Sparkz’ – Rogue Control Jade (Standard, Season 38)

        Coming back to standard for the last couple days of the season, and put together this Jade Rogue and I have to say it’s been a world of fun! Jade Rogue is the least popular out of the three Jade Classes, and has the hardest time being played in “packages”. Shaman can run 2x Jade Claws, 2x Jade Lightning, and Aya Blackpaw be fine with only 6 jade cards. Rogue however has the worst jade cards without the proper deck behind them. Jade Shuriken is a worsened Lightning, and Swarmer was great when Raptor was still a thing but since it left, Jade Rogue lost a lot of it’s “tempo power”, and that’s why I made this control version instead. In my opinion Vilespine Slayer is a staple in any rogue deck now that isn’t a quest rogue. Activating the combo on Slayer isn’t difficult, as with three (1) cost spells and four (0) cost spells having what you need isn’t hard. Late game (when you’ll normally be using Slayer anyway) simply playing a Jade Swarmer or a Undercity Huckster that has come around can suffice. 

        Before you go freaking out about how I keep breaking “deck basics” lets go over the power of Shadowstep in this deck. Just by listing all of the card synergies common or not: Acidic Swamp Ooze SI:7 Agent, Barnes, Jade Spirit, Vilespine Slayer, Aya Blackpaw, N'Zoth, The Corruptor. That is 8 cards that that we can combo with. Shadowing the ooze is an instant tempo destroyer against pirate warrior. Not to mention if you were to theoretically play an ooze turn 2, destroying his weapon, and shadowstepping it. You could turn 3 combo out a SI:7 Agent, using the ooze destory his next weapon. 

        Now lets go over the few cards that are worth using a Preperation on. Fan of Knives and Mimic Pod. We aren’t a Miracle Rogue, we aren’t quest rogue, and we don’t have shadow strike. End of story

        The following will be a list of tips and tricks for mulligans, combos, and resource management. 

1. Always, Always, Always keep the following cards
       a) Backstab
       b) Journey Below or Hallucination (only both if going second and have Si:7)    
       c) SI:7 Agent
       d) Bloodmage Thalnos
       e) Undercity Huckster
       f) Jade Shuriken 
       g) Fan of Knives (not against Mage or Priest)
2. Minimum requirements for dropping N’zoth
       a) Cairne Bloodhoof and Aya Blackpaw
       b) 2x Undercity Huckster and Aya Blackpaw or Cairne Bloodhoof 
       c) 2x Jade Swarmer, 2x Undercity Huckster
       d) Total of 4 random or not so random Journey Deathrattles, mixed         with personal ones
       e) Don’t ever use to speed up game. Use as a way to appear on the board, but not before you have totally lost it (count your deathrattles to ensure maximum effect).
3. Always play the non “mimic” card off of Mimic Pod first. Some people are obsessed with tracking where cards come from in your opponent’s hand and how long they have been there. A lot of people check the feed after certain actions if they missed the actual play. No point in giving extra assistance by telling them we have 2 Aya’s or 2 Slayers in our hand. The left card is the one that doesn’t have the “tag” on it.
4. Use a shadowstep on a SI:7 or Slayer to kill something before you use an Eviscerate, as Eviscerate or Jade Shuriken can become a lifesaver when trying to burst for lethal at times. That being said don’t kill a Kabal Talonpriest with a Slayer. Just use the eviscerate, but of course use a Backstab or Shuriken before using those two. Eviscerate should be the last card you consider when trying to remove something. 

        Cairne and Shaku are two cards that aren’t required but have high value in the deck. Slayer is a necessity in this deck so unfortunately you’ll have to craft it if you want to play this. Don’t worry Slayer isn’t going anywhere from non quest rogue decks anytime soon. Aya, and N’zoth go without saying in this deck. Unlike Jade druid you really need Aya in Shaman and Rogue Jade decks.

Cairne Bloodhoof (The most expensive one to replace)
              ~~Sherazin, Corpse Flower, pretty easy to get 4 cards out in a turn                 (don’t overextend to revive.)
              ~~Shadowcaster Combo with Swarmer, SI:7, Slayer, maybe N’zoth.
              ~~The Black Knight (Jade decks do well against taunt warrior anyway                 but doesn’t help to add the tech if you find them a lot)
              ~~Barnes not to hard to get value out of him.

Shaku, the Collector
            ~~Barnes (see above)
            ~~Swashburglar Not often you are going to get multiple hits out of Shaku, but on the second hit                         his value sky rockets
            ~~Second Hallucination, good combo starter and nice to find ways out of situations.
Bloodmage Thalnos
            ~~Barnes (see above)
            ~~Second Hallucination (see above)
            ~~Polluted Hoarder, bulkier loot hoarder, 2 drop slot is fine Bloodmage is only here for value.