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It's the 2014 Hearthstone World Champion!
One whole year upon self-defeat.
This kind of will be your 2015 Hearthstone World Champion.
Pablo is your 2016 Hearthstone World Champion.
Bob, 602.9 is a 2017 Hearthstone World Champion.
And Hunter Ace becomes your new Hearthstone World Champion.
Lion becomes the first woman to reach the pinnacle, your 2019 BlizzCon champion.
Glory from Japan is your 2020 Hearthstone World Champion.
Their possessive is your 2021 Hearthstone Grand Masters World Champion.
World Champion of Hearthstone could be the best player of all time.
through 2023 for Pocket Train and the most deserving of Hearthstone War Champions.
Thanks to Yanming, our 2024 Hearthstone World Champion. This is why we cast Hearthstone.
Welcome everybody to the 2025 edition of the Hearthstone World Championship, and we will
see if we get to add a new name to that list at the end of today.
We'll be showing every piece of action through the day, leading up to finding out who wins
this time around.
With me to the show is Adel Weiss.
Adel, what do you make of it all so far?
There's been a lot of high highs, a lot of low lows this week, and really keeping
us on the edge of our seat. And I feel like this is really the A-PAC and China tournament,
right? We see six out of the eight top eight players come from either A-PAC or China. In
Kudo and Phil Field are the sole EU players remaining. Of course, we see how they all got
here. Yeah, spring championship, summer championship, all the championships, four players. We had
our four players coming from China. You watched a lot of that qualification process. How would
you describe it?
Drulling, honestly, must be for a player. It's fantastic to watch. We had quite a in-depth
system this year in our system, which goes from qualifiers to playoffs and in, qualifiers
being opened cups largely the Chinese system they start off right at the bottom of the pyramid and
just work their way up slowly but surely through all these different levels some of the first lower
down levels sort of invites as well some qualifications that's the points going to that and
by the end of it you're still playing a group of six you play all play all just to get into
the top eight and then how you doing that group depends who you play in the top eight you get
get to choose your opponent and stuff like that.
It was amazing to watch.
It was fantastic.
And I think at the end of it all,
the banter face in particular who watched even more than I
did was saying that I think Reck Van
Agreed the best four players from China
did come through that system.
And it's shown three of them have made it the top eight here.
Yeah, clearly it's enough.
The first place player is the one
who has not made it into the top eight.
But of course, Conquest as usual,
players will be bringing four decks of unique classes.
You get to ban one of your opponent's deck
and you cannot win with the same deck twice.
This is the prize pool they're all playing for,
but if we're honest, it's probably that title
that's on everyone's mind.
I'm sure they're like the mix of the two.
I know we love to say that, you know,
they're playing for the title.
I'm sure that is largely true,
but $100,000, sure, I wouldn't mind that as well.
That's a large chunk of money to take home for a year's
Hearthstone playing.
So good luck to everybody concerned.
There's the schedule, which is a bit late.
I guess if you want to watch the VODs, this is important.
Go back to Thursday.
Rewind all the way back there.
Have a look at Thursday's matches if you want to.
But I would stay here and watch the live matches
and see who's going to be the world champion.
As you can probably tell, I am hyped for this top eight.
It is absolutely stacked out of ice.
Anyone stand out for you in that lineup? It's such a stacked lineup
Just on you know sort of the past
Couple days of competition right definition and love storm
I feel like had sort of the smoothest journey
Into this top eight, you know, of course there were two other people who made it out of groups no problem
But I feel like they had three O's
Yep
Definitely 3-1-3-0, but near enough.
And then Shansu had a slightly rough start in groups, but then was looking very, very clean on Elimination Day to make his way to be facing definition.
Well, this is awkward, because the four players I would highlight on, none of your three, so we've got a good chance.
Encore, for me, has looked like the best player in the tournament. I know he did lose a match, but it was a really tight affair against Maxibon.
Jan Ming is the defending champion. You can't say much better than that.
Xiao Ti was my pick before the tournament started, though I would shift to a cover if I could right now.
And it's the longest day of the year in the Southern Hemisphere, and what better for Maxibon than to spend that day
winning the longest Hearthstone tournament he'll ever played, a year-long series of matches to try and become the world champion.
Looking at the Twitch extension now, if you play around the button on the right-hand side,
that will pop up when you hover over the screen.
You can look at the matches, the schedule, the results,
the decks, you can hover over cards, you see what they do,
you can hover over basically everything.
And if you're sort of less familiar with how Hearthstone
works or even if you've got a memory like me,
you can refresh that memory and look up most
of the information you would ever want to see.
Yeah, really, really nice feature to finally have.
We've been sort of wanting something like this for a while.
because as great as it is for us to sort of highlight cards and things, sometimes you know, maybe you're just popping in, maybe you missed something we highlighted, having the ability to check it out yourself, makes it that much easier to follow everything that's going on.
And we're not messing around, Ed, we are going in with the definition of Cheonsu.
There's five main decks that people have been bringing, Cheonsu has not bought the Rogue,
definition has not bought the Shaman, and the way it's been panning out this weekend,
I would like to be the person who hasn't got the Shaman personally, I don't know about
yourself.
Yeah, certainly I think Suttall would agree with you there, and looking at most of
the rogue performances I would say I would put a little more faith in the rogue you
know if you are a deck that draws your whole deck you're gonna be I feel like
in some ways more consistent than one that has to kind of get the draws in
the right order for things to go smoothly. Yeah I wouldn't mess with
Johnson though he was a semi-finalist in 2016 nine years ago so you know I
I think he's been there, done that some time ago, he's got all the experience of the world,
he's done really well in all of the half-sum systems we've ever had,
and you know it is a small line-up difference at the end of the day.
Let's see how he gets on, we're going to see this rogue, the definition has looked very,
very clean on in the early stages, almost forgotten he was here, like him and Lovestone
that you highlighted, they sailed through on day one, we haven't seen anything of them for
two days and Shonsu is on this death night, which I think along with the Shaman has been
been one of the decks that have been slightly more disappointing for the players through this tournament.
Yeah, it's sort of is, you know, strong enough that 12 players have felt that it has to be brought,
but I think that just in a couple of match-ups, honestly, I think in some ways this one in
particular, it's just seemed to struggle. It has sort of that awkward amount of draw where
where it's sort of just enough to be consistent and functional,
but that means that a decent amount of the time,
you are finding yourself with no draw to keep things running.
It's that amount where like, well,
you're never going to, for the most part,
be having issues of too many cards
as some more controlling decks like the warrior can sometimes
have in certain situations, where you feel like you have
things because you're drawing so so much but if you're not able to sort of mount
that counter pressure or keep up the good draw sometimes this death knight can
run into trouble. Yeah definition there unable with this really nice hand by the
way to get the Phoenix down which would be a shame for him there apart
from the fact everything else is looking good in his hand obviously we'd like to
be able to get that down so we can replay it with a webweaver. Shonsu as you say
sort of this DK does have a pretty good early curve it needs it to
generate the corpse that needs to power the deck. So the only curve is not only
really good for controlling the board, keeping control of not taking too much
damage. We saw turn five kill yesterday with the discover of a buff from the
Elise location, so he can definitely put things on the board and hit you, but at
this exact moment his hand is looking a bit clunky corpse reliant hand
without the corpses and definition has to choose which moment he wants to go
in. I do wonder if he would just try and find some unpleasant turn here and go off next turn,
but the unpleasant turn is really unpleasant. It's like play a foul knot. I don't think he's
settled for that. He is going to go for the map and see if he can dig up some more cards.
Yeah, he's going to be able to cycle a reasonable amount. Taking, you know, this prep,
can we prep out the old manager which is enough to get Everburning Phoenix in play?
Yeah.
Just counting how many cars he has drawn this turn. I think the number is 6 or 7 which means if he does swing here and hits the MG I think he can play it because he's got that coin.
Yeah, it does, uh, whiff on the EMG, but, yeah, I understand wanting to be able to clear
up Xavius there, and, you know, he's gonna be thinking about a webweaver turn next turn,
so I can roll information on, you know, what minions, what plays, and how to access to
to be able to do that.
And yeah just sort of throwing out the webweaver to be to be dealt with got to get this new
tusk equipped and hope that something better comes off the next two because next turn is
spoken for with coin insidious.
Yeah he's got the coin insidious which is what we're looking at quite often in this
deck.
Again just to reiterate we have said this a lot over the course of the tournament
For those of you who have just joined in for the finals, you know, I understand that some people would like to do that.
You want all your eruptions to go off first, clear the way for your asteroids to hit the face.
That's not always possible, but in this situation where you've got everything set up so nicely,
definition does have a very good chance of just going through those motions.
But first, he would have a look to see if he can get an EMG down, you know, get some extra chip damage.
K is on 33. But as that draw step sort of peters out, he does just go for the old incendious
leave it there, make them clear it up and then see what he can do next turn.
Yeah. And meanwhile, Chansu, you know, I thought it was interesting. The Zavius pick earlier
went for Zileax with extra battle cry, right, which can present a pretty significant board
felt a little optimistic to me as we've seen a lot of these rogue games kind of be
decided well before Zileax would be able to come down, but this has been a slower start
from definitions, maybe we'd have a combination of that and a hope of hitting an XR Kamaladar
or something later on, maybe Chun-su is figuring, okay, maybe I take some damage, but then there's
a board that I need to deal with while healing up, and then he'd have the opportunity
to have that big game ending swing with the Zileax.
Yeah, the reason it's been a bit slow for the rogue has been he sort of got, honestly, baited, but it's not that, because it was probably correct into the good card draw he got very early on, leading to more good card draw.
Made him have a look for the EMG early, and when you miss, you burn a lot of card draw, you then do have to take a turn or two often to recover that, you know, get a new weapon and play that sort of thing.
And so he has ended up being just a little bit slower in the you know the turns four five six
But not the next one
And now he's making up for that lost time hopefully for him drawing through a lot more stuff
Yeah, has to use a shadow step on platus or there
Just to kind of keep the draws running
This is not a spot the road wants to be and usually you you know have so many instances of draw three
that you don't have to rely on that line and you want to save the shadow set for
Moonstone Mahler but decent size board here no eruptions though means that 8x8
sticks around and Chonsu if you can like clear while pushing that counter
pressure could really mount up yeah I mean it is doing right we can see 11
board the leech cat if it was one-off lethal you can make the leech go face by
being the the last point of damage so there's plenty of there but it needs to
be more than plenty there's a very good chance where he's sat we can see it's not
quite that clear cut that he's dead next turn
yeah it's that tough spot if I have an 8-8 my opponent said 20 I really
really really want to set up a two turn but yeah so many things on board for a
wrench into those plans show fall Baron coming out another unplayable card like
just hear a power investment yeah do you want to take 14 you've your phone
requiring 20 to win or do you want to set up a lethal because make your phone
beat you so off the tough call to make oh you have to win so much in that
8-0, 2-3-6, surely that makes any house so not players, over water I think that.
It has to be done though, right? So frequently, you know, if you are in this dominant position
that Chansu is in terms of having these leeches going, right, up to 36, I suppose 34 with
new factor in the two millions that can swing, it's just important to try and get
out of range. You've already seen one shadow step to use, here a second shadow step to use.
That reduces significantly the damage that can be done with Thalnos.
I think Thalnos was shuffled away actually.
He really, really needed to hit Card Draw from that Shadow Sent Platter there just to get this rolling again.
And he has hit it, so he did nice to get it rolling again.
Jon said we won't be killing him next turn. The location is a small one.
just show you what that is right now it's the location that is in play so the
discover might be handy see what he hits with that but definitely will be
setting up the he probably doesn't die next turn maybe considering playing the
maestro down here but probably gonna play the MG because it's just so much
more stuff yeah I think there's gonna get as many minions in play here as
possible, set up a cure of power, you know, gonna save the Moonstone Mahler so that he
can make sure that those rocks are gonna go face when they're drawn, and that they will
be gaining the spell damage from Bloodmage Thelma's.
You got some good rolls there for definition on the AMG as well.
of tar is a huge hit there, I think, because yeah, just taxing those minions for a turn
seems like exactly what Shansu wants so they can set up something like that, zileaks.
You know, if you can take the damage in stages and not all at once, right, makes things
like your pterodax, like zileax much more useful. Yeah I think definition has to win
next turn. He has three eruptions which will do a total of nine eunuchs. He has a
maulet in the deck and maulet in hand. That's another 18 which is 27 plus what he has on board plus the weapon swing.
Chance you're hitting a good pickup in the trinket there with any little healing.
Ordering absolutely crucial, but he won't be able to play all of the Maulers probably.
And with only 27 damage left in the deck plus the weapon swing, there's no O-Manager, so total of 28 available.
He's going to need something on the board, and with that he decides to go for Maestro, so okay.
I can't win with the damage left in deck, I have to find something else.
Hagatha? That would be sort of taking another turn off to go Hagatha next turn,
but it is a way that you could, you know, generate a lot of spells off of these minion plays.
plays and you know combined with ever-burning phoenix it gives you a sort
of consistent value engine but yeah rikara understandable it's just sort of
like well I know I can get 10 damage out of this weapon I know I get a two
damage hero power also gives you know a lot of defense in the the 10 armor and
potential you know increments of four armor from the hero power so we've seen
a lot of Rekar picks when players have been hit, right? Yeah, if you hit something big.
If you hit an ATK, you might just get a cheeky 8 damage you weren't expecting if they don't
have a hero you've taken. So it's sort of looking for the scam, as well as like you
describe the long-term effects of it. Yeah, Chun-Su doesn't even need the full power
of this ambulance just says you know what 36 is is better than 35 and I have
zileaks next turn but the zileaks has to have something to hit so we'll
definitely should just play the rukara and chill return and say okay hit me one
more time this armor will protect me you're gonna take you know another 10
the wet potential. And also, yeah, herding the Isera, you know, even though it's sort
of four damage instead of five, you get to sort of reduce stats in play while still damaging
the opponent, right? So it sets up those eruptions nicely. A little bit fortunate, honestly,
the definition didn't draw the eruptions right away, because it puts chunks in a
weird spot. Yeah the difference with Isera being on seven just building an
eight of Isa's point and being on 12 is it's now below nine. Those eruptions if
he doesn't draw one off the top will will do nine with the Thaunos. There are
three eruptions of one more or less so he's likely to draw one or two of them
first but the world where he's going to win this is going to need a little
bit of luck so he's setting up that to take as little asteroid damage as
possible after the eruptions hit here and at the end of the day let's
he hits two eruptions they do four you play your Thanos you draw your last cards
that's another three that clears that out the way then you play your Asteroids then
you eat the imp and eat it into all those Asteroids you put in your deck that
still is 27 everyone he draws off the top will lower that by one because you
won't have a Thanos in play buy from the weapon it is going to be close
not so close now interesting a little bit surprised to see the zilex just come down
here but I guess it's the it's the best way that chunks you can soak but it's the last
turn yeah they're gonna take a lot from the eruption so oh you know it leads you
with six 1s but he lost them all he needed to get the Thanos down before
drawing them all so that he could clear this board with eruptions and now
basically he can't win in any real world he needed the option to do one of
you up to do three to clear these up and needed it to be one of the two cards
which is very likely and now he's got to have a world you have a set of us
You have to stick a board at some point. This is unpleasant. He will take one of the minions out
But now he's gonna have to win on board somehow and that seems unlikely
Gonna set this up to minimize fatigue taken gonna play that wisp at the very end
He's all have lifesteal, so there's actually need to take them out weirdly because again
of the missing the eruptions.
Now I'm just going to put this out there, I'm not saying it's, it would have been correct
but just consider seven shaman spells in hand right now.
That would be a lot of Sherman spells.
But Corpse Explosion ends the game, I'm pretty sure.
Don't see any way back from it, he's actually just making sure he hasn't got a lethal immediately run, the Corpse Explosion.
Because there's worlds where you can play Maladar into Shalantrasil into Awakens, your opponent's fatiguing as well.
Maybe he's added that up, maybe this is Awakens Hero Power, Nightmare, Pot of Takes, things,
and yeah, gives up, definitely sees the lethal, Johnson sees the lethal, and takes a 1-0 lead
to build on the amazing day he had yesterday.
I do think that, you know, with some of the things that have happened this weekend,
I would not have pressed that concede button quite so quickly.
You know there's a 14-12 in the pool of minions there
I guess maybe it was high enough that even 14 damage wouldn't have been enough.
You can get up to 16 with the hero power hit, but you know, just maybe let it pan out, just
see.
Yeah, I must admit, it's a little bit of a meme, but yeah, let's just see, it's the
world championship.
But he was so far behind, I think he needed so many, I think Jonser could have met
the cat to play that turn for the turn or two and probably would still have won
the game. But yeah, it takes that early 1-0 lead to settle down. Not that Shunso needs
settling down. He's just seen this so many times now. But yeah, getting the DK, which
has been one of the worst performing decks in the tournament for everybody out of there.
He gets to play some Hunter. He doesn't play some Shaman, but the definition will
be ruined, the fact that he doesn't have a Hunter. And Shunso does, I think, right
now because it's been banned.
yeah every time we get to see a hunter it's sort of like hang on how did that
happen what yeah what was the line here that we left hunter up yeah I mean the
warrior with the four good deck lineup if you like the one without shaman the
warrior is pretty decent into that it tends to be the rogue it tends to be your
death knight you don't want a 50-50 mirror if your other two aren't
favourites I get it but really the Hunter Deck isn't so powerful and it is the
powerful version it's not the version with the this era and such stuff that
seems a little bit slower a little bit less dangerous early on it is the
powerful version I see you have a preference in your discover hunters
here oh I do absolutely and so this is two versions there's a version with
a server at least and stuff like that which is much better built to go
against warriors because the mana you get from your server allows you to save up
loads of damage and the warrior can't really get away from you like you can the
10 mana version but you do pay for it in early games sometimes you just get
run over a little bit so yeah it is a preference but in terms of these matchups
I think I would rather have the slightly more aggressive version there's
There's a lot of lip service players, both of those, they're both playing in Symbias now.
I think both players and their hunters in this match are playing Bob as well, which is sort
of always makes me wonder, well why don't you have the whole hogger player in the Least
then?
You're nearly there, you might as well carry on, but it is a slightly quicker version
for the early game.
And those takes on Hunter can, I think, be a little bit tricky for people to navigate,
like, okay, how much of an edge does it give in the match-ups, right, like, can affect
those bands, but I don't know, the flexibility for all of them feels a little bit spooky,
particularly when he's got that
three double EMG against shaman exactly what you need and roll the plushie as
well yeah why why is this one not called miracle rogue because it's only it's not
even a miracle anymore it just happens every game yeah I don't know it is like
you said yesterday I think it was it's it's miracle rogue you just don't need
the auctioneer anymore right it's just all the cards without it here we are this is your equivalent of a
gosh it's been so long i've read the name and edwin van cleef pop off right so what
eventually didn't dodge another one eventually got nerfed and left
yeah going for five probably gonna be
I think it was rushes there because you have to deal with the board
You know you ideally want I think rushes and armor when you're this far behind but
Yeah rush and discover a spell
Yeah, it's quite a lot of good aoe in shaman right for discoverers. You can get volcanoes and lightning storms and stuff
Yeah, he did hit something and baking soda volcanoes extra nice since it does heal you
up to 10.
Absolutely.
But, yeah, this is usually the kind of thing where, you know, someone's like, yeah, this
is why I prefer the Rogue over the Shaman, because sometimes this happens.
Definitely this is looking at the cars like, well, what do you want me to do, like, for
the next two or three turns?
There's nothing more I can do until I play in Cyndia's now.
My deck does this, it's done it, and I've got a handful of 0-1s and 1-1s and 1-2s.
What do you want from me and what we do want from you obviously is to get that extra point so you can play in Cyndias on turn five
Absolutely makes sense if it's in this next thing you're going to do any notes get it down on turn five. Why wouldn't you I think this has been
A display of like just the earliest possible that you can make any of these things happen, right? Like yeah earliest possible
double EMG
I think it's a good idea to
get a double coin.
You are basically right.
Yeah, I am actually traumatized
because somebody managed to get
it down to turn two against me
and get rid of my web.
We live in the mirror.
Double EMG to two.
Yeah, double EMG to put two eats
set up the
dubious purchase on turn one
with the collector also though
on the draws, they had the
I think there's only one EMG, but they've all got a 7-7, actually, just to be safe, but yeah, oh, it's a bit of a safe one.
Yeah, Chansu, you know, pretty calm here in the face of this, but I think, you know, he's just gonna do his level best, but understands we're probably not getting there on this one.
Yeah, probably not, but you never know, like we've seen this place, you pointed out, but
also sometimes all the eruptions can huddle together at the bottom or something and you
can dodge all your cards draw and have a handful of maestros and I was going to say
things like that, there is nothing like that, it's just maestros, there's not enough
cards to fill the gap I'm trying to fill.
that's that is most of them no moonstone mall is picked up yet but I'm sure they
are incoming yeah and you know the world where you set up some two fours with
armor and somehow clear with your location discover and then finders
ziax or something I know you you don't quit you need to be shown the lethal
yep you've seen most of those things go but it's coming yeah I think John Sue
would need exactly baking soda volcano to have sort of any hope of staying in this game?
We might still see more shadow step moorler yet. There's not much time left yet, so you
can go for it.
There's a mana short I think for doing that.
healing. You can discover a battle cry, maybe find healing that way.
Just a thunder quake, get rid of the whole board and then you shut your eyes and hope
the maulers of the bottom two pass. Why not matter?
Once upon a time, you know, could theoretically discover a rush life steal, I suppose, or
generate rather.
Yeah, you go for anything at this point, right?
It's upon a time, just summoning some random 3 costs, basically, from different minion types.
Oh wait, plus she costs 4 and not 3 now.
Ah yeah.
I mean it's been 4 freeages at this point though.
There's always a card.
I guess the thing going for Chun-Su in this moment is that pretty much all the eruptions
have been used, right?
I think there's maybe one left.
So if enough things can absorb rocks, and actually if things absorb rocks with that
murlock in play that could be a big deal. There is only one of the two maulers, no
foul nos either at the moment so they would have to go face twice and yeah
with the murlock with cookie in play. Definition needs to hit that eruption
to kill the cookie before doing anything with rocks or trades. Yeah and
And it needs to be this turn because Zileac is working.
Yeah.
And that's all we need was that eruption.
That was closer than it could have been.
Considering that the road did everything it wanted to do,
but it is leveled up now.
And suddenly from nowhere in this almost mirror lineup,
we have four different classes remaining.
Yeah, how about that?
I will get to see the hunter at some point, I would expect.
And, yeah, definition gets that rogue locked up,
has got basically the two controlled X remaining.
Sure, yeah, indeed.
The shaman versus the warrior has been very interesting.
We've seen quite a few of those now,
where there's those crucial turns
when you get to Tenmana, where the shaman does
A powerful thing, three or four turns in a row,
depending how they set up their wish,
depending how their shuttle block went, that stuff,
versus can the warrior just have enough removal
to get rid of it?
We saw Inkura put on a master class
against Fury Hunter late last night
with exactly that where he didn't draw his removal
and somehow kept removing things.
Like, he got removal spells from the location
and he scrambled around to draw cards
and get another removal spell
somehow wiped out a whole army of nonsense, the fury kept throwing at him.
Sometimes that goes the other way, you scramble of one, you're one short and suddenly, you know,
you don't get the time warp and you get dead into the next turn yourself.
So it's quite an exciting matchup.
Again, both sides having DK, the lineup, and Chonso having one with it could be the big deal right now, I think.
Yeah, you know, I mean, I call DK a control deck, but it has just got sort of the one
Corpse Explosion relies on Rush Minions in Teradak, Stradhound Handler,
and sort of other discovered things to kind of keep up that controlling element. Leeches,
I think, really are just such a potent part of that package, being able to remove,
well gaining you life. But it hasn't got quite the clear potential of Quest Warrior,
hasn't got the armor potential of quest warrior and so you know sometimes I think it is a little bit
more susceptible to like the good shaman draws yep I mean the good shaman draws are why this deck
is brought if you just go turn one murloc turn two location turn three haggatha not much in
hardstone stands up to that and that was the love storm strategy just draw those three cards
over and over again and you'll be fine. But it's the other games that are much
harder to navigate. The ones like this where your hand is fine but doesn't do
anything immediately and isn't immediately obvious exactly how it's
going to pan out. Bird watching with no big spelling happens right now. Like
your bell hops might not be good but you've kind of got to hope your deck
what it's designed to do. See what it picks out.
There we go.
Oh, gotta take the Hagatha.
Yep.
It's the name of the deck.
It is.
Yeah, definitely the decent looking hand with a new height.
That's a decent looking hand. Have you got a new height?
Yep.
The definition of whether it's a good hand or not.
and you know not seeing even you know the
murloc coffin in the opener right which um you know may not seem like a big deal but a pair of
one ones on turn one to start just like chipping away at you uh can you know do much more damage
than you would expect.
Yeah, they can do 10.
No joking, they can do 5,
2, 3, 4, 5, 8.
That could do 10.
And Shuns who has the
very powerful turn 5
of, you know,
fairy tale slime with
frosty decor.
Yeah.
We've seen Warriors struggle to get their ancients down early in this matchup as well
because they're under so much pressure and definition has been able to take a turn off
to do that which is a big deal for him.
Oh and going for the high risk high reward but well I guess not really high risk just
do you have it and if not a high reward play of Murden and if this sticks around
representing you know 14 damage on turn 5 not not a good brawl here right so
no it's a great great great board to present to a warrior they need shield slam really here
all the other stuff is like you say brawl well we're having to do this but don't want to brawl here
because there's a good chance it just doesn't win and obviously a 3-5 not useful against a 7-7
If you lose that one in four, it's potential you're just losing on spot.
Chansu is going to burn a furious fouls, but you're somewhat okay with that.
Little surprise to see this Wish upon a Star just get turboed out there.
No shut-up locking hand right, so it's now or never in a way, or now or wait and hope.
So it is a 9-10 in its own right.
So, I like it. I think it's unfortunate you'd rather have a shell of block, but you haven't got the shell of blocks.
Yeah, I guess I just am used to more like, you know, trying to get that board set up with things that summon, right?
Maybe you play the slime that makes the frosty decor.
Maybe you wait until you can play the grove in on the same turns.
You get the buff on both the front end and the back end there.
I imagine the thought process was, oh, definition just had to brawl my king, so didn't necessarily
have a good position to get rid of a big minion, so here's another one, let's see what you do
now.
And to his credit, I mean, great Draco Rex is a nightmare for this deck, right?
Yes.
And the board that he made was not very good to Draco Rex into the fact that
definition did it anyway. I think kind of tells Chansu that, okay, he's really not got
a lot going on, you know, in terms of clearing big minions. So ability to not sort of fall
into that trap of making a board that's perfect for Drake or X to attack into. And he's going
to be able to clear it up pretty nicely.
Yeah, absolutely.
Stronger than how hard he wants to go here.
Obviously, he can get nine in the face,
but how much does he want to put out there?
And he's deciding, you know what?
I'm going to put it all out there,
because this is a zileax turn coming up,
and this board is not going to be...
It's almost going to be not a payback at all by zileax.
We're taking armor off. You're not healthy, but I don't care.
Mm-hmm.
Yeah, it's one of the sort of
weird things about zileaks for the warrior is like the sheer amount of armor
gain means that very frequently it's used just for the the rush divine seal
and the life steal doesn't always come into play yeah this might be one of
those weird turns I'm not saying it is to the rest of the options it's probably
a brawl sometimes the turn is zileaks your go not even attack with it just
leave it does that have a brawlable board but you know there's more
coming. This is where that wish has come in handy, right? It's not it's not the
great and massive wish that puts these in, but it has put your minions just out of
the range of silly acts. And Dracoex and those cards, so it was enough to put that
little bit of elevation on the health chosen, so the power that they're
representing is a lot.
Yeah, just having to throw out the brawl. Hope that something smaller wins.
No, that's just all nine damage.
Jonsu now can throw out the other public bellhop, slime, and just totally refill both rolls
used, hostile invader much less effective into a board like this.
I think definition not using the Unleash, the Croculus last turn, was to be able to go
double hostile invader safety goggles on this turn, but yeah, Bob, please change things.
Yeah, that's a good spot with the invaders.
That's a lot of removal.
It does 8 rides, so it's perfect here.
You see that save the bob for the next emergency which you know is around the corner with the
growth ends.
Each time you tick off one of those turns that quest is getting nearer and nearer.
That ceaseless is ticking down.
You've just got to hang in there to see if you can get that.
And Chunsu now, lots of Rush minions available, might want to use the static shock just to
ping off the last health there to start.
Yeah, it's nice clear.
And when you work out that, it makes the best of the turn a bit more straightforward.
This is a fairly natural play now.
Definition, trying to work his way towards that ceaseless being playable.
A lot of times that is the point where you know you've turned a corner,
is when you're able to drop the ceaseless safety.
And for now, yeah, it just has to get the Zileaks down,
probably clear up the smaller minions,
and then try and block out the others.
If he decides to attack at all again.
Yeah, yep.
Thank you for options here for him.
Yeah, I think Shaun Tzu, and perhaps most of the Shaunin players, I don't think have hex here.
Uh, yeah.
I've seen one of those movies in one, but...
Yeah
Definitely is at the point now where he's going to get to play Bob Elise on the same turn
Possibly look for a 10 to buff them the turn after
What is it is um some good stuff and then obviously he will get to us cross reward on top of that
Around that time. Yeah, it does take down one of the bigger meetings
Yeah, sort of on four fives being smaller than six fives
Yeah, not, you know, not great trades here unless Chonsu wants to use Furious Files or
his own Zilex, which is a common response.
There you go.
You've seen it 70 times.
Yeah.
Makes sense.
And yeah, definition now.
I think you put it correctly.
It's going to be Bob Elise or Bob Latourvious.
Yeah, my guess would be Elise for a 10.
Yeah, could look for a five, the fact that he's playing first meeting might be looking
for a five to play alongside the question board next turn, he's off with a ten.
Yeah, and my best guess would be Raptors, the more minions that you can summon and
kill off, the faster that Ceaseless is going to discount and I will know that using
the crockless for the full board freeze, making sure Chansu can't play anything like an Alakir,
forcing him to have the hammer, which he knew was there, but hammer at this point, it's
not been upgraded. It's a couple instances of six damage, but not nearly as scary as
what's in play.
Yeah, and the other part of this is the spell. It's tempting to take armor, but look, what's
12 armor do against this?
When you discover a spell so frequently, you saw the insta pick there of heavy plate, so
frequently just is armor, right?
Yeah.
Has that flexibility of maybe giving you additional removal tools, right, particularly when you've
used both your brawls.
actually like execute some things coming big handy as well from the time so.
And yeah we're at that point where Ceaseless is going to come online next turn you know
Chonsu had a pretty decent draw able to pick up the Hagatha early but not sort of the best draw
and yet even with what seemed very very solid all these mini buffs these huge boards after a huge
board definition is just managed to keep up. Yeah, I'm gonna so far to that this
hand still has some mileage right it is started to run out but there is there's
still stuff there. Cetus is only a 10-10 and in this world of shamans buff
minions you know who cares not who cares obviously you care about it
clearing but he does need to find time to get the the question reward
down and I think that partly is why he'll be thinking so long here because
he'll have a Caesar's tracker he'll know it's a 14 yeah I think that's part of the
reason why we're seeing not many things done this turn
Yeah, I always wonder about, you know, Shutter Block being held for so long.
I guess this is just kind of trying to, you know, make a big board and pressure considerably,
right, the Furious Fowls attack immediately while being able to hold on to Shutter and that
growth in as like a really good Shutter target. I think this was deliberate, by the way.
Ceaseless is on 9, he knows the quest reward is in hand on 5, you can't do them both, you have to do the other order so it's not too liquid.
But you'd have to plug your own AT if you did it.
Sure.
I think that was part of the thought process there, just counting away.
I might be wrong, but these players do effect that sort of stuff.
Definition though, recognizing yeah, drawing cards reduces Ceaseless as well.
And so as long as he can get something free, like a Tolin's Goblet, he's going to be able to play the Ceaseless still here.
It doesn't get to keep the 6-6, but it will have a 10-10 in play.
I always think Goblin's fun.
Okay, well, sure, that seems good.
Can't see it, he's exactly right.
I think it's going to be a
little bit of a bullwark of as
enough. Shuns who is not happy
about that one. There's four
more bullwarks after that and
just. Yeah, having to go ahead
and hands a little bit there.
Like how can I possibly eat
through this when I know next
turn it's going to come
Bad enough to have to face Ceaseless, but Ceaseless in five bulwarks.
little taunts here actually you know kind of significant but he's gonna need I
think his own Elise location to be able to maybe buff these attacks right to be
able to punch through but it may need honestly to set up a situation where you
can punch through the bulwark all at once and then deliver a big final blow
So since not enough armor from definition, there's going to be three off of this, two
from here of power, but not as much board space for the Raptors to get their full potential.
Still looking fairly challenging to come out of definition, actually just going to
swing one ball work and then play a new one which will be able to do for another three turns
Hey, I'm back. Sorry about that
We're still ball walking people I assume. Yeah, there we are loads of them. Yeah last minute remaining is Elise
Did see
the demolition renovator get traded so at least there's you know maybe hope for
chance who that you know he can get a high impact location and make use of it
right yes so that was
sure how you push through this and just try to think of any scammy way what
Scammy ways have you described what I've been?
No, there's this none really that coming up because I forgot the
least location refreshed right so definition got you know more raptors
and more discovered spell and yeah sitting on 13 armor for a moment I
thought you know maybe there was a way to buff up the little taunts in play
and whittle away the bulwark but now definitions gone into sort of attack
mode. Yeah why not like you can't take damage so it's where you want leeches or
something to this give yourself a chance right? Just go straight to the arm and
hit at least a hit the life-total for one. Yeah. No. But Chansu does not have the
benefit of higher than 10 mana crystals so he is gonna have to go for a 5 to be
able to get a lease location down this turn.
Oh yeah, here we go.
Last-ditch effort, go for triple a lease location.
But one of these is going to need to say armor
to have any hope of staying alive to use them all.
There must be a way of generating three vipers.
It'd be fine.
Yes, Marva?
First.
So the first is Gain 6, deal 5 to all enemies.
Okay.
The 10 mana one.
We have 110 mana, gain 12 armor, discover a spell, it costs 7 less.
And then
The final 10 men a location
Summoned six to one raptors with rush this first fell cost seven less. I'm a little surprised not to see
Any summon a copy?
Was it wasn't able to quite keep up with all the picks on like what was on offer, but
You know, we've seen people go sort of all in on the copies
but then not have the defensive options to stay alive and but of course, you know
this other direction might be you've got the defensive options to stay alive
longer but do you actually have the ability to close the game?
Namilia probably the better one for Chonsu to get hit there since you know
it's a nice clear but it doesn't go face.
Yeah it's gonna need a miracle to answer the the generation.
Now if there's something in Chansu's favour here, it's that definition has been quite
illiberal with just sort of refreshing the bulwark every single turn, doing things like
that there where you sort of used one as a ping which eats two charges but then setting
up a fresh one? Yeah, and also obviously the big deal is he's out of board as well, so literally
what you were saying, the other kid needs to be somehow through. The weapon needs to
be equipped at some point, I don't know how he gets the time to do that. I'm sure
said some of this already. Yeah the discovery spell reduced by seven not
really the best hits for Chonsu there is gonna clear up you know majority of this
board but he's really hoping to get like a one-cost Shaladra sill right that's a
possibility out of the location. Yeah that's the game. Yeah time warp will do it.
Time warp finally picked up. Galvedon in hand as well. It doesn't even really
need the Galvedon with the Ragnaros hero power?
Yeah, it's just super lethal.
We had one yesterday with a Inku who took quite a while to calculate.
The 12 plus 12 plus 10 was more than 32, which was quite amusing.
He got there here. He was just naturally instinctively drawn to watch the most damage I could put down,
because you play so many warrior mirrors where you need to get all the Galvedon stuff worked out and everything.
it was just there, it was just lethal.
He shook his head a little bit after saying,
oh God, I'm so silly, yeah.
Definition.
Kindly playing the time warp first so that
John Sue can go ahead and concede and
get things moving.
Yeah, absolutely.
Just that DK left, but it has been running
at a very low percentage.
The interface provided is with Oncrat's
post with Oncrat doing regular stuff
now on social media for stats
out of the kindness of his heart and his interest in the game and look yeah DK has
been running at an adjusted win rate which accounts for bands and stuff that
36.3% in this one way below every other deck yeah it's below dragon warriors not
below Protoss Rogue but we don't talk about Protoss Rogue. Those are two small sample
sample size to matter. I'm curious how it compares to shaman.
shaman apparently yesterday was doing badly but because yesterday had a really
good day shaman adjusted win rate is 48.1 it's actually winning slightly over half
the games but when you factor in other decks getting banned and so on it it
brings it down. I don't think we've seen any death knight bends.
We have seen a shaman battle to I think pocket rain and a shaman in one of the rounds possibly twice
And again not that line of not quite being where they wanted it to be
Definition has got creature of madness exarch Maladar always an interesting
Keep question right because it's nice to have but you need a couple other things to go right for you
You need enough early game to give you the corpses and then you need to have something worth
sort of corpse ramping into
Definition keeps the XR just because of the power potential, but yeah throwing away fire rack
Try to hand their great early removal tool and ability to
generate some of those corpses that we need so yeah so yeah we are gonna see the
curve I was trying to describe the other day but in a slightly different
situation and yeah you have to evaluate each situation on its merits where you
can go coin two two into the three drop you get from this interesting options
there does end up going with the life yeah with the dark gift of divine shield
wind fury I think you know there was plus two plus two an elusive beast don't
remember the name of this beast but normally a two four so it would have been
four six death rattle shuffles into your deck with
double stats, but it doesn't keep enchantments. So it wouldn't keep that plus two plus two and elusive
It wouldn't double based on that. It would just go from two four to four eight and definition doesn't really want to shuffle
Random stuff into his deck, right? Doesn't doesn't want to see that coming up again and again would much rather have sort of a solid play in this divine shield
three four and then
You know what I'm saying, that was a reasonable type of play, let's move on.
I want to draw the actual things in my deck.
I get to Shaman just cutting down that potential for early disasters.
Which would be a large difference if you obviously learn the 4-4 bell hops are kind
of a staple of what you expect to see but nothing, no haggard there, you feel like
You can't deal with no Hag of the Shaman, then you'll get something else, so you'll be fine with this.
You'd rather not be bell hops, but they're okay.
Well, they're crucially, you know, with the plus one plus one buff from Turbulus,
they negate somewhat the win fury effect here on this 3-4, you know, clean up an extra frog,
but prevents definition from trading into the Turbulus and then something else.
Looking at the hand though, he's up to four corpses, three more on the board, would be
seven when these trade through and one turn to find some more.
He'd love to go Manadar, Hesira, Double Giant, whatever you get, and with all rightly it's
going to be the husk first.
Both players seem like they're kind of skipping turn five here.
Chonsu just having to throw the hero power, maybe the zero mana static shock, just to be able to push more face.
In definition, yeah, no turn five in sight besides hero power.
Yeah, and turn six isn't looking that great for Chonsu, the fouls is okay, but it's not a power turn of any sort.
That was an extremely good pick up for definition, um, able to get the leech to clear up the 3-1,
can hear a power, uh, to go up to 8 corpses. Doesn't want to swing because he wants to make
sure that this leech eats the 3-1. Super! You won't want to steal dies. You do do one less
damage overall, but yeah. I think you don't swing, which is really weird, but there you go,
it's correct I think definition is actually hoping that this leech dies and so yeah but you know
consolation prize gets to play hideous husk and sort of utilize it to greater effect with its
saying in play yeah it was um yeah damned if you do damned if you don't pitch on so the
definition had the punish for killing it had the punish for not killing it both in hand
Oh, is he thinking about it himself?
It won't be corrupted though.
It won't.
And you know it would still be one corpse spent shy of getting the stakes giants into
play so you know I'd be inclined to husk and wait.
I think I would too.
I think I'd prefer to husk play.
She's a bit scary.
Knows that there's a Grophin in hand, but there's no parrots actually in play, so it's
not like a bunch of Grophins are coming down right now.
Interesting.
Oh, he's doing a husk.
Oh, well.
Was Mousy over it?
Yeah.
now you're committed that will still allow double stitch giant to be played
next turn gets more in play right now yeah I still I'm not so sold though
same cuz if you wait one turn and just play the husk you can basically assure
that that you're gonna gain one cup corpse somewhere right a leech is gonna
get killed the husk is gonna get removed and then you can exark into
is Sarah played both stitch giants and now you've actually corrupted your
slider so for the following turns yeah and yeah your joints if you play the next
turn is three mana cards one of them is getting growth in you're gonna rely on
the show and be able to do something about the leeches you left up you know
they've got to have something about I don't know let's see how it works out for
him.
Definition has the potential for a huge turn where he spends only mana on the
hero power if he goes tear-dax because Ben 5 corpses play both stitch giants for
free. We'll end up floating 5 mana.
Quite amusing, yeah. Gotta be done though.
So the upside of what he did last turn, he does have that Y5 and the leech still in play.
Obviously the downside is he doesn't have a lot of mana now and this Shlaprasil isn't
cast so...
See how that pans out.
I suppose maybe the thought is so like this turn that the definition just did would have
been the turn where he goes XR to Sarah.
So he would be able to cast Shiladr Seld just now.
Corrupted I guess he'd be at 10 mana.
Yeah, I still like the line where you get to ramp better because now you've got to
a dream. Something you really don't want to dream. And the Sierra Awakens is going to
hurt you. You're one man off from Firehack.
Yeah, he didn't have the life of just playing it and playing the Shladrassil opening it up
and having all these nice tools available as well, I turn earlier. So now he's taking
All of the damage. All of the damage being enough to level the scores up to a piece.
And she also will be the side of a leaf. He's still in the world championships.
And now with Hunter remaining, which is a nicer spot to be in by a long way than where he was a moment ago.
