Descent of Dragons Post-Nerf Meta Decks - Best Hearthstone Pro & Streamer Deck Lists For All Classes
By Stonekeep -

We will no longer update this post! For the list of latest decks from the expansion, click here!
Descent of Dragons nerf patch will be out in just a few hours (around 10 AM PT / 19:00 CET)! It's out! Once it releases, we'll start showcasing new builds, which should give you a pretty solid look at how the early meta will look like.
Just like always, we expect meta to shake up a bit. This time Shaman was the focus of nerfs - all four changed cards were played in the most popular deck on the ladder - Galakrond Shaman. It will definitely become weaker now, but will it be weak enough to let other decks flourish? That's what we're going to see. The only nerf that affects other decks is Faceless Corruptor, which quickly became one of the strongest and most popular cards on the ladder after Descent of Dragons' launch. I actually like this nerf, because it's severe, but most likely not severe enough to kill the card. It should still be played in the decks it was meant to go in - Token builds - but probably no longer in most of the ladder decks. You can find out quick look at the Galakrond Shaman & impact of the nerfs here!
We'll try to focus on the new & updated decks, but if a certain deck remains unchanged and it's still viable, it will still find a place on this list. Here's a quick summary of the cards that are getting nerfed:
- Corrupt Elementalist - Now costs 6 Mana (up from 5).
- Sludge Slurper - Now has 1 Attack (down from 2).
- Faceless Corruptor - Now has 4 Attack (down from 5).
- Mogu Fleshshaper - Now costs 9 Mana (up from 7).

Should I Disenchant Nerfed Cards?
This is a very common question, and the answer is always simple - YES, you should disenchant them! All of them, for that matter. Just dust every nerfed cards the moment update is live (unless you plan to play the nerfed version right away). Why? Because you will never lose out anything that way. Nerfed cards are always disenchanted for their full crafting cost (so 40 for Commons, 100 for Rares, 400 for Epics and 1,600 for Legendaries). Anyone telling you to "save" a certain card is wrong, because it's always better to have a dust equivalent of a card instead of a card. If you have 1.6k Dust - you can use it to craft any Legendary you want, but also let's say 4 Epics that you need. It's much more flexible. And if you have a given Legendary - that's it, you're stuck with it no matter what.
Let's say that a certain Legendary was nerfed. You disenchant it and get 1,600 Arcane Dust. But as it turns out, the Legendary starts to be viable again a few months from now. You can craft it again for 1,600 Arcane Dust (which you gained previously for dusting it). Which means that in the grand scheme of things, you didn't gain or lose anything. But for those few months, you will have extra Dust you can spend on something else you might need in the meantime. You can, for example, craft another viable meta Legendary (like Zephrys the Great or Kronx Dragonhoof) and use it in multiple builds. However, if the Legendary turns out to never see play (which often happens with nerfed cards), you've just gained a lot of extra Dust. An extra boon of getting rid of a Legendary card right away is that if you crack open packs from that expansion during the "full disenchant" period (which usually lasts ~2 weeks), you can get it again and then disenchant it for full crafting cost second time!
Now a different scenario - someone told you to save X Legendary, because it should see play in the future. In case it does see play in a few months, you still have it, so there was no gain or loss in terms of Dust (but the Dust was "frozen" for that time, whereas in the example above, you could use it for something else). But now, if the Legendary does NOT see play, you're stuck with a bad Legendary that you can either ignore or disenchant for 400 Dust. Either way, it's a huge dust loss. You might not care if you pre-order every set and have most of the cards you need anyway, but it's a huge difference for F2P / budget players.
Descent of Dragons Post-Nerf Deck Lists
We'll be featuring a bunch of Post-Nerf decks from pros & streamers. Keep in mind that the early meta can be volatile, not as much as when the expansion releases, but still. A certain deck working quite well right after the nerfs (when players haven't figured out what's best yet) doesn't necessarily mean that it will stay as a part of the meta. So I would not recommend doing any extensive card crafting for the first few days. Just wait it out and see which decks end up sticking.
