GAMERS DECIDE - arena

[Top 5] Best MTG Arena Blue Decks

ShanaE — Wed, 05 Jul 2023 17:31:47 +0000

Hey there, fellow planeswalkers! Get ready to dive headfirst into the whimsical and sometimes downright wacky world of MTG Arena. Today, we're setting our sights on blue decks, where the cards are as unpredictable as a squirrel with a caffeine addiction. Trust me, we've scoured the planes and consulted with a pack of quirky wizards to bring you the top 5 best MTG Arena blue decks that will make your opponents question their sanity and leave them scratching their heads in bewilderment.

Picture this: you're sitting at your digital battlefield, sipping on your favorite mana-infused concoction, and wielding a deck that's as sharp as a wit and as sneaky as a ninja on roller skates. The power of blue magic is in your hands, my friend, and it's time to unleash it upon the unsuspecting masses.

Stay tuned, my fellow spell-slingers! In the next part of our journey, we'll unveil blue decks that will make you laugh, cry, and maybe even question the fabric of reality itself. So grab your lucky dice, summon your most eccentric alter ego, and let the games begin!

Note: Remember that the effectiveness of these decks may vary depending on factors such as skill level, playstyle, and the ever-evolving meta. Adaptation and experimentation are key to staying ahead of the game and conquering the fierce competition that awaits. Win rate percentages are constantly changing, and example decks are given in this article but can be added upon and changed to the user’s liking.

5. Grixis Midrange

Balance your control and aggression with Grixis Midrange.

Hold onto your hats, fellow spell-slingers, because we're about to dive into the chaotic world of Grixis Midrange in MTG Arena! This deck is like a roller coaster ride through the planes, combining the cunning strategy of blue, the ruthless power of black, and the fiery aggression of red. Grixis Midrange is a force to be reckoned with, leaving your opponents bewildered and your victories as satisfying as pulling a rabbit out of a goblin's hat.

Grixis Midrange isn't just your average run-of-the-mill deck. Oh no, my friend, it's a finely crafted masterpiece that excels in various areas. It strikes the perfect balance between control and aggression, giving you the versatility to adapt to any situation that comes your way. With its arsenal of spells and creatures, Grixis Midrange is a Swiss Army knife of destruction, ready to dismantle your opponents' strategies and leave them questioning their life choices.

Grixis Midrange is a true powerhouse in the MTG Arena meta with a win rate of 47.7%. The deck's ability to generate card advantage, disrupt opponents' plans, and deploy a well-rounded mix of threats and answers is simply unparalleled. Grixis Midrange is capable of turning the tide of a game with its potent combination of control elements and devastating finishers, making it a top choice for competitive players looking to outwit their opponents.

Here’s why this deck is so powerful:

1. Versatile Removal: Grixis Midrange boasts an impressive array of removal spells, capable of dealing with almost any creature or problematic permanent your opponent throws at you. From targeted removal like Fatal Push to board wipes like Cry of the Carnarium, this deck ensures that your opponent's threats vanish faster than a goblin with a firecracker.

2. Card Advantage Galore: One of the deck's greatest strengths is its ability to generate card advantage. With cards like Nicol Bolas, the Ravager and Search for Azcanta, you'll be drawing extra cards and digging through your library faster than a dragon hoarding treasure. This keeps your hand full and your options wide open.

3. Threats from the Abyss: Grixis Midrange doesn't just play defense; it knows how to bring the heat. From the devastating power of Sheoldred, to the sneaky planeswalker Kaito Shizuki,, this deck presents a lineup of threats that will have your opponents quaking in their boots.

4. Matchup Mastery: Grixis Midrange excels against decks that rely heavily on creatures and aggressive strategies. Its removal suite and control elements allow it to dismantle creature-based decks with ease, leaving your opponent's board in shambles and their dreams crushed.

5. Outwitting Control: Even against control decks, Grixis Midrange holds its own. With a mix of disruptive spells, hand disruption, and powerful finishers, this deck can dismantle your opponent's carefully laid plans while presenting a constant threat that's hard to contain.

So, fellow adventurers, grab your deck, gather your wits, and embrace the chaos that is Grixis Midrange. With its versatile playstyle, powerful removal, and a knack for turning the tide of battle, this deck is the key to unlocking victories and leaving your opponents muttering spells of defeat. Get ready to unleash the fury of the Grixis colors upon your foes and watch as they crumble beneath your arcane might!

Example Deck:

Planeswalker:

Kaito Shizuki

Creature:

Bloodtithe Harvester (4)
Corpse Appraiser (4)
Sheoldred, the Apocalypse (3)
Sheoldred (3)
Bladecoil Serpent (1)

Sorcery:

Gix’s Command (1)

Instant:

Cut Down (4)
Make Disappear (3)
Go for the Throat (4)
Volcanic Spite (1)
Siphon Insight (3)

Battle:

Invasion of Amonkhet (2)

Land:

Takenuma, Abandoned Mire (1)
Darkslick Shores (4)
Shipwreck Marsh (3)
Underground River (1)
Shivan Reef (3)
Blackcleave Cliffs (4)
Haunted Ridge (4)
Sulfurous Springs (2)
Xander’s Lounge (4)

4. Mono-Blue Tempo

Show off your spell casting skills with Mono-Blue Tempo deck in MTG Arena

This deck is like the cheeky prankster of the Magic world, constantly keeping your opponents on their toes with its lightning-fast and sneaky tactics. With a mix of evasive creatures, tricky spells, and counterspells, Mono-Blue Tempo will have your opponents scratching their heads and questioning their life choices.

Let me tell you, Mono-Blue Tempo is not your run-of-the-mill deck. It's a little like that mischievous friend who's always one step ahead, slipping through defenses and countering spells with a wink and a nod. What makes this deck truly shine is its ability to maintain control of the game while dealing damage with lightning speed. It's like sipping a latte while simultaneously dodging fireballs, and who wouldn't want to do that?

Mono-Blue Tempo is a force to be reckoned with in the current MTG Arena meta. It currently boasts a win rate of 51.7%. The deck's blend of evasive creatures, counterspells, and tricky tricks allows it to disrupt opponents' strategies and dictate the pace of the game. The deck's strength lies in its ability to quickly establish board presence while keeping opponents off balance, making it a formidable choice for those looking to outsmart and outmaneuver their opponents.

Here’s what makes this deck such a force:

1. Lightning-Fast Creatures: Mono-Blue Tempo is all about speed and finesse, and its roster of evasive creatures reflects just that. Cards like Tolarian Terror and Haughty Djinn zip across the battlefield, dealing damage before your opponents can even say, "Wait, what just happened?" These slippery little devils are hard to block and provide a consistent stream of pressure.

2. Counterspells Galore: What better way to assert dominance than by saying "no" to everything your opponent tries to do? Mono-Blue Tempo's arsenal of counterspells allows you to shut down your opponents' game plans faster than a caffeine-addicted squirrel snatching the last espresso shot at a hipster coffee shop. Whether it's countering a game-changing spell or simply disrupting your opponent's tempo, counterspells are your best friends in this deck.

3. Tempo Control: This deck thrives on disrupting your opponents' tempo and forcing them to play at your pace. By countering key spells and bouncing troublesome permanents with cards like Brazen Borrower and Unsummon, you can throw a wrench in your opponents' plans and keep them off balance. It's like watching a synchronized dance routine while your opponent tries to do the Hokey Pokey.

4. Aggro Matchups: Mono-Blue Tempo is a nightmare for aggressive decks. Its evasive creatures make blocking a challenge, while counterspells and bounce effects disrupt the opponent's game plan. You'll have your opponents questioning their life choices as they struggle to find a way to get through your wall of tricks.

