Ok, so let's talk Whispers of the Old Gods

I have been very busy lately (as usual!). Unusually, however, this has been largely due to Hearthstone overload, no pun intended.

With their latest expansion to the Hearthstone universe, Whispers of the Old Gods, Blizzard has completely turned the game upside down. Not only have new formats been introduced to separate current card sets in the Standard format from being able to play any card in existence in the Wild format, but all the new cards brought in with the expansion along with nerfed cards from previous sets that were deemed too powerful have completely upended the meta game.

The Old Gods themselves C'Thun, Yogg-Saron, Y'Shaarj and N'Zoth are all powerful cards, and even meta-deck-defining in the case of C'Thun and N'Zoth. However, the entire set has introduced many other cards which have also had a strong impact. For example, the ever-controversial Flamewreathed Faceless has allowed the Shaman class to take a respectable position in top-level play despite the salty cries of downed opponents who claim it is overpowered to have a 7/7 for 4 mana.

Other powerful cards include:

- Warlock: Possessed Villager, Darkshire Councilman, Renounce Darkness, Cho'Gall, Forbidden Ritual and DOOM!
- Paladin: Selfless Hero, A Light in the Darkness, Steward of Darkshire, Rallying Blade, Ragnaros, Lightlord and Forbidden Healing
- Shaman: Primal Fusion, Eternal Sentinel, Stormcrack, Master of Evolution and Thing from Below
- Druid: Dark Arakkoa, Mark of Y'shaarj, Mire Keeper and Fandral Staghelm
- Hunter: Infested Wolf, Fiery Bat, Infest, On the Hunt and Princess Huhuran
- Mage: Cabalist's Tome, Forbidden Flame and Faceless Summoner
- Priest: Forbidden Shaping, Embrace the Shadow, Hooded Acolyte, Darkshire Alchemist and Herald Volazj
- Rogue: Journey Below, Undercity Huckster, Shadow Strike, Shadowcaster, Blade of C'Thun
- Warrior: Blood to Ichor, Blood Warriors, Ravaging Ghoul, Bloodsail Cultist, Bloodhoof Brave, Ancient Shieldbearer and Malkorok
- Neutral: Shifter Zerus, Bilefin Tidehunter, Beckoner of Evil, Disciple of C'Thun, Twilight Elder, C'Thun's Chosen, Twilight Summoner, Corrupted Healbot, Crazed Worshipper, Cult Apothecary, Psych-o-Tron, Nerubian Prophet, Skeram Cultist, Doomcaller, Twin Emperor Vek'lor, Deathwing, Dragonlord as well as the aforementioned Old Gods

Many Hearthstone websites have been keeping track of trends. There are the Reddit subs dedicated to Hearthstone, /r/Hearthstone and /r/competitiveHS. Popular Twitch streamer Reynad's site, TempoStorm, has put together a look at current meta decks in his first Meta Snapshot. The new Hearthstone site, Manacrystals, has also compiled a couple of weekly looks at the quickly evolving meta which you can view here and here.

Hearthhead and Hearthpwn provide deckbuilders, community decks and deck guides if you are interested in further resources.

I'll be back in other posts discussing the decks with which I have been experimenting.

Happy playing! Don't let the tentacles get you.