We will no longer update this post! For the list of latest decks from the expansion, click here!
Druid
Dragon Token Druid – BoarControl – Descent Nerf
Highlander Dragon Druid – #45 Legend (Satellite) – Descent Post-Nerf
Cards (30)
- 0Innervate1
- 1Treenforcements1
- 1Worthy Expedition1
- 2Breath of Dreams2
- 2Dreamway Guardians1
- 2Firetree Witchdoctor1
- 2Keeper Stalladris★
- 2Power of the Wild1
- 2Wrath1
- 2Zephrys the Great★
- 3BEEEES!!!1
- 3Scalerider1
- 3SN1P-SN4P★
- 3Swipe1
- 3Wardruid Loti★
- 4Archmage Vargoth★
- 4Flobbidinous Floop★
- 4Frizz Kindleroost★
- 4Scaleworm1
- 4Twilight Drake1
- 5Big Ol' Whelp1
- 5Dragonmaw Scorcher1
- 5Elise the Enlightened★
- 5Zilliax★
- 6Emerald Explorer1
- 7Crowd Roaster1
- 7Siamat★
- 9Alexstrasza★
- 9Dragonqueen Alexstrasza★
Embiggen Druid – #36 Legend (Sonagi) – Descent Post-Nerf
Dragon Druid – Charon – Descent Post-Nerf
Cards (30)
Malygos Highlander Druid – Fr0zen – Descent Post-Nerf
Cards (30)
- 0Innervate1
- 0Moonfire1
- 0Pounce1
- 1Biology Project1
- 1Claw1
- 1Crystal Power1
- 1Floop's Glorious Gloop★
- 1Secure the Deck1
- 1Treenforcements1
- 1Worthy Expedition1
- 2Acidic Swamp Ooze1
- 2Breath of Dreams1
- 2Crystal Merchant1
- 2Wild Growth1
- 2Wild Pyromancer1
- 2Wrath1
- 2Zephrys the Great★
- 3Acolyte of Pain1
- 3BEEEES!!!1
- 3Ferocious Howl1
- 3Swipe1
- 4Flobbidinous Floop★
- 4Witchwood Piper1
- 5Big Ol' Whelp1
- 5Elise the Enlightened★
- 7Dreampetal Florist1
- 7Gadgetzan Auctioneer1
- 7Overflow1
- 9Dragonqueen Alexstrasza★
- 9Malygos★
Hunter
Highlander Hunter – #27 Legend (JrsConley) – Descent Post-Nerf
Cards (30)
- 1Dwarven Sharpshooter1
- 1Springpaw1
- 2Corrosive Breath1
- 2Faerie Dragon1
- 2Hench-Clan Hogsteed1
- 2Zephrys the Great★
- 3Animal Companion1
- 3Bad Luck Albatross1
- 3Desert Spear1
- 3Diving Gryphon1
- 3Kill Command1
- 3Nightmare Amalgam1
- 3Primordial Explorer1
- 3SN1P-SN4P★
- 3Stormhammer1
- 3Unleash the Hounds1
- 3Ursatron1
- 4Dragonbane★
- 4Sandbinder1
- 4Scaleworm1
- 4Spellbreaker1
- 4Wing Blast1
- 5Faceless Corruptor1
- 5Kobold Stickyfinger1
- 5Zilliax★
- 6Veranus★
- 7Countess Ashmore★
- 7Dinotamer Brann★
- 7Siamat★
- 9Dragonqueen Alexstrasza★
Face Hunter – #5 Legend (WEHap) – Descent Post-Nerf
Midrange Hunter – #50 Legend (NickChipper) – Descent Post-Nerf
Quest Hunter – #28 Legend (Dekkster) – Descent Post-Nerf
Face Hunter – Viper – Descent Post-Nerf
Mage
No decks yet!
