I’ve been looking for opportunities for more lighthearted Hearthstone analysis and the opportunity has finally presented itself with the unveiling of Purify. For those of you who aren’t aware, Purify is a common Priest card in the upcoming Hearthstone adventure: One Night in Karazhan. Take a look:
This isn’t a good card, and it’s very easy to prove that. However, I’m not here to do that, since many, many, many members of the Hearthstone community have already taken a lot of time out of their busy schedules to talk about just how bad Purify is. Instead, I’m going to talk about the situations in which Purify can be good, or even great, for the dozen or so Priest players that are still out there.
Note that I am only looking at Standard cards and not Wild.
10. Icehowl
We start with the first card of what’s going to be a recurring theme on this list: minions with efficient stat lines that also have a horrible drawback. Icehowl as a 10/10 for 9 mana and Charge is a very efficient creature. The drawback of course is that it can’t attack enemy heroes. Purify fixes that problem for us, and draws us a card in the process! Play Icehowl and attack one of your enemy’s minions. Your opponent will think they’re safe from your wrath but then you follow it up with Purify and bash your opponent’s face in for 10 damage.
9. Ragnaros the Firelord
Ragnaros is basically the same idea as Icehowl but as an 8/8 for 8 it comes down one turn earlier than Icehowl but can still immediately deliver eight points of damage, albeit to a random target. Once you’re sick of the random number generator picking off your opponent’s Wisps you can Purify the Firelord and direct him where your will desires. After all, you’re a Priest, and Ragnaros does what you say.
8. The Beast
Now we’re getting into the very solid stat lines. Coming in at 9/7 for 6 mana makes The Beast a super-efficient creature with the awful drawback of giving your opponent a free 3/3 minion upon death of The Beast. Purify gets rid of that pesky drawback for us. Unfortunately, only having seven health is not great for The Beast because it still makes him easily handled by most enemies.
7. Mogor’s Champion
As an 8/5 for 6 mana, Mogor’s Champion is much weaker than The Beast. However, the drawback is more manageable if you never draw into Purify (or Silence). Worst case is you still get to bash in for eight damage somewhere.
6. Nat, the Darkfisher
Nat, the Darkfisher makes it onto this list because I had this crazy idea that you could play a Reno Priest deck and load it up with one-off effects that were “good” with Silence effects. Nat, the Darkfisher is one of the Legends that would make it into this deck. As a 2/4 for 2 mana you’re not getting a terrible body. You can deal some good tempo damage, especially once you Silence him from helping your opponent.
5. Argent Watchman
You end up using your hero power quite frequently as a Priest but it’s nice not to have to do so which brings us to Argent Watchman. Removing this drawback results in getting the same stat-line as Nat, the Darkfisher, but the drawback is more manageable for Priests.
4. Silithid Swarmer
Since you’re a Priest you’re never going to attack unless you’re playing the new Medivh or your opponent gives you a weapon. Silithid Swarmer gets you a 3/5 body for three mana which is really, really good. Purifying it’s swarming ways so it attacks every turn is even better. Swarmer is also good because it’s a three-drop in the curve of this Silence-Aggro Priest deck.
3. Eerie Statue
Yes! Priest gets a four-mana 7/7 in the form of Eerie Statue!
2. Ancient Watcher
Why not, right? This is probably the card you expected to be number one on this list, right? Turn one: coin out Watcher. Turn two: Purify and swing for five. Not bad right? It’s basically the only way Silence-Aggro Priest can win. Follow it up with Silithid Swarmer and Eerie Statue and a few more Silence effects and you’re off to the races.
1. Auchenai Soulpriest
No, seriously, hear me out on this one. I am sick and tired of having Auchenai in play and then accidentally killing myself with some healing effects. Yes, it’s a lot of fun to play Auchenai and then Circle of Healing to wipe the board. Yay! But then I’m done with it and I want my healing powers back. Priest isn’t Mage or Shaman. We’re not building a burn deck here. You basically can’t play Priest without Auchenai/Circle combo but that doesn’t mean you have to give up your ability to use your healing powers to play a control game.
Rich has been playing Hearthstone on and off since the closed beta and has a golden E.T.C. to prove it. He enjoys playing Zoolock on the ladder and wishes he could figure out how to get more than five wins in the Arena. He’s really looking forward to playing Silence-Aggro Priest once Karazhan is live.