THL Kobolds and Catacombs Card Reviews: Neutrals, by FollowDurden

King Togwaggle: 1/5
The memes. And… nothing else. Prince Malchezaar even thinks this card is a dumpster fire.

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Master Oakheart: 2/5
This could be the darkhorse of the set, in the right deck of course. Like Taunt Druid or a Bolster Warrior. Okay, just Taunt Druid. I don’t see this so much in any midrangey or aggro decks, of course. Very niche, but potentially OP in Taunt Druid.

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The Darkness: 3/5
This expax’s Golakka Crawler, in that it’s a direct nerf to a currently Tier 1 deck. This card laughs at all Highlander decks as it sits invulnerable, waiting on them to draw into death. Seriously, the reward for a Highlander deck drawing back to it’s singleton status is activating a 20/20 minion. But, in the end it’s just a tech card. ​

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Zola the Gorgon: 1/5
I mean, the flavor is fun. “Are you a filthy F2Per like Markshire? Here! Have a free golden card for this game!” Okay. It might see play in someone’s Deathrattle deck if they’re unfortunate enough to open this. ​

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Arcane Tyrant: 2/5
I mean, it’s always great to play something for free after another card/effect in your hand discounts it. And a 4/4 free body is great. It’s like a reverse Inkmaster Solia. And how much does she see play? Oh, yeah. Potential to see play in some new Mage deck

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Carnivorous Cube: 5/5
My bold pick for the expansion. This card will see a significant amount of play. It’s got solid stats for a very powerful effect. But, is this card and its effect too slow for it to make a difference? I’m betting not. The reward is insane - 3x (count them, 3x!) deathrattle effects for the price of a very solid body. Just imagine this in any Deathrattle themed deck. This + Cairne makes any Control N’Zoth deck OP OP. Part 2 of this bold prediction? Fibonacci will propose to this card.

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Corridor Creeper: 2/5
Hockey likes this, so I’m going to give it a solid score of “1”. No, seriously, it’s one step up in terms of being better than Nerubian Prophet. I’m just not seeing how many times you’re going to be able to hold this card for a long enough period of time to cheat it out w/ any significance, say for 3 mana or less. So, it either clogs your hand up enough, or you have to drop it naked on a board (probs w/ few other cards in hand at this point) after your Token Druid was just wiped by Flamestrike? Not seeing it. But, I’d be lieing if I said I’m not gonna try to see if it works just like all of you. Prediction? It sees some decent play in the beginning but it’s forgotten after about 3-4 weeks. ​

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Dragonhatcher: 1/5
Nope. Just nope. Too slow. Stats are too penalized for the potential reward. “Hey! Let’s play the weakest-statted 9-drop ever just to cheat out another 9-mana card!” ​

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Grand Archivist: 1/5
This could work in a deck where you’re running… No. Nevermind. ​

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Rummaging Kobold: 1/5
I love the mechanic. But, no. Let’s be real. It’s not going to see play. ​

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Shimmering Courser: 2.5/5
Now this is a flavorful card. Is it possible that Galvadon is going to become a thing? The deck doesn’t rely solely on the Quest reward now, w/ the new legendary and this card. Don’t overlook the tribal synergy either. Or, do, because what other archetype would it work in?

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Spiteful Summoner: 1/5
This expansion is all about “big”. Apparently, in the Catacombs size does matter. But where in the world does this fit in actual competitive decks? Big Mage is all I can think of, and yeah it’d be awesome to cheat out a 5-drop for free, potentially bigger. But, that’s so niche and we don’t even know if the deck will work. Otherwise, you’re trying to build a deck around this poor body, and that doesn’t work. ​

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Void Ripper: 3/5
I’m not on the meta-shaping hype train that most of Reddit is for this card. I do think it has the potential to be incredibly powerful. This could become the tech card if Totem Shaman rises up as our new overlord. Also can def work as a finisher in Aggro Druid. This could be a Swiss Army knife, but I’m not seeing the ubiquity that so many others are calling for. ​

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Ebon Dragonsmith: 1/5
Nope. Are you going to run it in a Dragon Priest w/ the Priest legend weapon? Didn’t think so. ​

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Feral Gibberer: 1/5
If this had a beast tag, then it might see play. But, no tribal synergy = no play for the Gibberer. BTW, look at that thing. If that isn’t a beast I don’t know what is? ​