Paladin
No decks yet!
Priest
Resurrect Quest Priest – Legend (Kibler) – Descent Post-Nerf
Cards (30)
- 0Forbidden Words2
- 1Activate the Obelisk★
- 2Penance2
- 2Seance1
- 2Shadow Word: Death1
- 3Breath of the Infinite2
- 4Archmage Vargoth★
- 4Mass Dispel2
- 4Psychopomp1
- 5Convincing Infiltrator2
- 5Mass Hysteria2
- 5Sandhoof Waterbearer2
- 5Zilliax★
- 6Khartut Defender2
- 7Catrina Muerte★
- 8Batterhead2
- 9Mass Resurrection2
- 9Plague of Death2
- 9Zerek's Cloning Gallery★
Leeroy Galakrond Priest – Zetalot – Descent Post-Nerf
Cards (30)
- 1Disciple of Galakrond2
- 1Embalming Ritual1
- 1Power Word: Shield2
- 2Dead Ringer2
- 2Loot Hoarder2
- 2Shadow Word: Death2
- 2Shadowy Figure1
- 3Omega Medic1
- 4Fate Weaver2
- 4Grave Rune1
- 4Mass Dispel2
- 5Convincing Infiltrator2
- 5Leeroy Jenkins★
- 5Mass Hysteria2
- 5Time Rip2
- 5Zilliax★
- 6Kronx Dragonhoof★
- 7Galakrond, the Unspeakable★
- 9Plague of Death2
Combo Priest – #6 Legend (Gamerrvg) – Descent Post-Nerf
Carpet Combo Priest – #24 Legend (Haze) – Descent Post-Nerf
Rogue
Highlander Rogue – #24 Legend (RumHam) – Descent Post-Nerf
Cards (30)
- 0Backstab1
- 0Shadowstep1
- 1Bloodsail Flybooter1
- 1Dragon's Hoard1
- 1Pharaoh Cat1
- 1Praise Galakrond!1
- 2Eviscerate1
- 2Sap1
- 2Underbelly Fence1
- 2Zephrys the Great★
- 3Blink Fox1
- 3Edwin VanCleef★
- 3EVIL Miscreant1
- 3Necrium Blade1
- 3Seal Fate1
- 4Devoted Maniac1
- 4Hench-Clan Burglar1
- 4Necrium Apothecary1
- 4Vendetta1
- 5Faceless Corruptor1
- 5Leeroy Jenkins★
- 5Shield of Galakrond1
- 5Zilliax★
- 6Flik Skyshiv★
- 6Heistbaron Togwaggle★
- 6Kronx Dragonhoof★
- 6Mechanical Whelp1
- 7Galakrond, the Nightmare★
- 9Anubisath Warbringer1
- 9Dragonqueen Alexstrasza★
Deathrattle Rogue – #1 Legend (Duelist) – Descent Post-Nerf
Highlander Rogue – #1 Legend (MyMai) – Descent Post-Nerf
Cards (30)
- 0Backstab1
- 0Shadowstep1
- 1Bloodsail Flybooter1
- 1Dragon's Hoard1
- 1Pharaoh Cat1
- 1Praise Galakrond!1
- 2Acidic Swamp Ooze1
- 2Eviscerate1
- 2Sap1
- 2Underbelly Fence1
- 2Zephrys the Great★
- 3Blink Fox1
- 3Edwin VanCleef★
- 3EVIL Miscreant1
- 3Seal Fate1
- 3SN1P-SN4P★
- 4Devoted Maniac1
- 4Hench-Clan Burglar1
- 4Vendetta1
- 5Faceless Corruptor1
- 5Leeroy Jenkins★
- 5Shield of Galakrond1
- 5Zilliax★
- 6Flik Skyshiv★
- 6Heistbaron Togwaggle★
- 6Kronx Dragonhoof★
- 7Galakrond, the Nightmare★
- 7Siamat★
- 7Tess Greymane★
- 9Dragonqueen Alexstrasza★
Highlander Rogue – #1 Legend (Tyler) – Descent Post-Nerf
Cards (30)
- 0Backstab1
- 0Shadowstep1
- 1Bloodsail Flybooter1
- 1Dragon's Hoard1
- 1Pharaoh Cat1
- 1Praise Galakrond!1
- 2Eviscerate1
- 2Sap1
- 2Underbelly Fence1
- 2Zephrys the Great★
- 3Blink Fox1
- 3Edwin VanCleef★
- 3EVIL Miscreant1
