Belligerent Gnome
Belligerent Gnome is a 2 Mana Cost Rare Neutral Minion card from the Rastakhan's Rumble set!
Card Text
Taunt
Battlecry: If your opponent
has 2 or more minions,
gain +1 Attack.
Flavor Text
Maybe don't put this one in your garden.
- Type
- Minion
- Rarity
- Rare
- Set
- Rastakhan's Rumble
- Class
- Neutral
- Cost
- 2
- Attack
- 1
- Health
- 4
- Minion Type
- Mechanics
- Battlecry, Taunt
- Artist
- Brian Despain
- Collectible
- Yes
Card Review & Interactions
Card Interactions
Review
Poor, poor Silverback Patriarch, he can't catch a break. But if I had to compare this card to something, it reminds me of Wyrmrest Agent rather than Silverback Patriarch. Both cost 2 mana and are 1/4's that conditionally transform into 2/4's with Taunt. Unlike Wymrest Agent, however, even if this card's condition isn't met, it still has Taunt. Let's be honest - an unconditional 2/4 Taunt for 2 mana would be great and it would see play in many different decks. But a 1/4 Taunt for 2 mana... well, I wouldn't say the same thing about it. It's pretty weak. We have a 2 mana 1/5 that doesn't see any play despite being a Mech (Upgradeable Framebot), and I don't think that adding Taunt while removing 1 health would fix that. Druid even has a 1/5 Taunt, which can also be a 1/2 Scarab with Poisonous (Druid of the Swarm) and while the card is okay, it's not good enough to see play in slower Druid builds. So now, whether this card will see play or not depends on how often this condition will come up.
The main issue with this card is that it's not really a 2-drop. Maybe if you're going second and your opponent has a 1-drop into a 2-drop opening (or something similar, which puts them at 2 minions on T2), or when you go first and your opponent coins two 1-drops, but those things don't happen every game. I'd wager that most of the time, this card would be a 1/4 on Turn 2, and that's not great - this card would be most impactful on Turn 2.
Another "issue", but that's maybe not really an "issue", is that this is not exactly an anti-Aggro card. To be perfectly honest, I think that faster decks might play it more than Control. I mean, even Tar Creeper was quickly adopted by Aggro, and it's like the opposite of Aggro card, since it has only 1 Attack on your turn. But protecting your board is always good. For me, this card should be a great fit into faster decks, especially Even decks that don't play Prince Keleseth anyway, such as Even Paladin or Even Shaman. They are struggling for good 2-drops, since it's an incredibly important mana slot (as they need a good 2-drop on T2 and T3). Talking about Keleseth, any deck running Keleseth also probably won't drop it to play this guy. I honestly can't wait until Keleseth finally rotates out, so decks could actually play a variety of 2-drops instead of being stuck with Keleseth, because it's just the best one.
Right now, I don't think that this card will see a lot of play in Control. You wouldn't want to play it over Tar Creeper (which is not only unconditional, but it also kills any 3 health minions that decide to hit it), and you don't want to put too many early game Taunts. But Tar Creeper rotates out in the next expansion after Rastakhan's, which might give this guy an opening. But I think that it will see play in more Midrange-ish decks, like Even Paladin or Shaman I've mentioned above. But it still ultimately depends on the meta - the more board flood decks there are (Odd Paladin, Zoo Warlock, Even Shaman etc.) the better this card becomes. 2/4 body doesn't scale too well into the mid/late game, so realistically you want to be able to play it in the early game as often as possible.
Overall, it's pretty solid now, but I think that it has even more potential after the rotation. Plus it heavily depends on the meta, since its effect is better the more board flood decks are being played (like MCT, but to a lesser extent).
Card rating: 7/10 until Tar Creeper is in Standard (because you wouldn't want to play it over Tar Creeper in decks that can play 3-drops), but can get better after it rotates out.
68 Comments
NIGHTxBLADE
Yay im first.This is BROKEN
Jonnymeerkat
This coming from the guy that said Giggling Inventor was terrible when it was first revealed.
You are way to quick to say cards are broken or terrible. Boo you.
Gugus_Patacus
He is right to be fair, 2/4 taunt for 2 is really good.
Jonnymeerkat
It’s good. It’s also conditional, and nowhere near “broken.”
