The New Contenders-Part 2

First, and a little off-topic, let me say that my metagame breakdowns will be returning after Regionals start using Through the Dark Portal. I just think that the current metagame has been analyzed enough and more people are already focusing on what will happen after the new set becomes legal. In that vein is today's post about another deck that has gotten some goods and has a good chance to step up and become a player in the metagame, Morganis Blackvein.

I say specifically Morganis instead of Frost Mages in general because as an Undead Mage, Morganis has access to the very-powerful-against-rush-decks Cannibalize, which helps shore up what I consider to be a bit of a weak spot for the Mage.

I'm going to be honest here. I've been working on a Morganis build, but I just can't seem to find one that I really like. That doesn't mean it's not there, just that I haven't found it yet. The deck does have some very useful tools though, and while I'm not going to post a decklist today (because I don't have one), I will talk about all the tools that I think will help Morganis in the new environment.

I think the first thing a deck has to do, even in the post-TTDP environment, is be able to play against a rush deck. A lot of people seem to be writing off rush decks like they don't have a chance against the sea of control. While I think that rush decks will be a little weaker as a whole, they will still very much be a force to be reckoned with. Hunter rush (or perhaps Shaman) will still be the first deck I test anything against. If it can't handle a rush, it's still unplayable. This doesn't mean it has to be 80-20 vs. rush, but it has to have at least some game. So what does this all mean for Morganis?

Well, Morganis has some tools to play against rush decks. First, I think it will run a small ally suite. Steelhorn has the ability to make early trades and generally buy you a turn on the play as most player are reluctant to run their 1-drop into Steelhorn unless it is Bloodclaw. Taz'dingo is still a solid play at three, and Ja'Zaron offers a protector. The 4-spot is a tough call. You have two really good protectors in Guardian Steppestrider and Ophelia Barrows. Steppestrider will 2-for-1 anything but Fury and Moko, but she takes them down with her whereas Ophelia doesn't. Ophelia, however, has the ability to heal herself and more importantly eat the graveyard. Right now, I think Steppestrider may be the call with Ophelias in the board, or maybe even 2 Ophelias main, but I just like the extra ATK on Steppestrider.

The Mage also has access to an ample supply of burn. Morganis can use burn spells as 1-for-1 removal early on, knowing he will have access to greater card draw in the mid and late game with amazing cards like Mana Agate, Evocation, and The Haunted Mills. It also has some decent AoE effects with Frost Nova and Flamestrike. I think a lot of people, know I'm on the record preferring Ice Block to Frost Nova since it's better in so many more matchups. I don't think Frost Nova is good enough anymore, although I could definitely see it coming in from the board against rush decks. Flamestrike is probably too expensive. Between your early protectors and your removal spells, Flamestrike would generally just be better as another burn spell. If you want the ability to kill two allies with one spell use Arc of Flame, although I'm not a big fan of that card.

I think being able to run Cannibalize is huge in the rush matchup. 25 health isn't a lot. When a rush player starts taking chunks out of it early, even if you stabilize the board, you're never far from death. Cannibalize gives you the ability to undo a lot of the damage they did early on. Once you stabilize the board now, a Cannibalize will all but seal it up.

So Morganis it looks like Morganis has some game against rush, but how will he handle the other decks that are sure to come about. I've felt for a long time that in control on control matchups, Mage is the best class to be playing. I already felt that their card drawing was better than any other classes and now they've added even more. Evocation is a ridiculous card. It will swing a lot of control on control games in favor of the Mage player. The Haunted Mills is WoW's versin of accumulated knowledge and while it's not a Mage ability it is available to Morganis. The other Undead quest also works very well with Ancient Cornerstone Grimoire.

Solo decks also figure to be more prominent in the new metagame. They all have different ways to kill you. Warriors figure to pump up a huge Mortal Strike/Slam to finish you off. Hunters will Rapid Fire you out. Paladins will just chip away, eventually grinding you down. One card that solo decks hate to see is Ancient Cornerstone Grimoire. This forces them into a different win condition. Warriors and Hunter will be forced to combo you out. Warriors also have another option along with Paladins, and that's switching to a Deathbringer. I have discovered a trick to beat the Deathbringer though, and I stumbled into it by accident. I was testing a Paladin against a Priest deck. The Paladin had equipped Deathbringer, and the Priest was "fighting it off" with ACG. The Priest drew and played Hierophant Caydiem. Then I realized I could make a Skeleton, protect with it, and then hit it with Caydiem before combat resolution and dodge the Deathbringer. This trick could also work here for Morganis.

So what about the "combo" decks. How does Morganis stop those? Well the first and best answer is Counterspell. Counterspell one piece of the combo and you should generally be able to survive it. The next answer Ice Block and is one of the reasons, Ice Block is so much better than Frost Nova. Say a Hunter plays Rapid Fire going for the kill turn. An Ice Block shuts him down, where a Frost Nova would have just exhausted his Stronghold Gauntlets. It also works against Warriors who don't have Lionheart Helm and Rogues who are looking for several combo cards to finish you off.

One thing that is a little worrisome for the Mage is an actual win condition. It's hard to run 1 Saurfang, 1 Rexxar, and 1 Zy'lah like the Alliance control decks do because they have Missing Diplomat and Horde doesn't. I like Rexxar quite a bit as a finisher along with Saurfang and Zy'lah. It's just a matter of finding the right number to play.

Well, I think Morganis has a very good shot to make some noise at Darkmoon Faire next weekend. It could finally be the Frost Mages time to shine.