5 Alternative Deck Types Players can Set Up in Hearthstone
Hearthstone is a collectible card game with various deck types. To win a majority of their games, Hearthstone players need to build specific deck types instead of just throwing together a collection of cards randomly. Each of the game’s various deck types provides players with a clearer strategy. However, a lot of new players might not be aware of the various deck types they can build. These are five deck types players can set up in Hearthstone.
Zoo Deck
Zoo is among the most widely played deck types in Hearthstone. A zoo deck is one that includes a good number of low mana minion cards with which players can play cheaply from the first couple of turns. Zoo players aim to quickly fill the board up with a plethora of cheap minions (preferably in the early game) so that they can obtain victory through board control. As most of their minions will have lower attack and health values, zoo decks also include at least a few buff cards (such as Bonemane or Prince Keleseth) with which players can boost the stats of minions to further strengthen their positions on the board.
5 Alternative Deck Types Players can Set Up in Hearthstone. Zoolock deck
The Warlock-class Zoolock is one of the more widely played zoo decks in Hearthstone. That deck relies on Warlock’s Life Tap Hero Power to ensure players don’t exhaust their hands (which can often happen when lots of cheap cards are played during turns). In addition, the Zoolock usually includes numerous Demon minion cards, such as Doubling Imp, Flame Imp, and Voidwalker.
Cards widely included in zoo decks:
- Sea Giant
- Prince Keleseth
- Magic Carpet
- Dire Wolf Alpha
- Murlock Warleader
- Grimscale Oracle
- Leeroy Jenkins
- Tar Creeper
Control Decks
A control deck places greater emphasis on winning Hearthstone matches in the late game (turn 10 onward). Control decks include a good number of Taunt and healing cards to ensure that players can preserve hero health and reach the late game intact. Thus, control deck players have a more defensive game plan for earlier turns during which they’ll primarily target enemy minions instead of attacking the hero. When the late game kicks in, control deck players will then unleash their big-hitting minion or spell cards to devastate opponents. Therefore, control decks usually include quite a few higher mana cards to win matches with.
5 Different Deck Types Players can Set Up in Hearthstone. A Mage control deck
Cards widely included in control decks:
- Alexstrasza
- Dr. Boom (Warrior)
- Zilliax
- Lich King
- Firetree Witchdoctor
- Sludge Belcher
- Twilight Drake
- Doomsayer
Aggro Deck
The aggro deck is the antithesis of a control deck. It is a deck type that aims to win games sooner rather than later. Therefore, aggro decks include plenty of Charge and Rush minion cards so players can attack the hero and minions on the turns they play them. Aggro decks are similar to zoo decks as they also tend to rely more on low mana minions with which players can go at their opponents from the outset. However, the difference is that aggro decks place greater emphasis on quickly attacking the opponent’s hero instead of minions on the battlefield. Thus, aggro deck players usually choose to attack the hero as often as possible instead of eliminating minions on the battlefield, which will, of course, leave their own heroes more open to attack.
Cards widely included in aggro decks:
- Leeroy Jenkins
- Blessing of Might
- Southsea Deckhand
- Dire Wolf Alpha
- History Buff
- Huanted Creeper
- Wolfrider
- Animal Companion (Hunter)
Deathrattle Deck
The Deathrattle deck is more of a deck subtype. Thus, Deathrattle decks are often built into control or zoo decks. These are decks that rely primarily on Deathrattle minions to win matches. This deck type includes cards with strong Deathrattle effects that can tip matches decisively in its favor. Therefore, cards such as Carnivorous Cube, Da Undatakah, Fordring, and Mechanical Whelp feature prominently in Deathrattle decks. In addition, this deck type usually includes spell cards that trigger Deathrattles to further multiply those effects.
5 Different Deck Types Players can Set Up in Hearthstone. Carnivorous Cube
Cards widely included in Deathrattle decks:
- Carnivorous Cube
- Play Dead (Hunter)
- Sylvanas Windrunner
- Necrium Blade (Rogue)
- Necrium Vial (Rogue)
- Mechanical Whelp
- Devilsaur Egg
- N’Zoth, the Corruptor
Combo Deck
The combo deck includes a few devastating card combinations. So, combo deck players aim to win their matches by unleashing a few devastating card combos on their opponents. These decks usually include a few key combo cards and are based on more specific win conditions. As combo decks rely on specific card combinations, they usually include quite a few draw cards. Then players can draw from their decks more often so they can get the cards they need for combos quicker. Mr. McCall, a Hearthstone card designer, stated, “In general, combo decks are good for Hearthstone because they add some texture to the ladder experience.”
5 Different Deck Types Players can Set Up in Hearthstone. A Mosh’ogg minion buffed with Inner Fire combo
Cards that are widely included in combo decks:
- Bloodmage Thalnos
- Eviscerate (Rogue)
- Ice Block (Mage)
- Malygos
- Fireball (Mage)
- Divine Spirit (Priest)
- Inner Fire (Priest)
- Medivh, the Guardian
Those are five of the more widely played deck types in Hearthstone. Building one, or more, of those decks with various hero classes will give players a springboard to climb the rankings in both Standard and Wild format.
