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Tempo Warrior is a relatively new Warrior deck that has gained popularity with the release of Standard and Whispers of the Old Gods. The deck has largely replaced the previously popular Midrange Patron Warrior as the premiere Midrange Warrior deck on the ladder. The deck utilizes many cards from the new expansion, Blood To Ichor, Ravaging Ghoul, Bloodhoof Brave, and the new Warrior legendary Malkorok.
Malkorok is a bit of a surprise as many people predicted it wouldn’t be good enough to see play. It was thought that the Weapons you could receive wouldn’t be worth the decreased stats, but it turns out as long as you don’t get a Cursed Blade it’s pretty reasonable.
Tempo Warrior Mulligan Guide and Strategy
Like most Warrior decks you are really looking for Fiery War Axe to manage the early game. Blood To Ichor, Acolyte of Pain, Armorsmith, Ravaging Ghoul, Fierce Monkey, and Frothing Berserker will be your other general keeps. Execute can be a worthwhile keep against Control decks and Aggro Shaman that plays Flamewreathed Faceless.
Tempo Warrior Play Strategy
If you’ve played Warrior before then the early game shouldn’t be much of a change for you. You’ll want to remove their early game minions and start to be building a board by turn 4 – 5. Cards like Fierce Monkey and Bloodhoof Brave should allow you to grab the board, and allow you to hide minions like Frothing Berserker behind the taunt. This will allow you to push damage or make better trades. There’s a reason this is a “Tempo” deck, and that’s because you’ll want to start pushing towards the face with your weapons and minions sooner rather than later.
The Midgame will hopefully allow you to start pushing more damage. Kor'kron Elite is great for pressure, and Cairne Bloodhoof represents a sticky minion that can help you hold onto the board. Malkorok‘s weapon will either allow you to maintain the board or press your advantage. Grommash Hellscream, Ragnaros the Firelord, and Arch-Thief Rafaam all represent ways to finish the game. With Rafaam you are generally looking to take the Lantern of Power artifact to end the game in the next turn. This might not always been an option if you are behind, so Mirror of Doom can be the better option.
Tempo Warrior Card Substitutions
- Malkorok: This card suits this deck very well, so if you want to play this long term you’ll want to look to craft it. You can swap it with Sylvanas Windrunner. For an even cheaper replacement, you can try a second Arathi Weaponsmith.
- Cairne Bloodhoof: Sylvanas Windrunner is going to work for most of these replacements, but if you don’t have a Sylvanas or already subbing her in, then you could potentially try a second Acolyte of Pain or Sunwalker.
- Arch-Thief Rafaam: If you have a Varian Wrynn that can go in place of this card. You will see versions of this deck on the ladder with either Rafaam or Wrynn.
Tempo Warrior Combos and Synergies
Frothing Berserker can often represent lethal in cases you might not expect. If you are able to stick it behind a taunt and they load up the board, you can often use your cards like Blood To Ichor, Ravaging Ghoul, and Whirlwind to generate a massive Berserker. Just be careful of how you order everything because there will be times you play too fast and accidentally kill something on your own board!
Your various Whirlwind effects can also be used to damage your minions and draw you a bunch of cards with Battle Rage.
You can get out on the board and draw cards with Acolyte of Pain and Blood To Ichor. Always be on the look out for ways to use Ichor in a way that will generate the minion.
Bloodhoof Brave & Blood To Ichor can be paired at times to press damage and make strong trades.
Have everything except Malkorok. I know you recommended Arathi weaponsmith as a replacement Evident, but I feel that the power level is too low. I’m torn between replacing Malkorok with Obsidian destroyer or Gorehowl. Thoughts?
Sylvanas would be your best bet. Gorehowl is pretty slow, so I don’t think I’d go that route. Obsidian Destroyer is interesting and might be worth exploring. Also, you should keep in mind that this deck isn’t as strong now and Dragon Warrior is a better deck for the meta right now.
Yeah I’ve seen the shift but I feel live investing in BRM at this point is unwise, too close to the phase out and not enough value.
Oh forgot to mention that I replaced Cairne with Sylvannas already. Obsidian destroyer it is then?
Sure, worth a shot!
Awesome guide Evident, been playing the deck today with great success, thanks!
Glad it worked for you!
LOL…. Malkorok #AlwaysCursedBlade
Should i barely craft Malkorok or Cairne for this deck? Only both are left and Sylvanas is already one replacement that works pretty decent.
I really like to play it but dunno which one would be a better addition for it and which card could be better replaced with Sylvanas.. so?
I’d say Malkorok is better for this deck, but Cairne has more general application. So it depends if you see yourself playing something else with Cairne in it.