NIGHTxBLADE
shut up bch i never said that lol loser
NIGHTxBLADE
Rip snowball decks
SizlaRun
It’s an amazing anti-aggro card but it depends on the meta, it’s amazing against decks that spam a lot of minions turn 1-2 like odd paladin and zoo but if it’s more of an « tempo meta » I don’t think it’ll be played, tar creeper would be far better
Thraben
This is exactly what we need right now. I'm so sick of dealing with odd pally and Zoolock
Fareh
Im not so crazy on this... I mean, a 2/2 still trades with this in 2 swings, or a 2/3 survives... or if u have 2 x/2 minions 1 dies and the other stays alive... I dont think would be that good
Fareh
Misread... expected the effect to bepersistent like Tar Creeper and its a Battlecry... Thats a lot better... in some scenarios... my biggest concern is, in this Battlecry, this would not be playable until turn 3 at least...
Fareh
Misread... its a Battlecry... so thats better in some scenarios... but that means this its not coming until turn 3 at least...
Gugus_Patacus
Well zoo usually have 2 minions on board by turn 2.
Blimey
When going first, on turn 2 right now this would almost always be a 1/4 even vs aggro. Vs slower decks always a 1/4.
The only deck that can put 2 minions out on T1 is Odd pally, with Lost in Jungle; or by coining hero power or double 1 drops (which is usually a bad play, as the coin is better served for coining out Fungal or LevelUp).
Zoo can coin double 1 drops too, but again, it's not super common;
and anyway if Belligerent Gnome is played in decks, people will play around it.
So it's a 2/4 half of the time on T2 vs aggro and later in the game when behind on board, which is okay, but what decks would actually play that? And 1/4 taunt is only good enough to be played vs Odd pally.
And as it's been the case this past year, there's still the issue of Keleseth being too good so that 2 mana minions like this are just not worth playing until next April.
People were going crazy when that 1/5 mech was announced last expansion, and how did that turn out?
I think the only deck that would play this card is Even shaman. Because they have quite a few ways to buff attack on 3. It's actually a great card for that deck if there's a lot of aggro. If the meta is slower then extra value from Nimbus wins out.
qwerty019283
the reason about upgradeable frame bot
qwerty019283
is that keleseth is OP and mechs are too weak as a tribe. this is not tribal, and when keleseth rotates out it will become strong.
Jonnymeerkat
It’s always hard to tell how relevant a card will be in constructed because it is so meta-dependent. However, this is a properly stated minion, with taunt, with a nice distribution of those stats given that it does have taunt, AND pure upside that is fairly easy to proc, especially late game, helping this card remain helpful even if you play it mid to late game.
In arena, this is an above-average card by a decent margin.
Vincent
There are way better 2 drops. Don’t like cards that depends on opponent 2.5/5.
nickname23
It's basically a more conditional Wyrmrest Agent, which was a good card in Dragon Priest. You can play this in Midrange decks to defend against early agression or in Control, if you want to go full on Anti-Aggro.
Nice little 2-drop, nothing overwhelming, but a decent tech option.
3.5/5
MilesTegF
I was thinking it reminded me of Twilight Guardian but Wyrmrest Agent seems like a better comparison actually.
I think this is a pretty strong card, In standard is similar to Vulgar Homunculus that sees a lot of play (it does however has its stats+taunt guaranteed).
Would be surprised if it didn't see constructed play. 4/5
nickname23
Agreed. Should see constructed play. If you are facing an aggressive metagame, it could be really valuable for some decks. Vulgar is a better card, of course. However, Taunt is guaranteed on this card, too.
MilesTegF
You are right i missread. i thought the taunt was conditional as well.
Jirwin
the mana lines up really badly though, if it had +1 mana for +1/1 maybe but i think this lines up really badly and on 3 itll get killed with hero power/3 drop
Tuscarora87
Neutral Vulgar Homunculus (conditional attack / no self hurting). It'll be used in midrange, control, even... decks.
Nidnam
Meh... it's basically a neutral Vulgar Homunculus... nothing special
Dustin
there must always be... a tar creeper...
DukeStarswisher
2 mana 1/4 is already a good taunt. An obvious card against aggressive decks. They sure do love these neutral taunt fellas.
