Murloc Shaman Theorycraft Deck List – Rise of Shadows – April 2019

Murloc Shaman Theorycraft Deck List – Rise of Shadows – April 2019

Two years after Unite the Murlocs was released, the time of Murloc Shaman may have finally arrived: the archetype was sorely lacking a strong class-specific tribal one-drop like Vilefin Inquisitor was for Paladin, and Sludge Slurper more than delivers on that front. It has also received a plethora of other tools to work with and is uniquely well-positioned as a potential token deck to wreak havoc on the metagame. (Morgl the Oracle is not included with the deck! Results may vary.)

The example of previous successful Murloc decks in Hearthstone – or even the builds suggested by the Shaman quest over the course of the last two years – would likely lead you astray when trying to construct this particular one: apart from the Murloc Warlock archetype in the beta days (quickly superseded by Zoo), not many tribal decks managed to leverage the sort of hyper-aggressive strategy the Murloc synergies would suggest, with the old Anyfin Can Happen archetypes pushing for a combo option instead and the midrange-y Murloc Paladin decks from Un’goro days prioritizing buff-based sticky boards over rapid finishers.

However, Shaman doesn’t have the same sort of rapid refill options like Paladin used to with Call to Arms or the Murloc-spawning hero power granted by Vilefin Inquisitor, and rotation of strong buff tools (Rockpool Hunter and Gentle Megasaur) forces a different approach. While you’re capable of generating some value with Underbelly Angler, this sort of a deck will live or die depending on whether it can maintain board control: as such, our theorycraft build opted for a more token-ish approach that tries to spread out as wide as possible in the early turns before delivering the killing blow with Bloodlust. Janky late-game risk mitigation tools would simply serve to reduce your consistency and are therefore not included here.

Similarly, this is why a copy of Hench-Clan Hag and Witch's Cauldron is featured in this particular variation instead of Murloc Tastyfins: the latter provides way too slow reload for a deck that has a fairly short window of opportunity to go in for the kill but is also uniquely well-positioned to take advantage of wide boards. Scargil, Ghost Light Angler and Soul of the Murloc (note its similarities with Soul of the Forest!) also encourage you to pursue a more token-ish approach. Witch's Cauldron has already seen fringe play in certain Odd Paladin builds, and the reduced post-rotation power levels likely make it a viable candidate for this kind of a deck.

The two Lightning Bolts are included to make it even more likely that you gain board control early on but they also double as finishers alongside Leeroy Jenkins for a potential twelve damage from hand if you were to fall behind in the later stages of the game.

Even though Toxfins are an excellent way to remove pesky Taunts, a single copy of Hex is nevertheless included in the featured build. Not only does it let you take care of something even when you don’t have a Murloc available to give Poisonous to, it can also help you with pushing past a key minion without having to trade in your whole board in the mid-game.

Replacement (and “sideboard” candidates for Specialist) include The Storm Bringer, Swampqueen Hagatha and even Electra Stormsurge as a way to generate a massive board through a double Soul of the Murloc or a double Bloodlust for a really nasty turn 8 surprise.

Yellorambo

Luci Kelemen is an avid strategy gamer and writer who has been following Hearthstone ever since its inception. His content has previously appeared on HearthstonePlayers and Tempo/Storm's site.

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14 Comments

  1. MilesTegF
    April 9, 2019 at 1:14 pm

    i just played a couple of games using the regular list that the game makies for this deck (i only changed a couple of cards in it) , and wow! it plays very well.
    I’d say Underbelly Angler is the MPV on this deck along with , its cheap enough that you can easily play it along with two other murlocs on the same turn proventing you from being left with an empty hand.

    Scargil surprised me too, it doesnt seem like much of a discount considering that most murlocs are cheap, but for example it works amazingly with Ghost light Angler and Murlock tastyfin.

    The only problem i see with the deck is that is vulnerable to control deck with a lot of AOE, i mean i survived and won a game where my table was cleared twice in a row cos this deck is amazing at refilling your hand (Murloc Tastyfin is particulary good at it, surprised its not in this list), but im not sure if this kind of deck could survive a control deck with more clearing table tools (like how Odd Warrior or big spell Jaina used to be).

    i’ve played some murlocs decks in the past (like Murloc paladin, murloc mage or quest shaman), but i think this one is my favorite so far.

