Dragon Anti-Aggro Control/Fatigue Priest

The goal of this deck is to let your opponent run himself out of resources. As a priest, most players will attempt to bombard you down as soon as possible in order to avoid the priest’s late game. Your opponent does not want to give you a chance to safely play Alexstrasza and mind blast them down the subsequent turn. By focusing on keeping the board in a manageable state at all times, this deck is able to stabilize around turn 8 and either overpower your opponent with dragons, or fatigue them with Benedictus.

Prior to the recent chemo…I mean nerfs to Shudderwock, Kingsbane, and druid ramp, this would have had little to no success as it often loses to combo decks or decks that have extreme late-game value. In what is now an aggro-heavy meta, and with a little skill, control priest has a chance to thrive.

It is worth noting that many cards in this deck can be substituted depending on what you have or what you are commonly facing. Below are cards that are, for the most part, essential.

Duskbreaker and its dragon activators (which should include primordial drakes and some combination of bone drakes, twilight drakes, crowd roasters, and dragonmaw scorchers) are absolutely required in order to survive against aggro. 

The bread and butter of control priests. Proper usage of these cards will deliver you to the late game with your hand looking full. It is often worth getting extra copies with visions.

The key to finding success with control priest is to get the most value out of your cards without being too greedy. Instead of using mass hysteria, play a taunt minion and let your opponent more fully commit to the board first. Strategically take damage and heal it back with hero powers or spirit lashes so that you are not the one being exhausted.

Benedictus is the most difficult card to play effectively. It’s often not about the number of cards you put into your deck, but the type of cards. Shuffling 15 odd-mage cards into your deck will most often sabotage your own late game since you can’t benefit from the effects of cards such as Jan’Alai and daring fire-eater. The same goes for almost all aggro decks since, for example, drawing cheap beasts or an occasional secret will not save you from a hunter’s hero power. However, if you are facing a deck that you are not confident you can out-value in the late game, such as elemental mage, it is best to drop Benedictus as early as possible and hope that your opponent has not already drawn Frost Lich Jaina. Most games, you will not even play Benedictus. However, even if you don’t, your opponent will often assume that you will, and will scheme accordingly. If you do need to play Benedictus to win the fatigue game, shuffling even as few as 5 cards into your deck should be plenty to do the job.

Lastly, Shadowreaper Anduin will allow you to shrug off many late-game threats while exhausting few, if any, cards. While the new hero power is extremely useful, keep in mind that your only remaining way of healing yourself is through spirit lash (+Thalnos). Try to reach a safe life total ahead of time, but don’t be afraid to use it early if your opponent has few ways of dealing direct damage to your hero and instead prefers to contest the board. If healing becomes an issue, feel free to replace Marin with an obsidian statue or Zilliax.

    Other additions:

Chameleos is an extremely interesting card, one that is usually stronger in your hand than on the board. Knowing which cards your opponent has drawn allows you to make more educated decisions over the course of the game, so there is some benefit to waiting as long as possible before playing it (which is only possible in a control deck). When it is time to play Chameleos, you will know. Substitutions: scaleworm, twilight drake, twilight acolyte.

The strangest addition to the deck by far. It would not be unreasonable to replace Marin with a card that has a more immediate impact on the game, such as an obsidian statue or a scaleworm. Marin has a unique effect on the state of the game that can turn the tide if used properly, particularly against another control deck. The chest will often die on its own over time from AoE, unless your opponent exhausts one of their own cards to prevent it, which is excellent for a fatigue priest. Each of the four cards from the chest can provide huge board or tempo swings. Again, keep in mind that you will likely have a higher winrate in the current meta if you replace Marin with something like Zilliax. That said, this is one of the few decks where Marin can work.

    Matchups:

Secret and Spell Hunter – Find your duskbreaker as soon as possible, try to minimize the amount of damage your hero takes, and hope that your opponent does not draw Rexxar early. It is difficult to exhaust someone who generates a gigantic minion every turn, but still possible. Use Anduin as a board clear then start chipping away at his health. Try to get extra shadow word: deaths with shadow visions.

Deathrattle Hunter – Similar to previous but try to find psychic screams instead. Be cautious if you use doomsayer.

Even Paladin – Use your resources efficiently and don’t over-commit into the paladin board wipes. Assume that the game will go to fatigue.

Odd Paladin – Enjoy your victory.

Odd Warrior – Enjoy your victory.

Odd Quest Warrior – A tough matchup, maybe you can steal Sulfuras with Chameleos or get something shiny with Marin.

Even Shaman – Try to keep your life at a reasonable amount and watch out for early sea giants if they are somehow able to create a wide board.

Odd Rogue – Has lots of early burst but can be shut down by duskbreakers and taunts once their hand is low. Doomsayer is effectively “heal for 7” and should be used early if drawn.

Cubelock and Evenlock – Another tough matchup, Bloodreaver Gul’dan will completely carry them in the late game with an obscenely strong hero power. Try to steal Gul’dan.

Resurrect Priest – Always keep your life total high. Take it slow but try to keep some board presence. Try to use your psychics to return Velen and Malygos back to their decks rather than killing them, as well as your own minions if you can. Dilute their resurrect pool in any way you can. Marin is hilarious in this matchup.

Control Priest – Don’t let your life fall too low, but also save some burst healing for Alexstrasza.

Big Spell Mage – Save a board clear for Alanna, preferably hysteria. Try to steal Jaina if possible but don’t worry if you can’t, Anduin will out value Jaina as long as you don’t play into their hero power.

Tempo Mage – Try to keep a board presence and be extremely careful of counterspell.