DragonLock (Season 26 – Standard)

So, at the start of the new season and with the release of the new expansion, I decided to try to come up with a deck I haven’t used before. Yeah C’Thun and N’Zoth are fun and all that… but I’d rather play a deck that no one else is using to throw everyone off guard.

If your opponent ques up against a warlock, they’re going to be expecting Zoo in the current meta, and your early game a lot of the time will support that guess with cards like Voidwalker and Dark Peddler. You drop Blackwing Technician on 3, however, and you’re sure to surprise them. 

This deck’s win conditions are:

1. Out control your opponent with efficient dragon-synergistic minions and board-clears, eventually winning in the late-game.

2. Set up surprise burst damage lethal by combo-ing cards like Emperor Thaurissan, Malygos and Soulfire.

Which cards and why?

Let’s start from the top:

Mortal Coil  – There are so many 1 health minions in the meta at the moment, you’d be a fool not to put two of these in pretty much any warlock deck. And the only thing more satisfying than playing Azure Drake+Mortal Coil to kill a 2 health minion, is playing Malygos +Mortal Coil and killing a 6 health minion.

Power Overwhelming +Soulfire  – These double as both burst damage and removal, though Soulfire should only be used as removal in dire situations. If you have a good hand and don’t won’t to discard something important, but are forced to use Soulfire, tap first if possible to dilute your hand.

Voidwalker  – Something to play on turn one, counters aggro.

Dark Peddler  – For more Soulfire ,Power Overwhelming  and Mortal Coil .

Faerie Dragon  – Dragon synergy, good against aggro shaman as it threatens their Trogg and cant be lighting bolted. Also threatens Northshire Cleric and Mana Wyrm.

Brann Bronzebeard  – Capitalize on all the Battlecry affects. Deal 6 with Blackwing Corruptor , heal 6 with Earthen Ring Farseer , double buff Blackwing Technician , etc.

Big Game Hunter  – Yes, this card was nerfed, but I feel people were too hasty to stop using it. In an ‘old gods’ meta where there are so many big creatures, this card is still a great card for 5 mana. Especially since the only other hard removal Warlock has is the heavily costed Siphon Soul .

Emperor Thaurissan  – Of course this goes in.

Ysera  – This is up for deabte, any big dragon would be good here I think. I’ve stuck with Ysera for now because you get the added benefit of the dream cards being so good in this deck – The dragon card for extra synergy, nightmare or Ysera awakens for extra burst damage or board clear, and dream helps you buy more time while you look for lethal. Maybe the new Deathwing would also be good here. It might be an interesting way to get Malygos on the board without having to play it, giving you the mana left over to cast a bunch of spells. I also experimented with Nefarrion in this deck for a while, but decided to take it out to make room for more board clear. Alexstrasza would also be a good choice, getting your opponent into burst range, or healing in a desperate situation.

Changes:

– 1 Hellfire

– 1 Power Overwhelming

– Ysera

+ 1 Shadowflame

+ 1 Mind Control Tech

+ Alexstrasza

The problem with Hellfire is that this deck wants to have a board. The second Hellfire is always worse than the first and having 2 of them in your deck just inhibits you from developing your own board. Shadow Flame is good because it’s better at clearing larger minions that Hellfire can’t, like the new Twin Emperor’s we’re seeing in C’Thun decks. If the meta ever becomes super Patron Warrior heavy you might want to stick in another Hellfire, but Shadow Flame works just as well against Patrons and doesn’t hurt your own board as much.

MC-Tech has proven to be insane in this deck. The meta is largely Zoolock which often floods the board with heaps of minions. I have already had many instances where I’ve been able to Mind Control Tech+Brann Bronzebeard and steal two minions for a huge tempo swing. It’s these sorts of tempo swings that will allow you to beat Zoo. Hellfire is not enough, they will just Build up their board again in no time. Trying out Alexstrasza instead of Ysera. Obviously it’s primary function is to get your opponent into combo range, but it can also be used for healing if necessary. It also works with your dragon synergy minions, obviously, and gives you big 8/8 body, which is what this deck was lacking.