Combo Elemental

Establish a board. Supplement with hero power. Bloodlust. Finish with combo pieces.

When it comes to Hearthstone cards, I live by one simple rule: if you wouldn’t want 2 of them in your opening hand, don’t put 2 in your deck. Sure, on paper this deck seems inconsistent. However, in practice, this is one of the most fun decks you will ever have the pleasure of playing; and I am glad to share it with you. It’s no ladder deck, it won’t compete with the best of the best. You’ll still have a fighting chance though, and your combo pieces are good enough that you can pull off some surprising (and oftentimes hilarious) victories against much tougher opponents. 

*WARNING* Deck contains no draw, utilize the card generation or bounce-back effects on Menacing Nimbus, Earthen Might,  Spirit Echo, Grumble, Worldshaker and Hagatha the Witch to keep a full hand.

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Card Discussion:

Arguably the bread and butter opener of your deck. Whenever you see this card in your opening hand, you should keep it. Even if you have more than one. An early blitz with Fire Flies and the Flame Elementals they produce can easily win you the game on the back of a turn 5 Bloodlust . They work incredibly well when paired with Flametongue Totem, and are excellent candidates for Spirit Echo due to their low cost, ability to maximize mana use per turn (Tempo), and ability to activate further Elementals as they are continuously played.

Your alternative opener, geared toward staying alive, formidable, and protective of his brothers. A turn 1 Wax Elemental followed by a turn 2 Earthen Might is arguably one of the strongest openers in the game at the moment. It produces a 2/4 Divine Shield Taunt Minion on turn 2 and creates a card in your hand that MUST be an Elemental. Even if you don’t get this card early, it serves as an excellent cheap activator later on in the game above its obvious use as a damage soak for its taunt and divine shield.

Your “no other option” turn 1 play. However, be very wary of the Overload cost. If you have a decent turn 2 card, it is often worth it simply to hold onto this card and not use it on turn 1. It is best used in a reactionary capacity as a board clear or to regain control of the battlefield. One of the coolest combos you will discover is the Electra Stormsurge Voltaic Burst Flametongue Totem combo for 6 mana. Just be sure to properly place your totem in the middle of the Sparks so that each one can attack for its rush 3 damage. Since the Sparks classify as “Elemental”, they are also able to be effectively targeted by Earthen Might. Don’t be timid about using Spirit Echo on them either; it is a super effective tactic to keep board control.

Simply a great card that is most ideally used on turn 2 to either bump your Fire Fly stats to 3/4 or your Wax Elemental to a 2/4 Taunt/Divine Shield. There are no 2 cost minions that could even approach that stat line; these are 3 cost minion numbers. So not only does this card put you ahead of the curve, playing it on a minion that has already been on the board one turn effectively gives you 2 additional damage to inflict for that turn. As a cherry on top, playing it on an Elemental generates another additional card to your hand. This card is amazing and severely underappreciated in Hearthstone.

Not absolutely totally necessary to the deck, but it is useful to reduce cost and improve tempo on a hand that is full of Elementals. Additionally, it combos very well with Murmuring Elemental, and it’s ability to change a hand full of 1 cost Elementals into a hand of 0 cost Elementals can absolutely not be undersold. Your Fire Fly, Wax Elemental, Flame Elemental, and Spark cards can be effectively returned to your hand using either Spirit Echo or Grumble, Worldshaker. In either case, a follow up Fire Plume Harbinger makes them all 0 cost and ready to blitz the board in preparation of a Double Bloodlust attack by Electra Stormsurge or construct the most monstrous Ozruk the world has ever known.

A truly solid addition to any good Shaman deck. This card has been a top pick for years, and for very good reason. It makes things happen that couldn’t otherwise happen. Use it intelligently, and with proper positioning. Protect it with your taunt minions. Heal it with your Hot Spring Guardian. If you do, this card will carry your deck. Use it primarily on your Fire Fly, your Wax Elemental, and your Voltaic Burst.

Yes, this card does not have the excellent stats of Arcanologist. However, it is a card that generates another card, specifically an Elemental. In order to perform the board blitz for Bloodlust effectively, we need cheap bodies to play. This one is cheap, and even the most brief glimpse at the library will effectively show you that 2-cost Elementals are greatly in demand. This is a 2 cost Elemental. It MAY produce other cheap Elementals, or Mid-Game Elementals, or even Legendary Elementals. In ANY possible scenario, you are either continuing your current strategy for blitzing the board, or you are curving out effectively with Mid-Late game Elementals. This is a good card, and it also combos very well with Murmuring Elemental, Spirit Echo, and Grumble, Worldshaker to produce even more cards for you.

