Best Rise of Shadows Decks – The Top Meta Lists So Far!

We're taking a look at the Best Rise of Shadows Decks in Hearthstone so far! These are going to be the best performing decks for the ladder in the early stages of the release for Rise of Shadows. This post is updated frequently, and has the top decks for each class in Hearthstone!

We're taking a look at the Best Rise of Shadows Decks in Hearthstone so far! These are going to be the best performing decks for the ladder in the early stages of the release for Rise of Shadows. This post is updated frequently, and has the top decks for each class in Hearthstone!

Rise of Shadows marks the beginning of the Year of the Dragon and brings along the Standard rotation. This is one of the most exciting times to start playing Hearthstone because things are very fresh and the available card pool is at its lowest point. There's also some free stuff to be gained by hopping in once an expansion launches, not only is there a free Legendary ( Archmage Vargoth ) but you'll be getting some packs just for completing some minor quests.

Keep in mind that early in every expansion that it's best to be cautious in how you decide to craft your cards. It's always going to be better to wait it out and let the meta settle before investing too much dust into one deck. There's usually at least one or two decks that look promising early on in a release that end up being at the bottom of the barrel even a few days later. Try to build around the cards you open in packs, and keep some of that Hall of Fame Dust you got for crafting some cards later.

The expansion is live, and we've been adding a bunch of new stuff to each class! We're removing some of the lists that haven't been performing as well as we'd hoped.

Deck Updates

  • Update (4/28/19): All lists have been updated for the current meta!
  • Updated our Midrange Hunter Guide!
  • New Control Warrior Guide added!
  • Updated our Secret Paladin Guide!
  • Updated our Dragon Mage Guide!
  • Updated our Token Druid Guide!

Best Rise of Shadows Decks

We're featuring some of the best pro decks, and along with those we have some deck guides for you to better learn how to pilot some of these new lists.

Best Druid Decks

Druid has been getting hit hard by nerfs, and it is even losing Naturalize to the Hall of Fame. Mecha'thun and Mill Druid have been their main decks, with some Malygos and Token decks thrown in there. It's not a great time for the class, especially with so many powerful class cards being rotated out of Standard. Rise of Shadows only looks slightly encouraging as it seeks to push a potential Heal Druid and adds some support for Token decks.

Druid in Rise of Shadows

Token Druid is the most popular deck on the ladder due to it being pretty easy on the wallet, and it giving you a chance to win at just about every stage in the game.

Druid Deck Guides

  • Heal Druid Deck Guide
  • Token Druid Deck Guide
  • Treant Druid Deck Guide

Token Druid

Druid Neutral 2x - Acornbearer 2x - Argent Squire 2x - Crystalsong Portal 2x - Mecharoo 2x - Dreamway Guardians 1x - Archmage Vargoth 1x - Keeper Stalladris 2x - Power of the Wild 2x - Wrath 2x - Blessing of the Ancients 2x - Landscaping 2x - Savage Roar 2x - Soul of the Forest 2x - Swipe 2x - Wispering Woods 2x - The Forest's Aid

Deck Code

AAECAZICAtaZA8mcAw5A/QL3A+YF9QXEBtfvAt/7Avb9AsOUA8WUA86UA8qcA9OcAwA= Copy Code

Best Hunter Decks

Hunter required some nerfs to get back down to a tolerable level due to it having so many powerful deck options. From Spell to Deathrattle, and then back to the tried and true Midrange Hunter, the class has had its way with the meta for a few expansions now. The class is now losing a lot of the cards that supported those archetypes, so it's going to need some help from Rise of Shadows to stay relevant. Deathrattle might still be around, but it's going to be a totally different deck. Mech synergy is looking potentially promising, but the class might need some more help to get a fully cohesive deck.

Hunter in Rise of Shadows

Hunter has quite a few good options for the ladder, and is probably the best overall class right now.

