Hearthstone TCG ⇒ Arena - 12 Wins

[Stardust]

Just wanted to throw this up here for posterity, but also for discussion on what makes a 12 win deck. Interested to see any other high-win decks shared here as well, if you've got 'em.

Went 12-1 with this Rogue deck, losing one game halfway up the ladder to a Shaman deck that got out of control a bit too quickly. Mage was an easy matchup, which I faced six games in a row from 7-12. I think I just hit a good balance between high power cards that require an answer and early game sweep-up. Flamestrike barely hurt me for the most part, hitting maybe two cards at a time. Three Eviscerates surely helped as well to steal a few wins from unsuspecting opponents.

[deck=12-1 Rogue]Rogue
3 Eviscerate
1 Sap
1 Defias Ringleader
1 Goblin Auto-Barber
2 Undercity Valiant
1 Shady Dealer
1 SI:7 Agent
1 Dark Iron Skulker
1 Shadow-Pan Rider

Neutral
1 Zombie Chow
1 Annoy-o-Tron
1 Murloc Tidehunter
1 Argent Horserider
1 Ogre Brute
1 Shade of Naxxramas
1 Wolfrider
1 Ancient Brewmaster
1 Dark Iron Dwarf
1 Evil Heckler
1 Lost Tallstrider
1 Frostwolf Warlord
1 Salty Dog
2 Silver Hand Knight
1 Boulderfist Ogre
1 Master Jouster
1 Chromaggus[/deck]

Curve
1 - 1
2 - 10
3 - 6
4 - 4
5 - 6
6 - 2
+ - 1

[Tordeck]

Very nice, my best was 5 with a Hunter.

[Stardust]

Thanks. You still playing?

[Tordeck]

I usually log in during the week to do my dailies, the Brawl when it resets and rank up enough to get the new card back, but I dont play it seriously.

[TubeHunter]

That's a pretty nice Rogue deck there, looks like a 12 win deck haha. I've gotten 11 wins a few times, but never have been able to get the mythical 12 myself.

[Mogadishu Jones]

Best I got was six also with a rogue.

[Stardust]

Well, did it again, this time with Paladin. My one loss was to Mage with a well placed string of Flamestrikes.

Barely any spells in this deck at all, but I did have weapons to fill that gap. In the end I was pretty much just banking on my high value mid level creatures (Murloc Knight and Kvaldir Raider primarily) to push in there. The double Seal of Champions was obviously awesome for stealing the game early or late, leaving my heavy hitters to finish the job.

One similarity I noticed in both this and the Rogue deck I posted earlier is the large number of 5-drops. Typical Arena strategy tells you to take a high number of 2 and 4 drops. I don't think anyone would question that 2 drops are the more important of those two, and I'm starting to wonder if 5 is maybe where I should be aiming to place my second peak.

[deck=12-1 Paladin]1 Blessing of Wisdom
1 Noble Sacrifice

2 Argent Lance
1 Acidic Swamp Ooze
2 Bloodsail Raider
2 Boneguard Lieutenant
1 Shielded Minibot
1 Stonesplinter Trogg

1 Muster for Battle
2 Seal of Champions
1 Flesheating Ghoul
1 Harvest Golem

1 Truesilver Champion
1 Cult Master
1 Evil Heckler
2 Murloc Knight

1 Azure Drake
1 Darkscale Healer
1 Dragon Consort
1 Fen Creeper
2 Kvaldir Raider
1 Pit Fighter
1 Tuskarr Jouster

1 Drakonid Crusher[/deck]
Curve
1 - 2
2 - 9
3 - 5
4 - 5
5 - 8
6 - 1
+ - 0

Thoughts?

[Stardust]

12-2 with Rogue last night, losing to Mage with a topdecked Flamestrike and to Paladin after I stumbled in the early game.

[deck=12-2 Rogue]1 Backstab

1 Worgen Infiltrator

1 Eviscerate
1 Sap
1 Shiv
1 Bloodsail Raider
1 Defias Ringleader
1 Flame Juggler
1 Gilblin Stalker
1 Goblin Auto-Barber

1 Razorfen Hunter
1 Scarlet Crusader
1 SI:7 Agent
1 Spider Tank

1 Tinker's Sharpsword Oil
1 Dragonling Mechanic
1 Gnomish Inventor
2 Stormwind Knight

1 Clockwork Knight
1 Fen Creeper
1 Shado-Pan Rider
1 Sludge Belcher
2 Spiteful Smith

1 Boulderfist Ogre
1 Drakonid Crusher
1 Volcanic Drake

1 Ragnaros the Firelord

1 Sea Giant[/deck]
Curve
0 - 1
1 - 1
2 - 8
3 - 4
4 - 5
5 - 6
6 - 3
+ - 2

Much more than the others, I feel like this one came down to luck. The deck was designed to win in the late game, so I expected to be at low health as I won. Most games, however, were a bit close for comfort, leaving me under 10 and several times under 5, just waiting for a Fireball or a Truesilver Champion that never came. I would have liked a couple more 2-drop creatures to shore up my early game a bit better, probably in place of Sap and Shiv.

