Spreadsheet: 0-Cost Cards
Category: Other (A-Tier)
Internal Category Tier: B-Tier
Tier 5
6/7 airborne stats are strong. Wins against Strafing Dragon and Angel of Light and blocks the common 6/8s without breaking (Ice Drake, Gold Dragon, etc.).
However, while getting that strong airborne body for 0 is powerful, having no immediate effect leaves it devastatingly susceptible to Raxxa’s Curse/Siren’s Song punishes. Its stats also won’t save it from Ensnaring Rune/War Machine. All of those are powerful and highly desirable cards in limited, so if your opponent has a chance to draft them, they probably will (unless they got even better choices). That being said, with an ever expanding card pool, your opponent might not get offered them, let alone draw them in game. Of those, Raxxa’s Curse sees a ton of constructed play, Ensnaring Rune sees some (me), and Siren’s Song/War Machine sees very minimal fringe play.
If your opponent doesn’t have an effective/efficient answer to this (and it does survive all 6 or less damage removal [Smash and Burn]), this is a serious threat. It can’t be effectively chump blocked, it kills in 5 attacks by itself, and it is challenging to remove in combat. I will generally pick cards with greater immediate effects and/or card draw over this, but if I’m ahead of the curve on card draw and have a few solid reestablishing cards, this is a high priority pick I’d be thrilled to get.
In constructed I am incredibly reluctant to bring 0-cost champions without blitz that have no immediate effect because of the popularity of both Raxxa’s Curse and control. Playing against control, especially Kark, a 6/7 airborne champion isn’t enough threat/damage on its own, and combining it with other champions makes you more susceptible to board clears. Slow champions without blitz, even 0-cost evasive ones, usually just don’t cut it.
You came back a lot faster then expected! My fix is due, thanks!