The Comprehensive Descent of Dragons Preview

It’s finally time for our Card Preview! In this article, we will review the new cards, evaluate the strength of each class set and rank them against each other. We will also be ranking the classes based on their overall power level to predict the upcoming meta.

Continuing the tradition, we will be producing a theory-crafting article in which we will present you with ideas on what kind of decks could be successful from each class in Descent of Dragons. It will be released on Monday, December 9th, a day before the expansion’s launch.

As we’ve discussed in buildup articles during reveal season, Descent of Dragons looks like a historically powerful set, signaling a change in approach from Team 5 compared to Year of the Raven. Saviors of Uldum and Descent of Dragons may rival the Year of the Mammoth sets of Knights of the Frozen Throne and Kobolds & Catacombs in terms of power level. Powerful expansions lead to big meta shake-ups and greater excitement in the short term.

Do note one important thing about this card preview as well as our theory-crafting article. We haven’t watched any early access streams promoting the expansion. We don’t care for them and we made it a principle to not be influenced by them whatsoever.

We’ve evaluated cards based on their potential strength and scored them accordingly from 1 to 4 based on the guidelines below.

4- Meta-defining, or an extremely powerful card we have great confidence will see play. Translation: Busted!

3- Very strong card that we’re confident will see play. Translation: Nice!

2- Decent, or niche card with the potential to see play. Translation: Okay!

1- A card we don’t believe will see competitive play, for whatever reason. Translation: Meh!

For neutral cards that we believe will see play, we’ve also listed the classes that are most likely to use them.

Each class piece ends in final thoughts regarding the class’ prospects and ranks it.

Descent of Dragons Set rank: How strong is the class’ new set, not ignoring impactful neutrals that could supplement it?

Overall Power Ranking: How strong is the class based on the entire standard card pool?

 

We’ll see you again soon!

The Vicious Syndicate Data Reaper team


 

 

10 Comments

  1. I really enjoy reading your insights. Thank you for your wisdom and the many laughs i’ve had when reading your articles. Maaaaaan throwing shade at bomb lobber, no idea why but i’m still chuckling at the narrator comment 20minutes later. May anyone reading this have a nice day!

  2. I have a feeling Warrior Galakrond is actually incentive to play an aggressive play style, as the invokes really promote face damage rather than control.

  3. Thanks for all the good work that you do, VS! I really enjoy the meta reports every week, and find your analysis head and shoulder above anyone else attempting the same. Just today I revisited your suggested decks for the Uldum expansion and whipped out Ninja Priest, and had fun on ladder for the first time in a long while. Keep up the awesome work!

  4. Nice job!

    I have a good feeling about priests, druids and mages decks. Still hope there will be no deck with 30%+ popularity.

Comments are closed.