I’ve been playing HS for a while, but only have taken it more seriously recently, and there are many people in this Forum more knowledgeable than I, who I’d like to ask some questions about various game mechanics. So today I’m asking about Class Win Conditions.
I think I know what some DECK “Win Conditions” are, for example Higlander Hunter, play Brann when enemy health is low enough; Inner Fire Priest, keep high health minions alive until the right cards are in your hand; etc.
But I’ve seen posts here on the forum about how certain Classes don’t have a Win Condition, and I’m not sure I understand what that means. Could anyone please explain what a Class’s win condition could be?
It means Priest doesn’t have any proactive decks that are good.
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dont read into these forums too much 
when people say a class doesnt have a win condition, what they mean is that the class doesnt have a clear cut way to win a game a la mechathun
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Well, the way I understand it, people who talk about “win condition” mean either of two things:
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win condition as a card: it’s usually an oversimplification as each of those cards usually have a buildup, a plan or a strategy you have to execute to reap those effects. Usually, in that context, win condition means “the card you play that finally executes what your game plan is all about”.
In that context, Galakrond is a win condition, as much as Anyfin can happen, Bloodlust etc.
Note that although it’s called a win condition, it doesn’t mean that they end the game right here right now, nor that you can’t lose if you played your win condition (except some very specific cards a la Mecha’thun).
It just means that the odds of you winning skyrocket once you play it. King Togwaggle doesn’t win the game by itself, but I would consider it as a “win condition” by that definition.
And that doesn’t only include high cost cards. Totemic Reflection is a win condition, except it’s only really valid early game when curved into.
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more broadly defined, “win condition” corresponds to the whole strategy you put in place to, you know, win. Preferably in a proactive way, though taking the enemy to fatigue absolutely is a win condition.
Note that good decks usually have several win conditions, as reliability is key, or a game plan that accelerates your access to said win condition (like speed drawing all your deck for Malygos or emptying it for Chef Nomi).
As for the lack of win condition certain classes display, it’s generally about the lack of proactive win condition. Sure, fatiguing your opponent is a win condition that’s available to all classes, but you need specific tools for that.
Honestly, in this meta, I’d say Priest and Paladin are the classes that struggle the most here.
Priest kinda has Catrina Muerte and the whole Resurrect shenanigan, but otherwise it’s mostly: have more removal than threats, go to fatigue.
Paladin is in an even worse spot, the only real win condition they have is hitting the Prime. Tirion is outdated. Liadrin is a glorified Bonemare. Libram of Hope is good top end, but it often ends up being no more than a speed bump.
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Currently, Priest’s win condition is Galakrond. And since Gala makes random things, actually putting together a board that wins is difficult. Since the class has no reach, Fatigue tends to happen.
People be like “PRieSt GAmEs gO To fAtiGuE” and I’m like “Bruh, I still have 15 cards in my deck.”
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Shaman and Paladin (non aggro) win condition: Hope your opponent concedes out of pity.
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OK, so if I understand you correctly, there is no such thing as a Class Win Condition, only decks have them. So when someone says a Class has “no win condition”, what they’re really saying is that a Class has few to no strong options for building a deck with strategies that make winning easier, and their only option is really “outlast the opponent.”
That makes a great deal of sense. Thank you very much for your detailed answer, Clockwise.
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