Defile

Defile Card

Defile is a 2 Mana Cost Rare Warlock Spell card from the Core Set 2024 set!

Card Text

Deal 1 damage to all minions. If any die, cast this again.

Flavor Text

This spell was originally designed to help warlocks clean up their hard drives.

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63 Comments

  1. Ns2k
    November 21, 2023 at 2:13 PM

    Bladestorm but it’s opposite day

  2. Lord XrossBones
    August 3, 2017 at 7:56 PM

    The way I understand this card, playing Possessed Villager, Grim Patron, then this seems like a pretty reliable way to break the game. Does it have a casting cap?

    • TheBoss
      August 10, 2017 at 11:54 AM

      Patrons stop spawning after the board is full
      Their bodies will be cleared after the spell effects is all gone

      • Lord XrossBones
        August 23, 2017 at 8:51 AM

        That’s not true. Patrons that receive lethal damage are removed from the board between each casting. I tried this combo out numerous times and learned that the spell will cast 14 times before it quits. It’s kind of funny to watch, but not very practical.

  3. AgentAceX
    August 2, 2017 at 12:37 AM

    Completely rejects any deck with Kara-kazam in it, even though it’s unplayed

    • asd
      August 3, 2017 at 5:05 AM

      No, its the opposite.
      Most players leave the game because of aggro. I have been playing Hearthstone a lot when Renolock was a thing, but when it rotated out and all decks became either aggro or dumb taunt warrior (that is a joke of a “control” deck, since it doesnt do anything apart from putting taunts in play and pushing hero power, and does not require any thinking), I just left.
      People can play this game 15 minutes a day for 10 days and then leave because its dumb and filled with aggro. Aggro greatly reduces popularity of Hearthstone, it makes it uninteractive and unenjoyable, and people leave after a few weeks of playing.
      Control (not a dumb armour up/taunt warrior, its decks like combo priest, renolock, malidruid), on the other hand, makes you want to play more and more. Playing one one GOOD and SATISFYING match a day for 10 minutes is WWWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYY better then playing 3 fast aggro matchups.

      • asd
        August 3, 2017 at 5:06 AM

        oops, wrong topic

      • Tim
        August 9, 2017 at 7:48 AM

        Truly a comment from someone who hasn’t played since around May.

  4. StormCrowJoe
    July 31, 2017 at 12:59 PM

    I know people are excited about the end of aggro… thing is… aggro makes Hearthstone a fast-paced game that you can pick up and play for 5, 10 or 15 minutes. Making the games longer will reduce its popularity.

    • Whatever
      August 1, 2017 at 6:19 AM

      You clearly missed the last couple of years

      • StormCrowJoe
        August 1, 2017 at 10:52 AM

        Whatever do you mean?

        • CloudTemplar
          August 2, 2017 at 8:40 AM

          Last 2 years were the best for aggro decks. The thing about aggro decks is that they are 100% predictable. You play the same thing again and again and it kills off the fun. I tend to love control vs control matchups since there’s diversity and alot of thinking involved. Unless you dont dislike repeating yesterday nvm all this.

          • StormCrowJoe
            August 2, 2017 at 10:55 AM

            I mostly agree with you. My point though is that if (I say “if” because I don’t know, only suspect) the more vocal players are usually more in to the game than the majority of players. It’s probably a common problem with any game; balancing casuals with hardcores. A good compromise would be to make aggro more creative. Give me more ways to crush my opponent quickly. It doesn’t HAVE to be mindless like the pirate and murloc decks. Control decks are fun too, but they can take longer. hehehe I’ve got other things to do than play hearthstone all day! Well, I don’t but I know other people do!

    • asd
      August 3, 2017 at 5:06 AM

      No, its the opposite.
      Most players leave the game because of aggro. I have been playing Hearthstone a lot when Renolock was a thing, but when it rotated out and all decks became either aggro or dumb taunt warrior (that is a joke of a โ€œcontrolโ€ deck, since it doesnt do anything apart from putting taunts in play and pushing hero power, and does not require any thinking), I just left.
      People can play this game 15 minutes a day for 10 days and then leave because its dumb and filled with aggro. Aggro greatly reduces popularity of Hearthstone, it makes it uninteractive and unenjoyable, and people leave after a few weeks of playing.
      Control (not a dumb armour up/taunt warrior, its decks like combo priest, renolock, malidruid), on the other hand, makes you want to play more and more. Playing one one GOOD and SATISFYING match a day for 10 minutes is WWWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYY better then playing 3 fast aggro matchups.

  5. Oobwoodoo
    July 30, 2017 at 3:14 PM

    We don’t know if deathrattles trigger once a minion dies during the spell cast. Probably the best way to abuse this is by synergies related to damage taken and minion generation like imp gang boss. Or maybe if it works, Violet teacher.

    This is a good way to deal with aggro, I can see many uses for it against them. But most of the time, I can only see it go off once or twice. The real question is, is it enough to stop the aggro to bring warlocks back in?

