Arch-Villain Rafaam
Arch-Villain Rafaam is a 7 Mana Cost Legendary Warlock Minion card from the Placeholder set!
Card Text
Taunt
Battlecry: Replace your hand and deck with Legendary minions.
Flavor Text
Minions must wash hands before being LIQUIDATED AND REPLACED BY SOMEONE BETTER.
- Type
- Minion
- Rarity
- Legendary
- Set
- Placeholder
- Class
- Warlock
- Cost
- 7
- Attack
- 7
- Health
- 8
- Minion Type
- Mechanics
- Battlecry, Taunt
- Artist
- Alex Horley Orlandelli
- Collectible
- Yes
- Rating
- 3.7/5 (510 votes)
66 Comments
Omnitarian
Seems super legit for Zoo once they’ve run out of steam! Also opens up a possibility for HakkarLock.
Dynasty
errr ... wont see play
Soup And Salad
What makes you say that when Elise Starseeker did see quite a bit of play despite the effect of the card being doubly delayed?
Thortsein
Taunt is the only reason this might be playable.
Soup And Salad
Elise Starseeker did see some serious play in control decks, and the ultimate effect of that card was doubly delayed. While this version of Rafaam has the effect of the Golden Monkey right away, it does come down later than than Starseeker. Granted, the Golden Monkey would almost certainly only get played late in the control mirror to push games over the edge.
If Control Warlock remains a viable archetype on ladder, there really isn't any reason why it wouldn't want to play this for the control mirror or midrange match-ups that are expected to go long.
DukeStarswisher
Why would a control warlock want to replace their entire deck with random cards? Just because they are legendary does not guarantee they will be good cards for any warlock archetype. They are better off using the cards they construct.
Anyone who doesn't say this is a meme card is fooling themselves.
Soup And Salad
Then why did Elise Starseeker see serious play in decks such as Control Warrior while that card was in Standard?
I'm guessing you weren't playing around that time, but when a control mirror has entered its later stages, both players have likely ran out of threats their opponents must answer and as such only have answer cards in their hand. This card turns the unnecessary anti-aggro tools and unneeded removal options into on average decent threats, and keeping up the pressure with a new threat every turn is better than constantly responding to them.
minti
becouse control archetypes had FILLER CARDS that gave them card draw in order to get the answers needed to outlast aggro. While in a control matchup cards like acolyte of pain, northshire cleric battle rages loot hoarders, annoying 3 drops that you got just for the taunt that have no value in lategame turn into usefull cards. And by usefull i mean they don't kill you.
BUT warlock had his hero power and the only card he could want to replace is coil? ( who uses that anyway )
Soup And Salad
Yes. That means a Control Warlock can run more anti-aggro tools, cards that are also useless in the late stages of the control match-up. Additionally, Warlock's Hero power also makes is so it almost certainly cannot win the fatigue game at least without a copy of Rin or Bloodreaver Gul'dan.
Even then, recent iterations of control decks such as Odd Warrior, Big Spell Mage, and Control Priest currently favor playing a bunch of answers overplaying a bunch of draw to find those answers.
This iteration of Rafaam will allow a Standard Control Warlock (and Zoo Warlock) to keep the pressure up when the the Warlock player starts running low on threats and is pretty clearly not going to win the fatigue win.
Jed
How goes it soupy, have a good rumble? Good to see you’re still up to your logical cards analysis, unlike me.
Soup And Salad
It's been alright. I'm also on r/hearthstone now as SoupAndSalad911 if you're interested.
Jed
Sorry for the double comment, Internet is weird :/
Soup And Salad
It's hardly an issue. I don't mind.
Jed
How goes it soupy, have a good rumble? Good to see you’re still up to your logical cards analysis. See ya around
BierausmKuhli
I havent seen anyone Mention this but you delayed your Fatigue with Elise by 1 what was a Point in Control matchups.
Soup And Salad
Warlock has never been a class to be concerned with lasting into fatigue. It's hero power prevented it.
Enemy
I'd expect a card like this to be 1 stat worse. One less attack or be 8 mana.
As it is, it seems pretty OP. I'd use it to get rid of my useless cards, like weapon removal or unneeded car draw, at the end of the game. But it also may be useful early on.
It's not an auto-include in any deck, but it's a 5 star card for me.