Hunter Deck Guides

  • Secret Hunter Deck Guide
  • Midrange Hunter Deck Guide
  • Malygos Spell Hunter Deck Guide
  • Deathrattle Mech Hunter Deck Guide

Mech Hunter

Hunter Neutral 2x - Tracking 2x - Mecharoo 2x - Bomb Toss 1x - Dire Wolf Alpha 2x - Fireworks Tech 2x - Galvanizer 2x - Venomizer 1x - Whirliglider 2x - Spider Bomb 2x - Explodinator 1x - Unleash the Hounds 2x - Replicating Menace 2x - Ursatron 1x - Leeroy Jenkins 1x - Boommaster Flark 2x - Wargear 1x - Zilliax 2x - Missile Launcher

Deck Code

AAECAR8GrwTZB9sJ4fUCvPwCoIADDJcI4PUC4vUC7/UCufgCmPsCqPsC9v0C1/4CiYADzIEDtpwDAA== Copy Code

Secret Hunter

Hunter Neutral 2x - Explosive Trap 2x - Secretkeeper 2x - Freezing Trap 2x - Sunreaver Spy 2x - Rapid Fire 2x - Masked Contender 1x - Rat Trap 2x - Lifedrinker 1x - Snake Trap 1x - Subject 9 1x - Snipe 2x - Animal Companion 2x - Eaglehorn Bow 1x - Kill Command 1x - Unleash the Hounds 2x - Marked Shot 1x - Baited Arrow 1x - Unleash the Beast 1x - Vereesa Windrunner 1x - Zul'jin

Deck Code

AAECAR8KqALHA64G2wmY8AKnggObhQOiigP5lgP7lgMKngG1A4cEyQT+DO/xAvWJA+aWA+yWA76YAwA= Copy Code

Midrange Hunter

Hunter Neutral 2x - Shimmerfly 2x - Dire Wolf Alpha 2x - Springpaw 2x - Hench-Clan Hogsteed 2x - Timber Wolf 1x - Tracking 2x - Headhunter's Hatchet 2x - Scavenging Hyena 2x - Animal Companion 2x - Kill Command 2x - Master's Call 2x - Unleash the Hounds 2x - Dire Frenzy 1x - Tundra Rhino 1x - Savannah Highmane 2x - Unleash the Beast 1x - Zul'jin

Deck Code

AAECAR8EuwWXCO0Jm4UDDagCtQPeBNkH2wmBCsn4AqCFA6SIA7CLA/mWA56dA8edAwA= Copy Code

Best Mage Decks

Mage had some hard times over the last expansion, but it eventually fell into having an Odd Mage version that really worked for the class. However, it lost its trusty Mana Wyrm to a nerf, and is losing all of the odd cards that kept the class afloat. The cards it's getting in Rise of Shadows look to be incentivizing the class to head in a spell based direction, and maybe even tempo with the addition of Magic Dart Frog. The class also had some success with Dragon Mage, which could end up seeing some more play in the future. We'll see where the class heads as we get deeper into the launch of the expansion.

Mage in Rise of Shadows

Khadgar Dragon Mage is the top deck for the class right now, all other options are pretty weak at the moment.

Mage Deck Guides

  • Dragon Mage Deck Guide
  • Tempo Mage Deck Guide

Khadgar Dragon Mage

Mage Neutral 2x - Book of Specters 2x - Acidic Swamp Ooze 1x - Khadgar 2x - Firetree Witchdoctor 2x - Conjurer's Calling 1x - Sunfury Protector 2x - Messenger Raven 2x - Scaleworm 2x - Astromancer 2x - Spellbreaker 2x - Power of Creation 2x - Twilight Drake 1x - Kalecgos 1x - Dragonmaw Scorcher 1x - Zilliax 2x - Crowd Roaster 1x - Alexstrasza 2x - Mountain Giant

Deck Code

AAECAf0EBsUE+waggAPsiQOWmgOKngMM8gWKB+EHjQjO7wKJ8QLD+ALoiQPolAPnlQODlgOgmwMA Copy Code

Best Paladin Decks

Paladin has had a pretty good year and swapped back and forth between Odd and Even builds that each held the top of the meta at different times. The class even saw a revival to Secret Paladin that ended up being a quality option for the ladder in the later part of the Rastakhan meta. If you weren't a fan of more aggressive decks, then you could even try your hand at Holy Wrath, OTK DK, and Shirvallah Paladin. You had a lot of options if you were a fan of the Paladin class, but with the rotation about to happen, we'll see how it fares without Genn & Baku. Rise of Shadows appears to be flirting with keeping Secret Paladin around after the rotation, but also brings back Dragon synergy to the class after a long layoff.