Yeah, you know, I think that sort of demonstrates why death night has struggled is because regardless of whether people have gone with the shaman or the rogue the death night just
Doesn't line up great into either a lot of the time right the the good shaman draws
Their stats are just far too big for you to deal with you
You have less removal than a warrior and your removal is very much damage based
um you know no no brawls up your sleeve and yeah absolutely and then also you know in terms of
the rogue you don't have as much healing potential as a warrior
yeah and against the against the hunter the hunter in the hands of these top players um is so versatile
the death knight is quite versatile as well to be fair but the the hunter unless you get a good
curve with the Death Knight the Hunter can just look for what it wants to discover deck,
it can look for what it wants to deal with what you're doing. Sometimes you can just Death
Knight them, you can just go one, two, three. Your stuff is just not good enough to drop
a couple of giants. Outside of Sylvanas, Hunter not very good at dealing with those
wide boards. Once the Sylvanas is not found or if it's gone, you can just roll
over as the Hunter. It's sort of scrambling around to steal minions with your grifter
to trade them into each other to get a bit of them and then you haven't got a grifter
anymore and things get messy. But in general, the versatility of the Hunter, as long as
it gets a decent-ish draw, does tend to come out on top. But this is why we played the
games, as they say. Yeah, this will be happy to see that morbid swarm. Might keep the
as well. Yeah, there's not much else happening. Yeah, you know, unless you have the creature
of madness, right, like Joe Fallen Baron is just a three in a deck that doesn't have
a lot of threes and it's going to help, you know, draw you to your other stuff. So a hunter,
you know, not a fast deck, oddly enough. And so you can sort of feel like you have
that time to play something like it's your phone burn lock is ticking now for
definition chance of finding that nail which means you'll start to be able to
rifle through his deck as early as turn three thanks to the power sanctuary
he's going to mess over that easy a plan on now start looking next to get the
three four on the board makes sense I was blindsided there by Normie coin up
power sanctuary playing dial is your your nice curve but of course you
I've got a chance here, you just want the 3, 4 on the board, challenging these minions.
Yeah, and gonna start the Discover train.
You guys instantly look for the pupil, you just want to make sure you're not going to overfill it as there's an opportunity to start arcane-shotting and mixlogesting.
You would like there to be a space in your pupil for 6 damage or steel later depending on which one you want to fit to the end of one.
Just there for take the scout.
Scout.
Yeah, I mean I feel like you want to have a Rangari scout available for when you need
to start duplicating things.
Mm-hmm.
It's so good.
Mm-hmm.
It's so good.
There we go.
Yeah, I was interesting when your your turn five is to play your your turn two and it's discovered three drops just all at once
So it's going to put a lot of tempo into this turn
Huh
So it is you know early enough that you would feel good about Ranger initiate barisa. Yeah, I
I was going to say like a reborn keeps enchanted in Cyndia sets 20 health that has to get cleared
Could be getting it down very soon with the parrot sanctuary
Like normally I snap take that from the barista and I say oh what was the ability on the other two but
I just catch that the reborn in Cyndias is a lot of stuff to get that in Cyndias and those that are
eruptions down but she also with the double power sanctuary is as you can see
with the freeze on the 4-4 play my own 4-4 just absolutely fighting for as much
early tempos as we can get here because you can weather this early storm with both
sisters there as well and a brewmaster to deal with any accidents with the
infinite discoverers you are likely to get there yeah with the tracking hero
power and all the suffocates with that. Yeah, before you incendiates you've got to make sure
that you're in a safe position and so having the windrunner sister to power up the Sylvanas already
in hand just sort of keeps things a little bit safer. Can I interest you in reducing a lot of
of mana on your minion, what's that sound?
Ah, sounds pretty nice, like you.
He does, doesn't it?
Sisters, my power starts to break down on you!
Now again, he's set his stall out very early on here, that I'm just going to play for
as much tempo as possible.
I'm not messing around trying to protect the Sylvanas and Bouncer ever again, like
that is something that is quite often a trap that you can fall into.
Yes, it's lovely to do it for down for survival, but it is kind of negative tempo sometimes.
Definition spending, just enough corpses to get this stitch giant down.
I feel like this is always a little bit tricky and awkward sometimes as you have birdwatching available,
available, but you'll be getting two of them because of Rangaria Scout, and these are the
moments where you sort of can end up with hand space issues.
All three of those are viable options right now.
The double arcane shot with Niri in hand and two mixologies, do you want to start counting?
Obviously the pupils, sort of similar thing I mean to do, you really want to get those
filled up and start using them to win the game, but there is an immediate problem
of an 8-8 you can't deal with, so deciding to look for some solution to that and
Double Bob is a very good solution to that and you know doing the thing that he's been doing generating even more tempo as he just goes freeze into freeze into
Hit you for quite a lot of damage with nearly an arcane shot and mixologists already in hand. Yeah double Bob is
Gosh just such a powerful tool the ability to you know make a minion while freezing your opponent's entire board
just puts them in such awkward spots not as good into leeches which will still be able to do their end-of-turn effect
But certainly a nice tool to have in Chun-Shi's back pocket
He hits
I maybe mentioned this
He's got the blue master in hand and sylvanas in the pool of resurrects
So that's kind of amusing might not have to go there because it's probably be just bouncing back the ball
But it's a good little hit for him.
But this is a nightmare in terms of leeches into Bob action, right?
Chonsu really hoping to kind of do something sneaky with the freeze into freeze,
and then Brewmaster to do it a third time.
Definition can infested breath and hideous husk on this turn,
Putting a total of four leeches in play with two husks.
Uh-huh. It's a lot.
Is that clear? That is a clear, right?
I might be just shy.
No, that'd be three. Three. It is just shy the way it works out.
Yeah, I think you're four for some reason. I can't count.
Yeah, it's actually quite rough. It leaves him with still a big bob.
yeah for that reason might be willing to settle on like blob of tar plus
infested breath but you do get just such benefit from leeches you know being
upgraded this way might do the hero power instead of infested breath because
of breakpoints
yeah I like this though just maximize the value and say okay I know you've got
another Bob. I know you're on Brewmaster. What does that even do here?
Does it even do here?
What would you look for here? Mixoly just deal 2, clears up a lot of the trouble.
You put the Bob into the 8-8 and just deal 2. You can get a deal 3 to go with it. You can take out Husk at the same time.
Okay, here's to the second.
Freeze with it as well, she's fairly handy when the husks aren't doing that much anymore.
Yeah with this many leech cards being played it basically doesn't really have to worry
about the fuss for their effect anymore, just in terms of them being minions.
Yeah, I think one of the things you do in that spot a lot is take your time and consider
what is going into your pupil. Obviously every time you cast a spell, your pupil gets a bad
spell in it, because it's not a useful spell for later, a lot of the time you really
want to start getting that damage in there but yeah that was an emergency and dealt with it as such.
Foam render, a potential way that definition can turn up the pressure and this bell hop I was
wondering what the dark gift was. So I'm going to copy with the dark gift. They both have that
gift and it is charged so Chansu now is really going to need alien encounters if he wants to
protect himself while getting this incendiary down may have to just go
not enough yeah I mean I'm sure that the cell and
awakens in hand which would clear the aliens and allow the phobias to go face
yeah might have to hit game 12 on this grifter he won't have no I mean he
won't have the knowledge of the Shalata so we'll know it's a
possibility but may have to do some determinations on whether he can
afford to play around it at all.
Very, very true.
Definition has been very emotive through this game.
Looks quite nervous for a lot of it, whereas on the first
obviously he was just destroying people and didn't need to.
But now he must be feeling this.
He's a moment away from a shot from the semi-finals.
gets the deal six but not in an offensive position gonna have to actually use these defensively
but it is in the pupil now
doesn't matter though right? yeah see it doesn't matter he doesn't know that but
it's the best he can do
it's going to be lethal
He's ready, he's graced.
And definition takes the first quarter finals, 3-2 to advance to the semi-finals.
Chiyonsu was here first time nine years ago in the semi-finals.
Doesn't quite get there this time, but as always, it's been a delight to have Chiyonsu here.
here, but definition now just two matches away from being the world champion, Adel, he
must be absolutely buzzing. That was a tough, tough series.
Yeah, yeah, very tough series. Came down to the wire, right? Full five games and very,
very close, you know, with a little bit more breathing room there on John Suicide. Already
had the neary, had a pupil like getting the six damage trinket could have set up for
lethal over just a couple of turns, but the one thing that the hunter doesn't have is a
lot of native defensive tools and so no alien encounters that whole game to sort of set
up these big taunt boards and not a lot of opportunity to gain a bunch of armor off of
mixologist's potions or anything like that.
So yeah, definition had to fight a little harder than in groups but still looking
pretty rock solid.
Yeah, absolutely just threw a lot at him there. And as always, it's so great having him here.
He came through the last chance qualifiers to get here and got himself all the way to
the quarterfinals. Another fantastic year for Shunsu.
Definition. I mean, the definition joke came around from a master's tour where the caption
was sliced off. It was just he has the most, which was the most APAC rank one
finishes, but it just said definition has the most. He might have the most by the
end today if he keeps playing like this he's just those two matches away it's
so exciting today but at some point soon we are going to find out who he will be
playing and the next match up will be Love Storm and Enko two of the players
who have been playing incredibly well through this tournament I'm going to
shut up I'm gonna get out of here I'm gonna let you watch that match find
out who's playing definition see you in three minutes
You
Welcome back. We're getting
ready to continue our final day
of the house on World
Championship. I'm Raven and
joining me returning to us
from a couple of days off is
McBan to face welcome. We
you've still been doing the
coverage on your stream, of
course, but how did you find
the last few days? What do you
think of the tournament so far?
They've been really good. We've
had a lot of high level
Hearthstone, some, you know,
mistakes and mishaps, but I
think that makes it more
entertaining personally, like
even as a pro player, you
know, I I like to see people
play well. It's also kind of
fun to see people make some
mistakes. You know, again,
everybody's human. It adds some
excitement to the to the
tournament. So I've been
having a really good time.
Yeah, well, I mean, you will know a lot better than I will what the pressure is like on these these stages of these tournaments, right?
Because it's basically you've put these players putting countless hours to get to this point and then it starts just narrowing down right into like, okay, one more, two more matches left to go, one more match left to go.
So I imagine that pressure is something that as a player yourself is something that you've almost probably actively had to work on right in dealing with these high pressure scenarios.
Yep, absolutely. The best way to do it is just practice more and more tournaments. You
tend to get used to it, but especially when it's like your first time at the World Championship,
I think for a lot of people, those nerves can really creep in. I haven't really seen
it for Love Storm and Curl. I think we were talking amongst the casters and also I've
been talking with a lot of other top players. Pretty high consensus opinion that these
two have been among the best players in the tournament thus far. And yeah, I think
despite the lack of experience on the World Championship stage.
They're both really showing how good they are.
Yeah, 100%.
Just quickly looking at the lineups,
we've seen the Hunters band away,
which was my general expectation coming into this tournament
just because of how powerful we've seen it be.
But the big question really,
Banta, is this Warlock once again, right?
The Warlock, we are going to see it in game number one,
of course, but being left up,
what have you made of it now that we've seen a few players
the last few days now that we've got a few of these games under our belt. Yeah, it has passed the initial test right both players who brought the egg lock did make it through the group stage which I think is pretty impressive for for having that much of a kind of like a secret deck if you will. It wasn't really on my radar at all.
at all heading into the tournament among the decks that everybody brought. This is the one that I know
probably the least about so it's been interesting to see it pan out. We'll see if it can get the job
done today in top eight but it's done well so far. Yeah I feel like no matter what that's always
going to be the question with the players who have it is can they get a win with the wallop
because there's that sort of assumption in most cases that like oh you know the likes of Warrior
does pretty well overall Rogue been doing pretty well you know it's all these decks you
you expect to get the wins.
But the big question is probably
going to have a very quick
answers. We do dive into that
first game. Love storm on the
top on that rogue and then
incurred going to be on the
warlock. Starting off in a
pretty good way here, Banta,
with the holy egg bearer
available because we have seen
the odd game here and there
where they just haven't been
able to get hold of an egg
and that suddenly makes the
deck look quite bad.
Yeah, it is pretty miserable to
play this deck without eggs.
So incurred be very relieved
to have picked that up now
really just wants to find stuff like EPM, basically anything to continue propping this
egg and make the game difficult for Lundstrom.
And for the rogue on this side of the matchup, is this all about, I mean it kind of always
is like this, but do they focus any more on like minion pressure at all or is it still
just do the plan and just hope you do it faster than they can proc eggs?
Yeah, I think minion pressure becomes really important because the part of this matchup that always gets brought up is you have these eggs on the other side of the board, your asteroids just don't go face.
I'm sure you can just hit, but a lot of the time they won't be going face and it can make it really awkward for the game to play out.
You temple out minions like Webweaver or any other high-impact minions, maybe you play and everything must go.
Suddenly, you force Enkuro to decide between, can I stay alive by dealing with their board, or do I need to put all my resources in the box in the end?
Yeah, we'll have to see how that one's going to play out right now.
Yep, and you can see in her even they're taking a thought probably considering the possibility of pointing out a shard
Just to try and test the barrier because he knows that it is kind of just kind of beyond the board for a while
Most on our can take the trade does have a shadow step in hand not gonna be used right now of course because against the last
You know those questions, but having access to the shadow step EMG now map. It's time to build towards those powerful
You have to get this down at some point to win. I'm sure you would have preferred
there to not move on the other side but you got to do what you got to do.
I'm getting off to a good start now. Getting that card drawer now. This is where I imagine he's holding his breath a little bit.
Thinking right, what do I have to deal with right now? Because so far there is
uh no real good way to deal with uh any aoe on uh sorry so far no access to any aoe to deal with
the board here so this could be a little bit troubling yep absolutely uh some of the cards
I can deal with this board incredibly well though could come out here and Cura is going to be uh
hoping to pick up something like a hellfire table flip also play and roll at this stage of the
game really needs one of those because I don't think you can afford another turn with these
webleaders being left off. Or you can, but you certainly feel a lot more comfortable without
it. It does pick up a table flip off that U-tier.
Yeah, absolutely huge. It is amusing as well because both decks just go so heavy on card
draw, right? That both players flying through the deck so they always assume they are likely
to have the answers they want or likely to have access to the cards that they
want most of the time. And freezing out the attack on the weapon is going to be
pretty nice. Weapon can also always be propped with a aero power of course but that is too
many that you do not want to spend fuel of storm. Yep absolutely that too many is a big
deal that is often the difference between being able to play something like everything must go
or getting that additional card draw and not just this turn Incurl also has another weapon for
the future. Love storm does just over equip here allowing him to get the draw but it does
mean that the second weapon kind of unlikely to get the second swing any time soon.
Yeah and the draw is not the best either, there is of course a Collector Eater, okay
he's going to go for it, Collector Prep Eater, just smash everything down here.
Oh okay.
Oh, okay.
That kind of access to the coin if we're quiet the next turn.
Still, as per the prep it is reduced anyways, that's fine.
Yep, and at the moment doesn't actually have the Incendius, which normally you would maybe want to play an O-Manager here, get the coin for Incendius.
In this case, he just doesn't have it, so I'm not as worried about playing it.
But meanwhile, Incirl is making a lot of progress on this egg.
He's going to go ahead and get two procs of it,
as well as getting the archery down here,
making a pretty awkward wait-state.
And that second, or the last stage of the egg,
is going to come around pretty soon.
So Love Storm is running out of time here.
Yeah, because that's the problem,
especially if there's additional minions
on the board as well.
Rogue isn't normally fantastic at dealing with 2020s, right?
That's like dubious, of course,
but that requires some level of isolation and no doubt there are ways for in Kuro to have, you know,
an unpropped egg and a proct egg on the board with sense of amazing is very difficult to deal with.
So definitely not the best opponent to deal with some of this.
Here though, love storm. No doubt just gonna start cycling and say the robes I want to do.
Yeah, really needs to pick up the incendiary soon. That damage will be pretty important
for being able to actually close out the game at this stage picks up and everything must go but
it's hard to still cost a lot of money actually picks up two copies of it needs to draw an asteroid here
yes here we go okay and those are actually yeah active right yep and it does go face as well
which you'll be happy about you pretty much always want the asteroids to go face at a time
like this any little extra bit of damage can help of course to play this dubious purchase
he asked to sort of help his opponent, um, their own eggs.
Okay, pretty interesting, uh, talk there, right?
If there's gonna be croc, croc eggs, like, not, not the worst, not the worst at all.
Yep, not at all. A sleepy resident can make it a little bit awkward for, uh, for your
opponent to actually get through at some point. Of course it might end up off the board, uh,
later on but you do have to deal with it before trying to actually push that 20 or even 40 damage base
and uh this is all proxed yeah absolutely this is the turn where you get all that pressure on the
board now because the sleepy resident is there it actually will give love storm a chance to
be alive right like you would not be able to do this if the resident is not on the board
you would just die.
I don't think there's no like clever way that this can be dealt with right on the wallock
side there's nothing that can you know bounce it silence it do anything like that right
there's nothing that the deck's pretty straightforward in most cases so kind of
unavoidable here for incurred. It is yeah and now because Loftstrom had that turn
he's just suddenly got a lot of damage in deck and it's gonna be a bit of a
scary situation for incurred here because you need to stay alive. Currently
doesn't have any healing was likely hoping to pick up a health drink off
of this mortal coil but without any of that he's just here at 17 HP. Now what
a disaster. I think almost if not any other minion would have been fine for
Incorralea to spawn off this AMG, right? I'm trying to think of the details that
would have been that much of a problem but I really can't think of anything.
So if he doesn't draw any eruptions off the top here, that is 15 damage alone from the
eruptions and he does it which means he just has guaranteed people here with the
eruption damage plus the O manager yeah
Wow because you can see throughout this whole game I think in Kuro's setup was
incredible basically setting up lethal making it terrible for love storm to
deal with just that one taunt was just too much and that's gonna be game one
love storm very happy with that because I think up until that EMG turn
lost all might not have been feeling overly confident because the eggs are
coming thick and fast from in Kuro absolutely yeah that was the turning
point in this one I think in Kuro would have felt really like really confident
really comfortable about the way the game was going especially after turn five
where there was no point played from the manager he's thinking oh there's no
insidious I'm gonna get my egg proc soon he's in a fine spot but it just
all turned around. Yeah and honestly moments like that I'm sure the chat will love it when I see it, but moments like that are the sort of things you might need that push you over the edge in a given match or even in a tournament right I think however much we talk about you know look versus skill or whatever you want to say but I think anyone who goes deep in a tournament has probably got inherently a little bit lucky because that's just how the game works right but it's making sure that look at looking moments are rewarded through good play up to
until and after those points and I think Love Storm is going to be, as you saw, it's almost
celebrating like you won the match with that long game there because that's the sort of
thing that can propel you through a match that was maybe going to be a little bit more
difficult otherwise.
Yeah, absolutely. You said it yourself. When people ask me about, you know, like, what
does it take to win a tournament? How do you go deep in a tournament? I always say
there's three things you need. You need to play pretty well. You need to bring
a good lineup and you got to get a little lucky. If you want to win a tournament like
you're going to be able to
play the game. You're going to
be able to play this among the
best players in the world. You
need some stuff to go your way.
I love storm did have it go his
when his way back game, but it
is important to set yourself up
for that success, right? You
have to give yourself the
outs. You don't play the game
as well in the rest of the
game or at some point is
going to catch up to you,
but he did well to convert
them. The players wasting
no time jumping into our game
to hear love storm jumping
Last game went pretty well as well, right?
It's not like anything went wrong for Encore last game
outside of the Generations for Love Storm.
But in this matchup, earlier in this tournament,
we saw Gabby, I'm pretty sure it was Gabby,
like Dismantle and Egoalock.
I think it was Gabby versus Rocheal,
if I can remember properly.
How easy is that actually to do on a sort of
general game basis as the warrior versus the small one?
I think it definitely takes a well-played game from the warrior to be able to manage all those threats because
and really on both sides right in her own job is to make it as awkward as possible for his opponent to
proc all the eggs at once and then deal with them but at the same time you have to apply enough
pressure to deny them being able to just you know sit there and draw cards sit there and play a
a little arc, whatever. So it can definitely be a bit of a balance. And we'll see if the
Coral and Lovestorm are able to strike the red balance this game.
Yeah, this matchup feels like the final boss of the playing around brawl style of game,
right? Where like, you need to just keep doing just enough for it to be a problem,
but then not enough to just throw the game. So see how it goes in Coral though? Of course
getting access to the edge once again, very smoothly. So two pretty good stars accelerating
those procs and they will no doubt be looking to duplicate them very soon so
they're close to fully proccing but not too close to be cleared in one go yep
this really is the dream start I'd say for both players love storm able to open
up with a new heights that extra mana is a big deal that let him play this your
one turn earlier and starting at this card draw meanwhile in curro really
just wants the egg and those those extra procs for it at this point he is
probably going to be looking for an Arc Druid. You definitely need some extra copies of those
eggs on the board. And he needs a little bit of extra draw, right? He has Solarium in hand.
That is not a card that you want to play anytime soon against a warrior, because if you hit
something like Umbra, suddenly the game becomes a lot more difficult. So he'll try to hold
off on that and just try to hit an Arc Druid, maybe an EPM to find those cards.
You know, dark morrow, not exactly when Coro's looking for right now.
The good thing about this as well is you've always got ways to dump cards with this deck,
right?
Because you can use pretty much everything to target the eggs anyway, so as long as
you've got an egg on board, there's always ways to get some cards out of the hand
if you can, a little bit of a lockdown.
Yep, that is true.
all these try and use a coil on the sergeant at some point, right? You would ideally like
for the opponent to have a minion on board, like now they have a yore on board so you can
use the abusive sergeant to target your egg, but he is definitely in need of some extra
ways to replicate those death rattles. He does have dark marrow in hand, so that's
another way he can do it right now. His next turn may be something along the lines
of abusive sergeant. Plus the dark marrow, you can coin out a drain soul. Suddenly
you have two copies of the final proc or the last stage of the egg rather, and then you
just get two 20-20s as well for additional pressure.
Yeah, that is one thing that might be creeping in Kuro's mind now, right? It's like the longer
there's just one egg, there's a chance that Love Storm just hacks through the egg deals
with it, and then suddenly you left there with a bit of a dream to be able to win
the game at that point. Well, Storm is going to drop the Elise and go for a long-cost
I would have thought that maybe he was looking for a discover a spell, but I actually didn't
catch if he got the option.
He said it ends up with just a copy plus a rush.
Usually you just don't have time for an expensive location, but we are going to see this dark
The Dark Marrow turn come in for Enkara and a lot of pressure alongside it.
Maybe end up trading him too.
Just trying to work on sequencing, right? Just trying to work on what you want to do and when and what the trades are, how to use and utilize all these tools.
But you are completely right. Of course, these double procs are going to be absolutely for you, J.F. Enkara.
Just a board with two 20-20s, this dark marrow which can provide even further issues, and it does make it a bit awkward for Lufthurm to deal with.
Now, he does have access to his brawl. He has two copies of shield sand that he just drew in back-to-back turns.
Those are going to come in handy for sure, because that's how you actually deal with the remaining 20-20 or two that sticks.
that sticks.
No one nearly swings as well, oof.
Yeah, big, big deal that Love Stone leaves the brawl.
If a 20-20 hit won that brawl, he actually was not able to clear both of them because
he needs that two extra mana to hero power, get a shield slam, so one of them would
have stopped.
Now Enkoro going ahead and ripping that Solarium of course Umbra is a card that now you really
want and he had the mana available.
He was able to hold on to his farm last turn with the Conflagrate pick up meaning that
if he had hit Umbra off the Solarium he was able to do it this turn.
Unfortunately does not find it so he's got to keep hunting for it.
Yeah and at this point it's kind of really only Umbra right?
It's really going to do anything for Enkoro.
There's not really much else that's going to progress the match up enough there.
Yep, that is the only card that is really beating them a chance.
He does end up picking it up, but the scary thing for him
is that, you know, Lovestorm has progressed through his deck a lot.
He's got a lot of mana, so he still has a brawl left.
If he's able to maybe clear off everything at once,
he still has the armor as well for the shield sign, right?
Like, winning that brawl earlier set him up in the spot
where he's so much more comfortable.
If a 2020 had won previously, it wasn't super high odds,
but it could have happened.
I think he would just be in a position where he finds it too difficult to deal with the refill.
Yeah, and the big deal here as well, he has the, as you sort of said, right, he has the health to even if he takes him a couple of turns, he can tank a hit or two from a 20-20, right?
So it's not like he's, if one single 20-20 lives it's over, like he can actually deal with this over the course of a couple of turns, depending on the outcomes of course.
Yeah, and it's a pretty nice board state. He's got one egg on its final stage. He's got one that is two stages away as well. So it is a hard board to deal with with brawl. But at the same time, he doesn't need the brawl yet. It's not that much pressure and he has a lot of help.
Okay, he's gonna accelerate a little bit here for Incaro and saying you know what one of
these is an easy shield slam to slightly more difficult to deal with makes the brawl a little
bit more awkward because now there's more chances of a 2020 living and so on so I do
like that conflagrate there for Incaro because as I said like Lufthorn could just take
a hit from one it's not really the end of the world at that point so yeah just pan
along a little bit more pressure yeah and not just that but also love storm had
previously played his his card draw but all you can eat meaning that in curl
should have a pretty good idea if there's a zileac in hand and with the
location on the board it's a copy and a 2-1 Raptor if he does not
confidereate his egg there and love storm can just play his zileacs
and say, okay, you have to, you're now forced to block a bunch of stuff.
You need to make your eggs, and then at that point, he just has time to drop through his back and maybe brawl that future war.
Relaxation for Brawl!
Yeah, some of the extra copies, more chances of winning the Brawl here for Lost Storm Stars.
That's the death route from the Invader.
So this potentially start tickling me.
This is an incredibly scary spot for him, like, once again, if the 2020 had won this, well, he was just dead.
Because he would have the 40 on board and he could deal an additional 20 with the ooze, so had to, once again, dodge an unlikely but very possible outcome.
Of course, Incro does still have 120-20, so here I think you can do, what, 45 damage with the boost of Sergeant Hellfire and the ooze, but it's not quite enough.
Yeah, I feel, do you think this is a time to crack another egg for another 2020?
Because you still know that there's no armor, of course, but again, as you mentioned, there's
potentially like zileaks, or do you think one is enough at this point?
So it's a little hard to say what he needs to count, and I'm sure what in her own is
county is this cost of ceaseless because if he makes too many eggs they're replaced too many
guards which I don't think he will but if he does suddenly they're the cost of their ceaseless
becomes a little too low and maybe they can open that final egg and then ceaseless so he
has to find the right balance between enough pressure against stuff like zinniacs or maybe
just one shield stand compared to you know going a little too wide on the board
There's also a second Archdruid as well which is going to be pretty nice here, it's a couple of procs.
Yep, that is very key. Again just trying to make it as awkward as he can with all these death rattles.
Ceaseless still costing a pretty healthy 16 mana at this point so I'm not yet playable for Lovestorm.
And looking at the looking at what love storm has left in the deck here
There's no more rolls, right? There is a bulwark in the deck. There's also a bob
And as well as some card draw so probably looking for the Bob from this precursory skype
And he does pick it up very important here to buy himself an extra turn
Yeah I think this is so far been just a really solid display of what this warlock can do because
Lovestorm has had some fantastic brawl outcomes right and some really good removal turns and
Incoro is still piling on the pressure somehow so it's definitely cool to see Lovestorm though
he's going to buy that time with the bob hasn't got much of a follow-up just have crowned
going to choose to hold on to it.
Yeah, I think his plan at the moment is to use it after Ceaseless comes down, just as
like it potentially gives you some outs like Capola if you need them, but I think he's looking
pretty comfortable at this stage again.
We've been talking a lot about that Ceaseless that's now down to six mana and will be
zero on the next turn.
That's kind of where the game swings because if Lovestorm can just deal with all the
remaining eggs or at least most of them drop the Cecil suddenly it's such a big swing turn that
Enkoro just can't ever push the remaining damage. Yeah that's the problem right Enkoro needs to
constantly have the damage threatened on board but still have the eggs proc-able as well
and the second that's not really a big deal that turn turn or so that Lustorm will gain
it's going to be absolutely huge and also just the fact Enkoro is just running out of cards
right now so that's going to be a bit of a problem as well in the near future. Yep absolutely and
Kuro remaining in his deck is just a glacial shard, ethiant and a drain soul. None of those cards are
really very useful for his game plan right? It is just what we see on the board and and Oose
essentially maybe some hell fires to deal with. Like he does have a way to get through zileaks
but unfortunately I don't think that is his biggest problem right now.
Yeah, I think by the time zilex comes down. It's probably gonna be well you've lost anyway, right?
So it will overly matter
Yep, and love storm does have to copy and this might be actually a big reason why you want to copy other
I think we saw this in the Gabby match as well against bill feel where you play this invader you copy it
And now you have both death rattles to prop the remaining 0 3 which means he's able to just full clear and the game is
is just over he can look at the board and play the ceaseless he knows when
Coro has absolutely nothing left
yeah ceaseless comes down and i would imagine that this is just going to be a
snap conceit from in Coro yeah because there's nothing else to really do
there we have a little bit of a cover there there you go
but yeah really really well played i actually think from both players here
which has kind of been both of these players stories throughout this
tournament so far. I think both of them have been very very clean but love storm
just getting away with a couple of brawls there whilst keeping on top of the
eggs and then having a very good plan to just deal the final blow effectively
right and as you said get that copy clear the eggs up and Kuro's just out
of stuff because however cool it is to see the warlock played it is a outside
of I'm not sure what the plays you can make but the goal of the deck is
very one-dimensional isn't it there's no real backup plans there and they're
involved in that warlock.
Yep, that is very true.
And I think it was a pretty similar story to the first game
that they played where the girl seemed fairly comfortable.
He was kind of just moving along with his game plan.
And then one or two crucial turns, right?
A brawl outcome maybe goes love scrubs away or two,
where the game could have just been over on the other side.
Had a 2020 lived through the brawl.
At the end of the game, there was also
the precursory strike.
I think it was one in three to draw Bob.
That was a huge pick up to allow him to play the one make sure that his ceaseless was cheap enough.
So again, both players doing what they need to do is just right now it is going love storms way and a long way back for a girl, but still very doable.
Yeah, I think this really will just fall on the back. I mean, obviously, if we're Stormwinds one, he's won the match, but I think encourage get over the hill with this warlock.
Once that's done, it's almost like a fresh set again after that, right?
Because I do believe he is queuing the warlock again, just trying everything to push it through.
It is going to be going up against Shaman from Love Storm now though.
So we've seen, I don't really call the rogue controlling, but we've seen some of the sort
of more combo-y or slower matchups.
How does the Shaman look against this Warlock?
Is it harder, easier than the Warrior?
You know, I would imagine that it's a bit better.
This Warlock deck has been one that's been a little kind of like secretive.
I didn't know much about it in the build up to this tournament at least, just due
to the previous nerfs. It wasn't really on my radar. I didn't do any testing. I didn't
see any testing for it. But I have to imagine that the Shaman is not really what Enkru wants
to be playing against. Biggest problem for the Warlock against a deck like that, there's
a lot of pressure on the other side. They play a couple of Bellhobbs. Maybe they play
some 3-3 growth fins even. Well maybe not 3-3s, but 5-5s especially can be a massive
problem because you don't really have much healing in the deck. A couple of drain
maybe some health drinks. There's going to be a lot of pressure and you have to play to your own
game plan. You need to keep dealing with your own eggs in some of those 2020s, but sometimes it's
going to be a little tough to get there. Yeah, I think I agree. I think that's one of the problems,
right? Because unlike the warrior in the turns when you want to be drawing egg, playing egg,
busting out the eggs and so on, so on, those are the turns that Shaman actually wants to
play actively, right? They're dropping the stuff, they're getting hold of the hygrotherm,
that following it up with the everything else from that turn five onwards. So I think that's
going to be that the real deciding moments of this game are going to feel probably in
those first five to six turns where in Kuro can't AoE down boards and develop the eggs
and proc them right like you literally do not have the manner realistically to do
all that fast enough to stop a shame. And however, we have seen that shame can kind
just beat itself sometimes, right? If you just don't get those nice curves early on, it can definitely
slow you down. And right now, I'm not wondering Kuro's brought this deck, because yeah, again,
just egg, just locked, loaded, ready to roll ahead in the early game. So that's going to be
another great start from Kuro. I love start. A little bit slower. A little bit, but he does
pick up the bell hops, which I think he actually got two copies of him as exactly what he wants
just maximum pressure early on and I think we're going to see what we were discussing earlier where
there's these 5-5s in growth for one can't really deal with them and two if he can he has to choose
often if he wants to deal with his own egg or his opponent's minions currently it's a bit tough to
be both. Yeah one of those problems as well is yeah okay going for the table flip with the
salar in there is quite nice because this was a really good outcome actually because the more
you use your removal early on, the less you draw in cards as well, which then makes your
table flips worse, right? So, uh, you're actually getting away with a lot of that in that early
game.
I think that was the absolute dream for the Curl. I mean, he was well aware of his spot
in the game. He knows he needs to deal with at least one of the five-fives if he's just
going to get burned down. So he hits the extra copy of table flip, leaves him with
one in hand. I think he'll be a bit, uh, maybe a bit annoyed to see as a second
copy of the 5-5s which again can't really deal with them super efficiently here.
It does have another table flip and a bomb available. See that's the tricky part now.
This is what we're talking about, right? Like how does Incoro progress whilst not dying?
Right? And can you do both? Because that's what you'd like to do. But is it possible
this turn?
incredibly tricky. I think we're maybe seeing a bit of desync possibly. But in
Korone, I think he's just got to keep working on the egg at this point. I mean
maybe he can deal with one of his opponent's minions but not many at this
stage.
Have I just hal-fired Drain and just leave one on the board?
So you could do that. I think the concern for him is if he's able to
deal with enough of the board as we get a quick pause in the game.
Yep, oh, it's okay. With production magic, we're right back in.
Okay, I think it was Hellfire Drain. Okay, we just had a little bit of a skip there.
Apologies for that, but we're straight back in.
So the Hellfire Drain did come out, but Love Storm, thick and fast, right?
Like just more and more pressure every single turn. We can now see
the Haggothel, though maybe a little bit late to the party.
But at least the feeler is false. It's going to cause some trouble as well.
Yeah, but that sequence of top decks from in curl was absolutely perfect
He picks up the conflagrate first for the one mana proc that doesn't deal damage from self draws into a hellfire
To deal with the rest of the board and immediately summons a 2020
That would have been exactly the way he would have drawn that turn up
Of sure he doesn't have any extra copies of it at the moment
Which could prove to be a problem if the game doesn't end anytime soon
which we can see Lovestorm has some defensive measures. But this 2020 does keep him alive
and really at this point he's just looking for Umbra or if he can actually just push through
maybe there's no frost pseudocore could just kill Lovestorm with one 2020 but will likely be
needing that Umbra. Yeah exactly if anyone's just tuning in Lovestorm 2.0 over in Coro so far
and if in Coro loses this game that's the run over. Obviously these are all top eight
match is final day of the world championship but I have heard that not dying right now is quite good
here for you. So yeah even though it's not the perfect sell with multiple eggs I completely agree
this 2020 could just be enough. Yeah and we can see so Leveson had the option of just playing
a frosty decor but likely felt that he didn't put him in a strong enough position to win the
the game. I don't even think it's possible for him to die on this exact turn because
both Hellfires have been used and one abusive Sergeant, meaning that he actually doesn't
have a way to deal the extra four damage here. So he's going to feel pretty secure, at least
for this turn. Yeah. And there's the Umbra picked up that he does tap into his health
might look a little on the scary side. Maybe potentially furious follows could come
down, but he kind of needs to find some card draw. So he was looking for that umbra and
he does hit it.
Yeah, this matchup just on a knife, said Shrine. Love storm on four, but again, as you
mentioned, because of the potential removal might be feeling a little bit safe.
Oh, and wait, you need to change things.
That is yet. Oh, wait, hang on.
That's okay.
That's a health drink.
Okay.
Yep.
Love storm.
All the girls need to sit down after this, but I already am.
Yeah, that was a pretty intense ending to I mean love storm still obviously quite behind but maybe creeping his way into surviving with
With some frosty decors picks up the the taunt to make himself alive on board, but help drink will close that one out
Yeah, what a game honestly that both players achieving the things they want to do
But in coral finally getting a win without wall lock and super close game
the game. Yes, obviously the
2020 was going to be difficult
to get through. But as you said,
layers of taunts and then just
starting to smash through with
some other minions. They did
have the grow fins as well. That
can help out massively. Once
you play those were against the
taunt later on the end. Coral
getting just enough so love storm.
So I'm going to have the shame
and leftover. But finally we
saw the warlock take a victory
and now we get back to why
was it much more standard match
to see that warlock through.
I think he played that game, at least from what I can tell.
I'm no egg warlock expert, but I seem to play it super well.
Knew exactly what he needed to do.
Took about three seconds to play the Solarium on that one turn.
Knowing that he at least had table flip as backup,
but he hit the stuff he needed to off those draws
and piloted it very well.
Jumping straight in again.
The players just not messing around.
They're just like, let's get this match done.
Jumping over to the Rogue for Incoro.
Now, obviously, Luff's done only having the shame
left over and a nice start with that space rock collector of course looks one
does have the more lot of growth in to answer it not the best hand I've ever
seen for a girl he's got a maestra he's got a foul nose not really the cards you
want to see early on this is tricky as well because he is there a moment
you play that's the founder should take the car draw. Yeah, like it does feel a little bit bad,
but it feels worse having a bad hand, right? Exactly. Yep. It's not ideal. But at the same time,
this is not a matchup where you always need that damage. It can go a bit longer. Let's say
Lovestorm pulls out something like, you know, double frosty or maybe even shutter block into
a hang of the frosty. But you have to play to what your hand gives you. And he pretty
desperately needs this extra draw. So it makes sense to just play it really wants to pick
up like an E.T.M maybe a dubious purchase at the moment a bit of a rough one off the platysaur
there honestly yeah shadow step in do it again but it's just a little bit lighter it's certainly
not ideal but he is gonna need access to this draw ready he's just not given any choice he
needs to find something like dubious or uh E.T.M. is this do you have a hold here like hold
hold the platysaur on me and just wait till next turn. It costs zero right? You can just
deal with the draw next turn and go. Yep, that is what he's going to do. Spends the
mana on the old manager. Sometimes useful for dealing with their minions, but I think
he feels probably more pressure to just get his mana spent because he's maybe not
in a great spot this game. Does also give him access to coin maestra if he wants.
I cannot imagine he would be thrilled about that play, but it is available for him.
Okay, well let's see what this draw is because EMG solves all problems, right?
Yeah, maybe not this problem. Yeah, not now, bus.
Yeah, I think he probably... Oh, it's just such an awkward spot because now all of a sudden,
if you want to try and get this, this everything must go to be playable,
you would have to swing twice into these taunts. Super painful to do. He has the option of
of just redaggering to destroy his weapon, but that costs two mana.
Yeah, there is prepping hand and there is coin, so you've got the potential to do things,
right?
The potential's there.
It's just what Encore wants to, feels the need, I guess, to actually go that hard to
this turn.
I'm about to find out.
Yeah, I mean, bit of a long shot to actually, yeah, I would say this turn it's a bit
of a long shot.
I think it makes a lot of sense. The problem is just if he gets pressured harder this turn
Maybe with something like that flight of a firehawk that was picked up
There's also just a shutter block available for love storm as a 5-5. It's gonna be a lot of face damage heading his way
Right, and yeah coin should have lot looks very good right now
Not only as you mentioned for the 5-5 also locking in that effect right the battle cry going off
now as if you're in curl you just sat here thinking
He essentially knows at the moment that Incaro's hand is not too great.
I would be a little surprised to see him trade the lisp at this stage.
I'm not sure that really makes a lot of sense to be missing the damage.
He could consider trading the Platysaur just for the second copy of Shadow Step.
Not quite sure that it's worth it for him though because Incaro does have his weapon
equid meaning these minions are both effectively dead on the board anyway it
does choose to trade the bodice or just the bodice or probably won't trade this
list yeah I'd be surprised I think the platyphal definitely can understand
because this potential like this is one of those potential of like smell blood
scenarios is the draw from the weapon but you've seen the early game has not
been draw heavy so you think okay well if they have another couple of whiffs
on the draw then suddenly you can just overwhelm them and win so quick
as we can see now the web weaver picked up is going to be mapped into the adubia
these are certainly not whiffs these are the cards that he wants to see and and
this will be a big turn for incurler able to clear up the entire board if he
will get this everything must go down alongside some other minions right he
has the web weaver which is gonna draw several cards here and this is the
swing turn that he needed another Phoenix is good too still has three or
three draws remaining for the second copy of Everything Must Go.
That's from the Platasaur as well, perfect.
Not actually, it doesn't actually have the board space because he needs to play all the other minions.
Doesn't roll the best four drops, but it is still a large board.
Now, Love Storm in a spot where he's suddenly very far behind on board.
He does still have a copy of Murloc Rofin from this flight
and the Shutter Block was playing, meaning if he hits Rofin,
He can just make a ton of extra minions. There's also the bellhop, right? Second copy of bellhop. Those would be 5-5s
That's a pretty big board to deal with for a girl
The other thing that he is saying about the reason why he's not just playing flight is he has the frosty decor
So if he goes frosty, he can just click his location again summon for murloc rofans
the potentially scary thing about that from my perspective is if the girl
coins in Cindy is here because he does have this coin that he held on to, and he thought that's the insidious
that's so crucial for a girl to pick that up because of course he knows
Lovestorm's next turn he's well aware of the girlfriend in hand that just
helped deal with them. You were learning the powers of the
casticals very quickly my friend it's like oh if he gets the insidious
Oh, there it is. Perfect. Yeah. Yeah, this is going very smoothly. Yeah, big deal to
pick that up. Of course, he does still need to draw, you know, however many eruptions to
deal with the growth and so it'll be left, but he's able to push seven face damage here
after getting rid of the plants and has the incendiary is down.
And that's huge as well because the Thanos has been used, right? So the
that in Kuro's missing some potential damage this game because Thanos was used early on
but being able to just hit get rid of that armour really makes up for a lot of that.
Here's the march of the Merlocks and we'll kill off the Insinus and then the assumption
is he will kill the Webweaver so 8 damage on board for in Kuro at the moment and
take a look at what he has left in his neck as he draws through some of the eruptions. Plenty
of damage in there still did have to temple the thalamus meaning he can't increase the damage
of these eruptions but he's got double mauler as well and a shadow step remaining.
We'll be concerned about these murlocs though so the goal will be to clear up as much of this
draw a lot of it now get the damage done and clear these off with eruptions which is very
important. Just get them to clear the vast majority off. So they'll clear them all off now so that will not be a problem any longer.
Yeah, and just doesn't light have the mana to actually kill Lovestorm on this turn, but he shouldn't be too concerned having seen that there's no Haggitha played, meaning Lovestorm can't do something like Shutter Block into a frosty slime.
there's no zileaks available anytime soon
so he'll be feeling pretty comfortable with the situation.
But the one thing to be a little concerned about
is that flight of the firehawk that I mentioned earlier
still has those same outs for Lovestorm
that he can play along the shutter,
although he did just top deck a Murloc Roleflin
which is one of the cards he would want off of the flight.
Yeah, a little bit unfortunate there,
but it's just gonna go fricked as well.
It's the L.A.K.
He hits the bellhop, big deal because incurl only has one eruption remaining, so those
5-5s may just about keep him alive, but it looks pretty close right now.
Yep, just gonna get 4 5-5s with Clawdown.
Of course, Incirl has a bit of board to be able to deal with it, but definitely needs to do some pick math here on how to deal the remaining damage to these minions.
Yeah, the remaining damage is just one db's purchase and one eruption left, just to remind everyone of course.
