Today is the day to step into the Gurubashi Arena and battle for honor and glory. The next Hearthstone expansion is Rastakhan's Rumble, which sees all nine classes embrace their inner gladiator and battle it out with their Loa, their Spirit, and their troll champion.
That means it's once again time for Shacknews to crack our knuckles and break down each of these cards, one-by-one. And today, we're analyzing the last of the expansion's cards.
In case you missed it:
The Shacknews BlizzCon interview with Hearthstone designers Giovanni Scarpati and Stephen Chang
Hearthstone: Rastakhan's Rumble card breakdowns (Part 1)
Hearthstone: Rastakhan's Rumble card breakdowns (Part 2)
Hearthstone: Rastakhan's Rumble card breakdowns (Part 3)
Hearthstone: Rastakhan's Rumble card breakdowns (Part 4)
Hearthstone: Rastakhan's Rumble - Final livestream card reveals and analysis
Hearthstone: Rastakhan's Rumble card breakdowns (Part 5)
Hearthstone: Rastakhan's Rumble - Loa, Spirit, and Champion guide (Mage)
Hearthstone: Rastakhan's Rumble - Loa, Spirit, and Champion guide (Paladin)
Hearthstone: Rastakhan's Rumble - Loa, Spirit, and Champion guide (Warlock)
Hearthstone: Rastakhan's Rumble - Loa, Spirit, and Champion guide (Hunter)
Hearthstone: Rastakhan's Rumble - Loa, Spirit, and Champion guide (Druid)
Hearthstone: Rastakhan's Rumble - Loa, Spirit, and Champion guide (Warrior)
Hearthstone: Rastakhan's Rumble - Loa, Spirit, and Champion guide (Rogue)
Hearthstone: Rastakhan's Rumble - Loa, Spirit, and Champion guide (Shaman)
Hearthstone: Rastakhan's Rumble - Loa, Spirit, and Champion guide (Priest)
Today's the day to rumble, so let's wrap up this look at the final expansion in the Year of the Raven. And with more than a couple of dozen cards remaining, that means we've hit the Lightning Round!
The MVPs
(These are potential meta-definers and will fit like a glove in at least one meta deck.)
(6) Mojomaster Zihi (5/5)
Type: Minion
Class: Neutral
Rarity: Legendary
Battlecry: Set each player to 5 Mana Crystals.
(5) Mass Hysteria
Type: Spell
Class: Priest
Rarity: Rare
Force each minion to attack another random minion.
Notes: Mojomaster Zihi is going to have a much bigger impact than Hearthstone players expect. This does more than curb the average Ramp Druid. It prevents a number of late-game plays, delaying a handful of Hero Cards and also delaying one-turn-kill Combo Priest plays and Shudderwock Shamans. Don't sleep on this potentially becoming a Zoo Warlock staple, just because that deck runs primarily on cheap minions anyway.
Meanwhile, Mass Hysteria is a wildly fun Priest spell, but also wipes out the entire board more often than not. It's insanely effective against a board full of minions and is a potential life saver. Look for this to find its way into a majority of Priest decks.
Ladder Climbers
(These are cards that will likely appear in a majority of constructed/Ranked decks, since they'll work well with both new/returning cards.)
(3) Splitting Image
Type: Spell
Class: Mage
Rarity: Epic
Secret: When one of your minions is attacked, summon a copy of it.
(1) The Beast Within
Type: Spell
Class: Hunter
Rarity: Epic
Give a friendly Beast +1/+1, then it attacks a random enemy minion.
(2) Auchenai Phantasm (3/2)
Type: Minion
Class: Priest
Rarity: Epic
Battlecry: This turn, your healing effects deal damage instead.
(8) Demonbolt
Type: Spell
Class: Warlock
Rarity: Common
Destroy a minion. Costs (1) less for each minion you control.
(2) Bloodsail Howler (1/1)
Type: Minion - Pirate
Class: Rogue
Rarity: Rare
Rush, Battlecry: Gain +1/+1 for each other Pirate you control.
(4) Arena Fanatic (2/3)
Type: Minion
Class: Neutral
Rarity: Common
Battlecry: Give all minions in your hand +1/+1.
(1) Helpless Hatchling (1/1)
Type: Minion
Class: Neutral
Rarity: Common
Deathrattle: Reduce the Cost of a Beast in your hand by (1).
Notes: Splitting Image will find its way into Wild Secret decks and make them more unpredictable than ever. The Beast Within works beautifully with Bestial Wrath, essentially getting a free strike. Auchenai Phantasm is a solid option for Control Priests that need to strike Zoo Warlock and Even Shaman minions before that Turn 4 Auchenai Soulpriest. Demonbolt is a solid removal tool for Zoo Warlock players, but is also a cheap play if Bloodreaver Gul'dan can keep his Demons alive. Bloodsail Howler is a strong follow-up to Captain Hooktusk or a strong complement for Sharkfin Fan. There's a good chance that Arena Fanatic finds a home in Zoo Warlock decks. And then there's Helpless Hatchling, which may fill the Hunter void for Turn 1 drops.
Situational Wonders
(These are cards that won't quite be constructed/Ranked staples, but will definitely support one or more decks in the current meta. You won't build around these, but they're worth experimenting with.)
(4) Ice Cream Peddler (3/5)
Type: Minion
Class: Neutral
Rarity: Epic
Battlecry: If you control a Frozen minion, gain 8 Armor.
(5) Arena Patron (3/3)
Type: Minion
Class: Neutral
Rarity: Rare
Overkill: Summon another Arena Patron.