5. Outwitting Control: Even against control decks, Mono-Blue Tempo can hold its own. With a mix of counterspells, card draw, and the ability to quickly rebuild your board, you can keep your opponent on the back foot and prevent them from establishing their desired control over the game. It's like effortlessly outsmarting a chess grandmaster while enjoying a nice cup of tea.

So, my fellow tricksters, grab your deck, don your most enigmatic smile, and embrace the mischievous nature of Mono-Blue Tempo. With its lightning-fast creatures, counterspells that leave opponents scratching their heads, and the ability to control the tempo of the game, this deck is your ticket to a world of cunning strategies and unexpected victories. Get ready to dance through the battlefield, leaving your opponents in awe and wondering just how you managed to outwit them at every turn.

Example Deck:

Creature:

Delver of Secrets (4)
Haughty Djinn (4)
Tolarian Terror (4)

Instant:

Consider (4)
Fading Hope (4)
Slip Out the Back (4)
Spell Pierce (3)
Essence Scatter (3)
Impulse (2)
Make Disappear (3)
Thirst for Discovery (4)

Land:

Island (21)

3. Esper Legends

Esper Legends is a versatile multi-colored deck in MTG Arena

This deck is like a gathering of the greatest heroes and legends in the multiverse, coming together to unleash their awe-inspiring powers. With a blend of white, blue, and black magic, Esper Legends is a force to be reckoned with, weaving tales of victory and leaving your opponents in a state of awe. Esper Legends boasts a win rate of 54.4% win rate.

Let me tell you, the Esper Legends deck is no ordinary deck. It's like assembling a dream team of legendary heroes and watching them unleash their extraordinary abilities upon the battlefield. This deck excels in versatility, control, and the sheer power of its legendary creatures. It's like having a front-row seat to an epic showdown between superheroes and supervillains, with you holding all the cards.

The Esper Legends deck is a true powerhouse in the MTG Arena meta. The deck's ability to assemble a formidable cast of legendary creatures, disrupt opponents' strategies, and overwhelm with its synergistic gameplay is simply unmatched. Esper Legends has the potential to dictate the flow of the game and leave opponents scrambling to find an answer to the legendary onslaught.

Here’s what makes this deck so magical:

1. Legendary Synergy: The Esper Legends deck thrives on the synergy between its legendary creatures. Each legendary card brings its unique abilities and powers to the battlefield, often triggering powerful effects when they enter or leave play. It's like watching a superhero team-up movie where each character's strengths amplify the others, creating a force that's greater than the sum of its parts.

2. Control and Disruption: With a mix of counterspells, removal spells, and hand disruption, Esper Legends has the tools to control the game and disrupt opponents' plans. You'll be thwarting your opponents' strategies, denying their resources, and leaving them pondering their defeat as if they just encountered a supervillain's evil plot twist.

3. Versatile Win Conditions: This deck offers multiple avenues to victory. From overwhelming the board with legendary creatures to draining your opponents' life with cards like Sheoldred the Apocalypse, Esper Legends keeps your opponents guessing and ensures you have a backup plan for every situation. It's like having a secret stash of alternate endings to your favorite book, ready to surprise and delight.

4. Aggro Matchups: Esper Legends thrives against aggressive decks. With its array of removal spells and lifegain options, it can weather the storm and stabilize the board. Your opponents will be left scratching their heads as their creatures fall one by one, while you stand tall like a legendary hero surrounded by a pile of defeated foes.

5. Outlasting Control: Even against control decks, Esper Legends has what it takes to hold its ground. With resilient threats, card advantage engines like Adeline, Resplendent Cathar, and the ability to generate value from legendary creatures entering or leaving the battlefield, you'll keep the pressure on and force control players to reconsider their plans. It's like outsmarting a cunning villain and leaving them to wonder how you managed to outplay them at every turn.

So, my friends, assemble your legendary ensemble, embrace the power of the multiverse's greatest heroes, and prepare to witness the Esper Legends deck in all its glory. With its legendary synergy, control elements, and the ability to adapt to any situation, this deck is your ticket to becoming a legend in your own right. Get ready to forge a new chapter in the annals of MTG Arena history and leave your opponents with tales of awe and admiration.

Example Deck:

Creature:

Skrelv, Defector Mite (4)
Thalia, Guardian of Thraben (4)
Rona, Herald of Invasion (4)
The Raven Man (2)
Dennick, Pious Apprentice (4)
Adeline, Resplendent Cathar (3)
Raffine, Scheming Seer (4)
Sheoldred, the Apocalypse (4)
Ertai Resurrected (2)

Instant:

Go for the Throat (3)

Land:

Eiganjo, Seat of the Empire (3)
Otawara, Soaring City (3)
Swamp (1)
Takenuma, Abandoned Mire (1)
Deserted Beach (1)
Seachrome Coast (4)
Caves of Koilos (4)
Shattered Sanctum (1)
Darkslick Shores (4)
Shipwreck Marsh (1)
Plaza of Heroes (3)

2. Azorius Control

Control chaos while wielding the Azorius Control deck

Get ready to embrace the serene and calculated world of the Azorius Control deck in MTG Arena! This deck is like having that one friend who always has an answer for everything, except instead of advice, they sling counterspells and removal spells with a smirk on their face. With its blue and white prowess, Azorius Control is a force to be reckoned with, with a 54.6% win rate.

Let me tell you, the Azorius Control deck is no ordinary deck. It's like having a personal guardian angel watching over you, always ready to protect and guide you through the trials of the battlefield. This deck excels in control and manipulation, giving you the power to dictate the pace of the game and frustrate your opponents' every move. It's like having a magical remote control to pause, rewind, and fast-forward the game to your liking.

The Azorius Control deck is a true force to be reckoned with in the MTG Arena meta. The deck's ability to generate card advantage, disrupt opponents' strategies, and protect its life total is second to none. Azorius Control's strength lies in its mastery of control elements, allowing you to outlast and outmaneuver opponents with its arsenal of counterspells, removal, and protection spells.

1. Counterspell Mastery: Azorius Control is the master of saying "no." With its array of counterspells like Negate and Disdainful Stroke, you'll be shutting down opponents' game-changing spells faster than a cat pouncing on a laser pointer. It's like having a magical bouncer at the gates of your game, denying entry to any unwanted shenanigans.

2. Spot Removal: This deck excels at removing problematic creatures and permanents from the battlefield. Whether it's using cards like Fateful Absence or Elspeth Smite, you'll be sending your opponents' threats into exile faster than a goblin disappearing into thin air. It's like playing a game of magical hide-and-seek, where your opponent's cards are the ones doing the hiding.

3. Card Advantage: Azorius Control knows the value of a full hand. With card draw engines like Teferi, Who Slows the Sunset and Thirst for Discovery, you'll be drawing extra cards and digging through your library faster than a rabbit searching for carrots. This keeps your options open and ensures you never run out of answers.

4. Board Sweeps: When things get a little too crowded on the battlefield, Azorius Control has the perfect solution. With powerful board sweepers like Depopulate and Sunfall, you'll be wiping away your opponents' creatures like a gust of wind blowing away a house of cards. It's like being the conductor of a symphony, orchestrating a beautiful harmony of destruction.

5. Control Matchups: Azorius Control excels against aggressive decks that rely on quick, creature-based strategies. Its ability to disrupt opponents' plans, remove threats, and gain life puts a damper on their aggression. You'll have your opponents scratching their heads and wondering where all their creatures went as they face the consequences of their hasty actions.

