Control Shaman Deck - Murder at Castle Nathria

Control Shaman Deck Mulligan Guide

Due to the high curve of the deck, it is important to look for early-game cards to start out as the chance of naturally drawing the cheap cards is low.

• General Mulligan (keep regardless of what your opponent is playing) — Schooling, Sleetbreaker, Muck Pools, Clownfish.
• Mulligan against Aggro (also keep if you think you are playing against an aggressive deck) — Goldshire Gnoll.
• Mulligan against Control (also keep if you think you are playing against a slow deck) — Theotar, the Mad Duke.

Control Shaman Deck Strategy

Throughout the early turns, you should look to playout any minions you can to slow down the game. Playing Schooling early is can excellent method of achieving this, providing you up to 6 Attack in rush minions to slow down any aggression from your opponent.

As you enter the mid game, Clownfish becomes your most powerful tempo tool. The discount if offers allow you to play out multiple 2-Cost Murlocs for free, including those you may discover from Amalgam of the Deep. If you are not under pressure, you can save the discount for a future turn for a cheaper Gorloc Ravager so that you may draw deeper into your deck.

Continuing through the game, the overall playstyle of the deck is a very fluid one, simply playing out minions to slow the game down as you draw through your deck with Gorloc Ravager and Famished Fool. If things do get out of control, you can utilise Freeze effects generated by Sleetbreaker to buy yourelf additional time as needed.

The most versatile card in the deck and the one the stands at the centre of all of the deck's small synergies is Brilliant Macaw. How you decide to make use of the cards will greatly dictate the flow of the game as well as how you decide to win. For example, using it after the aforementioned Gorloc Ravager or Famished Fool will allow you to draw even further into your deck to accelerate your strategy even further. Alternatively, you may choose to use it with Mutanus the Devourer to eat through your opponent's hand or some of your card draw minions to replenish your resources. Lastly, you may opt to use it to repeat the Battlecry of Sire Denathrius for a mere 3 Mana, copying the exact damage dealt but without the Lifesteal effect.

When it comes to winning the game, many of the small synergies within the deck have the potential to win the game; this can range from strong early tempo due to Clownfish to developing multiple huge minions with the combination of Goldshire Gnoll and Muck Pools. However, the deck does also contain a true win condition through the use of Sire Denathrius. If you are able to survive until Turn 10 with it in hand it can be unleashed for a significant amount of damage while healing your in the process. This damage can be reapted again through the use of Brilliant Macaws, futher increased with Brann Bronzebeard if needed.

Against Aggro, you should try to fight aggressively for board control as your deck has minimal healing options available. The Murlocs in the deck, in particular Clownfish and Firemancer Flurgl, offer a seemingly-unfair amount of tempo that can completely shut down Aggro decks on the spot.

Against Control, it can be difficult to achieve any kind of damage from the board, due to counter removal tools. However, Control Shaman has the strongest arsenal when it comes to disrupting opponent's and their win conditions. Through the use of Mutanus the Devourer, Theotar, the Mad Duke and the ability to mimic these Battlecries through Brilliant Macaw, Brann Bronzebeard, and Bolner Hammerbeak, no card is safe in your opponent's hand. This allows you to pick apart any win condition, such as Sire Denathrius, they may have in their hand. If this strategy is in effective, conventional board pressure strategies still remain effective as well.

Control Shaman Deck Card Swaps

• Against Control — Add 1x Sylvanas, the Accused and 1x Insatiable Devourer for 2x Crud Caretaker.

Changelog