MrStrategy
I don't know man... When playing this, you essentially throw away your hand and deck (cards you know, and probably cards that fit together brilliantly as is the case with all meta decks) to replace them with only random cards, some of which might be strong but many of which will not be able to allow you to get out of nasty situations (no removal), will cost a lot (most legendaries are 6+ mana) or will simply be bad cards (I'm thinking about Millhouse Manastorm or Lorewalker Cho for example).
Soup And Salad
If you're playing Zoo Warlock, and average Legendary minion will be more valuable than the average card in your deck by the point you can start playing this. Sure, you may get a Lorewalker Cho, but even Cho can be decent late or at least better than a Void Walker.
If you're playing Control Warlock in a game that has gone late, the average legendary card is better at pressuring your opponent than the handful of anti-aggro tools and largely unnecessary extra sources of removal you'd have left. Elise Starseeker saw serious play in control decks specifically for that purpose, and this can is much faster than Starseeker was.
MrStrategy
Good point, I hadn't looked at it in that way... Still, I guess if you play zoo and need this card to get more value, it should mean that your overall strategy has already failed, and you'd just be making a desperate move to stay in the game a little longer (I don't think the legendaries will save you in many cases, when facing strong decks they most probably will just prolong the game without changing the final result). I'm more convinced about the card's use in control decks, but even there, I wonder exactly how necessary it will really be, and how many times it will actually make a difference.
Soup And Salad
Yeah. If the Zoo Warlock does drop this card, it will mean they were unable to close the game efficiently, but this will improve the Zoo Warlock's win rate much like Aluneth in Secret Mage or Deathstalker Rexxar in Hunter.
In neither deck will Rafaam prove to be necessary, but builds including it will have a noticeable increase in winrate compared to builds without it. If I had to guess, Zoo Warlock would win at least an extra three games in one hundred and Control Warlock would win an extra two games in one hundred if Rafaam is brought to the table.
CrazyCameron127
The only question I have is: Why warlock? This is the leader of EVIL and the mascot of this expansion, so why class specific? Warlock could see some use with this, it has a great statline and powerful (even if random) effect. I just don't understand why it's not a neutral card.
Soup And Salad
I don't think giving every aggressive deck a good curve topping option that will almost certainly replace their low value cards with quite often serious threats would be a good idea. There is a reason why Prince Liam is a fairly common choice in Odd Paladin and Deathstalker Rexxar is known for being able to single-handedly transition the aggressive leaning Midrange Hunter to a full on control role.
Taznak
Witchwood Mascot: Hagatha. Shaman card.
Boomsday mascot: Dr. Boom. Warrior card.
Rastakhan mascot: Zul'jin. Hunter card.
The Lich King and King Togwaggle were neutral before that, but it's not exactly unprecedented for the face of an expansion to be a class card.
Dynasty
My thoughts exactly
minti
becouse priests would love such card. And Heavenly Brode forbid priests getting good cards.
Orasha
As previously mentioned, Elise Starseeker saw serious play in Control decks as refill in control mirrors. With most of Warlock's insane late game rotating, this might be alright. The taunt is nice, and also gives Warlock a way to rid itself of Corrupted Bloods, making Hakkar a potential win condition for control warlock. Given how radical of a shift the rotation will be, I'm not counting Rafaam out yet.
Freedon
Some cool potential for a control build that can tech hard according to the current meta, i.e. anti-aggro hard, and then roll the dice with this to try and close out the game transforming cards you haven't needed, with added hakkar combo possible for late control match-ups. Similar potential for closing out with a zoo deck. At worst its a fun card that you can probably afford to throw into a few decks. I'm saying 4/5, as it will see a lot of experimentation with the fun & meme factor making up for potential lack of viability in any meta decks.
Jed
Hello I am b r o k e.
Really good late game value power.
Actually kind of scary.
4.7/5
Lluadian
Has some possibilities your also forgetting something this could be played with void contract for some evil memes one of contracts problems was could kill stuff you wanted but if your whole deck will be random anyway who cares. I'm ignoring rogue because that's just a gimme
Taznak
Super strong card. Insanely good stats, can transition an aggro warlock deck into a more value-oriented game plan, and in a control mirror it can turn a bunch of useless tech cards and removal into more useful minion cards.
