The best decks in Hearthstone’s Descent of Dragons expansion (so far)

It can be hard to find good Hearthstone decks, particularly when the cards keep changing out from under you. Within days of the release of the recent Descent of Dragons expansion, the developers announced nerfs to the set. The majority of nerfs targeted to the Shaman class, giving a big shake-up to a meta that had only just started to develop.

Now that we’ve had a few weeks to examine the effects, we can say the nerfs worked. The high-powered Galakrond Shaman deck is now more reasonable, and there are a host of other good decks representing a variety of play styles from the super aggressive to the more board control-oriented.

Let’s take a look at the best performing decks in Hearthstone right now, and the cards you’ll need to build them.

Do you have these three key Legendary cards?

For each deck, I’ll discuss replacements for expensive Epic and Legendary cards, but there are three cards you’ll see in these decklists again and again: Kronx Dragonhoof, Zilliax, and Leeroy Jenkins. So before we dive into the decks, let’s talk about these crucial cards.

Kronx Dragonhoof

Kronx Dragonhoof is one of the main Galakrond support cards, and around 40% of the decks on this list are Galakrond-based. Depending on whether Galakrond is on the board, Kronx will draw Galakrond or unleash one of his four powerful Devastation effects.

While I won’t call him irreplaceable, if you have the Arcane Dust, go ahead and craft him. If you don’t have the resources, replace him with any big threat you have.

Zilliax

For the past year, Zilliax has been one of the best Legendary cards you could craft. His unique combination of Magnetic, Lifesteal, Divine Shield, and Rush proved a powerful addition to almost any deck. The problem with Zilliax now is shelf life. Zilliax entered the game during the Boomsday Project expansion which will be rotating out of Standard when the next expansion releases, likely in  April.

If you haven’t crafted him yet, you have two options: craft him today and be aware that you only have him for a couple of months, or replace him with another card. Decide which aspect of Zillax you most need in your deck — Lifesteal, Divine Shield, Rush, or Magnetic — and pick a card that provides it.

Leeroy Jenkins

Leeroy Jenkins is the classic aggressive deck finishing play. As part of the Classic set, he’s been around since the inception of Hearthstone — and he’s a card I strongly recommend you add to your collection. Unlike Zilliax, Leeroy won’t be rotating out unless he’s tagged for the Hall of Fame in which case you’ll get a full dust refund and get to keep the card for Wild play.

If you simply don’t have the resources to craft Leeroy, another minion with Charge is your best bet. Consider Kor’kron Elite for Warrior players, while Argent Commander and Reckless Rocketeer are good Neutral options.

With that bit of housekeeping done, let’s get to the decks.

The best Descent of Dragons decks

Pirate Warrior

Deck code: AAECAQcEyAOvBN6tA4KxAw0csAL/A9QF7gbnB53wAp+hA/WoA9ytA92tA+iwA+mwAwA=

Pirate Warrior aims to grab the board from turn one and never let up. The deck is full of Pirates to pull free Parachute Brigands down to the board and weapons to discount your Dread Corsairs — all while your Sky Barge reins down death from above. Southsea Deckhand and Leeroy Jenkins provide face damage straight from your hand. Sky Raider, Ancharr, and Livewire Lance provide a level of value generation not normally seen in such an aggressive deck, which looks to end the game before turn seven.

Epics: Town Crier, Livewire Lance

Legendaries: Ancharr, Captain Greenskin, Leeroy Jenkins

Replacements:

• • Upgrade for Captain Greenskin, but you’ll miss the body
  • Acolyte of Pain for Ancharr and Town Crier
  • E.V.I.L Cable Rat or Fiery War Axe for Livewire Lance

Galakrond Zoo Warlock

Deck code: AAECAf0GAuO0A/G/Aw4w0wGxCMII3IYDxIkDiJ0D/acD6KwD6qwD+a4D/q4D068DgrEDAA==

This deck plays your classic Zoo or flood game plan, where you fill the board the minions and dare your opponent to clear them. If they do, flood it again. Slam down your Mountain Giants for a pittance of mana. Your hero power provides cards if you’re running low. Scarab Egg is an ideal target for your Grim Rally or Evil Genius, but if Grim Rally can give you lethal, any minion is fair game. Like most aggressive decks, you should be closing out the game before turn 8, though Galakrond and Kronx give you a little more staying power.

Epics: Veiled Worshiper

Legendaries: Kronx Dragonhoof, Galakrond (free)

Replacements: Any card draw minion could sub in for Veiled Worshiper, but Acolyte of Pain is your best chance at getting three cards.

