Given the straightforward nature ofHearthstone, players can have a wild ride constructing various decks that fit a wide variety of builds. However, things get a bit crazy when players have to consider the game mode in question, especially since theDuel Modein the card game adds a challenge to spontaneous deck-building and adaptability.
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Thankfully, despite the on-the-spot nature ofDuel Mode, players ofHearthstonecan rely on a variety of go-to decks to ensure they have a decent chance of winning 12 rounds to win its official gauntlet. However, just which standardized decks and card choices work best in Duel Mode?
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Being a more formal PVP mode,Duels Modeallows players to dish out their most powerful strategies against foes in a more formal format. With this in mind, it’s important to remember that players often go all-out with their deck builds, meaningplayers need to think ahead when it comes to how precise they want their decks to beand what strategies they want to follow throughout the rest of the duel. With this in mind, here are common strategies considered with the decks presented below:
Neutral Drek’Thar Rising
It’s not all the time that a Neutral Class can rise to the top of the ranks in Duels, but Drek’Thar is proving to be a worthy companion for devastating decks. In thisNeutral Drek’Thar Risingbuild, players can easily secure advantages with the Hero Power (2) Harness the Elements alone, which reduces a drawn spell cost. Coupled with the Signature Treasure (1) Magister Unchained, this lets players draw one spell after casting another spell, ensuring they’re prepared at all costs.
ThisNeutral Drek’Thar Rising Deckis an offensive control deck, making use of extreme aggression to overwhelm the enemy’s defenses. Damaging spells such as (1) First Flame, (2) Flame Geyser, (2) Flame Cannon, and (3) Combustion are just some of those that can easily whittle the enemy’s defenses. It doesn’t help that these cards also synergize with (0) Hot Streak that reduces Fire spell costs and Armor-per-spell (1) Arcane Artificer.
Vanndar Stormpike Warrior
Warrior Class alternate hero Vanndar Stormpike might not be everyone’s first choice for Duels, but thisVanndar Stormpike Warriorbuild proves his potential. His Hero Power (2) Battle Tactics can reduce the cost of high-cost Neutral Minions,making combat more accessiblefor players. Not to mention, Signature Treasure (1) For The Alliance lets players place cards in the deck that enable them to Discover spells affiliated with the Alliance.
In thisVanndar Stormpike Warrior Deck, players can tap into the power of the creature version of (4) Vanndar Stormpike to reduce the cost of all minions in the deck. This is probably why its cards can devastate the enemy deck, such as minion-damaging (8) Goliath, Sneed’s Masterpiece, armor-granting (8) Mo’arg Forgetfiend, damage-or-healing (9) Alexstrasza the Life-Binder, or even minion-rushing (10) Raid Boss Onyxia.
Fireheart Shaman
The flexibility of the Shaman easily becomes an asset given the rather free-for-all nature of Duels, and theFireheart Shamanbuild specializes in exactly that. Thanks to her Hero Power (2) Ferocious Fury, she can get an attack boost and Windfury for that turn. Not to mention, Signature Treasure (3) Tempest’s Fury unleashes a Lightning Bolt on a random enemy character after a Hero Attack, ensuring steady aggression all throughout the match.
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In thisFireheart Shaman Deck, players canenjoy a lot of control cards to pester through an enemy’s defensesand summon a lot of Elementals to secure an advantage in terms of numbers. It doesn’t help that Elementals synergize with each other naturally, such as the cost-reducing (1) Kindling Elemental and (2) Fire Plume Harbinger, Attack-boosting (1) Wailing Vapor, and damage-dealing (3) Gyreworm.
Master Duelist Mozaki
It’s one thing to use a Mage deck to secure control over the battlefield, and another to use a deck likeMaster Duelist Mozakitooverwhelm the opponent with both attack power and creature numbers. In this particular deck, the Hero Power (1) Frost Shards not only deals damage but also gives Freezing minions to the player, and Signature Treasure (3) Elemental Learning adds random Elementals to the hand and reduces cost if Elementals are summoned in a turn.