- 3Necrium Blade1
- 3Seal Fate1
- 4Hench-Clan Burglar1
- 4Necrium Apothecary1
- 4Vendetta1
- 5Faceless Corruptor1
- 5Leeroy Jenkins★
- 5Shield of Galakrond1
- 5Zilliax★
- 6Flik Skyshiv★
- 6Heistbaron Togwaggle★
- 6Kronx Dragonhoof★
- 6Mechanical Whelp1
- 7Galakrond, the Nightmare★
- 7Siamat★
- 9Anubisath Warbringer1
- 9Dragonqueen Alexstrasza★
Shaman
Galakrond Shaman – #16 Legend (RayC) – Descent of Dragons
Cards (30)
- 1Earth Shock2
- 1Invocation of Frost2
- 2Acidic Swamp Ooze1
- 2Earthen Might2
- 2Novice Engineer2
- 2Sandstorm Elemental2
- 2Witch's Brew1
- 3Electra Stormsurge★
- 3Far Sight2
- 3Hex1
- 3Mana Tide Totem2
- 3Zentimo★
- 4Devoted Maniac2
- 5Corrupt Elementalist2
- 5Dragon's Pack2
- 5Shield of Galakrond2
- 6Kronx Dragonhoof★
- 7Galakrond, the Tempest★
- 9Shudderwock★
Galakrond Shaman – #41 Legend (XxFroBro45xX) – Descent Post-Nerf
Cards (30)
- 1Earth Shock2
- 1Invocation of Frost2
- 2Novice Engineer2
- 2Witch's Brew2
- 3Electra Stormsurge★
- 3Far Sight2
- 3Mana Tide Totem2
- 4Devoted Maniac2
- 5Bandersmosh★
- 5Barista Lynchen★
- 5Corrupt Elementalist2
- 5Dragon's Pack2
- 5Faceless Corruptor2
- 5Shield of Galakrond2
- 5Zilliax★
- 6Kronx Dragonhoof★
- 7Galakrond, the Tempest★
- 8Walking Fountain1
- 9Shudderwock★
Dragon Control Shaman – Viper – Descent Post-Nerf
Cards (30)
- 0Zap!2
- 1Earth Shock2
- 2Witch's Brew2
- 2Zephrys the Great★
- 3Haunting Visions1
- 3Hex2
- 3Lightning Breath2
- 3Zentimo★
- 5Bandersmosh★
- 5Cobalt Spellkin1
- 5Faceless Corruptor1
- 5Hagatha's Scheme2
- 5Spirit of the Frog2
- 5Zilliax★
- 6Krag'wa, the Frog★
- 6Nithogg★
- 7Earthquake2
- 8Hagatha the Witch★
- 8Twin Tyrant1
- 8Walking Fountain1
- 9Dragonqueen Alexstrasza★
- 9Shudderwock★
Control Galakrond Shaman – #27 Legend (BongDaCity) – Descent
Cards (30)
- 1Earth Shock1
- 1Invocation of Frost2
- 1Sludge Slurper2
- 2Omega Mind1
- 2Witch's Brew1
- 3Electra Stormsurge★
- 3Hex2
- 3Zentimo★
- 4Devoted Maniac2
- 5Corrupt Elementalist2
- 5Dragon's Pack2
- 5Hagatha's Scheme2
- 5Shield of Galakrond2
- 5Zilliax★
- 6Kronx Dragonhoof★
- 7Earthquake2
- 7Galakrond, the Tempest★
- 8Archivist Elysiana★
- 8Hagatha the Witch★
- 8Walking Fountain1
- 9Shudderwock★
Galakrond Shaman – #19 Legend (Akatsu) – Descent Post-Nerf
Cards (30)
- 1Earth Shock1
- 1Invocation of Frost2
- 1Sludge Slurper2
- 2Acidic Swamp Ooze1
- 2Novice Engineer2
- 3Acolyte of Pain1
- 3Electra Stormsurge★
- 3Far Sight2
- 3Mana Tide Totem2
- 4Devoted Maniac2
- 4Lifedrinker2
- 5Barista Lynchen★
- 5Corrupt Elementalist2
- 5Dragon's Pack2
- 5Faceless Corruptor2
- 5Shield of Galakrond2
- 6Kronx Dragonhoof★
- 7Galakrond, the Tempest★
- 9Shudderwock★