Paladin in Rise of Shadows

Mech Paladin has taken the best parts of Secret Paladin and paired it with heavy Mech synergy to give Paladin a viable deck for the ladder.

Paladin Deck Guides

  • Dragon Paladin Deck Guide
  • Secret Paladin Deck Guide

Mech Paladin

Paladin Neutral 1x - Autodefense Matrix 2x - Sunreaver Spy 1x - Hidden Wisdom 1x - Harrison Jones 2x - Never Surrender! 2x - Wargear 2x - Redemption 1x - Zilliax 2x - Mysterious Blade 2x - Mechanical Whelp 2x - Aldor Peacekeeper 1x - Countess Ashmore 1x - Commander Rhyssa 2x - Annoy-o-Module 2x - Bellringer Sentry 2x - Blessing of Kings 2x - Consecration 1x - Kangor's Endless Army 1x - Tirion Fordring

Deck Code

AAECAZ8FCPoGkAeb8ALA/QLY/gLx/gKggAOUmgMLjAHcA68Hjwmt8gK09gLh/gLMgQO+mAOOmgOQmgMA Copy Code

Best Priest Decks

Priest has had an interesting Year of the Raven, it never really got to enjoy the Odd and Even decks that most other classes got to use. However, it found some unique lists like the more standard Control Priest, the exciting Clone Priest, and enjoyed some late popularity with Wall Priest becoming somewhat of a phenomenon. Rise of Shadows seeks to still support some of that resurrect style of play, as well as trying to bring Priest back to the days of Purify and Silence Priest.

Priest in Rise of Shadows

Resurrect Priest and Nomi Priest are the best options for the class, but both decks are not top tier.

Priest Deck Guides

  • Resurrect Priest Deck Guide
  • Silence Priest Deck Guide

Resurrect Priest

Priest Neutral 2x - Forbidden Words 1x - Archmage Vargoth 1x - Topsy Turvy 2x - Witchwood Grizzly 2x - Inner Fire 1x - Zilliax 2x - Northshire Cleric 2x - Damaged Stegotron 2x - Power Word: Shield 2x - Mosh'Ogg Enforcer 1x - Divine Hymn 2x - Divine Spirit 1x - Shadow Word: Death 1x - Shadow Word: Pain 1x - Shadow Madness 1x - Hench-Clan Shadequill 1x - Convincing Infiltrator 2x - Mass Hysteria 1x - Catrina Muerte 2x - Mass Resurrection

Deck Code

AAECAa0GCtwB0wrXCr3zAtD+AqCAA4KUA4OUA9aZA5ObAwr4AuUE0QryDPLxAvv+ApeHA9iJA5ibA5mbAwA= Copy Code

Nomi Priest

Priest Neutral 2x - Circle of Healing 1x - Acidic Swamp Ooze 1x - Forbidden Words 2x - Wild Pyromancer 2x - Lazul's Scheme 2x - Acolyte of Pain 2x - Regenerate 2x - Gadgetzan Auctioneer 2x - Silence 1x - Chef Nomi 2x - Topsy Turvy 2x - Northshire Cleric 2x - Power Word: Shield 2x - Divine Hymn 2x - Seance 1x - Mass Hysteria 2x - Grave Horror

Deck Code

AAECAa0GBIoHl4cD0pkDmJsDDeUEpAf2B6UJ0gryDPsMvfMC0P4C5ogD64oD6owDsJEDAA== Copy Code

Best Rogue Decks

Rogue's been kind of hit or miss for a while, but it still has had many pretty good options. Miracle, Pirate, Tempo, and even Quest Rogue returning periodically throughout the last year or so. Rise of Shadows is looking to push Rogue down the path of being a thief once again, and gave it some pretty strong cards that will add a card from another class in your hand. We'll see if it ends up being strong enough to work, because it would be a pretty fun deck to have the option to play!

