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Hearthstone‘s new Throne of the Tides mini-set isn’t quite the game-changer that the CCG’s full expansions usually are, but it still features enough new cards to shake up the competitive meta and open up some new deckbuilding possibilities.
As is usually the case with these mini-sets, Throne of the Tides certainly makes some of the game’s best decks just a little better than before. However, it’s clear that this expansion’s new cards will also help rescue a few deck archetypes that have struggled to really break into the game in a big way in recent weeks. How much it will end up shaking up the ranked play scene remains to be seen.
For now, here’s a look at some of the biggest stars of the early days of the Throne of the Tides meta.
The New Fel Demon Hunter
Demon Hunter decks. took a slight hit in power due to some recent nerfs, but they’re still more powerful than people typically give them credit for. Besides, the class’ new Throne of the Tides cards help put it back over-the-top.
This aggressive Demon Hunter deck is looking to generate a steady stream of damage or otherwise deal massive damage across a couple of key turns. New cards Topple the Idol and Herald of Chaos help this deck clear tricky boards, while Fossil Fanatic makes its card draw slightly more reliable. While this build still struggles against decks that can generate massive amounts of armor/life gain, it’s sneakily powerful.
New Fel Demon Hunter Deck Code: AAECAea5AwaN9wOHiwTbuQT7vwT+vwSbyQQMwvEDifcDjPcDyIAEg58Etp8EjrAElrcEmLoEvsoEwMoEoM4EAA==
Moonbeam Druid
To be honest with you, I thought this deck was just going to be a gimmick. After a little time with it (and against it), though, I can tell you that there’s definitely something to this idea.
This deck is basically looking to put two Guild Traders and Bloodmage Thalnos on the board before using Moonbeam and Living Roots to deal massive damage to the enemy’s face. While there are various factors that can disrupt that simple plan, it’s worth noting that this deck has backup options that enable it to pull off surprising wins even when things don’t go according to plan.
Moonbeam Druid Deck Code: AAECAZICBomLBK6fBJegBPGkBKWtBL/OBAzF+QOvgASljQSJnwTanwTPrAT/vQTwvwSuwATV0gSB1ATaoQUA
Naval Mine Deathrattle Rogue
Deathrattle Rogue was already creeping up the Hearthstone power rankings, and the Throne of the Tides expansion just happened to give that deck the one card it needed most.
The new Shattershambler card makes it significantly easier to trigger Naval Mine’s devastating Deathrattle effect without having to leave it sitting helplessly on the board. This deck still performs fine without that card, but the turns when you’re able to play Shattershambler into Naval Mine are simply devastating.
Naval Mine Deathrattle Rogue Deck Code: AAECAaIHBJGfBPafBPKkBISyBA316APT8wON9AOh9AP3nwTVoAT8pQT9rASIsAS3swTVtgSJ0gTj0wQA
Throne of the Tides Quest Hunter
Much like Demon Hunters, Quest Hunter decks just aren’t what they use to be thanks to some devastating nerfs. However, this new mini-set gives Quest Hunter decks just enough extra juice to make them interesting.
Thanks to the new Shellshot cards, Quest Hunters are better able to efficiently control boards without having to use valuable face damage cards on minions. It might not sound like much, but you’d be surprised by what a difference that slight increase in versatility makes for the overall power level of this deck.
Throne of the Tides Quest Hunter: AAECAR8C/fgD25EEDgDc6gPb7QP3+AOogQSrjQSpnwSqnwTjnwTknwS7oASZrQSdsASM1AQA
Burn It Down Curse Warlock
In recent weeks, Curse Warlock has gone from “fun, but flawed” to “shockingly powerful.” While the best Curse Warlock may still be the simplest build, the new mini-set offers a few ways to really take that concept to the next level.
Simply put, Warlock’s new cards make this deck the bane of control/combo decks everywhere. Immolate puts an opponent on a clock that forces them to play their hand or lose it, while Commander Ulthok often forces opponents to skip late game turns. This deck is incredibly annoying to play against, so you might as well be the one who plays it.
Burn It Down Curse Warlock Deck Code: AAECAa35AwoA8u0DwPkDsJEEsZ8El6AE5r0E9ccEltQEmNQECgAAgvsDg/sD56AE/rQElrcE3L0E4r0Em9QEAA==