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Highlander Mage deck list guide - Scholomance Academy - Hearthstone (August 2020)How to play Highlander Mage in the Scholomance Academy meta.
How to play Highlander Mage in the Scholomance Academy meta.
Whilst this may not be as impactful as the original Reno’s ‘heal to full’ effect, the anti-aggro effect is very similar. A lot of Beast Hunter decks would cower in fear at such a strong board clear that leaves a 4/6 body on the board. Mage has a lot of strong cards too, so there are numerous ways to keep your enemies guessing when it comes to playing a Relicologist deck. As well as this,Zephrys the Greatacts as a hugely impactful card, allowing you to discover the ‘perfect’ card as long as you fulfilReno the Relicologist’s deck condition.
Highlander Mage deck list and strategy
Here is the version of Reno Mage we’re going for at this point in Scholomance Academy. Expect further refinements with meta shifts, and we’ll be sure to update this page as and when they happen.
Select and copy the long ID string below, then create a deck inHearthstoneto export this deck into your game.
Deck Import ID:AAECAf0EHooBqwTFBMsEjQiDlgOfmwOgmwOKngOhoQPCoQP8owOSpAOEpwP6rAPsrwPwrwORsQOEtgOMtgPhtgPDuAONuwPexAPgzAP4zAPHzgPNzgOU0QPZ0QMAAA==
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General strategy
The Mage class has a lot of strong spells. So much so, in fact, that restricting deckbuilding to ban duplicates is not the most shocking thing to ask. This deck tries to use these spells, as well as value generating cards, to win the game later on.
Early Game: You’ll want to go for a standard ‘tempo’ style of play at the beginning of the game. We found a decent bit of success playingZephrys the Greaton turn 2, as he offered us cards likeAnimal CompanionandBrightwingto help us continue curving out towards the later game.
In general, your goal is to find the minions and spells you can play early on, and try your hardest not to fall to aggro. Removal likeFrostbolthelps nicely, andRay of FrostandArcane Breathcan provide you with situational aid depending on the opponent’s action.
Mid Game: You have spells as you clear the enemy’s board withFlamestrikeorBlizzard, and transforming their big guys withPolymorph. You want to keep on tempo with this deck, so try to play out minions when you can, and target enemy minions when necessary.
Keep on playing out this plan, and you’re bound to find the answer to your opponent’s moves.Reno the Relicologistis a great turn 6 play to flip the tides of battle too, likely clearing any momentum the enemy has gained up to this point.
Late Game: It’s your time to shine now. Value-wise it’s hard to beat you, especially if you’ve managed to get yourLuna’s Pocket Galaxyplayed out early on.Tortollan Pilgrimcan discover a board clear for you too, meaning you can double up onFlamestrikes orBlizzards if you so desire, provided you haven’t drawn them already. YourMalygos, Aspect of Magicspell should come in handy late on too.
Still struggling late-game? Well, for just 10 mana, you can playThe Amazing Reno, who’ll make all enemies (and friendly minions) disappear without triggering Deathrattles or anything. Pretty sick
Highlander Mage Mulligan Guide
In the beginning, you want to stay alive so you can embrace the unlimited value offered to you. Here’s how to get to that phase.
1.Astromancer Solarianis worth keeping, as you’ll get extra damage from early spells as long as it’s alive, as well as shuffling Solarian Prime into your deck upon its death.
2.Zephrys the Greatis a great early minion, as playing it proactively can shape the game in such a way that the opponent never really gets a look-in. A great tempo play on turn 3 can eliminate any need for a big board clear later in the game.
- Against aggro,Ray of Frostis important to slow them down early on.
Highlander Mage tips, combos and synergies
Highlander Mage has a long-term gameplan. Here are some notable synergies and tips to keep in mind:
-The Amazing Renomakes all minions disappear. This means they don’t trigger Deathrattles or any other effects, all but guaranteeing a completely clear board for a turn.
-Tortollan Pilgrimacts as a way to mitigate the disadvantage of building a Highlander deck, allowing you to pick from a spell you’re yet to draw from your deck. You can even castLuna’s Pocket Galaxyif you’ve failed to draw it yet.
- Please don’t Coin outKalecgoson turn 9. Please.
-Bomb Warrioris of course a problem, given that they can turn off your Highlander mechanics with multiple Bombs, but generally you want to be taking the front foot against this kind of deck anyway. If you are coming up against a lot of Bomb Warriors though, make sure you playZephrys the Greatearly so you get the value from him.
-Alexstraszachanges the health total of a hero to 15, which can lead to a surprise lethal if you have a strong board.
-Zephrys the Greatcan find you lethal with a card from the Basic or Classic set. Keep an eye out for interesting combos that’ll get you over the finish line.
-Mo’arg Artificerdoubles damage dealt to all minions, meaning you can more easily kill off aggressive boards with the likes ofArcane Breath,Frostbolt, andRay of Frost.
-Evocationis a fantastic final gambit play, as it fills your hand with Mage spells that must be cast on the same turn. It’s only 1 mana, so you should be able to cast a few of the spells before they’re discarded.
-Reno the Relicologistis a great way to catch up if you’ve surrendered the board to the enemy, so don’t forget to play him for a solid board clear that exclusively targets minions.
- Solarian Prime targets enemies with damage spells if possible, making it far more reliable than other similar effects, likePuzzle Box of Yogg-Saron.
-Imprisoned Observerworks great for keeping aggressive opponents at bay. They won’t want to overextend into a board they know is going to take a bunch of damage.
