Alright, this is what it’s come down to.
This is my 1st and only card game I’ve ever played (or intend to), except poker (but it’s not the same type of game, so I don’t count it).
So, no, I don’t know nor do I care about the classifications used in previously famous games like Yugi-oh or MtG. Even if you folks had enough of scientific knowledge to nail the classification for those game, those are likely not applicable in Hearthstone.
That said, we DO desperately need to find a common classification to use in our every day discussion, because we often derail threads by arguing about which deck belongs to which archetype. And without further ado, I bring you not one, but two different ones:
a) Archetypes by average game length:
- Aggro - early
- Midrange - midgame
- Control - late game.
Pretty self-explainable. This classification doesn’t care about your win condition, so most of the OTK decks belong to the “midrange” category, and the rest of them to “control” one. If you have any questions, do ask, but I think the rest is self-evident.
b) Archetypes by win condition:
- Aggro
- Tempo
- Combo/OTK
- Value (previously Attrition)
Yes, aggro is the same deck as the aggro from the previous classification, but that’s where the similarities stop.
Tempo, OTK and Attrition (value) are the playstyles which decide possible win conditions for the deck, which helps with deck-building, although it also helps your opponents to pin down your possible win conditions if your deck was meant to be a surprise.
If you give these two classifications a try, not individually but combined, I’m sure you’ll understand the value they bring, and I mean added value, when compared to the previously held classifications (whichever they are).
If not, at least we should pick some and agree to use them to avoid misunderstandings.
Sincerely yours,
Altair.
EDIT: Take it from aggro decks enjoyer - not every aggro deck is made equal. Some require some finesse, such as when to go for tempo, when to go for value, and some are just meant to be full on aggro until the end. Also, everyone seems to understand the concept of “aggro-control” archetype, and now, by using these two classifications together, aggro-control is indeed one of the archetypes in existence.