  2. AryannaLao20
    April 8, 2019 at 1:22 am

    HOORAY!! <3 Finally, a Murloc deck I could use! I already asked my friend if he's going to use Murloc Shaman in WCG 2019 Hearthstone. But I don't think he will ever use this strategy. He's been doubting the Specialist Format since it was announced.

  3. DestinyXXX
    April 5, 2019 at 9:12 am

    2x Tastyfin should also be core…

    • DnnyPhntm
      April 5, 2019 at 12:24 pm

      Totally agree. The problem of tastyfin is his statline on 4cost imo. Wasn’t worthy of playing even having the special effect of drawing murlocs from your deck.
      But good boi Scargil can fill the loss of tempo

  4. JoyDivision
    April 5, 2019 at 12:34 am

    Underbelly Angler is such a strong tribal card … crazy good.

    I really like the deck and I believe that this, becomes one of the better Aggro decks in the first days (and weeks) of the new HS year.

    Regarding draw power, Cult Master might work. But I get your point using the Cauldron instead; maybe you’d rather want more spells than you’d want more minions.

  5. DestinyXXX
    April 4, 2019 at 1:36 pm

    Hench clan hag is similar to the old call 2 arms; 2x seems absolutely core to me…

    • DestinyXXX
      April 4, 2019 at 2:18 pm

      -1 Hex (useless with the guaranteed adapt into poisonous)
      -1 Cauldron (trash without the silver hand hp)
      + 1x Hench Clan Hag (2x total)
      +1x Zilliax (good tempo card with a potential of 6 murloc-mech)

  6. YOYOIOAN
    April 4, 2019 at 6:15 am

    Finally a deck that understands the intended Murloc playing style for Shaman. Hagatha and other late game value cards aren’t going to win you the game, what you need is to rush your opponent down THAT’s how you’re going to win. Not by generating spells which MIGHT help you out once in a while. The more specialised and techy you make your deck the more inconsistent you make it and the more inconsistent you make a deck the more games you’re going to lose. Tech cards depend on meta and whilst having a spellbreaker might help you out in certain situations you probably would’ve won the 5 other games you lost if you replaced it with a card that works i conjunction with the srat. P.S: that’s not saying spellbreaker’s bad i’m just saying it doesn’t really work in this kinda deck

    • YOYOIOAN
      April 4, 2019 at 6:17 am

      The one thing i am a bit worried about is draw power but if the deck srat is about closing the game out by turn 4-6 then your starting hand is probably all you need.

  7. Skilgannon
    April 4, 2019 at 4:06 am

    Yeah defo no hagatha, would put lickem in though especially with sludge slurper

  8. Fareh
    April 4, 2019 at 3:52 am

    I really think the deck Will need hagatha as a late game solution… Despiste clearing your own board

    • Stonekeep - Site Admin
      April 4, 2019 at 3:59 am

      You mean the 8 mana one? I really think that it’s too slow for a Murloc deck. The deck curves out until 4 mana, with 5 mana being your finishers. You want to close out games around T5-T6, if you completely lose the board control and run out of steam against a slower deck, then Hagatha won’t save you. And if you do the same against an Aggro, you probably won’t even survive long enough to play her.

      • Fareh
        April 4, 2019 at 4:04 am

        That is precisely my point, murloc always loses because it can’t refill his hand. Maybe, just maybe, the hero power from Agatha gives u a chance much like witcher cauldron did in odd pala, but without havin to kill your minions

        • Stonekeep - Site Admin
          April 4, 2019 at 4:32 am

          I agree with your point, but Hagatha is not going to save you in that case. You never put an 8 mana value mechanic in an Aggro deck that curves out at 4-5 mana.

          It would win you some games, but lose you even more games where you draw it early instead of an actual card you can play.

          I mean, feel free to test it out, but Aggro decks and late game, slow, value cards just don’t go hand in hand. Like, Face Hunter wouldn’t play Deathstalker Rexxar even though it’s much better than Hagatha (costs 2 mana less + damages only opponent’s board on Battlecry). Even some Midrange builds cut it.

          If anything, you would probably try adding 2nd Cauldron or Cult Master first, since those are much cheaper ways to refill.