Yeah, and he does need to get to that eruption before shuffling in all of these asteroids of course
So he'll make sure that he does that in the most efficient way in this case
I can just go with the map and then end the turn on web we've heard mother mother step mother
Looks like it should just about be lethal. Yeah
It is indeed
yeah, just having this most time is just made the trades and again, I think the
the just sticking minions being the heroes of this game honestly because
Yes, there's all the eruptions. Yes, there's now the mollusks, but these minions pushing through some armor early on,
them still existing to make these trades even easier on the bell hops.
All of these things stack up to just making the game a little bit easier for Incaro.
Yep.
Nicely piloted game. I think he had a bit of an awkward starting hand, but nice spot at the end here, of course.
Not the most difficult lethal turn that he will ever do, but there's a lot of pressure we talked about earlier.
you know, it's a bit tougher to stay, you know, cool, calm and collected with the stress of your tournament life on the line.
So just had to double check this turn, make sure he had just enough damage to get the job done.
Yeah. And I think that's been something I've seen the most people talk about when they talk about in Koro.
It's just just been steady as a rock in the matches, right?
Just been sitting down, playing the games, whether they go in his way or not, particularly on any given game.
even we've seen those first two games in this series, where I was losing with the Warlock,
there were some rough outcomes from there and just getting on with it, right? We're full
of a bit of phrase there. Just getting on with it, keeping the play strong and is being rewarded
for it right now as he's managed to fight all the way back up to a 2-2 score, which means
we're going to get Warrior versus Shaman as our last game of this series.
Yep. I think it's a fitting end to the series. My take on this matchup and I think just
reasonably given the decks that they have right both hunters banned away they both have cycle rogue
we've seen it perform pretty well we've also seen both these players you know be capable of
piloting it quest warrior strong right so that all that leaves is warlock versus shaman those are
kind of a big question mark decks for them being the one unique deck in their lineup and
we're seeing those decks struggle they both lost twice for each person now of course in
curl got his warlock through can lovestorm get the shaman through against the warrior
Yeah, that is the big question and that's the thing, isn't it? I feel like
Shaman's one of the classes right now that can look the best and the worst, right?
Depending on which game you're looking at because it can look absolutely miserable.
Sometimes when the curve isn't great, you just look at certain game states and think,
how do you even win from this point? Is there even a chance? But then you see it,
have a clean curve to Hagatha and then think, okay, yeah, and if it's possible,
You can just wait so the warrior does have the tools to deal with some of these big boards that the shame
It can generate with like the big grow fins and so on and they're all the taunts
So those tools are available
But it's just I think all gonna be on how fast love storm can just get that pressure down and keep the foot down
Yep, absolutely
We've seen some games in this matchup actually plenty of games in this matchup in the tournament so far
We saw Chansu have some horrible draws against Warrior with Shaman.
Love Storm will be hoping that is not his point of view this game.
Trying to get some early minions, a flight of the firehawk, a hag at their location.
All of that is going to be pretty crucial in the early game.
And is this a matchup where Warrior generally holds the quest or are they going to throw it away?
Because that's something that we've seen obviously in the mix.
Maybe players haven't played too much of Warrior or playing at certain ranks where Warrior always holds the quest.
the quest. What we expect
to see here. Yeah, so with the
current versions of the deck,
you basically always hold on
to the quest again. Shaman with
the theory being if you cross
the quest, they get strong and
can play a really long game,
right? But you don't put a
clock on them if you don't
keep quest, so you have no
access to time warp. No
Sulfurus and they can just
take their time. They go
shutter block at least and
they have all the time in
the world to play. You know,
three they could maybe even
play 10 man of locations.
The quest allows you to
right. Okay. Well, early on,
we're watching into the bell
hops is a close to as good a
star as you're going to hope
for for lost on right now.
It is. Yeah, it is a lot of
early pressure and something
that is a huge deal in this
matchup. I mean, you could
say really every matchup
for Warrior, especially
this one is do they have
new heights on three because
right if you have new
heights, even just looking
at this hand, right, you
can go new heights and then
invader goggles to just
without it you may have to like coin sure you could coin an invader and goggles
but that's pretty expensive right it does cost you your coin so no early ramp
not exactly what in curl was hoping for yeah no hagatha on the love storm side
here but turbulence is often a good consolation prize for this scenario
right you can just drop it down get the buff done and just keep on trucking
and funny enough in in this exact circumstance it's just better than
I might feel kind of unintuitive, but it buffs these bell humps to 5 HP, which incurred not having to see it all because all of a sudden this invader goggles just won't clear the board.
board is still gonna go ahead and make that play because if he doesn't do it
right now he he may just die within you know a couple of turns so at least this
forces love storm to most likely trade it off with one of the six ones they
does still have to take that additional six damage yeah this is one of those
ones where you were you're a bit upset in the moment but it will pay off
eventually, kind of scenario.
And Luxor doesn't have a ton of different options here, right?
He's got a Frosted Accor, not much else going on for his hands, so we'll likely see him play it.
The question that he's probably asking himself is, can he ever maybe push the six face?
Because if you do, Incurl will likely trade off the invader,
but you do get to keep a couple of tutus and you push six more damage.
So yeah, and what's what's the even follow-up from incoro that you would be scared of if you were love storm
Right if you play frosty the code go face
What's the big punish because I?
Carry a second invader or something. It's like the punish or something, right? So there's nothing too crazy
Yes, you probably not gonna have much of a board left
But it's not like you stepping into a huge trap from incoro right by going face it
Yeah, and and loves home. I would say correctly identifies that there's really not that much benefit the dream is I think it's pretty
Intuitive right to kill it and say oh now it can't damage my other minions, but there's just not enough upside for him
There's the punish for glorious cheaper
It is I mean had this not been the case and curl would have comfortably just played a yore this turn
instead oh you can see him shaking his head I think he maybe rushed a little bit
on this turn he meant to trade off this invader almost certainly into a bell hop
meaning his Elise will have too less health not necessarily the biggest deal
but it sometimes those tiny mistakes can add up yeah and honestly I think
against Shaman as well they have the ability to do those small bits of
damage right so you taking self damage on minions you didn't necessarily have
to. You can come back to bite you a little bit because there's some Aoean shaman, there's
these Merlocks that can get some work done, even making them a little bit easier to kill
from the Frosted Ethos a little bit of a problem.
Yep, absolutely. And let me go ahead and pull up this location. Where is it here? I can't
find our location.
ground it is that perfect there we go so yeah we've got raptors and death rattle I
think on the first option he had something like copy offered not super
ideal because a lot of time you'll have a minion in this case I think maybe
fortunately for incurro that that's my mistake won't actually end up
mattering love storm does just deal with the board but the fouls meaning
is at least what it had anyway.
Yeah, actually, it's a slightly higher chance of it doing more psychological damage to Incaro,
right? You don't want to mess up on stream while you're playing a big match, even though it didn't really matter.
It's still, that's probably more of a chance of doing damage than actually doing the chances of hurting his chance to win this game.
Okay. First of all, it's the winner here.
Yep, Enkoro just felt the need to clear this board right.
It's not the scariest board on the surface,
but of course the problem is any time leading into a turn seven for Shaman.
And they have five minions on board.
They are playing wish and they are punching you in the face for 20.
So pretty important to deal with it.
It's a double whammy, right?
You you stop that from happening, but also the chip damage is adding up, right?
Like Enkoro is by no means feeling safe on this HP right now.
So it definitely needs to do something, especially if the plan was to then drop this location this turn
That's a huge chunk of manner to be able to spend so you just did what he could to get whatever as much as possible
Does have the right to stick the majority of this but again to take another six and shoot a block
Yep, and kind of a nice optimization. You can say here from the girls
He is pretty confident that love storm is going to be playing for eight eighths this turn now
Now, for one, he doesn't actually have a clear answer in hand, but he was able to just weave
in that hero power for the extra two armor, knowing that this Foglory almost certainly
going to be zero mana on this turn.
Yeah.
Oh, they pick up the second brawl as well.
So, can brawl?
Could just play Bob this turn?
Mm-hmm.
Yeah.
No problem with the brawl.
Go on.
Go ahead.
No, no, you go.
You go.
Sure, sure.
I think what you were going to loot through the problem with the brawl is he does leave up a big minion ready at best case scenarios leading up to 6-6
Maybe not super ideal the upside for him would be that he can fit in a copy of new heights and start to do more stuff
but we may very well also just see him go Bob maybe throw in the strike and
He does have his location opening next turn. So maybe he can deal with the remaining minion
you actually could even go Bob and hold the strike right so that next turn he
can go brawl strike plus the location click to deal with the 88 that probably
lives yeah it is yes it's really tricky as well because that sounds like that
definitely the go-to but there's also brawl leave an 88 potentially but you
could new heights as well this turn and just progress a little bit more
for more man later but I think the Bob is just too good and this is
probably just the turn you use it for, right? It's about as aggressive a board as Loves Tom's
going to make through the majority of this game. So why not just drop it down?
And he does choose the part in ways with the strike, which I thought he might hold on to just
because there are so many A-dates and he's got these two lungs coming out. Of course,
the upside is he does just cycle his deck, right? He could find maybe Dracarx, maybe Zileax,
right? Will be useful at some point. So he values spending the mana a bit more than
maybe the possibility of an A-date living here. On top of that, also pretty reasonable to expect a
wish upon a star gets played this turn, meaning that he actually wouldn't have an A-date,
he would just have an 11 HP minion, and the precursory strike wouldn't even kill it. Of course,
there isn't one, but in current, can't see it. I love star I'm having probably as good a turn
as you're going to have when this much of your board is frozen, right? Just using that
time to get the Hagatha down. There's no point massively developing onto the board because
you're expecting there to be some form of removal next turn. Because if there isn't, great,
you've won. And then if there is, you don't want to be overdoing it on threats. So Hagatha
coming down this turn was pretty clean. Let's get the actual extra turn there for
the cleanup with the pop-up book as well, and still has that small should the blocking
hand as well as the follow-ups with the fairytale files. Yep and Love's one does
choose to invest a little bit of damage into just clearing off that bob making
it maybe making his bra wards better making it a bit tougher for and girl to
actually clear we will see the ball come out the frog nearly got there but
in the end an 88 does win out. Yeah I was thinking that would be typical
wouldn't it? Okay we'll clear the the bob so we can make a board. Oh wait
the frog one yep and uh it is an awkward spot for incurl now right i mean he did pick up bulwark
which could potentially be a big deal that allows him to maybe uh gain the hp necessary uh but one
of the things that he may be pretty afraid of from love storm is anything off hagatha
terrifying at this point right he saw frosty played meaning that the hagatha was either
are going to pull like two copies of Wish or maybe even a Furious Fowls and Shutter Block plus Fowls
is a ton of damage even through Bulwark.
Speaking of Fowls, Lovestorm does pick one up. Could use that to chew through the Bulwark
at some point. Possibly not now, but in the future.
Yeah, this is definitely going to be scary. Looks like he's going to go for the Parrot
century as well just to start cashing in on that value from the location. Yeah, that said,
the bobs gone, the brawl's gone, just get everything in at this point and just try and end the game.
Because in Kuro, it's creeping towards quest completion.
Yeah, and this is the issue for in Kuro, having used those removals earlier, maybe felt forced
to use the brawl on a smaller board due to the possibility of this coming a few turns ago,
now has to deal with the reality of it, and he just doesn't have a great way to deal with
like you said the best he can do really is like zileaks this turn try to stay alive he has his location click to deal five damage with the deathrattle next turn
But five damages not even that much
17 HP. Yeah five feels quite low doesn't it?
Like I just say in there I will probably get the the live steal guaranteed from the zileaks which helps
But it's just how are these means going down ceaseless may as well be in the next game by now because it's still on
141 costs so that's quite a while away obviously will take down pretty fast with these kind of board states
But it's just it's not looking great
And I think something that must be really hurting in Kuro is just how long these new heights have been just chilling in the hand and not
Being able to cash in on that potential ramp because the pressure has been so much from love storm old love storm all game
Yeah, absolutely. That's why it's so crucial in the early game like on turn three specifically to get it down
because that's kind of the one turn of safety that you have right they have no real pressure at
worst a couple of five fives you can take one hit or two then all of a sudden you you face these
wards with 35 power or whatever and of course you just don't have time to play them.
They have this furious there there's no melee or options
yeah static shot pretty nice pick up yeah the no melee a super key here to push through
the zileaks and it will also actually it won't push the two now because it's
just too big it's too big it will die so it won't quite proc the bulwark
however he can still get the 14 damage through this turn
yeah more more right oh yes sorry sorry yeah it's a little on charge 14 yeah and
massive issue for incurl is the ceaseless is too expensive this
know, maybe he's not going to
be able to do that. But I
think it's Nomelia also if he
was hoping that his deal five
plus Raptors will help him deal
with the board. The Raptors
just die immediately to the
Nomelia death rattle. So. I
mean, I think we're probably
in the territory of you have
to hit Time Warp here and
and then I'm not even sure
what happens after. It's like
well, Time Warp to stabilize
would have to be I think Time Warp off of the quest reward and then also hit like Amara be alive
on the next turn which I'm not really I don't think he is even with Time Warp into Amara you just
can't buy the time to get to the ceaseless. Just looking at what cards are even left for in Kuro here
and uh nothing too great honestly is there there's uh unleash the crocs for some armor but
you need the heck of a amount of armor there so yeah I think there is just a huge reliance on
what's actually going to be potentially drawn from the quest reward or generated?
I also may have lied about the Nomelia interaction that Nomelia was actually ended up dying first
and the death row goes off then the raptor summon so he at least has the two ones.
She does pick up an Amora, no time warp, but is he alive with this? The answer is just no,
unfortunately for him on the board he is actually way easier well on the board
he is she like that one not not now right no not now yeah that pick I think
one maybe without the top deck even with the fouls but love storm picks up the
drawing needs to push the remaining damage and he will take the series three
to. Yeah, what one incredible series overall, I think both players again, I think these were
two of the names after the first couple of days that everyone was talking about of like,
wow, these two played some of the best out of everyone, which is a quite a compliment
when you look at the world championship and arguably one of the strongest world championships
you've had in general. So yeah, a huge shout out to incoro, I think it's played super
well, bringing the warlock and making the warlock work. It wasn't, yeah, okay,
It's true a little bit earlier on, but the wallet got over the line in this series once
again.
So great play from in Kuro, but unfortunately for him, it wasn't enough, but Love Storm continuing
to have a fantastic run through this tournament as Love Storm was the group winner for his
group earlier on a few days ago now.
And it's just continuing to show just to get in the work done, even against some
of these sort of wonky matchups, right?
Like dealing with this egg warlock.
I'm sure as you said, a lot of players were not going to the tournament expecting
have to make a game plan for egg lock in top eight. Yep, very well said. Again, my commiserations to a girl.
I personally thought he would play incredibly well throughout the tournament. Big surprise for me to see
how well he handled the nerves, but does end his run here in top eight. Yeah, so that is it for
this match, but we've still got plenty more. So don't go anywhere. We'll be right back with some more.
Well, Championship 2025 and we have got the third quarterfinal coming up for you just a moment.
I think it's going to be a pretty good one, sort of.
I think we highlighted this last night as potentially much of the day.
Indeed, yeah, I think looking down the list, this is the one that really stands out.
Obviously, the biggest talking point has to be Yanming making a deep run
for something that has never been achieved before in Hearthstone,
which is a repeat world championship.
Xiao Ti, the final obstacle or the initial obstacle
that he might view as the final obstacle
because I talked yesterday as we went off air
about the high regard that the China players
all hold each other in in terms of their strength
of the field on the global stage.
We've seen two excellent performances
from definition I think particularly,
Love Storm going into this one,
trying to stake a claim that their respective regions
are still the strongest, but Jiao-Ti and Yang Ming will probably be looking like really put in the prep for this one.
I know you were, was it you talking to Wreck-Vam? I've been raving talking to Wreck-Vam about, you know, how much you plan in advance when you have prep time.
Yeah, yeah, that's me.
Do you just, do you just prep for the match that's in front of you, or do you try and prep a little bit more and more throughout the field?
I think both of these players will have been absolutely laser focused on the initial challenge in front of you.
Yeah, it's not that many days ago that they're both competing for the qualifiers. That was still in December and
In that one shouty won his group five and oh and
Yamming scraped through two and three into the top eight and then obviously won the top eight match
Which is why he's here. So recent form
Shouty, you know
Got the nod not just a little bit of an edge on it like five zero
Straight through no work. Well, he has some worries in the quarter-final
with no actual worries and yaming just getting here screaming hold on to his
world title which he is still doing now show to you an uncharacteristic mistake
I think in the first round but looked a lot better yesterday he did yeah I think
some people would argue certainly from a European and America's perspective that
he made a mistake even earlier than that by bringing the particular build
of Hunter that he has into the tournament. My perspective of it, like I ended up picking
Jelty, obviously I love Jelty, I'm a huge Jelty fanboy, you know, you're well aware of this,
but you also know that I do tend to heavily factor lineups into my choices. And Jelty has
Charmin, which was not something I was massively in favour of coming into this tournament,
also has a Hunter build that is not the one necessarily I would choose to play on Ladder.
I don't think it's the right build necessarily for the tournament. I do think it's perhaps
a little bit overstated how damaging it is because it still eats bands anyway and there is also this
argument this is not something i've considered strongly enough to actually throw this out there
as a hot take or whatever but sometimes you're in this position with the best deck in the game
where you should build it a little weirdly because it's going to it's going to get banned
or people are going to come out come against it with off the wall lineups trying to target it
knowing that you're going to bring it in which case you can have weird cards in there that
help you play around it, right? So, yeah, Jalties extra ability to win some of the matchups that
would challenge him like control warrior quest warrior, for example, with the build that he has
might actually be a conscious decision on his part. And of course, as you mentioned,
it is, I believe card for card the same build that he was running in those China qualifiers,
right? So, yeah, it was it was so successful for him through that tournament that he's just
just straight back on the bike, which is a nice thing.
Yeah, I didn't think he'd bring it.
I very quickly just went into a warrior mirror.
I thought it was weird, because every time he played that deck,
he looked incredibly good on it.
Like, he really sort of worked all the different nuances
in there that you don't always see with the Hunter deck.
He got it to do things against warrior,
made it sing that you can't normally do with Hunter
against warrior, apart from that great gaming clue
had earlier in this tournament.
But every time he drew a server,
He looked like he wished he hadn't brought the deck.
I thought he might just be in it, but obviously even...
This is what makes a good player, right?
I suspect he doesn't particularly like the build,
but he sees something in it that he likes and so he brought it.
But now into the Warrior Mirror. Tell us a bit about this sort of thing.
This is one of the most intriguing matchups for me in the whole tournament,
the Warrior vs. Warrior.
Yeah, now, you know, again, something that people might know about me.
I am not really much of a control deck enjoyer personally,
I was just saying in our little virtual green room earlier that I felt
Some of the warrior matchups have been the most engaging throughout the tournament warrior versus shaman in particular
I think has looked really really fun
Watching it being played at the highest possible level
Jaltie had a great one earlier
In his qualifier to this point where I had actually had some dispute with the way he was playing it
But it was really really interesting
watching it play out at super high level. The Warrior Mirror as well is perhaps something that's a
little more, I don't know what the word is, naturally solvable than the Shaman encounter, which is a
bit more fluid, just because of the way, you know, everyone fairly safely navigates their way
through the mid-game until you get to that quest completion phase, and then both players
are trying to activate this two-turn setup combo with the time walks, you get two turns in a
you make your minions cost zero with the Barnabas that you get from the quest
reward and then you load up damage with a ceaseless expanse, a Galvedon that has
a million plus attacks and wind fury and so on and you OTK your opponent even
beyond the massive like 80 plus armor totals that they're able to get. What
makes it really interesting is all the little wrinkles that you can throw
together in getting there so there's all kinds of iterations of you know
the game. We're going to
play a lot of different
players. We're going to be
playing multiple releases as
we're seeing here from
yaming. There's Bob coming in
playing a huge factor because
you can use a bob to copy
your opponents at least or
copy your opponents Barnabas
so that you can get faster
towards your own combo. Copy
your opponents quest reward.
If they're playing steam
cleaner, they can steam
clean away all of all of
your quest rewards. You can
then Bob their quest
reward to get your to get
your quest rewards back. They
can have a useful
the game. It's a very
very possible and can kind of
mess with that. Um late game
scenario, but it is still kind
of one of those like flow
charty style of matchups where
the flow chart gets quite
complex, but you can still
memorize a flow chart in terms
of how to play it out. Yeah,
we were joking around yesterday
as well in the virtual green
moon, as you call it quite
accurately. This would be a
fun tavern brawl if it just
started on turning them 11
The first part is armor accumulation, hand curation where you're trying to sort of make
sure there's space because you do start getting more and more clutter in your hand later on.
And fine details, yeah, it's just about to get there.
Shalty, you quite often use this port later on, it might save a hit from an 8-8 or something
but it generally doesn't tank as much as you would expect and it gets replaced by
with Sulfurus, it's a bit of a mammosink later on.
You just three mana that you don't really want to spend,
but it's sitting in your hand being annoying.
So with not much else to do on that turn,
how do you decide, did you know what?
I'm just gonna spend that three mana now and have it spent,
even though it's not going to really protect
that much damage.
Yeah, that's the big deal.
I remember asking Regvam about this yesterday or the day
before, and yeah, his answer was exactly like,
mana efficiency is just more important.
hand size and mana efficiency and being able to get cards out of your hands so that you
can cycle through more cards into your hand, just more important than having this bulwark
in the late game where it's not, it's just not going to save you at the end of the day
anyway.
And also now I see it in play this early, which I never have in the mirror.
Honestly, most of the mirror minions are quite large anyway, so it's still going
to tank a THREE!
I love it when my hand costs 317 mona.
Well, the gym use is the day.
It is getting cheaper three times as fast as you.
Yeah, it's just pie now.
There we go.
Wow.
Oh!
Okay.
Jump scare for me.
I thought Dracoax mattered.
So, Ceaseless Expans, as I mentioned, is quite often a card that you save to use for the final OTK, right?
So, even if your opponent has tried to put up a wall of taunts somehow, you can go Ceaseless Expans, Galvedon, take all your adapts, attack, win fury, then play your time walk.
And your Ceaseless is also functioning as an extra minion, pushing damage on the next turn, right? It's a huge 10-minion that gets to attack.
having the luxury of actually being able to use ones to make tempo turns in the
turns leading up to that actually could become a huge asset but also further
more like it's it's something that gives you a plan that you're going through
some security it's the first time in this tournament I think we've seen Bob
used for triple minion we have I think exclusively seen Bob being used to
steal specific minions from the opponent and particularly because that
comes with the additional upside of when your opponent goes into quest mode like
when they actually have the rewards in their deck you fill their hands up with
coins at the same time because of the way that Bob effect works and then you
can potentially burn their time walk or their Galbadon off the top which makes
it very difficult for them to win the game from that position so triple
ceaseless very exciting it could land anywhere from being incredibly
impactful to having no effect on the game whatsoever but I think the
really interesting part is that Jouti just continued to spend his mana and slammed Bob
on curve and just took triple minion instead of looking for some kind of cute setup with
it. It was also interesting that he, that was his chance to kill this ham. He could have
here a power shield slam, use the weapon, which was terribly inefficient to turn.
But now this ham, if Yamming chooses to remove it, it's going to become a 7-7. It's
going to continue to eat useful minions up. And at the moment Jouti has no way
way to remove it apart from Zileac's. Well, Zileac's killing a 7-7 isn't much fun for
you. So, but the bluff isn't called, or bluff is called, whichever you look at it, it is
traded in and the ham off has come to an end.
Yeah, I think both players just kind of agreed there that ham is not actually super
You're not, you're reliant on the means that start in your deck really, right?
Like Bob and Elise, the Big 2, and Jelty's already played the Bob.
Yeah, he's kind of like, you're kind of like your Maren.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Maren's a good point.
You're right.
That's very fair.
But weirdly, the Hams being in play also thin out your deck to the point, you know,
when you get to a smaller deck size quicker,
so then when you play the quest reward,
you're more likely to pick up those combo pieces
you need to win the game
in a rather strange twist of fate.
Yeah, when I first saw this matchup,
my instinct was, I'll save your ham
and then eat the quest rewards later on,
but most of them aren't that great.
You don't mind them being eaten.
Obviously Barnabas learned Galberdon being the exceptions,
but the others, you don't mind if they're eaten, really.
So it's all about, as we've discussed,
spend that mana, get it out of your hand,
does a thing move on to another thing.
So right now of course these turn three or this turn three
will walk still in play still fully protected still all four
charges.
Which is can be here like armor matters a little bit it
doesn't matter anywhere near like I made the point on day
one and I think people may have taken it as a hard and
fast rule but anything I word it differently today anything
under 80 health doesn't matter unless they miss wind
feel the armed Galvedon. After you get over 80 health you might buy yourself 1x
return in which you get your time warp before they get theirs. Can I still nitpick and
offer a little bit more correction on that as well? Yes go for it. Nitpick away. Health under 80 does matter
because it makes them draw Galvedon. If your health is somewhere between 30 and 50
they can kill you. They can kill you with just Sulfura's Ceaseless
expanse your time walk, right? They don't have to draw all of the means to be able to do it.
You do notice it. I've read the point a couple of times where you're playing it's a shaman or a
rogue or something. Suddenly the health totals just doesn't matter. We actually saw in Kuroi take
ages to spot a really easy lethal yesterday because he was used to looking for how do I do
60 and he had to do 32. Like, yeah, if it's under sort of 45, then literally doesn't matter.
But yeah that I was assuming a fairly high amount of armor on both sides, but yes
If you've got none you can have mean currently has you're struggling
So I did just have some momentary issues
Connecting to a dashboard that does all these fancy things we can take a look at the two locations in hand now
That is the first one 12 armor 10 10 copy very nice armor as we talked about a huge asset in the matchup
And then presuming this work
That's better though.
And that's a huge one because later on you do get the portal that generates the imps.
And if that is on board every single turn while you're still scambling to find your Time Walk Galvardon stuff,
your opponent's constantly counting hang on two imps, plus the thing they just played which might be Mestislurs or whatever.
Plus some stuff that's on the board, maybe a bob.
And every turn you have something to hang on.
There's five minions.
minions, they're probably all 5-5s because you played the rogue reward as well. That's
like 6 lots of 9. Actually that hurts, I've got to be careful. So that matters a lot in
the grindy ones where the combo pieces are right at the bottom of the deck where you
can't threaten lethal in other ways.
The ballwork can come down now for Yamini, you can see Jaltis still with 3 charges from the ballwork of Azenov
and still all the way up at 72 effective health plus armor.
Just to cover some sort of um,
clerical matters both sides do have a renovator in their deck and both sides don't have the
steam cleaner just for the reference of the deck. You see one of the unique cards in hand for
Yamming he has that one copy of sleep under the stars in his version of the deck which is
a little bit unusual he does also play a copy of youthful brew master in case he runs into
to any of those tech lords who do want to try and steal the minnow on the other side, but
probably not be super good.
He sounded like Crane when you call them tech lords, honestly, but he cranes saying that
as a phrase.
Alright, there's the time warp.
Obviously, this was just now, but nice to have it at any point now.
You can just win the game from nowhere.
I mean, not-
You know what I mean before you get nit-picky, Sothra?
I've seen what you do to Raven.
Not having it.
What?
Not guilty, wasn't me.
Okay.
I'll blame someone else.
I'll tell you, Raven.
Swings with the, um, because he's the one who's got the time-walking hand, so he's
the one who doesn't want those up on the-on the board at the moment.
Just in case.
Yeah.
The sort of thing that I would definitely miss by the way if he hadn't done it, it's so obvious when he does, but no way I spot that.
Look out to your hand there, you know what I mean?
Well it's like yaming, trying to take a turn this turn just to make the target as high
as possible for Jelty.
Yep.
Would like to know what he is, when your opponent has time, these crocodiles actually represent
8 damage for the 10 armour that he gave me. Obviously you're going to roll them away.
Yeah, okay, well we got back to where we started. What a wonderful piece of armour that turned
out to be. 12 mana game, 20 armour, not the most effective
No, especially we've got two 10 drop locations. I thought he might just shut his eyes and take a turn to play a location there game
The 12 get it rolling and you know get it out of his hand because those two tens are going to get more and more
Cluttery
The downside the the counter side to that of course is you'll get to 15 16 mono at some point and you can drop them
Alongside another card on the same turn, but I do wonder if you just gonna get one of those out of his hand there
And show he is getting kind of close to be able to
to take some level of control over this, even though he's not going to get the lethal just
yet most likely. This board, this recursive board, these ceasuses are coming to play,
the time warp in hand, just started to look okay for him, but this matchup does just swing
on his head sometimes, for no reason at all.
Yeah, for sure. I mean, you can see that a little bit in the health total discrepancies,
right like it there was a point not too long ago where jelty was like 40 armor
clear of yandmik turns the corner immediately as soon as the the other
wall came down to a head now just choose three there's the sofa
so first new the mission just wait till this is ticked down
See how Migg's turned to get the quest towards quite a lot of classes dead stuff.
Right.
Yep.
Bob's the Barnabas.
This is the interaction I was talking about at the start.
So he now has his own copy of Barnabas to make all of his minions cost zero.
He also fills up Xiao-Tee's hand for a burn of...
Okay.
Oh, totally irrelevant.
That was definitely the waste of counting on there by me
Well, not totally irrelevant ancient of yours is a nice card to just have here just to be able to pull through the rest of your deck a little bit quicker
But not one of the actual relevant when condition calls
So shouty has to be a little careful. Obviously, you know, there's those two 10 cost locations in hand
So at no point is it gonna feel particularly safe. It does get a few us which will
largely be useful. The 8 to face is pretty useful, killing the minions is more useful.
It does become a question of how easy you are to maximise your odds of getting that damage to go past.
If you're going to go brawl before pressing the hero power, it's going to be a huge damage to you.
What's it now? Minions are missing.
You can shield slam away the final minion if he wants to as well.
If he loses, which he doesn't, save himself a shield slam.
And there's the importance of damage, right?
We're talking about, um, there are levels of armor that matter in this mirror.
He didn't knew heights there, he chose to get the 8.
Oh yeah, 100%.
So, in a matchup where you don't think the armor matters, not you, but it is tempting
to think the armor doesn't matter because the combo does a lot of damage, he did still
choose to do damage over getting new heights out of his hand and getting more mana.
Less of that accusatory tone.
I don't have to be very careful as you might waste the whole broadcast telling me about how long I am and I couldn't have that every day.
You've got to have a day off sometime, right?
I can't wait.
It's scheduled in 2026, that's going to be our year.
Yeah?
Cool, yeah.
Maybe I've got more things right.
anyway portal with a tent up location plus four in hand situation earlier now
one shout he has to be very careful no he doesn't because he picks up the
galva don would you would you like the honor of doing some counting I am
counting like a counter right now so he can play the Cecilus and the Galbadon
and the Time Warp which is just 10 for the Cecilus he has two lots of 12 from
his Hero Power and Weapon that's 34 and then can the Galbadon
Yes Galvodon almost always gets there.
Of course Xauty doesn't deal in almosts.
Galvodon, the big deal when you're in this massively winning position is Galvodon can miss windfury.
That's the thing that you have to double check but it's only a 4% chance I think to miss it.
miss it and even if you do it it's often missed it because it's really really large he waits for
one more turn no more work to run into in the other side he says he's got plenty of time he gets
the ceaseless down which makes all of his ceaseless cost zero for the next turn as well
means he can play a zero amount of ceaseless to start the turn that turn he couldn't get
the ceaseless down alongside everything else because he would have to play other cards first
to make the ceaseless cost zero by the time he does that, and then he's got those cards
on board so he'd end up blowing them up, so...
Yeah.
It's just taking the slow route to the same location.
Have another minion in hand, potentially next turn as well, so yeah.
I just saw a person spend the whole game planning how to play three ceaselesses in
one turn before realizing later on what a problem that might be.
I did think that earlier when you drew three.
Now I caught it very quickly. No, no, I didn't do it.
Ooh, he can play three ceaselesses in the Alvedon turn.
No, no, no, no, no, no. I was on it for once in my life, but certainly because playing
is the sort of thing I like to plan for.
You are safe now.
Okay.
I obviously did more damage than this time last year, while I showed me last time.
I have three more to go.
That's about as much as it is worth it.
This is not the time.
Takes the poisonous to get a better chance of getting windfuel.
If you wonder why he's not taking the buffs here.
Oh my goodness.
Oh no! Oh no!
I mean this is why you wait, right?
This is why you wait.
Now he's going to look for buffs. He got the plus four here, so that's a massive location.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Coin, mega fin, and location.
Yeah. Doesn't even need to play location to the mix turn if he doesn't want to.
So he's getting the mana this way.
Get fit in the hero power, play more minions, make sure you've got the space for the savage
roar on the following turn, quick scan the minions, just make sure you aren't doing anything
massively stupid.
He hasn't had any massively stupid oddly enough, of course he's shouty, and it's
not day one, so.
Immense damage coming in there, who needs windfury when you've got lots of big, buffed
up minion friends. It takes the lead 1-0 against the current world champion. It is his fourth
world championship performance, shall I tell you. And not only that, but he has missed
out really narrowly like two other occasions. It is ridiculous. We can't stress enough
because we don't see much of him over here, really. He does tweet and stuff like that.
He does let us know how he's doing, but he has been the most successful in terms
of high stakes matches ever, I think, overall.
Not just a crashing one or a tournament's one, but...
I think it's easy to look on and, you know, if you're more of a casual viewer, that, um...
You know, we talk about JALT being one of the absolute best in the world, one of the absolute best of all time,
and the very valid reaction from some unlockers would be, well, what's he ever won, right?
like and that's fine and it's easy to sit here as an Arsenal fan and defend just being consistently
really really good but not actually necessarily winning anything and how that still means that
you're great at the game you're playing right but it is true particularly in a game with a higher
level of variance for most people's opinion although that's up to debate than football or soccer
but that's what jowty does that's how you really measure greatness in something like a card game
is, you know, average win rate over as big a sample as you can possibly get.
And for Sheltie, that is, he's so far head and shoulders above so many people in the world, right?
He's just been so consistently, so very, very, very, very, very good that he's got a lot of
supporters in terms of people that have been following the scene for a very long time,
hoping that he can finally get over the box.
Yeah, we see more of the best myself of him.
Obviously if Jan Minkin repeat, that would be a tremendous achievement as well.
to get back to the bit where
you said, as an Arsenal fan, it's
easy to sit here and defend. I
have no further comment. Yeah,
very true. Very true. Um Banto
was just did a little bit of
maths for us previously. So on
the previous turn he would have
needed plus nine attack plus
wind theory for the Galvedon
lethal and he just said I'm
far enough ahead that I'm going
to wait one turn for more
likely out because even
through the Amara that
he also ramped right so he had so much more manner on the following turn to be able to do the stuff with
Marlots if he did miss get 10 mana location all of that good stuff
So yeah, I think a very very reasonable assessment of the situation having having banter in the background in the mass for us
Thank you very much. Mr. Face
Mr. Face
This is gonna be a quick game of Hearthstone
Yeah, so, Y'Jati has the really good start, it's not the really good start, it's a really
good start that can develop into the really good start.
Yaming has three cards and say draw a card on them, which is also really good.
Technically not the best.
Yeah, I mean, he can play the the growth in for zero as well right after after it's a super high tempo opening for a coin parry sanctuary on one it's going to pay off as well.
I know it's not quite the card that a lot of people think it is, but the web
show as well a webweaver as well going from the trade from the 2-2 growth in
here is another big deal when the hand size is that small. So yeah this is
pause for thought time because when you have a Haggathor in your hand almost
no matter how good your tempo openings are you do have to consider
the downside of you shooing through this many location clicks early on when you're
about to get artificially inflated power level battle primings and but I think
yeah the tempo just ends up being way too strong yeah and he does get to VSS
next turn he can you still draw bellhop and take it slightly slower than
Hagatha. Yeah Bellhop off three, Hagatha off four and then Button and you know your
Slimes on six if you want to do that. No, I don't think you want to do that. Who cares?
Well, we've got a plan, you know. Just get the six and the seven and you'll be fine.
I think you actually want the other five, right? Like, it just, you just get to play
in a whole extra five-five on the Frosty Deck or turn instead of, I mean, it depends
what location you end up hitting with the Elise, I suppose.
Why is my hand so good? Now I have to consider everything again. So many decisions.
Like you can save the Deco until a little bit later, can't you if you want to? You can
do anything. Save the Deco until later to get the other. Okay fine.
Doesn't this just look incredibly smooth from here?
It does.
But, you know, there's a rogue on the other side that has incendiary-
Ah, yeah.
Yeah, that's a good point.
It's worth noting as well, because I am a journalist of such great repute and in such high moral standing,
and how my levels of objectivity have never been called into question,
But despite a lot of naysaying from the casting team, myself chief among them,
Sharman had an incredible day yesterday, which actually pushed it into positive for actual win rate,
even though it's still a little bit below 50% on true win rate adjusted for bands.
But it is no longer really anywhere in the conversation for the weakest performer of the broadcast.
Death Knight is now much much worse performed than Charmin based on the results from yesterday.
Shout out to Oncrad for compiling all that as usual.
I think he's also co-streaming as well, so good for him.
Yeah, I saved that earlier. Well, Charmin is still negative on adjusted win rate,
which is obviously what matters if you're going to be wrong. We can still be right. It's fine.
You didn't even catch the I didn't even call it adjusted. You didn't even see my my post-truth world analysis
I didn't even call it adjusted when right. I called that one true win rate
Super
I was Yammin's hand gone by the way. He's been busy drawing cards now. He has a pet
Yeah, he's he's been tusked and he's had both of his platty cards discarded
Yeah, none of them have ended up being playable, so that is gonna lead you with a pretty miserable looking out
It is doing an impression of someone who's kind of dead in this game at the moment
That however is the kind of miracle draw that you are looking for especially with a single solitary
BMG hang on
Hold on rumors of the world champions death have been greatly exaggerated
Oh, but he didn't get the cheap card to be able to pay both the MGs, which he really wanted.
So he put his head in his hands, he missed a zero or the one that would have allowed him to get both cards and get them back to zero.
Did hit a really good minion though.
Yeah, picking up taunt here is huge.
And it has the asteroid effect built in as well, kind of.
where Drawn...
Drawn, Drawn, well, yeah, cast when Drawn, which is good for your Vogue deck.
Yeah, yeah.
It's the Asteroid of Dragons at your opponent's face.
Oh.
Now, that's the Asteroid of them.
Why is this game so cool to me, specifically, relentlessly, even when I'm casting it?
Well I don't think we're interested in overloading just based on how curvy our
curve is. So that probably rules that one out and I don't really want a small
manner discount on static shock first. Yeah. And the identify damage to Mimiglater is one way to
somehow get out of control. There was that little warning shot there for me and me.
you know what I said about it is still rogue it is still very much rogue over
absolutely he's being forced there to asteroid early by the nature of the way
this game is gone which makes things a little bit more messy
certainly the final kill so another good point for Xiaoqin this one
only had a card in his power now that dealt 5 damage to all minions. Oh well. Yeah, it
does kind of mess up the rest of his turn as it stands. As it stands. Yeah, Bellhopper
would be great, that isn't the opposite of that. So now, from Geltie's perspective,
he's looking at this going, well hang on, if I just AoE this board, I float 4 mana
and then pass back to my opponent, they just slam Incindious.
They just slam Incindious and I lose the game.
Yep.
Now we can see that wouldn't happen.
There is a slim chance of it happening
if it's drawn off the top of the deck next turn.
But that's got to be a big consideration for Jowdy, Mr.
Absolutely. I mean, I think we've seen an incredibly high
numbers, Incindious has played on five, six and seven in this tournament.
Like, incredibly high.
It's just what the deck does on that turn.
And no harcet player wants to float for more mana and it doesn't really do that much but
everything else does so much less and takes 11 a lot of the time.
Alright.
There is a chance with this play that it absorbs some asteroids and what will get
you in the deck as well so...
Shouty now gets a little bit of good news.
Yes, we are not seeing the Incindious on this turn.
I think also deep in his considerations for that meteor storm is that he knows that there is a second EMG left in the deck that he still has to deal with, right?
But that's really one Remaintly 1 AoE card available.
So if this were to be a big swing turn with or without the Incindious,
He didn't really have any way to answer that second EMG coming down.
Fascinating, by the way, that he did go for the mana inefficient play using the 5 slime instead of the 6 slime.
So they can't go 2 plus 5 on the following turn.
Can't play the meatiest on with this 5 on 7.
Yeah, I think he was hoping to...
Some of these asteroids, there's a lot of them in there, which is really good to hit some of them.
That works out okay for him.
For a very loose turn of okay when your opponent has his hand by the way.
I guess his plan here is he just wants to play all of the defensive
cards over the course of a few turns here, right? So the
furious foul slime ends up just not being played. He just wants to make sure
all of the frosty decors get played for Max and the Marma game.
survivability as possible. Yeah it's very unlikely he gets the Zileac's turn, Nexer and
Yambing will set up and then he'll try not to draw anything next turn, I should imagine.
So he can set up for Thalnos swing, try and kill you the turn after. Yikes. These are
rough
it's a
Zero mana deal eight to a minion is a very efficient car
But I'm not sure if it's one which LT particularly cares about
One man I have less mana next turn doesn't seem ideal
One man to kill your opponent if you're a few damage short of killing your opponent seems quite good
it does
And I'm not reading that
The other card did something, I'm sure it was.
Yeah, there was some card on the left-hand side, but it wasn't.
Two, four, six, eight.
Alakir, Lightning Bolt.
Oh, we appreciate jow-tee!
Looks like it.
Oh, sorry, was that all we were doing?
It is, because the Lightning Bolt is lethal.
Yep.
Alright, I don't care, 269.
Okay, sure, all we can do is fight.
You beat Kled, would you?
Yeah, rock and a half plays there, right?
Because even if Yamming swings there and pulls out the one damage eruptions to clear up the board and not die to the wish,
armor then goes off and heals Jeltie for 8, which then means he's just kind of out of
range of the burst of the deck at that point, that's a real big deal as well. Which I think
you have to then go back and give Jeltie a big part in the back for doing the weird
looking play where he does the mana efficient slime instead of going 6 slime on 6 into
5 plus 2 on 7. He floats the mana, plays the 5 slime instead to make sure he's
gaining 16 armor over the course of the game, which then pushes Yamming back into that checkmate
position where he actually can't afford to swing the weapon there, draw the cards and potentially
play around the Alakir or the Wish Upon a Star lethal. He just has to sit back and take it and
hope that Jailty doesn't have it because otherwise he's running out of damage in the deck. So
really great spot from Jailty where the day one Hearthstone school bad play actually
He goes all the way around full circle and actually becomes the good player again in a
really good spot.
And it was harder to spot there because your first thought is, oh I want to do the storm,
oh that's two mana and I've got six, I can't do that, I was wasting too much mana.