Replace for the fierce monkey,please ?
If you don’t have fierce monkey I recommend you look at a Dragon Tempo Warrior. If you bought “Black rock” then you have most of the dragon synergies needed and it is a really similar deck with, in my opinion, faster and more “value” minions, although it lacks the mass armor generation this deck has with Armor Smith. IDK, is this deck better or dragons tempo better?
Yeah,but i dont have loe yet
So replacement for the sir finley in dragon tempo
And for the fierce monkey in tempo warrior
I put a squirming tentacle instead? 😀
Or is the ironfur grizzly 3 3 taunt better ?
Talking about the casual tempo warrior.
Put in Acidic swamp ooze. Easy to get, and it’s a strong card in the meta. Pirate Warrior should not have nice things. And it hates on some of the reasons you need taunt in the first place.
If you’re missing more random stuff… put in Bash.
replacement for arch thief? i don’t have varian
sylvanas subbed for malkorok
Ragnaros or second Arathi Weaponsmith.
Well i dont have rafaam and i changed it to the black knight it works really good but i am not a good player atm so jst rank 12^^
I am normally between Rank 6 and 10 so I am not the worst player out there but man…this deck is so shit.
I dont get into that thing.
I am on a 3-7 Win/Lose ratio and that is just embarassing.
Dont know who says that is one of the strongest decks in the current meta but I can promise you: even boring midrange hunter is stronger.
Some decks are better for some players than others. The way you try to play the game might not be suited to run this deck as efficiently and to its full potential.
What do you think about Obsidian Destroyer as the replacements for Malkorok
That doesn’t sound too bad.
well, i’m really far from legendaries, I just have Gromm, Rafaam and Nefarian (which I subbed with rag), Arathi with Malkorok and what should I replace with Cairne? (I don’t have Sylvanas either).
Sunwalker is reasonable.
Thank You!
I only miss Malkorok.Is he worth crafting and does this deck have legend potential?
If you really want to play this deck then you should craft it. This deck is one of the best in the game right now so it absolutely can reach legend.
Thanks!!!!!!!!
what’s a good replacement for malkorok?? i already have subbed cairne with sylvanas
Second Arathi Weaponsmith.
i replace caine with sylvanas anda malkorok with Harrizon Jones.
y have rank 4 now.
Does Nexus champion Saarad fit in this deck instead of Cairne?(Since i don’t have Cairne) I used to include it in my tempo mage and it workef well. Since they’re both tempo decks, i wonder if it works. Just feel like Sylvanas is kinda slow
Saraad is pretty slow, but so is Cairne and Sylvanas. I think it can work in this deck, but I’d still rather go Sylvanas.
Any replacement for Ragnaros?
Sylvanas or Nefarian.
Any replacement for Rafaam (I don’t have Varian) ?
If you haven’t subbed in Sylvanas in yet then that would work. You could also try Nefarian.
This deck was used before standard hit. I have a version of it posted from s25.
how? there is no blood to ichor, bloodhoof, ravaging ghoul, or malkorak before standard
That’s easy bro, Inner Rage or another whindwirl, Sunwalker, Death’s Bite and maybe Gorehowl
Sludge Belcher, Piloted Shredder, and Dr. Boom (the seven slot legendary)
Only pieces I’m missing are Malkorok and Rag. I’ve subbed Sylvanas for Mal and she works well, but I just can’t find an appropriate sub for Rag. Any thoughts?
Nefarian might work for you.
Looks like a solid deck imo.
Got a question. What do you think of a Gorehowl replacement for Malkorok??
In my eyes it seems legit and have a 9/2 w/l ratio with this variation yet.
Wanna hear your opinion about this replacement, cause i think Gorehowl seems a better way to control the board for the same costs, even you do not have a minion with it.
Actually not everyone wants to craft Mal.or people doesnt have him. Thought Gorehowl replacing is way cheaper.
Regards
Gorehowl isn’t bad, but the heart of this deck is tempo and Malkorok gets you a weapon and a minion. This deck is also pretty aggressive, so often you’ll want to go face with the weapon where that isn’t a great option with Gorehowl.
So would you recommend Arathi for Gorehowl btw. Malkorok in this case then?
Hmm don´t know.. felt good with Gorehowl by my side yet 😀
Put Sylvanas already for Cairne.
I don’t mind Gorehowl, I just think Malkorok is better. Arathi is a viable option.
this deck is really bad how can he be in top decks??
Because it’s a top deck, Sjow got #1 Legend on NA and EU with it.
How’s rank 20 been treating you?
Why no Varian?
It’s a viable option, I just found that Sjow’s version with Rafaam might be better.