Galakrond Warrior

Deck code: AAECAQcIrwTyBYoH+wyggAPyqAPjtAPFwAMLS6IE/wed8AKb8wKz/ALYrQParQP+rgOqrwPSrwMA

With the armor and removal options in this deck, you might think it’s more a Control Warrior, but Galakrond tilts you more aggressive. The dream is to have Galakrond’s Battlecry hit Leeroy Jenkins. You normally don’t see much armor gain in an aggressive Warrior deck, but with all the weapons and the attack from Invoke, you’ll find yourself smashing your face into those pesky Taunt minions often enough to appreciate it.

Epics: Town Crier, Shield Slam, Scion of Ruin, Brawl

Legendary: Leeroy Jenkins, Zilliax, Kronx Dragonhoof, Galakrond (free)

Replacements:

• • Restless Mummy for Scion of Ruin
  • Novice Engineer or Rocketboots for Town Crier
  • Shield Slam and Brawl are iconic spells from the Classic set, and if you enjoy playing Warrior, you should make it a priority to craft them. A second Plague of Wrath could replace one Brawl, and put in Execute for Shield Slam.

Quest Resurrect Priest

Deck code: AECAa0GBtMKoIADjYID1pkDk5sD3asDDNYKl4cDgpQDmJsDmZsDg6ADoaEDr6UD0aUDmakDn6kD8qwDAA==

This is a polarizing deck that’s similar to the popular Big Priest from the Wild format. The idea is to put high-value minions on the board and resurrect them over and over again. The problem is many of these minions have a significant mana cost ± 5 or more — which gives this deck a slow start. You’ll have to use your single target removal and AOE spells to keep from getting too far behind while you grow your mana pool. Once you can start dropping Convincing Infiltrators and Khartut Defenders, you can stabilize and start outvaluing your opponent. It’s paramount to remember what has died before playing your Psychopomp so you can get a good minion.

Epics: Psychopomp, Batterhead, Plague of Death

Legendaries: Activate the Obelisk, Archmage Vargoth, Zilliax, Catrina Muerte, Zerek’s Cloning Gallery

Replacements:

• • Activate the Obelisk is a powerful upgrade to your Hero Power, but Extra Arms provides a similar buff
  • You likely received Archmage Vargoth for free when Rise of Shadows was released, so it should be an easy add to this deck
  • Grave Run or Embalming Ritual for Catrina
  • Zerek’s is a good card, but not a critical card: replace it with another AOE like Holy Nova

Secret Highlander Hunter

Deck code: AAECAR8engGoArUDxwOHBMkErgbFCNsJ/gyY8AKe8AKggAObhQOghQPmlgP5lgO2nAP8owPkpAOipQOmpQOEpwP7rwP8rwP+rwPwsAORsQPYsgOftwMAAA==

This deck uses Secrets to disrupt your opponent’s gameplan. It has a solid curve, assuming you get the cards you need and can contest the board while setting up its big plays like Zul’jin and Dinotamer Brann. As a Highlander deck (which only has one copy of each card), sometimes you’re going to get an awkward curve or not get the card you need. For instance, you need AOE, but Explosive Trap won’t show up, so you’ll need to have alternate strategies in hand. Zephyrs can sometimes get you out of a bind. The deck has little healing, leaving it vulnerable to aggressive decks. Still, when your Secrets line up, you can control the game and frustrate your opponent.

Epics: Rat Trap, Snake Trap, Sandbinder

Legendaries: Zephyrs the Great, SN1P-SN4P (free), Veranus, Dinotamerr Brann, Zilliax, Siamat, Dragonqueen Alexstraza, Zul’jin

Replacements: You can try to get lucky and discover some of the missing cards. Primordial Explorer can find Veranus or Dragonqueen Alexstraza. Another Charge minion like Reckless Rocketeer could sub for Brann. Siamat is most often used for removal with Rush. I’d suggest a Vilebrood Skitterer. Zephyrs is such a powerful effect that I’d recommend crafting him if you like Highlander decks. Zul’jin is another hard to replace card. For either, look for big threats like Twin Tyrant or Pit Crocolisk.

Strong Descent of Dragons decks

Token Druid

Deck code: AAECAZICAvcD960DDv0C7QPmBd/7Ar/9AtWDA8OUA86UA9OcA+2iA++iA/ytA/6tA/+tAwA=

Token Druid has been a staple of the Hearthstone meta for a long time, and though the individual cards change from expansion to expansion, the general game plan remains the same. You want to fill the board over and over, and eventually, you’ll get a turn where your opponent can’t clear your board. That’s when you want to do some quick math and see if a double Savage Roar combo will give you lethal. Rinse and repeat until your token army can take your opponent down.