Rogue in Rise of Shadows

Tempo Rogue remains one of the best options for taking to the ladder right now! Thief Rogue has fallen back now that the meta has started to settle.

Rogue Deck Guides

  • Tempo Rogue Deck Guide
  • Thief Rogue Deck Guide

Tempo Rogue

Rogue Neutral 2x - Backstab 2x - Southsea Deckhand 2x - Preparation 2x - Dread Corsair 2x - Shadowstep 2x - Lifedrinker 2x - Deadly Poison 1x - Captain Greenskin 2x - Eviscerate 1x - Leeroy Jenkins 2x - Sap 2x - EVIL Miscreant 1x - Edwin VanCleef 2x - Raiding Party 2x - SI:7 Agent 2x - Waggle Pick 1x - Myra's Unstable Element

Deck Code

AAECAaIHBLICyAOvBOf6Ag20Ae0CywPNA9QF7gaIB90Ihgnv8QLVjAOPlwOJmwMA Copy Code

Thief Rogue

Rogue Neutral 2x - Backstab 1x - Zilliax 2x - Preparation 1x - Safeguard 2x - Shadowstep 1x - Togwaggle's Scheme 2x - Eviscerate 2x - Underbelly Fence 2x - Blink Fox 2x - EVIL Miscreant 1x - Edwin VanCleef 2x - Fan of Knives 2x - Academic Espionage 2x - Hench-Clan Burglar 2x - Vendetta 1x - Walk the Plank 2x - Sprint 1x - Tess Greymane

Deck Code

AAECAaIHBrIC6/ACoIADzowDr5EDwJgDDLQB7QL2BJsFiAeGCaj3Asf4Ao+XA5CXA/uaA/6aAwA= Copy Code

Best Shaman Decks

Shaman has had an interesting year, with it mostly relying on Even Shaman to take it through the meta. It did also have some other options. Shudderwock has been a pretty powerful ally for the class, and powers an Elemental version and just a straight up all-in battlecry version. Rise of Shadows has brought back the Murlocs to Shaman, and it looks like early on this could be a winning strategy for the class. Shudderwock will still be a player, especially with the new Hagatha card that looks strong as we head into the release of the expansion.

Shaman in Rise of Shadows

Murloc Shaman was pretty strong early on, but has quieted a bit and lost its top spot to Big Shaman.

Shaman Deck Guides

  • Murloc Shaman Deck Guide

Big Muckmorpher Shaman

Shaman Neutral 2x - Ancestral Healing 1x - Zilliax 2x - Earth Shock 1x - Cairne Bloodhoof 2x - Ancestral Spirit 1x - Ysera 2x - Big Bad Voodoo 1x - Big Bad Archmage 1x - Witch's Brew 2x - Far Sight 2x - Haunting Visions 1x - Spirit of the Frog 2x - Hex 2x - Hagatha's Scheme 2x - Muckmorpher 2x - Eureka! 1x - Al'Akir the Windlord 1x - Hagatha the Witch 2x - Walking Fountain

Deck Code

AAECAaoICCCkA6IJp+4CoIADjIUDxJkDxZkDC5UBlAP+Bf8Fsgaf/QKKhQO9hQOtkQOKlAOPlAMA Copy Code

Murloc Shaman

Shaman Neutral 2x - Zap! 2x - Murloc Tidecaller 2x - Lightning Bolt 2x - Toxfin 2x - Sludge Slurper 2x - Murloc Warleader 2x - Voltaic Burst 2x - Sunreaver Warmage 2x - Likkim 2x - Soul of the Murloc 2x - Underbelly Angler 2x - Storm Chaser 2x - Thunderhead 2x - Bloodlust 2x - Rain of Toads

Deck Code

AAECAaoIAA/bA/kDpwiTCfbwAur6Ao/7Apz/AvOKA/aKA4yUA7WYA9OYA8aZA/SZAwA= Copy Code

Best Warlock Decks

Warlock has been bouncing around with multiple decks at its disposal from Even Warlock to Zoo, and even Cube came back again as a viable option. It also had a generally viable control version, plus you could throw a Mecha'thun Warlock at the ladder for good measure. All that basically means is that the class has had a versatile lineup as we head into the rotation. The class will be losing a lot of the cards that powered those decks, and Zoo in particular is completely decimated which includes the Hall of Fame bound Doomguard . If you liked Mecha'thun, however, then you might be in luck because there's some possibilities still there for that deck.

