With new content and expansions always coming out for Hearthstone, their drafting game mode, Arena, has a constantly shifting metagame.
Hearthstone has been struggling with its other game modes, except for Battlegrounds recently. One reason is that plenty of competition is out there, including MTGA and, more recently, Marvel Snap. While their normal game mode has seen a massive falloff in player numbers, Arena is still bringing in a crowd.
Arena is the Hearthstone game mode that has you draft a 30-card deck out of randomized packs and try your hardest to win 12 rounds. If you lose three rounds, that’s the end of the road for that particular deck. The immense replayability is a big part of the attraction, as no deck or run will ever be the same. But a significant factor in your chances of success is your chosen class. At the start of a run, you can choose from three classes. But not all classes are created equal, since they have their own roster of cards and hero powers. So let’s show you the current Hearthstone Arena class tier list.
S Tier
Death Knight
Even though the Death Knight struggled when it came out in Arena, it is currently one of the most dominating classes around. This is due to some powerful card generation through Necrotic Mortician, Nerubian Vizier, and Hematurge. The Vizier is especially strong if you manage to pick up some strong Undead cards. As far as removal goes your best picks are Asphyxiate and Corpse Explosion. While Corpse Explosion might look weak at first, in later stages of the game, it’s a highly efficient wiper. The Undead rune is still the best to go for, even though you can also try the other ones, depending on other picks.
Priest
Similar to older Priest builds, the bread and butter for this class is still card advantage. With strong effects from Identity Theft and Incriminating Psychic, you can easily turn your opponent’s deck against him. Pair these up with Psychic Conjurer and Mind Eater for instant hate from any opponent as you whittle him down with his own cards. And if these cards don’t offer enough advantage, pick up some removal like The Light! It Burns! and Harmonic Pop to seal the deal.
A Tier
Shaman
Not a lot to say about Shaman, it’s still a very consistent tempo class that can make excellent use of building a decent mana curve for your minions. Its best card is currently Pack the House which offers a ton of board presence. Use it with Evolve cards like Muck Pools, and you’ll definitely win plenty of rounds.
Demon Hunter
In the past Demon Hunters have been a one-trick pony, focusing on getting some weapons down and an Illidari Inquisitor or two to take your opponent down quickly. Currently, they’ve received a hefty buff with the help of Magnifying Glaive and Glaivetar. If you can get your hands on a Glaiveshark, you’re in for a good time. Throw in a copy or two of Taste of Chaos, and you’re set for a good matchup against most classes.
B Tier
Paladin
A shadow of their former glory, Paladins are currently struggling to make a good case for themselves. Even though they’ve received an excellent weapon in the form of Disco Maul, it can’t carry a deck by itself. Plenty of the older divine shield minions are still excellent picks, but Paladin truly lacks good finishers or comeback tools. Honestly, your best bet is to try an aggro build that will take your opponent out before he gets enough mana to cast some finishers.
Warrior
Warriors are also struggling currently, with fans of the class calling for some fixes as soon as possible. Until Blizzard decides to do so, you’re pretty much stuck with the same classic builds. Stack some armor and focus on getting as much efficient removal like Execute or Bash in order to claw your way to a few victories.
C Tier
Mages
Oh, how the mighty have fallen. The most dominating class for years on end is currently lacking consistency. Its spell pool has been crammed with a ton of bad cards, making it harder to get your hands on powerful spells like Frozen Touch or Deathborne. The best cards to look for are clearly Rewind and Synthesize, with both giving you plenty of card advantage against most opponents.
D Tier
Druid
Some of the best new cards for Druid are Peaceful Piper, Flipper Friends, and Planted Evidence. All of them offer board presence or card advantage, which are areas where current Druid builds lack the most. If you prefer a slower build, definitely look for Summer Flowerchild and Timber Tambourine.
Hunter
Lacking a lot of their older removal spells has turned Hunters into a pretty lackluster class in Arena. It can still work decently well as an aggro deck, with the odd Banjosaur as your finisher.
Rogue
Rogues are sadly still a mess, with cards in their repertoire requiring too much synergy amongst themselves to work well. If you’re a diehard fan of Rogues, you should probably consider going back to Standard.
Warlock
It wouldn’t be a Hearthstone Arena tier list without mentioning all available classes, but Warlock currently doesn’t have much going for itself. While there are strong cards like Abyssal Enforcer or Opera Soloist to look for, the class still struggles with most matchups.
So there you have it, an Arena tier list for Hearthstone covering all classes and the best cards that you should want in your deck. While most of our suggestions are some of the best cards for every particular class, having a consistent mana curve and plenty of removals is just as important. You should also look into installing one of the many helpful mods that give you suggestions for Arena. If you’re interested in other game modes, definitely check out our Hearthstone Battlegrounds hero tier list guide.