For those who think this is bad: Yes, of course Zoo Warlock doesn't put cards like Alexstrazsa or Hogger into their deck, because they're dead in your hand for many turns while a turn 1 Flame Imp is great. What makes Rafaam here good, is that a turn 8 Flame Imp is NOT good; it's rather the opposite. Random Legendaries are terrible if you draw them on turn 1 or 2 or 3, but this guy makes it so that your turn 8 Voodoo Doctor turns into a turn 8 Gruul. Not the ideal 8-drop, but a hell of a lot better on turn 8 than Voodoo Doctor. 5/5.
kolid344
You only forgot thare are many bad legends and its dead card for most of the game :)
Taznak
There’s a few really bad ones: Blackhowl Gunspire, Millhouse Manastorm, Nat Pagle, Harbinger Celestia, Shirvallah, Zentimo, Hir’eek. But there’s also some really good ones, as you’ll have access to legendaries from all classes. My favorite here has to be Priestess Talanji.
Still, my point stands: a random legendary minion is not great overall. But a random legendary minion after turn 7 will be a hell of a lot better than a knife juggler, on average.
kolid344
Half of the time its gone be a dead card in your hand second half its gone be to late to play it. Even if you are gone change your minions into big legendary minions you still gone lose. Aggro warlock is like that if you are not gone win to turn 8 you are dead or your opponent is dead. This card is like more win game card. Drawing turn 10-14 this card when you havent got a board control is still auto lose game.
Taznak
There’s a tradeoff in Tempo for sure. And yet, current Midrange Hunter decks, with a similar low mana curve to Zoo Warlock, bring along Deathstalker Rexxar which does something very similar: Sacrifices immediate aggression in favor of lategame value. You’d think this is a terrible idea, and yet this was the best-performing deck in HCT Winter just now.
kolid344
First of all rexxar dk is turn 6 Also rexxar is like a card draw for always big minions which also have synergy with your cards. Rexxar give you 5 armor do 2 dmg aoe and give you minions from 2 to 10 mana. Most of this minions you can choose which abilities they have rush, charge, taunt, poison, lifesteal.... Sometimes even choosing with minion you are gone get is not enought. From this card you will get random minions. Good luck .And second thing doomguard is rotating too.
minti
Deathstalker rexar did not lose you tempo he makes you draw 2 cards each turn in trade of the 2 face dmg. And by each turn i mean even when your deck is gone for shure. So it gives you card advantage for the price of removing 2 dmg to face each turn, but minions make much more face dmg than any burn abillity.
Dynasty
Team 5 could have thought of a better legendary for warlock. "Replace your deck with legendary minions" not very creative.
Taznak
It’s a cool effect though, great for memes and can turn games around in surprising and exciting ways. Don’t facepalm at this; remember how Genn and Baku and combo decks made Hearthstone boring in 2018 because every game played out very similarly? Well, this card will keep your games fun and fresh.
The effect is admittedly not new. It was introduced with Elise Starseeker, then added as a treasure option for Marin the Fox. The effect was cool; it just didn’t see a lot of play because activating the effect was often too cumbersome. Rafaam just triggers this effect as a Battlecry, and pairs it with a Lich King-sized body to boot. We’re going to see a LOT more random legendaries than Elise, Marin and Prince Malchezaar ever gave us, because a lot of people are gonna be playing this guy!
Bagern
I personally just feel its wasted potential for Rafaam. I realy liked him as character and his first iteration was fun, creative compared to this bland effect. I was excited to see him back, and so excited the moment they said he is the first card revealed and then, boom, all hype about new expansion out, back to MTG.
Soup And Salad
It's not. It's a call back to the League of Explorers, which is still cool.
Crash
I see the point in negative comments, but provided we get some decent 1-3 drops this can push zoo back to tier 1 IMO. Imagine having 10-12 cards left playing against a control deck and you just play Rafaam, TOTAL game changer for zoo. Can't see it being played at any other warlock archetype but for a last resort card. Who doesn't want to summon Ragnaros playing zoo, oh this is going to be fun!
Taznak
I don’t think you can summon ragnaros directly, at least not in Standard format- since Ragnaros isn’t a Standard format card.