So you then are instantly taught how can I spend six even more than usual because you're
trying to avoid already in your head, you're trying to avoid wasting mana and then
you have to back off back onto the play.
Nice work.
he still does have the the death knife which is... no he doesn't. I want to hear that.
He has the... no one knows. Everything's fine, no one knows. It's right underneath you, just look
look directly down, there's a rogue right underneath you. That's the one, yep.
That's the one. Yeah, but being backstabbed as we speak, Lorinda.
I mean that's not you. It just comes with the territory of casting with me
really does. Yeah I know this a bit. It is Rogue just left to win with. Rogue has been one of the
standout decks of the tournament. One of the most tricky decks to pilot perfectly but also a deck
that is quite forgiving if you draw strong hands right sometimes you can just blow decks out of
the water even without necessarily executing perfectly. It becomes more difficult at this
level because you're up against players like Xiao-Ti on the other side who know how to maximize
that defensive capability against Rogue better than other people do, but still a very, very powerful
deck and it goes without saying that being 2-0 in any series is huge advantage. Being 2-0
with the Rogue left to win with, I think Xiao-Ti will be doing backflips and punching the air
right now in terms of the position that he's in in this series. And got to mention of course,
because we've given XiaoTi a lot of attention in this series, but you mentioned earlier Yang Ming
clinging on to this current world champion title. He is now hanging on the ledge with
one fingernail on his pinky finger to the idea of retaining that world championship title,
and he has to execute perfectly from here to make it happen.
Yeah, and I mean all the top players are aware of how good XiaoTi is right,
But Yanming will be the person who has to clash with him frequently.
Like the people over here go, yeah, Xiao Ti is one of the best players ever.
We'll ignore him for nine months of the year.
Oh no, here he is. It's Worlds.
But Yanming has to go through qualifications and all sorts of things with his...
This monster is constantly in his way.
So he got through him before obviously to get to the World Championships and win it last year.
But yeah, he will be as familiar as anybody in the world with how powerful the task is he has to perform.
A couple of pieces of candy in Yang Ming's hand. Double knee heights.
Along with Hostile and Vader means that he should be able to put together a nice clear by the necessary turn when Jailty presents the first Everything Must Go Board of the Game.
Nice idea to punch through the and eat an imp anx you'll have a turn.
Going to this turn
Okay, so next time we set up the weapon the turn after and by we I mean the best game in the world. It isn't me
The turn after go for the doobie turn fours usually a decent turn to go for you've got enough mana
Any interest in just playing all of your cards? I mean
It's a legal Hearthstone play you've got to at least think about it you have you really
have but then he's doing it no there's a very real other option where you just
step the two one and hold it in your hand sure for extra extra flexibility on
the following turn as well yeah that's definitely fun we'll be honest that's
That's the old pocket train player I believe they refer to it as.
One of the problems with learning this deck, and it would have worked by a little bit, is
you go for a play on turn three, like now, quite often, and it will work, you get your
EMG down, and your brain goes, do that again.
And then you'll watch somebody like Maxi Bond discussing the difference between turn
three and turn four pop-offs in a chat some way, like, no, no, this player got it wrong.
actually they're guaranteed to get it every time next term but this term is too
risky even though it worked but a little bit of your brain that goes ah shut up
who are you I it worked you're wrong who have you ever be yeah exactly who are you
so it is interesting how hard it is hard to learn from that perspective as well
because you do get rewarded for not necessarily making the right play
sometimes. This got a tiny bit ugly, it just doesn't quite work out in a way that you would
like to be able to jam the double Phoenix here. Obviously Crystal Task is the only real
viable play that you have. Okay, it's just gonna step double Phoenix. Yeah, kind of like
sacrificing a resource with the Shadow Staff in order to get the double Phoenix
Phoenix down because if you don't use the step there you can't play before you play the weapon
you actually can't play both pieces at all without playing the step but most importantly you play the
task you shuffle the left phoenix back into your deck so you don't get the zero mana three twos to
come down which is a little bit upsetting. So here's really valuing this early damage because
there were ways we could just sit back and try and get an EMG but going into turn five against
warrior you kind of miss your chance search them for sure they're gonna connect with you
exactly yeah your four sevens or your four ones in my case quite a few times but now
it's just too late so he decided to go for this eight attack 10 people now what now what
indeed if you want to continue playing as recklessly and all in as possible then
It's play all of the cards on the right hand side of your hand
My is it is to just play one more a shadow step it here a power suck it up, but that might be too slow
What's your intention with your
Draw some cards with a web weaver later
I
Like this because my argument is with this hand the way this has gone and now the EMG is not really gonna
have an impact on the game later doesn't necessarily exist so play them all sure
I don't I don't think I don't think here a power makes any sense you can do the
same thing while just getting three extra asteroids into the deck right now be a
lot more efficient with your mana you still have the Moonstone Mauler in case
you draw a webweaver on the following turn or you know even eat being into
webweaver for example so I think it makes sense just with the line that
he's gone with, which is a line I really, really like, and so just absolutely backs out.
He didn't absolutely backs out, did he? He didn't pay the Mauler back down. He did, he did hold back,
at least. Yeah, yeah, I would, I would have, I would have stopped, I would have stopped short,
just to be clear. I think the Mauler is always held after the step, principally,
because you know you're getting those two phoenixes back at the end of turn,
so you want to absolutely be certain that the, that you can get those two phoenixes back
back down to zero again on the following turn and continue to threat check your opponent.
Here we go! There is the webweaver right on time.
One asteroid. There is an EMT as well, so this will require a clear from the opponent
on the following turn. There are seven in the deck.
Okay, second prize.
Yeah, if you need any convincing that sort of that play was probably the right one and, you know, you can't work it out, look at the insidious, it's not getting played, is it, anytime soon?
Two turns away.
Three, four survives, nice outcome for Jeltie, he gets to push a little bit of damage, all of these asteroids do get to go fake.
Nothing surviving on the other side of the board.
Clash of Soul can keep on pushing.
Bloodmage Thalnos becomes an exciting drawer at some point over the next couple of turns as well.
Not gonna get the kill this turn.
So we will eventually be resetting back to an Insignious.
Were you about to suggest playing a 6-5 again, Neil?
I was.
Yeah.
We need to have a talk about your 6-5.
And your 6-7 addiction for that matter, but still.
Yeah, yeah, both of them are a major problem, honestly.
It's my age, you know. My age just can't help, but...
Oh, I thought you just meant 6-7 was your age, that's what you were thinking.
Oh, I see, no, I'm not 13.
How much damage is there? How many asteroids now?
I'm the one who's supposed to know this. Why am I asking a question?
There are two asteroids left.
We can threat check again with everything must go one more time.
Ooh, did not want the octopus though.
The octopus ever done to you.
Eight probably.
Two friends anyway.
Okay, no bomb. That's what he's banking this game on right now.
Oh, safety goggles off the top is a fantastic pull for Yang Ming who is then able to drop
the sleep.
Um, were we supposed to only have 6 minions here by the way?
In order to fit the Incindious.
If you do get bobbed at least you can play Incindious, yeah.
Yeah, I mean even this scenario, right, where it's just been Armour Gain into sleep.
He would very much like to be playing this indie here.
Yeah.
Yeah, there's no Shadowset left in Dex as much as he was planning for that.
I know I'm managing left in Dex, so okay.
Wait, the unoptimised! Get him! I've never seen him achieve anything so important in
all of his life as this next attack. I don't know if he's going to help, but you know.
Big deal, right, that the syngis wasn't played in the end because there should be
quite a lot now with Thalos Eat. Let's see if I can find it. It's a masseuse, right, for
people that don't know what I'm talking about. There it is, yeah, Octo masseuse. Just in case
people don't know what we're talking about. There it is. Deals octuple damage to minions.
eight times for the uninitiated. So I'll hand in you two for that. Right. Trying to work out if
he deliberately didn't care about it was insidious. It felt like it was wrong because now I'd love to
have those eruptions in the deck. No, I'm with you. My instinct is that he probably was just
know the site you probably should have had the the bullets face but now you've
done it you kind of have to just not double down right you have to just do
the incendiars now and chill and hope not to hit all the eruptions next turn
just hope they come out in a different order for you he's going right now did
he send did he send eat the in because all of those attacks look like no
face. He did! Wow! He's taking the fire AoE and pushing right now. Bam! Okay.
In fairness, he saw Yamming not clear last turn and play Zilex. So he's gambling that
there's no clear and that this damage is chunky next turn. Or maybe he's not
gambling he thinks it's the only way he can get there one of the two go back to
that in Kuru game who made the play that did the most damage over two turns
but it was never ever lethal that looked an awful lot like a certain eight man a
dragon off the top there for yaming we will wait for his side of the board to
Oh no.
The tension is palpable and killing me.
There it is. The Great Draka Rex has appeared off the top
to clear up this board.
And that takes Ceaseless down to four.
It means that Jailty is only pushing three more this turn with minions.
If a Bukharn was something like that now from the card
that I think I'm allowed to finally play, you know.
The good late game once Drew Khan, I mean Reno when your opponents this low can sometimes
do it for you, but you don't want to go there.
Agatha can get you shaman spells.
Frostless Jane are probably way too slow at this point.
What thralls hero power?
She don't know. I think it might be make 1 minion plus 1 cost.
I might be wrong. I'm fairly likely to be wrong in fact.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, it's the evolve hero power. Yeah, no, you're absolutely right.
Okay. I'm not used to this.
Do you want a 2-3 on your board?
That sometimes burns you to death.
Only order that is possible there.
Have to play the webweaver first to discount the Phoenix to the point where it will be playable, but it does of course accelerate.
And now Geltie is going to see Brewmaster on the Ceaseless, and that is probably going to spell the end of the game for Geltie.
And if it does, he is going to have some real regrets about the way that Turn 7 was executed this game, I think.
Yeah, I just want to say why I said that. Well, it's just that Crystal Tusk would have pushed 4 damage without being susceptible to communion.
I mean, the square with the heart of the group.
And it shows you play the weaver or playing the tusk.
But with this dear of power, it makes sense to have things in board.
Yeah. I mean, yeah. When you need to build 12, pushing two doesn't matter, right?
You need minions. You're going to need minions, so play the maximum minions.
I think that does make no sense.
But I think the hole that you picked that is certainly very valid
is the hole that JLT did not leave on his board going into that turn 7,
which I think spells a real disaster for him.
You called out the Bob, but as it stood,
that one-off tech card inclusion,
the Sleep Under the Stars in Yamming's deck
was able to just go game 15, do nothing.
And that was essentially a Bob because it, you know...
Yeah, we didn't highlight that enough, actually.
If it froze 15 damage, essentially, right?
Like, you know, JLT got to push about 15 back,
but the 15 armor was gained.
It made him miss a turn
by not being able to play the incendiary.
And then everything that happened, that game,
that spiraled towards Yamming's victory,
the ceaseless costing zero, and then back before that,
the zileaks being playable, and then back before that,
the armor game and so on.
All of those things are one whole turn further away.
And that almost certainly means
that Jelty ends up taking the series down.
So I think, you know, with all the glazing
that Jelty has received, and rightly so,
you have to say that is a pretty catastrophic error
going into that turn seven against Yanming and he's going to have to tighten up on his
next game of Rogue, whereas Yanming still sees the impossible dream of repeat world
championships in his future.
Yep, again, we highlighted it there from a different sort of point of view, but Yanming's
spotting that he didn't have to worry about that board. That's also a nice play because
he's sitting there, oh no, so much damage, but no. Kept it cool under 2-0 down, clinging
on to this title of his.
It's such a shame as well because everything up until that point was kind of exemplary from from jiao tea, right?
against the against the hands that yang ming had which was
Ramp ramp clear arm again
It kind of looked like it was going to be a lockout
But jiao tea played so aggressively with his resources through the early game that he'd pushed yang ming down to like 13 by a term
5 or whatever it wants with without
EMG's hitting the board which I think was really really high level stuff to that point and then just kind of tossed it all
away with that boardlock, that self-imposed boardlock going into that turn seven.
So many choices on this turn.
I can see four legitimate half stone plays at least here, maybe like five or six.
Sure, do the sensible one.
You have like Platy Bouncy, you have a lurk, you have coin hero power kill for one-ones,
have coin, this will just set it up for later. You have just played a plat, you make the trade
into it, shadow set it if you don't like what you draw. So the problem with all of those
kind of extra things that you're naming is those are then resources that you don't have
for the EMG time. Like that's what a lot of people will miss with this deck when
you're getting used to it, is playing turn one on banking manner for the future helps
you get an EMG turn sooner whereas using a shadow step and a platysaur kind of
makes you get an EMG turn later because you use those resources on a turn where
it's impossible to to get an EMG so banking that manner and just moving
forward from jail to here I think it's very very smart second Chris he has
picked up off the yeah he has a decision to make now though because he has a
lot here because coin oh manager is part of his hand right now yeah of course
manager getting another coin. He's got the 8, he's got the map. There's a lot he can do here.
He wants to try and get the turn 3. But if he doesn't get the turn 3 and over commits,
he could end up in a mess. He hits the prep and the EMG though and all sorts of stuff's
going to break his neck. Second EMG in the box? No second EMG in the box. Okay.
Bunch of playables though. Is there a patch Platy still in play? You can
you can shut us down if you want to notice it's gone
no, hold on
don't you play at once
one space lock
he's gonna play the step, okay
oh!
gonna play them in the wrong order
oh my goodness, it's a disaster
maybe that's the wrong order
If you want to play the Phoenix before you play the EMG because it's the 4-4 Warlock Tourist can kill off your Phoenix
You do get two Phoenixes, so maybe it's the right one
But there's also a four drop that deals damage whenever you play an Elemental, right? Is there not?
There is so yeah. Is that four?
I think so. Confirmed by Banta. Yeah, that's the only so it is the right order forgive me
Riding the high of knowing things in the previous game.
Yeah.
Hey.
Don't give me decide based on the situation in the Discord banter.
I know.
It's not a cast.
God, banter face has been here two days.
I know.
We give him a little bit of bullying.
Anything he can give it back.
Oh my goodness.
He starts saying things like something like Umbra,
and he thinks he's a caster all of a sudden.
Yeah, I'm back to the game that isn't banned to face telling me what to say.
Decent result from the correctly ordered EMG units.
That's right. Write that down, write that down.
I don't want everything to, I just can never read it. That explains my scout.
If my brain tries to say all the things I've ever written down, that's the problem.
Including those two consecutive English exams.
Yeah.
You'll say jealous.
Got some more cards?
Yeah, choosing to use the old manager first because he's already max banked on the mana he's got to
two combo card mana banked so he didn't want to be wasteful with the third hit of the space rock collector
Two things to note about what is happening here
The corpse explosion isn't there is the the first thing I notice
The second thing is blob of tar and foam vendor are as well as the location
Let's fight back available for you
Yeah, Blobbertaar with a good Cork start and Exiled Maladar in hand as well, it's a very big deal, he's also got Raptors off the location, so his Cork count is absolutely killing.
To the point where actually a top deck Teradax can actually be used as a copy location here as well, resetting him all the way back to 34 Reno Jackson settings.
Yeah, and he's not that far off actually just winning the game himself is the thing, right? If he wants to just push phone render
That option might become available
One thing here for the death knight that he can do is
Going into the Queen in Cyndia's turn if you've got too much stuff on the board you can just say your in Cyndia's doesn't matter
I'm going to ignore it
So next turn to crucial one in terms of trying to shut that insidious out of the game
Yeah, very looking very very possible to do so with this hand although that dubious purchase
From the the imp from jouty helps a lot
hitting one of the bigger minions cutting into that damage on board quite significantly
Wants to hold on to coin and syndias wherever possible, but you might also just have to recognize the board state and say
Do I actually ever get to coin in Cyndias next turn?
But then the counter question comes, if I don't get to coin in Cyndias next turn, how
on earth do I win this game of arse then?
He's coining in Cyndias next turn because he took the Thalnos.
It's my assessment of that situation.
Like, can Yan Ming stop it by putting him off on the board?
Yup, he thinks so.
Yeah, well he's got copy location right, so that's so much extra damage on the following turn as well.
Yeah.
He pauses because there is an option to play the Webweaver of Thalnos and start going through your deck trying to hit it with three damage asteroids, but yeah.
There's a lot to do that
Here we are he can't do the coinus in yes, it's just too much
Yep hunting for asteroid damage plus the energy number two
Hoping you can just get there getting as much damage as possible with the bloodmage thalnos recognizing the threat of the situation
Asteroid's coming out thick and fast, AMG is playable, he's hit enough.
Ok, step on the Asteroid as there's still one more remaining in the deck, there is still
one more remaining in the deck, that's three more going in and he has a Wisp, he has
a Wisp!
Oh my goodness, he held back and threw the AMG on support.
He has a Wisp!
He held back so he could get the whisp down is what I'm saying for the extra nine damage
How did he get through all of that?
If he'd throw the empty out there he'd have been bored locked
He gets through to the semi-finals and we're going to have a new world champion this year
Well well well how the turntables yeah, I mean
you know let's call it let's call it what it was a big a big potential throw for
Jouti in in his first attempt of getting out into the semi-finals but then that
game the recognition from both players right it's one of those things where both
players understood the assignment but Jouti just had that little bit of
extra credit right because Jouti's setting up and then yamming going I
see what you're doing you can't play in Cyndia's here you're not allowed I
I play my weapon, I threaten lethal.
But Geltie going, you know what happens?
If they just play their weapon,
they don't have any minions on their board.
They just spend their entire time playing their weapon.
So who cares about Insidious?
I've got a Bloodmage Thalnos,
and this is not a call out-
That he took the turn before, by the way.
That's exactly what I'm saying.
This is not a call out to you.
You said he's playing the Insidious
because he took the Bloodmage Thalnos.
No, exact opposite.
He was never playing the Insidious
because he took the blood mage Faunos.
He recognized that he was gonna be looking
at an empty enough board to just slam the Faunos,
draw through the remainder of the deck
and there was exactly the right number of card draws
to empty the deck and exactly the right number of asteroids
to land on an empty board.
That only works if Yanming spends the whole turn
playing weapon to set up lethal
through a coin in Syngius.
That's the only way that works
and it was exactly thought with exact card draw
an exact Asteroids. That is a wonderful set up from Xiao T. Yaming doesn't really do anything
wrong in response. I think that's absolutely what he's supposed to do in that scenario
as well. But Xiao T had it covered and what a great adjustment that was from the disappointment
of the previous game as well. Great series. We hyped it up as potentially the series
of the day and I think we'll be hard pressed to pick up a better one than that. But
if we do for one, I'm going to be seated.
Yeah well we don't have that many series left, one more quarter final, two semis and then
the champion deciding match so maybe it will, but Jiao-Ti is through and will play against
the winner of this next match which will be Maxi-Bon and Phil-Phil, something something
longest day in Australia, something something Australian playing.
I had to sort of wait for Labour to work it out. See you in three minutes.
We're going to get into our next match and we've had quite an explosive few matches previously
on stream.
I'm excited to see what this next one we've got Maximon versus Philfield coming up and
Elvys is joining me for this one are you ready for hopefully ones that have just been
as excited as the last few?
Yeah, absolutely. We have had that was actually the first match to not go to a full five
But it looked for a moment like it certainly could have really came down to the wire there and
yeah
Exciting all the way down
Maxi bone and Phil feel Phil feel representing the
last unique line up right with this egg warlock
otherwise it is just sort of the I
I suppose four to five best decks depending on whether you like shaman or not and
Yeah, maxi been looking, you know very strong throughout from what we've seen of him so far
Yeah, 100% maxi always seeming pretty confident, but obviously very very good at the game
So we'll see how that one plans out
But yeah all eyes as usual will be drawn to this warlock. We've seen it perform very well
I think have the initial viewing of it in this tournament was not the best
Phil feel had a bit of a rough go of it initially, but we've seen in Coro and Phil feel
I mean they both made it to top eight right so that's definitely something to be said and we've seen it perform well
I do think a lot of it is just not only how well the wall up player can build up the egg and get those sort of layers
Sorted but also how well the opponent can deal with it in any given certain matchup
We are going to see the warrior band out on one side with the hunter gun in the other as well
But yeah, Maxibon has a fairly standard lineup overall
And the big questions are going to be asked of that wall lock and it obviously right now
Maybe even the death knights like the death knights have had a bit of ups and downs as well
So we'll see how it goes. Who are you fancy in in this one? You think the wall looks got what it takes
You know some of it was luck some of it seemed like a little bit of shakiness in general
I'm sort of more leaning towards Maxi in this case right like Philfield did struggle to get the egg
You know, we'll be hoping that
He has a little bit better luck so we can actually see what the deck is capable of but
Maxi has just been sort of on point the whole weekend
Yeah, and even this Mulligan not too bad at all
Of course the airmarine not the best here for Maxi
but having access to that ramp early is gonna be really nice because just even just hitting one of them in the early game
It just makes everything just that a little bit easier going forward on those terms where you really need to just slow the death
Feel filled out those have access to a decent start with the air the one drop being available
Yep getting a couple of one ones
With the the pace that this warrior goes usually is gonna represent
you know up to six damage right a few turns of swinging in they usually don't stop things until
their five-minute turn with a hostile invader and even with the new heights in hand you know no
invader in sight these could end up getting significant chip damage in yeah 100 it's important
as well to highlight some of these cards that may be differences from everything we've seen
we do see of course the steam cleaner in the hand for Philpheal so that is
something that needs to be made aware of as well as running the Heather
Horseman which isn't you know in every single DK they buy any means at the
moment so that's just a couple of cards that can make up them make the match up
a little bit different based on the majority of what we've seen this
weekend yeah I believe Philpheal may actually be the only player to have
I think so, yeah.
Taking an early grifter, draw 3, 2 by the total.
I'm actually big access to the hostile invader, so it's at least there.
It does have the armor gain as well to be able to double proc if it's a required.
Yeah, grifter just makes it a little bit awkward though.
It's going to be just out of range.
The Draw 3 amulet is one of the most interesting ones to me, just because it usually is the
best one to take in that your opponent doesn't want to play theirs.
A lot of other ones they'll get some benefit from at some point, but in the case of the
scuffed version you give your opponent, they can draw 3 cards, discard 2, that's too
too much of a risk for most people to play as it ends up being a dead card in their hand.
Yeah 100% it's not the best is it. It's going to be a hostile invader just going down without
the goggles this time. It does allow for potentially a double proc next turn which can be quite
useful with this blob in hand for Philfield. Yeah and for that reason I wouldn't be
surprised to see a slower turn here from Philfield. Maybe just use the Hero Power
and grift to clean up this three five and then drop the creature madness
yeah it doesn't look too bad yeah you definitely don't want to just play the block
because the benefit of the blob is how sticky it is but when things are just
repeated dealing to to it
it's not quite as strong as you would like it to be so I'm with you here
I think just tear up and play the creature it's a
it's a tempo loss no matter what you do right I feel like this turn so
And then since you've got the amulet the next turn you could play the blob plus amulet,
but Phil Phil says otherwise says, this is fine, it'll it'll still clear up the invader
and I get to push four damage base.
In a lot of ways the blob of tar is there to just sort of, you know, slow things down
against a shaman which has such you know large stats while also generating three corpses.
Yeah definitely the number one goal. Maxi now choosing exactly how he wants to do this.
Does that have access to a shield slam now but of course if it's goggles into shield slam the
goggles proc the the spellburst first anyway so the shield slam becomes a little bit less good.
I wonder if he'll ever be tempted to just rip that draw three and hope not to discard
anything too important.
I'd be so scared.
It's a terrifying prospect, but the hand is fairly dry right now.
It does have Marin next turn, right?
So I always hope to have enough time to get that down, get your Wonders spawned.
Yeah, just having a full K amount of armor is getting bullied a little bit here.
And of course with Sanguin in hand for Phil Phil could keep playing on the pressure.
It is low damage. It's like decent pressure, decent chip, but it's low actual, it's like
threatening damage, right? Is the slight problem going to the way to the husk? Does that add
to that up? Could drop the pterodax, but without a rush target and wanting to hold onto those
corpses, no real need. I don't think you want to overly play into brawl anymore than
you want to yeah you know it's also for glory right gets reduced for every minion
that you have in play lots of reason to hold it and yeah if you're expecting
something like if you're expecting Marin on this term which has been
happening a lot over the course of the event then you know you've got poisonous
you can keep your leeches pushing really nice to be able to play
a hideous husk on this turn.
Yeah, Philpheal looks like he's just thinking about a few options here,
but I am with you, I think husk again.
It has the same brawl problems, but if your opponents brawl in this board,
you're probably okay with it, right?
Like you kind of take that as a win, I think.
It's a huge strain on the health.
They're only 18 total for Maxibon.
Yeah, and that can really be important, you know, in this matchup where the death knight is very much the aggressor, getting all that damage in early.
Zilex not able to do as much to recover, right, when your max health has been reduced so dramatically.
Yeah.
to drop the yaw and just keep drawing trying to get all the something that can stop this
push. Yeah, it does board lock or potentially board lock also depending on what the what
feel feel has access to from Max's point of view. Of course, right? Yeah, even with
the infested breath right like you would you could kill your one two but summon the leech
so it still isn't going to open up any space and that might be still worth though to be
fair could be but you can also just save it to do with the other hideous husk for refill
just considering what next turn can look like right if there's a brawl come down if the
boards clear what is the point is that I'm wrong it does open up the space oh
okay so it finishes before it actually kills it yeah okay that makes sense
sure
because there's a good chance that if this is cleared husk isn't the follow-up
right there's a decent chance it might be there on marion and I go fishing for
a dart gift as well so we'll see how that one goes but max you're gonna use
the one now just to start cycling through trying to get hold of something to clean up this board
the other hostile invader would be quite nice but not seen yet could be a freeze from bob
yeah continue that board lock uh still high enough that bob will eat the leech hits instead of
you know them going directly at maxi's face
this. This is so scary. Yeah, I
think delaying the bottom makes
sense, right? You can still
present no minions and board lock
the opponent. But yeah, you do
have to worry about getting too
low. Yeah, one of the problems
is if there is, I mean, I'll
have to look if there's
another way for Philfield to
kill off a minion and then
maybe play that play the
Well, it's very scary right now.
There isn't, obviously we can see it now.
And that will mean, because Filthiel went for this line
of getting the shell fallen down and tossing away
that invested breath, you might have a couple of cards
burned since the shell fallen baron is going to draw one.
can't throw away the amulet because the amulet is, you know, another draw three.
There's a draw for turn. If Maxi freezes here, then, you know, that's another turn
Villefield just doesn't get to play the game.
Yeah, it is a bit scary though because Maxi is very nearly dead at two leeches
specifically yeah it's gonna need to win the the role on where the leeches go
because if they hit maxi first okay just go ahead and get it much much safer yeah
if you freeze again it's a little stupid this is also a little bit scary as
well right because there's post and then potentially additional trades to go
to the five five it still won't do enough to deal the five well the let's see
with that infested breath having been used I think there's actually no leech
cards left besides yeah besides the Hades husk so there's no sort of sneaky
thing that can happen you know it's a 50-50 to begin with that the leeches
would go face, but without having held onto that invested breath in terms of Phil Field's
cards, Maxi will know that, okay, I could be reduced to one, but that's the best that
can be done. Although, Phil Field could pick up copy
location from the lease at some point and that is very true yeah that's what I
would do me in a matchup like this I would go all in on just that one strategy
accepting how often do you get to just literally leech someone for that from
pretty much full-out to nothing it is extremely satisfying to just ignore all
the armor. Yeah maximums maximum health right now is 12 which is definitely something. Can
potentially go up to 40 later in the game again right? Like that does reset right? Yes
with Amara. That'll be about the most value Amara has ever gotten.
We're going to be looking at a potential 10 cost location with X arc.
So you were saying we're getting a 10 leech?
I remember that.
Is that what we're going to say?
Well, it's tough, because if you hit copy, well, then you only need a one cost location.
But if you miss copy, you're really gonna want something bigger.
I wouldn't be surprised to see Bob plus Elise from Filfield here, if he even notices this line we've been on about.
Yeah, we'll have to deal with the board in some way as well, right?
Yes, yeah, you want to have a clean board or at least only have minions with greater than 5 health in play.
It's in the box.
takes the 10 no copy there and once again no copy so I'm a shift gears let's see
what's there yeah raptors and plus four didn't have a good way of clearing this
board otherwise so that makes a good amount of sense to me.
Drake-orex.
It's still a decent amount of pressure.
Yeah, yeah.
Drake-orex, not something you can let stick around.
The attack is always going to be threatening as long as you have minions.
The funny thing as well, obviously we're not all in unleashes anymore, but even if
just the Hadesos gets played on an empty board.
that then 100% has to be answered for an accent, right?
Like it literally has to be cleared.
You can't tank it, it has to be dealt with
unless you get yourself higher, of course.
But yeah, that's, it's still a threat
even though it's not the sort of funny lethal
we're talking about though.
Interesting options here.
CMAT, you know, a couple of big 7-7s in play
and then you can get, you know, Rush Wind Fury,
Rush Divine Shield, something like that.
But yeah, Tindra represents just a lot of damage even if the board gets cleared.
And Maxi's got to play this awkward game of, when can I play, or do I even bother playing Quest Award, right?
Because of the threat of Steam Cleaner.
No brewmaster for Maxi.
new heights just give me a little bit more
feel feel gonna go dig in with the one though
by looks of things doesn't want to over commit to this board
all right cobalt let's do it yeah walk it in
now five cost shallot or so is very nice
for the country which those of rewind on his name
So can I go again please?
They did do that to the Raptor, right?
3-Mana 4-2 was a gift card, where it like,
it just each time one of the new keywords has come out,
it's gained the keyword, so it now has like,
discover a beast with a dark gift, kindred,
reduces cost by one, and now it also has rewind.
Another couple of years, it's gonna be really good.
Okay, I'll sell him Vader, it's gonna help do some of the damage to clear this bit of
annoying board.
Yeah, and these Tindrels are just gonna be very, very annoying for Philfield, you know,
they could hit face for eight now, and then are gonna do another eight when they die.
I could even just follow up with another one, I could drop the hand instead and have that
just start jumping.
considering going for the crocs into like go face and then brawl? Sure.
Something that just occurred to me with the husk as well if we're still on this
line which it's a bit distant to this point but you could you know play husk
on an empty board and then shuffle it back into your deck with the shallot or
sail shuffle so you just drain for two we don't get the buff and then if you can
manage to make it happen on another turn yeah true a lot the way you're
thinking but in the meantime this is a little clever trick here ability to give
four attack to the spire means that when it dies you'll get a six drop. Really,
really complicated board state though in terms of trying to clear all these
minions particularly with these rushes right because as soon as you clear the
hostile invader it clears a tindrel which then blows up your
whole board and now there's still two tinderles left. Yeah, very awkward. Still nine mana though,
four fill field so it does have access to a few tools to use after this of course.
Still got that crown in the hand which could be pretty useful to a lot of time like this.
That's a rough hit there with the origami dragon.
And it looked like he pulled the trigger on the hideous house fair just to use the man
up at the end of the turn so we are well and truly off that game plan.
Yeah, not quite gonna do so well when the leeches just absolutely annihilated off the
board right but still we can dream maybe maybe one day that's gonna happen because
those leeches did so much.
something to be said about this hero card for Felfield is you can discover undead.
So it's a very real possibility of picking up another hideous husk in the future.
Yeah, very true, very true.
How much can Maxi draw before this all goes away?
Oh, for a second I thought that was time wallplay.
Yeah, no time warp, still a good combination between Nether Portal and Crystal Cavern.
I understand wanting to pull the trigger on the amulet here.
If you figure you're going to lose all the generated things anyway.
That is Galvedon and forglory gone.
I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that Steam Cleaner is going to be played this
turn.
I think that seems like a strong possibility.
You're saying there's a chance.
I want to make sure we get the order right, Steam Cleaner, and then Headless Horseman.
Very happy to see the Time Warp go, I'm sure.
And the MHA are probably as well.
Yeah, yeah.
Can now use the hero power to clean up his 3-2.
Yeah, very clean turn.
Pun not intended.
From Philpheal here.
With the steam cleaner into Atlas Horseman, clears the board nicely,
pushes a little bit of damage, keeps all this on me.
Maybe developing creature madness?
Oh, yeah, that's fine.
Yeah, that's reasonable.
I think I would have ended up just here, apparently, down and just push in, but...
A relentless Wrathguard.
Knows there's gonna be three-two targets to deal two damage to and discover...
So...
You know, discover a demon. Could always hit Kil'jaeden.
I mean, that basically seals it up almost. I suppose there's, there are five Ives every
turn. Yeah, you would have still imagined. So it's going to be pretty nice. I think the
big thing here is actually the likes of Bob into Shaladricil, right? Once the space is
there, I'll see Shaladricil, Stratts, you know, just to set up because Maxibon is
only on 25 right now. That is quite a low number. I mean, it's just, you know,
because Maxibon is only on 25 right now.
That is quite a low number and can only gain
a little bit more health based on the Zileaks.
Kind of like Heal Pass 12 basically.
So kind of gain that much health back
no matter what outside of armor.
Well interesting, are we...
Okay, I was gonna say, are we cobalting?
Maybe one hit, though, whether it's cobalt.
Maybe one day.
Not today.
Yeah, this film renders gonna have a lot to say about this game as well.
The damage stacks up so fast.
Yeah, such a powerful tool that, you know, any other weapons that Death Knight might
think about, you just have to say, yeah, but what if I could just deal 5 every turn?
I was interested in there as well. I was, um, this is still, wait, is it the co-
there's half of the cobalt for a second? Okay, God, I thought it locked in cobalt, I was like,
huh? I was just gonna say, like, this felt like it could have been a pretty decent
bob in a turn and then just go face and then save the proc for any, like, minions
that still stick around after the bob turn. It's kind of like the location in, use
those raptors to close them up. This does hold on to the bob which is worth something in and of itself.
Yeah, just so much persistent damage. Even with a clean board at this point,
they'll feel representing 8 damage every single turn between the weapon and the hero power.
So this is going to have to be Zileax I expect.
Is Zileac's in... no.
I need to shield some of that as well, something.
Okay, just gonna go for the brawl instead.
Can I see a little bit better?
It does mean you get to swing both halves in, so you can...
Although actually that's only one more extra life, right?
Yeah, I was gonna say it doesn't make much difference.
No, it's still something, but it's not by much.
Not by much.
And so they actually force...
I think I'll have 12 myself.
...notoriously vulnerable to shallot or so.
It's a question of whether Philfield can get hand size reduced enough.
Wait, actually, I guess without the charge hero power, Shalader's Hill is a lot less
scary.
Yeah, it's still the bounce it's still got deal five right so it's deal five seems okay
when you put as 12 health and seven armor that's still pretty good for the energy to
use but it's all just about when or how much fulfilled even values these swings because
honestly at this point I wouldn't even hate now that you've seen the zileaks I wouldn't
even hate ceaseless yeah there's really actually get to swing face again and then next to anyone
swing face again looks like it's going for Bob instead I'm gonna freeze out okay
I just get too locked in on just how much damage this phone member's gonna do
if you get to just go face every single turn along as you said with the aero power of course
Yeah, I think just trying to set up hand space for the Shalada Cell here.
Wow, yeah, Maxi actually just wants to get the 10-10 out.
might be
Time yeah, just because the thing about crystal core is like the legendaries that you want are are gonna be bigger than five five
So even though it buffs your your three choose off the portal
Okay, not a bad hit but not the worst for Phil feel
I think ceaseless would have been very painful and of course your ladder so as well
Yeah, those are probably the top two for sure, I imagine, still has access to, you know, in terms of value.
As long as you've told in Scarlet while you have cards remaining.
Yeah, it was just sliding away, basically Maxibon did his best, of course, for the after the Steam Cleaner came down.
But honestly, it's just a tech card doing its work, right?
right steam cleaner comes down a time warp wasn't drawn fast enough as well as
your fuel four shift discards going on there it's just hard to fight back and
Maxibon gave it a whirl for a little while but Philfield just had so many
more resources we saw what the hand looked like and honestly headless horsemen
and the steam cleaner ticking the boxes at least in that game right like they
both got a good job done they both put on more pressure helped clear the
board as well the removal from headless horsemen and you can tell
that at the second that came out as well to prop the hero power again it was only
to get worse for Maxi right now that the hero power was in full strength so it
was just going going downhill for them there so a good start there from
field field taking away with that that night yeah it's interesting to think
about you know a lot of the China players have brought at least one has
steam cleaner but then also they all have like a brewmaster for their
warriors. So clearly they've been having a deal with a lot of steam cleaners involved as a tech card
both in warriors and against warriors whereas Maxi, no brewmaster in the warrior and I think fewer
steam cleaners all around but yeah how often these tech cards play such a big role in the
the matchup. I feel like it's not always that you get to see a tech guard just like
okay there's a clear line between like doing that winning the game because
sometimes there's ways to play around them like taking the death rattle on
your location against demolition renovator that kind of thing. Yeah 100%
they just must feel pretty good especially because you queue in your
first game obviously a very important match there this match would get
to top four if you were to make it semifinals of course and it just things
just slide in into position right is what you want oh you got death night
versus warrior that you have in your death night the steam cleaner for it
works out pretty well so not a bad start at all for Phil feel still obviously
the questions on the warlock as they're just is always going to be it
could be any deck that's not super popular and would be saying the same
thing and does have that hunter left over as well which we already talk
about the hunters too much until they're actually being played because I think we just slide into
that expectation of yeah it's hunter it's it's really good it's probably gonna get a win so again
it's just very easy to look at that wallop but maxi bomb can't be I imagine too upset at that game
obviously it's not fun to lose any given game especially in a tournament like this but
it was kind of just yeah didn't get time warp got the air steam cleaner that slipped away
away from that, that's kind of just how it goes.
Yeah, and you know, he played very carefully around that drain,
even though he took a lot of it, you know,
being able to be one out of range of the knowable leeches,
right, like he did what he could to board Saul a lot,
which made things very awkward for Phil Field for quite
some time, but it just sort of wasn't enough in the face
the steam cleaner and develop having to just
Hope Philfield didn't have it and you know 15 cards deep in your deck odds are you do?
Yeah, exactly. It's really tricky when you've not got any counterplay like you mentioned the brewmaster when you don't have any ways to
Sort of counteract that you've just got across your fingers and hope right?
It's the only real thing I'll try and draw the time well, but so on but regardless
We are jumping into our second game as the players have locked in now
It's going to be the hunter from feel feel as mentioned versus the rogue from maxi one
So I feel feel of course have to change his deck because that's how conquest works
Maxi fancy and a bit of a switch up
Yeah, it gets a windrunner sister probably the one you like to play first in general
Although verisa is the sister you want to have on curve the most
probably feeling pretty good about that though, Nael coming into the hand alongside Sylvanas.
Interesting opening hand, the classic four legendary opening of course. It does look like Nael's
just taking Varisa's spot right now as the third sister in the hand, which is fine. She's at that power level,
it's okay. Maxibot on the other hand is going to try and poke at some of the weaknesses that Hunter,
there we go, that Hunter has, which is they don't really have too much to actually fight for
board within the first couple of turns. So Max is going to say, okay, webweaver down and let's
start playing these platysaur. Yeah, I mean, turn three is just not quite fast enough when it
when it comes to going up against this road, wouldn't be surprised to see just no time to
play the Discover Sister and having to play Sylvanas next turn, Alaria, that's for me.
Yeah, this is going to be really interesting because there was an option for the Sylvanas
to come down, take out the Platasaur and discard two cards from hand.
However, the webweaver still lives and then the follow-up could be problematic.
So Phil feels saying, no, I'll let them have the cards, hope, I imagine, hopefully they like pop off this turn, right?
Splurge everything onto the board and then Sylvanas normally, prokking twice, can deal with the majority of things that are going to come out from the road.
But definitely a choice that had to be made there. I don't know if it was clear cut to just say, oh yeah, you never Sylvanas too platter saw.
Yeah, worth considering when you know you're discarding two cards for the Rogue.
Maxi has been, I think, fairly critical of some people's lines with the Rogue in terms
of when to swing the weapon, when to hold it.
Hmm.
Not the best offerings in the world, I think, eh?
Yeah, this is why you know a lot of times this isn't the one you're you're thrilled about getting multiple instances of
You end up taking just sort of the cheapest thing
No cost reductions just just makes them a lot less appealing and the spells can end up, you know filling up your
Oh gosh
Yeah, even type cool people. That's the one. Yeah
even even death roll whilst I think a good option to discover even at full cost in this matchup
it's not what you're looking for right because something like death roll against shaman not
bad right but against rogue not really going to get the work you're after. Yeah. I'm curious at
the patchwork pals just because that can be a little bit tricky to play with three hand
slots it's an initial two-mana investment I would have been you know
potentially interested in untimely death right which when a minion you just
played dies you immediately resummon it since Philfield has got the double
brew masters there's potential for this turn he expects to Sylvanas you
could do that alongside the untimely death but maybe just figure as well I'm
already going to do bargain bin in that metaslot okay maxibon classic rogue play turn four
seven cards left in the deck the Sylvanas now can come out to play and get the job done
at least initially it will get rid of the dubious there from the hand from maxi as well
I have a great tool to have in the games that go along, but actually just no time to get it out
against this rogue onslaught.
We're looking at going to Rangari into tracking and then following up with Sylvanas very, very, very likely.
Yep.
option which doesn't do anything presently but can always lead to some sneaky wins.
Xavier's even worth looking at as well just for the potential buffs you can get on the cards, right?
And maybe that's what Philfield might need.
Pirate Sanctuary would be great if this turn wasn't or didn't have to be exactly Sylvanas
Sylvanas because then you can look at maybe doing insidious things next to it and so on
But yeah, this term was always gonna have to be Sylvanas because otherwise, Philfield was probably just dead
Yeah, we'll be looking to oh manager potentially for that coin in Cyndia's on six
Start for the Tusk, this normally is looking good to set him up for next turn, but there
are all the big things he potentially requires if he decides he needs some of these.
Some of the cards on next turn could even hold it for the turn after if everything
adds up.
Yeah, so max is gonna be able to do it
Finally a little bit of breathing room for Phil feel
Potential to turn up the pressure with liac cover
Instead wants to make the attack expensive for maxi
Yeah, this is looking pretty dangerous right this is gonna have to be I mean is this even gonna
pull the eruptions out okay not even going for them yeah I mean I think this play from
from Philfield just forces Maxi to divert from the coin and Cindy's plan because Maxi effectively
has information that okay I'm definitely dead if I play in Cindy's because you know
5 from the Huffer, 2 from the Steady Shot.
Even this is tough.
Yeah.
I was really hoping that those would clear off the taunt so that he might be able to
swing without
taking face damage.
Just everything must go as the last card in the deck, I believe.
Ah, that's what the motion was there.
And yeah, I mean, Filthiel can actually get his own Insidious down if you wanted.
Think gonna activate Weapon here.
I actually don't know if enough things have been discovered to make alien encounters free.