[Stardust]

12-2 with a more aggressive Paladin last night. Some decent cards in there, but I was not expecting to make it this far. Thanks, Seal of Champions and Coghammer! It's a good thing I never faced a Blood Knight.

I lost my sixth game to a Consecration that I intentionally walked into since I didn't think I'd be able to win in the late game - figured I was dead to Consecration anyway, so I forced him to have it and he had it. At 11-1, I was matched against a Rogue and very narrowly lost (had him at 4 before he stabilized). Turned out I was paired against them immediately again and won the second try for my 12th. The double-pairing thing actually happened to me twice this run, again against a Rogue for my 7th and 8th wins (he messaged me asking to concede the second game so he could continue... lol, nope).

[deck=12-2 Paladin]1 Hand of Protection

2 Annoy-o-Tron
1 Argent Protector
1 Boneguard Lieutenant
2 Shielded Minibot
1 Youthful Brewmaster

1 Coghammer
1 Muster for Battle
2 Seal of Champions
1 Aldor Peacekeeper
1 Arcane Golem
1 Questing Adventurer
1 Spider Tank
1 Warhorse Trainer

1 Truesilver Champion
1 Hammer of Wrath
1 Cult Master
1 Dark Iron Dwarf
1 Evil Heckler
1 Keeper of Uldaman
1 Mechanical Yeti
1 Murloc Knight

1 Bomb Lobber
1 Salty Dog

1 Boulderfist Ogre
1 Frost Elemental

1 Captured Jormungar[/deck]
Curve
1 - 1
2 - 7
3 - 9
4 - 8
5 - 2
6 - 2
+ - 1

Would have liked a couple more 2-drops, but the deck ran smoothly enough turn 3 and onwards that I was able to get and maintain board control from the early game on.

[Stardust]

Paladin might just be OP (you knew that, right?). 12-2 again with a pretty similar deck (replacing 3-drops with 2 and 4-drops, and nabbing a couple Consecrations of my own).

[deck=12-2 Paladin]1 Gadgetzan Jouster

1 Argent Lance
1 Equality
1 Acidic Swamp Ooze
1 Argent Protector
1 Boneguard Lieutenant
1 Flame Juggler
1 Mad Bomber
1 Shielded Minibot
1 Ship's Cannon

1 Seal of Champions
1 Argent Horserider
1 Scarlet Crusader
1 Tinkertown Technician

1 Truesilver Champion
2 Blessing of Kings
2 Consecration
1 Ancient Shade
1 Dragonling Mechanic
1 Keeper of Uldaman
1 Murloc Knight
1 Piloted Shredder
1 Sen'jin Shieldmasta

1 Clockwork Knight

1 Argent Commander
1 Volcanic Drake

1 Force-Tank MAX

1 North Sea Kraken[/deck]
Curve
1 - 1
2 - 9
3 - 4
4 - 11
5 - 1
6 - 2
+ - 2

Not so much a curve as two spikes...

Lost my two games pretty early on, so I don't remember the details. I was generally pretty weak to 5 toughness minions, so pretty sure it was just Yeti overrun that got me. Same as with the last deck, most games I just took board control and never lost it.

Final game was super tight though. I never got board control until the end, and the Mage had me down to 7 with an Ancient Curse in my deck. Won the game a couple turns later with my Kraken the only survivor of a massive Flamestrike, but it was a little too close for comfort.

Happy Feast of Winterveil, champion!

[Stardust]

After some time off, been back at Arena since Easter. Apparently Paladin's still good, especially when you fill your deck with Divine Shields.

[deck=12-2 Paladin]1 Noble Sacrifice

1 Argent Protector
1 Ironbeak Owl
1 Mad Bomber
3 Shielded Minibot

1 Muster for Battle
3 Seal of Champions
1 Scarlet Crusader
1 Silver Hand Regent
2 Warhorse Trainer

1 Truesilver Champion
2 Consecration
1 Gorillabot A-3
1 Hungry Dragon
1 Keeper of Uldaman
1 Mechanical Yeti
1 Sen'jin Shieldmasta
1 Stormwind Champion
1 Tomb Spider

1 Blessed Champion
1 Mukla's Champion
1 Quartermaster
1 Salty Dog

1 Ravenholdt Assassin[/deck]
Curve
1 - 1
2 - 6
3 - 8
4 - 10
5 - 4
6 - 0
+ - 1

Random trivia: Almost one quarter of this deck contained the word "Champion".

