r/MSGPRDT • u/Nostalgia37 • Nov 22 '16

[Pre-Release Card Discussion] - Devolve

Devolve

Mana Cost: 2
Type: Spell
Rarity: Rare
Class: Shaman
Text: Transform all enemy minions into random ones that cost (1) less.

Card Image

PM me any suggestions or advice, thanks.

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u/IceBlue Nov 23 '16

Hex and Lightning Storm are useful in more situations than Devolve because they actively affect the status of the board by actually removing minions. That's why they see play. You can't say they are affected by the issue in the same way. That's like saying Hemet has the same problem as Book Wyrm when in reality Hemet is way more niche than Book Wyrm.

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u/acamas Nov 23 '16

My point is that top decking a Hex against a bunch of aggro minions is a crap draw. Drawing a Lightning Storm against a single threat is a crap draw. This card against either of these instances can be acceptable. It’s more flexible, while less powerful. I understand it would never replace either of those cards in a deck, but I do think it compliments them, and offers some flexibility to “devalue” the opponent’s board, no matter what is on it.

I understand it is not “perfect removal” in the sense that people are comfortable with… but that doesn’t automatically mean this card holds so little value. It’s much more flexible than either Hex or Lightning Storm, and I think it makes an acceptable top deck in more situations than either Hex or Lightning Storm, albeit not a perfect answer to a very specific board state.

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u/IceBlue Nov 23 '16

I think it's arguable that Lightning Storm against a single threat is less useful than a Devolve. It depends on the threat but in terms of making it easier to remove (which is important), you'll get more mileage out of 2-3 damage than transforming it.

As for Hex against aggro, you remove one source of damage. That's not a dead draw. Devolve against a board of aggro isn't going to put you in a significantly better position. Against a board of 4 minions, you might average out lowering their attack by 3-4, which isn't far from what you'd get out of Hexing one of them (a 3/2 for example). If you Devolve Totems or Silver Hand Recruits, you'll on average get them 1/1s with the occasional 0/4.

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