Hearthstone Meta Check #4 The Final Season for World Championship 2015

Meta Check is a weekly series exclusive to our members. We share what decks Team HSP is currently playing and the meta that we each were up against.

Team HSP constantly strive for and hit Top 100 Finishes each season and we’d like to share the knowledge and the decks that we use during our climb with you.

It’s now the final season to qualify for the 2015 Blizzcon World Championship and Team HSP are now gearing up and making the final push for Top 100 for the July to collect some sweet Blizzcoin points!

Be sure to check out our Monthly Meta Deck section to see what decks are being played and the guides for it!

Hoarth

1. Let’s do a quick recap – what were the decks you used in the final days of the July season and what rank did you finish at?

   I used Mech Shaman and Patron Warrior. When I saw blocks of Patron/Midrange Druid, Mech Shaman performed amazingly. Unfortunately, it almost automatically loses to aggressive paladin and zoo. Patron on the other hand is just an overall strong deck. I was Rank 127 half an hour before the season ended, then lost a few in a row to turn 5 Patron,  Inner Rage,  2nd Deathbite swings. I ended up just conceding after that hoping to make someone else’s last second goal when I didn’t have time left for mine.

2. What did you think of the July season?

   Towards the end of the season I ran into a lot of conflicts as far as time. I spent a week on vacation only to come back and move houses on the 30th and the 31st. Despite that I did really well with the time I had to grind. After I finished moving on the 21st, I had a solid 8 hour grind to try to get back to that top 100. In the last 3 or so hours, I went 21 for 13 (a 62% winrate) which I felt was acceptable. With a little more luck and a little less fatigue, I feel like I definitely would’ve gotten in the Top 100. Besides ladder, I managed to get a big win, finishing 2nd in the Pro Gaming League 5k Finals this month. If I could do anything differently, I think I would really have tried to spend more time getting ahead on grinding up ranks, and playing even more open tournaments.

3. August is the final season to qualify for World Championship. With the Grand Tournament coming – how will you be adjusting to this?

   As far as the expansion goes, I’ll be doing a of experimenting with Shaman and Paladin. This expansion seems to cater towards them trying to make them viable classes and giving them lots of strong cards. That being said, I always make sure to watch what other people are playing to stay updated and informed on what decks are strong, and what ideas haven’t really worked out.

4. What will you be laddering with during the first part of August season?

   Patron Warrior! Still the most ridiculously strong deck since beta (I think Patron is a lot stronger than Miracle Rogue was.) Blizzard will try to balance it with this upcoming expansion, but probably will end up nerfing every core card in the deck until it becomes unviable. Also, Mech Shaman and Midrange Hunter. Just overall strong decks. This season I’m feeling less like experimenting with decks as opposed to just climbing up to Legend.

5. Of all the revealed cards so far – which ones are you most excited to experiment with? Which class do you think has benefited the most so far?

   I really like the Tuskarr Jouster and I think it will become staple in Midrange/Control Paladin.

6. How was your tournament performance in July?

   2nd Place in the Pro Gaming League $5k Finals!

Kabi

1. Let’s do a quick recap – what were the decks you used in the final days of the July season and what rank did you finish at?

   Patron Warrior. Finished up at Legend Rank 34 on EU, 150 NA (I was 26 but went for higher and dropped).

2. What did you think of the July season?

   Too many people trying too hard to counter patrons, a lot of weapon hate, people sacrificing their decks doing bad choices that would only help a few matchups, and making every other matchup worse. I would have liked to make less mis-plays on the future

3. What will you be laddering with during the first part of August season?

   Until expansion hits, I will continue to play Patron. It’s the easiest way to climb if you are good enough and be ready for the new expansion.

4. Of all the revealed cards so far – which ones are you most excited to experiment with? Which class do you think has benefited the most so far?

   Aviana and Darnassus Aspirant for pure Ramp Druid. Totem Golem and tuskarr-totemic for Shaman. Bash for Control Warrior.

5. How was your tournament performance in July?

   I qualified for the Archon Open “Finals”… I guess that’s something!

Keyo

1. Let’s do a quick recap – what were the decks you used in the final days of the July season and what rank did you finish at?

   Was playing mostly Zoo and Aggro Paladin. I was really just trying to rush to Legend but ended up failing in the rush, it happens. Disappointing but I’ll get it again next month.

2. What did you think of the July season?

   It wasnt a good season for me, but overall the meta was very interesting and it’ll be exciting for an even fresher meta in August with The Grand Tournament!

3. August is the final season to qualify for World Championship. With the Grand Tournament coming – how will you be adjusting to this?

   I feel like it’s a little to early to tell exactly what I’ll do when the expansion rolls out because we don’t have all the cards yet. But for the August I most likely won’t be doing anything drastic, because I don’t want to lose my chance at Top 100 legend. If there’s a really strong new archetype I wouldn’t be opposed to trying it out though.

4. What will you be laddering with during the first part of August season?

   I’ve been playing a ton of Druid since the ladder reset, more than I have in a few months! The list attached is from my EU account, so there’s less legendaries/Epics in it. The changes are +1 Sylvannas -1 Kezan Mystic+1 Ancient of Lore -1 Azure Drake +1 Ragnaros -1 Loatheb. Its been doing really well for me and I’m already at rank 5 on NA and easily climbing EU as we speak!

5. Of all the revealed cards so far – which ones are you most excited to experiment with? Which class do you think has benefited the most so far?