So, my fellow control enthusiasts, buckle up and get ready to embark on a journey of precision and manipulation with the Azorius Control deck. With its mastery of counterspells, spot removal, and the ability to control the game's flow, this deck is your key to dominance on the battlefield. Get ready to outsmart your opponents, frustrate their plans, and leave them questioning their life choices as you ride the wave of control to victory. Remember, in the realm of Azorius Control, it's not about having all the answers; it's about making sure your opponents never even get to ask the questions.

Example Deck:

Planeswalker:

The Wandering Emperor (4)
Teferi, Who Slows the Sunset (2)
Teferi, Temporal Pilgrim (2)

Creature:

Sanctuary Warden (1)

Sorcery:

Depopulate (1)
Sunfall (2)
Farewell (2)

Instant:

Elspeth’s Smite (4)
March of Otherworldly Light (2)
Fateful Absence (2)
Disdainful Stroke (1)
Negate (1)
Thirst for Discovery (3)
Memory Deluge (2)

Artifact:

The Celestus (2)

Enchantment:

Wedding Announcement (3)

Land:

Plains (8)
Island (8)
Adarkar Wastes (2)
Deserted Beach (4)
Tranquil Cove (4)

1. Azorius Soldiers

Command a powerful arme with Azorius Soldiers

Gather 'round and witness the might of the Azorius Soldiers deck in MTG Arena! This deck is like an army of disciplined warriors, marching in perfect formation to conquer the battlefield. With its blue and white synergy, the Azorius Soldiers deck embodies the spirit of unity and coordination, delivering powerful blows and leaving opponents in awe of its tactical prowess.

With a win rate of 59.5%, the Azorius Soldiers deck is a force to be reckoned with. It's like having a battalion of soldiers who know how to work together seamlessly, executing strategies with precision and finesse. This deck excels in synergy, protection, and overwhelming opponents with a disciplined force. It's like watching an epic battle scene in a movie, where the heroes rally together and triumph against all odds.

The Azorius Soldiers deck is a formidable force on the MTG Arena battlefield. The deck's ability to amass a powerful army of soldiers, buff them with auras and equipment, and maintain control with counter magic and removal spells is truly impressive. Azorius Soldiers has the versatility to adapt to different situations, making it a force to be reckoned with against both aggressive decks and control strategies.

Here’s why this deck is so enchanting:

1. Synergy of Soldiers: The Azorius Soldiers deck thrives on the synergy between its soldier creatures. Each soldier card brings its unique abilities and powers to the battlefield, often granting bonuses or triggering effects when other soldiers are present. It's like witnessing a perfectly choreographed military drill, where each soldier knows their role and enhances the strength of the whole unit.

2. Protection and Buffing: This deck excels at protecting its soldiers and empowering them to deliver devastating blows. With a mix of creatures like Yotian Frontliner and Seige Veteran, you'll be turning your soldiers into formidable forces that can withstand enemy assaults and dish out significant damage. It's like putting your troops through intense military training, ready to face any challenge that comes their way.

3. Aggro Matchups: Azorius Soldiers excels against aggressive decks that rely on quick, creature-based strategies. Its ability to generate a steady stream of soldier tokens puts a dent in their assault. Your opponents will be left scratching their heads, wondering how their seemingly unstoppable charge met such a resolute defense.

4. Versatility: One of the strengths of the Azorius Soldiers deck is its versatility. It can adapt to different matchups and adjust its strategy accordingly. Against control decks, it can apply relentless pressure and overwhelm opponents with a barrage of soldiers. Against creature-based decks, it can establish a solid defense and disrupt their plans. It's like having a versatile army that can handle any situation with grace and efficiency.

So, my fellow commanders, strap on your helmets, rally your soldiers, and prepare to march into battle with the Azorius Soldiers deck. With its synergy, protection, and ability to control the battlefield, this deck is your ticket to victory. Let the enemies tremble as they face the might of your disciplined army, and may the Azorius colors guide you to triumph!

Example Deck:

Creature:

Recruitment Officer (4)
Yotian Frontliner (4)
Resolute Reinforcements (4)
Thalia, Guardian of Thraben (4)
Valiant Veteran (4)
Harbin, Vanguard Aviator (3)
Brutal Cathar (4)
Siege Veteran (4)
Skystrike Officer (3)
Myrel, Shield of Argive (3)

Land:

Eiganjo, Seat of the Empire (1)
Plains (6)
Island (3)
Otawara, Soaring City (1)
Adarkar Wastes (3)
Fortified Beachhead (4)
Plaza of Heroes (1)
Secluded Courtyard (4)

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[Top 10] Hearthstone Best Arena Class (Ranked)

Danish Bukhari — Sun, 14 May 2023 20:24:49 +0000

The road from a 0-3 to a 12-0 isn't easy. But with the right tricks up your sleeve, you can succeed on this journey.

Arena is a great way to test out your skills in Hearthstone. The drafting mode offers players the choice to make a custom deck of 30 cards. Each card has to be picked from a choice of three, leading to a wildly different experience each time.

With Festival of Legends, Blizzard managed to shake up the Arena meta quite a bit. Andthere are a bunch of really interesting class choices for those that want to dabble in the mode.

So, without further ado, here are the best Arena classes in Hearthstone currently.

10. Hunter

All about going face with big beasts, this is one class that's a party animal.

So, for this expansion, Blizzard decided to go really in the “Big Hunter” direction. And news flash for them, it’s not really working out too well.

Hunter’s currently sitting at a shocking 38.1% win rate, according to HSReplay.net data, which isn’t great at all. While much of their cards don’t work well for the Arena format, there are a couple that really stand out.

The existing synergy between Arrow Smith and Jungle Jammer is quite nice.
Especially when paired up with Bunch of Bananas and Barrel of Monkeys.
These spells work well together and can lead to some pretty significant results.

In general, you’ll wanna pick Hunter if:

You’re really experienced with the class, and can perform well, even though it’s relatively on the weaker end currently.
Would like to try out the spell package Blizzard has added with Festival of Legends. The inherent synergy present there is strong, it’s not mind-blowing still.
Want to try out the new Hunter cards that have been added in the expansion like Harmonica Soloist. It may be underrated due to its poor stat line, but it can still provide around 4.5 worth of value for only 3 mana.

So, while Hunter didn't get any super powerful cards compared to other classes, they still have some solid options to work with.

9. Druid

For a class that's all about protecting nature, they sure do like to attack others a lot.

The main themes for Druid in this expansion are about gaining Attack/Armor. This is mainly doneby improving your Hero Power over the course of the game. But that’s not all, because Druids have also gotten a sizable Big package.

The reason why the class is still on the lower-end for Arena right now is pretty clear. Gaining attack/armor traditionally aren’t the best strategies.

Don’t get me wrong, they’re decent, but with other classes being powerhouse cards, simply gaining +1 Attack or +1 Armor each time you Hero Power just cannot keep up.

And with Big Druid, that’s never really been able to work in Arena because Druid traditionally doesn’t have the removal to play a late-game control class, where they can afford to miss turns due to how big their deck is. With all that said, Druid got real good cards this expansion.

Drum Circle is a big board or a big board buff.
Groovy Cat, if played early on enough, can completely change the game by making your hero power +2 attack.
Summer Flowerchild is a solid statted 5 that generally draws 2.
Timber Tambourine is a little slow, but has a ton of potential by just playing stuff on curve.

All of these cards are great cards that provide a ton of tempo or value for their cost.

