The best post-nerf decks - deck lists and guides

Our massive round-up of deck lists and deck guides for the post-nerf meta.

Guide by John Bedford Contributor

Published on Sept. 20, 2017

Five crucial cards in the Hearthstone meta were nerfed in the recent patch, and as a result the metagame has been given quite a significant shake-up. Directly affected decks have been revised - and will continue to be revised - while those decks shut out by some of the more overpowered archetypes are beginning to rise up the rankings.

To help you navigate through the choppy waters of the new emerging meta, we've pulled together a huge compendium of some of the most popular decks that are being played right now. We've also included links to our massive guides for each one as well. Although we're still in the process of updating these with the latest deck lists, the general advice will still prove extremely useful.

Please note that all decks presented here are in class alphabetical order for the moment, and so the layout should not be taken as an indication of relevant deck strength. Keep in mind as well that the meta is moving very rapidly at the moment, and so this round-up - as well as the lists within it - are subject to change over time.

If there's anything you think we've missed, please let us know in the comments. We hope to make this the best resource it can be during this period of uncertainty, and your insight and experience with the game will help us do exactly that!

Druid

Aggro (or Token) Druid is still proving to be a very popular thing indeed, and even Jade Druid still has legs. The question is, how long can both of these formats last in a post-nerf meta? Don't go crafting anything for the latter in particular just yet - we'll have an update on this for you in time for the next season.

Druid deck guides:

1. Aggro Token Druid
2. Jade Druid

Aggro Token Druid

2 x Bloodsail Corsair
2 x Enchanted Raven
2 x Fire Fly
2 x Mark of the Lotus
1 x Patches the Pirate
1 x Crazed Alchemist
2 x Dire Wolf Alpha
2 x Druid of the Swarm
1 x Golakka Crawler
2 x Mark of Y'Shaarj
2 x Power of the Wild
2 x Crypt Lord
2 x Savage Roar
2 x Southsea Captain
2 x Vicious Fledgling
1 x Spellbreaker
2 x Living Mana

Deck Import ID: AAECAZICBPIFoQaRvALkwgIN9wOoBeYF2QflB8GrArazAs27AobBAp/CAuvCApvNApHQAgA=

Jade Druid

2 x Jade Idol
2 x Doomsayer
2 x Wild Growth
2 x Wrath
2 x Jade Blossom
1 x Fandral Staghelm
2 x Jade Spirit
2 x Mire Keeper
1 x Spellbreaker
2 x Swipe
2 x Nourish
1 x Aya Blackpaw
2 x Jade Behemoth
2 x Spreading Plague
1 x Malfurion the Pestilent
1 x Medivh, the Guardian
1 x Kun the Forgotten King
2 x Ultimate Infestation

Deck Import ID: AAECAZICBvIFrqsCobcC4LsClL0CmdMCDEBfigHEBuQIvq4CtLsCy7wCz7wC3b4CoM0Ch84CAA==

Hunter

Face Hunter's been threatening to make a bit of a comeback for a little while now, and its fortunes may well improve in the new meta. Midrange Hunter may likewise rise from its recent low-tier positioning. Although Asmodai's Hunter is very Midrange-y, we're maintaining it as a separate entity for now.

Hunter deck guides:

Asmodai's Hybrid Hunter deck list:

2 x Alleycat
2 x Bloodsail Corsair
1 x Hungry Crab
1 x Patches the Pirate
2 x Tracking
2 x Crackling Razormaw
2 x Golakka Crawler
2 x Kindly Grandmother
2 x Animal Companion
2 x Bearshark
1 x Deadly Shot
2 x Eaglehorn Bow
2 x Kill Command
1 x Stitched Tracker
2 x Houndmaster
1 x Spellbreaker
2 x Bittertide Hydra
1 x Savannah Highmane

Deck Import ID: AAECAR8GuwPyBcUI7QmRvALTzQIMqAK1A+UH6weXCP4MubQC6rsCr8IC5MICjsMC180CAA==

Midrange Hunter deck list:

2 x Alleycat
2 x Jeweled Macaw
2 x Crackling Razormaw
2 x Golakka Crawler
2 x Kindly Grandmother
2 x Scavenging Hyena
2 x Animal Companion
2 x Eaglehorn Bow
2 x Kill Command
2 x Rat Pack
1 x Unleash the Hounds
2 x Houndmaster
2 x Corpse Widow
1 x Deathstalker Rexxar
2 x Savannah Highmane
2 x Bonemare

Deck Import ID: AAECAR8C2wmG0wIOqAK1A+sH7QmBCv4MubQC6rsC7LsC5MICicMCjsMCps4Cxs4CAA==

Face Hunter deck list:

