Flutterwing Guardian feels like an example of major power creep when compared to an older card like Sunwalker. It is essentially Sunwalker, but with 2 less mana cost, one less defense point, and it can buff your hero power. I see this card effectively being played in hunter, priest, and paladin. It is very powerful against aggro decks. Is this the new “Ethereal Oracle“ of the expansion, or is the imbue effect too restrictive to be played in a handful of decks?
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11 years later it isn’t a useful comparison. The game has changed completely. Look at the classic cards that now have versions in core, they’re almost all buffed and buffed by a lot. Especially the mid cost ones.
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I’m just saying that this could easily go to 5 mana, but I think that 6 mana is too high. Also, I am still waiting for that Hogger rework 
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The issue is that comparing individual card strengths is only half of the problem. The entire deck matters, and by moving this card to 5 you’d kill all of the imbue decks.
It’s okay if individual cards are strong.
It’s a solid turn 4 defensive card for imbue decks. After all the cards that have been removed to give aggro as much of an advantage as possible it’s nice to have something to play.
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I don’t think it’s OP per say, but I’m pretty sure it along with other Emerald Dream cards are overtuned so the new expansion cards are more relevant/sells more.
Once it’s over I wouldn’t be surprised if it or some other Emerald Dream cards get nerfed to make the next expansion’s cards stand out more. Not to the level of ADC getting nerfed twice mind you, but… yeah, ADC is another example of a very power creeped card.
ADC itself wasn’t ever the problem.
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Balancing is not done on cards, but on DECKS. You can have the best card in the world and still lose if the rest of the deck is bad.
Everyone knew that Ethereal Oracle was OP, yet it was allowed to be at 3 mana for far longer than necessary. Another example of an OP card was Infestor. These cards clearly drive the deck. I am just saying that FG could be the most recent reiteration of this pattern. Maybe it’s the stats or mana cost, but my gut tells me that something is off about this card, and usually my instinct is right. I understand that people are still in the ”honeymoon phase” and that’s ok too.
By that logic, when Priest had only Aman’thul it should be deleted, and then Priest would be completely useless because “OP” cards exist outside the context of decks supposedly.
Its a card that could easily go to 5 mana or at least lose the divine shield. Already does alot
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This isn’t a discussion about a legendary card, generally cards in this category are supposed to be of a greater power level.
That moves the goalposts. Some non-legendary cards are more important than some legendary cards (e.g. unnerfed Oracle). Balancing is done on decks.
Never said anything about it being a problem or not. The point was that they are ok with cards from [current expansion] have more stats/effects/whatever for the cost.
Think of it like… marketing. When they want to push something, they spend more money on marketing. Whether the product ends up successful because of or despite the marketing is another matter, but that doesn’t change that more money is thrown at the new product (that is to say the new expansion)
Once the expansion is over the money stops coming. In HS’s case nerfs would be like if they then spend money to put out negative stuff to put those things down.
You gotta stop drinking the kool-aid and open your eyes. This card is a problem and an example of major power creep. It’s enough for me to stop playing and I’m not sure when/if I’ll come back. The last time I quit was a full year (shortly after the March of the Lich King expansion). It’s not just this card, but others like The Ceaseless Expanse, Hamuul Runetotem, Goldpetal Drake, Aspect’s Embrace, Clutch of Corruption, Ysondre, Briarspawn Drake, Zilliax Deluxe 3000, Horizon’s edge, and Colossus. These mechanics all feel incredibly toxic.
The players don’t even use the best cards of the expansion yet. Eg they keep playing that dumb warrior with the eggs (and the 1 dragon) that is just clunky and subpar when the new expansion cards with multiple dragons are easily more powerful and robust at draw tempo.
That particular one is easily a mediocre card compared to others (e.g. the hunters have a 4-cost that both rushes and imbues in the same round).
I’m just not convinced by your “It’s not so bad” arguments. I finally took the leap and requested that Blizzard delete my account. I’m done with this nonsense.
There’s vastly more egregious power increases since classic but this is the hill you delete your account over?
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Not only are you comparing this to an 11 years old card, but you’re comparing it to a bad 11 years old card
You can also compare it to Booty Bay Bodyguard, 1 less mana for 1 less attack but divine shield and imbue
Or the old meme Silverback Patriarch, 1 extra mana for 3 atk, divine shield and imbue
Or Psych-o-Tron, 1 less mana, 1 more atk, trade the mech tribe for imbue…
If these are you references, of course flutterwing guardian will be OP
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Ironically, as the imbude become more refined. This card is the first one that gets cut