Jirwin
not really, the 2 mana 1/4 that gave cthun taunt was always unplayable
DukeStarswisher
Giving C'thun taunt was terrible. THAT was why it was unplayable. This is pretty much a neutral wyrmrest agent except it always comes with taunt no matter what.
Spacemoose
Are you retarded? How the hell did cthun having taunt decide anything in a cthun deck?
DukeStarswisher
wtf?... If you read my comment slowly your brain might pick up that giving C'thun taunt was a bad idea so no one played it.
Also:
"Are you retarded"
I'm already sure I'm wasting my time even responding to you.
Spacemoose
You obviously have comprehension issues, so i'll try to repeat the question slowly, respecting your "special" needs.
How.....does.....C'thun....having....taunt....decide...anything....in....a....C'thun....deck?
DukeStarswisher
You actually sound insane right now. Let it go.
Declan423
As good as this card seems I doubt it will be used for midrange and control as it makes sense only against board flood decks or going second against aggro. However, if there is an aggressive meta after keleseth rotates out I can see this being added to aggressive decks to help with mirror matches. Plus it is a solid arena card so expect it to see some play there
MrPoison
I'd use this in my surrender to sadness deck
Jed
Ye it seem ok
3/5
d930065
Good card. Maybe even shaman or even paladin will run this.
Warptens
Vulgar homonculus is clearly better than belligerent gnome, yet doesn't see play in control warlocks because it's not good enough and doesn't see play in aggro warlocks because keleseth. So I'd say belligerent gnome has 0 chance of seeing play outside of even decks.
It's most likely to see play in even paladin, because it's the even deck with the worst 2drops and the gnome has taunt which helps protect the recruit of turn 1. It might see play in even shaman too.
Soup And Salad
Vulgar Homunculus isn't seeing play in Control Warlock because it's a demon, and getting Voidlords off of Bloodreaver is much better.
Warptens
It's true that vulgar homunculus being a demon messes things up for control warlock and cube warlock.
However, there's also mechathun warlocks, they don't play cube or lackey or guldan, and so don't care about demon tags.
And mechathun warlocks don't play vulgar homunculus (even tho they play spellstone, so it's basically a 2mana 2/4 taunt with an upside)
Soup And Salad
Mecha'thun Warlock also already plays about ten two cost cards, five of which draw more cards. For a combo deck, drawing cards is more important than an early game taunt minion, especially when the match-up the deck is inherently optimized against, control, doesn't care about a 2/4 with taunt.
Warptens
Most mechathun warlocks play voidwalker
So they definitely do care about early game taunt minions
KarmenD10
Jonnymeerkat was a little harsh but he’s right that reviewing cards based on how they compare to the best cards in the game is a pretty bad way to accurately assess card reveals.
Soup And Salad
To Warptens
Not always, and its inclusion or exclusion in the deck doesn't have that big of an impact on the deck's winrate. In fact, the a decklist without Voidwalker is currently the best in terms of winrate for Mecha'thun Warlock according to HSreplay.
Warptens
@Karmen which is why I'm comparing it to a card that does not see play.
@Soup The fact that voidwalker is not always included is actually an indicator that belligerent isn't good. Because belligerent is inferior(1) to homunculus which is inferior(2) to voidwalker which doesn't see that much play. Therefore belligerent won't see play.
(1) should be obvious by looking at the card
(2) voidwalker is played in most list unlike homunculus
Soup And Salad
Belligerent Gnome is a great anti-aggro card that aggressive decks would want to also play because it is a lot of stats for two. It reminds me a lot of Wyrmrest Agent. Granted, that's not a difficult comparison to make.
However, the only turns it would really make a difference would be turns two and three, which happen to be turns in which your opponent could quite easily not have two or more minions on board. Zoo Warlock and Odd Paladin may almost always get to that point, but other like Odd Rogue might not. It is also probably rather meta dependent. If aggressive decks are not prevalent, this will see little if any play.
MockRock
Let's say the entire meta is nothing but aggro. In that case, if you're going second, you can probably activate this fairly consistently to answer your opponent's 1 and 2 drop. If you're going second, though...you can't really play this on turn 2 unless your opponent uses the coin (or against certain cards like Lost in the Jungle). That makes this card kind of sketchy.
But wait, we don't live in that world! Many decks aren't aggro, or even midrange. AND not all aggro decks will even meet this condition on turn 2, most notably Odd Rogues and their turn 2 knives. AND this card is dramatically worse than Keleseth.