If you’re looking to play Druid, these reasons should be why:

You’re sure you can draft cards that include some of the stronger options Druid has gotten, like Drum Circle.
You can play Druid well enough to succeed in the late-game, even with the class’s inability to counter strong late-game threats.
You’re not committing too much to the “improving your Hero Power” game plan, since that doesn’t lead to much success.

8. Rogue

Sneaky and secret -- Rogues are the perfect fit for people that have social anxiety.

Rogues got cards that deal with weapon damage and combos. But, weapon damage and using the dagger to gain advantage isn’t nearly as strong as it once was, and the Combo synergy isn’t really a thing in Arena.

It exists, but it’s not something you can rely on. So ultimately, looking at their FoL cards, they’re mostly mediocre. They don’t have a single card that breaks an 80, and only 2 cards that break a 70.

The class, which was once considered the king of Arena, definitely seems to be struggling against better competition these days, which is a bit of a shame. Much of this comes down to the classes’ poor additions, most notably in FoL.

Beatboxer would be much better if it were minions only, the fact it needs the combo and can hit the hero hurts its reliability, but is still the best card they have.
Harmonic Hip-Hop is a solid removal, but that’s it for top cards. This is a horrible set overall for Rogue, the worst set by far of any of the classes in FoL.
Breakdance can be seen as a 1-mana generate a card, give your minion Rush or Windfury. To me, a better Rocket Boots, which would be a low to mid-tier card.

With that said, Rogue should only be a consideration for:

Long-term players of the class who are able to make the most out of its combo arsenal.
Anyone that generally is used to making the best use out of its Hero Power.
Or for players that have the tempo-based game plan the class offers down to a T.

7. Paladin

Paladins may be blinging out with their amazing cards in Standard but Arena is a completely different disco.

The big theme for Paladins this time around is Divine Shield, but being Arena, you aren’t that likely to have much Divine Shield synergy. So it comes down to their cards being independently strong, which a lot of them are.

Disco Maul has the easiest to trigger of the Weapon Upgrades and is great on curve. Annoy-o-Troupe, even as an Epic, will be a great late-game card in the same vein as Voidlord for its repeating down on a theme.
Harmonic Disco is a great mid-game tempo swing. Funkfin and Jitterbug, while rated low by the community, do bring Divine Shield energy to the table, which is great. The class offers some really strong cards this time around.
Funkfin is particularly great. It starts as a 4/2, then becomes a 2/2 after pinging off the shield. That by itself should put it over most 3-drops with mild upside. The effect is just a bonus.
With Disco Maul, the most likely scenario is you play this on 2, hit something, play a minion on 3, hit something, minion gets +2/2. While a 2/2 on 2, it curves so well into a good power-play.
Harmonic Disco. The Dissonant version is better. It’s a lot more consistent to get, bare minimum, a 6/6, and likely a 6/8 or things with Divine Shield. The 5 mana version is also good. There are some cards that can benefit from +1/1, but there’s a lot more strong battlecry/poor stat cards that impact the overall quality.

Consider going for Paladin if:

You don’t plan on over relying on its Divine Shield energy because there isn’t a lot of it going around.
You can make a decent mid-range deck by selecting some of the important cards like Funkfin and Disco Maul.
You want to opt for more control strategies with Annoy-o-Troupe as a good late-game stabilizing tool.

6. Demon Hunter

The edgiest of edge, the Demon Hunters are a surprisingly sharp choice this time around.

DH got some really good cards this expansion. Their all-encompassing theme is removal, either from weapons or rush minions. The only card that isn’t tied to Rush/Weapons is Taste of Chaos, which is just a great removal.

Since so many of their cards are removal, you’re naturally going to get real good cards from this. Glaivetar is a Truesilver that draws a card, and can draw more with Outcast cards.

In terms of Finale, DH has bonuses and problems with this. The 1 mana Hero Power allows for more precise mixing and matching to set up a Finale, so in some regards they do this better than other classes.

Taste of Chaos remains a good all-around pick. Discover at the end of a turn is worse than Discover when you need to find an answer. Still, this is basically a Runed Orb for one mana less, and you often do have that extra mana to fill in on turns.
Glaivetar is also a solid addition to any deck. A 4/2 weapon draw a card, that’s going to be great. You probably won’t trigger the Outcast effect, but that doesn’t really matter.
Going Down Swinging, while tough to draft, is a solid addition too. Consider it a 6 mana spell that deals three damage to all enemies. Sounds good, right?

This means that you should play Demon Hunter when:

You’re confident you can make good use out of its removal package.
You’re looking for longer-games that involve you chipping away at your opponent’s minions with the DH’s many available removal tools.
You don’t mind dealing with some of the inherent issues that come with the Finale mechanic and the class’s 1-Mana Hero Power.

5. Mage

Once a king of Arena, Mage is sorta lagging behind these days.

Mage got Big Mage Spell synergy cards, while not getting Big Mage Spells. The only ones in standard after the rotations are Firelands, Arcane Defenders, and Deathbourne. Point being, even if those cards were good in Arena, which they generally aren’t, there isn’t much that they can copy.

As for the cards themselves:

Holotechnician is probably the most busted card in the set, as it’s a Vilespine you can activate every turn if protected.
Beyond that, Synthesize is great because of a lot of cards for 1 mana, plus how strong some of the RNG elementals can be.
Cosmic Keyboard is great because you pay a small cost for the potential tempo swing, much less than other classes.
And Volume Up and Audio Splitter are good for their abilities to generate a lot of cards for their value.

This makes Mage a good class in the situation that you:

Want to play a deck that curves out well, with strong initial starters like Synthesize.
Would like some good removal and draw options with Holotechnician and Volume Up.
Don’t want to opt for big spell options because frankly, there aren’t that many available.

4. Death Knight

The newest kid on the block is also one of the strongest, you can't really go wrong with Death Knight.

DK follows with its rune themes, with Blood being about hand-buffs and health manipulation, Unholy being about board spam, and Frost being about powerful removals.

This set is focused on Blood. This is a minor detriment to DK because Blood is the weakest of the three specs.

Overall, the cards are solid for DK. There are a couple of real good cards, one Blood and one Frost, but most of the cards are built around Constructed synergies that you won’t be able to get in Arena.

The blood synergies are strong, but there’s no telling if you’ll have the right combo to get them to activate, which that lack of reliability hurts when focusing on that specific spec.

Hardcore Cultist is the new Consecration on a stick. By itself, a 3 mana 2/1 that deals 2 damage is already good.
With Arcanite Ripper, assuming you’re attacking things with 1 or more attack, on breaking you get a 3/3 Lifesteal minion bare minimum, and heals do exist to buff this up.
Screaming Banshee, while not working at full Health, still gives you a 3/3 whenever it attacks. By the time it’s turn five, you’re bound to have taken some hits.

This makes Death Knight a great consideration for when:

You’re fine with playing a more control-focused strategy.
Want to make the best use of the classes' arsenal of removal and healing.
Can navigate the environment well with the new sweeping Discover changes added to the class.

3. Priest

Remember when Priest used to be the worst Arena class? Good times, good times.

Overheal is a thing now, and many of the new cards are based around this. The small issue is, there just aren’t that many cards with Overheal effects. You have 3 in the new Core, and 2 in this set, one of which is legendary.

So taking cards to bank on Overheal and its benefit isn’t worth it, so the cards need to be valued on their own. In Constructed, I could see some of these being a lot better, but for Arena, most of these aren’t that great.

