The Queue: We hunger for vengeance!

If you ask a WoW player, Bloodmage Thalnos (or Thalnos the Soulrender) is just a barely-remembered boss in the Scarlet Monastery, not particularly noteworthy. Ask a Hearthstone player, though, and you might just get a declaration of love for one of the most iconic cards that have ever graced the game, and possibly the only card to remain unchanged, and still playable, since the game’s inception.

This is The Queue, our daily Q&A column where we want more! More souls!

Funnily enough, the only “must have” item in the entire collection for me, across all games, is the Bloodmage Thalnos Signature card for Hearthstone, for a couple of reasons:
1) the art is fantastic, one the best I’ve ever seen for a Hearthstone card, and
2) Bloodmage Thalnos is probably the best-designed card in Hearthstone’s history. It’s the only card that already existed when the game came out, 12 years ago, that is still used to this day, and it was never changed — neither buffed nor nerfed. It was pretty good, but not overpowered, back then, and it’s still good enough to be used in a few decks today.

Other than that, I don’t see much in the bundles that I really want. I guess the Murloc Xal’atath is cool!

It’s still a bit early to tell. We do already see some changes, like Void Demon Hunter suddenly becoming MUCH stronger, and Azalina Priest being at least a deck that exists now. Staples like Dragon Warrior have gone a bit down, but Face Hunter is still probably higher than it should be. Beatrix Paladin has been replaced by Aggro Paladin, which is not good. And some classes that were struggling, like DK and Warlock, haven’t seen much of an uptick yet.

I’d give it more time before we take a definitive conclusion, but at least the direction is one that I appreciate a lot. The latest balance changes saw several buffs to underperforming classes and archetypes, in a bolder attempt to add more deck diversity than what we’re used to. I also really appreciate how the Hearthstone team has become more communicative about the changes as well. Even if these balance changes don’t hit perfectly yet, I’m confident in the new direction, at least.

Cai keeps getting interesting companions like Tiara Tialla and Utland Ultand, even though he’s the most forgettable lord to me.

Leda keeps getting forgettable companions, even though she’s the most interesting lord to me.

Maybe it’s by design!

But yeah, things keep changing, and I’ll need to wait until the reveals end, once we’re closer to the game’s release, to make a final decision — even though my initial decision to pick Leda hasn’t really wavered that much.

She wants to keep you safe, Cory. She doesn’t want to risk losing a valuable site asset. Have you not played WoW? “Keep yer feet on the ground!” It’s ancient Dorf wisdom!

Don’t be a Gnome, be a Dorf!!!

You need more conjured mana pastries in your life, WAFFLE.

This has been The Queue. I hope you have a good weekend, and sate your hunger with pastries and VENGEANCE!