The release of the mini-set and several adjustments brought about significant changes in the Arena. With the format focused on Constructed Standard-legal sets, the power level remained exceptionally high, offering numerous powerful cards across various classes. Due to the limited number of sets available, these incredibly potent cards could be consistently drafted. As a result, certain classes gained a substantial advantage during the drafting stage. Knowing how to adapt after the initial round of adjustments became crucial in determining one’s success in the Arena, be it an average outcome or an exceptional run.
The current format of the Arena operates differently from the previous “bucket” system, where cards of similar power levels were offered against each other. Instead, the drafting process now revolves around card rarities. This change makes many picks straightforward, as the disparity in power between cards like Flamestrike and Murloc Tinyfin is easily discernible.
Currently, the Arena allows drafting from the following sets:
- Core;
- Voyage to the Sunken City;
- Murder at Castle Nathria;
- March of the Lich King;
- Path of Arthas;
- Festival of Legends;
- Audiopocalypse.
While specific class cards with high offering rates define this metagame, the top-performing neutral cards have remained consistent since the launch of the Festival of Legends set. Nerubian Vizier, Hipster, Sketchy Stranger, and Ghost Writer continue to hold immense value, providing powerful Discover effects from curated pools containing Standard cards. Although some of these tools have transitioned to Wild, new replacements ensure the continuation of the random card festivity. Fortunately, it appears that the excessive randomness has been toned down after initial chaos. It’s futile to try playing around specific cards, so stocking up on power and value becomes the optimal strategy, while seeking out the impactful class-specific bombs that shape the format.
The Diver minions
Gangplank Diver, Slimescale Diver, and Pelican Diver possess the Dormant keyword for one turn, coupled with Rush, making them superior to minions affected by summoning sickness unless playing an Aggro strategy. This renders the Diver minions invulnerable until they gain initiative, providing a net positive advantage. Among the three, Pelican Diver is the weakest but still surpasses Worgen Infiltrator significantly. The other two Divers function as potent removal tools, with Gangplank Diver ensuring at least a two-for-one trade. The most effective way to deal with these minions is to include them in one’s own deck.
- Silvermoon Armorer and Silvermoon Sentinel, two Manathirst cards, were the most powerful neutral minions introduced in the March of the Lich King set from an Arena perspective. While their effectiveness has somewhat diminished, it is often advantageous to play them for their bonus effects;
- Darkfallen Shadow may appear unassuming, but it often acts as a cheaper version of Restless Mummy, making it a strong neutral option for clearing troublesome boards. Its counterpart, Remixed Musician, serves a similar purpose within a deck;
- Umbral Geist, akin to Sneaky Delinquent, is a two-drop that replaces itself and offers Undead synergies to exploit. Fragile as it may be, it remains a highly valuable card in its category;
- Surprisingly, Party Animal, a two-drop minion, remains relevant in the current metagame. The additional Health and Attack it provides when added to one’s hand can significantly impact the overall stats of the minion;
- Concert Promo-Drake serves as an effective, albeit expensive, neutral hard removal tool. Its Tradeable keyword makes it a reasonable draft choice even in faster metagames, but it’s important to let go of it when tempo becomes a priority.
THE ONES TO BEAT
Shamans
Despite adjustments to some of their previously powerful cards, Shamans continue to dominate the Arena even after the release of the mini-set. The oppressive Pack the House is now limited to only a quarter of the decks, thanks to the adjustments. However, the mini-set has introduced three excellent cards for the class.
- Jam Session offers flexible buff and removal capabilities, making it highly useful in the battle for board control;
- Backstage Bouncer provides an unfair amount of stats, especially when combined with the class’ inherent token generation;
- Horn of the Windlord, appearing once in every two decks, proves to be an excessively impactful card from an Arena standpoint.
Alongside these, the class possesses strong midrange tools like Fire Elemental, Harkener of Dread, and Command of Neptulon, as well as the potential for Evolve strategies. This combination of elements establishes Shamans as formidable contenders in the Arena.
Mages
Meanwhile, the Mages have once again claimed the top spot in the Arena by utilizing their characteristic Mage strategies. The combination of Fiddlefire Imp, Audio Splitter, and the improved Infinitize the Maxitude, a card frequently discovered in the format, grants Mages an abundance of resources, including potent burn spells, to overwhelm other classes with value. If a Mage manages to obtain Maxitude, they become a formidable force in the late game, making it incredibly challenging for opponents to outvalue them. The key to countering Mages is to play aggressively and hope they don’t discover the right answers.
Death Knights
Moving on to the strong contenders, the Death Knights have made a comeback in the Arena. The class continues to present a challenge in the format, as their performance heavily relies on the availability of reliable draftable Discover cards. With the addition of two strong tempo cards from the mini-set, Hollow Hound and Cool Ghoul, Death Knights can now keep up with the pace of the game more effectively. Prioritizing Double Unholy and a single Frost remains the primary goal, enabling access to Hardcore Cultist while still having access to crucial cards like Army of the Dead and Battlefield Necromancer. However, the presence of Hollow Hound makes Blood a more attractive alternative, particularly when combined with Screaming Banshee or Arcanite Ripper.