But if Rafaam gives you Jan’Alai, self-inflicted damage from your hero power can let you summon Ragnaros via Jan’Alai’s Battlecry ^^
Crash
Yup that's what I meant, as a zoo you'll have deffo drawn 4 times by the time you can summon Jan'Alai, will be so fun :D
minti
well if you want a legendary card you can just put it in your deck. And zoo is dying since the burst potential of lock was completely removed from standart. Power overwhelming, abusive sergent and doomguard are gone. And they didn't let you close all games so you still have very weak bursts. Overall if you need a legendary you might want to put it in your deck and play control.
And as for arena this is not in any way a good card for arena. Its just insta win the moment you play it or if you get it.
Soup And Salad
As long as there are a ton of small yet efficient minions to be played, Zoo Warlock will find a way to work out. Sure, Doomguard may be rotating out of Standard, but Leeroy should still give the deck enough reach to at least still be theoretically viable on ladder.
In fact, Rafaam should be more impactful for a Zoo Warlock deck than control given given how much more valuable an average Legendary minion is over most of the cards in Zoo Warlock for the late game.
kolid344
There are so many bad legendary minions Its not gone work.
Soup And Salad
A Lorewalker Cho on turn eight is better than a Void Walker on turn eight when in the control match-up.
EksSkellybur
I'm not too sure how I feel able this card.I have to wait it out for it.
GcolayaHS
Arena's big value! xD
kolid344
First of all people just forget how many bad legendary minions are in hs. Second thing most of the time its gone be dead card and people forget about two things Synergy between cards in your deck and you havent got a clue how your next cards is gone look like. Its not like discovery mechanic. You can just fill your deck with crappy minions with stats like Boulderfist Ogre :) Is it worth it? I dont thinks so.
312
Lol. Still better a ogre in a control mirror than a clear. Like, you’ll have more pressure with that.
Soup And Salad
If you're playing Zoo Warlock, the synergy between say Soul Infusion and Doubling Imp doesn't exactly have much of an impact after turn six or seven.
Likewise, if Control Warlock is in the control mirror, they are probably going to lose the fatigue game due to the nature of Life Tap. As such, it's better to replace many of the answer cards, especially those there for aggro, with threats even if they aren't the best threats out there.
minti
I think this card was printed to make baku lock a thing. The only thing i get in mind is malchazar baku deck with elise and cards that add cards to your deck. But beleull banker is 2 drop so its basicly a meme deck :D.
I can see value in getting random legendaries with a free card draw. The problem is making aggro deck make you survive until than :D. The fact that his stats are better than the standart 7 drop is admirable and must show you that he is the MEME of the expansion. So many random cards is bad. And to make the MEME even better you can play void contract with him in standart, now that bloodreaver ghoul Dan is gone, lock are allowed to have some fun not being the top tier deck in each meta.
However as most of the community noticed Rafam despite stealing artefact did bring a unique mechanic in this game in the for of the curse of rafaam. It was unique card that would play around ice block by doing 2 dmg to your oponents face unless he pays mana this thing would go on. The card had some bonus effect with loatheb if you get them on curve. And in this card Raffam had 6 fingers :D.
So all in all each villian would bring exept the lackeys and the schemes cards from the old expansions and the CURSE cards were really good design and something really new to the game. As we saw with the chromagus boss it was un interesting mechanic that could bring new gameplays and really disrupt aggro and hunter by denying them the curve plays that make them very powerfull. It would have been great warlock to get curses, Just like hunters and mages have secrets. Priests could benefit from those things as well since they did not get anything interesting in their gameplay. And addin 2-3 curses to the game or making raffam add 3 curses to your oponents hand Would have made warlock the OP monster they really are. Its could have been great for milling great cards as well as disrupting aggro decks. They could be something not that harmfull as your oponents spells cost less. Or the irst card your oponent plays each turn to be free like aviana :D. In wild with the curses and mukla and coldlights and gnomefatus and glinda you got yourself a mill lock deck. For the simple fact of looking out for some simple stuff that already exist in the game. Instead of trolling the people who played tier one decks every single expansion with a meme deck.