The essential combo piece for all of your Battlecry minions. This card is like the old Brann Bronzebeard, except cheaper and specifically an Elemental. I shouldn’t even have to tell you what to do with this card, it’s practically self-explanatory. And if you either don’t possess or can’t afford Electra Stormsurge, then put 2 of these in your deck and use him ultra liberally to gain every advantage you can.

SUPER cool card. This card let’s you do things that would otherwise be impossible. Like effectively doing a Pyroblast to somebody on turn 6 courtesy of Lava Burst. Or rampaging someone’s face off unexpectedly with a double Bloodlust. If the right opportunity doesn’t present itself, it’s better to hang onto this card than it is to play it just for tempo, or for a slight lead. Think of this card as more of a Finisher card. Also, you may get additional options after playing Hagatha the Witch such as Healing Rain, Volcano, Tidal Surge, and Feral Spirit that can really get you back in the game if you are truly struggling. 

Substitution: I rank Electra as the number 2 legendary in this list, right after Kalimos. I do urge anyone capable to go ahead and craft this card if they do not already have it, it’s that good. However, if unable to craft, you should consider doing a more Battlecry focused deck with an additional Murmuring Elemental. I will provide other substitutions further down the list.

Now listen, I know what you’re thinking. Why this card instead of Tar Creeper? You are not wrong to believe as everyone else does, that Tar Creeper is better statted. And if that is your belief, please feel free to use those instead of these. However, let me just highlight one important point. This guy is the literal guardian angel of your Flametongue Totem. There exists no better card at no better cost that can more effectively keep your totem alive and in perfect condition. He heals, he taunts, and when plopped right down next to the totem he is a 4/4 anyway. Just try it out; you will be quite pleased with the result, I assure you. Not only that, but the heal is on a battlecry, which enables it to combo out with Murmuring Elemental to give you an additional 6 health if necessary. He can also turn 3 heal a failing Wax Elemental with Earthen Might on it, giving you a turn 3 minion board of two 2/4 taunt minions. Pretty good.

Primarily exists in the deck purely to combo with Electra Stormsurge as a turn 6 finishing move after a turn 5 Bloodlust. However, it can also be used as a taunt removal device.

Necessary early board clear if things get out of control somehow. Can also be used later with Electra Stormsurge for a more effective clear.

This is sort of your draw/card engine. The reason we play this card instead of other drawing effects is because we actually gain a great deal of effect by replaying combo pieces, which this effectively enables. Your primary candidates for this card will obviously be Murmuring Elemental, Electra Stormsurge, Flametongue Totem, and the Spark from Voltaic Burst. Simply aim to refill your hand, stay on target toward your Bloodlust blitz, and make the most of your cards. That is what it’s there for.

Substitution: Unfortunately there is no good substitution for this card, nothing can fill your hand as effectively as this card and likewise give you the opportunity to re-use your cards. So in this particular case, I would highly recommend spending 400 dust to craft this card in particular. However, if you can’t craft the card then the focus needs to be on getting some draw into your deck. You may even need to utilize an additional slot as well. Try using Elementary Reaction or Mana Tide Totem here.

This card has only one purpose: find the Bloodlust . That’s it. The only reason it’s even in here is because of that, and it is better to have 1 of these and 1 Bloodlust than 2 Bloodlusts pure and simple. 

How you turn a little weak elemental army into an effective fighting force. One of the core cards to Shaman in every regard, because its that good. 

Extremely solid midgame card. Big body. Drops foes. Combos off Murmuring Elemental if you need the damage. Look to include more than one of these if you need to substitute. 

This is a controversial card if there ever was one. Some people say its good. Others say it sucks. The overall opinion seems to be that this card is not worth its crafting cost. However, that was all before the Boomsday expansion. This is a 7/7 body that can recall all board cards to your hand to be replayed, including most notably Murmuring Elemental and Electra Stormsurge. This is a combo deck. This is a combo enabling card, and it can be matched with Fire Plume Harbinger for a truly devastating effect.

Substitution: If Grumble isn’t your thing, or you just plain old don’t want to or can’t craft it, simply sub this card out with an additional Fire Elemental. Easy peasy.