To Priest’s benefit, they get one of the top 5 cards in the expansion in:

Harmonic Pop, whose only detriment is the lack of reliability due to being a Harmonic card, and it’s Rare so it’s not going to be that uncommon.
Shadow Chord: Distort is another solid removal for Priest.
Heartthrob and Fight Over Me are both good cards, and Heartthrob can be real good if you have any of the extra heal cards, including things like Sunfury Clergy.

Priest seems to be in a great position currently because:

The class has some amazing control tools available to them. Especially the new Harmonic/Discordant card.
With solid removals like Shadow Chord: Distort in the rotation, this card should be ideal for players that like the longer games.
Just be careful not to get too focused on the Overheal mechanic since there just isn’t that much support for it currently.

2. Shaman

Now this is definitely a class you wanna keep an eye out for.

Shaman got overload synergy and luckily for them, one of the best cards in the set is an Overload card. The class started off a bit weak, but certain powerhouse cards have allowed it to rise to the top of the Arena rankings for this meta.

It offers quite a lot of traditionally strong Arena cards, and with some key options that allow for “infinite value”, it’s a great consideration overall.

Pack the House is a 7 mana card that gives you, on average, 14 mana worth of stuff on the board, over 4 bodies, in a world without Flamestrike. It’s really, really overpowered.
Brass Elemental is just an incredibly versatile removal option and sustain option, allowing you to get to T7 to Pack the House.
Saxophone Soloist is also pretty amazing. Soloist’s ability to just keep on adding cards to your hand, to always let you be able to curve out, is going to be an underrated value in the card.

Opting for Shaman is a good option in general, but even better if you:

Are good at controlling the game plan till around the mid-game. This is when you play your powerhouse cards like Pack the House.
Know when to trade and when to go face, to make the best use of cards like Brass Elemental.
Can succeed in keeping a strong focus on your game plan with Soloist, since it is a nearly endless amount of value in the right cases.

1. Warrior

Hail to the king, baby. Warrior stands at the top of the Arena meta right now, and good reason.

Warriors have Riffs. Yes, they suck for Constructed, but they’re actually really good in Arena. And honestly insane with the recent buffs.

Internal set synergy in Arena generally doesn’t work, but because the cards don’t have to be in hand, they are worth paying attention to.

They also have mild Menagerie synergy, but two of the key cards are Epic and Legendary. And the rare can’t come out on curve and is more a mid to late game removal card.

Overall, their best card is Roaring Applause, because you will have various minions, and you can pretty much guarantee 2 mana draw 2, and it’s easy to draw much more.

Other than that, they still have solid cards.

Bridge Riff is a really good development + removal card.
Drum Soloist is a good removal option for when you’re behind.
Power Slider can get real good real easy in Arena.
And Kodohide Drumkit, while weak as a weapon, the fact that you can build up the deathrattle and basically dare your opponent to develop while they know you can just wipe the board easily. There are mind games you can play with that.

Warrior is mainly at the top for a few key reasons:

The recent buffs it received really put it over the top.
The class was already decent before, but now it’s one of the top classes in Arena.
The Riff package is simple to play, and can easily be added into most kinds of decks.
The other support the class received translates well for the Arena format.

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Arena can be a really fun and intense mode in Hearthstone, except for when you're bad at it. Then it's just a waste of time and gold. Luckily, with this article, you'll know which classes and cards to pick.

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Farmville 3 Animal Contest Guide: Everything You Need To Know

Phoenix — Wed, 22 Mar 2023 04:46:25 +0000

Basics

The animal contest is easy for you to play and the reward you get is a nice weekly bonus. At level 9 you will gain access to the exotic animals.

How To Get To The Animal Contest

There are a couple of ways for you to get to the animal contest. The first is through your store.

Locate your store. It’s on the corner of your farm’s dirt road and it looks like a gypsy caravan.
Click on the animal contest weekly award.
Click play.

The second way is through the compass.

Click on the compass at the bottom right of your screen.
Click on the “VS” button on the bottom left.

Choose Your Team

Choosing your team may seem simple but the animal traits play a bigger part than you may first think.

You will need one animal from each of the 5 biomes.
Choose your most powerful exotic animals. If you are lucky enough to have them, the four star animals are the best and most powerful. The number on the middle right side of the animal picture is their power level.
Traits are explained in advanced tips.

How To Play

You have a maximum of 6 animal contest energy. Each game costs 1 animal contest energy.

Click the “find contestant” button
Click “start” to accept opponent or click the button on the bottom right to choose a different opponent (it will cost you coins to do this)
Click on each of the question mark cards (these will tell you which animal traits are used in this contest)
You will either win or lose depending on your total points
Click “continue”
You will either lose contest points or win contest points. The amounts change depending on the league you are in.

Rewards

Your reward is received weekly and will depend on what league you are in.

Bronze League: 10 coins
Silver League: 50 coins, up to 1 farmhand sticker, up to 1 key
Gold League: 100 coins, 1 farmhand sticker, up to 4 keys, up to 2 storage
upgrade items
Platinum League: 500 coins, 2 farmhand stickers, up to 6 keys, up to 3 storage upgrade items
Diamond League: 1500 coins, 4 farmhand stickers, up to 8 keys, up to 3 storage upgrade items

Your league is determined by how many contest points you have.

Bronze League: 0 - 99 points
Silver League: 100 - 599 points
Gold League: 600 - 1199 points
Platinum League: 1200 - 1799 points
Diamond League: 1800+ points

Advanced Tips For Building Your Team

Pay attention to your animals’ traits. With the right combination of traits you can win a contest against more powerful animals.
Bulk up on one or two traits. This means, for example, have 4 animals with the carnivore trait and 4 animals with the sharp teeth trait.
Spread the traits out. Have as many of the traits as possible included on your team without sacrificing base power.
Traits: carnivore, fast, flying, furry, hard shell, herbivore, hoofed, horned, long tail, omnivore, sharp teeth, slow, strong, swimming

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Having fun in the contest arena.

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Top 7 WoW Dragonflight Best Arena DPS

TooPtheLegend — Tue, 07 Mar 2023 23:12:19 +0000

1. Demonology Warlock

We kick this list off with the undisputed kings of the ranged DPS and arguably the best overall, Demonology Warlock. These casters are incredibly tanky and can summon a legion of, frankly speaking, over-tuned pets who pump out damage. In a meta of sustained damage, the relentless damage of the pets, the amount of control over the match via interrupts and stuns, and the fact that they can soak damage really well make this class the current top of the pack.

The talent Gul’Dans Ambition, which allows you to summon a Pit Lord those scales (insanely) in damage from how many pets you’ve summoned during the Nether Portal duration
The talent Soulburn. A utility spell on a 6-second cooldown that modifies 5 of your core abilities with additional effects. Very versatile.
Tons of CC via spells such as Fear, Mortal Coil, Axe Toss(and Grimoire: Felguard), Shadowfury, and Spell Lock.
Curse of Exhaustion + Amplify Curse makes you able to kite melee pretty easily
The talent Unending Resolve is a powerful defensive ability that reduces damage by 25%, allowing you to cast without the worry of being interrupted for 8 seconds. This talent can also be modified by other talent choices, either increasing the damage reduction percentage or reducing the cooldown.
Summon a Demonic Tyrant, which buffs all your current pets damage output by 15% and only has a 1.5-minute cooldown

Overall, the damage is insanely strong, the resource generation is easy, the damage reduction is powerful and the talents just synergize well

By a super slim margin, this is the highest-rated warlock on the 3v3 ladder and the highest rated Demo lock in Solo Shuffle: Ryøsuke - Character (worldofwarcraft.com)

2. Shadow Priest

Slightly behind its demon-summoning cousin, are Shadow Priests. They are incredibly strong for pretty much the same reason as Warlocks are, they have high sustained damage, good control, and can tank a ton of damage. While some of the ways this is done are very different, the results are the same, making them our second strongest ranged and overall class at the moment.

