High stats for a price is the theme in the latest batch of card reveals. But will it be enough?
Wrath Guard is best described as ”bigger flame imp” having +1/+1 higher stats for one more mana and a similar drawback. It can also be compared to Succubus with a less severe drawback.
The question is if that is good enough. Succubus always had the problem that it still traded even with 3/2s and with a lot of 3 damage cards like [card]Frostbolt[/card],[card]Darkbomb[/card] and [card]Fiery War Axe[/card]. Wrath Guard still have that issue and it might mean that it will not make the cut.
Hillariously this brings additional utility to Flame Lance and could cause a self KO against a warrior with [card]Shield Slam[/card]. This is unlikely to matter for the viability of this card though.
If Wrath Guard was a bigger flame imp, then this is a cheaper [card]Boulderfist Ogre[/card]. Once it is played with a combo it becomes a 6/7 for 5 mana. Potential to be powerful.
Its combo might end up being too tough a restriction though. Even [card]Tinker's Sharpsword Oil[/card] was predicted to have too high of a price for a combo card, until people remember [card]Preparation[/card] was a thing. This does not apply to Shado-pan Cavalry.
Rogues have already had one powerful cards in that slot before, the [card]Ogre Ninja[/card] and it havn't really been doing anything. Will the removal of the Ogre miss mechanic and 1+ extra health matter? It should also be noted that it is more fragile to silence. Overall intriguing design but probably not going to make the cut.
Note: This card was revealed by Netease and had its effects translated from Chinese by fans. Variations may occur.
Finally we have this girl. A 4/2 for 3 is already sorta okay for a 3 drop but her effect gives her the ability of getting additional +2/+2. This means she can be compared to [card]Goblin Sapper[/card] or [card]Volcanic Drake[/card] who are also cards that gives 6/4 stats cheap at a condition. Now the condition for Master of Ceremonies is an intresting one. You most control a minion with +Spell damage . This is new as we have yet to see any support for +spell damage before, as it is primarily a stat meant for supporting other cards itself.
I am personally not too excited for this card because as I have said, we have seen the 6/4 statline before. It seems to be a prefered “safety package” for neutral 3 mana(ish) minions who get to have slightly superior statline at a condition. It never seems to be making waves as the 4 health is just too weak considering the conditions that have to be fulfilled in order to place these minions down at their full power.
Overall people will probably stick to running spell damage for the purpose of boosting spells. Priests do run [card]Velen's Chosen[/card] but their 3 mana slot is already more overloaded than a Shaman casting 3 Lightning Storms. As such there really isn't any deck that would fit this card