Yeah, I was looking at Glaciel, but Glaciel looks good, but I don't know if it realistically
does anything when you look at what Max's hand is, right?
I think it has a potential, you know, if you take glacial and you freeze the weapon, right, you at least do that two mana tax, it prevents, you know, an insidious immediately swing to draw the one cost eruptions for, you know, clearing through Philfield's board.
Yeah.
But if you look at anything else, right, because you know he's got Coltis map.
So you could do this the stuff with the the mall regardless to try and chip away at some
But yeah, I think I'm okay. So you know the tracking pulled out and doing this
Yeah, no more shadow steps and everything must go just
Yeah, that's something right because there's nothing else that you know, there's all for in hand
If you don't play it now, you never get to so yeah
it wasn't enough and Phil feel
decided to take the I don't
want to say slopes that's what makes it sound bad maybe but the more measured
build up in that game with the sisters with the windrunner sisters right just
like building up and then having the huge payoff of Sylvanas versus
trying to go for the I'll say high roll of getting the platy platy so cards
gone by doing nice and early and was rewarded for it with a good
focus on those building up that board and pressuring Maxie through damage, sort of like almost old-school hunter, right?
That was more like how Hunter used to be played over the years than it was recently.
And it got rewarded with the choice of those animal companions.
And the Huffer being a threat all the time anyway, but then going the Misha Lyok with the two sisters on board was actually a lot of health,
and also a reasonable amount of damage against Maxie. Paid off really well.
Yeah, I was initially surprised at the pick of animal companions, but I think
Fieldfield just recognized the amount of pressure that it can build up.
When you are playing a bunch of two-fours in these Windrunner sisters,
a lot of times they're just out of that break point of the Phoenixes,
and so often end up being ignored.
You could stick that extra bit of damage from the Leox.
We saw Misha being obnoxious for Maxi-Bone's weapon,
and then of course, Huffer, classic way to end games, right?
Yeah, of course. And your opponent knowing you've got it is the best use of that card.
It's like, yeah, I've got the pig, what are you going to do about it? Nothing.
We are going to quickly move on to game number three, and I'm showing some people's opinions.
This is where the series is going to begin, because this is where, like, okay,
Philpheal has the big question mark next to the Warlock.
again. I'm not taking anything away from this deck. Both Warlock players made it to top eight,
so that is already better than I think almost everyone apart from those two players assumed would
do, I guess. And it's more than capable of winning, especially one out of three potential games here,
so let's see how it goes. There's a holy egg bearer already, so that's going to be the egg
unlock nice and early for Philfield. And Maxi, going to have to just put as much pressure
This might be another one of those match-ups where the mixologist in the death knight can get some work done.
Yeah, it's sort of a unique inclusion for death knight of Maxi Bonds, going with this mixologist.
He can do some very, very tricky things in terms of resurrecting minions, right?
If he trades off this Dreadhound handler, gets resurrect on the potion, next turn he can guaranteed.
Resurrect the Dreadhound handler, which represents a lot of corpses that can do great work.
Particularly when you have to deal with 2020s, if somehow he can get that corpse count just
so so high and pick up corpse explosion, you may be able to clear some otherwise unclearable
boards but there's a lot of corpses to have to create.
I feel already deep in the tank of should I trade with this two one what are the implications
of egg pro leaving like potentially egg proking minions on the board I do think the trade looks
fine to me just reduce some of the power level down a little bit because something
you've got to be aware of is death knight can be aggressive when it wants to be so
there's a world where with this kind of opening Max he's like actually I'm gonna
ignore these eggs and I'm just gonna go face and then race so it's not maybe the
most common outcome but it's definitely something that's worth a try and for that
plan can I interest you in a five-man a marin that could be good although you
know this blob has charge on it so a little too to I'm with you I think the
Marinus quite good. The Zileaks as well is
Oh we all thought yeah yeah.
Being able to set up a wall where not only do they have a divine shield, rush life steal
but they will come back again you know makes them that much more annoying to deal with
but yeah being able to get treasures very early particularly with no great turn five
lined up otherwise.
also the zileaks one it's quite fine to the future right now but also just a
little bit scary when conflagrate exists right it's so good don't get me wrong
but it could be negated quite easily
comes absolute classic custom kill the abusive sergeant used to be a two one
yeah it's been there it's just a little one one there still sees play though
you gotta respect it. Yeah, I'll say on Curve, you guys know what I mean. There's a 5-po.
Looking quite good. Now, is this always wanded as a choice, or do you think Maxi Bomber
will consider Crown, for example? I would be seriously considering Crown here. It's
Got access to a shellfallen baron for some draw.
Not quite sure what's in the mixologist's potion.
We can take a look at that.
Is 2, 2 demon give your minions plus 2 health.
So no draw there.
You run the risk potentially of running out of draw
without the wand to pick up.
But I think there's a lot of upside
if you roll well on crown to just take this.
Otherwise, I'd say probably a bit unfavorable matchup
for the demon hunter and just turn the pressure on.
All of the warlock's removal is damage based.
And so if you get something really juicy out of that crown,
you might be able to just overwhelm
before they can really get their engine going.
And by demon hunter, you meant that, right?
I did.
Yeah.
I got the D-classes.
Just making sure everyone's on the same page.
No, you don't have to see this, German.
We'll be asking the question, yeah.
Yeah, they go for crown.
So yeah, completely on board.
Just go aggressive, try and win the game before the eggs are
really coming up as a problem.
And like you said, chill form bar
plus the tradeable from the three-drop
is probably enough to keep going.
There's one Conflict, right?
Go on.
Oh, Archdruid's pick up is excellent.
Any, whether it was meant to be a pun or not, I'm going to laugh.
Oh, no, I just pushed the wand.
I just understood what you were talking about.
It was not meant to be a fun.
No, no.
If I wanted to emphasize, I would have said, egg-cellent.
Oh, OK.
So now I'm going to listen harder, but when you don't do that, so I can bring it up.
So I'm sure it happens multiple times from all of us when we're casting this deck,
accidentally.
something I would be looking at for maxi and later turns is yeah doing a health buff here
yeah with the poison yeah I wasn't sure at what point that would come out but
prox pretty good here right because it stops the three damage into say hellfire onto the
the blob now. So just removing options for Philfeal. He might look a little bit strange
to just like, oh well you've just put more eggs on the board. It's like well the more
eggs on the board anyway. Didn't really matter. Just want to make Philfeal spend as many
resources as possible. Table flipping to drain so it's going to be pretty clean
Intel fire
All the instances of free damage, right?
So that's two eggs one proc away from being 20 20s and one egg
Two procs three
Two rocks away, I think from being there the the crack levels on the eggs always get me
It's like
Yeah, I think that's two more props right next product is cracked open to proc after
Maxi picks up a couple of taunts
Oh, the ETH IMP is actually quite nice in this instance because it may draw Phil feel into
one mana form of
breakage
Conflagrate will do one. Yeah or abuse another
Yeah, I'd be considering using the abusive instead.
But probably doesn't make too much of a difference.
to Glacial Shard the 2-4 with Coin as well.
Yeah, that's a huge help because that is the one thing you're a little bit worried about
and now all eyes are going to be on Maxivon's turn and how are we going to deal with 4
2020s?
I'm going to dream one and has, you know, good nightmare or something else, but yeah,
just, you know, I think this is one of the matchups that the egglock is targeting and
Phil feel.
I would have said underdog just taking a look at them going into this match, but able
to secure a nice 3-0 victory against Maxi.
Yeah, an absolutely fantastic series for Philfield, honestly.
Huge congratulations because every single game there
just felt like a sort of ABC plan for the deck
and it just went through it, no problem.
Philfield looking very comfortable.
Obviously one of the players we've got who's quite emotive,
but that just felt clean for one of them.
I've had a word there for Philfield.
feel just very nice series. I think I'm fortunate for Maxi Bond it's a bit of a
shame because I think he just he was just getting the rough end of the stick
right everything he was trying to do was just not quite enough as Phil
Field was just every single deck just getting the work done and once again
fantastic performance for the warlock so maybe some opinions may have to be
changed going forward because now we have this walk in the top four as we
have our top four players now both semi-finals are gonna be coming up
very very soon so don't go anywhere we'll be right back
Welcome back, everyone. It's
finals day here at the
Hearthstone World Championship
for 2025, and it is
semifinals time. We are down
to our final four players
and joining me to talk you
through semi-final number one
is everyone's favorite MC,
MC Bantaface. How is it going,
sir? I'm glad to be back
back up here and been a great tournament so far.
Hopefully we'll get a few good final matches.
Yeah, and the first one of those that we are hoping
we'll live up to expectations is going to be a definition
versus a love storm.
And if you are just joining us,
we do have the showdown between Jailty and Philfield
down on the bottom half.
Our defending world champion,
Yamming was narrowly defeated in the end by Jailty
and we just saw Maxibon taking a brutal 3-0 loss
the the underdog the real underdog story of the tournament so far in fill fill but we are dealing
with that top half of the bracket between definition and love storm for you banter of either of these
two impressed you more than the other in the tournament so far i didn't have generally played
well if i had to pick one i would say love storm probably overall a bit cleaner for me i think
there was the the turn six maybe earlier today from definition that was a little weird one
or two things day one again it's gonna happen I kind of expect everybody to make some amount of
mistakes but I would say that love storm overall has impressed me more. Yeah I think I would agree
with that I think coming into today him and incuro that second quarter final was kind of
billed as the the two players that played the cleanest so far going into this and I think I
would agree with that assessment but as a lot of us have been talking about and as I think
you've mentioned as well. Sometimes when it comes down to these final stages it's not really about
who's played the cleanest or who has the best lineup or anything like that it just becomes a
matter of who can handle the pressure and who can hold their nerve and just play any form of
sensible heartstone as it moves forward towards a life-changing amount of money and a potentially
one-off opportunity to call yourself the world champion of something that you've been
dedicated to for quite a long time.
And being sat next to you, Banta, of course,
you're better placed the most to talk
about the feeling of high pressure
hardstone when it comes to the high stakes situations
like this, like how differently or how much does it
affect your mental state, your focus, your decision
making, all of those big things in positions like this?
I think that all of us as players
wouldn't probably prefer to tell ourselves
that it's still just a game of hardstone.
But again, it's just not how it works.
You know, the further you get into the tournament,
when I've played my first ever World Championship match,
super, super nervous.
By the time I got to the semifinal in 2021,
I was a wreck.
Like every game, so stressful,
especially for being your first time.
It's a lot to deal with, but you got to do it.
You got to just be able to remain calm.
The thing is, you know deep down
that like you can handle the situations.
you've seen some of these games before the way that they play out. You know your game plan. It really is just all about if you can keep your cool.
Yeah. And so focusing in on the series more specifically, the bands are in. We are seeing a band discrepancy, which is no surprise because there is a lineup discrepancy as well. Warrior band from Love Storm Hunter band from definition. You make what do you make?
Do you agree with those bands?
that. Yeah, I think it is
quite reasonable. Overall, um,
you know, love storm has
shaman and definition has the
death night. That night
worse against warrior shaman
worse against hunter. I think
if you at least simplify it to
that makes a lot of sense
that there's a difference in
the band. Yep. No great
surprise. You've been seeing
an awful lot of hunter bands
going on, but back into this
position now where the death
nights are coming back out.
a rogue mirror and now that the one of Protoss Rogue is long since eliminated from the field.
This will of course be a cycle rogue mirror. So, if you can set us up in advance, what
are the key things to look out for in a cycle rogue mirror event?
One thing that can come up pretty often is webweaver tempo plays. The deck is not super
great at dealing with let's say a three million board with a webweaver there. So,
getting to agree with your resources, being capable of remembering, hey, their deck doesn't
have a great answer to this tempo out of webweaver. Just making sure you can keep up on board,
get that everything must go down. And I think pretty often the game will be maybe even over
by the time you get to Incindious. Depends on how good the hands are, right? Sometimes
it'll go a little bit later. Maybe somebody can get an Incindious down as early as
turn five but pretty often it's going to be all about there's mid game turns.
Yeah no we haven't seen a great deal of road mirrors throughout the tournament I think primarily
because you know generally the worst win rate a deck's going to have the more often you're going
to run into it as the mirror because you create those situations where you you know you get the
game fives where both decks have been unable to win and they run into each other as a mirror
We haven't really seen a great deal of the road mirror throughout at least on my memory.
I know some of you, some of you current practicing pro players have better memories for this than I do.
I was amazed at Wreck Van the other day just being able to easily pick out, you know,
I bring something up.
Oh yeah, earlier in the tournament this happened.
He's like, yeah, yeah.
No, that was turn six in Kuro versus Gaby in this particular matchup.
And he remembered it perfectly, but I haven't remembered a huge amount of action in a road mirror.
in a road mirror so far. So it'd be interesting to see this one kick off. Looks like we may have
a little bit of delay with the players. I'm not sure what's going on here as to why we are not
getting into game, but hopefully we will be able to kick things off sooner rather than later.
So anything else in this series for you, Banta, in the way that these lineups run into each
other? Obviously the Death Knight and the Shaman being the differences. Apart from the bands
being taken apart? What are the key breakdowns? For me personally again we've talked a lot also I
know you feel the same way about Shaman maybe not being super strong. I think it did pretty well
yesterday it has shown you know it's a be capable of winning Hearthstone games we do know that
but looking at the decks that it needs to be Cycle Rogue Warrior and Death Knight I'm not
thrilled about Shaman in any one of those matchups so I think my biggest concern just
just looking at Lanham's would be if Lundstorm can get that shaman through with the death
knight for definition, sort of the same story, but I prefer having death knight over shaman
in that matchup. And a lot of these decks, the way that the sets pan out, you end up
in a situation where it's like, well, the hunter gets a win and we all say, well, that
was kind of expected. The road gets a win. Yeah, of course it does. Like it finds
a way and then you end up with these remaining two decks and you see if you can reverse
you can finally get the job
down against it. So I'm
interested to see if it's the
same thing this time or if
those, you know, fourth backs
that they picked are able to
maybe look a bit better. Yeah,
I mean, I think the both of us
kind of need shaman to start
picking up some L's because
based on the performance
yesterday is starting to make
us both look a little bit
foolish. But the one thing I
was paying a lot of attention
to yesterday. I mentioned
this earlier. I think a lot
of the most interesting
games of yesterday were
shaman versus warrior, which
warrior which always seemed to look like Shaman was running away with it but I
think there was one really strong performance I think by Enkuro where it
looked like he was dead the entire time and then I checked the deck list and
he's like on 35 health still with like still a brawl and a ceaseless expanse and
a bunch of things still remaining. Do you have specific thoughts on that
matchup because I've changed my mind like three or four times already
throughout this tournament just based on you know reacting to the last
thing I've seen, which is always the best way to analyze Halstead.
Yeah, of course, naturally. It's a pretty controversial matchup. I would say like a lot of top players
have very different opinions. I've heard, you know, 30, 70, which I think is kind of crazy.
For me, it's always been closer to even. I think having seen it played out enough
times, I would prefer to be warrior. With that said, you do have to play the warrior
pretty well. Like you need to be cautious with your resources, time them at the
right moments. Understand when you need to soak up some damage. We'll have to wait for that one month.
We will indeed. It looks like some half stone has broken out in front of us. Apologies for the
delay. It seemed like Love Storm had some difficulties or something that he needed to take care of,
but we are ready to go now into the rogue mirror. Love Storm, full sending definition,
looking like he is taking some time. Does the Mulligan differ significantly from what you
do in a regular matchup when it is so focused on really being heavy tempo and getting those early
boards down quickly? I would say not too much. The card that they both really want is just Crystal
Tusk. Getting that weapon down early, enabling that everything must go turn pretty high priority,
so I think we saw both full moles. Definitely want to look for that card.
Lovestorm just gonna let it go. Definitions hand looking a little ugly. Okay, the platypso
might just be able to piece something together? Yeah, and picks up a prep off it. Obviously,
super important card, kind of half the step to the platy, because if your opponent goes weapon,
or even prep dubious here, you would be in big trouble.
Now then, Banta, I heard a certain someone not too long ago talk about tempoing webweavers
in this matchup. Yep, and Love Storm does agree. This, again, it comes up pretty often.
you could even consider like playing the wisp alongside it because it would play
around prep dubious but that is a two card combo just generally trying to make
the game awkward for definition how about another webweaver yep you do have
that stepped platy in hand which of course has already been played this
game if you really want to load out in the car draw but definition slowing down
you know front loads and card roll with the blood mage down awesome there's the
crystal tusk picked up now from love storm yeah very key timing on that too I
think this is excellent turn to have it any later you're in danger of maybe
being a little too slow with it but now he's able to get it down and
importantly he doesn't have to toss away all of his draw he still has prep
map in hand meaning he can draw a lot of cards next turn yeah quite often
even with the the turn two weapon you'll see players holding on deliberately to
either the first or second charge to be looking to go off on turn four anyway
depending on the hand and what they think they can put together with the
everything must go so not a massive downside to be playing the weapon on three
just a little less manner efficient than you could have been otherwise
definition without a crystal tusk of his own is gonna struggle a little bit more
Yeah, and one does show up in a discover here. Problem for him is to be able to play that would cost him a coin, would cost him the insidious in hand as well.
Again, sometimes the game won't go that long, but even just like being forced to use your coin a little bit annoying.
He does deem it worth it, which I think makes a lot of sense, but probably not thrilled that having to use coin here.
Yeah, and again as Banta was explaining earlier, this is generally not the kind of matchup where, you know, both of those resources, the coin and the incendious, super important in a lot of matchups as we have seen throughout most of the tournament.
But this matchup generally defined a little bit earlier, the full turn seven, as to who can grab that overwhelming ball presence first because neither deck really built to counteract that position particularly well.
Love storm gonna start digging now does hit the EMG and has prep map with three mana still remaining after all of this
Yep, eat the amp looking pretty good at a glance I imagine he will be picking the hat
Just needs to cycle through that already alone will make the everything must go zero mana with the three draws plus
the natural one from the map
He is going to spend the O-Manager first before playing the Phoenix. That was the only thing that was a little bit awkward.
He didn't really have a perfect eat the imp target. He doesn't want to eat his webweaver.
He can't eat the platy or he loses the EMG.
Oh my goodness. Three draws from the from the eat picks up the second card from the map because of it
and that is double EMG for some pretty solid minions.
Can I interest you in a seven attack minion that also basically never dies?
Yes, it's a seven attack. It is essentially a seven attack.
A definition absolutely needs an alternative match.
He needs to play dubious, he needs to get his core draw going.
If he's not able to play his own copies of everything he must go, he is just going to be permanently behind from here.
He has to hit on this private sword draw.
So he gets one down, but I think he really needs a second copy right now.
He doesn't have it, so forced to make me with just the one. Pretty good minion to hit a Pasarian
here though. Quite strong. That is 16 damage on the board. Of course, Definition has more
minions overall and can actually somewhat reasonably clean up part of the board. It's
It's just that Lovestorm has the initiative, right?
He has this immune 7-7, basically.
It's immune while attacking,
so he's able to get a free trade on it.
Of course, he's a little,
doesn't quite have enough damage to push face here.
I think that's maybe the first thing you look for
is, well, can I set up lethal?
In this case, you can't,
so he's gonna just make sure he deals with the board.
Well, to the collection.
of that, but I'm not sure
if that's what you're talking
about.
Prep.
we'll see him do that. Now it's just coming down to which trades you want to make. The
Platysaur does have a card that will get discarded, so it would be a little surprised if he left
it up. He does indeed kill that off and then just pushes the floor.
And generally in these kinds of situations, if you're not going to clear a board, like
if there are two minions that you're going to leave up, leaving up the Phoenixes is
very often a go-to choice for the player who's in control of the trades, because
That means that definition has no ability to replay them with, for example, a second webweaver on the following term, because if he trades them in now, he has to wait all the way until the end of this turn to get them back.
Yep, and definition making that trade, they're hoping that that deal to hit pretty much any target other than face. Of course, it naturally does go face.
He probably would have liked for it to hit any of the three minions that would die to it. He does have dubious purchase in hand alongside a space rock.
So, he would have been able to deal really efficiently with this 2-7, now he can't actually
guarantee a clear opening.
Actually he can, it's just a bit more expensive.
With I think we're going to see it yet, maybe he does go space rock, steps the spacers through
there, excuse me, space rock to make mana for the dubious, and now he's able to kill
off the 7-7.
It did cost him a bit to do that, right, with the 2 damage and up going base, but
sort of worked out because he got his weapon down. Yeah, consolidate the weapons, survive
the big board push from Love Storm. He knows that the O manager coin had been sent as well
from Love Storm. So if the game is going to reset back to Incindious, he's not going
to get hit with Incindious just yet. The bad news is the Love Storm will still have
the initiative to do that if it does get to that point. But at least for now, Love
had that incredible tempo turn with the WNG, definition's turn in response was not quite as good,
but since then, he has at least escaped with his life. He can continue to play Hearthstone in this
game, so that is at least something. He has that smaller pickup, I think probably D card he was
looking for here, just get those asteroids in. Of course they could hit in Dominions, but
with definition being so low, he doesn't really need all the asteroid damage to go face,
just wants to stay ahead on board and try to push a little extra chip damage.
So definition now in a spot where he kind of he knows what he needs to do he needs to try to set up a way to
Force love storm to not play in Cindy's if love storms allowed to play in Cindy's and it's not dead on the next turn
Definition will know that he's very likely to die on the following turn
Yes, there are currently
six asteroids in deck for Love Storm and a Bloodmage Talonoster has not been
played the definition knows about so I would even say first port of call is to
make sure he's not just going to die to those asteroids coming out of the deck
but almost anything he does is putting some level of minions in play to be
able to soak those up that should not be a big deal we're almost certainly
seeing an EMG come down this turn from definition which will be able to
So a couple of good amount of that damage.
Yep.
Little bit awkward in terms of mana expenditure.
Can still get it down for three, and then potentially just
end on Malmour or Phoenix Phoenix.
And he does hit a 5-4 rush.
Ooh.
Just please.
And so this is a dirger, I believe.
Now, do you remember what dirger does?
I'll pull it up on screen in a second.
Look at those bans are going to work.
It's this card has a death rattle. There is a crewmate thing. Now importantly, it's a battle cry
I have made this mistake many times in the past where I thought oh you you shuffle your crewmates
Because that's what the card does that parts the battle cry the death rattle draws them meaning that the dirge
It does not actually do anything here. Just looks a little scary
But also most importantly, it's a rush minion that comes from everything must go which you are always
Delighted to see as the road
yep
So there was a decent amount of pressure on board love storm feels comfortable just going with the
Malice here knowing that if he clears this board, there is no real response from definition
At best he can do a similar turn problem for definition being that he doesn't have any cards in his deck
He's got two real cards a few asteroids. So pretty hard for him to actually draw through without just dying to fatigue
Is he dying this turn
2 remaining cards as they stand. One of them is an asteroid and the other one is myestero
I believe. So I think that leaves him a little bit short for the blood maze damage.
Yep, but what he does do here is sets up a guaranteed win. I think we saw a pretty similar
spot to this before. He pushes the 5, meaning the definition goes down to 5 HP, and he
is guaranteed to draw his insignias because the rest of his cards are just asteroids.
So next turn, as long as he's not dead, which of course he's not, he's just going to go
Incendia Swing to deal the five.
And of course the only potential thing that could ruin that is random outcomes from Everything
Must Go, both of which have been played from Definition, but there is of course the,
is it specifically plushies?
Are the only card that heals immediately from Everything Must Go?
Yeah, the only rush life steal.
Yeah.
Yeah, okay.
So I think the definition is just going to double check if there's any theoretical lethal
here that he can go for.
I don't believe there is currently in his deck.
He's got two asteroids.
So even if every single asteroid and the least hit face, he's just not killing him.
Yeah, definition also temporadar is bloodmage early on.
So even if that was going to be a factor, no extra spell damage available.
Again, some spell damage outs that you can find from everything must go, but both
those have been used so definition just desperately thumbing through his cards trying to find some
miraculous mirage to lead him out of this position but I don't think any such line exists and he is
just going to fall over to this remaining damage from the storm and yeah that's going to be it
gives it up it's going to be game one going over to a love storm and so far looking like we have
pretty high potential for a very China dominated field, a potential all China final still lining up
and perhaps moving towards that little quickener with Love Storm picking up the first victory in the
rogue mirror still has Hunter and Shaman to win with but I think you know although I was saying
the definition you know somewhat recovered from that initial early push with the WMG he recovered
to the point where he was alive, but he was always that full turn behind. He was always
reacting in the matchup. And I think as you explained very early on, that is kind of the
story of that matchup is just if you're in control of the tempo, you're probably winning
the game more often than not. Right. Absolutely. And I think there's definitely some room
for debate in some of the plays that were made by game like love storm. I think pretty
clearly understood his his role in the in the matchup in the situation got that
webweaver down on two. The definition seemed a little bit more hesitant and he was kind of going
a bit harder for the swing turn. Not unreasonable to try and set up but maybe could have gone for
some slightly more aggressive lines early on, maybe even getting his own webweaver down.
But I think it got a bit difficult for him because Love Storm, you know, correctly played
his and just contested it on the board. Yeah, no, I was going to ask you about it and I
will just very quickly before we dig into what's actually happening on the screen.
You said as the webweaver was drawn for definition turn two with the stepped platysaur you said oh, how about a counter tempo webweaver?
Definition ended up going for the bloodmage that time. We didn't really dig into it
Do you did you prefer the webweaver on that turn?
Maybe not on that turn I was actually thinking the turn after it just with the extra manner remaining
I at least one of those he ended up taking a slower approach which
Nearly worked out with the past but definitely something to at least consider in that spot
Alright, we will move on. It's going to be Hunter vs Death Knight, Love Storm,
coining out the Parrot Century on one with Ranger Captain Elyria in hand.
The weakest individually of the sisters, but still not a card that you hate to
see because of how powerful it makes the other cards if you are to draw them.
Do you agree with this line, coining location on one?
Absolutely, I'd say this is a super common play pattern with the deck.
any time you have basically any three mana minion you can just coin out the sanctuary to get your mana spent
Much it just gets a little awkward otherwise because you don't really want to just pass on to and then if you coin your three
You've sort of wasted the mana picks up another sanctuary and can do the exact same thing now doing this
Double clicking for mixologist get the minion on the board and get the mana spent
What kind of potion are you looking for in this spot?
I know what I'm looking for.
In this spot right now, I mean you have a bunch of cheap minions to play with glacial
shards and locations to make them cost zero, so plus health for me would be something
where I'm immediately looking for just for the massive tempo board.
You've clicked too many things, Vata! The wrong card, Hubbard.
There we go, alright. Plabbalt plus two health draw card. I think that's
probably the perfect potion in this spot. I didn't draw a very high priority, but
as you mentioned, a couple extra cheat minions.
That HP is relevant.
has been messed up a little bit by the leech, although alien encounters now picked up as
well and no real way just yet to make it super cheap.
Yeah, you would have loved to have that encounters playable before the plus HP buff but unfortunately
a little too expensive, so quite get it done.
Well, the other side, we haven't really talked about definitions opening too much. He does
have a Maladar Zileax opening with a fair amount of corpse generation early on with the Dreadhound
Handler, lots of leeches coming out as well. Love Storm has kind of preemptively picked
up a death roll to potentially deal with like one big cheated out minion early on or a stitch
giant if such a thing were to come out but do you think this start from love storm can
withstand the the early excerpt from definition if it does come down?
Not with that husk.
No, no, no.
I think it was looking fine.
That husk is pretty brutal.
It is the best card from to have on this turn.
Of course it doesn't have the corpses from Alidore yet.
Not only does this apply a ton of pressure to Lovestorm, it also heals Definition and
will give him the corpses for the Maladar because your choices are either to leave this board
up or do the sensible things, deal with it, hope that their hand is not exactly Maladari
Sara, but we've got some bad news for Lovestorm this time.
and this is the way the definition perhaps inexplicably turned down in a previous series
by just playing out the X arc with the husk on the previous turn and kind of stranded
his hand from that point but this time he's able to hit the dream curve get the ramp
with the Isera I think Love Storm gives a bit of a resigned reaction to that his hands
start off so promising with the double location. Two sisters picked up early as well, but it's
gassed out very, very quickly here with the Ceaseless Expans and the Acera just not really
offering anything.
Yep, absolutely. And he will also kill off the Sylvanas here in an ordinary matchup
against Hunter. Super important to do this. It basically kind of just walks up the
game for you. He didn't actually need to in this instance because Left Storm doesn't
play brewmaster in his deck. I know you're a big fan of that card. He is running the
Elise version, so not super high priority to kill the Sylvanas, but it's kind of fine
on board and also maybe force a habit as well.
Yeah, I mean, I am not a huge fan of the brewmasters. I do think they make more sense
in the version of the deck that they are in, which is much more slim down, can leverage
the idea of repeated damage from Sylvanas a lot better. Sometimes your game is all in
on Grifter and you need the brewmaster to just have multiple shots at Grifter if that's
your angle. I think it is also worth pointing out that these two cards in hand right now,
Esera or Ceaseless Expans, like these are the kind of cards that are in this version
of the deck that are not in the youthful brewmaster version of the deck. And they
are certainly not offering much to the game state right now either whereas a youthful
Brewmaster maybe could contribute something in this position. The pretty miserable spot for Love Storm
leaves himself too many to be able to deprol off Mrs. Sarah, cleans up a decent bit of the board,
but he knows he is just super far behind right now. His next turn currently is going to be Bob
Freeze. Definition has access to Shaladrassil, has the handspace to play, and even picks up a
giant. Matt is going to be a ton of pressure coming his way. Yeah, Zero Man of Stitch giant
immediately after the death roll gets used.
Love Stone would have been pretty confident
that wasn't in hand, just based on the Asera being played
for corpses on the previous turn,
Stitch Giant would have immediately followed that up
if it were in hand.
So ripped out the death roll,
but then the top deck, Stitch Giant
is gonna punish that super hard afterwards.
Slightly surprised to see definition
not instantly played as Shaladrisil
and just blop a 6-10 with Elusive on the board.
That also makes a hero elusive.
He goes for the Zilly.
I think both plays are incredibly safe, I guess,
but I'd probably just Shelladresil.
I don't know if it's gonna be winning from here.
I agree.
I think, yeah, particularly in Death Knight,
Shelladresil, like in Death Knight is the class
where I want to get Shelladresil turned
into the dream cards of the quickest
just because of the power you get converting
into damage.
You have that charge hero power,
which is a unique ability that you have.
So your burst damage is just so massive
with the Awakens and the Nightmare to be able to push.
Yeah, we'll get it on this turn
and we'll probably see him play the 6-10.
At this point, Love Sword just doesn't have enough mana,
but generally what you can do with that 6-10
is make your hero elusive,
meaning that there's no random Grifta damage
and then you die in Eerie.
You kind of remove that possible out.
Let's go with Drake this time again. Lovestorm just doesn't have the mana to do
halt hats so he's not really in danger of it. Wow ripping the nightmare for the
trade as well just saying I do not need the burst damage I'm just gonna win this
match up on board which he's absolutely right to do so the only real
tool that Lovestorm is ever really gonna throw out that can deal with
of his board state is the Ceaseless Expanse.
And he is 30-something manner away from being
able to make anything relevant happen with that.
So a pretty easy comeback game for definition there,
squaring up the series with the death knight.
And a big win overall, I think, because as we were
mentioning, Larynda gave the shower early on.
Crad is always doing a great job with compiling stats
with win rate and adjusted win rate to bands
and all this kind of interesting stuff.
Four big tournaments like this.
And he was pointing out that after Shaman's big performance yesterday, it was actually the Death Knight that was suffering and was perhaps the weak deck that people were preying upon.
So probably a big deal, definition will be delighted to have got that Death Knight out of the series at the first attempt.
Yep, absolutely. And Love Storm now left with his, you know, bad deck in quotes, which may not be so bad, but I mean, I kind of imagine the Hunter would get a win.
The only potential problem is that was a matchup that you want to win with Hunter, right?
Like, that's your best matchup for it.
He does have to go through either Quest Warrior or Psycho Rogue.
Both entirely winnable with Hunter, but I have seen some top players that feel Hunter's
unfavourite against both.
And if Lovestorm feels that way, he might not be feeling so good in this series after
that game.
Yeah, this Hunter list, I think, when I was predicting the tournament, when I
I was picking choose your champion for packs
when I was picking the even more important
cast of predictions for this tournament,
for the broadcast, you know,
I tend to pick like lineup weighted by player skill.
And I, you know, I know Jiao-Ti's a great player.
I know Love Storm's a great player.
Yanming is defending world champion.
But then looking at their lineup,
my fear was this version of the Hunter, right?
With all the extra greedy cards in it,
because when I see Hunter being successful,
It's these smooth three or four cards per turn kind of turns
where you're constantly refilling your hand
with the scout and the pupil
and you're navigating through this like super smooth low curve
having a barb in a Sarah
and expensive at least locations
and all of these extra cards
ceaseless expanse thrown in on top of that
seemed to get in my way
but for me just looking at the fields
like, you know, the first thing I look at
what pocket and fury doing
because they're two people that I always want to pick
I think they're two people that tend to bring great lineups.
Then I looked at those lineups and thought,
nope, this ain't it, chief.
Moving on, who have we got next?
And yeah, landed on Jiao Ti because of that reason.
But I do still have fears for this China version of Hunter.
And you saw the punish there in that game with Love Storm
just getting absolutely stranded with Anacera
and a Ceaseless in hand.
Is this, do you share this opinion of the faster Hunter
being the superior motion. I did share it. I continue to share it. Not a big fan of the
Elise Hunter personally. The good news for Love Storm is that there is still a warrior up and that
is probably the one matchup where I would actually prefer to have this Elise version where you can
grab to your Ysera, start doing more stuff. You can get a little bit weird with the end game at
least but even like against Cycle Rogue as well, I would I'd rather not be seeing the Ceaseless or
the Zileaks in my hand.
Right.
Yeah, it seems like a recipe for disaster.
And the way that the matchups are panning out,
Love Storm is potentially taking a beating
to some of these expensive cards.
There is another one turning up.
It looks like the Incindious in the opening hand.
There is the very least location, a scout, and an encounters.
And now a pupil as well.
So if we can start to make some cheap spells happen,
then potentially we can get a very explosive board with the alien encounters,
but some way away from making that happen right now.
Yeah, meanwhile, for definition, the absolute dream opener,
a space rock on one, weapon on two,
with three cards that just draw your deck in your hand.
So things are going to start to look a little bit spooky for Lovestorm,
especially by picking up not a card that he really wants right now.
He can play it, but it will end up dying to do this purchase.
Yeah, I didn't quite get to ask the question, but I was gonna say does this have to get in play banter and it looks like love storm thinks it does
It absolutely does. I think from his perspective. I mean your your alternative is hero powering, right?
It makes total sense to play it. There's a quote-on-quote punish with the dubious, but from from his point of view it does have to be played
people all around the world.
Hallstone viewers everywhere all have a full and robust grasp of what the word punished
means as you all know.
Of course, I put in the air quotes and then I remembered that nobody can see me right
now.
Yeah, yeah, this isn't the old vanity personal stream where you're just on camera all the
time.
That's not how it works, is it?
like, end love story, just pure misery with the hands of two five-mana copies and encounters.
Now, to be fair to them, this is not even the list's fault. This is just...
It's like, yes, I was gonna say, serious analysis, right? The only card here that would be different
in the fast list, or in some versions of the fast list, is in Cyndias might be a different card.
Is there anything that it could have been in the other list where this would not be tragic?
I don't think so, right?
Yeah, I don't think so either. In fact, I think almost all, if not everybody, brought Insidious in the fast list anyway.
It's usually very, very, very, very...
...is the top end, yeah.
Okay.
But, yeah, Lovestorm forced to just sit there and watch as that mission draws through his deck,
hoping that there's no, uh, everything must go on the other side.
If there is, you have to imagine this since Insidious is gonna be way too slow.
If somehow that mission manages to just have a terrible turn, you can just click in Incendius, which is really his only outlet at this point.
Any real question remaining now is how big are the minions and how many of them? Only one, everything might go.
But two pretty high quality minions. Bullhog not big, but it still pushes a lot of damage here, which is a very, very nice definition in the spot.
Yep, and probably getting to play in the list here as well.
That leads 12 power in play, has a 4 from hand next turn.
Altly close to lethal, not quite, but Lovestorm has to decide.
Of course, you could just Bob Freeze here, but he knows very well that absolutely does not give him a way to win this game.
Has to play this and just hope for the best.
Man, I do not predict that the best is coming.
I think that's a fair prediction at this point. So definition just basically needs to make sure he doesn't do anything too crazy
Of course, the threat of Bob is always there. He can potentially set up to turn and your opponent cannot bob while also
Playing taunts right at this point. They could freeze your face, but that's about it
I'm having I'm having fun banter. They don't exist. Sadly
I'm looking for outs for immediate lethal, but there aren't any right. He's got 12 showing. He's got a crystal tusk
Oh manager in hand to push two more which is 16
So if he could then like eat the imp on his ball, he would he would have lethal at that point
But I don't think there's any way available in the deck to
Okay definition does choose to just a quick the weapon which
I'm a little bit surprised that we didn't point this old manager face.
I mean it's unlikely to matter long term but like I mean it would just set up
lethal for the following turn with the weapon and they can't like freeze and
also make prawns so you're surprised to not see that.
There was two steps remaining in the deck actually but there wasn't any real
way to start drawing cards. Yeah if you're not familiar Bullhawk I believe
even unless it's been changed and I haven't been paying attention, is still lowest enemy
that it deals damage to you, right?
Yep, there you go.
So he could have even potentially pushed people with the damage face, stepped it, replayed
it and the Baalcry would have won the game for it, but I don't think there was any way.
Yep, does now pick up some card draw as well as a mauler, one Asteroid face would just
be enough here, so plays the other mauler, goes for the dubious and just needs one
Get a face.
Yep, should be fairly straightforward.
Definition with the asteroids, doing it the old-fashioned boring way
and not getting carried away by me getting excited with logs
is looking like he is still gonna take this down,
go up to a 2-1 lead,
and this China version of Hunter is taking a beating currently.
I did wonder about this.
I'm not sure if I ever got a point to actually bring this up,
but I had this kind of logged away as a talking point when Hunter was consistently eating so many
bands throughout kind of day two and day three of the tournament that I was going to be I was going
to express a little bit of surprise that everyone not from China was still fully respecting the
China Hunter and still banning it out every single time when they're line-up said ban Hunter
and I did wonder whether one or two of the you know the the the Europe egos might just
just say no, no, no, that list sucks.
I'm leaving it up and I'm going to beat it,
but never ended up happening.
But in this series so far for Love Storm,
it is really, really struggling to find a photo.
Yep, that has an in fairness, I think that game,
same story with the other version, right?
It would have been at the same cards.
First one, definitely a bit more questionable
as you pointed out with the Ysera and Ceaseless
stuck in hand.
Now we'll get to the point where if he ends up
choosing to play the Hunter again,
let's have the Warrior as a matchup.
So maybe we'll see it get through this time.
Normally not a good matchup.
It actually just goes with the shaman anyway.
And this is the matchup that I have been enjoying enormously
over the last couple of days, learning a lot about it,
watching some of the best players in the world
navigate through it.
Like I said, I have flip-flopped a few times
on who I thought was winning the matchup.
At first, when I was testing,
I thought it was control warrior favored.
Then I, with a little bit more shaman experience, I was like, okay, if you just lean really hard into finding good, like, wish upon a star turns, do you overwhelm the warrior over time, and then you have like an alakir burst combo to win the game.
And that's kind of where I settled, coming into the tournament with the amount of testing that I put in. And then I've kept seeing games where the shaman has got like a really good wish turn, or even a shutter block slime wish turn.
turn and I'm like okay okay okay this is over like the Charmin always coasts from
here and we've seen several games in this tournament where the warrior has
actually still outlasted the big wish buffs and actually go over the line which
really impressed me and went kind of contrary to the testing I'd put in
before the tournament. Yep the warrior absolutely can play that really long
game even against those huge minions I think in part due to the
inevitability of just you know the class but also ceaseless expanse which
currently cost 105 but by the end of the game and all likelihood that would be a
lot cheaper and that's usually the returning point I would say for Warrior
when they get the ceaseless down they can maybe play a crown a quest reward
whatever else alongside it and it can get awkward but definition may struggle to
get to that point he had the dream opener of shield walk into new heights
but currently there's 15 and there's 15 attack on board and it's gone
Uh, convene a top deck for definition there to not just explore Hoven.
No, you've got, like, this warrior honestly is so frustrating sometimes.
You've gone 5 fight, 2 5 5's into 2 5 5's while cheating mana along the way.
And your reward is you've pushed negative 10 to the warrior.
They're on 40 and they killed it.
Yeah, and like, it also, I think it's a good thing to mention.
something I was talking about with the game RVG about quite a bit in this matchup especially it's just
so important to find that new heights early because even there if you don't have new heights right you
can't go crocculus plus brawl you have to just brawl and then at that point not even sure if it's
worth it so you either have to tank the damage or you you don't gain the 10 you don't get the
mana spent it gets you one turn closer to this great drakerex in hand now it's so important to
get that early ramp but because he had it I think he's in a pretty decent spot right now
How about a Turbulus to play around that Draker X?
Nice, Shadow Blocking a Turbulus. I like it. Not something I have seen but I think specifically
in this instance you are just kind of dead to Draker X here if you don't buff the existing
board so good recognition. Not I would say the premium target you want to use a Shadow
Block on in this matchup but you still have the mini, still a good chance to do something
with that in the future and right now you are threatening immediately for with this massive
board having already eaten the the one brawl from the opponent yeah it's a massive pickup
for love storm and it also I think we talk a lot about how this shaman can be a bit
linear in terms of you have one card you can play it whatever this is one example of
where you can actually you know you have some input on it right like a lot of people
might not even think about you know but using turbulence or shutters like oh I can
something better, but the amount of tempo that it gains you here is just huge because you know that
he very likely has Dracaracts in hand having just played all you can eat to draw three. So that is
by far your biggest concern. If you have a bunch of five-fives the game is probably just over at that
point. That is a miserable look in Dracaracts. One of the worst you will see in this matchup
usually potentially such a strong card such a game-winning card in the matchup. Definition
just having to throw it out here and a little bit of desperation, take a little bit of damage off
the board, soften up the board for the hostile Invader potentially on the next turn or the Zileax
on the next turn, and also just hopefully introduce a bit of taunt that might soak some
damage from Lovestorm on this turn as well. Yep, and Lovestorm first thing he did this
turn probably was check for lethal. Offly close, he was too off this turn as 25 damage
available, but it's not quite lethal which means the next priority for him is figuring out
what to do about a pretty likely zili axe on the following turn and in this case he just needs
to save his location click which of course he will recognize and has that click available so he can
just you know counter zili against the zili. Attack or copy offered I think you might copy
first in an attack. Let's go ahead and take off that location real clear.
Get it back up there. Yeah, copy attack on that five mana location. Super nice
battle here, nice in general with the entire deck.
