 

I see that you've recently joined IV, and I'm delighted you're overseeing all the decks. I put your latest legendary warrior control deck to the test today with great success. You're right - that one is tremendously fun to play. Keep up the great work!

 

Drift

We brought Poyo in specifically as "expert adviser" for Hearthstone content (though that's kind of an understatement, he practically writes most of it himself now!)

[Guest BetaXP]

I honestly am struggling to get a win with this deck even in low ranks against aggro decks. Seems to have no early defense to not get destroyed.

[Oltier 471]

I honestly am struggling to get a win with this deck even in low ranks against aggro decks. Seems to have no early defense to not get destroyed.

Use your spells, minions efficiently to keep the board clear. Also make a good use of your hero power.

 

I'm using a weaker version of this deck and I have had no problems up to rank 7 with it. :)

[Poyo 41]

I put your latest legendary warrior control deck to the test today with great success. You're right - that one is tremendously fun to play. Keep up the great work!

 

Drift

I'm glad you like it :) and, thnx!

[JagaRogue 0]

I'm using a weaker version of this deck and I have had no problems up to rank 7 with it.

How much weaker can it be? I don't have Nat Pagle, Cairne, Ragnaros, and missing a Sunfury Protector and an Azure Drake. Any ideas what I could use for replacements? At least temporarily.

[Oltier 471]

I used Trump's F2P mage deck, that is here.

 

 

The only things you are missing from this deck are Sunfury protectors and Azure Drakes.

What are the possible replacements? Both these cards are quite unique and I cannot really think of any replacements, unfortunately.

[Guest Ry]

What would be a good sub for Ragnaros?

My options are:

1-Pyroblast

2-Alexstraza

3-Yzera

[Oltier 471]

What would be a good sub for Ragnaros?

My options are:

1-Pyroblast

2-Alexstraza

3-Yzera

I'd say Ysera. It's a bit slower than Rag, but it's still powerful.

[Guest Max]

I used Trump's F2P mage deck, that is here.

 

 

The only things you are missing from this deck are Sunfury protectors and Azure Drakes.

What are the possible replacements? Both these cards are quite unique and I cannot really think of any replacements, unfortunately.

i've been using a slight variant on this deck and i'm loving it so far - brilliant results. The reason i varied was due to lack of dust. I currently need one more azure drake and faceless manipulator for now. But the way i have it my win/loss ratio out of 15 ranked games (starting at rank 18/17 - not too sure) i am now on rank 15 with a w/l of 11:4. It's brilliant!

 

Max

[Guest HeeroKamina]

For some reason, this deck is useless whitout flamestrike vs any aggro deck. And if u get the bad luck like me, u lose 5 games in a row due to not getting any single flamestrike.

[Oltier 471]

For some reason, this deck is useless whitout flamestrike vs any aggro deck. And if u get the bad luck like me, u lose 5 games in a row due to not getting any single flamestrike.

If you are facing many aggro decks recently, you are free to add 1-2 Arcane Explosions, which combined with Bloodmage/AzureDrake, can be quite devastating to aggro decks with 1-2 health minions.

[CogentK9 4]

I have Rag but I have it replaced by a second Faceless.  Why would my replacement be not as much of a good choice?  I've been using the Faceless to copy heavy hitting taunt minions from the opponent.  I've also used it to put out 3 Bloodhoofs.  When I've used it to copy big hitters from the other side, it has caused a few to just concede out of pure frustration.  Rag seems to always get taken out so quickly when I use him so I'm thinking that maybe there is something to his utility that I'm not seeing.

As for being reliant on Flamestrike, I find that using your Hero Power to keep the lowbies down is key.  I'm usually able to frustrate murloc warlock decks pretty well by using hero power combined with other spells like frostbolt  to knock out their key murlocs.  Once they've blown their wad and go to no cards in their hand, they depend on using their hero power to try and gain control of the board but by then, it's too late for them.

[Oltier 471]

I have Rag but I have it replaced by a second Faceless.  Why would my replacement be not as much of a good choice?  I've been using the Faceless to copy heavy hitting taunt minions from the opponent.  I've also used it to put out 3 Bloodhoofs.  When I've used it to copy big hitters from the other side, it has caused a few to just concede out of pure frustration.  Rag seems to always get taken out so quickly when I use him so I'm thinking that maybe there is something to his utility that I'm not seeing.

As for being reliant on Flamestrike, I find that using your Hero Power to keep the lowbies down is key.  I'm usually able to frustrate murloc warlock decks pretty well by using hero power combined with other spells like frostbolt  to knock out their key murlocs.  Once they've blown their wad and go to no cards in their hand, they depend on using their hero power to try and gain control of the board but by then, it's too late for them.