Galakrond Shaman – #14 Legend (mcsongi92) – Descent Post-Nerf
Cards (30)
- 0Mutate2
- 1Earth Shock2
- 1Invocation of Frost2
- 2Acidic Swamp Ooze1
- 2Ancestral Spirit1
- 2Earthen Might2
- 2Witch's Brew1
- 3Electra Stormsurge★
- 3Far Sight2
- 3Hex1
- 3Zentimo★
- 4Archmage Vargoth★
- 4Devoted Maniac2
- 5Corrupt Elementalist2
- 5Dragon's Pack2
- 5Shield of Galakrond2
- 5Spirit of the Frog2
- 6Kronx Dragonhoof★
- 7Galakrond, the Tempest★
- 9Shudderwock★
Warlock
Dragon Handlock – #27 Legend (Viper) – Descent Post-Nerf
Cards (30)
Galakrond Zoo Warlock – #56 Legend (Pizza) – Descent Post-Nerf
Malygos Handlock – Muzzy – Descent Post-Nerf
Cards (30)
- 1Mortal Coil2
- 1Soulfire2
- 2Firetree Witchdoctor2
- 2Nether Breath2
- 2Sunfury Protector2
- 3Dark Skies2
- 3SN1P-SN4P★
- 4Frizz Kindleroost★
- 4Spellbreaker1
- 4Twilight Drake2
- 5Crazed Netherwing2
- 5Leeroy Jenkins★
- 5Zilliax★
- 6Abyssal Summoner2
- 7Evasive Drakonid1
- 7Lord Godfrey★
- 7Valdris Felgorge★
- 9Alexstrasza★
- 9Malygos★
- 12Mountain Giant2
Galakrond Handlock – #18 Legend (NoHandsGamer) – Descent Post-Nerf
Cards (30)
- 1Mortal Coil2
- 1Plague of Flames2
- 2Nether Breath2
- 3Dark Skies2
- 3Dragonblight Cultist2
- 3Fiendish Rites2
- 4Devoted Maniac2
- 4Veiled Worshipper2
- 5Crazed Netherwing2
- 5Faceless Corruptor2
- 5Shield of Galakrond2
- 5Zilliax★
- 6Kronx Dragonhoof★
- 7Galakrond, the Wretched★
- 8Twisting Nether1
- 9Alexstrasza★
- 9Dragonqueen Alexstrasza★
- 12Mountain Giant2
Warrior
Control Warrior – Theo – Descent Post-Nerf
Mecha’thun Warrior – Legend (HockeyBoyz3) – Descent Post-Nerf
Pirate Warrior – Top 300 Legend (JackGibson12) – Descent Post-Nerf
Galakrond Warrior – #19 Legend (BoarControl) – Descent Post-Nerf
Cards (30)
Galakrond Warrior – #10 Legend (amealf) – Descent Post-Nerf
Highlander Aggro Warrior – #19 Legend (Jambre) – Descent Post-Nerf
Cards (30)
- 1Eternium Rover1
- 1Sky Raider1
- 1Southsea Deckhand1
- 1Town Crier1
- 1Upgrade!1
- 2Acidic Swamp Ooze1
- 2Frightened Flunky1
- 2Heroic Strike1
- 2Parachute Brigand1
- 2Ritual Chopper1
- 2Zephrys the Great★
- 3Ancharrr★
- 3Awaken!1
- 3EVIL Quartermaster1
- 3Frothing Berserker1
- 3Livewire Lance1
- 3Skybarge1
- 3SN1P-SN4P★
- 4Devoted Maniac1
- 4Dread Corsair1
- 4Kor'kron Elite1
- 4Restless Mummy1
- 4Spellbreaker1
- 5Arcanite Reaper1
- 5Captain Greenskin★
- 5Faceless Corruptor1
- 5Leeroy Jenkins★
- 5Shield of Galakrond1
- 5Zilliax★
- 7Galakrond, the Unbreakable★
18 Comments
sonriks6
IMO Shaman comes down from Tier S to Tier 1 so still strong but not OP. In same Tier 1 we may found Face Hunter and DR Rogue as well... Time to tech against these two Decks.
fnukafka
what is it? this is only cosmetic changes?
DrNoOne86