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Furbolg Mossbinder: 1/5
Definition of a niche card. Very niche. Even then, it’s a stretch to think this could even work in Elly Mage. Nope. Also, was Blizzard actively trying to make Evolve Shaman an unplayable archetype? ​

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Gravelsnout Knight: 1/5
Adding a minion to your opponent’s board is rarely a good thing, and the stats don’t offset the penalty. This is no Zombie Chow. ​

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Hungry Ettin: 2/5
This could actually see play. I know, I know, I just said that summoning a  minion for your opponent is almost never correct. In this case though, you’re getting a boatload of stats and the taunt effect for what is more than likely an inconsequential minion (2-drop) for your opponent. I think this can see play in a Taunt Druid or Control Warrior type deck. ​

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Kobold Monk: 2/5
I actually think this card is really, really close to seeing play. For example, if this card had an elemental tag it could be pushed over the hump. Great effect with a a big body that isn’t easy to remove? Even without tribal synergy, these stats on a neutral body with great effect could still lead the Kobold Monk to see play. Big if, though. ​

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Lone Champion: 1/5
Man, I really want to love this card. It really feels like Blizzard tried to do some really cool things w/ the neutral cards in this expansion. But, where in the world does this see play? A midrange deck? Nope. If you don’t have minions on the board on turn 3, this card isn’t going to swing the board. A control deck? Possibly, but why would you play this instead of Tar Creeper if you’re going for a control approach? You wouldn’t, since Creeper has better stats and no condition. ​

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Scorp-o-matic: 1/5
Um. Like 2 rotations too late? Would’ve been cool a couple of years ago, and possibly seen play since it kills Doomsayer and all totems. But, alas, nope. ​

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Shrieking Shroom: 1/5
This card should cost 2 mana. It’s now the living embodiment of how a single mana cost can push a card to a non-playable state. If it cost 2? Abso-freaking-lutely. Cost 3? Nope. ​

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Boisterous Bard: 1/5
For some reason, if this were a 2/3 body I could somehow see it making its way into some deck some how some way. But a 3/2 body on a 3 mana card better have an amazing effect, and this isn’t it. ​

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Corrosive Sludge: 4/5
You knew a weapon killer was coming, and this is the new budget-friendly Harrison Jones. Why do I think this is going to see play instead of the Ooze twins? This has a great body for its cost, and you don’t need a low curve minion to destroy the legendary weapons since they’re all so expensive. And, your odds of drawing this before turn 7 or 8 is pretty significant. Turn 5 isn’t phenomenal for most decks anyways, so a 5/5 body isn’t bad if dropped for tempo if the player needs it. ​

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Cursed Disciple: 1/5
Good try for something different, I guess? This expansion’s recipient of the participation trophy. ​

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Dire Mole: 1/5
The new staple for all aggro decks. Hunter mains are weeping w/ joy. Enchanted Ravens has a new BFF, and they’re couple name is Dire Raven. This card is going to be everywhere, even some midrangey decks. ​

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Dragonslayer: 1/5
Sitting here, today, this card won’t see play. But if Zalae is right and Dragon Priest becomes the most dominant deck of all time the upcoming meta, then this redheaded beauty might just be the hero we need. Possibly a 5 in the future.

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Fungal Enchanter: 2/5
Cool card. At first glance I dismissed this card, but Farseer sees play and this card only heals your hero for 1 less while also healing all of your minions for 2. I really want to like this card. It’s like that girl/boy that I know my parents will really like if I bring them home, and they’re cute and all, but I know I’m not going to have fun with them on a personal level. Yeah, I doubt it’ll see widespread play. 2, because my parents would like it.

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Fungalmancer: -1/5
What? No. Just no. I take back everything I said about Blizzard putting effort into neutral cards this expansion.

