Post Patch 10.2 Secret Tempo Mage (February 2018)

The goal of this deck is to maintain board control by strategically placing your minions/casting secrets to ultimately snowball your opponent.  I have 35 games played in rank with the deck and manage to be competitive at rank 14. 

Notes for Turns 1-3:

• Kabal Lackey is the only 1 drop in this deck and should be played on curve (even if you don’t have a secret to make use of it’s battlecry. 
• Arcanologist is the optimal turn 2 play. 
• Don’t be afraid to use hero power for easy board control. 
• Raven Familiar  can be used to pull out secret’s (Explosive Runes being the best to gain and early lead) or a late game spell like Firelands Portal  or Flamestrike.
• Frostbolt is good for neutralize common 3 hp drops (ex. Northshire Cleric)
• Play on curve as much as possible. Kirin Tor Mage  is not a bad turn 3 play even if you can’t utilize the 0 cost secret Battlecry.
• Acolyte of Pain  and Arcane Intellect are you card draw mechanisms. Remember if you have 2 mana to spare to ping the Acolyte of Pain with your hero power to draw an extra card. 

Notes Turns 4-7:

• Aim to play secrets or your first big minion.  
• Fireball  is best used for big minions or a taunt (ex. Tar Creeper). 
• Kabal Crystal Runner and Faceless Summoner are best used to stabilize board control in the mid game. Kabal Crystal Runner with 2/3 secrets played can lead to 3 minion board play when combined with Faceless Summoner. 
• Flamestrike  is kept in this deck for AoE as it can come up clutch in the correct situation.

Turns 8+

• Bonemare is used to buff the best minion on the board. Always be mindful of opponent damage and prepare yourself for One Turn Kill potential. 
• A turn 10 play of a Secret, Firelands Portal and Kabal Crystal Runner (assuming you’ve already play 2 secrets this game) can provide enough momentum to help turn the tide of a close game or help close out an opponent.

General Notes

• Use Raven Familiar,  Acolyte of Pain  and Arcane Intellect for card draw and properly timed tempo. 
• The key to this deck is proper secret play. I’ve had many wins due to proper Counterspell play (Ex. Play on turn 9 to stop a Druid’s turn 10 Ultimate Infestation play).
• Polymorph is best used to either remove a taunt for fatal/near fatal damage or triggered effect minions (Disciple of Rin and  Carnivorous Cube come to mind.