Using 2 facelesses is completely fine in the current meta with this ...load of legendary decks.

However, putting out a Rag just at the right moment can be quite devastating for the opponent. Most of the classes don't run reliable cards to remove him from the game. The only cards I can think of are Hex, Poly, Assassinate. These cards can be forced out by other high value/hitting cards, like Ogres. Then, when you know that your opponents has nothing else that could make Ragg die, you play him and bamm. :)

 

Yet again, having 3 Bloodhoofs is also great and is better than a Ragg. But still, faceless requires something on the board to copy that is not as reliable as a guaranteed Ragg. (in my opinion at least)

[CogentK9 4]

Using 2 facelesses is completely fine in the current meta with this ...load of legendary decks.

However, putting out a Rag just at the right moment can be quite devastating for the opponent. Most of the classes don't run reliable cards to remove him from the game. The only cards I can think of are Hex, Poly, Assassinate. These cards can be forced out by other high value/hitting cards, like Ogres. Then, when you know that your opponents has nothing else that could make Ragg die, you play him and bamm.

 

Yet again, having 3 Bloodhoofs is also great and is better than a Ragg. But still, faceless requires something on the board to copy that is not as reliable as a guaranteed Ragg. (in my opinion at least)

 

Definitely good points.  I'll see about adding him back into my deck and see how it affects things.  Thanks for the input...

[Guest din]

sry this dec dosnt help at all, i've lost 6 matches in a row now. i dont have anything i can put on the table without minion getting destroyed. 

[Guest Guest]

Using 2 facelesses is completely fine in the current meta with this ...load of legendary decks.

However, putting out a Rag just at the right moment can be quite devastating for the opponent. Most of the classes don't run reliable cards to remove him from the game. The only cards I can think of are Hex, Poly, Assassinate. These cards can be forced out by other high value/hitting cards, like Ogres. Then, when you know that your opponents has nothing else that could make Ragg die, you play him and bamm.

 

Yet again, having 3 Bloodhoofs is also great and is better than a Ragg. But still, faceless requires something on the board to copy that is not as reliable as a guaranteed Ragg. (in my opinion at least)

If you only can think of Hex and poly you dont know so much about the game. things that can fuck up the "high cards" naturalize, Snipe, Deadly Shot, fireball, Humility, Repentance, Aldor Peacekeeper, sap, corruption, Siphon soul, Execute and probably some more. Playing a Legendary or any high card is never reliable.

[Oltier 471]

If you only can think of Hex and poly you dont know so much about the game. things that can fuck up the "high cards" naturalize, Snipe, Deadly Shot, fireball, Humility, Repentance, Aldor Peacekeeper, sap, corruption, Siphon soul, Execute and probably some more. Playing a Legendary or any high card is never reliable.

If we think of ie. Raggnaros:

Neutralize is never run usually, as it gives card advantage to your opponent.

Snipe is only 4 damage, Rag still lives.

Deadly Shot is random, and with a control deck you usually have more than one guys on the field. Ragg might still live.

Humility, Repentance, Aldor doesn't affect Ragg.

Sap, Siphon soul can mess with you instantly, yes.

For execute, the opponent will have to use at least 2 cards (something to damage your Ragg, and the execute). You've got card advantage by this.

 

I meant Hex and Poly as a 100% reliable remove and indeed I forgot about some of the cards as I only brought an example.

 

Considering this, playing a Ragg is still much more reliable, than waiting for your opponent to play something that MIGHT be valuable for a copy.

[Oltier 471]

sry this dec dosnt help at all, i've lost 6 matches in a row now. i dont have anything i can put on the table without minion getting destroyed. 

Unfortunately, for the current meta this deck is indeed too slow. You have to adapt to the meta and swap out some cards.

[Dragoras 0]

Hey guys. Wondering if you guys had some tips for grinding arcsne dust to hopefully make this legendary deck one day. 11k seems like a lot any tips would be appreciated.

[Guest Guest]

I'm not a big fan of Nat Pagle. There were some games where it was doing nothing but simply sitting on the board. The card draw is awesome, but only when it works — the 50% probability is not exactly reliable. It would have been better if it was 1/x, not 0/4. What should I replace it with?

[Poyo 41]

I'm not a big fan of Nat Pagle. There were some games where it was doing nothing but simply sitting on the board. The card draw is awesome, but only when it works — the 50% probability is not exactly reliable. It would have been better if it was 1/x, not 0/4. What should I replace it with?

I dislike Nat Pagle for its 50% probability and you can easily take it out for The Black Knight (Taunters in metagame), Big Game Hunter (playing against a lot of fatties), Defender of Argus or maybe even a Faceless Manipulator.