WoWRealms Article Submission: Davion Is Back Playing Again.

Well I have a lot to talk about and I don't know where to start. I guess I will introduce myself. My Name is Davion Groce. I have been playing WoW TCG since the beginning. Mainly just as a local player due to the very expensive legal fees for my fiancé that wouldn't allow me to attend DMF's. Although I went to numerous regionals (doesn't count right :->). Anyway this year January I decided just to move to the Philippines until I can get her visa taken care of.

The WoW TCG scene has deteriorated here in Asia and along with it my opportunities to play. But those days are over and now with the resurgence of WoW TCG and the announcement of Philippine Nationals my inspiration to play is back. Time to get ready to play.

Ok enough boring stuff let us talk about WoW TCG. I have not played much since January so I am doing a lot of catching up. So let's talk about traitor Druid decks... Joke! Don't worry I wont post any Traitor Druid or Myriam decks.

I think everyone is looking for new tech for Nats. Most pros won't give out information or give advice. Article and forums are always slow during upcoming tournaments. I don't have a team to test with and bounce of ideas off of so I need to prepare myself by what's "known", what's "hot", and "what's not being talked about".

Some cards are just too good for no one to be talking about them i.e. Divine Spirit. Priest was already a good deck and now you add this card to their arsenal. Only problem is which is better talent card this or Darkness. My play style fits Divine Spirit but regardless we already know about the Shadow Priest decks. I also don't like one for one discard I prefer to use cards that give me opportunities for making 2 for 1 trades. Anyway here is example deck list.

Hero: Reesa Morningstar

Abilities (20)
4 Melt Face
2 Absorb Magic
4 Mental Anguish
3 Greater Heal
4 Divine Spirit
3 Arcane Torrent

Allies (22)
4 Vexmaster Nar'jo
3 Shadowfiend
4 Tatulla
3 Doshura
3 Brok
2 Ishanah
2 Greench

Equipment (4)
2 The Bringer of Death
2 Voidfire Wand

Quests (14):
2 Chasing A-Me 01
2 swift discipline
3 Counterattack
3 Information Gathering
4 Solanian’s Belongings

Everyone is probably wondering why only 2 copies of The Bringer of Death. Honestly I just like Divine Spirit so much that I never want to "bringer" them away. Especially multiple copies. Good players won't over commit the board when they see a caster. If you are making 2 for 1 trades and players do not over commit Bringer isn't always needed (IMHO). I really wish Priest has more instants to take advantage of Divine Spirit's ready ability besides Arcane Torrent but it is still nice to complete quests. The instant abilities tend to favor Priest rush so another deck to talk about.

Hero: Raesa Morningstar

Abilities (15)
4 Shadow Word: Death
4 Power Word Shield
4 Divine Spirit
3 Faces from the Past

Allies (32)
4 Offender Gora
4 Bloodsoul
4 Faesha Firestarter
4 Morlug Soulslaver
4 Vexmaster Nar’jo
4 Shadowfiend
4 Broan Charges the Fight
4 Brok Bloodcaller

Quests (13)
2 Solanian’s Belongings
4 One Draenei’s Junk
3 Finkle Einhorn, At Your Service
4 Torek's Assault

This deck is a lot of fun to play. Just keep throwing ally after ally at your opponent. If a Divine Spirit sticks it gets even more abusive. Ready and send more ferocity allies to you opponents dome. Faces from the Past is a blast for the past. Bring back Morlug and Faesha or just an army of furious allies. I would like to find room for a couple of Arcane Torrents.

Paladin decks were popular last metagame and maybe the best deck if it not for Myriam Starcaller. Now everyone knows about Holy Shock (omg soo good). What seems to be the new Hotness is Pally Rush.

Hero: Aleyah Dawnborn

Abilities (16)
4 Holy Shock
3 Blessing of the Martyr
4 Hammer of Justice
3 Redemption
2 Sacred Purification

Allies (26)
4 Offender Gora
4 Bloodsoul
4 Marksman Glous
4 Vexmaster Nar’jo
4 Broan Charges the Fight
4 Brok Bloodcaller
2 Ras'fari Bloodfrenzy

Equipment (4)
4 Twig of the World Tree

Quests (14)
2 Solanian’s Belongings
4 One Draenei’s Junk
3 Kudo Roundup
3 Orders from Lady Vashj
2 Dr. Boom

Three lists and no Allaince decks. Hmm starting to see a trend? One thing I love about UDE is they keep trying to make sure the game is fun. Keeping both sides balanced. Untargetable may have been a little over powered and Myriam.... anyway Horde come into play effects, ferocity, and the cards generally designed to stop rush have combined to make Horde very strong. After Myriam, Alliance seem kind of bland. Anyway let show Alliance some love.

Insect Swarm is a great card for Boomkin Decks not only did it give them an additional/better way to deal with Small allies but it is also cheap and flexible by giving you the option to just reduce attack power by 2. Boomkin has solid match-ups to most known decks in the field.

Hero: Eriun Moonglow

Abilities (35)
4 Insect Swarm
4 Cyclone
4 Moonfire
4 Moonkin Form
4 The Natural Order
4 Typhoon
4 Force of Nature
3 Dreamstate
4 Stormfire

Allies (4)
4 Leeroy Jenkins

Equipment (6)
4 Mass of McGowen
2 Band of the Inevitable

Quests (15)
3 Minions of the Shadow Council
4 One Draenei’s Junk
4 Zapped Giants
4 Forces of Jaedenar

I had Wastewalker gear in previous builds but being able to play Band of the Inevitable seems like a better idea. For the same reason I choose not to revert back to Runesong Dagger/Stormrage Cover combo. Boomkin decks have trouble versus big allies Leeroy 6 power can help especially versus Niyore of the Watch. For the same reason the deck is ability to support Eriun's Flip. This version is also weak to untargetable rush but I am not expecting to see it. This deck seems so much better with Horde. Brok, Nar'jo, Shadala, Silea, Blood Knight Kyria, etc seem tailor made for this deck.

