Shock Hopper
Shock Hopper looks like a standard random value 1-drop that we’ve gotten familiar with in other classes, such as Swashburglar and Babbling Book. These cards are usually fringe choices, requiring unique synergies to justify playing.
Admittedly, Shock Hopper’s generation pool is of a relatively higher quality than what these cards usually offer, so we’d give it a higher standing. Still, we’re not quite sure what deck would want to run it. The most likely candidate is Nature Shaman, but this deck is not really interested in random value. Perhaps, the cheap body is good enough to contest the early game, while offering some late game utility with Bioluminescence.
Score: 2
Infested Watcher
Unlike Tentacle Grip, Infested Watcher sacrifices more numbers for the sake of Chaotic Tendril generation. A 2-mana 3-damage spell is alright, but a 4 mana 4/4 taunt is quite bad. We’re very unconvinced it’s worth running such an undersized 4-drop to generate Tendrils in a class that can’t really take advantage of them that well. Infested Watcher seems to fit an archetype that does not exist and isn’t close to existing. Likely forgettable.
Score: 1
Conductivity
This spell reminds us of Zentimo. The 3-mana 1/3 legendary carries the same effect on all spells you cast while it’s in play. Conductivity offers a one-time effect for a single spell on the same turn it’s played, so it’s far more limiting than Zentimo, even if it’s one mana cheaper and can be discounted further by Flash of Lightning.
Conductivity only works on targeted spells. It does not amplify Bioluminescence, so its utilization in Nature Shaman doesn’t seem to have many applications. Its best combo in the deck is with Altered Chord, a card that we don’t even recommend running currently.
Considering its mana cost and uselessness as a standalone card, Conductivity is very unlikely to be played in aggressive decks. Its best fit might be a slower defensive deck, with its most interesting combos being Hex and ‘Jive, Insect!’. Hex needs no explanation as an effective responsive tool, but a deck that runs Carving Chisel and Totemic Evidence might be able to execute a Conductivity/Jive combo with some consistency. That should be far easier to execute than the previous fantasy of Jive/Criminal Line up that ended up falling flat.
Whether that’s a good enough win condition is another story, but it’s probably the most exciting thing we can do with the spell in the current format.
Score: 2
Final Thoughts: Don’t expect a big shake up here. A Control Shaman deck that runs Prescience in order to tutor both Golganneth and Yogg-Saron could be an interesting, new path to take.
On the Mindbender on a outcast DH with a glaivetar can do a lot of dmg and inst to hard to buff the glaivetar and set up a turn lethal since sigil draw 4 cards.
On Mage, im using Tainted and Meddlesome(since few draw spells) on elemental mage and yap is agro.
On Rogue i just played on Tendrils since looks like the most fun and random noosenses.
On Warlock Encroaching Insanity was great on fatigue imp ,really fun doing 7-8 dmg with crescendo,the only problem is if you dont win at turn 7-8 you will die because the amount of self fatigue you did to yourself and Harp cant save you.
And yap Yogg is good for remove and more random tendrils