Bobrok’s Legend Howlfiend Control Warlock (July 2018)

Concept of the Deck

In Hearthstone there are many potentially good cards designed for relatively slow interesting control decks. However, most of them are out of meta due to existence of OTK combinations (using Shudderwock, Malygos, Prophet Velen e.t.c.) from which there is no chance to defend in late game. Practically, this leads to a reduction in control decks and an increase in aggro decks designed for fast wins. This all led to the idea of a deck ensuring survival at the initial stage (against aggro decks) and destruction of the opponent’s deck and cards in his hand at the late stage of the game (against the mid/control and especially the OTK decks). To date, only Warlock has such capabilities.

The average winrate of the proposed deck is about 60% for the current meta (based on my experience). I hope the deck will be functional until the end of the Year of the Raven and will be able to compete with new archetypes and OTK combos after the release of the Boomsday Project (thanks to Academic Espionage Flobbidinous Floop, Dreampetal Florist and Luna's Pocket Galaxy ).

A Short Guide

The strategy is based on the well described Control Warlock archetype with minor changes. The deck’s core is formed by Defile, Howlfiend, Treachery,  Rin, the First Disciple, Voidlord and Bloodreaver Gul’dan. These cards are used in order to destroy the opponent’s deck and  hand and to provide survival in late game. The rest of the cards are chosen for survival (Taunts and AoE) in early game and for board control (Silence and Destruction) in mid/late game. They are more or less flexible and in principle can be changed. Finally, let me give some comments about these choices.

In case of matchups against aggro or tempo decks the high priority cards are Defile, Hellfire, Stonehill Defender, Tar Creeper and Lord Godfrey. These cards are necessary for survival in early and mid game which usually means a victory. Despicable Dreadlord and Acidic Swamp Ooze are useful against Odd Paladin or Odd Rogue. 

A key of victory against slow decks (especially OTK) is the combo Howlfiend + Treachery + Defile. Idealy it should almost discard the opponent’s hand uncluding a winning combination or strong cards. Also The Lich King gives a chance to add Death Grip and to steal the opponent’s key minion. At last, the best way for victory is destruction an opponent’s deck with Azari, the Devourer using Rin, the First Disciple before play above-mentoined combo, but it is not so easy. In order to avoid silence, Hex or Polymorph Rin, the First Disciple is played together with Spiritsinger Umbra.

Due to Even Warlock popularity Voodoo Doll is chosen for resistance to Mountain Giant in early game. Later it can be combined with Defile or Spiritsinger Umbra in mid/late game.

Lesser Amethyst Spellstone (+Kobold Librarian), Siphon Soul, Lord Godfrey and Twisting Nether cards are helpful for healing and board control.