[Stardust]

Got there with Mage for the first time today, 12-1 with a decent deck of little guys and spells. Get in there for some damage early on, get crazy value off an Ethereal Summoner or two (or four in one game, thanks to Duplicate), then win. Nothing particularly groundbreaking here, but the deck just worked.

Twilight Flamecaller deserves a mention for most unexpected card advantage. Guy had four 3/3's in play on turn 6, so I play Flamecaller and a Duplicate to wipe his board the following turn.

[deck=12-1 Mage]2 Flamecannon
1 Bilefin Tidehunter
1 Explosive Sheep
1 Flame Juggler
1 Snowchugger
1 Sorcerer's Apprentice
1 Twisted Worgen

1 Duplicate
1 Effigy
2 Forgotten Torch
1 Imp Master
1 Squirming Tentacle
2 Twilight Flamecaller

1 Animated Armor
1 Midnight Drake
1 Stormwind Champion

1 Dragon's Breath
1 Cult Apothecary
2 Ethereal Conjuror
1 Stormpike Commando

1 Emperor Thaurissan
2 Faceless Summoner
1 Volcanic Drake

1 Flamestrike
1 Bog Creeper[/deck]
Curve
1 - 0
2 - 8
3 - 8
4 - 3
5 - 5
6 - 4
+ - 2

[( G_R )]

Nice

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

[Stardust]

Since you were so impressed last time, ( G_R ), I thought I'd get 12 wins for you again.

[deck=12-2 Rogue]1 Southsea Deckhand

1 Shiv
1 Acidic Swamp Ooze
1 Cutpurse
1 Gilbin Stalker
1 Goblin Auto-Barber
1 Jeweled Scarab
1 Novice Engineer
2 Undercity Valiant
1 Youthful Brewmaster

1 Burgle
2 Shadow Strike
1 Harvest Golem
1 Scarlet Crusader

1 Burly Rockjaw Trogg
1 Evil Heckler
1 Gnomish Inventor
1 Sen'jin Shieldmasta
1 Tomb Pillager

1 Big Game Hunter
1 Dark Iron Skulker
1 Salty Dog
1 Shado-Pan Rider
1 Silver-Hand Knight

1 Lord of the Arena
2 Nerubian Prophet

1 Stormwind Champion[/deck]
Curve
1 - 1
2 - 10
3 - 5
4 - 5
5 - 5
6 - 3
+ - 1

Started off 1-2 with this deck and thought I'd drafted something significantly worse than expected. Look at this deck! What the fuck am I doing wrong? It's awesome! Right? Right. Won 11 games in a row after that terrible start. Mulligan into Nerubian Prophet for the win, and just go aggro from that point forward.

(Don't actually try to mulligan into Nerubian prophet, but do throw away anything else that doesn't cost 2 mana)

PS: Shadow Strike is a fantastic card.

[( G_R )]

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

[Stardust]

Oh yeah, I went 12-2 about two weeks ago, but forgot to post it. For completeness' sake, here it is. Did I mention Shadow Strike is awesome?

[deck=12-2 Rogue]2 Backstab

1 Deadly Poison
1 Bladed Cultist
1 Worgen Infiltrator

1 Eviscerate
1 Annoy-o-tron
1 Defias Ringleader
1 Gilbin Stalker
1 Goblin Auto-Barber

1 Fan of Knives
3 Shadow Strike
1 Scarlet Crusader
1 Shady Dealer

1 Ancient Brewmaster
1 Faceless Shambler
1 Hungry Dragon
1 Infested Tauren
1 Mechanical Yeti
1 Southsea Squidface
1 Tomb Pillager

1 Assassinate
1 Abomination
1 Silver-Hand Knight

1 Grand Crusader
1 Lord of the Arena
2 Nerubian Prophet[/deck]
Curve
0 - 2
1 - 3
2 - 5
3 - 6
4 - 7
5 - 3
6 - 4
+ - 0

Nerubian Prophet is good stuff too, of course. Not sure what I'd choose if I had to choose between the two... Probably the Strike in most cases...

PS: In the Arena run immediately before this one, I went 11-3 with an aggro Paladin list that capped out at 5 mana. Ten 2-drops and just sliding down from there to three 5's works when you've got the combat tricks and divine shields to back up your little army.

