Keeping up with my tradition since coming back, here is my write up on Excavate Rogue! Let me also say that this month was the least I wanted to play the game since returning nearly 1/2 a year ago. I played pre-nerf Dragon Druid till D5 and got so bored I just stopped playing it and messed around. Seeing the same 3 decks game after game was just so boring. I think this list is only a couple cards off from the standard list before the new set.
I swapped to Excavate Rogue for my last 2 play sessions and I just had quite a bit of fun. I just hit legend by winning 9 games in a row. There was a fantastic spread of classes and I hope that continues.
I find the deck incredibly fun to play because you are constantly having to make new decisions and every game is very different. You have to play to your outs and sometimes have super high APM to make the most optimal turns.
Pros - Creates so much value I beat a Reno Priest after I was in fatigue for 7 turns. It is impossible for the opponent to play around what might come. Every game is different and interesting.
Cons - Has trouble vs hyper aggressive decks. Terrible deck to play if you are on mobile and have to make very fast high APM turns. Games are much tougher if you can’t get Drilly into your hand.
Standouts:
Maestra, Mask Mrchant - Won every game I played this card. Getting any of the Lich King heroes is powerful. Frost Lich Jaina
and Zul’Jin were backbreaking for the opponent.
Tess Greymane - This one should be pretty obvious. If you played a ton of other class cards then she just pops off.
Drilly the Kid - Duh.
Yogg-Saron, Unleashed - Deals with UNkiliax in the most efficient manner. Can be Shadowstepped and Breakdanced for multiple uses. Clears boards. Just gets the job done.
Greedy Partner - Being able to curve a t1 Frequency Oscillator, t2 Greedy Partner, t3 Drilly is value that is so hard for the opponent to catch up to. Getting that coin can just speed things up so nicely.
How to play:
The best advice I can give since every game is so different is how to mulligan. Getting Frequency Oscillator in your opening hand makes getting to Drilly so much better. It allows for a turn 3 Preparation + Pit Stop combo into a 6/4 Drilly.
Do not be afraid to switch from a midrange/control mindset to an agro mindset. There were a couple games where the Excavates and Discovers just allowed me to finish the game by turns 6-7.
Be ready to do math.
The list for anyone who cares.
Dig!
Class: Rogue
Format: Standard
Year of the Pegasus
2x (0) Preparation
2x (0) Shadowstep
2x (1) Bloodrock Co. Shovel
2x (1) Breakdance
2x (1) Frequency Oscillator
2x (1) Stick Up
2x (2) Greedy Partner
2x (2) Kaja’mite Creation
2x (2) Kobold Miner
2x (2) Pit Stop
1x (3) Velarok Windblade
1x (4) Drilly the Kid
2x (4) Dubious Purchase
1x (4) Sonya Waterdancer
2x (5) Sandbox Scoundrel
1x (6) Maestra, Mask Merchant
1x (7) Tess Greymane
1x (9) Yogg-Saron, Unleashed
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