These abilities already synergize with the rest of the deck, as thisMaster Duelist Mozaki Deckalso relies on Fire-based cards to deal a ton of damage. These include damaging (1) First Flame, (1) Wildfire, (2) Flame Geyser, (2) Flame Cannon, and (3) Combustion. It doesn’t help that (0) Hot Streak reduces the cost of Fire spells, while (3) Explosive Runes can kill a powerful minion on the opponent’s side much faster.
Forest Warden Druid
TheDruid’s flow with natureallows it to call upon its powers to make combat much easier, and this translates into the game through decks likeForest Warden Druidthat make casting spells much easier and much faster. The Hero Power (2) Invigorating Bloom can reduce Mana cost of spells, making them accessible much earlier. Moreover, Signature Treasure (8) Awakened Ancient lets the player draw a card, deal 1 Damage, and gain 1 Armor - a nifty move for a single round.
In thisForest Warden Druid Deck, the Hero Power’s Mana-reducing ability gives access to more powerful spells. (0) Innervate, (2) Moonlit Guidance, and (4) Twig of the World Tree already gives access to copies and more Mana Crystals. They can pave the way for more devastating cards such as multi-damaging (8) Goliath, Sneed’s Masterpiece, damage-dealing (9) Alexstrasza the Life-Binder, and minion-rushing (10) Raid Boss Onyxia.
Star Student Demon Hunter
When a player makes a Demon Hunter deck, they oftenrely a lot on speed and attack power to finish fights quicklyand efficiently. Such is also the case with theStar Student Demon Hunterbuild, this time using Star Student Stelina and her Hero Power (1) Illidari Studies to Discover and reduce the cost of Outcast cards. This synergizes well with the Signature Treasure (3) Gift of the Legion, which gives attack per minion dead and even has an Outcast that returns this to the hand.
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Overall, theStar Student Demon Hunter Deckworks well with the rest of its components. For instance, (1) Demon Companion, (2) Umberwing, (3) Coordinated Strike, and (5) Command Illidari can already give the advantage in terms of minions. However, even summoning minions can punish opponents with damage and minion buffs courtesy of (2) Field of Strife, (2) Knife Juggler, (2) Parade Leader, and even (3) Wrathscale Naga.
Rattlegore Warrior
It’s one thing to have a Warrior that has a direct approach towards offense, and someone like Rattlegore that sabotages the enemy as brutally as possible. ThisRattlegore Warriormakes use of Rattlegore and the Passive Hero Power (Magnetic Mines), which shuffles a bomb in the opponent deck after every turn if players have Armor. This works well with Signature Treasure (6) Scrapmetal Demolitionist, with a Battlecry that grants Armor and shuffles a bomb into the opponent’s deck.
This brutal way of fighting is reflected throughout theRattlegore Warrior Deck. A lot of its cards grant armor to the player to proc Magnetic Mines, such as (1) Armor Vendor, (2) Drywhisker Armorer, (2) Frozen Buckler, (3) Gluttonous Ooze, and (3) Shield Block. It doesn’t help that there’s (2) Prize Vendor that forces the opponent to draw a card, and cards like (2) Minefield that deal multi-target damage.
Professor Slate Hunter
Hunters often rely on awide variety of traps and strategiesto lure the opponent into a false sense of security, andProfessor Slate Hunteris a build that does exactly this. Despite the unimposing appearance of Professor Slate, his Hero Power (2) Death Games can trigger a random minion’s Deathrattle, spelling trouble for opponents. It doesn’t help that the Signature Treasure (4) Deathstrider also has a Battlecry that does the same thing.
As such, it’s obvious that thisProfessor Slate Hunter Deckhas a lot of nifty Deathrattles that can disrupt an opponent’s strategy. These include card-adding (1) Webspinner, minion-summoning (2) Haunted Creeper and (2) Nerubian Egg, card-drawing (2) Loot Hoarder, and even power-minion summons from (3) Devilsaur Egg and (5) Burning Blade Acolyte. It doesn’t help that there are cards like (4) Monstrous Parrot that can repeat a triggered Deathrattle.
Hearthstoneis available on PC, Android, and iOS.
