The decks you need to win Hearthstone’s Across the Timeways Pre-Release Tavern Brawl

By now it’s becoming a tradition: a new Hearthstone expansion is about to be released — this time, Across the Timeways, on November 4 — and we’re getting a pre-release Tavern Brawl to test the cards in advance. You can open your packs for that expansion right now, to use them in this Brawl only.

So here are some decks you’ll want to try in this pre-release Tavern Brawl, so you can hopefully get some wins!

Tavern Brawl basics

• Name: Pre-Release Tavern Brawl
• Description: Build a deck using valid cards from your collection, including cards from the upcoming expansion, and earn more new cards!
• Fun level: ?/10
• Difficulty: ?/10 (varies as you win or lose)
• Replayability: 4/10 (the fun aspect is nice, but the entry cost after the first run prevents it to some extent)
• Format: Special (see below)
• Type: PVP
• Deck: Constructed
• Rewards: Varies based upon how much you win

You likely already have at least a few Across the Timeways packs you’ve already obtained from drops, in-game events, or pre-orders. The good news is that you can open those packs right now, and any cards you get from are already usable — for this event only. Keep in mind that you can’t buy Across the Timeways packs yet, and you can’t craft any Across the Timeways cards yet either. Your selection is limited to whichever packs you’ve obtained from those packs you’ve obtained only. Also, Standard packs won’t have any Across the Timeways cards in them yet (until the expansion releases on November 4), so you can’t get more that way.

How exactly does this Brawl work?

First things first: open any Across the Timeways packs you already have. Then, hit the Tavern Brawl: you’ll be greeted by a screen that is reminiscent of Heroic Brawliseum (ugh), but your first run is free. Build your deck, including the new cards, and then keep playing until you reach a certain number of wins (six) or losses (three). And if you want to keep playing after your first run, it’ll cost you two Tavern Tickets, 300 Gold, or 400 Runestones.

You can also interrupt your run at any point and pick it up later, don’t worry. You’ll always be queued against players that have a similar win-loss ratio to what you have at the moment — so the more you win, the tougher the opponents you’ll face; but conversely, if you lose, you’ll be pitted against a weaker opponent (probably) on your next match.

What cards can I use to build Across the Timeways Pre-Release Tavern Brawl decks?

The eligible card pool for this brawl will be:

• Core Set
• Event Set
• The Lost City of Un’Goro (and the Day of Rebirth miniset)
• any cards you already have from your Across the Timeways set

Note: Dive the Golakka Depths (the Paladin quest) is banned in this brawl.

Update: Blizzard has banned more cards: Elise the Navigator and all the Quests (not just the Paladin one) are no longer allowed in this Brawl.

The rewards include Across the Timeways packs, The Lost City of Un’Goro packs, and Across the Timeways cards (common and rare). The number of rewards increases with each win, up to the maximum of six wins. But even if you end the event on zero wins, you’ll still walk away with the minimum reward: one Across the Timeways pack and one The Lost City of Un’Goro pack. So it’s a good idea to try the brawl regardless!

What decks do I need to win the Across the Timeways Pre-Release Tavern Brawl?

There is a very good variety of decks right now, with some highlights including Burn Shaman and Aggro Paladin. Aggressive strategies tend to shine when metas aren’t solidified and people are still experimenting, so we’ll open with those two.

Burn Shaman (with Muradin)

• Credit: EnDjinn (hearthstonetopdecks.com)
• Deck code:

  AAECAaoIBAAA26YHhqcHDernA6+fBPmfBO3mBp2WB6CWB+2qB++qB/CqB/GqB/WsB4CtB7yxBwAA

• If you’re lucky enough to get the new Muradin, High King (the Fabled minion for Shaman), you have to build this deck. Your goal is to “burn” your opponent by flinging spells directly at their face, but your weapon and Windfury attacks will certainly help as well.

Aggro Paladin

• Credit: vicioussyndicate.com
• Deck code:

  AAECAZ8FAA/JoASe1ASU9QWV9QW1ngbUngbt5ga6lgfXlwe8mgfQmweNnQebsAeGsQeKsQcAAA==

• Barely changed from the version that’s played on ladder currently, focusing spreading token minions all over your board and improving them with buffs like Crusader Aura.

Face Hunter (with the Windrunners)

• Credit: Otsuna (hearthstonetopdecks.com)
• Deck code:

  AAECAR8EAACbpwfFsQcNqp8Eu6AE0J4G1/MGr5IHhZUH15cHzpsHkKcHmKcHta0H1K8HirEHAAA=

• The new Fabled minion Ranger General Sylvanas is what you want here; other than that, you’re playing a lot of cheap cards and trying to play very aggressively to win fast. Cards like Arrow Retriever and Quick Shot allow you to refill your hand, so don’t be afraid to dump it.|

But if you don’t want aggressive strategies and would rather try some more control-oriented decks, fret not: we have those too!

Blood Death Knight (with Talanji)

• Credit: Pizza (hearthstonetopdecks.com)
• Deck code:

  AAECAYjaBQoAAOHrBtuXB4KYB/WYB9CbB/eqB8auB4qxBwr04wSy9wSYgQXY5Qbm5Qa6lQeilweHnAeengeSpAcAAA==

• We all know this fearsome Control deck from the ladder, and it can still shine here — especially boosted by the Fabled minion Talanji of the Graves and her powerful Bwonsamdi boons. It all hinges on you having collected that card, though.