Epics: Anubisath Defender, Force of Nature

Legendary: Goru the Mightree

Replacements:

• • Mulchmuncher is a possible swap for Anubisath Defender, but it’s more offensive than defensive. If you need a Taunt, Ironbark Protector or Emerald Explorer are options, but you’ll be missing the mana cost reduction that makes Anubisath such a strong play. Bewitched Guardian or even Druid of Claw also provide Taunt.
  • Witchwood Apple has a similar effect to Force of Nature, though a little slower.
  • Nothing can replicate Goru’s power, but Gift of the Wild provides a buff.

Face Hunter

Deck code: AAECAR8C3gSjhwMOqAK1A4cEyQTtBpcIwwjbCf4M7/EC7JYD+68D/K8DhbADAA==

Rexxar smash! This is a straightforward and relatively inexpensive aggressive deck. Play your low-cost minions and when in doubt, hit the face. You’ll usually have mana left over for your Hero Power for even more damage. Every turn needs to be about putting as much damage into your opponent as possible. You can overwhelm even a deck with good life gain — whether via Armor or healing — with this deck’s fast, aggressive play.

Epics: Toxic Reinforcements

Legendaries: None

Replacements: Toxic Reinfocements provides 6 additional face damage. If you need to replace it, try Marked Shot. It can clear a minion and maybe you’ll find another Kill Command.

Galakrond Shaman

Deck code: AAECAaoIBO/3Ar2ZA+O0A9PAAw2BBLIG7/ECtJcDxpkD1KUD+aUDt60Dua0D/q4Dqq8D0K8DgrEDAA==

The nerfs knocked this deck down a little bit, but it still possesses some powerful swing plays and can be successful. This is a no Quest version of the deck. You want to mulligan for your generators like E.V.I.L. Totem and Sludge Slurper along with early Invoke options like Devoted Maniac and Invocation of Frost. Between the Lackeys and Invoke, this deck can contest the board throughout the early game. Even after the nerf, Mogu Fleshshaper can still get discounted down to a reasonable mana cost. You don’t want to play Galakrond until he’s fully empowered. It’s a great swing turn that many decks won’t recover from. Shudderwok makes a second big swing on the board.

Epics: Dragon’s Pack, Far Sight

Legendaries: Shudderwock, Galakrond the Tempest, Kronx Dragonhoof, Barista Lynchen

Replacements: Barista and Shudderwock provide unique effects that you won’t exactly be able to replace. If you don’t have them, try swapping in big threats with Battlecries like Twin Tyrant or Pit Crocolisk.

Highlander Galakrond Rogue

Deck code: AAECAaIHHrQBsgLtAs0DrwSIB7T2Asf4At76AqCAA4+XA5CXA5KXA/uaA/6aA/yjA4SnA/GnA/WnA7euA7muA7uuA7+uA8GuA/6uA86vA4KxA5GxA+O0A8vAAwAA

This deck has a little bit of everything. There are small minions for the early game and big threats for the late game — which you might be playing for 0 mana thanks to Galakrond. The trick is hitting the right curve: you want to mulligan hard for your early game cards. Mechanical Whelp is triggered multiple times with cards like Necrium Apothecary and Necrium Blade. Here again, you need activators in hand to get the maximum value from Mechanical Whelp. One neat trick is to use Flik Shyshiv on your own Zephrys the Great after you play him, which will destroy your opponent’s Zephrys.

This deck has a wide range of outcomes. When it works, you’ll outvalue almost any opponent. When it doesn’t work, you’re stuck with awkward hands and suboptimal plays.

Epics: Necrium Apothecary

Legendaries: Siamat, Dragonqueen Alexstrasza, Heistbaron Togwaggle, Kronx Dragonhoof, Flik Skyshiv, Galakrond, the Nightmare, Leeroy Jenkins, Zilliax, Edwin VanCleef, Zephrys the Great

Replacements:

• • Zephyrs has such a powerful effect that I’d recommend crafting him if you like Highlander decks
  • Gyrocopter for Siamat
  • Dragonqueen Alexstrasza can potentially be discovered by a Draconic Lackey from your Invokes
  • Edwin is a staple for Rogues and  you should think about crafting him if you enjoy the class
  • Heistbaron is another tough to replace card, but I wouldn’t make it a priority to craft. Substitute big threats like Twin Tyrant or Pit Crocolisk
  • A silence minion like Spellbreaker for Flik

This list is far from exhaustive and will change as the expansion’s meta continues to develop. You can head over to HSReplay.net or Hearthstone Top Decks any time to see the latest snapshot of the meta and find more decks to play.

Have you’ve found a deck you love or one you are dominating the ladder with? Leave it in the comments and I might play it on my weekly stream, Tuesday nights on the Blizzard Watch Channel.