They really need to nerf sorc apprentice. No more 0 mana spells

it's arguably better than conj calling, which is still in every mage deck

5/5 Frostbolt is run in a lot of mage decks and this is 1 mana version of it

Obvious pairing with Magic Trick for much needed consistency for it

I mean, it re-enables exodia mage, so if that deck is good (which i dont think it will be) then it sees play. I have a hard time seeing how this fits into other mage lists though, value doesn't ever seem to be mage's problem.

Speaking from the rogue side, 2/5. It doesn't go face. Rogue doesn't want to run holy smite.

And this is why I said all this rating stuff was 'too early'. This is another triple threat card that works in most of the mage archetypes

Also makes this into a 0 cost card:



5/5 If spell damage mage is a thing which I think it has a real good chance to be. And if so you play this in every version

For those not clear what i mean by triple threat with that card:
Highlander mage: Play it on turn 1 for tempo later on, where either the minion you discover or put in your deck can be curved out sooner
Spell only mage: Another minion generator
Small spell mage: Another card for Mana Cyclone/Chenvaala

The list goes on, amazing card

I hope spell damage mage works out. Spell damage has been in the game since the beginning, but has never really been explored as a concept. The frustrating thing to me is that though mage and rogue share cards this expansion, blizz decided to keep all the spell damage stuff as mage only.

Back in the day, when rogue ran azure drake and Thalnos, I always thought that spell damage rogue would have been a cool concept to explore. Oh well.

Like 40% secrets, but the ~20-30% downside cards and general lack of immediate board presence makes this a 2.5/5 I don't think this sees intentional play

Let's take a look at mage spells now bc next minion revealed looks at the pool:



Now we add to it:


First glance Astromancer got an amazing buff. None of these cards has a downside. Potion of Illusion off Astromancer is absolutely bonkers.

How good is this card then? Best comp is Vulpera, which is rarely played, but is an ok card in mage. This is 2 cheaper with a 1/2 body that has a small asterisk in that it's a combo card (but i imagine lots of {1} cost cards being played so wont be that bad)

4/5 I see this card maybe getting put in decks

This is a very interesting card. I think this gets played on 6 a ton with all the {1} cards so that requires some activation, but 2 mana wyrms can also be a win condition.

Basically i think the fair way to think of this is the mana wyrms will often get to 2/3, so this is a 3/6, 2/3, and 2/3 for {6} which kinda makes this a vanilla 7/12 with small upside. Would i play a {6} 7/12 with small upside? Think i have this as 4.5/5 would be a 5 but it's slow against aggro.

With 1 spell damage this is better than AI which is the highest % played card in mage (at 90.3%). If this is played in spell damage mage then this card is always in it. 5/5 if spell damage decks is a thing, otherwise 1/5 unplayable.

4/5 I actually think this is a fringe card put in some mage decks but not all. Good anti-aggro, but what happens when you draw it late game?

Interesting Neutrals time!



Maybe more of a fun card than anything, has some interesting hits from the higher cost cards. Too much randomness to tell if this makes it in decks but the body is also ok for anti-aggro

5/5 in spell damage decks. This is almost exclusively better than Wyrm Weaver which we're thinking of playing. Can keep a {0} spell damage mage and curve this out on 6. Also a solid hit for Khadgar if he makes it back in at some point

I think people are sleeping on this as a multi-function mage card. Discover a spell is good, it's on par with Vulpera in that regard which again is an ok card for mage. However this is also an elemental AND has spell damage. Elemental Allies suddenly looks a lot more viable, especially if Mana Cyclone is playable again with all these 1 mana cards.

Quick look at good elementals we can play in the deck:
Mana Cyclone, Zephrys, Siamat. Ok ones we can play: Animated Avalanche, Violet Spellwing, Chenvaala, Mana Giant, Arcane Amplifier, Water Elemental, Al'ar.

AND it's an activator on curve for Sorc. Subsitute, and all the other new spell damage effects. 5/5 will be in every elemental deck, and a good deal of spell damage decks

Worst hit summon from this is like a 2/4 and a few 3/5 type cards. Lot of them are amazing like Winged Guardian, Skeletal Dragon, Baron Geddon, Priestess of Fury, Marsh Hydra, Bloodboil Brute, Archmage anton, and a few other great ones. Did a quick look at like 60% good+ hit. Dragon tag would also get it in dragon mage.

So an amazing value card, but will it see play with the kings (or queen alexstraszas) of value? Maybe. Also some fun deck with Khadgar or deathrattle synergies. 3.5/5 it's a card to keep an eye on

Another sleeper. Any mage running a bunch of {1} spells will be running this. 5/5 as an amazing anti-aggro and value card.

Yet another card that could see play in {1} mage as an anti-aggro tech. 4/5 in mage decks as this card can be played turn 1 going first, or paired with coin for immediate activation.

5/5 in aggro decks which scares me. Will even be played in midrange or maybe {1} mage.

Gonna wrap this up and say this is likely the best xpac mage has ever seen, really impressed.

My predictions for mage:
Mage will take 2-4 of the following archetypes and make a deck out of it, there will be a TON of variation.

Archetypes and their new support:
Highlander/Dragon: Most new legendaries, Combustion, Brain Feeze
No minion mage: Combustion, Brain Freeze, Primordial Studies
Big Spell mage: New legendaries
Small spell mage: All the new spells
Elemental Mage: Steward of Scrolls, Sorc. Substitute
Spell damage mage: Everything from this xpac.

For example you could make a Highlander Elemental Spell damage mage. Or a Highlander Small spell, spell damage mage. It's gonna be fun.

fun set but more clown fiesta

I'll be playing this if mage can survive long enough but prob not

The expansion isn't even out yet and losing to Altrius bullshit makes me want a refund on the Scholomance pack I bought.