My attempt at a Handbuff DK for the new format. This is a deck I’ve run a bit in the current format, and it’s getting a lot of cool new tools in the new format.
Basically the idea is I make up for an early game tempo loss with a big Arcanite Ripper or Death Metal Knight play. I also run the Magatha combo to fill my hand with minions for handbuffing. Which is also what’s good about Headless Horseman, he’ll fill my hand with handbuff targets and help me keep up with greedier decks.
I BELIEVE casts when drawn cards are activated before Magatha gives them to the opponent.
I really should make room for Hollow Hound or Gnome Muncher somewhere, but I’m not sure where. The deck is very 3 heavy so probably something to cut there. Maybe Chillfallen Baron or Prosthetic Hand is too greedy?
TBH I would cut Scarab Keychain x2, Voodoo Doctor x2, and Magatha at least. You’re not running Shambling Zombietank or Spinel Spellstone, either.
I’d put Scarab Keychain x2, Voodoo Doctor x2, Magatha, Farm Hand x2, Pozzik, and even Overlord Runthak on the chopping block.
Then look at Miracle Salesman, Spinel Spellstone, Shambling Zombietank, Maw and Paw, Gnome Muncher, and Hollow Hound. Hollow Hound is the worst one here, since it may never get full value depending on the meta.
Farm Hand is weaker on its own because its body sucks and if you don’t get the Quickdraw, you’re sad. Plus Headless Horseman will be your value engine in the late game, you won’t necessarily need value from anything else in the deck.
What’s wrong with Magatha? The deck is very minion-heavy, and she can set up a full hand for some good handbuff plays. Scarab Keychain gets the corpse chain going and can keep my hand full of minions.
If I’m not running Voodoo Doctor I’d probably cut the whole Ripper/Death Metal Knight package honestly. It’s a 1 mana activator for those and a huge part of what makes those cards work. I can get a 6/6 off the Arcanite Ripper by turn 5 with this.
What’s the thinking behind Miracle Salesman? Just a beefy 1 drop?
Spinel Stone seems okay, I do like the Magatha play so I’m pretty selective about putting too many spells in.
Maw and Paw sounds… okay? I’m not really keen on Zombie Tank broadly. It seems like a lot of corpses to me that I want for Blood Tap, sounds more like something a rainbow-handbuff build would want. Pozzik is just a really good disruption/tempo card and potential corpse generator. But I’m not married to him.
The deck doesn’t have farmhand in it that I can see. It can’t actually run it since it’s BBU and Farm Hand is double unholy.
I threw a mining casualties in for the corpse generation mostly. Tried to even out the 2 and 3 drops a bit more.
Does Headless horseman stop fatigue? Just curious or is it just you draw it, it casts on hero power, then you draw again?
Edit: This is what I would try day 1 of the expansion;
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Might cut Saurfang, and the scarab for more corpse generation.
It’s basically a convenient replacement for Magatha. Cheap, early game, and constant cycle that also won’t dump Blood Tap or other spells to your opponent, that also is never awkward to play. Sometimes you don’t need 5 cards, sometimes you can’t afford to spend your whole turn drawing.
He doesn’t effect fatigue at all, but this build at least isn’t planning to go to fatigue.
I feel like trading cards isn’t what this deck wants to do, mainly. I think this is something I’m gonna have to test for. Right now I kind of agree Magatha’s not great, just because of how the meta is structured. I haven’t tested enough to figure out why really, but that’s my feeling I guess.
Pozzik’s another card I’ll want to test for probably.
I don’t think giving up Blood Tap every like… 10 matches on average is really that big a deal. But man, a 1 mana 2/2 IS generally really good. Even without the upside. I’m definitely gonna iterate on this when the set comes out.
Find a spot for sharp-eyed Seeler. It’s a tutor for the head. Maybe fit two into your deck just for consistency. With how low your curve is you need to find the head ASAP to get any value from it. Part of me wants to drop the horseman entirely from handbuff cause of how much handbuff leans towards low curve tempo, so you won’t be greeding value with him that much. But he’s also just a fun card so ehhhh.
This IS NOT handbuff, but a deck built around headless horseman. I think the stichensew package actually plays really well with plague since spreading deathrattles can always be used on kvaldir or fallen baron for faster plays. But if you ever spread that deathrattle on Stichensew or recast with rodeler… it’s so absurdly sticky.
then you’re reliant on plagues and horsemen to greed out games if you can’t aggro your opponent.
I think the horseman is so cheap for such a high value card it’s fine, like even just the 3 damage hero power is going to add up pretty quick; the deck also has a lot of card draw with Magatha that I think I’ll be able to consistently get the head.
Sharp-Eyed serves literally no other purpose other than tutoring the head. I don’t… think that works. MAYBE with Snake Oil or if I built the deck to be a little more top-heavy with fizzle?
It’s not the kind of card a combo or control deck wants to play. I would play it in tempo/aggro for sure but maybe not in a mid deck depending on how the deck is playing out.