   I honestly try to avoid brewing decks until the entire set is spoiled, but so far I’m really excited to try out Armored Warhorse, I think it will be a very strong card in Hybrid or Midrange hunter, we really won’t know for sure though until we try it! On a side note, the Joust mechanic is really cool, but I don’t think it’ll kill Aggro like some people have said. A meta with all Control would be just as bad as a meta with all Aggro.

6. How was your tournament performance in July?

   Aside from the Archon Open (which I 4-1’d last week), I’ve been placing Top 32 in just about every tournament I’ve played in lately, never higher, never lower. It’s really frustrating. But I’m sure I’ll break out of the slump soon enough! I’m playing in a swiss qualifier for the Scan Invitational! It’s a really stacked field so its gonna be tough, but hopefully I do well!

Lucky

1. Let’s do a quick recap – what were the decks you used in the final days of the July season and what rank did you finish at?

   At first I used a standard Patron Warrior (decklist) to get my ranks back on NA. After that I switched to Midrange Hunter which gave me very good winrate, so I decided to stick with it. These two Hunter decklists were used – first, second.

   The first one is more suitable to combat aggro decks like Zoo Warlock, Tempo Mage and Aggro Paladin, because of Snake Trap and Sludge Belcher. The second one is so much better against Patron Warrior and, to a lesser extent, Druid, because of Freezing Trap. I finished at around Rank 45 on NA server.

2. What did you think of the July season?

   This season was dominated by Patron Warrior once again. However, that doesn’t prevent the possibility that you can adapt to it and be competitive with other decks, too. I shouldn’t have stop playing on 30th of July after hitting Rank 9 on EU, because I knew it was still not good enough for Top 20 at the end of the season. It’s usually a little easier to continue winning when you’re on a roll than playing the next day, plus the fact that you have more time to recover when things go wrong. That was my bigger mistake, hopefully I’ll learn from it.

3. August is the final season to qualify for World Championship. With the Grand Tournament coming – how will you be adjusting to this?

   My routine won’t change too much compared to the norm. Balancing between practice and observing/talking to other people is ideal for me, placing special emphasis on trying to think for myself, avoiding netdecking without good reason.

4. What will you be laddering with during the first part of August season?

   I’ll be using my current main decks until The Grand Tournament comes, just as practice for tournaments:

   Handlock (decklist)

   Ramp Druid (decklist)

   Also standard Patron Warrior and Midrange Hunter.

5. Of all the revealed cards so far – which ones are you most excited to experiment with? Which class do you think has benefited the most so far?

   As everyone else, I’m looking forward to try a lot of different things. Druid new cards seem very promising, Paladin and Shaman are getting strong stuff, slower Hunter with Lock and Load could be viable, Tempo Mage will be renovated, and the list go on.

   I really hope Priest, as my favourite class, will catch some good cards, and the same goes for Rogue. I think Shaman and Druid got the best class cards so far, but there is still some stuff left to be revealed.

6. How was your tournament performance in July?

   I feel that my tournament practice was pretty useful, in ONOG circuit I haven’t had any great result yet, but at least my overall winrate has been acceptable considering the tough opposition.

   Additionally, I managed to come 1st place at the Zotac EU Cup #58 and got Top 4 in Strivewire Qualifier #58!

Sixis

1. Let’s do a quick recap – what were the decks you used in the final days of the July season and what rank did you finish at?

   I used Patron, Aggro Pally (decklist) for the last effort and Midrange Druid (decklist). I ended at Rank 105, sadly I couldn’t get in the last game on NA.

2. What did you think of the July season?

   The first season with a more stagnant meta it really showed the last day. The new expansion starts being necessary to freshen up things a little bit.If I could change something I would have set up my position on the ladder before the last day better. Looking forward this seanext month to improve the results.

3. August is the final season to qualify for World Championship. With the Grand Tournament coming – how will you be adjusting to this?

   The first week will have a crazy amount of information that we need to process to understand the new meta and the new way to play the game is gonna be super interesting and fun.

4. What will you be laddering with during the first part of August season?

   I’ve been playing Chakki Aggro Pally list tuned slighlty F2P to climb EU. Plus Patron and Midrange Hunter with standard list. I also trying Nostam Aggro Rogue. Left me with a good impression but still don’t favour it before Aggro Paladin.

5. Of all the revealed cards so far – which ones are you most excited to experiment with? Which class do you think has benefited the most so far?

   Aviana  is crazy plus the Valkyrie sisters (Fjola Lightbane, Eydis Darkbane) and some other cards look very good. We can’t forget good old Mech Mage even though his new card (Clockwork Knight) is not flashy. If the meta game turns Druid intensive (its very possible), Mech Mage can shine once again.

6. How was your tournament performance in July?

   I just placed Top 8 on TNH 34.

Koroneko

1. Let’s do a quick recap – what were the decks you used in the final days of the July season and what rank did you finish at?

   Combo Druid! Final rank #21 on NA. I put Azure Drake instead of Harrison Jones (decklist)

2. August is the final season to qualify for World Championship. With the Grand Tournament coming – how will you be adjusting to this?

   I will be building and test new decks. I will not observe other players. I will try by my self first!

3. What will you be laddering with during the first part of August season?

   Play Patron !

4. Of all the revealed cards so far – which ones are you most excited to experiment with? Which class do you think has benefited the most so far?

   Aviana  in Ramp Druid.

5. How was your tournament performance in July?

   1st Place HearthKings Competitive League – Season 2, 1st Place Tipsy Thursday #67, 1st Place Mannerly Monday #55 and I’ll be going to the Final Archon Cup!

Closing

Have questions or feedback about this series? Leave your comments below. See you all next week!