The decks you need to win the Clockwork Card Dealer – Standard Hearthstone Tavern Brawl

The robots take over in this week’s Clockwork Card Dealer – Standard Hearthstone Tavern Brawl. The Innkeeper and Bartender Bob never knew what hit them. The robots burst into the Tavern and said “Hasta la vista, baby” as they tossed them out and replaced them with Clockwork Golems. But never fear, my friends, while Bartender Bob muttered something about the spicy pretzel mustard, the Innkeeper yelled, “I’ll be back!”

Let’s take a look at how to win this week’s robo-themed Tavern Brawl. Come with me if you want to play.

Tavern Brawl basics

• Name: Clockwork Card Dealer – Standard
• Description: Tinkertown gnomes are testing their prototype card-bot: Optimotron! The card you draw on turn 1 will be a 1-cost card, if you have one. On turn 2, a 2-cost card…
• Fun level: 3/10* Personal preference. Some players will give it a much higher score.
• Difficulty: 7/10* Depending on the size of your card collection.
• Replayability: 2/10
• Format: Standard
• Type: PVP
• Deck: Constructed
• Rewards: 1 The Great Dark Beyond pack

They could have called this the On Curve Brawl. Each turn, the Clockwork Dealer will try to deal you a card with a mana cost equal to the turn. 1 mana cards on turn 1. 2 mana cards on turn 2. 6 mana cards on turns 6. It gives players a great deal of control over the most random aspect of any card game: the draw.

How to win the Clockwork Card Dealer – Standard Hearthstone Tavern Brawl

The most important thing you’ll need to win this Brawl is a good deck. In constructed Brawls, players discover the most powerful lists very quickly, which leads to the Brawl falling into a meta structure like we see on the ladder. This is a repeated Brawl, but it’s Standard format. Standard has seen few changes since the last time this Brawl was in the rotation. Many of the deck used last time will still be viable with minor tweaks, but we’ve got some new ones to try as well.

Overall, this Brawl awards aggressive play. Tempo is the name of the game here. You want play the card you draw most turns.

The decks you need to win the Clockwork Card Dealer Tavern Brawl

The only change we’ve seen to Standard since the last time this Brawl was available was the addition of The Great Dark Beyond,  Hearthstone’s 28th expansion, released on November 5, 2024. But there’s one card from The Great Dark Beyond that won’t be joining the fun: Velen, Leader of the Exiled has been banned.

Will the addition of the new cards radically change the decks players are using to dominate in this Brawl? Let’s find out!

New Clockwork Card Dealer Tavern Brawl Decks

Cliff Dive Demon Hunter

• Credit: Internal_Surround983
• Deck code:

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The moment Demon Hunter and Death Knight players read the words, “this Brawl awards aggressive play”, they thought:

Red Card and Pocket Sand are great disruption. If your opponent is somehow still alive by turn six, the only Demons left in your deck are two 8/8 Illidari Inquisitor. Cliff Dive summons them to the board, and gives them Rush. Be sure you save 1 Durability on your Aldrachi Warblades. Once the Inquisitors are on the board, attack your opponent, and your two Inquisitors will as well.

Elemental Shaman

• Credit: Sapo via Ben Hearthstone
• Deck code:

AAECAfWfAx6yigS1igS4igSAoATeoASi1ATExwXl5AX5jAaplQbqmAaAnwajogbVogb2owaopQaHqAaQtAaMwQaZywaO1gat4Qbp5gbr5gbu5gbw5gaq6gad6wbh9Aas/QYAAAA=

You can always count on Ben for a great Shaman deck, but this time, he’s using one from Sapo. It develops a strong early game with Turbulus buffing everything on turn three. Then it just floods the boards the Elementals and Elemental synergy.

Tsunami Mage

• Credit: Houseleft
• Deck code:

AAECAf6QBQqyigS4igTv0wTg9QWplQbHpAa6wQaL4gb14gbp5gYK3qAExMcFkIMGy58GtqcGh6gGxboG78kGysoG7uYGAAED9LMGx6QG97MGx6QG7t4Gx6QGAAA=

Players are still using this deck from September, however; Conniving Conman no longer allows you to cast another Tsunami. The deck still has a good starting curve, it just isn’t the powerhouse it had been when Conman could cast another Tsunami. You’ve still got Marin into Kalegos as a backup plan, if the game goes that long.

Mech Paladin

• Credit: jahasv
• Deck code:

AAECAaToAgiwigTtnwTsugTi0wTUoQXY9gWplQaAnwYL47kE1L0ErO0EjvUFofoFhv4F0IMGyp4Gy54GuaQGzLAGAAA=

• Alternate Deck code:

AAECAYrlBgjtnwSL/gWplQaAnwajogbHpAbr5gbh6wYLx8QFjvUFtvkFofoFhv4F0IMGyp4Gy54GuaQGh6gGzLAGAAED9bMGx6QG97MGx6QG6N4Gx6QGAAA=

The strategy relies on your opponent being unable to clear the X-21 repair bot on turn one. Then on turn two, you magnetize the Noble Minibot. On turn three, you magnetize either your Prosthetic Hand, or your Bronze Gatekeeper. If it’s Gatekeeper, now your opponent has to deal with it, but unless they have some sort of Silence effect, you’ll simply get all those Mechs back in  your hand, except for the X-21. Drop them again and rebuild your robotic army.

There’s something poetic about a Mech deck for this Brawl don’t you think, HAL?
“I’m sorry, Dave. I’m afraid I can’t do that. It’s my turn, and I’m going to magnetize a Containment Unit onto my chunky mech.”

Highlander Warrior

• Credit: skizzy1719
• Deck code:

AAECAZeaBh6GoASIoASJoASO1ASQ1AT9xAW0+AWQ+wWh+wXYgQaFggaLlAadlQallQaplQacngafngbRngaHoAbHpAavqAbsqQbQsAbDugbVugakuwa6wQb6yQbzygbk5gYAAAEG44AG/cQFnZUG/cQFpZUG/cQF9LMGx6QG97MGx6QG6N4Gx6QGAAA=

This is another deck from September. Lots of players are just queuing with the aggressive ladder decks which isn’t ideal for this deck, but I’ve kept it anyway because I love Highland Warriors. There are plenty of small, cheap minions and spells to survive the early game. If you have to make substitutions, don’t put anything else with 8 mana. You need for that draw to be Deepminer Brann. Your strategy revolves around creating Chaotic Tendrils and using them to great effect. Chaos reigns supreme!

More Clockwork Card Dealer – Standard lists

Hopefully, one of these decks listed here should get you the W. Keep checking Hearthstone Top Decks, because there are more Tavern Brawl decks being added by the hour. If you find another great list, share it with us in the comments.

Originally posted on July 22, 2021; last updated February 13, 2025.