Murloc Zoo Mage (ft. Stargazer Luna) – The Boomsday Project

Between Arcane Intellect, Book of Specters, Aluneth and Stargazer Luna, Mage now has the tools to create a draw engine for an aggressive, minion-based Zoo deck. In Wild, we can substitute the Murlocs for the GvG Mechs, but the Mechs printed recently aren’t nearly aggressive enough to warrant building this kind of deck around them. Thus, Murlocs!

The goal here is to play Murlocs on curve, maximizing the value you get out of each one and aiming to build an oppressive board state, while always making sure that you’re drawing cards when your mana and board permit. Only make trades to protect your high-value minions or to prevent an absolute snowball from your opponent if they’re playing something like Odd Paladin, Token Druid or Token Shaman. Save the Spellbreaker to push past a big taunt in the mid/late game. You have Leeroy Jenkins as a finishing tool, and oftentimes you will be closing out the game as early as Turn 5. Otherwise, if the game is running long, start using your minions to protect your face as well as chip at your opponent’s health to finish with Pyroblast.

Stargazer Luna provides this deck with an element of cleverness that is pretty much absent in most aggro decks. She is a decent play on Turn 3, with her 4 health stats giving her a chance to stay on board, but she is best utilized when you can immediately follow up with a small minion, as she will likely draw you another small minion which can then draw you another card. When you decide to play her is dependent on the situation- do you need a bit of minion pressure, or can you afford to play Arcane Intellect or Book of Specters? Don’t be so greedy that you wait too long to play her, but also don’t be so gung-ho that you get no value from her when you could have held off.

Speaking of Book of Specters, you’ll draw 2 minions on average with the amount of spells included in this list. Your Frostbolts and Fireballs can go face, but they are better used to pick off high-threat targets and healthy taunts on your opponent’s board in order to preserve your minions. 

I considered adding Luna's Pocket Galaxy, as dropping 1-mana minions along with Luna is a great way to refill the board in the late game, but it’s such a ghastly low-tempo play on Turn 7 when you would rather be trying to finish the game that it didn’t warrant an inclusion. Another possible tech choice would be Archmage Arugal, but in my opinion he’s too slow for an already-crowded 2 slot. However, if you wanted to try this list with one or both of those cards, I would sub them for the Fungalmancers.

Enjoy!