[Standard Ready] A New Face

An example of how face hunter may look in the upcoming standard format. Obviously cards will be added/changed/removed when new cards are revealed but here’s an example of what can be done without mad scientist and other “Wild” staples.

This deck is still very viable in the current meta and has a lot of options for changes.

I can write a full guide if this deck gets any attention, but for now i’ll just write about a few key cards.

Hunter's Mark  does wonders for removal against huge threats and big taunts, nothing new here. Allows you to trade your snakes and hounds into huge creatures or makes big threats vulnerable to Knife Juggler , Huge Toad  and Explosive Trap . Interchangeable with a second Ironbeak Owl  Depending on the meta.

Snake Trap  is a 2 cost card that gives you another secret for Eaglehorn Bow, 3 beasts on the field, 3 potential Knife Juggler triggers, and can often trick your opponent into thinking it’s the more commonly played Explosive Trap. Also works well with Animal Companion making Leokk less useless or forcing your opponents into triggering it with Misha.

Dire Wolf Alpha gets more value from your small creatures and gives you yet another beast for Kill Command .

Huge Toad is a 3/2 beast that does another 1 damage when it dies, it’s not overwhelmingly powerful but it’s certainly respectable enough compared to its alternatives.

Ironbeak Owl Silences things, nullifies taunts, lets you go face. it’s just another removal card that also gives you a 2/1 beast, can be taken out for a second hunters mark depending on the meta.

Leeroy Jenkins is a card not everybody has, it’s more or less just an alternative Arcane Golem. I say alternative because it’s more a matter of preference than an outright improvement. Both should be used primarily as finishers and both have drawbacks. the reason I chose Leeroy is because it has more attack (obviously) and can allow you get more value from Unleash the Hounds if the game somehow lasts that long.

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The deck is already relatively inexpensive but to make it even cheaper some alternatives include

-1 Snake Trap
+1 Bear Trap

-1 Leeroy Jenkins
+1 Arcane Golem

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If you want to optimize the deck for the current/Wild format here are the best ways to do so –

-2 Dire Wolf Alpha
-2 Huge Toad
-1 Snake Trap

+2 Haunted Creeper
+2 Mad Scientist
+1 Glaivezooka

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And finally it’s rumored that Knife Juggler and Leper Gnome will be nerfed upon release of the Standard format. depending on the severity of these nerfs these cards may need to be replaced. In that scenario there’s a lot of options for either card, and we’ll likely get more upon the release of the new expansion but based on existing cards here’s the best replacements.

-2 Leper Gnome
+1 Worgen Infiltrator
+1 Brave Archer

-2 Knife Juggler
+2 Flame Juggler