Yeah, it's the dream pickup I think when you are in this aggressive position,
particularly when your buffs are slightly smaller because you've gone with Turbulus
instead of the wish upon a star that really compensates for the damage coming out with with alakir with the copy plus the savage roar effect
Yeah, interesting point in the turn to pause here by the way
So he knows he's gonna zilly I think he paused really quick just to do a to check if he had lethal with location plus
Something like pop-up book and static shock
I believe it was just a little off, but he knows that he's in a fantastic spot with the ziliac
So he almost played it instantly and then just said maybe I should wait one second in this case
more than enough pressure to get the job done
Absolutely brutal beatdown from the shaman and I think you had a great shout in the middle of that game pointing out
You know, obviously sometimes you get this narrative throughout a tournament, you know, one caster says something a second caster repeats it and it becomes a thing that everyone says over and over again throughout the whole tournament.
And this idea of the linearity of shaman is something that has been repeated over and over. I think we all stand by it. I think it is true.
I think it's one of the more linear decks in the format, but you see the breakpoints there of what comes out of a, you know, world championship caliber player who I think it was on six like, well, furious fouls.
That's the card that costs six, but furious fouls on that turn was trash.
So he found something else to do instead.
And then getting the big, turbulence buff to come down instead,
setting up the shutter block, going fishing for it with the bird watching,
getting the huge buffs.
And then those buffs just carried away with the rest of the match.
So very, very nicely done there for Love Storm.
However, you know, having just pooh poohed the abilities
of professional hardstone casters to set up narratives throughout a series.
There is one narrative left to resolve.
and that is the power of the CN Hunter that has now to come up against the Warrior.
And this is the version, this is the reason this version of the deck really exists.
It's the reason why a lot of the China players really swear by it
because Quest Warrior is almost an ever-present in the player's lineups in this tournament.
I think that was an easy read coming into this as well,
that the power level of that deck is sufficient and the matchup spread is sufficient.
Basically, everyone will be bringing Warrior.
So the Chinese players present the argument
that if this is going to resolve down
to needing to beat Warrior,
we absolutely want this greedy version of Hunter
in our lineups.
And now, even though Love Storm has lost two games,
that will all be for nothing
if it does the job it's intended to do
and picks up a win against Warrior.
Yep, absolutely.
We'll see if it's able to get the job done.
A lot of kind of useful, you know,
extra greed in this deck.
That's basically, I think to explain a little more
about why the Elise version is so much better.
And that matchup, or at least in theory,
is you have a little less aggression maybe,
your curve is a lot higher,
but playing your Sarah against a deck
that you know the game is gonna last quite a few turns,
especially if you can maybe get it out earlier
with Parrot Sanctuary.
Something to look out for is you can go for copy
on Elise, on a one mana location sometimes,
or even a five, maybe if you have it on curve.
Copy your Rengarys scout
make extra you know copies of let's say grifter deal six maybe a potion from
exologists stuff along that line a lot of potential you know extra damage that
you can make with this version yeah and I think the experience of playing the
faster kind of more face damage focus more combo heavy version of the deck
and that the European and APAC players have favoured a little more in this
tournament against warrior is it's not a bad matchup like it's not a matchup
you're miserable to queue into on ladder for example but you do reach states in
the game where you sort of go okay like I can probably just leave now like this
plan hasn't worked out I can't really reset for the long game from this
position where this version of the deck from Love Storm just never really
gets into that position you can be so down bad in so many positions against
and you're still only like a couple of good draws away from just getting that snowball rolling and really digging yourself back into the game.
So it is all coming down to this.
It could not be set up more perfectly.
Love Storm 0-2 on Hunter in the series, but now with the matchup he craves and just dropping the scout on one banter.
What do you make of this?
This is an incredibly interesting point in the game already.
I mean, definition doing a little happy dance
as he thought picks his new heights on three
with an Elise to follow up.
I was pretty surprised to see the scout draw.
The storm cannot catch a break in this match with his hunter.
Oh no.
It's hard.
I mean, there are a lot of cards
that we could name as bad draws.
It's hard to imagine a worse draw.
It just doesn't do anything.
Yeah, no exarch, no mixologist,
three sisters that haven't been found,
no a lease that could have been coined out there,
no discover effects whatsoever
that would start discounting the alien encounters.
Just a huge 10 to 15 card package of the deck
that has not been found, bird watching, tracking.
Okay, a card, a Hearthstone card
has appeared in the hand banter.
It has, but it still doesn't do anything.
I think it's the more unfortunate realization,
probably for love storms.
It is generally a very good card, right?
It buffs your Sylvanas, all that stuff.
But the size of your minions right now,
the how much damage your Sylvanas deals,
really is not relevant.
His problem is he is just so slow
to get his game plan going.
And in fact, he's so slow that
that finishing could just take a turn to Bob Draw.
picks up maybe a your may how about three copies of marin
that sounds to like
signed me up
okay a card
but finds more cards
business card find the card
looking for a night now right now for love storm
he doesn't go
dead center send it right down the middle there you go
and he is now hit with the realization that
definition has access to three copies of air, which to be fair
they're hard to actually play the other copies, but definition instantly
sensing blood in the water, he just picks up a crown.
We crowned. We crowned.
We didn't even wand.
Yeah, it makes a lot of sense, right?
Love's form has not gotten any incendiary astound, which he does top deck right now.
I'm actually kind of a little surprised or not.
I kind of assumed you would just play the Incidious here to be honest.
Choose not to though, gonna get some taunts down, but he will end up getting crowned on the following turn.
What do you think? Was that Incidious tempting you or just me?
So obviously like I'm looking at the hands right to me this is Incidious or Die.
My only counterpoint is maybe Love Storm is not thinking that definition has picked crown
because no one ever picks crown they always pick one so maybe thinks he has a
little bit more time and doesn't need to react to the board that quickly. I think
that's most likely exactly what is happening right now I think he's gonna
be a little annoyed to find out that there is a crown it can low roll right
you can hit a you know maybe a couple four four or something like that but
there are some devastating minions who can pick up from it. Yep. Did not even
even take note of the text on Niall when it was offered from the Xavius by the way, but
Divine Shield went for your fairly reasonable...
Oh, it's on some stickiness! Oh, it's two rags! It's two rags! Definition might just
be sensing! His name is on the World Championship trophy right now! I love Storm! Sinks into
a pit of despair!
Oh my goodness, it's brutal.
As if it couldn't get any worse. There's also a copy plus raptor in this location if
If he ends up needing to copy another one from hand, I don't think it's gonna get to that point
There is a grip the top deck. I mean we can get steel, but then we need to have something on the board after
Okay, we do have a a grip the discount turn these can get pretty fun small problem is we don't run brewmaster
We do not run brewmaster
But we do have double tracking so we can now reduce once more to take the trackings down to zero
and then open up the trackings which puts two more cards in hand. We can get the amulet back from the pupil.
Make those cause zero as well.
Yeah, Love Swarm is getting a lot of animations in and he knows he has a ton of stuff he needs to do to start.
need to one deal with the rags to probably gain some armor and still the
issue of the extra location on the board knowing that there's a third rag in hand
for definition armor and health were both available there yeah that ends up
being the pickup reduces again Sylvanas in play yeah and so I mean the
invader just sticks because the the sawanis was only dealing four so the invader is still there
he can deal extra uh damage with it as well although the rags are at two hp the question is
the rags are at two hp yeah can he actually deal with the board there i mean there's a draker x
but wait there's a there's a draker x plus copy you can make a five five copy of a rag that doesn't
die to the hostile invader or just a 5-5 copy of the Draker X, right?
Yeah, so he can copy the Draker X. It's a 1-1 copy, but he copies the Draker X.
Oh, it's a 1-1 copy, right?
It's a 1-1 copy, but it still works, right? It still does the damage, so he goes 5 plus 1,
can deal with an extra minion with the 2-1, needs to not play a spell, and then I believe he
ends up with a uh but it's not quite guaranteed but he has two rags he needs one to hit face
with two minions on the board
is there a gear i don't see a guaranteed lethal here but that's the best that i can come up with
which looks pretty pretty good to me it does look pretty good yeah i tried to ignore you as you
were explaining that and look for something better and i could not see anything better so
definition seems to agree that that is the line one more minion to take down here so the only outcome
that does not win the game is two shots to two minions rag you know what to do oh he's alive he's
alive and incredibly having survived the game suddenly feels winnable i mean there's still a
rag in the hand, right? We're at 6 HP. That part is a little bit of a problem. However,
this deck does run Ziax.
Details, details. Yep, yep, yep, yep.
Yeah, not important right now. Uh, he's got freezes. He's got Incindious. What, what he
needs to happen is build another board, deal with your opponent's board, or, I mean, yeah,
you have to deal with it, which can basically just be Sylvanas plus a freeze. Make another
board so that they can't clear it and then play the rag, and suddenly he's just
back in the game.
So there was, during one of the trackings,
during that crazy turn on the previous turn,
Xiliac's was offered, which I did make my eyes perk up
just a little bit.
I think everything that was taken was used on that turn,
so I don't think if Xiliac's had it been taken
and discounted by one to be playable on this turn,
I don't think Love Storm would have been able
to survive in the way he did.
But it's worth pointing out that Xiliac's was looked at
on the previous turn, but still it is incredible
that Love Storm is still surviving in this position.
Ceaseless is still not playable.
The actual counter at 39,
Love Storm's has been discounted in his own hand by force.
It's still a long way away from making that happen.
Yeah, probably worth mentioning the ability
and also to be able to collect yourself
when you're facing down two rags
you're thinking, wow, like my opponent is so lucky to pull off that discount turn and end up in a situation where you don't die is pretty incredible from lost. It is. It absolutely is. Yeah, like, you know, I know the mechanical basis of how to execute that turn in just in terms of just like having a scout a pupil and the the the amulet from
In terms of actually looking at each discover bot and picking the right option every single turn
I do not think I would have done that turn at anything like that level of efficiency landing. Oh
That's brutal the drakarex winning the brawl as well is going to give love storm additional options
But I think he's just delighted to be alive for another turn at this point
I remember this line.
Yup, now Luxorm is able to maybe stabilize, can go for an Elise for a 5 here, maybe pick
up armor and raptor, something along those lines.
We see Rapper, he picked up incredibly quick, he actually gets to discover a spell and
raptors, which is a little scary, he's still at 6 HP with a rag in his opponent's hand.
Yup, it's going to have to be a glacial shot on the Draker X again as well.
does have a zero man a bird watching. Oh, he's going to trade in. Okay, interesting.
I was expecting him to stay wide here to try and protect him further against the rag and
just use the Glacier show. Yeah, I think. Okay, does pick up the sleep just needs to
I think now we might see him freeze. You have to freeze, right? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
Because he needs he also needs a target for the minion. He needs to guarantee a target
on the board. Exactly. Yeah. Otherwise, definition has has an angle to just play
around it by not playing minions of his own. Absolutely and definition now he has some
pre-draw available he has wand in hand needs to figure out if he can find the lethal here.
Shieldslam croc cobalt shield slam helps but not enough. Not quite.
you. Do you take the role again? I think having seen the bird watching, it might just be your
best play at the moment. It's a little weird because they don't heal that much from the
Zileaks. I think he might just go for another brawl, right? And try to be, yeah, he's just
going to go for a brawl. Hope that he loses the brawl. He can just shoot some of his
He can't get it, he can't break it.
He just burglops.
Yeah, and then next turn he has ceaseless plus rag for lethal and his opponent just can't do anything.
At least, not much.
Yeah, I mean it's a good spot for definition.
depends on how much mana it's going to cost right now that eruption makes ceaseless one mana cheaper as well
It's just gonna be enough
There's there's nothing for us plays a card this turn
Yeah, I know it's just even gonna pass on the next turn the card draw off the top on the next turn is gonna be five plus seven
What a spot from definition we praised love storm for navigating his way into this
but that is a lovely two-turn setup for definition as well.
Boardlocking, shield slamming away his own minion,
playing the dormant, which having the dormant minion in play is relevant, right?
So that's a card that he played that discounted his own Ceaseless by one as well.
And then just saying, yep, no Zileaks, no healing for you.
I have the guaranteed setup on the following turn
with the Ceaseless Expans plus Ragnaros.
This is the kind of game I feel we've been waiting all tournament
full banter and it's coming out here in the semi-finals okay but but it is not
over yet love slow picks up the mixologist and he doesn't get any
missed the toys that is so brutal for love slow who did everything that he
could to stay alive and he knows now he knows what's coming
Oh almost almost as if be emming we have to wait for the quest to go off when it
couldn't matter less ceaseless expanse and in 2025 good old 2014 Ragnaros comes
out to play emotional support quest reward as well go the golden cobalt
the board. It's the board.
Definition going out in style.
What a semi final and
definition is going to march on
through preventing the all China
final. And my goodness, the
lowest heartbeat in the
building right now is
definition who looks entirely
unbothered by that whole
that was. Crazy, crazy game, crazy way to end. I don't think I could ask for a much better first
semi-final to cast and horse them than that one. Super intense. I think the first four games felt
more like kind of somebody's dying, somebody's getting beaten down. That's fine. That last game
was just, I mean, I have to feel bad for Lovestorm, the way that it panned out. The look
on his face after the Rags, the ability to stay composed and stay alive to that,
I thought it was incredible still ends up just missing on the armor brutal game from him
But you know well piloted by definition especially on that last turn
Talk way to go out
Final question before we were gonna go if we were gonna do a Derek Brown top five plays of the tournament is number one
The love storm turn with the miracle discounts or the two-turn setup for lethal to win the game from different so
I personally, I would say that discount turn so much harder than I mean from from definition
You do have to spot it which of course important to you know pay attention to it
I think as soon as he sees the ceaseless and all the armor he can gain
Not the most like I don't think he would take credit for that being a super complicated setup
Still important to spot but I think that loves to I'm just mechanically and just figuring out that the right discounts
would be much harder
That's what we love to see high-level Hearthstone coming out as we get towards the business end of this tournament
We have one finalist locked down
We have one more to decide and then a grand final to bring you to decide the world champion of Hearthstone for 2025
We are very much into the business end of this tournament right now
So you do not want to go anywhere go grab self a glass of water
We'll be back in just a couple of minutes with semi-final number two
Welcome back everybody. I have no idea how we are going to follow that one.
Definition has got one more match to go from having the most to being the most in Hearthstone.
But we do have another semi-final lined up to find out who he's going to play.
It's going to be shouty, it's going to be feel-feel.
Any advice? We are watching that in the virtual green room. How do we follow that? Any ideas?
Well, it's probably going to come down to the egg lock, right?
I think that's where we're going to get the most excitement.
Really, really hard set to follow.
Luxor struggled significantly with that hunter
and had some incredible play to come back
from what seemed like a sure thing for definition
and really had to make definition fight for it
at the end there.
But an excellent spot on the two-turn lethal setup.
And we'll see if Xiaotie is able to fare a little bit
better than his countryman.
I don't know how the players cope with it.
I am shaking that turn the love storm under the biggest of pressures managed to do 8000 actions or something and get them largely correct and then to find all the lethals, the counter lethals, the ways to stop it.
It was incredible. We are getting on with this one really quickly. Shout out to you, Cue the Shaman.
And we're going to get to see the egg locks straight out of the traps.
You cast this as much as anybody, I think. How do you feel it's holding up? It's in the semifinals.
You know, I think it's been unexpectedly solid, right?
As long as you can get the egg early, right?
And that is a big if.
You know, Phil feels struggled with that on first day of groups.
It feels like there are just certain decks
where you get out the 2020s, and there's not
a whole lot they can do.
You know, you have this sort of staying power
to make things really complicated for controlling decks.
But it's almost seemed like some of the warriors
have more game against it than a slower shaman draw where suddenly there's a 2020 and they
just can't do anything about it. They're stuck.
Right, that's something I've been talking about actually. The shaman is very bad at dealing
with a single 2020. It's not ideal to just go for one 2020, but if you are desperate
as the warlock. You can just make a 20-20 and hope it gets there, gets shaman. They don't
have a hex or anything like that to deal with it. They do have to put sort of their chunky
minions in. They do get chunky minions like it is a thing they can have and Shautey does
have a choice of some good cards here. Philfield having to throw his hand away. No egg, no
egg fetching. He's also back at his dancing best. So he's up for this match. But
He hasn't hit, he hasn't eaten the impound, that's usually gonna have a target if I turn two, with the small eminions in his deck that's like the wisp and the sergeant that I need it.
Ah, yeah, no wisp, but you do have glacial shard along with abusive sergeant.
Yeah, that's what I'd like, you know, because it wasn't just a whole extensive list.
Right, sure.
I think thank you for saving me just getting worried that it wasn't another one for a second.
Alright.
Now if you just go into the buffed murloc for the next turn, where's that?
There it is.
At least there's a leg.
Easy peasy.
Egg on three.
I think cursed catacombs is one of the reasons that this can be so consistent, right?
having egg itself of course, but then holy egg bear, cursed catacomb to be able to find
one of those three cards, right, makes it much more consistent than you might expect.
Yeah, and Hellfire really good in this spot as his table flip.
It's kind of the best way to develop your board.
A lot of the order removal you have to choose, do I use it on their minions or do I use
it on my minion because both are needed sometimes.
If Shouty throws the three threes into the fray here, Hellfire clears up the board and advances to the egg one spot and he dodges that at source and now he has a chance for Bellhop's next turn which is going to be substantially bigger backed up by the Murlocs which is fine because Bellhop would still be alive and start pushing that damage.
Double mortal coil picked up as a potential just continued cycle here on the one ones
Yeah
I like it
but yeah just going for the fast egg. He does have the
The archdruids in hand already so if you get the egg to
Kind of close the popping and then play the archdruid next turn. He can do a lot of next turn actually has the whole
Caboodle right
He has the abusive sergeant and the bomb and he can play the Archdruid as well and the egg will be
One step away from clocking with Hellfire in hand. It would be a lot of stuff
Yeah, I mean this early in the game where you you haven't taken a ton of damage. There's you know, no firefives yet
they can come down now, but uh
egg very close to clocking and
And Felphiel will have just a couple of 2020s or near enough that Hellfire on the follow up turn will just create this unkillable board for the shaman.
Yeah, the shaman's reach is Felphiel's own Hellfires, which he doesn't have to cast. They've got their furious vows, they just double check out his list.
They usually have the two damage as well.
But there's not a lot of reach that gets through the egg.
Yeah, there are the two proper books of course.
So, yeah, there is what 12, 14, 16 from hand available maximum over the whole course of the game.
Because the game isn't very long when you're staring down a wall of 20-20s.
Yeah, and a good spot here from Xauti.
A lot more value in taunt from the Belfast being, you know, big enough that they are out of range of,
you know a single hellfire a single table flip
yeah he's built this up over a couple of turns to get to the spot right it's a nice job of this
as you would expect from someone with touting is one of the best to ever play the game
I think dark marrow too expensive here yeah it is going to be a dream soul
pick up just to get double activation here on the egg I would expect followed by
Archdruid.
Very exciting if you train soul you can just take this. The next turn he's got Hellfire for the 2020s and that would be very close to game. He is only facing down 14 that leaves him on a nice 12 which is dangerous against double fouls.
one of which has been picked up by Shaotii now.
Ah, there's 14 damage represented from Shaotii.
So, you know, certainly nothing to...
let them sneeze at, but that would set Phil Field down to 12,
which is still, you know, not quite close enough to just get there with a sequence of furious fouls.
You know, the fact that the big turtle, I always forget the name of it,
Kellos, has taunt.
Like that change, giving that minion taunt, is sort of the reason that this deck can exist, right?
Because in these match-ups where your opponent is more aggressive,
you're able to sort of shut them down and by presenting just this huge wall of taunt.
Shouty's got a plan, I haven't defined what it is right now.
The bell hops will buy him some time in terms of executing him, so his plan will be to fouls
in the face twice and then hope that there's no healing in the hand, which is a long
shot, which is quite a lot of healing in this deck there needs to be.
Yeah, I think the health light creates some 20-20s, but not for night.
Yeah, at this point he'll feel it's going to want to focus on using that health drink
to sort of top off, just to prevent any sort of shenanigans from burn from your hand.
Even if Shouty kills one of these 20-20s, if he has no taunt left, because he can kill one with the furious vows,
if he has no taunt left, Phil-Phil can attack for 20, and then play the use, and then put it on the 0-3, and then attack for 20 more,
and then he's in a good spot anyway.
Well, and actually though, Phil-Phil says, you know what, the most damage you can do fern-wise in a single turn is 6,
So Philphe is just gonna go ahead and make the extra 2020
refills
With the
second copy here of the archdruid
Yeah
They're in good cleave position, but I I think there's not enough buffs
Or any buffs really on Namalia
for it to be a meaningful amount.
How can it get possibly to doing nine in a turn?
He would need furious fouls and double pop-up book on the same turn, which would be turn eight.
Of course, he decodifies him one turn as far as he's concerned.
I remember this place well
For one I would guess the hope is for
Discover a spell pulling something out of the hat. Yeah, the old triple hex. That's probably now
Yeah
able to make one more taunt with some of the coffee
enough
Yeah, that's just that's just it with table flip
all three connections very quick easy game for the egg lock
yeah one zero to fill fill and not messing around know that intricacy stuff
that we saw in the game before just hit people for 60 on turn seven that's the
way you win games of Hearthstone one zero egg lock out of here wow egg lock
in a semi-finals and getting it done down to just the death knight and the
warrior it's getting so close yeah and you know should this make it to the final
as I think this this lineup is gonna be sort of the big surprise of the event
no one was really prepared for this egg warlock and it looked like it was gonna
struggle when they'll feel headed in groups but if you're gonna be unlucky
at a certain point in the event day one of groups when no one's getting
eliminate it is the day to do it absolutely get it out of the way and
bank all that luck because that's definitely how it works okay so now
into the the normal phase of hardstone now the egg locks done its thing and won
again convincingly we were discussing how shaman looked like a bad matchup for
it and so far on this massive sample size of three or four it's looked
pretty good for the warlock but it does often come down to do you draw the egg
or don't you in this match in this in this deck so he's drawn it now and when
we've seen him draw it we've largely seen it win
Xauti's hunter has been banned as well even with the warrior in the line of
fulfill we saw Sottle and Banta face talking about the pros and cons of that
would you ban the hunter would you leave it up and take the chance
Yeah, I mean, based on, you know, sort of the performance of the Slower Hunter in Love
Storm's lineup, and you know, Shaotii, I think has kind of a similar build there with the
Sarah, the Ceaseless, Shalader's Sail, I kind of would maybe be inclined to take a chance
on it, um, perhaps, you know, Philpheal figures that the Dexity has besides this
egglock right in in terms of warrior and death knight he'd still rather not send
it into there because theoretically the the slower build of the hunter is sort of
intended for those slower matchups and you know you can't always rely on
someone's different build meaning that they're more likely to get unlucky
It also means you don't have to mess with Grifter too many times.
It's hard work.
You can very much play around the Grifter hitting you in the head and you lose your own 20-20
coming in.
That's the level 1 thinking when you first play that matchup with the Hunters.
Oh yeah, I'll steal their 20-20 and I'll kill them.
Even if you hit, there's quite often like 4 20-20s there and that just doesn't do anything
apart from giving the F2 a room.
So yeah, it's interesting, but maybe he just didn't fancy dealing with all that. It can be quite irritating
But shoutie now
Hearing of the shaman again into the death night and again
We've highlighted a lot today the death night being the underperforming deck of this tournament by a substantial margin
I think I think that's not just the results. That's just how it's looked as well. I think
Yeah, I mean fly to the firehawk for shoutie
I don't know if you keep the second one, just because it's so important to pick up something like Haggatha,
but the first is what really gets your early game flowing.
You know, you hit Bellhop, you hit Rofin, and you're sort of off to the races.
And those sort of double large stats are just more overwhelming typically to the Death Knight than they are to the Warriors, right?
Like, the Warrior gains enough armor that they can get the time to be able to play Ceaseless, which a lot of times is when you can actually flip the script on the shaman.
A lot of annoying stuff here for Philfield, he's going to get quite a few corpses, he's got a blob to slow things down and then, you know, he'll hope that the rest of the hand fills in as decks are supposed to do when the draw passes the game progresses.
So, okay spot for him as well. But shall he getting the good stuff now?
Yeah, some options here could go for just coin bellhop, right, to get out some stats,
you know, they're not that impressive, but you know that without creature of madness,
three is often a weak turn for the death knight, so just having something in play frees you
up a little bit.
Also respectable to just go ahead and play Fly to the Firehawk, try and hit the other
bellhop which will be you know much more impressive to play and I understand not
going for it but a sort of Voltron play you can try is sanctuary there and then
you've got the activation plus the coin to do just the turn three more ribbon
right and say okay deal with that I think because death knight has got the
blobs of tar, probably for the best, Shaotii didn't take that line.
Yeah, it would have been fun to try it though, but we're not here, well, we are here for
a while.
We have a lot of fun in that definition match, as viewers, I'm not sure if it's so much
fun for the players to go through that, but we are here to make the best plays
and win the world title, of course.
And these terms are so awkward, right?
Like, you've got to realize how your buffs interact, your turbulence.
You really want this parrot sanctuary in place. It's mana you're not being able to spend you want to challenge the board immediately with your bell hops with your
Murlocs, but it doesn't really they're not that big
Need to organize this the best you can
My insidious play turbulence now and then sanctuary and use it twice next turn and just bank
One, one person of it, one use.
That's my inclination as well.
Then you just guarantee the value out of the buffs.
It means that this growth in is a 4-4 going into the turn 4 of Philfeal.
That way you can get a lot of work done next turn
and then have a nice turn 5 lined up with Mordin.
Yeah?
I'll do the side-up, so we can see an extra blob of tar, a renovator.
Feel, feel, try to work out what he should do with these attacks then.
They're not the most trivial ones ever, but...
...sic, you can board under control.
If he goes a bit longer, he's okay.
You don't have to use the power sanctuary here if you don't want to just play it.
You know, you're basically gaining one mana if you play it and press it twice.
So that's plenty.
I never make the trip.
It won't be a quarter to one moment in the bank later on.
Yeah, it can be very crucial for, you know, just skipping the curve a little bit, getting up that Murloc growth in on 7 instead of 8.
Yeah, absolutely.
Now the hold on the rush so as not to, you know, generate the extra poisonous for Philfield with the static shock in hand
He's figuring, okay
We'll force Philfield to attack in with the blob of tar to utilize the poisonous and then
Shautee will be able to use the static shock to clear up one two if he trades in then Philfield gets to sort of use both poisons effectively
Absolutely. He's being presented with a wealth of lovely decisions here.
Second blob or a lease.
When you want to husk next term, so going a lease into location doesn't feel so exciting as normal.
It's still pretty exciting.
He'll also take one, but I don't think he will.
Nope.
Going for a five.
Oh that's tough. You usually don't want to see all three of those at once. You want to pair them together.
But let's go ahead and take a look at that location, the Spell and Raptors.
Yeah, she's fine. A bit of clear and the Death Note Spells in particular are very good at dealing with boards.
Nice one there, but Shalty is starting to connect with a lot of damage as you pointed out this static shock can now take down this poisonous to protect a chunky minion and there is no corpse explosion on the other side.
Yeah, and this is kind of why I understand a lot of people's draw to Shaman, you know,
not the most incredible of hands, no Hagatha, but just having that flight of the firehawk,
you know, having the Turbulus to get the double buff effect on these copy minions.
So, it's a lot of stats.
Do you want to put 8 damage into a 1-1?
I don't think you do.
It was in the 9-course as well.
Yeah, I'm just working out how you can avoid being husked next turn on your 7-3.
Which, how do you take your time?
I always sit there thinking, right, what's the other stuff that could possibly be done?
Yeah, I felt like I was just gonna hope for a good discover.
turn a layover actually pretty solid here potentially yeah right yeah you set you
just don't attack with the raptors they'll still have rush when they're
resummoned yeah and then you get to clear three minions
I don't know if this gives Xiaotian extra hammer. Not sure how that works
Wait, what's happened? What's your feel? Can you not attack? Is it both? What's going on?
I don't know
Not sure what that face is about. I think he's maybe also not sure if this gives an extra hammer, but yeah
It's it's not attached so
Anyway, removing the stat bonuses means that only leaves a 1-1 up, which is about as good
as he could possibly get there.
He has Maladar, this is the blob next turn.
Pretty good follow up, you know?
Shilatricell in hand with all the extra mana that will then appear.
Yeah, without the Shilatricell, you say, okay, that's a powerful turn.
I hope my top decks are kind to me.
But with the Shilatricell, that just means you've got
a lot of resources to now turn up the counter pressure.
And with still having the regular ghoul hero power,
not having played his hero card, Shilatricell is always going to be able to be
plus five from the buff to a creature,
and then five damage from Awakens.
I'll get excited there as well,
because of the absence of the second blob.
There was a two-turn lethal potential there
to play the hammer, attack twice,
and then next turn, press the button,
Alakir, attack twice, that attack with your weapon.
Again, that was the full 18,
but there's too many ways that 18 isn't enough,
so he does go with the more sensible board option
for now. That's not going to be one.
It sets up the taunts right to protect these little Arminians for a good wish upon a star
turn now. The blob complicates matters, but it's still probably as good as Shouty is
going to get.
Yes. And then he still has, you know, Arakir. He still has the weapon for future turns.
the leases are also tempting he's just making sure he likes his trades here
Poisonous are really hurting it may be once again just go for the buff and hold
it does have access to that last location tick to be able to play as
is Zileax next turn.
So many plays here look kind of good.
None of them look particularly inviting,
but you can also just push some damage if you want to here,
and just ignore the fact that something's going to get poisoned.
Yeah.
Gonna use the three fours to clean up the little minions.
Oh, yeah, just pushing.
Okay.
Yeah, yeah, I like this.
got the buffed alloc here remember from the initial fire thing so that does
represent lethal if Phil feels just messing around gaining hell gaining
mana you're playing shell adversiles and stuff
but lethal from hand Phil feel maybe looking at counter lethal here with
ladder so I think he's doing the math right 19 attack on board I I believe he
is either one off or just has it you can you know dream away the six seven yep
Hmm... Frost Strike isn't a damage. I believe he's one mana off and...
Wait, no, isn't it just... isn't it just enough, right? You can shuffle the taunt, play Awakens, and buff the minion.
5? Well, Corpsicle is certainly...
A little bit confused there.
I think that feel will still be okay, but, uh...
Well, I'm sorry. I was looking at the wrong number.
I was looking at 19 cards in deck, no, 19 attack.
This is the disadvantage to having the numbers down for you.
Yeah
You're looking at the wrong ones and yeah, unfortunately no more taunts Alec here just gonna get the job done
Not sure where my head was that it just it's fine. I was trying to count the means at 19 like 11 so but it was
Five more with the awakens five more with the birth that was 16 that was 21, which is getting me close
Three
If he had gotten damage off of the initial discover not the frost strike
But the location then I think he still could have had it with the shell out so right
Because it's total of 10 you can get from the shell out or so
and then if you if you pick up that
cryo
Reduced by four then that's that's your four damage
God, it didn't yet make sense, but it does still have to get through again.
The death knight not getting through is a big deal.
We've picked on it a lot today.
Sharman getting past it there with the buffed Alak here.
And Shaotii will be glad for that.
He's got the rogue left.
He's got the warrior left.
Things have definitely turned to corner after the first game.
I would back Shaotii in a warrior mirror against anybody in the world at the moment
as well.
I think he's played more than anybody in the world unless someone has been testing them massively behind the scenes.
Xauty has just played that Wario so much at a high level, so
obviously any given game Phil feels capable of winning as well, but I think Xauty's
experience and slight lineup edge now as well for me at least with not having a death knight is
Making a slight favor here to go into that final hits definition
Yeah, we have not seen Death Knight perform very well into the control warriors and the
Rose.
I feel like it's come up several times.
It's had sort of in the 30s of win rate over the course of the event.
And you know, it's just one of those where maybe this was the deck five that should
have been cut, right?
It's hard to say.
It's very hard to say.
cast a lot of hardstone in the last four days I'm still not quite clear if you
pick more from the five and you don't pick Warlock which is obviously in the
debate if you don't pick Druid which I think is in the debating or band on a
lot which four would you pick? I would drop the Death Knight but I don't
necessarily think that's absolutely set in stone correct but that would be my
choice. Well that's what Shaute is done it may be what ultimately rewards
him if he's able to pull through in the rest of this match.
Yeah, just there we go that the next match lined up, it's going to be shouty on the
rogue, it's going to be Phil Field on the death night. And a big deal obviously, what
happens here the death night quite often can just get enough health to get slightly
out of range, but not necessarily. Well, already a good looking curve for Phil
feel in terms of creature of madness gives a three especially if you can get a
kind of chunky three or as we've seen a couple of times earlier in the event if
you're able to steal something like a customs enforcer or not for this match
up but at the oh gosh one that made everything temporary that
Oh, that's Stuart! Clumsy Stuart!
Clumsy Stuart, I suppose.
Look at me! I know card names.
Don't let the haters tell you otherwise.
Let me show you what hits when that is a language actor.
Yeah, this is as good as it gets for the Death Knight curve.
It is on that side, and on Shouty's side, it's not as good as it gets, but you take this hand as well.
You have the recurring damage from the Phoenix, you have the EMP, the Tusk for Combo, EMG,
stuff going on, you have the Shadow Step for, you know, general purpose, and he's in a
position again where he can decide how he wants to plan out his next couple of turns.
Let's take down a minion, waste everything to go all face in these situations, but the
damage just adds up, the board adds up, pressure adds up and suddenly you can't deal with anything.
It also makes your dubious purchase so much worse if there's stuff in the way.
Absolutely. Let's see what the picks are here. Okay, nothing exceptional.
Frostbitten Freebooter is, you know, interesting. Plucky Paint Fan Charge on the poison is nice,
and it does draw you a card. That would probably be where I would lean. But Philfield says,
you know what, I've got another creature madness. Maybe we just go wide with the
Stranglevine and second creature take another roll.
Yeah, I agree with that. The roll wasn't particularly good, so get the free one.
But you say go wide, do some stuff at the same time.
Shouties having a look.
See what he gets? He's got double shadows, saving hand.
I can generate all sorts of my own, in some situations.
Ooh.
Oh no. Now I think you end up swinging because you hate your hand.
Oh, maybe you should chill. I don't know what you're doing.
Oh, then you wait a turn.
Ah, I guess you have to wait.
Yeah, you're right.
It feels rough though. I think Shati is determining whether he just needs to high roll.
So far at four cards drawn for the turn, so EMG still at five.
Would need exactly prep second to eat the imp to be able to get an EMG down.
yeah I think a lot of that time spent is just like what do I need next turn what's
my plan next turn depending on what I draw I think I think he's just making
making time they'll feel about to go for the re-roll we think
hmm we have some life steal which is not bad and that of course the time
shifted card of a pyromancer yeah ever gonna be a mechanic who can say sure
they'll do it everything by the way here a device absolutely everything double
Shanna set weaver
Derby
Surely finds the empty here, right? Oh, there was one in the map
Okay
So opportunity even to take up a second I think
Deciding whether or not he wants to step the flat is sore do it use the oracle find the other EMG
Yeah, Oracle is interesting. At certain points in the game, Oracle would be kind of the nuts.
Yeah, um...
Hit ROX. Uh, prep is good. Map.
It's gotta be there. There's only 11 cars.
There it is.
Now what does he roll?
So much stuff happening here.
they're good. Wow. What a board. And this is a thing, you know, it was looking like a
really good curve for a field field. And then suddenly, you know, this happens and without
a corpse explosion to clean it up. You just face him down, you know, way too much damage.
He has blob, he has pterodactyls. He can definitely do stuff here. The mess maker,
I didn't see what dark gift reborn enchantments quite nice to be able to sort of
remove a lot of this. Yeah, he's going to put everything out to 2 health that he can
so that that thing will go off once, do 1 damage, reborn, go off again, do 2 damage.
Do you wonder if you might have wanted to get the 4-3 down some so that it will die on
Shaotii's turn and not his own?
But...
Tindral, Sage Swift, right?
One damage all enemies if it dies on your own turn, but then four if it dies on your opponents
So if it dies on shouties turn, it'll just be one dies on bill feels
We'll be that for yeah, and so couldn't go and use the infested breath
to that effect
We can afford generally
Eight cards left no mall has played yet one shuttle set left
Um, it's no preps either. Yeah, so you can set up O-Manager to be able to coin out Incindious.
You've got spell damage on the board right now, so that's a good time to use it.
Yeah, geez, it's probably much lived.
Just make sure you get as much damage from these as you can.
That three drop pull was quite important to slow things down, but still able to push seven
and representing another four in the Tindral Sage Swift.
Missed a damage.
With the Orc on the side, you can do a managing.
Untouchable stick.
Could be just a Sanguine here.
It's kind of a bummer.
Maybe you have to rush into the Tindral first.
And then Sanguine kill off the three two,
just so that you can keep the leeches up.
But I would guess we're looking for I'm interested in the draw to have something to Maladar next turn
Yeah, he knows that the set up is here for the Insidious.
I assume your opponent has everything on stage because there's 9 cars in the deck.
Oh right, except using the Terror Decks.
Each Insidious corpses, so most you could do is 6.
But it does still lead to possibility of if both of these died, you know, Exarch into Bob
into three would make a big board, but it doesn't matter into Incendius.
Yeah, that's the problem, right?
If you want to kill it, potentially, if it gets one take and you don't draw a ridiculous
number of eruptions in the meantime, that can be a big deal.
It probably isn't.
It usually isn't.
We'll get whether he wants to swing here or not
It's nice to have the swing for free next turn in the world where you've got the founders
But you haven't got the founder so you might want to look for it now
So that when you swing you're not hitting eruptions that aren't buffed by a found us
Yeah, so he looks for it now
Phoenix
and yeah just gonna wait we're considering that you know I like the
draw but maybe it should have been either you know no pterodax just to try
and set up some kind of big swing or maybe it should have been the blob of
tar no draw just to have a clean answer to this in cindy's yeah yeah I always
say it doesn't matter if he's in districts around for term this might be a
game where it potentially will matter. If you don't deal with it and the Xiao Ti just
decides to have a bit of a minion based turn and then just tick them up one more
point. That's an extra five damage. We're talking it's a very close thing. There's
to be a maximum of nine asteroids which is 27 damage. The Insidious represents
10, that's 37. That sounds like a lot but it's all got to go the right place.
The Thanos isn't in hand so to here five more would be nice
It's another mess maker
Which does represent you know some life steal probably not enough
But it means that if shouty kind of goes in here and makes a wide board
and
The you know mess maker doesn't die early. It's gonna be gaining sort of even more life
One
probably we'll want to attack in with the incendiars here just so that the
mess maker doesn't like steal even more yeah it also may not may not matter
oh my goodness this happens so often you don't want to happen
I'm just going to put him in there and not have the Thanos by the look of it.
Still has Thanos for the end of the last turn.
I think he's splitting him in now.
Getting the damage while the board is clear.
The eruptions have not behaved themselves.
There is the Thanos finally.
Do you hold them?
No.
nope just gonna go for it so there's six more here quite possibly yeah yeah it
takes a while please catch up when you're just feeling it instances of two but I
I think that is going to be just enough, yeah exactly enough asteroids and shouty-up 2-1.
Yep I missed it because I'm too busy concerned about the maximum damage but as soon as they've
cleared the board he has to switch plans, give up on the Thanos and just kill them
that turn which is what he decided to do strangely enough and he is down to the warrior.
He has a mirror, he has a death knight back
and then he gets to play definition if he wins them both.
If he doesn't, then Fieldfield will get to play definition
and we'll have an egg lock
in the final of the World Championships.
I don't mean that as scornfully as it came out,
it's incredible to see that somebody can build
a lineup like this in Kuru.
Backing it up, really, showing that this lineup
wasn't just a fluke where they both get
to the top eight where they both do so well.
It is a lineup to be reckoned with as well.
Will it get over this final hurdle?
moment it looks like it might not the death night in particular looking weak
and also feel-feel looking a little nervous I don't blame him he's comes
through so many tournaments to get here I've talked extensively about the Chinese
system feel-feel qualified for the playoffs which is the sort of the
67 that might be incorrect and it's funny if I'm wrong anyway but it's
six seven player event that he had to get into the actual master saw from
and then qualify for the Masters Tour.
So he's come a long way and his journey is only two matches from being the world champion.
So whatever happens here, fantastic.
But he has got to get it done with these two decks into one.
Yeah. And honestly, if I were having to face someone in a warrior mirror,
Shaotie would not be the opponent that I want.
I feel like the China players have a lot of experience on these mirrors
and are prepared for it in, you know, quite a lot of ways.
Xauty does not have the broom master, though.
So, you know, skills aside, it could be that Phil feels tech of the steam cleaner.
Maybe he's able to get some work done. It's not in Phil feels warrior, but it is in his death knight.
So, you know wouldn't be surprised to see the death knight cute again
Yep, absolutely. If you're gonna leave warrior up, you need something to deal with it
And then you just take your chance in the mirror
That's fair enough
Feel feel also does not have the brewmaster in his warrior
So it's just gonna be a clean fight. We have the steam cleaner in his death night. He may walk here first
Yeah, I'm looking and I feel like their warriors may actually be card for card the same
I'm not saying every time I do this I get down the list say they're the same and then there's four cards different, but they do
You know they each have just the one
precursory strike they each have all you can eat which is I think
basically only been used to pull Barnabas post quest and then
one renovation. Demolition renovator, yeah, and those are sort of the flex slots.
Yes, they are going to be card for card the same if they end up playing it, but
first we are going to see Phil feel on the death knight as you see there on the left.
I've pointed the whole screen at him, getting powerful.
Oh, yes.
All will serve me.
Do you hear his wand drop into the lost city?
She can do that a lot.
Can't stand why.
Steak clean in hand.
She needed this early, but, you know, there you go.
Well, you know some nice security blanket you get to know you've got it for when the time comes, but yeah
Could do with maybe some other early drops
And Bob as well, right so
Okay, yeah, when we get into the lease when the ward comes down you just you you bob it and that's inklinger. That's
So we do it
oh yeah there we go that's it force that bulwark to come down yeah I've taken
this against warrior multiple times we've talked about it all to one of
like the warrior can't do much he's got a one precursor strike but basically that
thing's coming in you're right he might have to ball walk up to three and if he
had new heights in hand he just would not want to go off the top the shield
slam. Yeah, you know, I think, unfortunately, for Phil Field, not the the best dark gift,
right, would have loved reborn, would have loved elusive, right, as a nine-four elusive,
but you know, just presenting that threat and forcing out an early shield slam means
it's not there for something much bigger later on. I'm still gonna have this location
on curve. Yeah the curve field out nice it's a two card curve to turn five when you look
creature and Elise. Double check location five five plus two attack. Okay good with the
current board. Will Peter out a little bit later? Obviously the copy's fine, but the plus
two attack is looking for that early kill, if anything.