I'm not sold on this card. If you could always guarantee the condition was met, it'd be a card you would play but wouldn't be the strongest one in the deck by any means. With its condition NOT being particularly reliable on turn 2, though? I'm not seeing it, and definitely not before Keleseth rotates.
MockRock
Obviously I meant to say "second" then "first" instead of "second" twice.
CD001
"most notably Odd Rogues and their turn 2 knives" - would put the kibosh on the alternative T2 where they Cold Blood a Firefly though.
"AND this card is dramatically worse than Keleseth." - to be fair, in a tempo-based deck EVERYTHING is worse than Keleseth on T2; it's a game-winning card if you drop it early.
Jonnymeerkat
You lost all credibility when you compared the card ago Keleseth, as if it’s not a good card because it’s not as good as arguably the best 2 drop in the game.
MockRock
Umm...yeah. Comparing it to a card it'll be mutually exclusive with is a very fair, obvious thing to do.
Not that it particularly matters to you, though, since your entire reason for visiting this site seems to be going around trying to start fights.
Jonnymeerkat
So you stand by the logic that, essentially, any two drop that isn’t better than Keleseth is not a good card?
That’s laughable.
Jonnymeerkat
And actually I visit this site for the good reviews from the authors. In the meantime, I read reviews from the audience.
I really enjoy some people’s reviews, especially Soup And Salad’s. Unfortunately the site is also littered with terrible reviews based on indefensible logic, like this one. Alas, so is reddit and nearly every other site. ADWCTA and Merps are great though.
MockRock
Buddy, there are many people that visit this site, you're literally the ONLY one I see regularly hurling out insults at whoever's card opinion you disagree with. You can try and twist that in your brain to come up with any conclusion other than "I'm a toxic person," but I won't. Never respond to me again, I don't like you and won't answer anything else you have to say.
Qrik
You're a weird guy MockRock. It doesn't seem to me that jonnny was "hurling out insults" at you. Just calm down a bit.
MockRock
Who are you, and in what universe is this your business?
Elizabeth4106
I think Jonnymeerkat was a little harsh but I think he’s right that’s it’s bad to rate this card (or any other 2 drop) based on its comparison to Keleseth. Sure, it’s not, but no one is considering dropping Keleseth based on whether a single 2 drop is released that’s better than Keleseth. 1. That’s not going to happen and 2. You either want to play 2 drops or you don’t and run Keleseth.
The author’s review basically tracks with this sentiment.
billius
if your opponent has 2 or more minions out then chances are you're gonna want something better than a 2/4
CypherC
You must be rank 25.
Zek
Well, it's not a good card on its own.
Jonnymeerkat
It’s a fine card on it’s own, and to say that “if your opponent has two minions you probably want something better than a 2/4” is mind-numbingly stupid. Any justification for such a critique requires you to ignore from its cost or the fact that initiative is not always available.
It’s two mana. What better are you expecting with two mana?
And if initiative is what you are complaining about, I guess every non-battlecry/rush/charge minion sucks.
Warptens
"What better are you expecting with two mana?"
keleseth?
defile?
Cyrus Bahraini
This is a great card whoever does not think so is just simply not a great hearthstone player. There is a 3 mana 1/4 taunt currently this is even better simple as that.
For the Alliance and the Light
Silverback Patriarch has yet another card whose stats are way better than his, poor gorilla.
Tricklas
Wouldn't say that. This card is not bad at all. but i guess u can't consistently trigger the effect to really wanna run this card. 1/4 Taunt is okay but not enough. Pleeted beatle is still better.
Warptens
there's a 2mana 1/4 taunt (that gives cthun taunt) that saw no play
Greg
Slow reveal schedule = a 2 mana (at best) 2/4 taunt get a 4.1 star and 50 comments. Decent card but let’s see more
drzibago
I do NOT like it much. Difficult to activate batllecry in turn 2 and no impact after turn 4. No tribe or spell synergies like Vulgar Homunculus. Battlecry should add +2 attack to be an interesting card I guess.
Creepy TallKinGuy
This man is rallyng for the bats? This man is insane get him out of my sight.
But still by his own seems like a decent card on his own 3/5.
Comments are closed.