Control Priest (with Medivh)

• Credit: NoHandsGamer (hearthstonetopdecks.com)
• Deck code:

  AAECAa0GCgAAhZ8Eo6IGjuYGgpgHgJ8H/KkH360H4K0HCoSfBL6fBNGeBoKtB5etB5utB52tB6ytB+OtB62xBwAA

• A more expensive deck if you were lucky enough to get to open a ton of packs and can build it. The Fabled minion for Priest, Medivh the Hallowed, looks like one of the most impactful new cards from the new expansion, so we would be remiss not to showcase it.

Update: The following decks were added after Blizzard banned Elise and all the Quests.

Rafaam Warlock

• Credit: Thijs (hearthstonetopdecks.com)
• Deck code:

  AAECAa35AxAAAAAAAAAAAADNngaDigfblweCmAeIpQfQrweZsAcMj58EsZ8E56AE054G4uYGhJkHh5wHkqQHoq0Hpa0Hp60HqK0HAAA=

• Timethief Rafaam is one of the most incredible cards ever made for Hearthstone (and the only “Fabled+” card in the game), so if you find him in your packs, you have to play this. But the Rafaams are just a support package for your real stars: the powerful Shreds of Time.

Egg Token Druid

• Credit: Pizza (hearthstonetopdecks.com)
• Deck code:

  AAECAZICAA+HnwTRoASB1ASSlweUlweXlweZlwfXlwfQmwfanQfgnQe4nwfJrAebsAeGsQcAAA==

• Just a few new cards and a very old and common strategy: eggs that spawn tokens, buffs, and the goal of overwhelming your opponent with raw numbers.

Broxigar Demon Hunter

• Credit: Jambre (hearthstonetopdecks.com)
• Deck code:

  AAECAea5AwYAAJegBKieBoqqB7+xBwy2nwScoASzoAS0oATsoASj1ATh+AXj+AW1lwe2lwftrAfRrwcAAA==

• Broxigar the Red is a 12/12 with Charge that costs two mana. But to get him (and win the game with him, obviously), you’ll first need to draw all these demons from portals to Argus — sounds fun, but time will tell how strong it’ll be. Still, if you have Broxigar, might as well play him!

Update: The following decks were legal at the start of the Brawl, but were later banned:

Quest Mage (with Dragons)

• Credit: vicioussyndicate.com
• Deck code:

  AAECAf0EBO/TBN74BaebB/2eBw2XpAWG5gab8gahmwewmwf6mwfYngeSpAf1pQfRpgf2pwfsqgeYsAcAAA==

• I’m opening with this one because a) it’s my favorite, and b) it’s easy enough to complete since it doesn’t use too many new cards. It’s the good old Quest Mage you already know, but with some powerful late-game increments to make sure the quest reward is impactful.

Quest Warrior

• Credit: Otsuna (hearthstonetopdecks.com)
• Deck code:

  AAECAQcI7o8H1JcH25cHgpgHy5gHhJ0HgagHirEHC4igBImgBI7UBJzUBNOXB6GbB4ecB8qfB9WmB+qnB/yvBwAA

• Another good option if you simply don’t have too many cards from the new expansion and want to use something that’s easy to build and works. It’s tested and effective, and will feast on the more “experimental” decks people may try on the Brawl.

Quest Demon Hunter

• Credit: vicioussyndicate.com
• Deck code:

  AAECAea5AwLh6wbvmAcOtp8E0p8EtKAEp9QE4fgFtpcHtZgH7ZgHoZsHh5wH550HkqQHyqcHobEHAAA=

• Quest Demon Hunter is a super fun deck to play that leans more midrange than most other decks being played currently: you can control aggression (so much self-healing!) and you can also build some late-game threats to close fast against Control.

Quest Warlock

• Credit: vicioussyndicate.com
• Deck code:

  AAECAf0GAu+PB8OYBw6PnwSxnwTTngaFlQfXlwfNmAeCmQeEmQehmweKnAeTrQeqrQeKsQezvQcAAA==

• This is another tried-and-true deck from the current Standard meta, though it does lose some power by losing some cards which aren’t allowed in this Brawl (like the handy Mass Production). Still, if you know how to pilot it already, you might be safe playing with it.

It’s a limited experience as a preview of the new expansion, but hey, at least you get some free rewards

The truth is that these pre-release brawls can be a fun way to start playing around with the new cards ahead of time, but unless you’ve pre-ordered (and gotten a bit lucky), you’ll probably be unable to really build the decks you want. Even the lists here might require some adaptations. So it doesn’t really do the proper job of introducing players to the new decks or the new meta.

However, it can still be fun to play around with at least a few cards, and even if you lose all three games, you still walk away with two packs for free (one from the new expansion and one from Un’goro), so this Brawl is worth your time.

As usual, if you have more winning decks, do share them in the comments. Good luck, and have fun!

Originally posted October 29, 2025. Updated October 29, 2025.