Don't get me wrong as a priest fan i like the priest competition to get crap. Rogues and Locks have always been a pain in the butt for priests. Rogues with their 4 attack minions and instant win againts control cards like kingsbane, mill and quest. And warlocks with simply having everything priest does not have, like better cards, better unconditional removal, tons of card draw and simply better cards. Not to mention shadow priest were supposed to obtain mind tricks like burning cards but instead that mechanic was turned into generating random cards from another class for the price of actual card draw. So i am happy for the meme. If i get this next expansion, since meme cards like to drop in packs for me i am playing baku malza elize tempo? wild deck :D. Although I was hoping for a playable hireek the bat deck. I tryed it in wild. With forbidden tentacles, implosions spirits and shit and it was terrible, Than i saw the grim patreon combo but its basicly useless combo that dies to twisting nether light bombs, screams, frost doomsayer, and many many more card comboes that can clear the board. Did i mentioned how annoying OTk paly became in wild or am i the only on eannoyed by turn 9 death from just drawing double call to arms. It basicly pulls you the 2 scrap bots you need for the spare parts and the thalnost loot hoarders arcane eggs give you + 5 card draw that you basicly need to draw is beardo and the hero. So much skill.
epiphany
For those who say this card is weak, bad, too slow or that the fact that the minions generated will be random therefore not being consistent i have to tell you, you're probably wrong! This card has really good stats 7/8 for 7 mana, not only that it provides you with in average bigger minions which will be certainly harder to deal with than some Zoo 1 drops turn 8. And if that's not enough to make the card good, it also has TAUNT! Like, this is an immediate impact on board, really close to a lich king, and don't tell me that if you're a zoo who didn't close the game in 7 turns you'd feel bad to have a lich king and trade your weak hand and deck to a new gameplan. 4/5 stars
JustYourAveragePayToWin
Card doesn’t have to be “good” to be fun. If I got this in a card pack, I wouldn’t disenchant it, however I wouldn’t spend dust on it. 3/5
DeanyWeany
(Rating based on play it will see in the upcoming meta, similar to trump's ratings)
5 Stars
Lich king stats for 7 mana, with an effect way stronger than Elise Star seeker (skipping the shuffling map and monkey into your deck), which was a card run heavily in previous meta (although mostly in warrior with its strong control cards). Prince liam was a card run in odd paladin and a 5 star card as a result, if any viable zoo deck is out there, it will run Rafaam as a better prince liam, as a class with natural draw capabilities.
Notably strong combo on turn 8, play The Soulariam, if you draw strong cards, then play them, otherwise play rafaam and the 3 cards become random legendaries that don't go away at the end of your turn.
Baran613
Wowzers, what a card! This is definitely a 5/5 star card. A 7/8 taunt for 7 mana is not too terrible, basically bog creeper with +1 attack but then on top of that he also has the text of the golden monkey as an instant effect, requiring zero effort.
This card really reminds me of deathstalker rexxar because you can just play a very aggressive or defensive deck and this one card will give you all the value you need to win against control decks.
Are warlock decks gonna be any good? I am not sure as warlock is losing A LOT of key cards with the rotation and I really mean A LOT. But zoo is eternal and this guy will for sure find a spot there. As for control warlock, I have less hope in those decks but I believe Rafaam will carry control warlock to greatness again after the rotation.
Conclusion : Charlie Gee Willickers, what an amazing card that will definitely see play somewhere!
h0lysatan
Does replaced legendaries from this card also include legendaries from Wild Expansions? or it depends on where u play?
Deathstalker best boy
I think it depends, cause every time a carda generates another it must be from the same format, unless it says otherwise (Toki)
Flustered
This will be a win condition for Control Locks. Control the board, get your beefy 7 Mana 7/8 with Taunt, and preferably have a bunch of beefy Legendaries to play after.
This is the same strategy used by Control decks running Golden Monkey, just now it's Warlock exclusive instead of tied to a Neutral.
I think this could work out. Not nearly as good as DK Gul'dan, but I can see it being used in any Control Lock deck.
Penoyer79
Should be pretty decent late game card if the meta allows for this kind of deck archtype to see play.
TheTommunist
This is literally just a Golden Monkey but without Elise Starseeker LOL
I'd run this any day
TallJake26
It really should cost eight instead of seven. It has both an overpowered ability and above-average stats, and on top of all that has taunt.
If you happen to get Princess Talanji after playing Rafaam, you're literally putting your entire hand onto the board.
Lamri247
I’m crafting this Legendary in golden just because it transforms my whole deck and hand into golden legendaries. I’ll be using my Hall of fame dust! Might see somebody play!
Lamri247
*some*
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