Warriors
Warriors’ strategies have remained unchanged since the mini-set, although it has become more challenging to draft multiple Riff cards for chaining purposes. They can still establish early board presence with Anima Extractor and Imbued Axe before delving into Riff-related plays in the mid-game. Tidal Revenants serve as a strong finisher, while The Fires of Zin-Azshari can be cast in emergencies. The heavily discounted Abyssal Bassists are valuable additions, and similar to Shamans, Warriors can benefit from both Jam Session and Backstage Bouncer, with the latter being an excellent option discovered by Frightened Flunky.
Hunters
Hunters continue to be a mix of various ideas. Marked Shot remains the class’ highest-performing card, but it does not provide a clear direction. Mages and Shamans have the potential to clear Hunter’s boards, so having burn damage is crucial, most likely in the form of direct damage spells. Otherwise, the class relies on a collection of midrange high-value cards (such as Stonebound Gargon, Keeneye Spotter, Savannah Highmane), early tempo plays (Bunch of Bananas, Arrow Smith, Frenzied Fangs), and hopes that their assault is not halted. Among the mini-set cards, only Hollow Hound holds relevance for Hunters.
Demon Hunters remain locked into an aggressive playstyle, relying on Glaivesharks, weapons, and Illidari Inquisitors to swiftly deal damage.
- However, their success is not guaranteed, as they often struggle to bypass taunts reliably with their burn damage. Brutal Annihilan provides an additional means to push damage, but overall, the strategy proves to be more inconsistent than effective;
- Priests, previously a formidable force in the metagame, have experienced a decline in win rates following significant nerfs during a round of adjustments;
- The class still employs similar strategies, and cards like Plagiarizer and Fanboy have proven to be valuable additions. However, they lack the necessary consistency to achieve consistent results in the current Arena landscape.
Finally, the bottom tier features two classes that continue to underperform, just as they did after the release of a full set of adjustments. Druids struggle to establish a consistent curve and lack the board buffs necessary for successful token builds. They also find it challenging to compete against late-game strategies employed by other classes. Likewise, despite possessing a range of premium removal spells, Warlocks struggle to overcome the onslaught of Pack the House and Bridge Riff decks, as well as the near-endless resources generated by Mages and Death Knights. It is advisable to avoid these classes at all costs, as they are currently considered to be virtually unplayable.
More details
The Arena, a realm where skilled players clash in strategic card battles, continues to evolve with the release of the mini-set and subsequent adjustments. These changes have brought about significant shifts in the metagame, creating new opportunities and challenges for players seeking glory in the Arena.
- The introduction of the mini-set has injected fresh energy into the Arena, shaking up the established dynamics. With a limited number of sets available in the format, the power level of cards remains remarkably high. This, coupled with the reduced pool of cards to draft from, means that drafting ultra-powerful cards has become a consistent occurrence. As a result, certain classes gain a substantial advantage in the drafting stage, setting the stage for their success or failure in the battles ahead;
- The drafting process itself has undergone a notable change. The previous system of “buckets,” where cards of similar power levels were offered against each other, has been discarded in favor of a return to card rarities as the basis for drafting. This adjustment simplifies the decision-making process for players, as the power level disparities between cards become more apparent. Choosing between a Flamestrike and a Murloc Tinyfin is now a straightforward task, as the difference in their impact on the game is readily discernible.
The current format of the Arena allows players to draft cards from several sets, including Core, Voyage to the Sunken City, Murder at Castle Nathria, March of the Lich King, Path of Arthas, Festival of Legends, and Audiopocalypse. While the metagame is shaped by specific class cards with high offering rates, the best-performing neutral cards have remained consistent since the release of the main Festival of Legends set. Nerubian Vizier, Hipster, Sketchy Stranger, and Ghost Writer continue to be valuable Discover effects from curated pools of Standard cards, ensuring a continuation of the thrilling RNG (random number generation) fiesta. Although some of these tools have shifted to the Wild format, new ones have taken their place, maintaining the excitement and unpredictability of the Arena battles. Fortunately, the initial chaos seems to have been tamed after a few days, allowing players to adapt and strategize accordingly.
In conclusion
Two notable Manathirst cards, Silvermoon Armorer and Silvermoon Sentinel, have retained their relevance in the March of the Lich King set. These minions, from an Arena perspective, were considered the strongest neutral additions. While their effectiveness has slightly diminished, it is still beneficial to prioritize their inclusion in a deck. The versatility of Silvermoon Armorer, coupled with the added bonus effects, makes it a desirable pick. Meanwhile, Darkfallen Shadow serves as a seemingly unassuming card with the ability to clear problematic boards, much like a cheaper version of Restless Mummy. Its counterpart, Remixed Musician, fulfills a similar role within a deck, offering efficient board control.
Umbral Geist, a two-drop minion, shares similarities with Sneaky Delinquent as it replaces itself upon being played while introducing Undead synergies. Despite its fragility, Umbral Geist remains a valuable card within its category. Another surprisingly relevant two-drop is Party Animal, which boasts additional Health and Attack when added to one’s hand. This bonus significantly enhances the minion’s overall stat output, making it a formidable presence on the board.
Among the notable neutral cards in the current meta is Concert Promo-Drake, an effective albeit expensive hard removal tool. Its Tradeable keyword allows players to trade it for another card, making it a reasonable draft choice even in faster metagames. However, players must consider the trade-off between tempo and utility when deciding to part ways with this versatile card.