Because everyone loves/hates Eladwen, Queen of Rush. Took longer than I thought to write up both because of content and RL, sorry it is later than I said it would be.
So when I found I, currently, do better with Aggro and Rush type decks, I decided to see if Rush could work beyond Eladwen, the only Rush deck I tend to read about here. I started by looking at several Eladwen decks to see if there were any common patterns that made the deck type work and if they could be transferred to other Heroes. I came up with the following Basic Rush Template.
Allies
4x cc1
4-8x cc2
8-10x cc3
4-7x cc4+
need ally with card draw (Tainted Oracle)
need ally with combat modifier (Aldon) or self boosting
need allies with good stats (Puwen, Jasmine, etc.)
possibly an ally with an interesting ability (think Layarian Seductress, Artful Squire, something that works with a particular Hero ability, etc.)
Abilities, usually from Class
4x Strong Class card (Fireball)
3-4x Strong Class card (Lightning Bolt)
3x Board Wipe or some REALLY Strong Class card (Supernova)
Other Stuff
3-4x card draw & something else
3-4x card draw
3-4x something else beneficial (example, Portal)
With this done, I now had to figure out the cards that would work in Rush. Some work was already done, Human allies, Strong Mage cards and some choices for Other Stuff. Since Human was partially done, I started there and looked to see if SF brings anything new to be considered to the Rush deck type. Currently, I got the following 2 lists for Mages.
Typical Human Allies
cc1 - Kristoffer Wyld
cc2 - Puwen Bloodhelm; Champion of Irum; Fatebeak Familiar; Elleanor, Princess of Ellos (1x only); Zealous Mystic;
cc3 - Jasmine Rosecult; Aldon the Brave; Priest of Light; Layarian Seductress; Evolving Abomination
cc4+ - Tainted Oracle; Riders of Ellos; Artful Squire; Armored Sandworm; Aeon Stormcaller; Marshland Sentinel (heroes needing SE sinks only); Viska, The Scarlet Blade; Irina, Guardian of the Swan; Fortified Wisp
I will not go over ones known to be used. Regarding new additions, here is why I added them.
Fatebeak Familiar - Currently has Puwen's stats but with a decent ability. Even if the stats are modified, if the ability stays, it can counter some good cc2 or less cards. While this can cause the loss of the ally, Fatebeak can change how your opponent plays if he relies on a cc2 or less card thus leading him to really get rid of Fatebeak through other means.
Elleanor, Princess of Ellos - In the right situations, she can be useful getting stats of 3/1 or 4/1 with her boyfriend Aldon out and cannot be attacked usually. Because she can be counterattacked on your turn, has fragile health and is Unique, I listed her as 1x only.
Zealous Mystic - The ability to take attachments from others for Haste is good if you play Treasured Heirloom. But Mystic also can function by removing any negative attachments from allies you want available such as taking Crippling Blow upon itself so your Priest of Light with higher attack can be used.
Evolving Abomination - I have not played it yet so I only speculate it could have use. Usually when playing this deck type, I am either playing allies or abilities on a turn so this ally will gain something when the turn ends thus growing over time.
Marshland Sentinel - I only list him as an SE sink if deemed needed. The ability to neuter an opposing ally attack to 0 is not something to pass up.
Viska, The Scarlet Blade - Honestly, I think she is a touch OP. She does make for competition with Aeon.
Irina, Guardian of the Swan - Two attacks per turn looks good especially in Rush.
Fortified Wisp - weaker stats than Sandworm but the same damage reduction and possibility of attack going up.
Skipping over the Class Ability cards, next comes the Other Stuff.
Typical Human Other Stuff
*Honored Dead
*Road Less Traveled (formerly Bad Santa)
Sever Ties
Lay Line Nexus
Portal
Tome of Knowledge
Treasured Heirloom
Snow Sapphire
Voice of Winter
Saymeht's Retribution
Skipping over the ones known about.
Road Less Traveled - In my view, replaces Bad Santa for same cc, something to discuss and look into.
Bad - you lose 1 card draw.
Good #1 - your opponent gets ZERO cards.
Good #2 - you can replay allies. Attack with Kris, RLT him, play again. Attack with PoL, RLT him, replay for Health Gain and opponent SE loss. Attack with Aldon, he takes damage and lives, RLT him, play again at full health.
RLT > Bad Santa.
Saymeht's Retribution - Broad destruction of card types for the same cost as Sever Ties.
Well, that's Human done except for Class Ability cards, still looking that over. My ally list was much larger so I tried trimming it down with picky criteria. I have only had time to try Aramia Rush with modest success and on the Live Server I have done Jericho Rush with meh success seeing Priest has Tidal Wave as a rough equal for Supernova's board wipe.
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