Bursting Shot
A much stronger form of Cleave that can go face. Dealing 2 damage across 3 targets is strong for 2 mana, but it requires having the targets on the board to fully leverage. This does not often happen in slower matchups, where the opponent tends to be more passive.
Hunter does value playable spells currently, as one of its archetypes (Handbuff Hunter) relies on a spell-dense build with a curated minion pool. Considering that it currently runs Arcane Shot and Quick Shot, it is reasonable to assume that Bursting Shot will be immediately included in the deck.
The spell scales very hard with spell damage, so if Hunter ever receives those types of synergies again, Bursting Shot may become a strong option for that archetype.
Score: 3
Tending Dragonkin
Dragonkin is a seemingly innocuous value minion that becomes instantly more dangerous in the context of Imbue Hunter. It can copy the beast we buff with our hero power, which tends to get rapidly discounted to 0 mana, especially in the late game. Dragonkin therefore opens the possibility of copying King Plush (or Magma Hound), which makes Imbue Hunter’s late game inevitability more difficult to outlast, even for strategies that stack copious amounts of armor or life.
The card is admittedly slow and may not be necessary, depending on the popularity of life/armor stacking decks, but it is undoubtedly a strong option for the archetype that removes such counterplay from opponents. Considering that Imbue Hunter currently runs Youthful Brewmaster, it is easy to envision Dragonkin as a significant upgrade.
Score: 3
Magma Hound
This beast offers an alterative, additional win condition for Imbue Hunter, one that may not be as reliable as King Plush in the late game, but is arguably better in faster matchups, as it can act as a pseudo-board clear at earlier stages of the game.
A buffed Magma Hound can completely obliterate an opponent’s board. Its condition is easy to meet, as 8 health is enough to survive trades with all but the largest threats in the game. This reminds us of Hollow Hound/Always a Bigger Jormungar, which punished opponents for developing minions.
Magma Hound’s inclusion is a question of redundancy versus consistency. If we want to find King Plush and buff it as quickly as possible, drawing Magma Hound might be a hinderance. If the added redundancy and defensive swing potential proves to be important, then Magma Hound looks like a great beast to add to the archetype.
Score: 3
Final Thoughts: We expect a surge in Imbue Hunter, considering that players have been desperate to make the archetype work since the expansion’s launch. If its win rate turns competitive, it may become one of the most popular decks in the format.
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