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The top 10 Hearthstone cards from Rastakhan’s Rumble
These are the 10 Hearthstone cards from the Rastakhan’s Rumble expansion that you’ll most definitely want to craft first for new decks.
As another year draws to a close we’ve once again received a binder full of new cards for Hearthstone in the Rastakhan’s Rumble expansion. Of the 135 new minions and spells added in the set, though, there are most certainly some winners and some losers. With a good few weeks of the expansion behind us, we pick out ten of top cards that have impressed us and made their way into the best decks of Rastakhan’s Rumble so far.
1. Zul’jin
You want axe?
© Blizzard
Spell Hunter and Secret Hunter players rejoiced at the sight of Zul’jin during the early card reveals for Rastakhan’s Rumble. The good news is that their excitement was rewarded when the ten-mana hero card actually became available to use too, as it has propelled both deck types right to the top of the tier lists during the early days of the new meta.
By carefully choosing the spells included in each deck, you can make some incredibly high value plays with Zul’jin. Not only will the furious troll replay all of the Secrets you’ve cast throughout the game, but you’ll also get any minions re-summoned through Animal Companion and To My Side!. What’s more, removal spells such as Deadly Shot and Crushing Walls fit in perfectly with Zul’jin as well to clear out your opponent’s minions. A hugely effective card.
2. Likkim
Pow, right in the kisser
© Blizzard
Back when Fiery War Axe was a 3 / 2 weapon for two mana it was considered one of the best of its kind in the entirety of Hearthstone. It makes sense, then, that new Shaman card Likkim has gained a similar level of praise as it can be powered up to a 3 / 3 weapon when you have Overloaded mana crystals. It’s also a giant toad on a stick, which is just terrific.
Considering the sheer number of cheap Overload cards available to Shaman it’s always very easy to ensure the bonus attack power is activated. It gives any decks running the card a lot of extra control to clear off early game minions with ease and has pushed Aggro Shaman to be a popular deck in the opening weeks of the new Hearthstone expansion.
3. Emberscale Drake
An ode to the Shieldmaiden
© Blizzard
There once was a powerful Warrior card named Shieldmaiden. She found her way into many Control Warrior decks as a strong six mana 5 / 5 body that also gave you five armour when played. Her loss once the Goblins vs Gnomes set rotated was felt by all late-game loving Warrior players. Never fear though, a new card has come in to take her place.
Emberscale Drake soars in as a slightly cheaper version of Shieldmaiden, though it offers the exact same stats and effect. The one caveat? You need to have a Dragon in hand in order to be granted the bonus armour. That’s not a problem for Dragon Warrior and Odd Warrior right now as they have many Dragon minions that can comfortably fit into their deck lists. The mighty Shieldmaiden flies again in a new form.
4. Mojomaster Zihi
Don’t mess with the voodoo
© Blizzard
There are always a number of cards in each new Hearthstone set that do something wildly unique – the likes of which we’ve never seen or considered in the game before. We’ve seen Loatheb bump up the cost of your opponent’s spells for a single turn. Skulking Geist has specifically targeted one-cost spells for destruction. Now, there’s the nightmare of combo decks: Mojomaster Zihi.
This new legendary minion sets each player’s mana crystals to five when it comes into play, essentially moving the game back a number of turns depending on how late it’s played. It’s the perfect counter to combo decks, as you can wait to drop it just as your opponent is about to reach the turn they can finally unleash the one thing they’ve been waiting for all game to do. Devastating for them, oh so satisfying for you.
5. Raiding Party
Surely that’s enough for a rager?
© Blizzard
Pirates and Rogues have been synonymous for some time in Hearthstone now, but the idea of a specifically designed Pirate Rogue deck has never broken into the top tier of play. Is Raiding Party about to change that? Er, no, sadly.
However, it is giving Kingsbane Rogue a new lease on life. The new spell Raiding Party can be used to draw the weapon from your deck with ease, while also tutoring a couple of Pirates that can buff the legendary dagger. If before the deck may have struggled for consistency by only having a couple of ways to redraw the weapon once it was reshuffled in your draw pile, there are now multiple options to make use of that improve the deck immeasurably.
6. Saronite Taskmaster
No, it’s not Greg Davies
© Blizzard
Well, doesn’t Saronite Taskmaster look awfully boring? A one-man 2 / 3 minion that, wait a second, summons 0 / 3 Taunt creature for your opponent when it dies? Is this really one of the best cards in the Rastakhan set?
In fact, it is! Long-time Hearthstone players will remember the days of Zombie Chow and how it was included in so many decks because as a one-drop it could contest so many two-drops. Restoring five health to your opponent wasn’t that big of a deal. Consider Saronite Taskmaster in a similar way as just giving your opponent an extra three health via a Taunt minion and the downside isn’t that bad at all considering the value you can get out of the minion in the first place.
7. Oondasta
Clever girl
© Blizzard
A number of Beast themed decks have done quite well out of the Rastakhan’s Rumble set, especially if they’re able to find a space for the almighty Oondasta in their card lists. The legendary minion looks pretty underwhelming at a nine mana 7 / 7, but it’s the combination of Rush and powerful Overkill effect that gives it a lot of added value.
Played in something like Beast Druid, you’re able to play Oondasta on mana curve or cheat it out early using Stampeding Roar and then it can pull a minion such as Tyrantus onto the board for nothing if you trigger the Overkill effect. That is such a huge tempo play that many decks will be unable to offer a response to the pair of huge dinosaurs you’ve just thrown down against their piddly creatures.
8. Masked Contender
Entering the ring next is...
© Blizzard
We’ve already seen the boost in power Secret Hunter has received from gaining Zul’jin in the Rastakhan’s Rumble set. Masked Contender only adds to that further with the ability to draw and play a Secret from your deck if you already have one in play.
Secrets are often the finickiest spells to weave into your mana curve, so you always feel good about finding ways to play them without paying the cost or alongside other cards. It’s what made a card like Mysterious Challenger so effective in Secret Paladin back in the day. Now, Hunter is the class creating a sparkly Christmas tree over its hero portrait by setting up so many Secrets with minimal effort.
9. Spirit of the Frog
The ghost of spells past
© Blizzard
This glowing and grumpy-looking amphibian is the most well-received of all the Spirit cards added in Rastakhan’s Rumble. While many have effects that can strongly impact a match, it’s Spirit of the Frog that’s the most well-rounded of the lot, as it offers a powerful effect for a reasonable mana cost.
For example, there are lots of ways for Shaman to employ Spirit of the Frog as a ludicrous draw engine for their spells in multiple deck types. The new class Spirit will draw a spell from your deck that costs one more than the previously played spell, meaning you can pull a chain of cards including Zap!, Lightning Bolt, Rockbiter Weapon, Lava Burst and Hex in a single turn if you have the mana. Unsurprisingly, Trump was the one to reveal the card – quite convenient for the Mayor of Valuetown.
10. Jan’alai the Dragonhawk
Who’s that Elemental Lord?
© Blizzard
By fire be purged – Ragnaros is back! The new Mage legendary gives players a new way to summon the Firelord himself after he was moved to the Hall of Fame in early 2017. That potential alone is enough to garner enough interest from Hearthstone fans to play the card in new decks.
Fortunately, Jan’alai the Dragonhawk has actually found a strong place in the meta with a rework of Odd Mage. A few other new tools available to the deck archetype that boost the class hero power further have made it a viable deck on the ranked ladder, alongside previously existing Mage cards such as Frost Lich Jaina. We couldn’t be happier to have the Sulfuras-wielding Elemental Lord back in our Hearthstone lives again.