Has kept its powerful utility abilities from Shadowlands, such as Mass Dispel, Void Shift, and Leap of Faith.
Also has kept its instant CC, Psychic Scream, Silence, and Psychic Horror
Gained new mobility through the talent Phantasm, which allows Fade to remove movement-impairing effects and Void Tendrils, a snare on a 1-minute cooldown.
The real boost has been not only the damage increase of their abilities but the ease with which they can get their damage abilities off, thanks to abilities such as Shadow Crash, which instantly applies Vampiric Touch as well as doing damage. Talents such as Shadowy Insight, and Surge of Darkness abilities allow your DoT damage to proc instant casts of Mind Spike and Mind Blast as well as scale their damage. Damnation allows you to easily get all your DoTs onto a target on a 1-minute cooldown.
Has a super easy-to-use 1-minute damage rotation based around Idol of Y’Shaarj which increases your and your Shadowfiend’s damage and prevents your Psychic Scream ability from breaking due to damage. Combine that with Dark Ascension which increases your non-periodic damage by 25% for 20 seconds (also only on a 1-minute cooldown) and every 1 minute you are a threat to 100-0 somebody.

Much like Warlocks, the sustained pressure of Shadow Priests can feel overwhelming, and they can kite, have tremendous tankiness thanks to self-healing, and provide a lot of utility for their team.

Featured at both the 1 and 2 spots on the Solo Shuffle ladder is the Shadow Priest, Flexaho: Flexaho - Character (worldofwarcraft.com)

3. Assassination Rogue

Coming in at number 3 are the current melee kings, Assassination Rogues. The playstyle has changed from Shadowlands, but it does feel familiar from previous expansions with a major focus on bleed damage, which can even be spread around to multiple targets creating an immense amount of pressure. This does require a certain amount of awareness to pull off, however, it’s hard to say that it is more difficult than Warlocks or Shadow Priests because it obviously doesn’t have to deal with spell cast times and Rogues do have a ton of crowd control abilities. Rogues also still maintain a lot of their powerful cooldowns and of course the ability to stealth which are huge advantages in PvP.

First and foremost, Rogues can still Sap. Getting that advantage while stealthed at the beginning of the game is (and always has been) incredibly important. They also still have Blind, Garrote, Kidney Shot, Cheap Shot, Smoke Bomb, and Dismantle as forms of Crowd Control making them very difficult to lock down.
Marked For Death is a strong 1-minute cooldown that generates instant combo points and Thistle Tea is another 1-minute cooldown that restores 100 energy, as well as Venomous Wounds grants energy return on bleed damage, making resource generation fairly simple for rogues.
Rogues rely on their mobility and control to increase their survivability; however, Elusiveness is a strong defense choice that grants Feint a 20% damage reduction.
Mobility spells such as Fleet Footed for passive movement speed, Shadowrunner for increased movement speed while stealthed or with Shadow Dance active, Shadowstep to teleport to your enemy, and Maneuverability which breaks all roots and prevents slows for 4 seconds after activating Sprint. All these make Rogues very frustrating as they apply their bleeds and poisons and then can kite around to get stealth again or until their damage cooldowns reset.
It would be hard to go over all the damage-boosting abilities in this short article, but the TLDR version is that bleeds and poisons are king, with the stand-out ability being Serrated Bone Spike, a ranged combo point-generating ability that bleeds the enemy until they die or leave combat. Assassination Rogues are also able to use 4 poisons at a time thanks to Dragon-Tempered Blades and the big burst damage ability being Deathmark (2 minute-cooldown), which is a bleed that also amplifies all your poison damage and damage from Garrote and Rupture by duplicating the damage for an additional 100% of their normal damage.

Assassination is in such a good place right now because they can open on a target, apply huge pressure thanks to damage over time bleeds and poisons and then kite around until they can re-stealth and start the sequence over again.

This rogue currently occupies the 2nd and 3rd slot on the Solo Shuffle ladder: Jarome - Character (worldofwarcraft.com)

4. Demon Hunter

Demon Hunters are a bit of a glass cannon. Their damage is insanely high, both burst and sustained damage. Their resource management has become a little more difficult and the increase on the Blur cooldown means they sometimes have to think about when to use it. It’s a pretty forgiving class, however, and a good DH can feel unstoppable, especially in a bit of an unorganized setting like Solo Shuffle. We’ll take a look below at some of the most important changes.

One of the strongest aspects of Demon Hunters right now is The Hunt animation canceling. I don’t know if it’s working as intended but using it and canceling the animation can trick opponents, so they’ll use their defensive abilities too late.
What was previously a tank-only ability in Shadowlands, Sigil of Misery, is now in the “Core” talent tree, and can be supplemented by Misery in Defeat, which increases the damage necessary to break the fear by 20%. This is powerful to deal big damage while the enemy is unable to get out of the fear.
The talent Essence Break has been completely reworked and is now another huge burst option outside of the Hunt. The cooldown has doubled, and the duration halved but the damage amplifier has been increased by double and it’s initial damage has been increased by 500% making it a very powerful ability.
The talent Any Means Necessary now applies the damage increase from Mastery to all schools of damage, buffing several abilities, most importantly, The Hunt and Immolation Aura. Also because of the Mastery changes, Blade Dance now scales, as you combine First Blood and Blade Dance to double dip on both Chaos and Physical damage being buffed by Mastery.
Finally, the talent Soulrend buffs Throw Glaive (physical damage) to deal a DoT effect as Chaos damage for 60% of the total damage done. This once again double dips on Mastery now, meaning even outside of the big damage abilities, using Throw Glaive and Blade Dance creates a ton of sustained pressure.
For defensives, the PvP talent Glimpse now grants 75% damage reduction and immunity to CC when landing from Vengeful Retreat, which is only a 25-second cooldown! This can be combined with Rain from Above (1 minute-cooldown) to massively reduce damage taken and allow you to pound damage while up in the air. Demon Hunters also still have Reverse Magic to turn the tables when a magic CC such as Polymorph, Fear, etc. are used.
The final major change is the PvP talent Detainment, which makes Imprison not break on damage effects or be dispelled. It also makes the target immune to healing effects. This means you can now use it on your burst target to prevent them from using defensive abilities or getting heals instead of just as a CC on an off-target.

This is the highest-rated Demon Hunter on the 3v3 ladder and the 2nd highest character overall: Mvqdh - Character (worldofwarcraft.com)

5. Feral Druid

Feral druids are interesting, because of the shifting forms, it’s a very interesting spec to play with a lot of utility being brought to the table. They also, in their current form, pump out a ton of damage. They’re basically Assassination Rogues but just slightly worse. Their damage comes from bleeds, and you can build your spec in a way that makes spreading their bleeds around to multiple targets a realistic and deadly playstyle. They also have a lot of CC and utility. Their weakness and why they’re slightly lower on this list is that their defensive abilities are mostly tied to self-healing as opposed to preventing damage or reducing damage by a certain percentage. This makes them weaker into healing reduction effects and in games that last longer as dampening starts to make more of an impact.

