Joseph’s Brew – The Grand Tournament Token Druid

Introduction

Hello, once again. Joseph Scalise here, jumping over from Weekly Legends to deliver you another article relating to the constructed side of The Grand Tournament (which I am absolutely crazy excited for). While my first pass was aimed at analyzing the most powerful constructed cards in the set, this time around I will be focused on decks and deck construction. Anyone who has seen my series or watched me play knows that I am a brewer at heart. Hitting legend is fine, but I always strive to find the most interesting or creative ways to reach the orange diamond. Brewing is my favorite part of card games, and despite what some certain rope-loving streamers think, this set is certainly going to shake up the meta. Not only was this desperately needed, but it also means that many new decks will rise from the chaos that will surely come in the next few weeks. New cards have two purposes in cards games: to either strengthen existing decks or create entirely new ones.

One thing I should make clear before we begin is that the lists are first takes. They are by no means refined, which would be impossible due to the cards not being in the game yet, but they are shells that will serve as a great place to start brewing. When I (or anyone) builds a deck you just start with a shell, play test that shell and see what needs to be tweaked or improved. Not every card in the set is going to give birth to a new deck, and not every deck you theorycraft is going to end up being good. However, this article is not just for the decks laid out below, it is also to show exactly how you want to think when you begin brewing. There is no way to know exactly what will come from the Grand Tournament, but the decks below are ones that I am excited to try, and I will most likely be playing all of them at some point next week.

Token Druid

Once upon a time I would have opened this paragraph with the question: How strong can a couple of good cards really make a deck? However, Paladin more than showed us the answer to that question during the early days of Goblins Vs. Gnomes. Since it’s brief time in the spotlight, Token Druid has sat on the bench, waiting for a catalyst to enable its return. The Grand Tournament should be that catalyst, giving the deck Living Roots, Darnassus Aspirant, Gormok the Impaler as well as Mulch. All three of these cards are very strong (as I noted in my “top ten” review) and they all fit very nicely into this build. While you have a lot of similar cards to the old build, the list has been tweaked in a way that allows for quicker burst and much stronger openings. Echoing Ooze, Haunted Creeper, Living Roots and Violet Teacher all fill the board, and are supported by solid removal, Power of the Wild and Defender of Argus. They also all help trigger Gormok, and make sure you have consistent presence to set up Savage Roar.

In terms of incorporating the new cards, cutting a Wrath for a Mulch was a very easy fit. Living Roots gives you more means of removal, and your early minions can trade quite well (especially when buffed). Just like with old Token decks you are aiming to swarm the board, and then end the game through either a Savage Roar, or Savage Roar/Force of Nature. The new options enable even more board presence, and the versatility of Living Roots is absolutely insane. Innervate is here as always, but you will notice that Wild Growth is not. As someone who took Token and Recombobulator Druid to legend, I have always been looking to cut that card, which really slows you down in a deck that always adds to the board. Aspirant changes this, giving you a great, resilient two drop that also buffs up your mana; if only for a short time. For now, there is no Piloted Shredder in this list, as I think that Defender of Argus is better with the swarm. However, that could easily be the wrong play, but I won’t know that until testing. This may be the deck I am most excited to play come Monday, but it’s too early to call.

Conclusion

Well, there you have it. Speculation, speculation and speculation. I am so ready for Monday it isn’t even the least bit funny, and I am going to crack my packs ASAP and get crafting. Be sure to check out my other brews:

• The Grand Tournament’s Control Paladin (Non Dragon)
• The Grand Tournament’s Tempo Mage
• The Grand Tournament’s Midrange Shaman (Totem)
• The Grand Tournament’s Control Warrior (Non Dragon)
• The Grand Tournament’s Token Druid
• The Grand Tournament’s Midrange Hunter (Beast)
• The Grand Tournament’s Aggro Warlock
• The Grand Tournament’s Malygos Shaman
• The Grand Tournament’s Dragon Priest

All of these builds excite me, and I’m not sure which one I am going to bring to the ladder first. I am most intrigued by Demon Aggro, Token Druid and Tempo Mage, but Dragon Priest and Maly-Shaman also look so fun. I will return to Weekly Legends next week, where I will start to actually play the new decks, and I cannot wait for that as well. Hope you guys enjoyed this and my “top ten” article, and I hope you are as ready as I am. Remember, you never know what to expect on the new ladder, so have fun, get testing, and play what you love. Until next time, may all of your Legendaries be golden!