    • Kenchilada
      August 1, 2017 at 4:16 AM

      It should work with imp gang boss, violet teacher, possessed villager, etc. if it also “worked” for dreadsteed. And violet teacher makes a token before the spell is cast, making for some good synergy

  6. Ching05
    July 30, 2017 at 2:46 AM

    What if this card is paired with Bloodmage Thalnos? It would just cause 2 damage on it’s initial casting right?

    • Yoronzo
      July 30, 2017 at 9:53 AM

      I think it would keep doing two damage because it says “cast this again”

      • Maxiiking
        July 31, 2017 at 9:18 AM

        yes โ€žcast this AGAINโ€œ but without Thalnos on the Board … i think u make ones 2 DMG the only 1.

    • Tim
      August 9, 2017 at 7:53 AM

      Only the first one would do 2 damage, which would mean you are actually doing 3 damage to all minions for 4. basically a better Hellfire.

  7. BloodTooth
    July 29, 2017 at 7:56 AM

    I just wounder Why they dont make this card work the same Way as bouncing blades. I mean of how Many times it Can be re-casted. Bouncing blades have a Maximum bounces if 60, so Why not do the same for this insteed of reworkung dreedstreets (and posibly grim patron)?

    • DarthinvaderIX
      August 7, 2017 at 10:35 PM

      Who says this won’t be similar/the same?

  8. bignips
    July 29, 2017 at 4:16 AM

    hope more cards like this come out and help kill aggro meta

  9. Imaloony
    July 28, 2017 at 1:45 PM

    People are probably overvaluing this card a bit. Setting up the domino super high is probably too optimistic, but getting it to go off two or even three times consistently is probably pretty realistic. It will probably find a home somewhere (you know, if Warlock exists this meta).

    • Xix
      July 28, 2017 at 7:01 PM

      Except it can allso clear the minions that come out of deathrattle effects. Something twisting nether or DOOM does not even do. If your oponent plays N’zoth this could clear the board for only 2 mana! ๐Ÿ˜ฎ
      It’s really a powerfull card, i mean look at arcane explosion that card looks like a complete joke when compared to this.

      • Imaloony
        July 28, 2017 at 11:52 PM

        Arcane Explosion is worth it because it doesn’t hit your own side and because Mage has a lot more spell synergy than Warlock does. Not a very apt comparison.

        It CAN, but that’s again in the best-case. Can you really set this up to do that? Maybe, but how many deathrattle minions in the meta drop 1 health minions? Eggnapper sees a tiny bit of play in Druid, so I’ll count that one. Not Harvest Golem; that card never sees play anymore. Infested Tauren’s minion dropped has 2 health, Kindly Grandmother drops a 2 health, Possessed Villager drops a 1 health, Sated Threshadon sees zero play, Infested Wolf drops 1 healthers, aaaaaaaaand… Rat Pack. So we found… four. Four minions in the meta that this thing can help clean up, and none of them see play in N’Zoth decks. So you’d still have to set up the domino, which I should mention Warlock doesn’t really have the tools for. I think this card is fairly overhyped.

        • Dude
          July 29, 2017 at 1:32 AM

          It makes for some really interesting gameplay. Your opponent has to trade in a way, that it prevents the domino kill of his board. More complicated than positioning and fresh. Like it a lot.

          • Kenchilada
            July 29, 2017 at 2:46 PM

            I think you two are over complicating this a bit, it’s going to be great against two of the most oppressive decks in the meta and that’s what control warlock needs. Also Kara khazam + defile = flamestrike, for the memes.

        • Anonymus
          July 29, 2017 at 5:44 PM

          Dude, this card is obviously meant for Blood mage Thalnos. It will kill Thalnos, so you ensure it goes off again, you draw a card and get +1 spell damage. That’s at least 3 damage to all minion. You have a fair chaince to kill something at that amount, activating the card again.

          • Imaloony
            August 2, 2017 at 2:14 PM

            Nah, you’d run this with Possessed Villager before Blood mage. Possessed Villager guarantees this thing goes off three times for one less mana. Blood Mage still might be an option, but it doesn’t slot into Zoo as well as Possessed Villager.

        • TheGrimone
          August 2, 2017 at 8:33 AM

          Some midrange hunter decks run N’zoth with Rat pack and Infested Wolves.

          • Tim
            August 9, 2017 at 7:56 AM

            Very few actually do, and they are typically stuck at very low ranks

    • HAHA
      August 7, 2017 at 3:36 AM

      just think about wild if you or your opponent have at least one 1hp minion and you have imp gang boss ๐Ÿ˜€

  10. JesusFakingChrist
    July 28, 2017 at 1:28 PM

    COOLEST CARD IN SET HOLY SHEEEET

  11. Stannis
    July 28, 2017 at 1:14 PM

    This card looks so promising. As a warlock main, I am really excited about that card.

    • Darkbru
      July 28, 2017 at 7:31 PM

      I too am (was) a warlock main until this last meta. If you’re still successfully playing warlock what deck are you using? I’ve found some success in wild with reno and N’Zoth

  12. Fanderay
    July 28, 2017 at 12:08 PM

    This card is great!! I don’t know how impactful could be but the idea is fantastic. I can’t wait to try this card!!