[( G_R )]

Awesome

[Stardust]

Do you play Hearthstone or are you just trying to make me feel good?

If you don't play Hearthstone, but want to, you can use this link to sign up and get a free pack. https://battle.net/recruit/J2SL6DVBDK?b ... m=iOSphone

[( G_R )]

No, I've never played it. Downloading...

[Stardust]

Cool! Post your id when you get setup. Or just add me (you can find my id in the sticky thread here).

Never mind, I got it. You're on my list since you used the link, I guess. Once you reach level 20 with a class, I get a bonus too!

[( G_R )]

[( G_R )]

Haven't had time to give it a spin.

[Stardust]

Too busy catching Pokémon to play a little Hearthstone?

[( G_R )]

Haven't installed Pokemon Go since it means lowering my phone's security. Waiting for the official release like

[( G_R )]

Too much IRL, I'll try to give it a spin this weekend...

[Stardust]

Cool.

I had a pretty great Mage Arena run going, with 2x Frostbolt, 2x Fireball and 2x Flamestrike, but could only make it to 10 wins. Must try harder!

[Stardust]

New life goal: Get 12 wins with every class.

[deck=12-2 Shaman]1 Lightning Bolt
2 Spirit Claws

1 Annoy-o-tron
1 Dire Wolf
1 Faerie Dragon
2 Jeweled Scarab
1 Mechwarper
1 River Crocolisk
1 Stormforged Axe

1 Flesheating Ghoul
2 Hex
1 Lil' Exorcist
2 Tuskarr Totemic

1 Fireguard Destroyer
1 Sen'jin Shieldmasta

1 Antique Healbot
1 Madder Bomber
1 Pit Fighter
1 Spiteful Smith

1 Argent Commander
4 Fire Elemental
1 Moat Lurker

1 Ragnaros the Firelord[/deck]
Curve
1 - 3
2 - 8
3 - 6
4 - 2
5 - 4
6 - 6
+ - 1

4 down, 5 to go. Tried a Warrior deck for the first time in a while. Yep, still sucks! This might be hard...

PS: 4 Fire Elementals is kinda unfair.

PPS: Spirit Claws is good. Even if you don't have the spell damage pump, Shaman's main weakness is finishing off X/1 minions. That makes a 1/3 weapon surprisingly not terrible.

[Stardust]

5 down, 4 to go.

[deck=12-2 Hunter]1 Webspinner

1 Annoy-o-Tron
1 Bloodsail Raider
1 Boneguard Lieutenant
1 Faerie Dragon
1 Haunted Creeper
1 Huge Toad
1 Kindly Grandmother
1 King's Elekk
1 Stonesplinter Trogg

1 Kill Command
1 Pantry Spider
1 Silent Knight
1 Tinkertown Technician
1 Unleash the Hounds
1 Zoobot

1 Gnomish Inventor
1 Houndmaster
1 Infested Wolf
1 Piloted Shredder
1 Sen'jin Shieldmasta

1 Ram Wrangler
1 Tundra Rhino

1 Argent Commander
1 Savannah Highmane
1 Wobbling Runts

1 Captured Jormungar
1 Core Hound

1 Giant Sand Worm

1 North Sea Kraken[/deck]
Curve
1 - 1
2 - 9
3 - 6
4 - 5
5 - 2
6 - 3
+ - 4

This was my fifth attempt playing Hunter since setting my new goal. I started out trying hyper-aggro, which worked well enough to get to 7+ wins twice, but beyond that it got tough since the better decks pack more removal. I eventually found this strategy of a very aggressive deck with a heavy top-end worked best. Put the pressure on early, then drop a bomb they can't easily deal with (and can't Flamestrike). My fourth Hunter attempt looked very similar to this and got me to 10 wins.

There's nothing special about this deck at all except that curve, which I highly recommend for Hunter. Now that I've found this, I might even start taking Hunter pretty highly - he's solid if you've got the curve. Just avoid taking too many 4, 5 and 6 drops, keep a handful of slots at 7+, focus on your 2's above all else, and it should work out pretty well.

[( G_R )]

Man, I need to play more...

[Stardust]

Yes, you do. If you can get good at Arena (you're guaranteed to get your money back plus a pack with a 7-3 finish), it's a great way for beginners to get cards.

[Stardust]

6 down, 3 to go.

