Welcome back to my second to last set review of the Curse of Naxxramas Hearthstone cards.
Undertaker
Constructed: B
Arena: C
The Undertaker makes any of your Minions with Deathrattle into a Shattered Sun Cleric. With the influx of so many new Deathrattle cards in Naxxramas I think Undertaker is going to have some real legs. Definitely more desirable in constructed where you have as much control as you would like in your deck.
I’d be much less inclined to take an Undertaker in Arena since there is no guarantee that I’ll have enough Deathrattle to be worth it. It’s another card that can have it’s grade can go up in Arena if you see it in the last few picks and you have the cards to support it already in your deck.
Mad Scientist
Constructed: B
Arena: C-
Mad Scientist is making some serious waves in Hunter. This card, much like Webspinner, boggles my mind a little because it’s not a good card in the traditional sense. But in play it gets results. Only two Scientists will be played in a game, and in the Hunter deck currently being played only four Secrets are in the deck. Even if one Secret is already in play and the Mad Scientist’s effect goes off, it will search the deck until it finds a Secret that can be played.
In Arena Mad Scientist isn't as good for the same reason as Undertaker. It’s just not guaranteed a class that can play Secrets will get enough to be worth it.
Zombie Chow
Constructed: B
Arena: C
In last night’s TAC this was probably the card we were the most divided on. I’ll admit that this is the card from this set that I’m playing favorites with a little. I am not stoked to see Zombie Chow come into my hand late in the game. But this card is so good in the 1 Mana slot for a control deck.
Zombie Chow has the potential to give you a Turn 1 Minion that trades with your opponent’s Turn 2 Minion. There’s even some that it will survive against giving the possibility of a 2 for 1. But it’s upside is also it’s downside. This card’s value plummets after Turn 3 or 4. Once damage starts being dealt to the opponent Zombie Chow has outstayed its welcome.
While a lot of this is well and good when talking about constructed, I know there will be times where I’ll play this card in Arena as well. I won’t be throwing a party for putting one in my Arena deck, but there’s much worse cards that exist for the early game curve.
Wailing Soul
Constructed: C-
Arena: D
Dear Wailing Soul, I think I hate you. Keyword is “think.” I am just straight up confused by Wailing Soul. I don’t have faith that this card will find a home in the future. The stats are decent, but the card’s effect is so incredibly niche.
In constructed Wailing Soul might work in a Paladin deck to un-Equality your own Minions. It could have a home if Freeze Mage comes back full force. And there’s some decks trying to make it work with Ancient Watchers at the moment as well. But I just don’t see it being worth that precious 4 Mana enough of the time.
In Arena I’m more confident in my assessment of this card. I don’t want to play this card ever. The chances of getting whatever bizarre combination of cards that will make Wailing Soul shine are just too slim.
Feugen
Constructed: B
Arena: D
Stalagg
Constructed: B-
Arena: D
Feugen and Stalagg are hard to review without talking about both at the same time. I’m finding that I genuinely enjoy these cards in constructed. They both have good stats for 5-drops (although Feugen’s 7 Health clearly trumps Stalagg’s 4 come Turn 5), and the potential of Thaddius is a great upside. These two cards shine better in matchups that go long. The longer the game, the higher the chance both of these cards will get drawn, played, and killed.
In Arena however I rank Feugen and Stalagg just above unplayable. There are worst Legendaries in the game, but the chance of all three options being worse than just Feugen or Stalagg is unlikely.
Death’s Bite
Constructed: A +
Arena: A+
Death’s Bite wins the Curse of Naxxramas. There is nothing wrong with this card. Played on Turn 4 this card is a Truesilver Champion without the heal, and on Turn 5 it’s an Arcanite Reaper in the worst case scenario, and a Truesilver (minus the heal) plus Whirlwind in any other.
There’s no point in evaluating this card differently in constructed versus Arena. I will grab Death’s Bite every time I see it in Arena, and it slots into any Warrior archetype effortlessly.
Dark Cultist
Constructed: B
Arena: B
Two stellar class cards in the same week. The Construct Quarter takes us home this week as a great addition to any Priest’s arsenal. Dark Cultist could have no card text and it would still grade well. Priest’s have had a weak early game and Dark Cultist helps fill it out while rewarding any other Minions being in play upon it’s death.
Usually I’m not thrilled by Health-only increases. But it’s a Priest specific card. If there’s one class that benefits more from their Minions having more Health it’s the Priest. The fact that their Hero Power can only heal gives Minions with large health pools some serious staying power. And since a Priest will always have the same Hero Power there’s no “if” to worry about in Arena.
Garrett Weinzierl is the founder of Amove.tv and the host of The Angry Chicken, Into the Nexus, and A-move Radio. Follow Garrett on Twitter @GarrettArt.