There are some familiar spells that are still key to Feral Druid’s damage rotation, Tiger’s Fury is great for the burst windows and Berserk is something that everyone in the arena has to keep an eye on as you can really pump out damage with it active.
Some new abilities are Lunar Inspiration which allows you to use your Moonfire in Cat Form. While not huge damage it is an easy way to generate combo points from range which allows you to instantly put up a Rip or Ferocious Bite once you reconnect with the target. Primal Wrath is the big star here; a finishing ability that applies Rip to all enemies within a certain radius. This provides massive pressure as it combines with Tear Open Wounds, which applies 60% of the Rip damage instantly and King of the Jungle, a PvP talent that gives you a stacking buff for movement speed and healing received for every enemy you have a Rip active on.
They are wildly mobile, not just passively in Cat Form but because of Wild Charge and Stampeding Roar, as well as offering tons of CC thanks to Bash, Maim, Skull Bash, Typhoon, and even Cyclone.
Defensively, Feral Druids have a lot of old spells that you will recognize, such as Ironfur, Thick Hide, Heart of the Wild, and Survival Instincts. These spells provide a good amount of damage reduction or health and help keep Feral Druids competitive.
On the surface, the changes to the talent trees look to really help the utility of Feral Druids as you can now access a ton of utility spells that aren’t tied to Cat Form. Most of these are healing, with access to Rejuvenation and Swiftmend and a new talent called Protector of the Pack which stores the damage done to increase the healing of your next Regrowth. The problem is that the current meta generally goes into heavy-dampening games. And each tick of dampening makes these healing spells less and less impactful. It’s especially noticeable in the 2v2 bracket where the rate of the dampening increase is sped up.
Overall Feral Druids are still wildly good, exceptionally dangerous, and – for my money- interesting to play. They just are not quite as good as Rogues (even though Rogues will never admit it).

This druid is 14th on the 3v3 ladder overall and number 1 on the solo shuffle ladder: Axtin - Character (worldofwarcraft.com)

6. Arcane Mage

Arcane mages are slippery, have huge burst, and can control the entire flow of whatever bracket or game type they’re in. Although if you talk to arcane mage players they’ll mostly tell you about the 1 spell they don’t have (RIP Improved Counterspell), thanks to the rework of the talent trees, you’ll see Arcane mages with spells that you might associate with either the fire or frost schools of magic. This does make the class very interesting to play and does give them high-priority spells to use even if they get kicked on the arcane tree, making them very dangerous.

Arcane mages are extremely mobile and very difficult for melee to connect to, which is why they are ahead of classes such as Windwalker Monks or Warriors or any of the other big damage melee classes. To start the game off, they now have Greater Invisibility AND Invisibility which allows them to start the match as they wish. Energized Barriers removes snares when a barrier is recast, Displacement teleports back to where you just blinked from, and Chrono Shift, which allows your Arcane Barrage to slow your enemies and gives you a 50% movement speed bonus. There are other abilities, but these are the big ones.
Not only are they very slippery, but arcane mages can also cast while moving thanks to Ice Floes (20-second cooldown, 3 charges). Combine this with damage-dealing CC abilities such as Dragon’s Breath or Cone of Cold and your enemies will be flailing after you while taking huge amounts of damage. If you’re playing with another teammate with high amounts of CC, then taking Meteor can cause huge damage when they can’t move out of its radius.
Mages can be a bit proc-heavy so to really maximize their damage you need to understand how to stack certain abilities and then unleash the stored-up damage multipliers at once. This can be a bit tricky but when mastered is deadly. Keeping track of Incanter’s Flow, Overflowing Energy, Nether Precision, and Time Anomaly is a good place to start.
Mages have a few strong defensive abilities, such as Ice Block, which if you max out Cryo-Freeze will heal you for almost half your total health. They also have Mirror Images which do a fair amount of damage and slow/distract the enemy, and the big one, Alter Time which will return you to your health amount and location of when it was cast after a 10-second delay.
Mages have strong damage, great mobility, and CC. They just are not quite in the same league as Demonology Warlocks and Shadow Priests, still “A” tier though.

This mage is 8th overall on the 3v3 ladder and 6th overall on the Solo Shuffle ladder: Junglejape - Character (worldofwarcraft.com)

7. Elemental Shaman

Elemental Shamans are biggg damage right now, they have literal one-shot potential. However, they are not as strong in other areas as the casters ranked higher than them which puts them last on our list of the top 7 damage classes. It’s also probable that the one-shot potential will be nerfed in which case we will have to see if they get buffs in other areas. Right now they are also strong in AOE damage and mobility, including damage on the move.

The strength of this spec lies in the ramp-up and potential one-shot of Lava Burst. When done correctly you will cast huge damage via Earth Shock Finishers and Lava Bursts, and the best part is when I say “cast”, I mean you press the button, all of the abilities in the rotation will be instant cast (once again, if done right).
The downside to a set rotation like this is that it is predictable, so you’ll have to play mind games with the opponent or figure out how to bait out defensive abilities before you use your big damage. Or you could just try to zug-zug through the defensive abilities with pure damage.
The talent trees offer a ton of fun talents that you’ve seen from shamans over the years which provide a ton of utility, Hex, Lightning Lasso, , Tremor Totem, Spiritwalker’s Grace, Nature’s Swiftness and that’s just in the Shaman specialization tree.
Elemental shamans are fairly tanky and very good into melee which makes them strong in this meta. They have Astral Shift, modified by Astral Bulwark for big damage reduction, they have Earth Shield for some healing, and Spiritwalker’s Aegis which modifies your Spiritwalker’s Grace so not only are you casting while moving, but you also can’t be silenced or interrupted for 5 seconds. You gain stacking movement speed and damage reduction when specced into Spirit Wolf, as well as Frost Shock and Earthgrab for kiting.
Thanks to the talent Inundate in the Elemental Specialization tree you can generate Maelstrom (their resource) from utility spells such as Purge, Cleanse Spirit, Healing Stream Totem, Hex, and Wind Shear.
Elemental Shamans are a ton of fun, are very mobile, provide a ton of utility, and can hit like trains. It’s best to pair them with CC-heavy classes since they don’t have a ton of hard CC. They are a little predictable in their damage as it requires a “set-up”, something that opposing players will know as you climb up the arena ladder; which is what keeps them from being higher on the list.

The number 1 shaman on the Solo Shuffle ladder: Fwwtyu - Character (worldofwarcraft.com)

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World of Warcraft: 10 Things We All Love About This Epic Game

Smac — Tue, 21 Jul 2015 12:56:47 +0000

Millions Of Players Still Play This Epic Game, And Here Is Why

Ah, World of Warcraft. So many things could be written on it. One of the world's biggest MMOPGs has changed a lot over the years and while many claim the magic of its first years has long since faded, we're still drawn to it.

We keep playing it, or we take breaks then come back again, and we wonder just what is it that makes us want still more World of Warcraft. It's probably because few things are as unique and enchanting, as filled to the brim with nostalgia and challenges as this game.

1. The Familiar Setting

You built this, remember?

World of Warcraft continues the story where Warcraft III left it at. For the first time, players were able to experience the forests of Ashenvale, Durotar and the kingdom of Stormwid from a unique point of view: this time, they were someone who lived in that world and saw it through their eyes.

The real meaning behind the game's name becomes clear the moment you set foot in Azeroth: Warcraft is no longer a series of maps in a campaign. It takes place in a seamless world of epic proportions, living and breathing.

You can see traces of everything you experienced in Warcraft. Here and there, hints and details reveal the past events that you, the player, played a part in during Warcraft. Orgrimmar? You were the one who built it. Stormwind? You were the one who protected it. Mount Hyjal? This is where you defeated Archimonde.

This world that you cherished is now yours to live in and protect. This is what drew people to World of Warcraft back when it first released, and keeps fascinating them even now.

