(This is kind of a repost since the original editing was all fu***d up but I think I've managed to make it look... readable.)

So, the newest Blackrock cards have been revealed. Some of them are good, many of them are fun. But one of them... caught my eye, to say the least, and not in a good way. And, having had thoughts about the design for new cards for a while, I wanted to share my thoughts.

Basically, cards and, by extension, decks in Hearthstone can be divided into two distinct categories: value and tempo. Value cards are meant to increase your card advantage and deal with multiple threats or solve multiple problems at the same time. Decks which capitalize on value are called control decks because they do just that: they are reactive rather than proactive; they respond to the opponent's plays and attempt to maximize their card advantage. These decks prefer to play the long game as this means being able to play your expensive but high value cards and have more options to seal a safe win.

Tempo refers to the ability to put pressure on your opponent or to significantly increase your board presence. Tempo decks are usually very aggressive - 'aggro' -and rely on flooding the board and simply having too much stuff too fast for your opponent to deal with, sacrificing value and card advantage for speed. They benefit from the game being relatively short because they run out of steam quickly and do not want the other deck to draw appropriate answers and play high value cards.

Tempo and value cards have their weaknesses and strengths, and aggro and control decks both have their place in the world of Hearthstone. It's therefore understandable that Blizzard would make make new cards which are very strong for both types of decks.

However, this hasn't really been the case.

You see, when it comes to expansions Blizzard has a history of attempting to make value cards, but for some reason they seem to rarely want to take risks of making a really, really good and efficient value card. These cards all suffer from the same problems: they are too expensive, too situational, or have poor survivabilty when they are minions.

See? Cards like these have promising abilites which would be very interesting for the game as a whole, abilites which are one of a kind. But somehow Blizzard just doesn't want people to play with them. They simply fear that they would be overpowered, that control decks would be too efficient.

And I guess that would be a justification... if they were equally wary to release strong tempo cards in their new expansions. And by strong, I mean ridiculous. But, while control decks get their Hemets, tempo decks get these...

Undertaker is a one mana minion which, when put in the right deck, can consistently grow by +1/+1 or more each turn; and, by turn 3 the game is pretty much over if you don't have perfect answers. Goblin Blastmage is a ridiculous tempo play, has great offensive stats and removes your opponent's last line of defense. Having two Mechwarpers in a mech deck in your opening hand pretty much seals the game before the second turn passes.

So the current metagame is extremely aggresive, and control decks often times can only cross their fingers when queing against a mech mage or a hunter, and pray they don't get a ridiculous starting hand. There has been quiet hope that Blackrock changes things, that we will see actual value cards that are defensive and consistently amazing. Cards which, mind you, we know Blizzard can make:

We have these great cards, we love them, only we want more. Cards that are efficient, cards that provide options, cards that expand the way the game is played.

I'm sure that Blizzard has heard their community, that Blackrock will deliver on this front, let's just wait and see, wait! we have the first legendary of the expansion...

Okay, guys, maybe it's not that bad, maybe the next cards released will be like Rend's pet Dragons which can like be played for free when you polay Rend? so that's why you want to hold a dragon with him? anyway, they have still a few cards to show, there's still hope, at least they won't be doing anything stupid like giving cancer hunters more direct damage and draw amirite

I'm done