[deck=12-2 Priest]1 Holy Smite

2 Haunted Creeper
1 Micro Machine
1 Recombobulator
2 Shadow Word: Pain
1 Twisted Worgen

2 Dark Cultist
1 Injured Blademaster
1 Shadow Word: Death
1 Squirming Tentacle

1 Auchenai Soulpriest
1 Dark Iron Dwarf
1 Evil Heckler
1 Mechanical Yeti
3 Priest of the Feast
2 Shifting Shade

1 Darkscale Healer
1 Darkshire Alchemist
1 Psych-o-Tron
1 Stormpike Commando

1 Entomb
1 Lightbomb
1 Master Jouster

1 Mind Control[/deck]
Curve
1 - 1
2 - 7
3 - 5
4 - 9
5 - 4
6 - 3
+ - 1

Priest took a few tries, but I got there a couple weeks ago. Just haven't posted it until now. Unlike Hunter, I couldn't find a trick to make Priest work. Shadow Word: Tentacles is great, I can tell you that much (though I don't have any of those here). The main difference I noticed here is how important it is to just grab as much removal as you can. Priest has to win in the mid-late game, there is no other option, so you've got to get value where you can. Priest of the Feast and Shifting Shade are great for that, but you need removal to deal with pesky minions. Trading 3 for 1 into a Bog Creeper is a real good way to lose. It's all about the card advantage for Priest, but you can't just pack your deck with big guys and hope to win on card quality - seems you've got to trick your way into getting there.

[Blackhound]

You going for 12 wins in the Tavern brawl ?

[Stardust]

Nah. Blew all my gold on Warrior arena runs.

(Not totally true, but I am floating at a couple thousand less than normal these days. That and I don't really play Standard.)

[Stardust]

Some classes are just so much better than others. I can now say that from extensive experience playing with the bad ones. I've made it to 9+ wins with each of Warlock, Warrior and Druid, but not yet the mythical 12. But, oh well, let's take a break and play a round with Rogue. Why not?

[deck=12-2 Rogue]1 Worgen Infiltrator

1 Acidic Slime
1 Annoy-o-Tron
1 Bloodfen Raptor
2 Eviscerate
3 Jade Shuriken
3 Jade Swarmer
1 Pompous Thespian
1 Sap

1 Jungle Panther
1 Scarlet Crusader
1 Shade of Naxxramas
1 Shadow Strike
1 Shattered Sun Cleric
1 Silithid Swarmer
1 Unearthed Raptor

1 Jade Spirit
1 Ogre Magi
1 Piloted Shredder
1 Polluted Hoarder

1 Assassinate
1 Bomb Lobber
1 Kvaldir Raider
1 Lotus Agents

1 Ancient of Blossoms[/deck]
Curve
1 - 1
2 - 13
3 - 7
4 - 4
5 - 4
6 - 1
+ - 0

(Keep in mind that 5 of my 2-drops are burn with combo, so not really for playing turn 2 if I can help it)

Jade Golems are awesome. I really like that new mechanic, and the new set in general (though the Potions guys seem to be lacking a lot of cohesion, the guys that buff your hand are lots of fun too). This deck either won quickly out of the gates (burning them out to finish the job), or won the long game by overrunning them with bigger and bigger Golems. Fun to play, tough to beat, Rogue is great, etc, etc.

[Tordeck]

Oh btw if anyone wants to add me - Tordeck69#1714

[Stardust]

Still trying, still failing. People keep telling me Warlock is overpowered right now, but I'm just not seeing it. Even when I'm at the higher tiers, Warlock is about as represented as I would expect it to be if people just keep first picking it (ie: 1/3 of the games or less). Not because it's winning a huge amount more, just because more people are playing Warlock a lot more.

But anyway, it's been a while since I made 12 wins. That is, until today.


[deck=12-2 Mage]1 Acidic Slime
1 Bilefin Tidehunter
1 Friendly Tauren
1 Frostbolt
1 Mad Bomber

1 Argent Horserider
1 Dragonhawk Rider
1 Flesheating Ghoul
1 Frost Nova
2 Kabal Courier
1 Questing Adventurer
1 Volcanic Potion

1 Armored Warhorse
1 Dark Iron Dwarf
1 Fireball
1 Hungry Dragon

1 Bomb Squad
1 Cryomancer
1 Flame Lance
1 Frostwolf Warlord
1 Grook-Fu Master

1 Blizzard
1 Fight Promoter
1 Master Jouster
1 Nerubian Prophet
1 Wobbling Runts

1 Flamestrike
1 North Sea Kraken
1 Arcane Giant[/deck]
Curve
1 - 0
2 - 5
3 - 8
4 - 4
5 - 5
6 - 5
+ - 3

Decent AOE spells and targeted removal to back that up was what really won the game here. Nothing particularly powerful for minions, but it worked well enough to press any advantage. Frost Nova was great in this deck. Every game I drew it it either kept me alive, set up for massive board wipes, or just let me press through for the win.