2 x Alleycat
2 x Fiery Bat
1 x Hunter's Mark
1 x Jeweled Macaw
2 x Tracking
2 x Crackling Razormaw
1 x Dire Wolf Alpha
2 x Kindly Grandmother
2 x Scavenging Hyena
2 x Animal Companion
1 x Deadly Shot
2 x Eaglehorn Bow
2 x Kill Command
2 x Unleash the Hounds
2 x Houndmaster
1 x Infested Wolf
2 x Tundra Rhino
1 x Deathstalker Rexxar

Deck Import ID: AAECAR8GjQHZB8UIzq4CicMChtMCDKgCtQO7BesHlwjbCYEK/gy4rQK5tALquwKOwwIA

Mage

Not a lot appears to have changed for the Mage in the early days of the post-nerf meta. Secret Tempo Mage continues to be your best option for this hero, although we may yet see an improvement in the fortunes of Elemental Mage too.

Mage deck guides:

1. Secret Tempo Mage

Secret Tempo Mage deck list

2 x Mana Wyrm
2 x Sorcerer's Apprentice
2 x Primordial Glyph
2 x Medivh's Valet
2 x Frostbolt
2 x Arcanologist
2 x Arcane Intellect
2 x Counterspell
1 x Mirror Entity
2 x Kirin Tor Mage
1 x Spellbender
2 x Fireball
2 x Bittertide Hydra
2 x Kabal Crystal Runner
2 x Firelands Portal
2 x Bonemare

Deck Import ID: AAECAf0EAsMB7gIOcbsClQOrBOYElgXsBaO2Ate2Aoe9AsHBAq/CApjEAqbOAgA=

Paladin

Murloc Paladin remains strong for the hero, although the nerf to Murloc Warleader may well prove to be a bit of a showstopper once the metagame has settled down once more. Otherwise, Brian Kibler's cooked up a Hand Buff Paladin list which is already becoming quite popular.

Paladin deck guides:

1. Murloc Paladin
2. Hand Buff Paladin

Murloc Paladin deck list:

2 x Grimscale Chum
2 x Murloc Tidecaller
2 x Righteous Protector
2 x Vilefin Inquisitor
2 x Bluegill Warrior
2 x Hydrologist
2 x Rockpool Hunter
2 x Coldlight Seer
2 x Divine Favor
2 x Murloc Warleader
2 x Rallying Blade
2 x Blessing of Kings
2 x Gentle Megasaur
1 x Finja, the Flying Star
2 x Spikeridged Steed
1 x Sunkeeper Tarim

Deck Import ID: AAECAYsWAuO+ArnBAg7FA9sDpwXjBa8HpwjTqgLZrgLTvAKzwQKdwgKxwgKIxwLjywIA

Hand Buff Paladin deck list:

2 x Fire Fly
2 x Righteous Protector
2 x Smuggler's Run
1 x Prince Keleseth
2 x Aldor Peacekeeper
2 x Rallying Blade
2 x Stonehill Defender
1 x Wickerflame Burnbristle
2 x Chillblade Champion
2 x Corpsetaker
2 x Spellbreaker
2 x Cobalt Scalebane
2 x Grimestreet Enforcer
2 x Spikeridged Steed
1 x Sunkeeper Tarim
2 x Bonemare
1 x Tirion Fordring

Deck Import ID: AAECAYsWBPoGvL0CucECnOICDfIFjwnZrgKzuwKVvAKbwgLrwgKIxwLKywLjywKmzgL30AKW6AIA

Priest

Highlander Priest has been tipped for the top-spot ever since the card nerfs were first revealed earlier on in the month. There's still a place for Dragon Priest though, although it should be considered a firm second place for this hero.

Priest deck guides:

1. Dragon Priest
2. Highlander Priest

Dragon Priest deck list:

2 x Silence
2 x Pint-Size Potion
1 x Holy Smite
2 x Potion of Madness
2 x Shadow Word: Pain
2 x Shadow Visions
2 x Shadow Word: Death
1 x Greater Healing Potion
2 x Eternal Servitude
1 x Barnes
2 x Shadow Word: Horror
2 x Dragonfire Potion
2 x Shadow Essence
1 x Shadowreaper Anduin
1 x Free From Amber
1 x The Lich King
2 x Obsidian Statue
1 x Ysera
1 x Y'Shaarj, Rage Unbound

Deck Import ID: AAECAa0GCJcCogmoqwKFuAK3uwKZyALCzgKQ0wILpQnTCtcKoawCtbsC6L8C6r8C0cEC5cwC5swCtM4CAA==

Highlander Priest deck list:

