Pumpkin Peasant

Another card, another new mechanic! Since they’ve showcased it, I assume that we will see more cards that switch when they’re in hand (potentially not just switch stats). Which is cool. The card they’ve used to showcase it is simple, but also pretty… bad.

Lifesteal is a mechanic useful in slower decks. Fast decks don’t really want to play Lifesteal, because why would they, when they’re the ones pushing damage in slow matchups, and healing doesn’t do much when they face Aggro, because board control is much more important.

So now that we’ve figured it out – would any slow deck want to play a 2/4 Lifesteal minion? Well, I really doubt it. Paladin has Benevolent Djinn, for example, or Wickerflame Burnbristle – both much better and both don’t even see play in slower Paladin decks (admittedly, slower Paladin decks are very rare). Priest has Acolyte of Agony, 3/3 is probably a better stat-line than 2/4 for a minion with Lifesteal, and well, it still doesn’t see play. But okay – those classes have access to other means to heal. What about Warlock, which would love to have as much healing as possible? Well, still no. I’d rather put an Earthen Ring Farseer into my deck. Given that there are a lot of 2/3 minions in Constructed, 3/3 stat-line is just better, and the 3 points of healing is guaranteed, not to mention that you can use it to heal up your minion. This minion has potential to get its healing more than once, but it’s unlikely – even if you got 4 healing on average, I’d still pick Farseer, because the effect is immediate. If you are staring at lethal, playing Lifesteal minion doesn’t do anything, but healing does. Yes, Lifesteal synergizes with buffs, but the classes that need more healing options don’t really have buffs.

How about a 4/2 with Lifesteal? Honestly, that’s even better. Yes, you heal for 4 (assuming it doesn’t die to a spell), but it doesn’t contest the board at all. It dies to a 1-drop. Healing against Aggro is great, but it’s not your #1 priority. Healing is pointless if you can’t clear the board. You will just take more damage next turn. 4/2 minion is not good enough at contesting the board.

Well, so how about two in one? First of all, this is not a “real” two in one. While yes, in the late game, you can somehow control it by just waiting an extra turn, when you’re on your Turn 3, and that’s your only 3-drop, you have to play it no matter in which form it is. The fact that it switches around is probably a downside, because the decks that would even want to consider running it would probably want to play the 2/4 form, as it’s more likely to stick and wouldn’t be killed by any 1-drop. Then, you’d rather just play a Taunt like Tar Creeper. Not only does it save you health (which basically heals you), but it also contests the board much better, and clearing minions is what saves you health in the long run.

So no, cool way to showcase the new mechanic, but a bad card. Pack filler below average Arena pick.

Card rating: 2/10