Quote:
The frequency graphs for this report are very striking. The first thing that’s important to notice is that the top legend field, which tends to be more developed (especially after a patch that shook up the meta), is extremely diverse. The most popular class sits at a 14% play rate, while the 8th most popular class is at 9.5%. The most popular deck makes up 10% of the field. An overwhelming force could still take over the meta, but the fact it hasn’t happened yet is encouraging.
Link: https://www.vicioussyndicate.com/vs-data-reaper-report-193/
4 Likes
Very interesting, so what I have taken from this report is that firstly, Paladin is still very strong, but perhaps not as strong as we may have thought, and we should expect it to drop off as people move away from bad decks. And with new deck types emerging we should start seeing it move towards a more reasonable winrate.
Secondly, that Warrior has really emerged from the shadows to perhaps have the strongest deck in the game right now, which to anyone who has played it is a given. Also interesting to see Face Hunter dropping off, which doesn’t surprise me, to be honest.
And lastly, Control Warlock is still the most overrated deck in the game! Who would have thought. I doubt it will stop people complaining that Tickatus is OP, or Warlock has “too much healing”.
All in all, I’d say the meta is shaping up to be pretty good to be honest.
9 Likes
" Control Warlock is one of the most overrated and overplayed decks of all-time. The deck has blown up on the first day following balance changes with an exceedingly high play rate that soon proved to be hot air. The archetype’s matchup spread is horrendous, and it’s incapable of consistently beating any relevant deck in the meta with the exception of Libram Paladins and Priests. In fact, its win rate at top legend is strictly a factor of its dominating Priest matchup and without it, it would be just as bad as it is throughout the high Diamond and lower legend ranks. Outside of its role as a Priest counter, it is competitively irrelevant."
how long time will it take before people come here and claim feelings > statistics? 
9 Likes
I make a bet: still 10% of the meta will be control warlocks in legend and ladder in one month…
2 Likes
Feels like a crab rider meta.
Whatever buffs cards best is who wins.
Maybe it’s “balanced” but fun it isn’t.
Devs should rethink what they done to watchposts.
2 Likes
Yeah because in legend there is a lot of control priests
thats completely fine if people insist on playing it as every other deck farms them
2 Likes
By the stats, last expansion had tick running in 3 of the 4 lock archetypes in top 1k legend, so it wasn’t just a “only baddies play it or lose to it” thing. It wasn’t tier 1 of course, but it wasn’t as bad as the defenders say. At the highest it reached like the bottom of tier 2.
So it actually made sense that people complained last expansion. Now that it’s a new expansion, the stats are different, and lo and behold the complaints have also died down (maybe not completely but a lot less).
In other words, people actually do follow the stats.
Right now the feelings over facts people seem to be the paladin complaints. This report show them have been toned down, but some people still insist they need more nerfs.
Oh, wow, I forgot that I was tinkering on an elemental shaman deck as it seemed like it’d really scratch that mid-range/tempo itch I have. The VS version feels fun and dynamic to pilot. Definitely recommend for anyone who likes the same (feels very elemental mage-y as well). I was playing around with Rush Warrior the other day just getting quests done and my god is that thing back breaking. I never knew what to play cause every option in my hand was S-tier. I’d bet that thing just popped up on the nerf radar something fierce. I also look forward to the refrain of folks saying that Trampling Rhino and Piercing Shots aren’t that good, ahkshually. That’ll pair well with the strawmanning, hyperbolic, hypotheticals that get bandied around when Tickatus will be brought up.
They’re basing the meta on day 1, not today.
No? The data is based on data from path day until last Tuesday. Are you suggesting the meta radically shifted in the last two days? Because if that’s the case, we’ll see those changes mentioned in the podcast Saturday.
5 Likes
It’s funny how they view Control Priest. I view it the same way, yet I don’t understand how they feel it’s the best Priest deck out there. Ugh, I wish I had time to commit to Hearthstone to bring Menagerie Priest to the lime light!
2 Likes
Would ya be meaning n’zoth priest? I been playing some of that!
N’zoth/Yshaarj clown menagerie priest I think is the best way to describe it lol
I just call it menagerie priest
To be fair, they tend to focus on existing data and extrapolating from there unless there’s good reason to get creative (like Elemental Shaman this report, or their theorycrafting articles before an expansion drops). Given that and the Priest situation in the report, it makes sense they aren’t focused on looking at alternative Priest builds.
Don’t worry, we’ll make sure Menagerie Priest gets popular enough to show up in a report eventually 
3 Likes
Okay, so it uses corrupt minions as well, I will add some corrupt to my list
no corrupt minions except clown
Here’s my deck:
### Schyla's Menagerie 2
# Class: Priest
# Format: Standard
# Year of the Gryphon
#
# 2x (0) Raise Dead
# 1x (1) Reliquary of Souls
# 2x (1) Renew
# 2x (2) Sethekk Veilweaver
# 2x (2) Wandmaker
# 2x (3) Apotheosis
# 2x (3) Hysteria
# 2x (3) Venomous Scorpid
# 1x (4) Blademaster Samuro
# 2x (4) Southsea Scoundrel
# 1x (4) The Nameless One
# 1x (4) Xyrella
# 1x (5) Moonfang
# 1x (5) Taelan Fordring
# 2x (6) Claw Machine
# 2x (6) Lightshower Elemental
# 1x (7) Soul Mirror
# 1x (9) Carnival Clown
# 1x (10) N'Zoth, God of the Deep
# 1x (10) Y'Shaarj, the Defiler
#
AAECAafDAwrIvgPOvgOb2AP+2wOY3gP83gOV5AP76APU7QOoigQKk7oDm7oDr7oD184D/tEDuuED+OMDlugDmusDlO8DAA==
#
# To use this deck, copy it to your clipboard and create a new deck in Hearthstone
2 Likes
Anyway just to add here.
Spell damage mage feels better without kazakus.
While kazakus is powerful a fireball to the opponents face in general wins the game.
I still not convinced that I should remove babbling books because while they’re terrible they make getting combo effects on turn 2 consistent enough and that alone already saved many matches.
I think that maybe a good approach in this case is run a 1 of instead and put a starscryer as a 1 of too because in the end there are other 1 drops in the deck and they here only to increase my odds at getting combo effects good to use on turn 2.
… This is the priest deck I’ve been trying to tinker towards. Thanks for sharing, it’s an absolute blast to pilot.
2 Likes