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Classifying Deck Types

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Submitted: December 21st, 2006 by Doombringer

Comments:

 
good formatting and not bad info for a newcomer, however i have some problems with your descriptions.

1. you're classifying the decks into too many types. the problem with this is a newcomer might just get bogged down by terms without taking anything useful in.
a couple of things on your list can just be sub-types of pre-existing deck cycle (Aggro/Combo/Control) or a combination of said types.

2. some of the things you said have no facts behind it. here are some example:
- under Theme: "card drawn can usually be used by all Heroes and allies." how is that exclusive to Theme decks and not any other deck?
- under Recycle: "Most undead decks fall under this type." how does this apply to the undeads we have now (with the only recurring Ally is Masten Everspirit, which is a Tauren)?

3. the "Beefy" subtype should not be under Blitz. with the current pool, there is no way you can get near the dps needed to classify these decks as Blitz. if anything, this and Tank are near-identical.

all in all, not bad for newcomers. do note that the best decks will focus on just one of the major decktype and then balance the deck.
 
I like this article as well, and here are my pointers:

1. A lot of these deck types are quite similar. "Sniper" and "Stealth," in particular, are almost the exact same.

2. The large number of types is fine, but I feel like fakestreet: all of these decks (and all decks in general) fall under the Aggro/Combo/Control paradigm; It would be nice if it was explained which type each decktype falls under.
 
Hmm, in retrospect I think I got a little carried away in writing my first article! Thanks for the pointers. I'm not familiar with the Aggro/Combo/Control paradigm, so I can't answer to that. However, I can explain my thinking on a couple things.

When I referred to undead recycle decks, I should have said, traditionally in other games most undead decks fall under this type. I think your right in that the game is too new to see how the undead will be used.

Under theme decks, I just couldn't figure out a good way to say what I was thinking there. I'm still not sure what i meant!

"Beefy" should have been called something else, but I couldn't think of a good name. I feel it's different from Tank. In Tank the focus is piling items and abilities on your Hero until he is an unstoppable weapon, thus it is a build deck. My "Beefy" example would be different, in that it focuses on maximizing the number of attacks for your hero. For example, I play a Gorebelly "Beefy" which is designed to attack multiple times or affect multiple targets. The items and abilities I equip him with don't build up health, armor, damage potential etc. but just focus on multiple strikes, hence the speed designation.

Sniper and Stealth are similar, and could be combined into a Sniper/Stealth category. However, they do present different problems for opposing decks. A stealth deck will probably be stacked with elusives and damage avoidance. A sniper deck will be more vunerable but also more deadly, like the Hunter decks that were doing massive damage at GenCon.

I would like to hear more about the paradigm, it might help me focus this list better. These are merely the types of decks I've seen either at local tourneys or read about in deckbuilding forums. Hopefully I didn't confuse people too much. In the future I may post future articles in the deckbuilding section as theory to get feedback first. Thanks again for the feedback.
 
Naw, don't feel like that...one of the reasons I like writing is that it makes me really think about what I'm talking about, and helps to cement it in my mind. If you're trying to teach something to someone else, it really helps you too!

Anyway, the Aggro/Combo/Control thing: Basically, every deck can be classified as either an Aggro deck, a Combo deck, or a Control deck. If it can't, it's a mixture of one of the two.

Aggro: These are the decks that drop men and swing. Weenie decks, huge monsters, it doesn't matter. Allies turn sideways for the win.

Combo: This kind of deck relies on a certain combination of cards for the win. Are there any prominent combo decks yet?

Control: These decks attempt to stop whatever your opponent's plan is, and then once everything is clear, enact their own. Decks that have lots of ally destroying spells, things like polymorph, direct damage, Counterspell, and such...

Aggro/Combo: This kind of deck isn't really successful. Generally Combo decks devote most of thier deck to the combo, and can't use much to sustain the kind of attack that Aggro needs. Not a good combination of strategies.

Aggro/Control: The best deck in WoW right now, imho. Dismodia (or however you spell it) generally epitomizes this archetype. Aggro elements combine with just enough control to make sure that your own guys don't get wrecked. This deck drops a man, Polymorphs a Protector, and hits you in the face. Plays a Parvink and draws a card, then Counterspells your Flamestrike.

Combo/Control: This deck uses controllish elements to make sure that it can get its combo off. It does everything it can to stall the game to a point where the combo takes effect.




That's a quick rundown. Let me know if you need anything clarified.
 
Ok steev, I think I see where most of my deck types go under that paradigm, except for one: the null deck. One example of a null deck is my Graccus deck. It includes protection cards (Crazy Invand, Parvink), healing (Holy Light, Seal of Light, Wraith Scythe) and some other Paladin stuff. How would you classify this deck under the paradigm...is it a control deck since its goal is to stop an opponent from doing damage to Graccus while slowly beating them to death?
 
Yes, I'd consider that to be a control deck, for exactly that reason.
 
First off, the article was great and you did a good job capping off everything. However, there was one thing that I felt while I was reading the article. In WoW, at least yet, there really isn't enough room to make a combo deck. Here's what I mean, in Magic there was Ironworks and Squirelles and other stuff which you had enoguh stuff to hep you pull it off, but in this game there are combos, however even putting a play set of each of the two cards and Missing Diplomats I don't think is enough. Anyway, really smashing article, mate.
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