Hunter Wins Again! Take a look at this Epic Minion!
by JR Cook - 9 years ago show comments
Wow, I am Speechless. I’m not the only one, the first reaction I saw out of several internet circles is quite simple, OP!
Now, it’s completely possible than we are just collectively overreacting, but look at what this little Goblin does. You can now spend 2 mana crystals to deal 2 damage to either your opponent or any minion on the board, including yours. The Priest’ Shadowform allows you the same benefit, but it costs 3 mana and doesn’t leave a body on the board. This would be more like a mini Auchenai Soulpriest without the circle of healing combos.
With both the Shadowform Comparison and the possibility to play a control Hunter, there’s no much surprise to the first reaction that this card got.
But while leaving a 2/3 body on the board can be a big advantage early game, it is also the Sniper’s biggest drawback. If the minion gets killed, you lose the ability to snipe minions using your Hero Power. Sure, the ability is very strong but you can’t expect this little green guy to hang on the board forever. He WILL die, and the cool ability WILL be lost.
Regardless, 2/3 is a pretty good stat spread for a 2-drop that you want to keep alive. You can also look at it like the Middle Brother of the Ironforge Rifleman and the Stormspike Commando, would you use a 4-drop that boasts a 2/3 stat line and a 2 damage battlecry? Not likely, but the Steamwheedle Sniper is much better than that, it doesn’t only offer the flexibility to drop it as a simple body on the second(or first) turn, but it can also prove to be a huge thorn in your side if you don’t take him out quickly.
In all, the Steamwheedle Sniper is a very strong and flexible card that might allow different types of Hunters to be built to great effect. Also, it’s another way to proc the beastly Gahz’rilla.
What do you think about the Steamwheedle Sniper? Does it have a place in the current Aggro Hunters? Or will it make you switch to Control Hunter instead?
Looks like we are ending up on a high note, the new vote is up and it now really looks that it will be the last one.
Two Legendary Minions go face to face to end up this voting series, Good vs Evil, Paladin vs Warlocks, Bolvar vs. Mal’Ganis, Goblins vs. Gnomes?
Choose your side, and hold on to the edge of your seats because December is coming and GvG might be releasing sooner than you expect.
Meanwhile, check out all the previously revealed cards via this vote:
And take a look at our full Goblins vs. Gnomes Spoiler List.
Hey guys, let’s make the most annoying class in the whole bloody game even worse!
I liked hunter prior to naxx and post unleash nerf. Actually felt more balanced and easier to counter with smart play, I even enjoyed playing midrange hunter. I don’t really play it anymore.
That being said, notice that the vast majority of people keep choosing the above mentioned class more than any other, otherwise we’d get different spoilers.
Calm yourself. If you play this guy for the effect on turn 4 it’s a strictly worse Keeper (I think he will rarely live a turn). And it doesn’t really impress on turn 2 either, especially since he doesn’t fit into the death-rattle centric standard lists. So I’m pretty sure this is not that strong a card (or at least not OP), at least not in the current hunter strategy. Compare it with Auchenai Soulpriest, which is definitely not an overpowered card when used on its own.
I agree that it’s not OP, but the frustration is that it will help even more with board control and, even though it looks like an effort to push hunter in a different direction, it might help aggro even more… The major problem is that it takes more skill to play against hunter than to play with it, even zoo isn’t that annoying. Too soon to speculate though… Too many cards to be spoiled and the meta will shift no matter what, some decks might even stop being viable as they are right now.
i get so frustrated with hunt deck i don’t even bother to play matches against anymore… If I don’t feel I’m going to win after turn 2 i just concede (and find an other one just after as this deck is everywhere)
I agree that in the end it is manageable but it give the ability to get passed more taunt in middle late game. The issue is that it would make this aggro deck more viable in a longer game…
Combined with hunter mark it becomes the cheapest unconditional removal of the game
I’m pretty sure we know that Hunter’s Mark is the problem!