Unlike other card games of its generation,Hearthstoneboasts some of the fastest mechanics to ever grace the genre. As such, fans of CCGs can expect more streamlined, much faster, and crazier matches whenever they playHearthstone- particularly in the brutal Arena.
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As the tournament format ofHearthstone, the Arena Mode is where players go toe-to-toe against others in a battle of supremacy. However, Arena Mode forces players to create decks of 30 cards from scratch, adding an element of thrill as they never go into the arena with a predetermined deck in mind. With this element of speed, players are bound to rely on builds based on Hero Classes - but just which Class should they rely on in Arena?
10Druid
Balance is key to a master of nature like theDruid, and their Class reflects such a natural need through their deck. Granted,Druids don’t boast that much DPS compared to other offensive Classes, but their consistency is to admire. Players with aneed to get Mana and spells out quicklycan rely on the Druid’s stability and speed accumulation. These qualities make the more balanced Guardianand Treant Druids work a lot of times, but the lack of innate aggression leaves an opening for other Classes to leave it in the dust.
The Druid’sShapeshiftis a Hero Power that gives them easy access toextra attack and armor, perfect for going toe to toe against minions. This synergizes well with cards such asIronbark Protector,Druid of the Claw,Swipe, orStarfirethat all provide a good early game opener.
9Warrior
Designed as one of the more straightforward Classes, it’s easy to overestimate theWarrioras an aggressive Class. However, the strong units of the Warrior on the get-go actually capitalize on tactical usage and careful timing. When used properly, theWarrior becomes extremely strong in the late-game, something its Pirate builds works well towards. Sadly, the late-game strength of the Warrior doesn’t match the speed-based meta of the Arena Mode.
If they need the quick defense, theirArmor Up!Hero Power gives them access toextra armor that makes them tougher to infiltrate. As such, the Warrior works well with an aggressive build with essentials such as Blood Razor, Molten Blade, and Fiery War Axe that all help build its damage.
8Hunter
Nothing feels better than having the right tool for any situation, and this is exactly what theHunterdoes. TheHunter Class excels in resource management, as a lot of its low-cost cards give good combat power or support. ItsHero Powers always work for that added punch, which makes its aggro plays more rewarding. Sadly, the lack of sustain does mean the tide will slowly turn against the Hunter the longer they stay in combat.
Hunters often rely on aggression to survive, and theirSteady Shot Hero Poweris evidence of the player’s potential todeal massive damage real quick. The Hunter’s access to cards likeExplosive Shot and Multishotmight be expensive, but their potential tosummon creatures and sustain buffssuch as through the Buff Beast Huntermake them quite a force to reckon with.
7Paladin
The bulky yet aggressive playstyle of thePaladinmakes it such an attractive Class for beginners, and pros can still make this holy deck work with low-cost aggressive units that work well with specialized Dragon creatures. Moreover, the natural synergies of the Paladin with buffing cards add anice layer of sustainabilitythat other decks don’t share. Sadly, this straightforward playstyle becomes an easy read for some opponents.
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Should it need backup, Paladins use their Hero Power,Reinforce, to summon a1/1 Unit, which they can buff to last longer in combat.Consecration,Truesilver Champion, andArgent Protectorall serve as decent cards to help the Paladin maintain damage throughout the early game.
6Mage
No problem is ever big enough that a fireball can’t fix it, and that’s precisely the kind of utility aMagecan bring to battle. Perhapsthe ultimate control Class, the Mage excels in having adecent balance of offensive and defensive optionsthat give them a fighting chance against most setups. Not to mention, its match control and utility options expand a player’s fighting chance with multiple wincon openings. The Highlanderdeck gives Mages decent levels of control with neat offensive options for consistent punching.
Its Hero Power,Fireblast, is easily one of thestrongest 1-damage attacks in the game, especially with its ability to destroy minions with ease. Moreover, Mages have access to cheaper cards likeFlamestrike,Polymorph, andFireballthat give them easy access to an aggressive tempo deck.
5Priest
A match is only over when there aren’t any units left, and thePriestwith a Resurrection Spell basically circumvents this rule. Their card retrieval strategy already makes them inherently annoying in a match. However,Priests take the cake with their constant healing and buffs- ensuring their stronger monsters get the best treatment for battle. Granted, what they excel in healing, the Priests do lack in terms of utility and aggressive potential.
Lesser Heal, the Hero Power of the Class, remains anifty buff in times of need. However, the Priest excels whenLesser Heal is combined with other aggressive cards. These includeHoly Smite,Holy Nova,Power Word: ShieldandShadow Word: Pain- all designed to either protect the Priest or facilitate a fierce counter.
4Warlock
TheWarlockmaintains its status as a meta Class solely for its sheer flexibility in combat. Given the aggressive control nature of its deck, Warlock players always have avariety of wincons at their disposal- be it slow burns that become worthwhile or starting with the big guns as soon as possible. The Zoolock, a popular meta deck build, relies on the Warlockoverpowering enemies quicklythrough a swarm ofcheap yet aggressive minions.
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Warlocks already get strong deck control withLife Tap, their Hero Power. When paired with removal cards likeBlastcrystal PotionandHelfire Potion, then Warlocks can overwhelm foes with formidable control potential.
3Rogue
Dominating the early game can be a deciding factor in a match, and this is what theRoguedoes best, unlike other Classes. Contrary to other Classes, the Rogue hasremarkable levels of controlthat let them anticipate and play with strategies just a couple of moves away. Their deck lets its playersget away with combos and early-game synergiesto eliminate foes fast, without them even knowing they stumbled into a trap.
Dagger Mastery, the Rogue’s Hero Power, gives them easy access to anenhanced dagger that can eliminate minions easily. Moreover, cards likeBackstabandDeadly Poisoncan give Rogues enough punching power as they stealth their way to victory.
2Shaman
Master of setups, theShamanhas a lot of cards that pack strong punches, and its meta is currently designed to overwhelm opponents as soon as possible before they get to retaliate. With the right setup, a Shaman deck caneasily overwhelm any Arena foein just a few turns with minimal effort.
A true testament to the Shaman’s control isTotemic Power, its Hero Power thatsummons only one of four different buffing totems in combat. However, using these totems with cards such asLightning Bolt,Forked Lightning,Hex, andFire Elementalcan greatly boost the Shaman’s damage potential.
1Demon Hunter
TheDemon HunterinWorld of Warcraftcapitalizes on sheer speed and hard aggression to dominate DPS, and this playstyle remains relatively the same inHearthstone. TheDemon Hunter excels in starting strong, with its wincon relying on maintaining momentum throughpowerful burst damagethat seeks to obliterate foes as soon as possible.
Unlike the 2-Mana cost of other Hero Powers, the Demon Hunter only uses one for itsDemon Claws- a decent attack buff thatemphasizes burst on the part of the Demon Hunter. With this in mind, an aggressive Demon Hunter synergizes well with damaging cards likeSatyr Overseer,Blade Dance, andImprisoned Antaen.
Hearthstoneis currently available for PC, MacOS, iOS, and Android.