Warlock in Rise of Shadows

After a weak first day, it looks like Warlock might have found a pretty good Zoo build. Unfortunately, it looks like Warlock is largely locked into this style of play which has been so prevalent over the years for the class.

Warlock Deck Guides

  • Zoolock Deck Guide

Zoolock

Warlock Neutral 2x - Flame Imp 2x - Abusive Sergeant 2x - Grim Rally 2x - Argent Squire 1x - The Soularium 2x - Crystallizer 2x - Voidwalker 2x - Mecharoo 2x - EVIL Genius 2x - Saronite Taskmaster 1x - Arch-Villain Rafaam 2x - Dire Wolf Alpha 2x - Knife Juggler 2x - Scarab Egg 2x - Magic Carpet 2x - Sea Giant

Deck Code

AAECAf0GAo+CA5eXAw4w0wHyAfUF2QexCMII9v0C+v4C3IYDxIkD7IwDiJ0DtZ8DAA== Copy Code

Best Warrior Decks

Warrior hasn't been doing too terribly in the meta, but it's been largely limited to Odd decks. However, a lot of people feel that Warrior's core is looking pretty strong going into the rotation. The class is also receiving one of the better looking legendaries with Blastmaster Boom. You'll only need to get a couple of bombs into your deck to be able to fill up your board with Boom Bots and the new Dr. 7. Warrior is also one of the few classes with a hero card sticking around after the rotation which makes it in an even better spot.

Warrior in Rise of Shadows

While Bomb Warrior started off hot, it turns out that Control Warrior is the most dominant deck for the class. It is also one of the best options for the ladder right now!

Warrior Deck Guides

  • Control Warrior Deck Guide
  • Bomb Warrior Deck Guide
  • Big Warrior Deck Guide

Control Warrior

Warrior Neutral 2x - Eternium Rover 1x - Youthful Brewmaster 2x - Omega Assembly 2x - Acolyte of Pain 2x - Shield Slam 1x - Harrison Jones 1x - Town Crier 1x - Zilliax 2x - Execute 1x - Archivist Elysiana 2x - Warpath 2x - Weapons Project 2x - Shield Block 2x - Militia Commander 2x - Omega Devastator 2x - Brawl 2x - Dyn-o-matic 1x - Dr. Boom, Mad Genius

Deck Code

AAECAQcGnwOQB53wApL4AqCAA4adAwxLogSRBv8H+wyb8wLR9QL09QKD+wKe+wKz/AKSnwMA Copy Code

Bomb Warrior

Warrior Neutral 2x - Eternium Rover 2x - Augmented Elekk 2x - Omega Assembly 2x - Seaforium Bomber 2x - Shield Slam 1x - Zilliax 1x - Town Crier 1x - Archivist Elysiana 1x - Slam 2x - Warpath 2x - Clockwork Goblin 2x - Shield Block 2x - Militia Commander 2x - Wrenchcalibur 2x - Brawl 2x - Dyn-o-matic 1x - Blastmaster Boom 1x - Dr. Boom, Mad Genius

Deck Code

AAECAQcGsgid8AKS+AKggAOblAOGnQMMS6IE/web8wLR9QKD+wKe+wKz/ALx/AL1gAOXlAOalAMA Copy Code

ncG1vNJzZmiooqS0ornEoKyinJWoe6S7zGifnpmiqbW0wM6nnGialajBbr7IrJxmp5ZiwKmtw6iurGWUmrCsv44%3D

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