'Hearthstone' Midrange Hunter Deck Guide: How To Play Rexxar In 'Journey To Un'Goro'

crackling — Crackling Razormaw is bae Blizzard

Midrange Hunter is the best deck in Hearthstone after the release of Journey To Un’Goro . I’ve said that about Elemental Shaman and Crystal Core Rogue i n t h e p a s t, but this time I’m right. Blizzard is giving players three free Hearthstone Journey To Un’Goro packs for logging into the game in May, which makes it the best time to try a new, easy to learn deck.

Over the last few weeks, I’ve been playing nothing but Rexxar and climbing the Ranked ladder. I’ve been stuck at rank seven for the past few seasons, struggling to get anywhere with my Jade Druid or Rogue. Last week, I switched to a Midrange Hunter deck and started to win all my games. I ended April’s season at rank three, something I haven’t done since Secret Paladin was popular.

What Makes Midrange Hunter So Good ?

In the Mean Streets Of Gadgetzan meta, Hunter sucked worse Magma Rager . Handbuff Hunter with Rat Pack and Trogg Beastmaster gave the deck some tools, but they were flints and stones compared to the bazooka Pirate Warrior brought to the Hearthstone tavern. Even with the best hands, Rexxar just couldn’t win consistently against any of the popular decks like Dragon Priest or Aggro Shaman.

Journey To Un’Goro gives Hunter the Beasts they needed. Who would have guessed a huntsman would be good with dinosaurs? The class didn’t need a lot; the main version of the deck only uses three new cards from the last set.

Jeweled Macaw- Webspinner was good, but Deathrattles were too overpowered so the arachnid needed to go. This bright bird has a Battlecry and now that Brann Bronzebeard can’t double its effect, you just get a floater minion that can cycle something into your hand.
Crackling Razormaw- The card that singlehandedly made Hunter good again. Adapt is an interesting mechanic that allows you to give buffs to your minions depending on the situation. When you can do it on turn two on an Alleycat or Hungry Crab , the value is even better. If your opponent has a Ragnaros The Lightlord staring you down, just give an Unleash The Hounds dog Poison and enjoy some value.
Nesting Roc- Since Sludge Belcher left Standard last year, decks have been aching for a good five-drop minion. Stranglethorn Tiger is nice, but it doesn’t protect your board like a large Taunt minion can. The two-headed griffin gains Taunt if you have two minions, which is easy to do when you have Alleycats at your disposal. If your behind, it’s a good minion to help you re-establish board control.

These cards aren’t perfect, but they make up for Hunter’s biggest weaknesses: lack of card draw and resources. Quick Shot is extinct like the dodo and Tracking is mediocre, so Hunter’s have zero reliable ways to fill their hand. A solid Hunter deck always builds a strong board early so you don’t have to worry about drawing or late game, which is what makes these three cards so good. You stick a ton of one-cost minions in your deck, buff them with Crackling Razormaw or Houndmaster and watch as your enemy struggles to survive to turn seven.

Mulligans: Friendly Macaw, Alleycat, Crackling Razormaw and Kindly Grandmother should always be kept. If up against Paladin or don’t have any other one-drops, keep Hungry Crab.

Decklist:

Alleycat x2

Hungry Crab x2

Hunter's Mark x2

Jeweled Macaw x2

Crackling Razormaw x2

Kindly Grandmother x2

Scavenging Hyena x2

Animal Companion x2

Eaglehorn Bow x2

Kill Command x2

Unleash the Hounds x2