We all know about Mage rush but do you remember when Team Cheatyface made a Fire Power deck that won a regional. Apparently the deck had a problem versus rush decks which is why no one seem to pursue the archetype. Mage received 2 new cards that help versus rush so maybe the deck received the answers it needed. We all know Blast Wave but a card called The More the Scarier is deceptively good. With these additions maybe the deck can make a comeback.

Hero: Blaize Brightspark

Abilities (32)
4 Fire Blast
4 Blast Wave
4 Dragon's Breath
4 Fire Power
4 Magma Spike
4 Blistering Fire
3 Spellsteal (so good main)
3 The More, the Scarier
2 Supernova

Allies (8)
4 Lowdown Luppo Shadefizzle
4 Leeroy Jenkins

Equipment (4)
2 Akama's Sash
2 Chromatic Claok

Quests (16)
4 Minions of the Shadow Council
4 Order from lady Vashj
4 Zapped Giants
4 Forces of Jaedenar

Everyone is playing ally destruction and will have a few dead cards versus both this deck and Eriun. Doesn't this deck seem better with Horde? Nar'jo, Brok, Cannibalize and Phospus's flip. (Pattern?)

Ok I can't promise these decks will take home the crown at Nats this was just an attempt to get people talking and thinking. I just love talking about the game and the forums are pretty dry with all the silence. I do have one small rant. Re: THE SILENCE. I do believe people have the right to not post decks before or after the tournament. It's there hard work why should anyone of feel entitled to it. Entitlement is just that. Some don't care they just want. I know there are casual players that want to just go to tournaments and have a chance but at the same time who once to lose to a deck you gave out. Only problem I have with this "SILENCE" is the people jumping on the bandwagon. Some people have original decks and/or tech that they don't release but the people who post something like the following;

Top 8 Anyplace Regional

1 Red Balance Druid
2 Blue Traitor Druid
3 Red Traitor Shaman
4 Frost Mage
5 Red Holy Pally
6 Red Fire Mage
7 Blue Warlock
8 Blue Traitior Druid

...and then end post. This is a waste of a thread. Honestly if your regional Top 8 consisted of the same decks from last set just with the few updated power cards everyone knows then really what is being kept secret. We now 80% of the cards in the deck already. Now I am not saying, post the deck lists because maybe that other 20% makes all the difference but such a vague post is a waste of time. Is it really that big of deal to talk about the tournament with just releasing "known" information? Seriously some of you know you just played Desecrator with main deck Band of Inevitable that isn't tech. Anyways end rant.... Just for fun can some tell me the most likely heroes in the Top 8 listed above.

On a final note I think Pally control maybe the best deck right now and I didn't post my list hehe. Joke. I have a list but I am still testing it but Holy Shock and Brok improve the Myriam match up and Band of Inevitable frees up a lot of space. I hope everyone enjoys the article sorry if I rambled on a little bit. I just love talking about the game and no one is awake in my time zone . Feel free to comment.

Davion Groce

PS.
Anyone looking to playtest
AIM: Davion007
MWS: Dav-Gro

Coming from the Philippines myself, I feel you. But it's not just the Philippines, dude. Players everywhere have their mouths shut about their supposed "secret" tech.

You can't really blame people. The more someone knows about a deck, the more likely they can beat it.

500 pesos says that most of these "secret" tech will turn out to be either pally control, Traitor Druid or Shaman Rush...

On the bright side, with the North American Continentals coming up this weekend, we get to see a preview of how they do it on the other side of the world =P

I don't mind not giving away secret tech. It's the point some people have it and others just jumping on the bandwagon coz this other area did it. If your playing Pally and just added Holy Shock its not a secret. If your like me who is Playing Pally but with Blessing of Sanctuary them maybe you don't talk about it. Yes Protection Pally and not Holy. I know i lost even the slightest credibility I had.

Also information is too vague. Instead of posting Eriun Boomkin wins. People are listing Alliance Balance Druid wins. Like its hard to figure out who the Hero was.

Nice your from the Phils maybe you can tell me a place where I can get card .

Neutral Grounds is a well known hobby shop here that sells retail WoW cards. If you're looking for singles, they also have some, but chances are the other players already beat you to the good ones. Courtside also sells retail cards and singles, and there are some other hobby shops lying around selling cards though I don't know much about these other stores.

Anywho, back to topic, personally I'm thinking of going Boomkin for the nationals, though I'm still undecided on whether to go Red or Blue. On one hand, Red is very straightforward, which leaves little surprises. On the other hand, Blue is still pretty much an untested deck, but it should become promising once proper tweaking and playtesting fall into place.

Here's a rough draft of the Blue version:

Hero: Eriun Moonglow

3 Ol' Stonewall
4 First Responder Avaressa
3 Wimbly Tinkerton
4 Brodien

4 Insect Swarm
4 Wrath
4 Cyclone
4 Stormfire
4 Moonkin Form
4 Moonfire
4 The Natural Order
3 Dreamstate

3 Runesong Dagger

4 Forces of Jaedenar
3 Crown of the Earth
3 Akama's Promise
3 Orders from Lady Vashj

I might try and incorporate Lord Cindervein, and maybe main-deck Typhoon. Brodien is mostly an untested anti-Myriam tech while First Responder would be there solely for healing purposes.