The trailer that started it all.

2. The Rich Lore

The rich lore that goes way back is one of the franchise's selling points.

Among fantasy worlds, Warcraft's universe is arguably among those with the richest, deepest lore. The basic premise from which started in 1994 Orcs and Humans was progressively expanded and enriched, and by the time Warcraft III hit, the worlds of Azeroth and Draenor were home to numerous factions with a history spanning thousands of years.

There was still much left to be said, and a lot more to be imagined. World of Warcraft gave Blizzard's writers a new, unprecedented freedom to tell their stories. With their help, our characters uncovered intricate plots, solved age-old mysteries, discovered new lands and civilizations.

Every quest line mattered in the grand scheme of things and told us more about the universe that out characters lived in. Playing World of Warcraft is like reading a book whose authors managed to unfold a fascinating story before our eyes – and this story is far from being over yet.

Wrath of the Lich King gave a closure to one of Warcraft's most emblematic storylines.

3. The Memorable Characters

Whether they hate him or love him, everyone knows this guy.

The world of Warcraft has seen a lot of memorable characters appear throughout the years. We discovered many of them during the RTS series' epic campaigns, but many also made their first appearance in World of Warcraft itself.

Their actions have shaped the world as we know it now and continue doing so. They impress, they excite our imagination, their decisions and actions fuel debates.

Because we can see and interact with them in Wold of Warcraft, it feels like we're participating in the making of history. Who has never dreamed of saluting Thrall, conversing with Jaina or avenge Lordaeron by fighting against the Lich King?

Even the humblest NPC can have a fascinating backstory, and we remember it fondly, especially if they reappear later on. How can you ever forget the poor Mankrik?

And then there are those who we had high hopes for, but they turned out to be villains.

4. The Impressive Environments

The Twilight Highlands are a very atmospheric zone.

The world of Azeroth is both incredibly vast and incredibly detailed. Each and every zone is unique, with its own theme and atmosphere.

One thing that makes a lasting impression on the players is just how real the world looks. A lot of thought was put into each zone's topography. The placement of valleys and rivers, of beaches and mountains makes them all seem like they were really naturally formed over the course of millenia.

Exploring every nook and cranny of the world takes real dedication. There are just so many passageways, caves and ruins. You can always come across something new even in places that you thought you knew by heart.

The Cataclysm is one of the events that forever changed the world of Azeroth.

5. The Conflict Between Factions

Fighting for the domination of Outland.

A lot of people are drawn in by the age-old conflict between the two main factions in World of Warcraft, the Alliance and the Horde.

Well beyond a symbolic conflict between a “red side” and a “blue side”, many feel a real attachment to their faction and a sense of belonging, and when they take up arms against their enemy, it is with the conviction that they're fighting for the ideals their side believes in.

One of the main sellins points of Orcs and Humans back then was that for the first time, you could play as “the villains”. You were not only playing as the noble heroes who fought to save their world, but could also experience the other side of the conflict, and see it through the eyes of your enemies.

While the Horde of World of Warcraft is no longer the “evil side”, most of the races that it consists of still give off that barbaric, savage and somewhat monstrous feel. They are not your usual “pretty races” that can be found everywhere, including in the Alliance, and a lot of those who choose the Horde do so because they enjoy this primalistic, powerful feel and look.

Each faction's ideals and set of values are also different and appeal to different gamers. Both the Horde and the Alliance create a sense of belonging to a community of like-minded people who band together for a common cause – whether it be in the virtual world or in the real one.

6. The Epic Raiding

The first obstacle between the heroes of Azeroth and the Lich King.

It would probably not be incorrect to say that the lore of World of Warcraft culminates with raids. In these epic encounters, players fight against the forces that threaten to destroy their world, but also uncover their true motivations, meet key characters and witness epic dialogue and confrontations.

Raids are loved and enjoyed by many. They feature the most powerful foes Azeroth has to offer and completing them can represent a real challenge.

Many enjoy the difficulty that progressively goes up as they participate in ever harder modes that put to the test their skills and reflexes. Others find raiding to be a perfect time to bond with their friends with whom they share these epic adventures together. Some also enjoy the rewards they get for slaying bosses, and are on a perpetual quest for that elusive best in slot piece of gear.

The lore behind each raid dungeon is very interesting.

7. The Competitive Scene

World of Warcraft Arena Global Invitational Grand Finals.

A lot of people thrive on competition. Luckily, World of Warcraft provides a lot of opportunities for them to test their mettle against other players.

Whether it be the race to world first boss kills or domination in the arena or battlegrounds, competition is ever-present at the higher levels of play. The competitive landscape is constantly evolving, and players must adapt their playstyle and come up with new strategies to win.

As a ranked player versus player environment, the arenas are where most of the competition is at. They attract the e-sport community and Blizzard even organizes world championships that give the opportunity to the world's best players to fight against each other in official matches and win prizes.

This does not mean, however, that these competitions are only for the elite. The small format of an arena team means that it is also an activity you can casually enjoy with one or two friends on those days when you just feel like cleaving some skulls in half.

8. The Sheer Amount Of Things To Do

The Enchanted Fey Dragon is a beautiful mount, but it is only one of the hundreds you can own.

There are so many things to collect in World of Warcraft that at times the game feels like a completionist's paradise. Over the course of its existence, the amount of mounts and companions you can own, of the pets you can tame if you're a hunter and of all the entertaining toys you can get has grown to hundreds.

And all the achievements your character can unlock! Even if you are not an active raider or PvP player, World of Warcraft has something to offer to everyone.

You could want to learn every recipe for your professions, or hunt rare pets and mounts in remote places. Maybe you're a fashionista and want to collect every item that makes your character look cool, or maybe you enjoy being liked by everyone and spend hours working on improving your standing with the various factions that call Azeroth home.

Ten years worth of content are really hard to beat. Even though veteran players have already seen most of it, there is still always something left to discover or to do.

The Mists of Pandaria expansion introduced a lot of new sorts of content.

9. The Community That Brings Us All Together

Yet raiding, or PvP, or lore is not what makes most of us stay. Let's be honest here: over the course of the years we've been playing World of Warcraft, we've forged a lot of precious relationships.

By bringing together players during all sorts of events and activities, the game made us make strong bonds with others. We like calling our raid and guild members friends, we care about them, we share good and bad times alike.

Often those bonds carry over to the real life. We go to meetings with our gaming buddies, enjoy a night out at an internet cafe. The social aspect of an MMO is every bit as important as the content it has to offer.

Very often people complain that the sense of community has been diluted in World of Warcraft because the direction the game is taking does not specifically encourage playing with others. Yet many of us continue to log into the game just to chat with our friends, catch up with the latest news and generally have a good time together.

For some of us, this is what truly keeps bringing us back – the people who we ended up having so much in common with.

10. And The Awesome Music

Every expansion, we hear the same thing. “This and that could really be improved, but if there's something Blizzard always does right, it's the music”.

And we can only agree. The music has always been incredibly beautiful, atmospheric, and fit perfectly the locations where it played. Blizzard has awesome musicians, and they never fail to deliver.

And you know well how it happens... You start listening to a song, then two, then you listen to an entire soundtrack. Finally, you sigh and reinstall World of Warcraft, whispering “I really just want to see that zone again”.

Do you love World of Warcraft as much as we do? Leave your impressions of the game in the comments below.

How knowledgeable are you about World of Warcraft? Read about these 15 Things You’ll Understand Only If You've Played World of Warcraft.

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This scene marks the beginning of one of the most memorable adventures in the history of Warcraft.

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