Yeah, I mean, when you use it with the Hero Power, obviously, you know, you don't get
the staying ability, but just threatening from an empty board, 10 damage, right? Because
As you get the 5-5 copy, you give both the 1-1 charge and the 5-5 charge plus 2 attack.
And I guess that's a little bit more than actually right, let's see, because you have
the 2 on your hero as well.
So that ends up being, you know, 12 first damage from an empty board.
Yeah, very worth it against warrior.
It's actually taking an AGE over this term.
Okay, so that's the ball lock we'll do.
Yeah, setting up to defend from the potential savage roar.
And Philfield says, you know what?
And then it's still worth it.
Yes, a lot of damage coming here otherwise
Let's get another 5-5 in play
And yeah willing to take there's the renovator immediately so
and you're shouty able to feel much less threatened by this location could go for
this turn could just wait right since the location is going to be closed for
Phil feels next these terms are really tough right he's got a
brockless of brawl on six if he wants it he's got renovator which he might need
he's aware of the danger of that location and he'd really like to get
his ancient down which for me is the hardest part of playing as warrior
deck is knowing when to get that ancient down I went to just cut your losses and
stay alive and just find a more convenient time and what I found is that
the players who play this really well just mix it up they find the right
time and it's so difficult so I just want to play my ancient right now close
my eyes yeah shouty says uh he agrees good feel sorry for him
gives feel feel the opportunity to play another minion so that you can get
that free for glory yeah free for glory into crocodile to brawl gain 10 on the
turn have your little location and it's just silly 12 damage might well be the
solution here. Wow and Philfield just going for the Bob you know a potential
tool in the long game to use on quest reward or ceaseless you know some other
high-impact minion Philfield just taking a chance at draw a minion get
two copies certainly not going to be wanting for corpses with these blob of
tires but I doubt that was quite what he was hoping for.
I think he said he's still out right from turn two
that I'm going to play this as if you have no removal
and if you don't have any removal you die and if you do
I've got steam cleaner and I'll work it out. Right yeah
which is fair you know when you are able to
sort of steam clean as soon as they play the quest and pretty likely because the games go long
you don't necessarily need to try and have all this value for the lake game you know you've got
headless horsemen which a lot of death knights don't have you know you have maron yeah yep
i do wonder if with that in mind shouty will try if he can at some point to gather card draw
So far he's having no option to matter at all.
Expect he'll be looking to blow up the location this turn, just because it is war copy, but
nope, sides go ahead and wall instead. I was a pretty big board, so sort of gonna struggle a little bit either way.
And now Philpheal can choose to get good value out of that copy here on Bob of Tar, on potentially a leech if he wanted to do that with the hideous husk.
Yeah. Bank some damage now but obviously your minions directly into turns so you don't
generate a board so that's no good yet. I just have a fairly poor looking turn.
This isn't even that poor, I think it's pretty alright.
Now the Blobs are good into Tracorex, which Xiaotii is able to coin out on this turn.
Shouty has kind of got it together here, that 12 damage of burst, no longer looking quite
so terrifying.
Yeah, I sort of gotten to enough stabilization, right, that, you know, if you have to, we
can pull the trigger on the renovator.
Is coming up on the Zileaks turn.
Has the brawl to deal with what's here.
So if you coin Draco Rex, it doesn't stick around, but at least you know your friend
with only some one-attack minions.
Okay, that's both. The wall's gone.
Yeah, that's a big deal.
When you consider, like,
potential corrupted Shaladracell things later in the game.
Shout to you, Megan's Manspace.
Getting rid of the location.
Setting up for a better Draco Rex.
Yeah, no thoughts at the moment for how to turn it around. You don't need to think about
how to turn it around. He will need to work it out later. How to play around the steam
cleaner. You don't just complete your quest and sort it out. But for now, your mission
is to have a reliable health total for now and see how it goes. When you get there,
and yeah, Dracorex interzilliaxes, obviously, when you get that, which seems to be
Always by the way whenever you play against warrior whenever you watch warrior
Um a way of just not taking much damage at all for a while
He has lost that ball what from the early attack though, which is the minions ramp up in size might become an issue
We do see maxi get choked out by these um these husks by filfil
Yeah losing losing bulwark and both brawls early on to you know
sort of middling-sized boards leaves the potential for Philpheo when he picks up some of his bigger
threats to really threaten Shaughty unless you know the ceaseless comes all along.
Yeah I didn't want to get involved here, I think was the reason for it. He missed a damage there
for some reason so I was not able to fill his board. I'm going to assume it was deliberate.
But he wanted to make sure that the maximum health total came down, which is why he cleared
off that minion with a poison.
Yep.
Shouting out down to 24.
Can get really annoying, but it's not going to get so annoying with this Dracorex.
You've been interested in a couple of turns, the second you do it for it.
That's all cleared up.
Does clear both ends, but he'll feel there's no need to worry about the Dracorex taking
around.
it is nice but it might be more interested in the chill fall and Baron from this position
yeah yeah gotta go ahead and go for that why would you let me have nice things Adler
I watched the 917 Megas here. It wasn't allowed.
Still just, you know, gonna keep going wide, right?
Throwing out a couple of ants.
Yeah.
They've got license to do that as well, though. The balls are gone.
Hostile invaders still there, and one is indeed picked up.
They're good, but if they're killing ants with a hostile invader on turn 9, they're playing a 3-5 on turn 9. That's fine.
And also, it doesn't deal with the 2-4 and all the parts of the 2-4 unless you do kill its officer.
Should be fine with that.
If you play Elise, you've got to decide whether you're going to take a 10 or not.
If they zileax what are you doing things are getting poison.
Yeah I mean I was saying that Filfield was maybe hoping for something higher impact but honestly getting three extra copies of Blabatar has been very very annoying for Shatty. A lot of the warrior minions get their value from being able to stick around.
Yes.
Yeah.
Shout.
Philfield has just set out from the start to just keep hitting him and that's what he's doing now.
Sanguin picked up.
And Foam Render is the card to look out for in this matchup.
Certainly the best form of consistent damage that the Death Knight can have,
they'll feel plenty of corpses to fuel it.
Yeah.
I might be looking at two at peace.
Then I always see now when I watch Wario, but yeah, watching this health total,
the maximum health total come down, obviously Wario 22 is plenty,
obviously they get a lot of armor.
But it is scary watching it tick down like this.
The maximum health represented in the top right there with the little tier of the 22.
The blood drop.
They were quite short.
Yeah, and importantly, you know, no new heights from Shaotix,
So, uh, hasn't been able to get any kind of mana advantage over Philfield.
Will still gain mana crystals over 10 because it Philfields a Sarah.
Only 8 cards left for Sharty as well.
And again, the steam cleaner's lurking, so he can't just jam the crystal wood when he gets there.
You have to find a way to do this.
would expect either you know Elise or ancient of your I'm guessing ancient
given the timer yeah and that's a big deal because now he's got the shield
blocking hand he's got the ancient down then when he plays the question ward
he'll get the instant to and he'll get to draw two of them one from the ancient
one from the shield block so he is at least trying to set that up now so
If Philpheal now decides to put down a monstrous board, using the X-Arc that he just picked up,
Shao Ti might not be able to just mess around with quest rewards and draws, and he'll miss the potential to hit something nice from the ancient.
You say that like Philpheal has the capacity to put down a monstrous board. Yes, there's X-Arc, but nothing really terrifying to cheat into play.
I'm just gonna keep setting up fours, picks up the amulet.
I think Phil Phil would have liked to find some giants at some point in this game.
Actually just gonna toss the pterodax for extra pressure.
Both possible invaders used, both brawls used.
And Draco Rex as well, so Xiaotii running very very thin on clears.
so facing down 4 8 9 10 not a lot from hand he missed on the grifter at least
from the deal 6 he was looking for might be time for shouty just to empty some
stuff down see what he can get from this
it's such a tough decision steam cleaner making his life so awkward
Just take your time. Just give you some cards in his hand for now.
It goes for a five.
Discover all Gain Armor. And it's how, how you're feeling?
Copy for a zileax. Available.
Oh, then you're waiting a turn, leaving yourself vulnerable to...
Yeah, demolition. So yeah, just gonna go ahead get the armor now some of copy safety goggles
Okay
So suddenly shouty is on 36
I think you're in shit the time this ambulance will give shouty another card for one manner when it matters because the ones getting burned
Won't matter because they're getting steam cleaned anyway
Right. Yep
headless pretty good pickup able to remove the largest minion equipped foam
renderer you know since the board stuck around from last turn can just push all
of this forward yeah 15 more plenty of corpse available there is a Maladar
shell adversel do a load of damage in one turn looming at least at some point
as well. Plenty of corpse for that to do.
Yes, not corrupted, but it can do the same amount of damage, corrupted or un-corrupted,
if it's the turn that you're going to kill them.
If you're killing them anyway, yeah, that doesn't matter, right? It's later.
Sometimes it's even better un-corrupted, you might want to bounce your grifter
and have another look and that sort of thing anyway rather than put it into your deck.
Just occasionally, in those lethal situations, the fact it's un-corrupted can actually help you.
Shouting, skin load of armor, make a board, get his quest reward down, draw the quest
rewards before they get burned. Sounds easy.
Yeah. Zilliac's with Mena available for percursory strike and shield slam if Shouty wants it.
Finally able to get these down without having to worry about the poison too much.
Yeah, again, can only go to 22 health, so the score about the board than the health, obviously getting out of range is nice, but it is mainly a control mechanism at the moment with a nice little upside.
We're getting to the business end with only four cards left. He's two-one up, but he has
got to navigate a way to win this game. He isn't just going to win it with the stuff he
has on board right now. There's corpse explosion, there's shell adversel. Phil feels on 43
effective health. Shouty is going to need more stuff. He is going to need to marry
and he is going to need to get the quest rewards and he's going to need to force
Phil Phil to steam clean in a way that he doesn't want to do.
Yeah, and you know notable Shaotii has been saving the marring right the last thing you want to do is be forced to
use marring early on and then now you've got both marring treasures and
Latourvious quest rewards in your deck. I think Shaotii wants to keep those separate
Knows that the steam cleaner is there for the Latourvious
You just let it happen hope that you get time work in the first two or you know
maybe off of the amulet and then you know have still sort of parody with
Filthiel in terms of your own marine treasures at the end there.
Yeah there's also the thing now that if Filthiel needs to steam clean now from
Shouty's perspective it might destroy some of Filthiel's marines rewards.
True and I think the head has not been drawn right so.
another one that goes yeah if there's a time now would be sort of the most
awkward for Philfield yes obviously do something with it yourself has his own
ceaseless to start the turn if needed and that's most likely and has Bob for
free is another option although he may want Bob for drawing cards you know
draw three minions from your deck after he plays crystal wars it's another
choice I missed it the head was just drawn there so okay Philfield has
Lee's gotten over that hurdle. Tolin's goblet remaining, creature of madness, Zileac, Dreadhound
and Isera, so both ways of corrupting Shalad herself. And yeah, gotta go for the burn here
from Shaotii, picking up an extra copy of Ceaseless just because his low on clears.
There he is, his own ma'am. Shaotii's field field's got to decide now what you're
gonna do this is a really powerful card you can get rid of them but you can't get
rid of the quest rewards you're facing 16
yeah you can see the pressure from the top half of what we can see of his head
does have plenty of corpses if you wanted to rip the corpse explosion here
and then follow up with crown hideous fast something like that basically has
pretty full information on what is in Xauty's hand, figuring that there's ACs
list there. What are these? They're not great that's that's what I'll say they are
not great. No that is not the time to get a crown like that you need to get a
crown like definition does if you want to get the world crown.
I'm going to discover an undead brittle bone buccaneer, can do some interesting things.
Just going to take a taunt though, sort of set up his own board.
And this is, you know, an advantage to having the headless horseman, right, is it lets
Phil feel kind of catch up on value, particularly with the capability of steam cleaning away
the quest reward.
It doesn't have to corpse explosion, right?
So just a couple of minions, he can set up taunts.
He can continue to find things out of this hero power
that will let him take control of the board,
plan for big sticky boards, do damage
if he picks up some of the frost minions.
Absolutely.
Time is running out for both of them.
The decks are getting thin, so this game of chicken
he's going to come to an end shouty setting up for that now in terms of
that how he wants to enter his deck how he wants to play things
to all the new heights
well
finally gets a manna
they were both buried
yeah
still one left in the deck absolutely unfortunate for him he's had to do this
the hard way
i mean look he's emptying his hand out look at the planning here
I'd say it's a one in three to eat the zileaks here and leave
fell field with no way of corrupting shallot or so
uh... quite important because
with the shuffle of sliders though something you can do is
uh... hold on to it
to shuffle something in and then immediately draw it off of goblet
okay
which would be
really helpful in whatever regard.
Tenty of choices that would work for him there.
Buddy, I'm starting to wonder if Shaoqi maybe would have wanted to just try for the
Latourvious amulets right set up whatever draws he could get as many of the treasures before they all get steam cleaned away as possible
in hopes of
You know getting some kind of game plan together. You may be rolling the time warp Galbadon just sort of by chance
And you know then you can still fall back on the Marin later on
Yeah, absolutely. I think
to do. He thought last turn about the shield block and didn't use it. I think that's in
his minus. Make the space he's making and then just get so much stuff out of his deck.
I'm really impressed with how he's emptied his hand out with the wand. He had to count
the shield block space because it might not be enough space anyway later. Here we go.
What's he going to end up with? This is what he's waiting the whole game for. His
whole 2025 campaign may depend on these next few draws. He's going to pick up
a lot of his deck with this wand. Yep. Wand, shield block, amulet at the end. Okay, so he
dumps a new height, he's going to draw another one. He's largely whiffed here in terms of
what he would have wanted. Still eight mana remaining and a few draws. Yep, let's see
as he gets. Okay. Galvaton. Okay. He does have the one on a draw that Phil Phil gave
him. Yes, two will be discarded. Doesn't matter. They're going to get eaten by steam cleaner
anyway. Oh, and that's the time warp discarded crown as well. Barnabas much less valuable
when you're not actually reducing anything.
However, has goblet, so options are 50-50
between Queen Carnasa and Crystal Core.
And I think you just have to go for it
to get multiple Queen Carnasa.
Sure.
I'm gonna move a dog of cars.
And he does.
Gets a pair of them.
Might have liked more,
but that still will stave off fatigue, right?
And I almost wonder,
You've seen the time where it burns.
Is it still worth steam cleaning or do at that point you go,
well, they've got Karnasa.
We'll wait for the Karnasa.
Xiao Ti drew so many of those, discarded a bunch.
Yeah, he played that very quickly, Phil, Phil.
I feel like he didn't consider necessarily the things
that you described.
I don't think he necessarily thought that through as much.
So Xiao Ti now can get to 40 health.
That's a lot of health in one turn.
He can get the Sulfurus labeled up.
That's really handy.
He can use the Clownasses to manage his board side.
He's got inks every turn.
He has as much time as he could need.
He has a lot of damage.
He has a lot of health.
But Phil, Phil, as you've described,
could also end up with having a lot of stuff.
He does have infinite zile axis.
This might be the most ridiculous game.
Ooh, unfortunate, getting a good roll there at a time
when his hand is full.
I feel like that's a good spot for him, but it might not be easy at all, you know, I think, uh, without the zileaks, it gets a little dicey, right?
Because Shao Ti is able to sort of not fatigue for a while while still presenting a bunch of boards.
bunch of boards. You know, one thing is Philpheal, playing the steam cleaner did deal with the crystal
cavern, which would have made this portal a lot more threatening. And so maybe it's just sort of like,
well, yeah, you can have raptors every turn, you can save off fatigue. Our three-two is really going to be good
And I have a zilex every single turn.
And whenever Phil feels the science that he doesn't really like what he's got, he can
start just sort of hoarding minions in hand from the hero power to turn into legendaries
from the cobalt.
This is one of those stupid puzzles that people set you that I can never do.
So you can have, after he gets rid of the, uh, the shalabish was so annoying.
You can have the board, the shape he wants every turn, but like you just said, they can only be 3-2s.
Um, you can find masses of stuff.
On the other side, Fil-Fil could play one Zileax per turn.
I did.
So he will stay on maximum health until those Zilean X's are expired, but he will start taking bigger and bigger fatigue
He has infinite cards from his hero power
But shouties got much more management over his fatigue and over the trades for the next few turns this is silly
Yeah, Mero was an option that think oh that's some you know some nice burst damage. Why not pick that up?
Well, this weapon is starting to wear down Philpheal's corpse count, so something like the nesting golem
a little nice to be able to just keep that corpse count high.
Particularly when the Mara manipulator, you know, you can't always dictate where those shots go
whereas the the five damage from the weapon you can send face every single turn.
I think we'll know in the next couple of turns how this is going to power, but the corpse count is becoming significantly less useful, really.
It's still nice to keep them up a little bit.
Not much use for them that we can see until you suddenly get a card that we've never heard of that comes out of the undead that eats corpses.
I'm just going to be helping on immediately.
Yeah, shouty will have available a sort of final push of playing mega fin into golden cobalt
Just because on average your legendaries are probably gonna be better than whatever Merlox you hit
He really needs stealth I think here divine shield right yeah
No, he's not hitting them
That's one plus one get yourself some health
If you don't hit stealth it's not gonna matter, but yeah, try and protect this card, it's your wincon in a way.
Yeah, Winfury not so relevant on effectively a big taunt.
Yeah, he did think about it for a while and wanted to take in the Winfury.
It's the opposite to the normal reason for taking Winfury.
But normally you take stealth and you could try and get an extra chance at Winfury.
I think he took the Winfury, not only because it's good,
but also gives you the next chance of getting the stealth which you can hide away this big minion for some time.
I'm just trying to maximize odds on the ragshot hitting a relevant minion.
Cleaning out the hand before what I assume will be a mega-thin golden cobalt turn.
At the end this parade of Zileaks continues.
Yeah, they're gonna take a while sticking out only for Zileaks's left in hand.
Yeah, Philfield does need to make the hand space to be able to actually play this Shalada self.
At some point Shaotii as well just have a cobalt option, well you can just have a go, see what happens.
It's ridiculous, we see two ridiculous semi-finals for totally different reasons.
But yeah, the Zileaxis are taking control now.
Alright, if Shaotii gets another Marin, gets a Druid Aviana, back to...
That's the Merlocks first, yeah.
Oh, yeah, but we don't care about the Merlocks. We care about the Legendaries.
Gonna need something to clear the board, and then something to sort of add wind conditions.
That is a Tortola?
That is a Tortola. Yeah, it sure is.
Oh my goodness, that's gonna sit there forever whilst the three twos chip away the z-axis, right?
Well, forever being like two turns, but that's a long time in politics.
I think this is actually
kind of
maybe a bit of a low roll. The Marithra is probably the best of the bunch.
Summons a lot of big minions, particularly. Party planner, Vona, not active. Xiaotiu would have to
swing the weapon into two different things that deal at least four damage each to be able to activate the Hona and
Yeah, the aseris don't really do anything the Haggath that doesn't do anything the nobundo. There's no spells remaining. So
You know a couple of decent hits and then quite a few bad blocks to be honest
Wait, we've got Maritha with the Tortola, right?
So Resurrect all different friendly minions to cost 8 or more.
So the Totola is going to have to be killed twice.
Yes, I'm not sure how many...
Yeah, cost 8 or more.
There haven't been a ton of those.
So Marithra will resurrect.
Great Draco Rex will resurrect the Zileaks.
That's decent.
That's really good.
Zileaks and...
It'll only be the one Zileaks, but even so.
Totola, and um, ah come back, stop it.
Tilex Totola and Dracoex seem like really good things to get, but on the other side there's
so much damage coming in.
I'm excited Adel.
All the quest rewards are five, so they won't come back, trying to see if there's
anything else
uh... yeah unless he plays the gigantified
of all this mac i don't know
in the car let's see replicator inator
right that would be another thing that could get resurrected
so close now to lethal
probably has to be Marithra right now yeah that might not be enough I can't
math sick quick enough now replicator and nader is play not something so not
able to get an extra tortola that way but oh the ceaseless
I've got to keep playing this game yeah I mean the Drake is quite significant
right alongside that zileax you can rush drako into one of the six ones clear way most of this zileax cleans up
the uh the large zileax you've got the eight damage rag shot
and this 130 is a lot harder to kill than the last one because the zileaxes are starting to run out on the other side of the board
yeah and and you can only play one a turn normally if you feel feel
and that means that Draco Rex probably gonna stick around unless Phil
feel wants to take a gamble on shuffling it into the deck you know then it is
sort of trapped amidst a whole bunch of raptors
it's so silly and it's such an important moment I'm getting all shouty it's
ridiculous okay
I mean, well, Philpheal continuing to take fatigue.
Yeah, and he's going to start taking some aches to face soon as well.
Like, Shouties board can deal with at least one wave of zileaxes.
They're going to have to go into 130 and lose their divine shields.
The minions will trade back into them. They're going to be gone.
And Philpheal is going to be down to what he can pick up from his hero power.
One massive, massive drake, or two, that came from the Isera.
and shouty okay the cards he has left in his hand are not very functional but
they have numbers in the corners there's a 7-7 here there's a 6-4 they do
something they can fight he may just pull this one out the zilean's gonna
game some more health and this gets shot.
Yeah Shuffle's the 8-8. I think just because you know if it's redrawn it's sort of an expensive
do nothing card but it removes some power from the board.
Meanwhile though Draper Rex is going to be able to push quite a lot of damage.
There's quite a lot of, like it's not there, I've already checked, but there's quite a
lot of face damage.
Shouty isn't that far from just winning the game in one push now.
Yeah, and I think, you know, it was worth noting, I was like, oh, this isn't that great
on average.
One good hit, right?
And when you get a handful of legendary, sometimes you can just crack things wide
open, and the fact that Marithra could resurrect great Draco Rex, I think, just
completely blindsided Philfeal.
Yeah, shouty now as well having to decide whether he wants to press the self-healers button now
I think I would because getting the 14-7 protect my 10-10 seems good. It misses sure now
You just give it anyway and load up with some more stuff. You've got 21 available mana this turn
So these legendaries again, they are not very good
They don't do anything once they're remaining in terms of affecting the game with their text
But they still have chunky numbers and there's only two zileaks is looking a bit woeful on the other side
He may have got out the other side this may be going to the world finals. He's happy taking
40 that's the sign I think of how he's feeling about it. Well, it's it's necessary to activate this party planner of honor
Who you have to have taken eight damage on your turns to be able to summon that 88 death rattle on that 88 is that?
it puts a
a death rattle on a minion in your hand of
you know summon the oroboros again
and now
they'll feel
suddenly under pressure in a way i think he never expected to have to
feel
with a handful of zileaks
yeah the zileaks now
i don't see a way out of this
i don't think you can, i think shouty we're saying if he gets to the zileaks
which seems incredibly unlikely, might get there. That was several zileaxes ago. There's
still another one left. There's also a gnome munty which might just be a bit trappy towards
the end if he's not careful. Other side where the end is nigh. These zileaxes are defensive
zileaxes now. They're not pushing anything. The fatigue's ticking out. The sulphurus
is ticking up. It's not ticking up but it's becoming more and more effective as
the board gets smaller and smaller and this could just be lethal! Not quite, which is 14
if there's still first hits one you do a double trade. Plus the fatigue, you want to be careful
here.
Yeah, nothing really to search for in the deck, it's Raptors all the way down, so
just going to go ahead and pure power to start, removes one of the life steals.
I think Phil Phil is going to have to play his own cobalt even though his hand is good.
Like it's nice set of cards in his hand.
I think his out is to get ridiculously lucky.
Yeah, that sounds right.
Again, they're doing nothing, but it has numbers on it.
It has numbers on it, it has the Ouroboros death rattle.
Okay, yeah.
Keep me straight on my toes on those ones because I will have missed that.
How many mana crystals does he have?
All of them.
I'm talking about party planner, Vona.
Oh sorry, not Ouroboros.
Just Ourobos.
sure I I will send in the message and not have you fired immediately
yeah all right gonna add something to hands
could do a pterodax but you're probably re-rolling it
anyway now Phil feels gonna
you gotta re-roll this is
this is futile if you don't re-roll it looks nice and all that and stays on dying for another turn
I don't know the last silly acts with that clearing up the 6-4 and the 10-10
You know you look to be in a much better spot
This is you know pretty good minion in you know your your 6-10. You've still got
The foam render pushing amidst all this so it in some respects
You can just you know keep trying to stave off the opponent keep trying and not die
And then hope that you can set up some kind of lethal between foam render and hero power and
Probably not this no muncher because there's always three twos to get there. I hadn't factored in actually that six fives
Don't go badly into four twelves. It's true
This might have gone the other way may have called this too soon it's been known before
There is a nithendra in Shaotii's hand, which is a taunt minion. He's been holding on to
Yeah.
And Oribos also a taunt minion.
Yeah.
Yeah, I kind of think now may be the time to drop that nathendra.
I think so too.
Yeah, he's going to.
Don't worry about the Beatles just having it for one turn, one turn should be enough.
T-Tip to seven.
Yeah, and if you don't clear the Beatle then it's gonna come back as a one-one taunt
every single time.
Which we're so annoying.
Yeah
Travel security might be something
No, I'm not sure it's time to shine clear up that one one beetle and
Gain a little bit of life
Gonna need a really good role off this travel security
There's a lot of them available. I don't ask me to name them. I just know I face enough times to know there's a lot of them available
I'm too excited to name them right now, I'm sticking right to it.
So do you trade the 2-2 first to see where you're at and then you weigh about your self-healers
play?
Yeah, I think so.
Right, just throw the raptor in, yeah, or one of the fours.
At this point, Xauti is kind of on the control.
I suppose it has been a while.
But the fatigue count for Phil Field is so high
that Xauti can just try and hide behind taunts
as long as possible.
So what he needs to do, yeah?
The fatigue is 8 next turn.
Well, I mean, this is over now in the world
where Phil Field doesn't roll.
Absolutely ridiculous off the horse run.
So there's...
Bank Theradon would be, oh wait, no, we already saw the hit, right?
Caliphro was the hit, so yeah, it's gotta be something new.
It's just possible, like, it looks like he's going to get to go face with the phone render one last time.
With the combination of here with Power Caliphro.
Oh, you know what, Meadowsstrider would have been a hit that Phil Field could have gotten,
right, which is a taunt that shuffles in your deck.
Good luck, everyone.
Oh.
Stuffy with Rush.
It is hobald time, I think.
Well, let's see.
Four Rush.
It's not enough.
No.
No, you're one of them.
Five Rush.
Yeah, so this sets up a taunt and then you turn the one-one into a random Legendary
and pray yes that's the ordering yeah but then your random legendary you won't
be able to play it unless it costs five or less right you've got a lot of how
does that ever work you've got to work out if you just want to go for a 10 drop
and hope for the best that way it's tough call or maybe you say no
legendaries I just want three taunts sure
yeah I never get there
Does it never get there?
I don't know.
I mean, it's five-faced, Shaotii. No longer has an armor, hero power.
Um, I think the question is, I think Phil feels just taking too much fatigue, right?
Because Shaotii can clear up all of these taunts, potentially.
It's going to come down to Phil feels hero power, right?
Next up.
Well, you mean to Shaotii's?
No, I mean Phil feels it could be shouties as well. Yeah, I didn't mean shouties that also is relevant
So I'm just gonna get another random car to do one damage with if he gets the next turn
Shoutie can definitely set a 50 50 up
So 50 50 up
Yeah, shouties entire deck as raptors and then one eight eight replicator in a year
feel feel will be short right he'll be one short unless I'm missing something
why would he be one short he has five damage oh it's three damage from here
power yeah sure I think it was just real card I'm losing it in the pressure yeah
yeah so he's got eight and the the thing about Orabos is it puts the death
rattle on right so shouty isn't gonna be able to kill off the raptor that has
as that horrible step travel.
So yeah, Shaotii takes 50-50, hits it,
and he'll give him the best out opportunity.
It was the best he could do.
I think it was correct, setting up maximum number of taunts
rather than rolling on a legendary.
And Shaotii gonna eat his way into the final here,
to be fair, he was up a game already,
but really, really making a fight for it.
Shouty features the final,
and I think the first thing I would do,
actually the last thing I would do now
before I leave the camera is say,
yes, I would like my 10 minutes, please.
It's absolutely insane game.
Eight of us, thanks for keeping me straight
at the end there as well.
Ah, Bill Peel had a tremendous run in this tournament
all the way through the playoffs,
all the way through the Masters Tour to get here.
fantastic work by him picking up that top floor finish.
Xauty again still had the warrior mirror if he leaves us that one.
I'm not sure I could have coped.
That was my thing.
So well played by both of them.
Like, I feel like Phil Phil had it set up to win.
He ran into Tortilla in to get it all back and do it again.
But and then he did find a way at the end there to take that.
What must have been a 40 minute game at least down to a 50-50 shot, but it is going to be shouty definition
I just shouted for a minute give me your thoughts
Yeah, I mean, you know banter was talking about earlier how you need three things you need to you need to play well
You need to build a good lineup and you need a little bit of luck and sometimes it's that 50-50 that you're able to win
That gets you over the finish line
That was thrilling.
The other semi-primal, if you didn't see it, was also thrilling.
And hopefully that is setting us up for a thrilling final.
Obviously, Xauti is going to need a moment to get himself composed.
That was an absolutely ridiculous Hearthstone game.
But we're going to take a break while they get set up.
I imagine it will be about 10 minutes.
And we will see you then for the final of the 2025 World Championships.
Do not go anywhere. We'll see you soon.
the world championship. Hello
everyone and welcome back. We
are getting ready to get into
the finals of the World
Championship. And what a journey
both of these players have
just been on with both
semifinals. Absolutely
incredible. I think most of
us are still mentally and
physically recovering from
this one at Banta. I mean we were all just talking, watching that last game anyway, but
what did you make of it? What a crazy way to make it to the finals for Shati.
Just pure chaos. I mean I cannot even imagine being involved in a game like that. Like you said,
we were watching it and we were freaking out. Like it's just such a hard spot for every single
turn. Like the pressure for both players. Everybody's trying to calculate stuff. There's
you know, obviously some random elements with the different minions from from the Cobald just pure insanity, but an incredible game to watch.
Yeah. And I think although I think both players played well throughout the whole series, of course, I think that one really just highlighted.
Sharty's ability to just make things work, right? Like you said, you cannot prepare for those kinds of games. That's not something that's going to come up in practice or anything with, you know, teammates or whatever.
like that is something you have to just play by feel and as Shao Ti looked like, although there
are some spicy moments of course, look like he was just in control for all of that, just had the
plan worked with what he had, kept adapting to the scenario and it paid off massively and after
multiple tries and multiple world championship attempts Shao Ti is going to be in the finals
but his opponent definition has also had maybe a bit more time to recover but also had quite
the wild semivinals versus a love storm as well. So both of these players must be maybe just praying
for just a slightly more regular game or match of Hearthstone right now because to do all that all
over again in those kind of ways and must be a little bit intimidating for these players in
what's probably the most important match of their lives. Absolutely. I think Xiao Ti will
definitely need a few minutes to calm down and relax after that one. He'll definitely be relieved
but then there's the realization, oh, I've got five, ten minutes, jump right back into now the
biggest game of my career again. So it's a huge stakes. I cannot imagine how both of them are
feeling. Definition, like you said, he had his own crazy game. The nice thing for him is maybe,
at least from his decision-making point of view, a little less mentally taxing in terms of the,
you know, kind of game that he had to go through. For Jouhti, he's just got to
I don't think he can get any crazier than that. So this one should be a piece of cake for him.
Yeah. And just talking about the lineups as well as the players, like we said, we're just making sure the players are all completely good to go before we begin.
The big key difference here is the side is the, sorry, not the cycle road is the shame and shouties lineup, right?
shouties lineup right which is huge and no decay which is the big one here so
just looking at lineups and where we've ended up now in these finals what do you
make of them both is there any player you are leaning towards just purely from
a lineup point of view it's very close from a lineup point of view I I hate
to go back on what I've been talking about shaman this whole time but we
do have new evidence right we have the stats from the tournament not sure
exactly what the numbers look like now, but Shaman's been looking, it's been looking better
than I thought. DK has struggled a little bit. So, like you said, I think it's so close,
but I might lean towards Jouky just a little bit.
And are we expecting any big surprises from the bands here? Or are we just getting the
usual suspects because a lot of these lineups have been played across the, you know, across
the past four, three and a half days, I guess.
Yeah, I think they'll just be sticking to their own plans. There's sometimes there's
some mind games with oh you know maybe I can change up the band based on what my
opponent does but they both got here for a reason they're in the finals I don't
think this would be the time to get too experimental. Yeah for sure it's a yeah
probably is one of those things where you could try something but if it didn't
work you'd probably feel quite bad afterwards in such an important game
just to remind it if you have just joined us or joined us recently or
any point in during that last game which lasted I think upwards of an
hour. This is going to be the final of the 2025 Halstown World Championship. These players
have had different routes and different roads to get to this point, but either way, both
players have worked extremely hard for a long time now to get there, and it's all coming
down to this moment, which I can't wait to get going once these players are ready,
but we can check them out here and see what's going to be going on with the bands
when they are locked in. Let me just triple check if they are yet or not. It looks like
we've got one band locked in. We're just waiting on the other one just to confirm. Again, very
important that the players are comfortable, good to go and ready. But what do you think
is going through the minds of the players now right before this kind of match in terms
of is it just trying to calm and stay focused? Is it, you know, the energy that's
come with because you know everything there's arguably everything to gain and kind of everything to
lose at the same time. Yeah, I think everyone handles it differently. Some people might say,
you know, well, like I've gotten this far, whatever happens, happens. Other people might be a bit
more, you know, like, I'm here, I have to win now. I think it definitely depends on the person,
but like you said, the most important thing is just to calm down, focus on everything that
happened for the past in this tournament. It's done now, regardless any mistakes they've made,
any crazy games they've played. It all is irrelevant for the next 30 minutes an hour. However long
this game lasts, so just need to focus on. Yeah, and based on the recent series, who knows how long
it's going to go, right? We'll have to find out. It does look like a definitions ban was Warrior
and shouties band was hunter looking at this so we'll see if i just wait to say confirmed
visually for us and once we start getting into the first queues and everything but yeah pretty
reasonable bands i would say nothing too too crazy going out there and it does look like the
the standard lineups ended up doing it right right philfield got very close right the warlock
almost made it to the final i still think fantastic performance from both players that had the warlock
of course they're getting into top eight and then obviously the semis but then it looks like
these are the sorts of decks that they're going to get there as we saw the most success from in
these finals but of course it does come down to the players and for you now I've asked about lineups
I've asked about the decks but when we look at the players from what you've seen over the course
of these four days who do you think has an edge if any of them? Yeah so it's interesting
I think that's pretty expected
in a tournament like this. I
would still have to lean toward
Jautie. He's a player that I
personally been a fan of for a
long time. I really enjoy
watching him play so
methodical, so careful with
everything that he does. And I
feel like every time I watch,
I'm like, Yeah, that play
looks good. Sometimes all I'll
be casting his matches. I'll
say, Oh, like this is what I
would do. He'll make a
different play. And I'm like,
Yeah, it's probably Jautie's
play. That just makes sense.
So he's an incredible player
and he's a great player.
He's an incredible player.
Definition, of course, in his own right, also a very good player.
But I would give a small edge to Xiaotie.
Yeah, with multiple super strong performances.
And I do feel like Xiaotie, at least in the last few years,
has definitely been like, if you ask players that aren't
from China, you know, pro players in Europe,
and America's, of course, say, who's
named some of the best players in the world,
or named the best player in the world.
Shaotii has come up when we've interviewed players.
Shaotii's come up often, right?
It's not like it's a one-off or anything like that.
Shaotii has come up fairly often
and I think definitely holding the respect of players
from across the world, never mind in China, of course,
where I'm sure that's magnified, 10-fold to an extent.
So yeah, I think I would probably join you in this
in that just looking at results,
overall performance over the years,
Shouty is looking very good, but as we have seen in the past few days, anything can happen, right?
Like we've seen the most extreme cases of having to just juggle these outcomes that you weren't expecting
in any given matchups and making them work. We've also seen the other way where players have just been blitzed 3-0
or just had those, you know, a run of games where you feel like everything's against you, right?
and it can snowball out of control.
So we really have seen it all.
So even though we feel the favorite Shao Ti
literally anything could happen in this series.
These players, you don't get this far.
We don't even get to the World Championship
without being an exceptional player.
And you definitely don't get to the finals.
It looks like we are getting closer though
as the players are getting ready locked in
with that first matchup.
We've got the warrior on the side of definition.
And then we've got the rogue on the side of Shao Ti.
So again, both players will be looking to just get the work done, right?
Get the early wins.
Are there key decks for me to play as lineup?
Like, what's the deck where they have to get over the line?
Do you feel now that we've seen the results?
Because now you're a Shaman fan.
So that might not be the problem for Jyoti now.
I'm still going to call it the problem for Jyoti.
He keeps coming back to those other two decks, right?
We always have this situation where,
They're at least pretty frequently.
We've had, you know, warrior, hunter, and rogue.
And then generally, they kind of seem to get there,
especially just the way that the bans work out.
I always feel like they're in kind of a fine spot.
And pretty often, I think we're even seeing it here,
you kind of have to ban for your fourth deck a little bit.
Definition has the DKS as for Xiao Ti, Scott Shaman.
So I think that's why the bans differ.
It happened in some previous sets as well
with these exact lineups,
where Xiao Ti kind of needs to protect his Shaman
little bit give it an extra chance because that matchup against Hunter is just not great.
Meanwhile, definition probably also expecting a Hunter ban. He ends up just banning Warrior,
DK usually not great against Warrior. Of course, we saw an incredible match in the last game with
that. Not often that it looks that close though sometimes Warrior will kind of just do their
thing especially without the Steam Cleaner tech to help. Yeah and what do you think about
that like in the sort of use or not use I guess of tech cards in the decks that have been submitted
over the weekend and have played now that we can see the majority of the matches of course
been played out because for Phil feel I feel like the steam clean and some of the other tech choices
we've seen on stream multiple times in these matchups obviously you've got to hit the good
matchups but what do you think of it now that we've seen the results? Yeah I think it's
I'm not pretty reasonable choice and I guess there's not really many tech cards in this
matchup, but we're getting into it.
Yeah, here we go.
Game number one of the finals of the Hearthstone World Championship.
We've got definition on the top on the warrior going up against Xauty on that rogue.
And again, it's all just about these early starts.
We can see hostile invader is an option for definition, one of the better ways to
fight back versus those early rogue boards. Xiaotii, nothing looking too amazing in that opening hand.
Yeah, sometimes you might see prep kept at least pretty often, but I think Xiaotii is really looking
for a one drop to push a lot of early chip damage against Warrior. Meanwhile, for Warrior, we
won't see the quest kept. Hostile invader, as you mentioned, much more important.
Okay, both players actually ending up post-mulligan with pretty decent hands, having the one drop
in to potentially eat the imp or even out cultist map as an option, not bad at all for
Xiaotii.
But definition, having some armor gain, some card draw and the hostile invader, that's
kind of ticking the majority of the boxes for the warrior, right?
It is, yeah.
There's one box that's left unticked, which is new heights, getting that extra ramp
allowing you to play Invader maybe without having to coin,
getting to Draker X and Zilean X as well.
That is gonna be what definition really wants to see next turn.
Jalti meanwhile with, you know,
sometimes you might just eat the other one too.
I think in this case, he doesn't want to kill his minion off
because he knows that this minion will finish your damage.
It's a big part of the matchup.
Getting your minions to actually deal damage.
Instead he finds a list, he's able to eat that,
but he keeps his two on board,
which made very well push like eight more damage this game.
Yeah, not looking too bad at all.
Like really nice.
I don't want to say go in all in,
but just the early confident prep go.
I can find something to do with this turn.
Pretty nice.
And yeah, I like this a lot.
Just having that two, one is gonna start chipping away
this armor game from the shield walk from definition.
Very quickly back over to Shaotii though.
Yep.
And dubious just thrown out, right?
who don't really need to save it for destroying a minion. It can be nice against Hallstone Vader,
but generally, he's just looking for Tusk at this point, trying to get a decent turn.
And just to continue cycling is that he does pick up an old manager with an Insidious in hand,
so that will definitely be key to this game.
See Shati just very focused, really planning out the turns, because again, this is one of
of those moments where you can just take a bit of time these road turns you do
really want to have a bit of a road map to go down right and just to plan out how
quickly you can cycle through the deck what the setup looks like as you mentioned
with our manager the shout to you just taking this time working out if you want to
do anything else this turn but also what do the next few turns look like and
look at the hand size as well not to get into any too much trouble which
shouldn't be too difficult with the shadow steps and with spin hand as
Well, he does have a Westman hand, which you could just play out, but that is also a draw off of webweaver later on, because he's already played his first one, so he's going to hold on to it.
And there is the pop-back new heights that every warrior seems to have against you on ladder, and it turns out they have to be in tournament 2. That is the perfect draw for definition.
I've looked very happy or very sad about that, but I'm going to assume that was very happy
because it was the best draw I could possibly think of.
I think it was.
And speaking of best draws, not a bad one for Xiao Ti picking up the test to get that
going.
It might be a little bit late for an everything must go turn, unfortunately, because warrior
has access to Invader now. So already in a Protoss turn, I would probably lean towards
a on with Protoss. See what he spends his remaining two mana on. He also can just spend the mana
manager of course you cannot play in cindy's next turn but could just get
the mana spent no rush as you said as long as it looking to play the
imagine next turn no doubt so you may as well just preload everything you can
right and again if the hostile invader comes down now it's not like shouties
gone super heavy on the board or anything like yeah these die but who
cares in the grand scheme of things there's no big EMG all in that's gonna
get cleared or anything like that or anything hyper important at this point of the game.
Still frustrating, but not the end of the world.
Yep, and I imagine Definition is now thinking about if he can just play out this Invader.
One dubious purchase is already gone, and that's kind of their best answer to it.
The nice thing about playing it out is not only does it, you know, destroy their current board,
it also makes their future board really awkward to deal with, but he does end up just armoring
up he's gonna skip the invader has the quest in hand which he will hold on to and he's able to go
invader plus quest okay straight into another new heights yep this ramp's gonna start to really
pay off soon it will but he doesn't need to find some top end for that ramp like uh a great draker
axe like zileaks uh at the moment it basically has invader not much else right that ceaseless is
a long way away from playable.
Nemo, chapter 8 did find an EMG.
Let's have Lev leaving now as well.
Yep, and uh, he picks up his second shadow step.
Go on.
No, he just picks up the second shadow step so now he is able to continue the cycle.
He's Asteroid's fault.
Also getting there, everything must go down.
Probably hoping that he ends up hitting a particularly big minion with more than 4 HP here.
because this molar lift this stacks up to be a nice extra amount of damage right
not only being able to attack face but also be a shadow step target which saves
the manner from using the other molar instead if that was going to be one of
the options Shafty was looking at so here's DMG okay two five HP minions I
don't think he will be upset about that at all and then he's gonna go ahead and
shadow step that molar just get it back in his town for zero. I should have three planes if he's low for sure.