(3) Ornery Tortoise (3/5)
Type: Minion
Class: Neutral
Rarity: Common
Battlecry: Deal 5 damage to your hero.
(2) Scarab Egg (0/2)
Type: Minion
Class: Neutral
Rarity: Common
Deathrattle: Summon three 1/1 Scarabs.
Notes: These minions could be deceptively good. Ice Cream Peddler, in particular, could be helpful in the late game for the Shaman player, especially if there's a Cryostasis that pops out from Hagatha the Witch. Arena Patron is up here because it's possible to give it some handbuffs and give it a better chance of taking advantage of its Overkill effect. Ornery Tortoise could find its way into a Control Warrior or Healadin deck. Scarab Egg will fill the Devilsaur Egg void once it rotates out.
An Incredible Discovery!
(These are cards that don't quite fit in constructed/Ranked decks, but ones that you won't mind seeing off a Discover or RNG effect.)
(0) Regenerate
Type: Spell
Class: Priest
Rarity: Common
Restore 3 Health.
(4) Mark of the Loa
Type: Spell
Class: Druid
Rarity: Rare
Choose One: Give a minion +2/+4 and Taunt; or Summon two 3/2 Raptors.
(4) Scorch
Type: Spell
Class: Mage
Rarity: Rare
Deal 4 damage to a minion. If you played an Elemental last turn, this costs (1).
(2) Flash of Light
Type: Spell
Class: Paladin
Rarity: Common
Restore 4 Health. Draw a card.
Notes: The only one here worth writing home about is Scorch, which is likely to see a lot of action when it comes out of Blast Wave's Overkill effect.
Arena Champions
(These are cards that don't quite work in constructed/Ranked decks, but will work beautifully in Arena mode.)
(3) Sand Drudge (3/3)
Type: Minion
Class: Priest
Rarity: Common
Whenever you cast a spell, summon a 1/1 Zombie with Taunt.
(5) Mosh'Ogg Announcer (6/5)
Type: Minion
Class: Neutral
Rarity: Epic
Enemies attacking this have a 50% chance to attack something else.
(5) Snapjaw Shellfighter (3/8)
Type: Minion
Class: Neutral
Rarity: Epic
Whenever an adjacent minion takes damage, this minion takes it instead.
(3) Drakkari Trickster (3/4)
Type: Minion
Class: Neutral
Rarity: Epic
Give each player a copy of a random card from their opponent's deck.
(4) Rumbletusk Shaker (3/2)
Type: Minion
Class: Neutral
Rarity: Common
Deathrattle: Summon a 3/2 Rumbletusk Breaker.
(4) Regeneratin' Thug (3/5)
Type: Minion
Class: Neutral
Rarity: Common
At the start of your turn, restore 2 Health to this minion.
(4) Half-Time Scavenger (3/5)
Type: Minion
Class: Neutral
Rarity: Common
Stealth, Overkill: Gain 3 Armor.
(2) Spellzerker (2/3)
Type: Minion
Class: Neutral
Rarity: Common
Has Spell Damage +2 while damaged.
(2) Cheaty Anklebiter (2/1)
Type: Minion
Class: Neutral
Rarity: Common
Lifesteal, Battlecry: Deal 1 damage.
Notes: There are some strong 3/5s here, as well as some potent 3-Cost 3/4 minions. Priest players could get a lot of mileage out of Sand Drudge, which also acts as a solid Turn 3 play. Spellzerker should be the new Turn 2 play of choice after Tuskarr Fisherman heads off into Wild.
Bottom of the Deck
(These are cards I don't foresee getting much play in either constructed or Arena.)
(5) Treespeaker (4/4)
Type: Minion
Class: Druid
Rarity: Epic
Battlecry: Transform your Treants into 5/5 Ancients.
(0) Pounce
Type: Spell
Class: Druid
Rarity: Common
Give your hero +2 Attack this turn.
(2) Stolen Steel
Type: Spell
Class: Rogue
Rarity: Common
Discover a weapon (from another class).
(1) Wartbringer (2/1)
Type: Minion
Class: Shaman
Rarity: Common
Battlecry: If you played 2 spells this turn, deal 2 damage.
(1) Gurubashi Offering (0/2)
Type: Minion
Class: Neutral
Rarity: Epic
At the start of your turn, destroy this and gain 8 Armor.
(2) Booty Bay Bookie (3/3)
Type: Minion
Class: Neutral
Rarity: Rare
Battlecry: Give your opponent a Coin.
(2) Serpent Ward (0/2)
Type: Minion
Class: Neutral
Rarity: Rare
At the end of your turn, deal 2 damage to the enemy hero.
(2) Shieldbreaker (2/1)
Type: Minion
Class: Neutral
Rarity: Rare
Battlecry: Silence an enemy minion with Taunt.
(4) Arena Treasure Chest (0/4)
Type: Minion
Class: Neutral
Rarity: Common
Deathrattle: Draw 2 cards.
(2) Dozing Marksman (0/4)
Type: Minion
Class: Neutral
Rarity: Common
Has +4 Attack while damaged.
Notes: Many of these minions have some terrible stat lines or some effects that won't do a lot of work. Treespeaker has the most potential out of all of these, assuming the Token Druid player can get Soul of the Forest online. Landscaping and Force of Nature could see action, but it looks slow on the surface and I doubt it sees much play.
And with that, we've hit the end. Keep it on Shacknews for any further news about Rastakhan's Rumble. The expansion is set to release later today.
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replyOzzie Mejia posted a new article, Hearthstone: Rastakhan's Rumble card breakdowns (The Rest)