    • Strudelpopje
      July 28, 2017 at 12:47 PM

      Well they had to reveal a good warlock card, with the shitty legendary they spoiled earlier

      • Kenchilada
        July 28, 2017 at 8:50 PM

        It’s not a bad card if discolock is supported (and good), but I certainly like the other direction they’re taking warlock now, maybe control warrior and warlock will flush out the aggro warrior, druid, and paladin decks. Probably not shaman, though.

  13. Whiplash
    July 28, 2017 at 12:01 PM

    Seems legit.

  14. ANAD
    July 28, 2017 at 11:51 AM

    dreadsteed ftw

    • JACE TMS
      July 28, 2017 at 12:00 PM

      That would be an infinite loop i dont think it will work or they must change dreadsteed

      • Evident - Author
        July 28, 2017 at 12:01 PM

        Dreadsteed is being changed, they mentioned it in the reveal stream.

      • Kenchilada
        July 28, 2017 at 8:51 PM

        Dreadsteed is becoming
        4 mana 1/1
        Deathrattle: At the end of your turn, summon a dreadsteed

        Now it won’t even be playable in that one tavern brawl from Karazhan ๐Ÿ™ Worth the insane board clear though

        • WingedEspeon
          August 1, 2017 at 1:11 AM

          That brawl will be a lot better without dreadsteed.

      • Trollface
        August 2, 2017 at 10:18 PM

        I would have streamed to twitch and left each match running after throwing down the combo with two+ dreadsteeds for the lolz

  15. curious
    July 28, 2017 at 11:36 AM

    Does this go infinite with grim patron?

    • Piterno
      July 28, 2017 at 11:54 AM

      If you have a 1, 2, and 3 health Grim Patron, yes
      1. Casts it, kills the 1 health, reduces 2 and 3 health to 1 and 2, 2 and 3 health summon 2 3 health
      2. Re-Casts it, kills the 1 health, reduces 2, 3, and 3 health to 1, 2, and 2 health, summons 3 3 health
      3. Re-Casts it, kills the 1 health, reduces 2, 2, 3, 3, and 3 health to 1, 1, 2, 2, and 2 health, summons 2 3 health (fills board).
      ETC

      • random
        July 28, 2017 at 1:52 PM

        no because when a patron dies while the spell is still going they still take a board space. you will end up with a 3/1 and a 3/2 grim patron

        • BloodTooth
          July 28, 2017 at 2:35 PM

          i think it will work so when you cast it deal 1 damage, wait to see if anyone die, if somebody dies, do it again. so i think he will die before the next spell is casted so it will be infinit.

          • Th0massn
            July 28, 2017 at 6:50 PM

            Spells have never worked this way this can’t be the way it works

          • BloodTooth
            July 29, 2017 at 7:50 AM

            Well they cinfirmed it that it Will work when they Said dreedstreets as thet are right now Will break they game. So we most suppose that it kills it, wait for it to die, then its casted again and ect. Else dreedstreet would be fine!

          • Maxiiking
            July 31, 2017 at 9:26 AM

            the โ€žCast it Againโ€œ Mechanic is New
            i think they will die !

            when not .. why nerf Dread ?!

    • Piggy
      July 28, 2017 at 8:15 PM

      Only if you manage to kill 2 minions after playing the first one I guess? You play Patron, there’s a 1 health and a 2 health minion on the board, defile kills both of them and spawns a new patron for each and kills off the first one and you’ll be infinitely spawning Patrons. I’m really curious as to how this will work out since we’ve never really had an infinite continuous effect like this apart from Bouncing Blade shenanigans as far as I can remember.

  16. Sober667
    July 28, 2017 at 11:26 AM

    Scales incredible with spell dmg and u if enemy happen to have 1,2,3,4,5,6,Hp minions it may be fun to wach ๐Ÿ˜€ like jades
    Couter for dethrattle shit?
    i wana see it with evolved cobolt

    • Heralt
      July 28, 2017 at 1:26 PM

      most liekly +spd will work only while minion is alive. anyway, this looks like insance spell to clear the board in early game,

  17. Sirolf
    July 28, 2017 at 11:26 AM

    Time to rape aggro

    • Kenchilada
      July 28, 2017 at 8:53 PM

      Hopefully we can beat the tards this expansion ๐Ÿ˜€

      • ReTardis
        August 2, 2017 at 10:24 PM

        The tards are all dropping iceblocks

        • TheMasterBaiter
          August 2, 2017 at 10:25 PM

          and playing solitaire

  18. AgentMango
    July 28, 2017 at 11:24 AM

    Just imagaine if your opponent has jade golems from 1-7… full board clear for 2 mana

    • TheDoctorIsIn
      August 2, 2017 at 10:27 PM

      And then they start droppin 8+ golems the next turn and you regret wasting all of that time on those animations when you get ziltch after losing the match and should have left to start another using the time more efficiently

  19. Mmmm
    July 28, 2017 at 11:21 AM

    MMmmmmmmmmmmm…… contruct-elicious ….drooooool