LogFAQs > #969960375

UltimaterializerX posted...

https://hsreplay.net/replay/UdxgCo2zAeGLMDCg34ZFeZ

Anyone who thinks Hearthstone is a game of skill is just provably dumb. Even getting that matchup is absurd, then the Brawl happens.

100% factually not a game of skill and never will be.

Obviously about a month late on this one, but I'm waiting for the set to be released, so I'd like to analyze this game while I wait.

To be clear, not saying I'd play better than Ulti did here necessarily, I have not played the deck, hearthstone turns are 90 seconds and I spent way longer than that analyzing some of these turns. But I suspect there are some better plays that could have been made.

Mulligan--ovbiously Ulti didn't expect quest warrior, so I can't fault Ulti too much for keeping dragged below and abyssal wave, but...yeah, I'm guessing if he knew what deck he was up against he would have mulliganed harder for 1-2 mana cards.

Ulti's turn 4 was un-traded Wicked Shipment for 2 imps, into impending catastrophe to draw 3 cards, into grimoire of sacrifice that killed nothing (damaged two 2/3s down to 2/1s, which died a couple turns later to Abyssal Wave which would have killed them as 2/3s). Now I mean, drawing 3 off of wicked shipment looks correct--the hand isn't really doing anything else, but the Grimoire of Sacrifice definitely ended up wasted (it actually did nothing and could have been used for lethal on turn 11 to sac some Lady Darkvein tokens if kept and just not used till then).

Ulti's turn 5 used a vile library to make a 5/5 imp on the turn that Gangplank diver was guaranteed to wake up from dormant. (The opponent arguably misplayed their turn as well here, to be fair. Could have easily wasted a cannonball shot from the mini-quest reward into the 5/5 because they didn't attack with the Gangplank diver first. I've made that mistake as quest warrior loads of times lol). Not 100% sure what the correct turn 5 play for Ulti is actually--tricky turn; maybe set up Vile Library but don't use it this turn? Or maybe lifetap instead with that 2 mana? But pretty sure pumping up a target for the dormant, rush immune while attacking minion to get a free attack was...not the right play.

Turns 6-7 are flawless.

Turn 8...Brann Zaquil, I guess it's not bad, but there's Brann into double Sirakess cultist next turn for one extra curse, and I don't think Ulti's at any risk of dying from 15 life when the quest isn't even done. I'd be tempted to take board here--infused Mischevous Imp, Flustered Librarian, Dragged Below on the Cargo Guard. Give something +5/+5 from the location that I believe should still be on the board right now. This might be me being inexperienced with the deck, though--Ulti does use the Mischevous Imp later to draw cards off of Impending Catastrophe, so maybe he's waiting for that?

Turn 9 and 10 I can't find a better play. I mean, other than the world famous "tap last" (traded wicked shipment as last action on turn 10) but wasn't actually punished for that play.

Jumping forward to Ulti's turn 11--there is still a lethal out. There's a Lady Darkvein in hand, and a Grimoire of Sacrifice to kill one of the 2/1s. Now, one abyssal curse isn't enough to win here, and the previous shadow spell cast is Dragged Below, so you would need to win the 1-in-3 for the Dragged Below to hit the other 2/1. But I think that's probably worth-it. Ulti was at 11 life, facing a guaranteed 7 damage from the 7/7, and 2 damage from the hero power. In order for Ulti to live that turn the juggernaut needs to give a 1 or 0 attack weapon, and no cannonballs could go face, and no other incidental damage can happen. Those odds sound worse than 1-in-3, so might as well go for the 1-in-3 lethal.