I believe that Shamankrond will still be a force in the meta, but will start being built with more control and sustain tools rather than the "rush to draw my OP cards" builds that have been popular so far.
As for the meta at large... midrange/control decks couldn't hope to compete with Shaman that's why the only other successful decks have been face or burn from hand. If Shaman becomes beatable and more control decks appear, face hunter will slowly go away as it always does.
GodlikeGamer
I predict that Shaman will still be dominant. While Mogu/Mutate has been nerfed to the ground, Galakrond has barely been touched. We will see the Aggro Overload Galakrond Shaman versions get fine tuned and rise to prominence. They were ALREADY at 60% WR, with mogu/mutate gone, zap and cumulo maximus will just fill those spots in the already super fast aggro overload versions. Prepare for more Shamanstone to come...
Brumi98
I'm very happy because of the nerf, I got free 1600 dusts. I had 2 golden elementalists XD
DnnyPhntm
Arent these two cards worth 800dust?
????
But still nice value! Congrats!
KingCucumber
Golden rare is 800
x2=1600
DnnyPhntm
mb was thinking that in golden the worth of the card is times 4 but its 8
OldManSanns
My prediction:
*Galakrond Shaman, but with replacing Mogu, Evolve, and Slurper with long-game cards like Zilliax, Hagatha Scheme, and Witch's Brew.
*Pirate Warrior
*That Deathrattle Rogue build with a bunch of little minions and the sole DRs as two Warbringers
*Facehunter
*Quest Hunter
*Highlander Hunter
Vincent
Played some games with galakrond quest... rank 3-0 to 2-3 loosing only once to face hunter.
Shamanstone is still real.
Kuskie
So everyone's gonna be face hunter if they broke. Good one blizzard, way to add diversity to the game.
Joseph
Post-nerf hearthstone is really interactive, face hunters interract a whole lot with my face
nickus89
Yeah, sometimes I really wish Hearthstone had block mechanic, similarly to Magic and Legends of Runeterra. It would make games so much more interactive and fun.
Andrzej
"Mage
No decks yet!
Paladin
No decks yet!
Priest
No decks yet!"
That's quite common these days.
Andrzej
Where are the Dragons?!
Gibilan
How the mighty have fallen.
P.s The dragons are still sleeping
BitterLemons
I'm surprised there wasn't any Galakrond Warrior.
That deck is dope.
nickus89
Shhh don't tell them. I have slightly below 80% winrate with it, destroying everything in the meta right now. If more control oriented decks come around, I imagine the deck would suffer (like res priest, control warriors etc.). But with all the face hunters, rogues and shamans around it is working like a charm.
Comments are closed.