Let’s be honest. The Baron is included in this deck because he’s a big Elemental and he comes with a (repeating) board clear. This deck is (somewhat) lacking in board clears. Use him if you have him, but he’s not ultimately necessary to the deck.

Substitution: Look to include more board clearing potential if Baron doesn’t make the cut. We’re talking an additional Lightning Storm most notably, but Beakered Lightning could work just as well. Just don’t use Volcano  because it could potentially throw off your Storm Chaser. Stone Sentinel or another Blazecaller might be good here if you have one.

Another solid Mid to Late game card. Highly rated. Essentially a Firelands Portal with a guaranteed well statted minion. Also combos well with Murmuring Elemental for an excellent finisher.

Substitution: These are actually so good that I would craft 2 if I didn’t have them. However, if dust is a concern on this one in particular, I would suggest going lower with the curve of the deck and utilizing two Fire Plume Phoenix. It will definitely curve better and make your deck more aggro oriented, but it’s cheap and will certainly work with Murmuring Elemental and the general combo theme of the deck.

What would this deck be without the Shaman classic OG elemental? He is a great finisher or game changer who combos extremely well with both Earthen Might and Flametongue Totem. Heaven help anyone who lets it remain long enough to combo with Electra Stormsurge + Bloodlust.

Substitution: Al’Akir is a triple threat. He can come onto the board, finish two low health minions and still remain in place as a taunt. You just can’t find that utility anywhere else. Aim low on the mana curve with a substitution here, but with something that gives you options. Thunder Lizard is a good choice.

Excellent card overall, giving you 5 armor, a good board clear, and makes every Elemental you drop on the board able to generate a random Shaman spell to your hand. Super good. Super effective. Number 3 most important legendary to the deck. Can be used in conjunction with Murmuring Elemental for a 6 damage board clear, and gives some extra possibilities to Electra Stormsurge.

Substitution: Unfortunately, it isn’t easy to substitute something like a Hero card. That being said, the most important area to focus on should be survivability if you’ve reached the point in the game of using this card anyway. So I recommend Healing Rain most of all. 

Easily the best card in the deck, and the number 1 legendary without question. This card has everything. It’s a huge body. It has a battlecry. It combos with Murmuring Elemental to do its effect twice, and not just the same effect twice…but allowing you to actively choose two different effects if you desire. It can finish your enemy, establish a board, heal you to full, or clear the board. This is the reason our deck is Elemental based. This guy.

Substitution: Don’t substitute this card. Craft it. Otherwise don’t even play Elementals. Go play with Murlocs or something. This is the coolest, most awesome card in Hearthstone. It does everything.  

Not a truly necessary card, but a nice addition if you already own. You’ll wind up calling back some Elementals with either Spirit Echo or Grumble, Worldshaker and that alone will net you cheap Elementals to play. Ozruk is great to play if you’ve flooded the board for an impending Bloodlust, but your opponent wipes them out. If your opponent does not have some sort of silence or kill card, Ozruk is an immovable object. Just be careful about priests stealing it.

Substitution: This card is here basically just for fun. I wouldn’t spend dust on it unless you’ve got plenty to spare and just don’t care. I would sub out this card for a Cauldron Elemental.

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Starting Combos:

Wax Elemental END TURN Earthen Might

Fire Fly + Coin + Flame Elemental END TURN Flametongue Totem

Voltaic Burst END TURN Coin, Flametongue Totem

Midgame Combos:

Voltaic Burst + Flametongue Totem

Murmuring Elemental + Fire Plume Harbinger

Murmuring Elemental + Menacing Nimbus

Murmuring Elemental + Fire Elemental

Electra Stormsurge + Earthen Might

Electra Stormsurge + Voltaic Burst 

Clearing Combos:

Electra Stormsurge + Lightning Storm

Electra Stormsurge + Voltaic Burst + Flametongue Totem 

Voltaic Burst + Flametongue Totem + Spirit Echo ATTACK Spark Spark ATTACK

Murmuring Elemental + Hagatha the Witch

Murmuring Elemental + Kalimos, Primal Lord 

Healing Combos:

Murmuring Elemental + Hot Spring Guardian 

Murmuring Elemental + Kalimos, Primal Lord 

Finisher Combos:

Murmuring Elemental + Blazecaller

Murmuring Elemental + Kalimos, Primal Lord  

Electra Stormsurge + Bloodlust

Electra Stormsurge + Lava Burst