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Green Jelly: 1/5
So, this card is what happens when you think too much about the girl/boy who got away too much. Yup, Sludge Belcher was the greatest thing to ever happen to you. Gorgeous, great sense of humor, awesome in the bedr-... library. You know, almost all of have that one person at some point in our lives. But, Belcher is gone. She’s never coming back. No matter how many people you try to date that look like him/her, you’re not gonna find that magic again. Just move on with your life. Belcher was bae. Bae is gone. ​

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Guild Recruiter: 1/5
It’s hard to sit here and judge recruit, since it’s such a new mechanic. But, that being said, a person would have to build their deck around this card, since pulling a 1 or 2 drop would be such a huge tempo loss, not mention you’re losing potential battlecries. Is this card’s effect strong enough to build around? Nope. If it said “Recruit a 4 drop” then sign me up. ​

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Hoarding Dragon: 1-3/5
This is probably the most difficult neutral card to judge. Basically, get a busted pile of stats for 4 mana, but give your opponent pre-nerf Innervate, or worse if it’s a Rogue. At least w/ Flamewreath Faceless you could plan around your penalty, and you can’t do that here. Okay, I think I’m getting there. So long as Rogue isn’t a thing in the next meta then this card will be great. I’m digging the dragon synergy, as I’m on the Dragon Priest bandwagon. But, damn that penalty is scary. One potentially fun side effect for the penalty? Screw over hand-heavy decks like Control Mage or cycle-heavy Highlander Priest. 3 if Rogue isn't a thing, otherwise a 2 or worse. 

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Kobold Apprentice: 1/5
Mad Bomber’s way less attractive, less smart, less funny, less everything little brother. ​

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Plated Beetle: 2/5
This card has sneaky potential, with Warrior and Druid getting so much new synergy w/ armor gain effects. Decent stats, enough armor gain to trigger effects (spellstone, new gauntlet weapon). There’s some potential here. Possibly a 3.

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Sewer Crawler: 1/5
Okay. I’m trying hard here. Could it see play in Evolve Shaman? Probably not. I’m sure the rat has beast synergy, so that’s something? Okay. All of these answers are just no. I tried. In the end it’s just another nerf to the evolve effect. Sucks for Shaman. ​

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Shroom Brewer: 1/5
So, the stats are a bit better than the Darkshire Alchemist, and it is a neutral card. The healing could be useful in a Warlock deck, possibly in the slot for Bloodworm in Control Warlock. That feels like a reach, though. Nice card. Won’t see play. ​

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Silver Vanguard: 1/5
If the recruit mechanic doesn’t end up OP, then all of these cards are just trash. This is slow, its stats are awful. Many of the best 8 drops have great battlecries. It’s not like you’re pulling Ragnaros Firelord w/ this. There, maybe this card does something great in wild. Otherwise… That lady has the biggest hands ever. ​

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Sleepy Dragon: 1/5
Maybe I just have a thing for dragons, because I really want to like this card, too. But good god is this slow. Yes, the dragon label and 4 attack would be solid versus Priest, but this is essentially Ysera w/out the OP card generation. Maybe this gets played in a world where you have Big Dragon Druid instead of Big EZ Druid? If then, possibly a 2.

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Sneaky Devil: 1/5
Super cool card. Cool effect combination w/ the stealth and buff combo. Demon tag offers some synergy. But, ultimately, that 2 health sucks. I’m trying to see a deck where this card works in Zoo, but for the last few expansions we’ve seen Zoo get taller instead of wider, and this card needs wider to see play. ​

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Stoneskin Basilisk: 1/5
This card will not make it into a deck. However, this card is going to make for some awesome Zombeast combinations. 1 for constructed, but 4 for potential Zombeasts.

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Toothy Chest: 1/5
Did Vindicated Doomsayer ever see play? Meat Wagon can’t even make this work.

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Trogg Gloomeater: 1/5
Poison works great with stealth, not with taunt. This is a Druid of the Swarm w/ a bigger body? Seems too expensive for an inconsistent payoff. ​

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Violet Wurm: 3/5
This is going to be my sleeper of the set. Confession, the original Token Druid (spell generation w/ Violet Teachers) is one of my favorite decks of all time. Yes, I’m going to try to make this work in a Druid deck w/ some ramp, token generation, Wisps of the Old Gods, Cenarius… Yeah, it probs won’t work, but you’re saying there’s a chance? For some reason I’m seeing J4ckieChan figuring out how to make this the linchpin of an OP deck.  

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Wax Elemental: 1/5
I like the flavor. I’m just not seeing where this fits in a competitive deck. I’m also tired from doing all of these neutral cards. I mean, I just called Violet Wurm the sleeper of this entire expansion. ​

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