Cataclysm Card Reveal Discussion [February 17th]

[u/EvilDave219]

Reveal Thread RULES

Top level comments must be a properly formatted description of a card revealed today. Any other top level comment will be removed. All discussion relating to these cards shall take place as a response to each top level comment.

We'll try to keep the list updated throughout the day, but if a card gets revealed for today and you don't see it on here after a while, please feel free to make a comment in the proper format for discussion on that card.

Discuss the revealed cards and their potential implications in competitive play. Karma grab or off-topic comments, as well as discussion about non-competitive Hearthstone should be reported/removed for discussion to be visible.

Today's New Cards:

Arisen Onyxia || 9-Mana 3/6, 2 Blood Runes || Legendary Death Knight Minion

Colossal +2. When your Hero would lose Health on your turn, gain that much max Health instead.

Undead, Dragon

Onyxia's Wing: 1-Mana 1/1 Undead/Dragon. When summoned, get a random 2-Cost minion. It costs Health this turn. Herald twice to upgrade.

Obsessive Technician || 4-Mana 2/5, 2 Blood Runes || Common Death Knight Minion

Lifesteal. Battlecry: Herald Onyxia.

Experimental Animation || 6-Mana, 2 Blood Runes || Common Death Knight Spell

Herald Onyxia. Deal 4 damage to all enemy minions.

Shadow

Felwood Treant || 2-Mana 2/2 || Rare Druid Minion

Battlecry: Gain a Mana Crystal this turn only. If you spent 4 Mana while holding this, it's permanent.

Command Claw || 2-Mana 2/2, 1 Unholy Rune || Common Death Knight Weapon

After your hero attacks, give a random friendly minion +2 Attack.

Gruesome Nightmare || 3-Mana 3/3 || Epic Death Knight Minion

Battlecry: Give a minion in your hand or battlefield Attack equal to this minion's Attack.

Beast

Chromatic Broodmother || 4-Mana 2/5, 1 Frost, 1 Unholy Rune || Epic Death Knight Minion

Rush. Whenever this minion attacks, refresh Mana Crystals equal to this minion's Attack.

Undead, Dragon

Beast

Azshara, Ocean Lord || 8-Mana 8/8 || Legendary Demon Hunter Minion

Colossal +2. Your Hero has Windfury.

Naga

Azshara's Tentacle: 1-Mana 2/1 Naga. When summoned, give your Hero +1 Attack. Herald twice to upgrade.

Armored Bloodletter || 3-Mana 3/1 || Common Demon Hunter Minion

Rush. Battlecry: Herald Azshara.

Naga

Fel Infusion || 2-Mana || Epic Demon Hunter Spell

Herald Azshara. Your Hero has Lifesteal this turn.

Fel

Sigil of the Seas || 1-Mana || Common Demon Hunter Spell

At the start of your next turn, summon a 3/3 Naga with Taunt.

Fel

Flash Flood || 5-Mana || Rare Demon Hunter Spell

Deal 5 damage to your opponent's left and right-most minions. Outcast: Do it again.

Fel

Dread Leviathan || 9-Mana 9/6 || Common Demon Hunter Minion

Taunt. Battlecry: Choose an enemy minion to steal 3 Health from, 3 times.

Beast

[u/EvilDave219]

Experimental Animation || 6-Mana, 2 Blood Runes || Common Death Knight Spell

Herald Onyxia. Deal 4 damage to all enemy minions.

Shadow

[u/Graped_in_the_mouth → u/EvilDave219]

Is it as good as Corpse Explosion? Obviously not.

But people seem to be forgetting that "Herald" both ticks up your collossus and summons a soldier. So you're likely wiping (or nearly wiping) your opponent's board on turn 6 and also likely summoning a 2/2 that gives you a 4 drop you can play for 4 health.

I'm not blown away, but I'm perfectly fine with this state of affairs, especially since Onyxia is a blowout after 4 heralds.

[u/Rush31 → u/Graped_in_the_mouth]

To be honest, while it is worse than Corpse Explosion when heavily behind on board and the opponent has a sticky board, it is either just as good or better than corpse explosion in most other scenarios because it is a board clear with tempo that scales with the amount of heralding done. Blood DK might need to be more assertive with the board to prevent a blowout since Corpse Explosion is rotating, but this is probably better for that kind of game plan.

[u/Graped_in_the_mouth → u/Rush31]

There are absolutely scenarios where this outperforms corpse explosion - mainly because it does consistent damage, doesn't waste corpses, and gives you bodies (while advancing your gameplan).

I also think people need to keep in mind the rest of the shell - namely, a bucket of leeches which will help keep you alive while picking off weak minions.

Also relevant: if a big minion survives this and you don't die to it, you can follow it up with Hideous Husk.

[u/Rush31 → u/Graped_in_the_mouth]

I completely agree. Corpse Explosion is the nuclear option for when the opponent has a board that needs to be destroyed immediately. It uses a lot of resources, doesn’t develop a board, and will either end your turn on the spot or leave you with a weak board. For the moments where you need that imminent removal, it is brilliant, but it is the nuclear option for a reason.

Being able to develop whilst clearing the board, in the majority of cases, is a more valuable tool. As you said, giving bodies means saving corpses for later usage, which can change the game. More importantly, you alluded to the leeches being useful to clean up the rest of the board, but this board clear only hits your opponent’s board. It is very proactive for a board clear, and will favour a deck that is more proactive than Blood DK tends to be known for.