Yeah, Kato and more asteroids now, right? Just lock them in and get it done
They still have access to that coin as well for the incendiary. So this is
So shouty lining up very nicely of just taking all the boxes for okay
Asteroids in big board forcing removal normally if removal is done
Then there's not much sort of overall warrior progression, right?
They're not doing the annoying things like gaining tons of armor or
I'll mess with you too much. So this ask is now on definition as to how he's going to choose to remove this
Does have the invader but as you said five health is a little bit annoying
It certainly is and a pretty interesting decision from Jyoti at the end of the term that you could maybe argue about where he has
a plane of Phoenix which was free the only
Potential punish for it is if definition were to go Bob here. It would deny you being able to coin in Cyndias
So I would have probably just not played the Phoenix at this point, just to leave that board space open.
Because if they clear the board, then the Phoenix isn't really doing anything anyway, right?
But certainly a decision point.
Yeah, with both Shadow Steps gone, it's not as if you can even sail while drawing to Shadow Step to play around that or anything, right?
The Shadow Steps have been used.
Shatti does get the information though, it's going to be Bulwark and the hostile invader sort of clay.
Yep, but crucially he does get to hold on to a couple extra minions on the board and these are just Bulwark for the riot.
You can just punch these into the Bulwark, start to chip through that. Very important to do so.
I don't think he's going to be too bothered with the 3-5 on the board. His board is already essentially cleared, right?
So seems like a very convenient turn to just coin in Cyndias and get his game plan rolling
Would you not like the look of trade in clear the board completely and then coin in Cyndias?
So it's sort of just sat on its own max out
Yeah, so you could the only issue with it is it's sort of just missing a lot of damage because
For bullmark turn is quite a few to get through right and he has the found us in hand as well
So he does want this invader off the board, but I think he would much rather do it while also getting rid of the board charges
And he has a 3-1 claw, so it's not even that easy to get to the incendias. Yeah, that's true
That's true and low armor as well at the moment, right? So shield slam not really on offer outside of a crop as well
And he does indeed push a couple of charges through that board work
definition needs some help here from his deck picks up in all you can eat which
of course that that draws some pretty crucial cards like Dracorex or Xiliacx
sometimes this brawl is gonna be a very interesting it could go very right or it
could go very wrong yeah he is looking at it just kind of double checking and
It's the only real choice he's got, right?
Yeah, it is. I mean, dream scenario, you win the ball, but disaster scenario, he just wants to avoid the Insadious winning.
And if he wins the ball...
That is potentially a huge deal because that keeps his ALE on the board.
Yeah, I'm just gonna sell some of these asteroids.
Absolutely.
should be either. Luckily for Xauty, to an extent, at least, it wasn't one of those follow-up
turns where you just go eruption, eruption, eruption off the top, right? And it's just
like, oh, it's all gone now. And so it does have a little bit of leeway here, but it does
have that found us, does have the option of more mollusks as well.
Yep, now just needs to figure out the best way to sequence this turn. Has a, still,
got a lot of cards in deck to go through though. So taking a look at what JLTS is up, he's got
five eruptions, four asteroids, and then four real cards still in deck. But the problem is,
there's also this invader, so he just can't get the Thalmos down because it will immediately die.
Very awkward for him now.
is it ever a world where this gets
dagger down is that just a I'm pretty
good at silly suggestions banter just
so you know no it's not okay at all I
think you're actually yeah it doesn't
really have another option because he
doesn't want to draw the rest of his
damage exactly shouties able to just
play the zileaks that is quite likely
hand. Okay, the Zileaks does come down now. Some annoying minions to trade into and they
will lose their shields which could be quite clutched for next turn for Xiao Ti. A definition
doesn't have to play the Zileaks right now though, the board isn't super threatening,
could save it and try and go for a different route there.
Yeah, it is math time for definition who does need to calculate how much potential damage there is here because I'm sure he would prefer to hold on to this iliacs.
Right.
If you play it, it's just going to die to eruptions. He might need more healing.
Of course, so Jiaotian has five eruptions for asteroids, and the big concern is the thalmos as well as the malnour in hand.
I think definition can't really afford to zileax here. Just gonna clear the board with this instead
You also get another invader down, which is a pretty big deal for the same reason it was before you just can't play the thalmos now
Well, maybe depending on how many these pop you can that is that is good enough and that dagger that you pointed out last turn
It's gonna come in clutch here
He can just kill off this invader and then draw the rest of his deck with thalmos just needs to do the math
make sure he can get every card from his deck, but I believe he just can?
Yep, just showing the remaining cards, left three eruptions, four asteroids and of course
there's a mauler to add even more asteroids in here as well.
Yep, yep, so the mauler...
And that's just a little bit more card drop.
Yeah, and it's actually just enough card drop, he goes mauler, thalamus, dubious purchase
and a plato sword to guarantee that he draws every card in his deck and it is just
enough damage.
Wow.
I'm just taking a quick drink break as I believe, yeah, he's done the math and it's looking
pretty good so far.
Yeah, there's always that kind of sad feeling as you see all the asteroids hit your face
and you realize, yep, that this one is a very clean game.
Yeah, 100% some great decision making early on in the game, setting him up for success.
also just the earliest shadow steps with the maulers getting a little bit of damage through with
the minions getting that early mauler repeating then and you can see those extra asteroids that
were shuffled in from the first mauler helping play some of those the Hossan invader off for
example so really really nice overall for shouty very clean game and definition just couldn't
quite get there right and the problem was with that zileac's option sure you only heal three
but would that have even been enough if it's not enough or if the game goes a bit longer,
you've then wasted potential healing. So definition was definitely putting some
awkward situations even though the offstyle invaders were very, very good, but I just think
Shaotii just had good setups turn after turn. Yep, absolutely. And I would say, especially on
the last one, not much definition could do at that point. The only thing he was really
missing from his draw was all the armor because that healing only goes so far. You go
go to 30 HP. And I mean, the way that Jowty ended up drawing his deck, the sequence that
he drew it in was pretty fortunate for him. He did set himself up well for it, getting
those two eruptions. And of course, the dagger that you pointed out on that last turn, super,
super vital at that point to be able to clear off the invader. So yeah, very well played
game.
Yeah, it is one of those things that's to people who don't really play that rogue
or maybe they're running too much on ladder. Or, you know, maybe a lot of people just
watch more arson than they play. It is a little bit surprising that the first time you realize or
it clicks how much extra damage Thanos does and how vital it is especially in certain matchups
that you can put Thanos down and then start cycling because that damage ticks up very very
quickly when you've got multiple waves of asteroids in and then you've got the eruptions as well.
It really does become really really strong and we only ever see Thanos sort of thrown away
when there's no other choice right when we've seen some games this weekend where it's like
I can only found us on two or dagger it's like okay well I'll need the card draw but other than that
normally you fight up to try and keep hold of absolute max damage especially as you mentioned
when you're getting something like a warrior that can actually have more than starting health
due to that armor but looks like we are ready to get into our game number two
Shati gonna be locking in the shaman he now confirmed best deck in the world by Banta as
as he's changed his opinion.
I call it up against definition on this rogue.
Yep, and this definitely a much quicker matchup
rather than the warrior.
I mean, every matchup with rogue can be quicker,
but in general, you wanna get on board.
You're not gonna be as worried
about like that found those damage,
rather you just need to make sure
you're not exploding early on.
So getting into some of the minions on board
like the Space Rock has a Tusk in hand as well
to help deal with maybe some three threes in the future.
Yeah, open hand for Shabtine not so bad
does have the grow fin available.
And even though there's nothing mind-blowing yet,
birdwatching is a very good part of solving that problem,
right?
So birdwatching turned two into either three four drop
depending on what's on offer,
could be quite strong indeed.
Definitely, you know, does have some options as well.
Can I go for the maul early on?
I'm looking about it with the crystal plus.
Yep, hand is a little bit empty, I would say, at the moment,
to play the tusk this turn.
Hard to get a turn off where you draw enough cards,
so instead he's just going to get the tempo on board.
And those minions, not really what Shalki was looking for,
especially with this hand and this matchup,
I would say the highest priority probably would have been bellhop,
would be the best minion to hit.
These probably don't even crack the top four.
I do at all
Yeah, like even initially like bellhop
Haggathor of course
Anything immediately playable
Is all you really want
These whilst powerful cards
Not quite ready early enough
When you look at the rest of the hand
So a little bit rougher for shouty
Yep, but as you said
They are powerful and I definitely
Like this pick the most
His next turn is looking weak
But right after that he's got a
that is buff. So it'll go up to 8 attack. 8 attack, Wind Fury Minion maybe has a few extra
minions on board if he's forced to hero power and totem. Really, he's just gonna be probably
in a spot where he's forced to play it and just hope that there's not a dubious purchase.
Yeah, and you can very quickly see Shati's bind set here. Could have traded into the
maul and maul as well. And the stronger cards in the rogue, of course, forgetting
those asteroids, but no damage to face. This is how this matchup's gonna go. This
isn't warrior, rogue isn't really likely to heal much, so just get him killed.
Turn of us a very good pick up to fill out this kind of bad turn from Shaotii, not bad at all.
Yeah, not too bad, but I will worry that definition, especially having picked up a DPM,
has so much card draw this turn. Already six draws between the natural draw plus the DPM.
Already with the shadow step now, if he picks up and everything must go in his next four draws,
it would be playable.
It has a map as well now
Yeah, you might see him not play the map and forgo it for the well now now there's a second map as well
Has to decide between that and the EMP at this point
Prep something he would be searching for from his deck right now
Yeah, why not draw prep and then play them all how about that?
That could be pretty useful
That sounds perfect. It looks like he is gonna start with the E
really hoping that he picks up, I mean at the very least and everything must go
if not a prep. He does not hit though.
And now, is the High King gonna come out to play? Yeah it's one of those scary
spots where it's by far the best play you have on the surface. The scary
part is if it gets a dubious purchase suddenly you're in a pretty tough spot but it is by far the
most pressure I think Jati knows that he's yet aggressive and does that he also is able to kill
off the platysaur so definition loses a card. Yeah it's that weird one isn't it with the Murodan
where the card's fantastic but when you play it on five if it can be dealt with you realize then
you have if you want the weapon a bit quickly you then spend in your whole
next turn just to quit with a weapon and with the pace of a lot of the matchups
in the game right now that feels quite slow sometimes it's not really what
you would need to do and definition I believe should have a two-mana dubious
purchase right he's got both of those space rock collector this ounce already
So he's gonna be searching for that on the map.
Okay. Well the asteroid helped out with a few little things.
There's the dubious.
Very clean from definition here. Good setup.
Already slicing through the deck very quickly is where you students in Rogue.
Now Shati is gonna be a little bit slower again.
It does have Frosty Deco, but that pass does not feel great in this situation, with definition
so deep in the deck, so many tools in hand, potentially ready to go off a little bit.
It has not been an old manager though, so Shouty knows he's at least relatively safe
from earlier incendias.
Yep, definition.
Just using the float to one doesn't see the value of playing the Platysaur here.
He could have gone a couple extra minions on board, but doesn't necessarily help
out upon any.
access to two web levers for a potential pop-off turn and I think Shalti's
gonna be looking to get aggressive at this point right he's got a thousand
hands he's got his weapon just needs to figure out the best way to apply the
pressure so I think on the surface Frosty pretty solid turn he could deviate
and go for a bumbling pop-off plus pop-up book though if he wants to try
and make a stickier board against asteroids.
And you won't do that.
Actually, there are four forces.
They're not that far from turbulence.
So I think you would always prefer to do this.
Yeah, just more stuff.
I knew it's the asteroid tech.
But also, if they do stick a little bit,
maybe that's going to pull out some level of removal
or trade you don't want.
And if they've kind of ignored or survived the asteroids,
there is the wish of them, which is some extra damage.
A little bit awkward that everything's
turned too slow to an extent.
but still, not too exciting for Xauty,
but it's the turn that he's been waiting for, right?
Like the first turn he can really get going.
Yeah, this is the crucial turn.
And Xauty, I'm sure very well aware
that he has a hammer into fouls available.
So what Xauty is hoping for is that there's no taunts
that some minion is able to stick
because he needs a little extra damage to connect.
But as the, as definition draws more,
it's getting a little scary.
He might not be able to stick anything.
to be so to get rid of one of the four fours yep the asteroid
did go face meaning that there is potential that a minion will just stick
right there is still the everything must go that they're she gonna kill off his
own minion to make space for a four drop try to hit a rush or a pump
doesn't hit mine though so now Jauti has to ask himself how how do I win from
here the first thing that comes to mind for me is just weapon all face because
you put them down to 17 push six with the left and put them to 11 suddenly you
have a two-turn setup all you have to do is not die the goal of most people most
of the time but we'll see if shouty can pull it off it's difficult because
basically both players have more or less done what they wanted to do right
pushing damage weapons as you said that there is just a lethal setup we can see
for Shaotii but definition just cut all the way through the deck down to two
cards which just an eat the imp and the other everything must go so really not
much left so definition can do whatever the benefit I guess for Shaotii is that
there wasn't that fast in Cyndias which means if there's an incendiary well
there can't be incendiary pass if the weapons the route goes full right
Yeah, and now the problem like I think that this this looks like the winning play
Unfortunately, I believe that that mission will just kill through this because he has smaller shadow step in hand
Almos in hand as well. He can make trades to allow for I mean he only needs to board space anyway
But yeah, you can just double trade and it's just legal. Yeah, there's just a lot of damage on board
That's the problem shouty doing his best to set up
But with all these minions speaking in the fourth horse. Yes that they weren't torn so there weren't any sort of shenanigan style minions
They're still for damage right and they're shaman again not got tons of health available
Yep, and I think it's probably good to know that I think a lot of people would look at this show
They say oh well, why didn't he play the frosty decor?
You would have kept them alive
But the problem that you then have is you have no way to win the game you play the frosty
definition just trades off the two fours and it'll play in Cyndias and suddenly
dealing the exact same position so definitely think it makes sense to
make the plays out to me I'm probably hoping that there was like a bottom
moller maybe at that point overall just across from the beginning yeah it's
the problem right so if shouty did the becker or whatever earlier then
great it's got some armor but then definition can just play in Cyndias
right because he's not he's not dead so then it just has a it just kicks the
kicks the problem down the road to a certain extent right so yeah shout to
yourself as well as it could but this is gonna be more than enough damage
required from definition and even in the series up one and one now both players
pretty well so far with those rogue matchups rogue just taking the boxes
nice and early getting them out of the way and I do feel like maybe this
This is a bit of an assumption, but I feel like this rogue deck is one of the most played
decks among the pros, because it has the mix of it's a good deck for a start, but also it's
very rewarding for good play, right?
Once you lock in with the combos, lock in with the decision making, it seems very rewarding
if you can handle it well.
Yeah, absolutely.
It's one of those decks where you can kind of squeeze out that extra percent.
That's just due to a little bit of easy math that maybe somebody on ladder normally wouldn't bother with they'll say
Yeah, whatever like I'll yeah exactly and just play my cards. That's me too sometimes
You know it's easy to get lazy
But in a spot like this in these big tournaments, of course everybody is carefully tracking
You know what they have left with their opponent has left so you can definitely get that extra
You know a couple percentage points for top players with this deck, and I think that's why we're seeing it do pretty well
Yeah, and it's looks like definition just gonna have the warrior and death night to go up against the hunter and shame and so
We've found ourselves any
Unique situation where the last four classes are actually
All different between the two players
So we are gonna see who's just gonna get at the better end of the steak shouty
We're going to game number three is gonna be on that shame and once again and definition going to be on the warrior
So both players now queuing the deck they've lost with so far in this series.
So one of them is going to be a little bit happier than the other soon.
Yep, absolutely. And this is a matchup we have seen a few times.
I think we talked about it earlier in the cast.
It's one of those where like you got to get off to a good start.
Both decks have the potential to play a really long game, but overall,
I think Shaman would definitely prefer to be ending it early, right?
Those early five-fives.
And because of that, this hand for Xauty, the only card he might consider, which he actually does keep, is the Shutter Block.
What do you think about it?
Yeah, it's a tough one. I'm very much a formal for the aggro stuff and go.
But Shutter Block is definitely one of the cards that can really rip open a game, right?
Because it allows you, I'll say it allows you to cheat, you know what I mean?
It allows you to do some very, very powerful effects and I'm guessing the idea here as well is
If you're going to do the rest in a mulligan
You may be not expecting the perfect start because it just feels a little bit unlikely
So then that shouty is just going to be building up for that sort of more mid to late game push
And to because that's still fast enough to beat like the Warriors end game of the quest, right?
You're still doing should have walked things faster than they're doing their end game
it can be I would say it depends a bit on what what the Warriors doing and right
now for Jaotip this is not the hand he would have been looking for sure he kept
the shutter it is the rest of it is just not what he wants to see there's no
Hagatha no location we had a couple games like this previously that we saw
in the tournament and the Shaman had a really hard time recovering one of the
ways that you can recover as you mentioned is that shutter kind of mid
game push but if you're passing every turn until then I'm not sure that'll be
enough. Yeah you do slide further and further away right because these are the
turns where Shaotii would want to be putting on pressure and chipping down
health and or armor right whereas this is just giving definition time to
pre-build up armor and we saw even against in the rogue matchup we saw how
close Shaman has to get sometimes right like you really have to maximize
damage. It feels a little bit face
huntery to an extent. The shame
that yes, it can go late, which
maybe wasn't the case for
Hunter back in the day, but you
do really want to maximize that
early damage in this matchup.
And yeah, you're right. This is
not looking good. Let's see
somewhere. What do you think
tempo frogs coming out here for
the big zero attack ball
build probably not going to be
the games. I definitely think
that Jyoti will avoid the
frogs. However, the growth
ends. You just spend the
You just spend the mana, but yeah, the frog's not uh, not looking good for Jappy.
Of course, you do generally want to avoid going too wide on the board.
I think he might pass up on a totem as well.
I think he does indeed, he didn't forget to play it.
He just decides that he doesn't want too many millions on board.
Makes definitions draw a little bit cheaper, so decides to hold off.
Yeah, and the lack of, of pressure now is really rough because it's just letting
definition do whatever he wants and getting zero punish for it right like drop the release okay cool
take two damage can freely drop the location almost regardless of what the location ended up being
right if that's what he wants because again it's unlikely there's going to be a huge push right
now then you look at bob marin there's bullwalk and brawlers defensive options even right to an
extent. So this is a lot of freedom being offered to definition right now and
Shouty is not going to like that one bit. Absolutely and we just took a look at the
location. It's not the best location, maybe not ideal for definition, discover a
spell death rattle, but like you said when he's got zero pressure, any location
will do. You can have death rattle spell damage. Hey, I'll just take a turn
to play it and it can start to accelerate the death rattle on it
and uh warrior has some pretty good spells right you pick up a brawl maybe um another shield slam
so many different removal options and he would almost certainly just play that next turn try to
pick something up for the future yeah for a lot of the classes once you start testing out the
discoverer spell it costs less you realize the one classes have some really good spells
in certain situations right and then you realize when they cost four less a lot of spells are
quite good. Believe it or not spells get a lot better when they cost four less
mana than they should. So yeah definitely a lot of good options here. For
definition right now though maybe not the best actually after me talking up
the Discover spell. I think Eugene said yeah these are not the greatest options.
Shadowflame suffusion is a fine removal card. Sometimes you get a decent
dark gift. He does end up going with that. I think the only other option he
would really have considered was Champions of Azeroth. Some kind of funny cards to use
from that, but a little too expensive I would say. You know, six mana, however much mana
on an expensive minion, not really what he wants to be doing.
Let's choose to just play it now as well. A few options. There's a two mana stadium
announcer, kind of a bit weird for a defensive deck. There's also a, that is an incredibly
a very large armor is seven
eight. Portion armor. If you
want to gain a bit of armor,
the downside of that is he
would miss a cordial and
decides in the end that's a
little too valuable. I'm not
going to lie to you. I was
looking at both face. Plus
attack and lifestyle like
only because right back
back this up a little bit
only because this game. It
feels like definition can get
that that could definitely be something that's gonna come down, however, going for the slightly more reasonable pay,
it is going for the weapon generation.
Yeah, I mean, it is not crazy to say that he actually could end up in a spot where he wants to play that,
but I think from his point of view, I would say, well, if I can play a nine-man-a-bot face,
eh, I'm probably in a good enough spot, so just take this as a maybe potential,
like you can try and scan another bulwark for yourself and that that is the major
high roll for definition. You can also get rid of his opponent's hammer. Not sure that's going
to be super valuable but that is probably what he's taking it for. After Murgin gets playing
he equips the hammer. You just put it back in their deck which at least means they don't have
it equipped. Yeah and also fully enough that with the effect on it being the mana reduction
you are only paying two mana for that effect which suddenly makes it a lot more attractive
doesn't it? Definitely and I think that's why I ended up going with that. Now this turn you did not
have access to an invader so definition says I'm not going to brawl this board right it's a super
tiny board don't want to overreact instead he's just kind of accepting that if Jiaotii coins
wish he'll take a little bit of chip but it's not really the end of the world. Yeah I believe
that was a rewind so we're just going to get these spectators switched over and unfortunately
rewind does cause the old spectator issue which will get fixed ASAP so I'll get that done for you
but it looks like they've rewind the weapon and attack into one of the two falls I believe
do some radio casting for you then. Yep and I think we can also see Xiaotie immediately reach
for that coin right he's still got five minions on board a couple of frogs and those frogs are
gonna help out here just push through a bit of extra chip damage and now suddenly yeah we can see
the board coming back 13 damage on board. He also got a phone right now from the stadium
announcer and he's probably gonna have enough corpses for a few turns of that. Yeah, maybe
we're quite regretting that rewind now. That is unfortunate for definition. The definition
still has brawl has Bob to freeze. Even as dirty rap brawl if he really fancies it
available for him but yeah this is not what she was looking for. Yeah not at all and I think
she might be a little concerned about the idea of derby wrap drawl because one side effect of that
now is he actually gives his opponent the corpses uh for for the weapons so he may end up just going
for a bob uh but oh he's got a rye cleaver equip not a very useful weapon. Oh yeah he can
can just clear up with invader actually pretty easily.
That was a slight risk with dropping the weapons there because there are high rules for definition
but you are giving your opponent a tool to deal damage to you right and yes there's loads
of you know like let's say bad weapons for shouty that you could get but that option
exists right you're giving your aggro opponent basically more damage so it's definitely a
bit of a risk there for definition see if you can utilize the weapon to make it
now yep and definition pick up a heart scrapper from the discoverer if anybody
has played any mech warrior in the last few months before the nerf to it you'll
remember this says lose up to five armor next mech mech cost that much less of
course he's not playing a neck deck but he does run zileaks and he hasn't in
his hand, but he did just remove 5 armor from himself, which allows Jautith to kill him with
vowels, which seems like a pretty crazy decision to, to possibly the, the board scrapper. Maybe
he just felt that he was always in a bad enough spot at that point.
Yeah, I think it was, it was the, it was the payoff where you had, you had to do
it then because he was going to take the damage and lose the armor right and so he wanted the zileac's
next turn but that felt like a that felt like a risk maybe it was just i am literally only dead
here to fouls right in that situation i'm pretty sure it was literally just fouls but that is
scary because shouty's opening hand or first couple of turns was quite bad and shouty was
holding cards from the beginning of the game basically all game so you start to think well
what are those cards that have not been played yet they've been in hand from more or less turn one
i can't quite remember when fowls was there but i think it was turn one so you think well
well what's being held you've got stuff like wish you've got files you've got some of the more
expensive stuff and again i'm sure yourself included probably after this but and and
all the rest of the pros will like look at that and work out what's that work the raves to
to get Xiliac's back and so on, so on, so on, but at least the outcome wasn't great for definition,
right? It seemed a little bit too risky when you've given them a foam render as well.
Yep, absolutely. I think the biggest kind of argument against it would just be, like you said,
he passed so many turns. There's only so many cards that he can have in his hand at that
point. You know there's no like Flight of the Fire, Flight of the Firehawk far left,
No bird watching, no bell hops, no haggis bus, so suddenly you remove all these cards and you think to yourself well
How many cards can really be on the left side of their hand?
I think you have like a very good call for the next turn. So maybe regretting that decision, but uh, still very much in the series
Yeah, I'll bought zilex maybe even for the next turn as well, right? Because it would have actually been cheap enough to play
um, but yeah
very very
You would have to forego the park scrapper so you wouldn't be able to play zileaks on it
But you would just be able to go bull roll
Assume that that will keep you alive and men plays zileaks online
Here we go into the next game shouty
Maybe just this one game away from being crowned our new world champion
definition got a lot of work to do and he's definitely coming off a not the
best ending to the previous game a little bit unfortunate names to felt a
little bit rough yep but is kind of got to move on at this point right new game
still just two games away from himself becoming the world champion and a
usually favored matchup for the warrior to start off of course Jiao tea is
playing this this different build of Hunter that we've talked about which
should give him at least a few extra percent in the matchup.
Not a terrible start here for Shati, it's an opportunity to curate that people nice and early.
But we have seen some place struggle with that sometimes. Sometimes you
actually don't want the people too early because you're doing more utility spells
than you are damage spells that you've already asked for.
Yeah, and Jattie gonna get his game plan moving, plays the Illyria here.
None of these are particularly great, maybe an Ice Trap just to try and disrupt something
later like a Brawl.
Any of these speak out to you?
I'm just staring at them, I'm trying to think like, does Kawa get us anywhere?
I'm staring through the deck list quick, just to trickle check what and if any bees
It's irrelevant or even in the deck, so that's really looking good.
I would joke around and say go for the frogs, but that's definitely not worth it.
So I'm with you on the ice drop for sure.
The more playable card, however, playing it at this point again can be a little bit spicy
for the tide pool.
So I imagine we're going to see it held for a little while.
I'm not sure if he's going to
be able to do that.
All right, opening up the
grip and does hit deal six.
That is generally a snap pick
for most people. I think
maybe taking a second thinking
well, you know, I could draw
some cards. He's got a bird
watching in hand and he's
got a pupil. So I would be
pretty shocked to see him pick
though because if there's ever a time to not sort of let yourself slip into habits it is probably now
right just have a real think like yes it's almost certainly feel sick so there are any worlds it's
not what's the plan going forward these are all good things to do definitely respond with this
Elise and start to get going with these locations yep and we are looking for something defensive
if he now has the knowledge of the DL6, he is able to clear up the 6-6 as well, which I'm
sure Jiaoti was, you know, thanking out at the time, picks up Discover Spell and gains
6 armor.
Pretty nice location, although Jiaoti also picking up his Elise on the following turn.
I think we may see him go for a 1, ends up picking a 5.
There's some interesting options for this matchup, and you talked about it on the
broadcast a bit earlier.
can pick coffee and get extra scouts just by copying it on the board so I imagine he
will be picking that maybe a pack Raptors for some extra board what do you
like here yeah I don't mind attack because just there are worlds where you
just build another board right and then it could just be that threat to your
opponent and make them clear boards that they might not necessarily always
want to play. So yeah, going for cocking attack I do like. It just makes these things a little
bit more threatening and I like making my opponent feel a little bit more defensive than they
would normally without that.
Yep, I like it as well. And there is also the possibility of getting your board space
a little too restricted if you pick Raptors. I think in the past we've seen some people
maybe get board locked. I think even in a semi-final matchup for this exact, for
next we saw definition board lock love storm with just a bunch of small minions and he was never
never able to get on board lock properly so not picking raptors does avoid that
And just taking this time again, making sure that keeping everything in mind, I definitely
like getting the location down.
It's just a nice tempo turn right.
He's got plenty of minions on board to take advantage.
Just needs to figure out how to make the trades.
I think we'll probably see each other for the first because those zero sixes do grow in attack after they take damage
So assuming he wants to keep his minion if he doesn't do it that way
I can push mine here if he wants
Yes, it's pretty nice actually. Yeah, I was staring at the hand thinking is there any reason not to play location?
But this is sort of what I was talking about with the location choice is like with that any minions sort of just left around
around on any given turn become way more of a threat, right?
And that's what you want to put on Alpha,
because it just means definition has to deal with air.
Like, it's 2-1 still.
Just live for another couple of turns,
it needs to be dealt with.
And we are going to see, of course,
lots of data, clearly a vast majority of this.
Still going to leave five damage on the board though,
which is by no means nothing.
Yep, it is quite a bit,
and you can already see Xiao-Ti's plan coming together here.
He's got this scout in hand, a copy on the board,
and he put that deal six in his pupil, meaning that any time he wants, he just has, he can
just pick up 18 damage, which of course, if he finds a neary becomes 36 awfully quick.
So I think we'll see a bird watching plate in the near future, tries to find my L or
neary and he will be awfully close to just killing.
Now, big question here is, do you like ice trap first or bird watching first?
Because that's the last thing to fill out the tide pool, right?
I was actually looking at whether you, I mean it's always gonna be amulet anyway probably from the type pool but I was like, huh?
Do you ever want the ice trap as a weird backup to cover the board? But very unlikely.
Yeah, I think if you want a backup, I would probably take the boat watching as well, but like you said, it's just never gonna happen.
It's always DL6 for Matt and
he's gonna be looking for a couple key cards from this and he does pick up a Niall.
like pretty good and not something that Hunter normally wants to be able to deal with with that
location gone to that further reduces the ability to sort of trade down this board so this is definitely
going to be a little bit tough just very subtly quite difficult shouty when he's looking so comfortable
yep the the good news for him is he does have access to the Sylvanas so this one board not
going to be too big of a deal uh he does have access to a Ysera if he wants it he can also
pick up another pupil. Really, these are all interesting options. The sanctuary would let you spend your
man at this turn, alongside the Sylvanus that I think we'll see him play. But if he wants to just
start doing more stuff in the future turns, he could end up picking the Sucera.
Yeah, and he's on the other side of that. The pupil allows him to maybe start going a little
little bit earlier because you can use the Rangara Scout with the previous people, generate the
spells and then have those spells in that place with the second people as well. He's going to go to
Ysera so definitely comfortable playing the bit of sort of the bigger plan game so to speak.
Yeah and he definitely will want that pupil at some point. The upside to not picking it is
you can get an extra coffee which I'm sure he will be thinking about. He can go Ysera,
take a slower turn now and then in the following turns with a ton of mana go
scout hero power try to pick up some extra pupils something along those lines.
And that condition now meanwhile he knows that he's sort of on a clock either he
needs to gain an incredible amount of ammo or more realistic than I'd say he needs to try and
pressure a bit. The great drag race will help him do that, but as I'm back trading off him, I know he's still...
Yeah, the heal backup's going pretty nice after that, bringing it all the way back up to 12,
could be, again, just a touch-all-quid for Xauty to deal with, and now if you can't deal with
that, you know pretty much anything you're playing is going to die right outside of the
this is Sarah really?
Yep, and the good news for Jautiz,
I don't think he's gonna care.
He can just go, you Sarah, hero power,
and then probably just Ice Trap,
has access to 13 mana on the following turn,
and he is getting really close to lethal.
I mean, he could also just Zileaks down this Dracrex.
I'm not sure that he needs to,
but he's probably just gonna double check
and make sure of everything.
We'll end up getting that mana,
and because he talked like the nearest turn,
We were really just one or two steps away from you know a massive let's say 48 damage combo
Yeah, and right now
Definition that does not appear to have too many ways to slow that down
I'll do a bit noble walk of as enough to cause some headaches here
But I completely agree the zilex looks incredibly clean, but when you look at
Is that progressing the game plan you realize very quickly?
No, let them have let them deal five damage right for this
So who cares? So yeah, I like this a lot. Very much opening up the option save for Xiaotie.
And Xiaotie is creeping towards this world championship victory here.
The setup's pretty good. He's got the six damage Grifter didn't with.
He has the pupil. He has the Rangari Scouts.
It's all on definition to try and defend against this push.
Yep, and he does have plenty of armor to defend with right now.
He's sitting at 38, he has 12 more armor in hand, so I'm not sure you'll see the game
end too soon, but it will be in the back of Definition's mind that he needs to continue
to pank up or just get more pressure in.
You see the man get pulled out there, again, the driver could deal with this firefight,
not too much of a big deal if the trade happens,
but maybe not the target he wanted to see.
Yeah, I think he was probably hoping
to actually pull out the yore.
It would pull it out and immediately
just make a dam on board.
He does draw into it, naturally,
but he would have preferred just having that one for free.
And so that pupil pickup weighed
41, 4, 6, he's getting awfully close to lethal here. I'm not sure because he has quite enough
mana right now, 7, 8, 10, not quite enough mana, but he will on the next turn if he just
picks it up. The danger then is, does definition manage to get out of range? It doesn't look
like enough to me here.
Yeah, there's two goggles just already in hand, right, even if he has to pay for.
That's one of the...
Wait, there's a sanctuary on the board.
Is this just enough?
It's exactly enough with, uh...
What was it?
Is this just the...
Well, it's played the neary, right?
So this won't just be some kind of setup term.
Shao Ti has locked in the neary,
locked in all of the amulets in,
and I believe that is gonna be enough.
The headset comes off, the game is over and Shao Ti is going to be your 2025 World Champion.
Absolutely incredible play coming off the back of an incredibly tense game in the semifinal.
And he's going to finish it all now. What an incredible game, surprising us all.
And definition that doesn't know what to do.
absolutely incredible there from
show T it was it was due at
this point I think there were
some hiccups a little bit
earlier on at the beginning of
the tournament but I think
especially today banter he's
played exceptionally well and
again all these plays of
fantastic have made it here
definition did a great job
to get to the finals but I
don't think anyone is going
was the thing today.
Yeah, he played very well today.
I mean, even in that game, just recognizing exactly what he needed to do,
keeping calm at the end, exact mana lethal, just enough amulets,
knew he had mana to fit in the ice trap.
I mean, it's such an incredibly high level of play,
and he makes it look easy, but I think the way he played those finals especially,
he'll be really glad that he managed to get that shaman game through that looked
like it was pretty much disastrous but just gets the job done and then that one
almost did look too easy for him. Yeah I think for me it's it almost looks like
from turn one in these games Shautey just has the laser focus it's just I
know what the objective is and it will be achieved right like no matter what
especially in this series you've seen every single game that Shautey has won
here has just been locked in straight away that hunter game we've seen countless
hunter of this at least fairly similar archetype the build right nearing tons of
spells we've seen it all before but the sheer locking of that strategy as soon
as that amulet was picked up to deal six it was like right excuse me this is
the plan and it was just executed so well and we were even like okay well do
do this turn do we need this do we need this setup but it's like no I've already
he's seen it everyone calm down boom boom boom locked in and there's the game and
definition didn't really have much he could do in that game it was just
over right with Shaotian that hunter just incredible play yep definition did
what he could he nearly managed to get out of range of that 48 combo but then
I think we have to say that that deck list that we've been talking about a
lot the Chinese hunter list really came through that game had extra mana
you Sarah picked up without all that had access to 13 mana could not possibly do that much damage
and essentially just as burst I kind of came out of nowhere that fish it would be aware of the
possibility but to even have mana for it all on that turn came awfully close yeah really really
strong playing again you wind back to the other games you mentioned the shame and just going
for it you mentioned the the rogue play as well which I think rogue play is the the sort of
thing we've seen from most of the players that play in the tournament so far but again I just think
Shaotii is just how you locked in there were some hiccups we've seen from multiple players throughout
this tournament the stress was high but I think Shaotii's recovery from that right at the beginning
of the tournament has been exceptional and since then has been a you know the player we expect
right from these years of Shaotii competing you will know better than almost anyone you
you know, in terms of how good Shaotii as a player is, you could be in a similar
same tournaments, of course, as well. So, yeah, just absolutely incredible play. And I think
everyone will be very happy to see the crown of the world champion. I do believe we are going
to try and get a Shaotii interview because we here, like, we try our best to get players and
get into, obviously, there are some hiccups down again, or there are some players who aren't
comfortable doing an interview in English, because I'm rubbish, that's all I could speak.
But we are doing our best to get Xiao Ti on here for everyone because I think we'd just
love to hear from him honestly at this point. So we will do our best, we are just holding
out just to make sure everything's lined up and we can get that sorted for everyone.
But now that it's at least nearly over, how are you feeling? What's it been like
to join us on the desk as our very valuable guest of course? And what have you just
made of the tournament overall this year.
I thought it was an incredible tournament, incredible final day, especially.
Like, we had so many crazy games today.
I definitely did not expect to be here in the finals.
I had to sub in due to some technical difficulties, and somebody in my chat
asked me, I think like last week, they're like, are you going to be
casting Worlds finals?
I was like, what, me?
No, like, why would I be in the finals?
This is my first time doing it.
Here I am.
So pleased to be here.
It was really enjoyable to watch these games, to be able to discuss them, and yeah, I hope everybody enjoyed watching because these really were some high level games and some incredible entertainment at the end.
Yeah, you might actually, at least off the top of my head, I'm sure the other casters will tell me I'm wrong, but it might be one of, if not the first caster to cast the finals at their first Worlds.
So that's pretty great, honestly.
That is something that most casters dream of is casting the finals.
Never mind doing it on their first go.
So yeah, congratulations for that.
I think you did a great job as well.
I think a lot of viewers really enjoy hearing the pro player side of things
and what their thought patterns are because, you know, you've sat in those seats, right?
You've been in those positions in these games.
You know what it feels like.
Whereas I, to an extent, used to know what it feels like many years ago now, and not really quite as recently as you.
So it's been absolutely great to hear from you.
But yeah, we are just still just checking on.
Let me just double check here.
OK, checking where we are with this fingers crossed interview again.
Can't promise anything, but we're doing our best.
But now that it's all done, Banta, what have really been the highlights for you?
Did things go as expected? Were there any players that stuck out for you?
Maybe outside of Shaotii. We'll put Shaotii over here for a second.
But anyone else really stuck out? Anything that really grabbed your attention or any lineups or decks?
Yeah, definitely Shaotii for sure. And then some other ones that stuck out in Kuro.
We've talked about him a lot this weekend among the casters.
I think he played super well, especially for his first appearance in Worlds.
Shout out to Maxi as well. I think he played his games.
games had a tough run today but he's been in back to back worlds now keeps
getting better he's definitely wanted to keep keep our eye on in the future I'd
say loves form as well maybe the last player that really impressed me okay
and looking at how this tournament's gone as well and what have you made of
the is the this is not aimed at you in any way for the Americas but looking
at the regions did you expect the representation in the regions to go
this way into the top eight for example because China looking very strong A pack as well those
two dominating the top eight which are top four specifically which was you know maybe
expected maybe not how did you feel about this going in yeah well I on that topic I did want
to say you all thought that there wouldn't be an American at worlds I made it to the
finals apart from that I would say you maybe didn't do as well as we would expect
Welcome to they have a ton of great players, but I think in the end, you know, everybody
deserves to get where they did in the finals.
Okay.
Well, it looks like we do have an interview with our new champion, Shautee.
So we'll just make sure they are here and they can hear us.
So let's check it out.
Hello Shautee.
Can you hear me?
Oh, hello.
I can hear.
Hello, Raven.
Hello, Panther.
I can't hear Shautee.
I cannot hear him.
I cannot hear him right.
One sec, let me just...
We just have a tech problem.
Just give me one second.
Hello?
Hello guys?
We're just having a tech check the audio
because unfortunately we can't hear him over here.
That's not the best for an interior.
Hello?
There we go.
Oh, hello. Hey, can you hear me?
Oh, yeah. Yeah, I can.
Okay, perfect.
Oh, hi, River. How are you?
Hey, we can hear you now, so that's fantastic.
So, first off, congratulations on becoming our world champion for 2025.
I just want to ask, how are you feeling right now?
I'm feeling so great. Yeah, it's amazing, man.
And after when you was about to go into the final match, how were you feeling after your semifinal because the last game in the semifinal was crazy?
Yeah, that's actually a crazy game.
I think I misplayed some part, but whatever, I won the half-time half at last.
I'm curious, during that game, was there any point in that Warrior vs DK crazy match where you felt maybe that
you probably weren't going to win? I'm not going to say give up, but was there a certain turning point in that match where you maybe thought,
oh wait, I can actually win this?
Well, I always think I can actually win, but when he shows infinite Zilex, I feel, yeah, I probably lose that game.
And going into the finals against Definition, how confident were you based on lineups and based on your opponent? Were you feeling good going into it?
Yeah, I think I feel my lineup is favor into definition, but I play so bad the first day
and I lose to him.
Yeah.
And yeah, so you know, you go on that.
Sure.
During that first match or right after that first match against definition the other
day, was it hard to kind of, you know, settle down and say, okay, like, you know, you
know how good you are.
Was it hard to get back into the mindset of the tournament or was it easy for you to say,
no, that's fine.
I made a mistake.
That's okay.
Yeah.
I think it's fun, but people think I'm really bad, I think.
Well, I think people think you are very, very good.
One of the best in the world for sure.
I do just want to ask you as well, your version of Hunter that you played, how did that
about and we really happy to bring it because especially in that last game
against warrior the Isera really paid off with that lethal oh yeah I think my
version of Hunter is good into the slow matchups like DT and warrior and I
also think my Hunter is better against like Shaman or something that's
the non-elix one.
Okay. And then finally, just before we let you go and celebrate, are there any final
words you want to say to everyone watching or anyone you want to thank or just any
shout outs overall?
I want to thank to my prep group Gabby, Love Storm and Tianming and the people helped
me to practice that time out, Fa Ge, Xiao Wang, and as well I have sent him a lot, and
sent all the fans supporting me. Thank you.
Yeah, I think you've got a lot of fans, and thank you for this interview as well and
taking the time. We're going to let you go and celebrate now, but just again, huge
congratulations, well deserved, and yeah, just a great job and have a great time.
And thanks for everything and thanks and thank you
So glad we got to it from shouty there's nothing that we want as casters
There's nothing we want more than to talk to the players as you will well know
So yeah, that is it just a absolutely fantastic end to the tournament
we've had four days of hard stone and
Honestly today the matches just kept on coming in they turned of quality some
crazy games that I do. We were going nuts, I'll say backstage, we're all at home, but
you know what I mean? So yeah, absolutely fantastic day. Banta, it was expected that
you're going to be casting the finals, but any final words from you to wrap up the weekend?
I'm very thankful that I was able to do it, incredible tournament to watch. I do also want
to say thank you to all the other casters and everybody who's had kind of words for
me making my job easy to be here, talk about Hearthstone. I love doing it, so thank you
you guys. It was fantastic to have you as well as all the other guests of course
Derek, Korra, Recfam, TJ jumping in for an interview again just a reminder we have
our plans all out there now onto the PlayHorstone website for 2026 plans for
the Horstone Esports system so make sure to go and check that out. So thank
you everyone at home for watching we hope you had a great time thanks to
production and we're gonna wrap this up thanks a lot for watching everyone
and we'll see you next year.
you