The More You Know, Episode 2 with ironFIRE

ironFIRE is back to drop some more knowledge on you!

Welcome to “The More You Know,” a segment where ironFIRE walks you through some obscure Hearthstone interactions that you may not be familiar with. Big thanks to Volkai for taking the time to play some challenge games.


Hunters have taken over the ladder as of late, which is perfect timing since I wrote this week’s segment about two different Hunter decks. Hunter was even the second most-brought class to HCT Buenos Aires. We’ll learn about so many relevant mechanics! Wait, I’m reading that Deathrattle Hunter and Spell Hunter are the good Hunter lists. Secret Hunter and Mech Hunter are terrible and learning about them probably isn’t worth anyone’s time… damn it.


Question #1

It’s the early turns of a game between Secret Hunter and Mech Hunter. The Secret Hunter developed an Explosive Trap turn 2, then develops Wandering Monster and Freezing Trap behind it. When the Spider Bomb attacks in, which secrets proc? After the attack, which secrets are still in play and what’s on the board?

Answer #1

Many of you are likely familiar with these classic hunter secret interactions. All 3 secrets say they trigger “when” the spider bomb attacks, but secrets resolve in the order they were played when they would otherwise trigger at the same time.


So the Explosive Trap triggers first, killing the Spider Bomb, but deathrattles only occur after all battle damage has been calculated, so the deathrattle does not trigger yet. Wandering Monster triggers next, creating a 3-mana minion. Freezing Trap only triggers if it has a living minion to return to the attacker’s hand, so it does not trigger. After the secrets have resolved, the Spider Bomb deathrattle triggers, killing the 3-mana minion created by Wandering Monster.

If the Freezing Trap had been developed before the Explosive Trap, the Spider Bomb would have been returned to Rexxar’s hand without dying and the 3-mana minion would be more than a crater.


TLDR: No minions in play, Freezing Trap still developed.

Question #2

I’ve wasted my Wandering Monster secret and shame conceded as any honorable Hearthstone player would in that situation. But shoot! I forgot this was an 80g challenge quest and neither of us was below 15 hp. Time to play again.


This game gets off to a better start. I got Subject 9 off of a Stitched Tracker and get to play it on turn 5! Problem is, I have 4 secrets to draw and 7 cards in hand after playing Subject 9 and I was so excited to play Subject 9 that I forgot to coin out Candleshot first to free up hand space. What happens in this situation? Does a secret get burned or do I just draw 3?

Answer #2

I’ll let Alleria answer this one.

Question #3

A couple turns later I develop a Snipe secret and Rexxar plays a magnetic minion on one of his mechs on board. Does this trigger the Snipe?

Answer #3

Even though Magnetic minions are, of course, minions, when used as buffs they don’t trigger any “After your opponent plays a minion” secrets such as Explosive Runes, Snipe, or Repentance.

That’s it for this week! Leave a comment if there are any interactions you think are worth learning about in future installments.