1 x Silence
1 x Northshire Cleric
1 x Pint-Size Potion
1 x Potion of Madness
1 x Power Word: Shield
1 x Bloodmage Thalnos
1 x Dirty Rat
1 x Doomsayer
1 x Loot Hoarder
1 x Radiant Elemental
1 x Shadow Visions
1 x Shadow Word: Pain
1 x Spirit Lash
1 x Curious Glimmerroot
1 x Gluttonous Ooze
1 x Shadow Word: Death
1 x Tar Creeper
1 x Eater of Secrets
1 x Greater Healing Potion
1 x Kazakus
1 x Priest of the Feast
1 x Shadow Word: Horror
1 x Burgly Bully
1 x Holy Nova
1 x Lyra the Sunshard
1 x Raza the Chained
1 x Dragonfire Potion
1 x Hemet, Jungle Hunter
1 x Archbishop Benedictus
1 x Shadowreaper Anduin

Deck Import ID: AAECAa0GHooB+wHlBO0FyQalCdMK1wryDKGsAoivApK0AoO7ArW7Are7Ati7Aui/Auq/Avq/AtHBAtjBAtnBAsrDAt/EAtPFAp3HAr7IAonNAvDPApDTAgAA

Rogue

Tempo Rogue is another deck that's been promising to mount a comeback, and we're hoping it proves to be another competitive option for the hero alongside the well-established Miracle archetype.

Rogue deck guides:

1. Tempo Rogue
2. Miracle Rogue

Miracle Rogue deck list:

2 x Backstab
2 x Counterfeit Coin
2 x Preparation
2 x Hallucination
1 x Patches the Pirate
2 x Swashburglar
1 x Bloodmage Thalnos
2 x Eviscerate
1 x Sap
1 x Edwin VanCleef
2 x Fan of Knives
1 x Mimic Pod
2 x Questing Adventurer
1 x Shaku, the Collector
1 x Sherazin, Corpse Flower
2 x Vilespine Slayer
2 x Gadgetzan Auctioneer
1 x Valeera the Hollow
2 x Arcane Giant

Deck Import ID: AAECAaIHCIDTApG8AoLCArIC7QX8wQLJvwLNAwuCtAL1uwKGCZcGmwWStgKbyAKkB7QBgcICiAcA

Tempo Rogue deck list:

2 x Backstab
2 x Shadowstep
2 x Cold Blood
2 x Fire Fly
1 x Hallucination
1 x Patches the Pirate
2 x Southsea Deckhand
2 x Swashburglar
1 x Prince Keleseth
1 x Edwin VanCleef
1 x Shaku, the Collector
2 x Southsea Captain
1 x Tar Creeper
2 x Vicious Fledgling
2 x Naga Corsair
1 x Leeroy Jenkins
1 x Lotus Assassin
2 x Vilespine Slayer
2 x Bonemare

Deck Import ID: AAECAaIHCLICrwT5uwKRvALJvwLKwwKbyAKc4gILtAGMAu0CqAXUBZK2Arm/AoHCAp/CAuvCAqbOAgA=

Shaman

Evolve Shaman is going absolutely nowhere after the nerf, and may in fact become even more powerful in a relative sense. Nerf or no nerf, it's still pretty much the only competitive deck for this hero in the Frozen Throne meta.

Shaman deck guides:

1. Evolve Shaman

Evolve Shaman deck list

2 x Bloodsail Corsair
2 x Evolve
2 x Fire Fly
1 x Patches the Pirate
2 x Devolve
2 x Flametongue Totem
2 x Jade Claws
2 x Maelstrom Portal
2 x Primalfin Totem
2 x Mana Tide Totem
2 x Jade Lightning
1 x Saronite Chain Gang
2 x Bloodlust
1 x Doppelgangster
1 x Thrall, Deathseer
1 x Aya Blackpaw
2 x Thing from Below
1 x Bonemare

Deck Import ID: AAECAaoIBvUFkbwClL0C+b8Cm8sCps4CDIEE5QfwB5MJ+qoC+6oCoLYCh7wC0bwC9r0CkcEC68ICAA==

Warlock

Could it be that this time Zoo Warlock gets its moment to shine? It's been too long since this newcomer-friendly deck enjoyed a place in the highest tier of competitive decks, and it's already had one false start in the Frozen Throne era. Let's see how the next few weeks shake out.

1. Zoo Warlock

Zoo Warlock deck list:

2 x Abusive Sergeant
2 x Acherus Veteran
2 x Argent Squire
2 x Flame Imp
2 x Possessed Villager
2 x Voidwalker
1 x Prince Keleseth
1 x Blood Knight
2 x Darkshire Councilman
2 x Deathspeaker
2 x Devilsaur Egg
2 x Defender of Argus
2 x Ravenous Pterrordax
2 x Saronite Chain Gang
2 x Skelemancer
2 x Bonemare

Deck Import ID: AAECAf0GAvMFnOICDjDyAfUF+wXCCLSsAvauAufBAqvCAtjKAprLApvLApXOAqbOAgA=

Warrior

Many experiments are taking place with the Pirate Warrior format right now, although it remains to be seen exactly how much of an impact the Fiery War Axe nerf will have on this archetype. If that doesn't float your boat, take Control Warrior out for a spin instead.