Shadow Towers Tavern Brawl
Tavern Brawl Rules
Who lurks in the shadow towers? You do! Skulking behind the Towers’ sturdy walls, your minions have stealth their first turn.
The brawl's description is a little off... Think of it as all minions have "Battlecry: This minion gets stealth until next turn." Minions summoned by effects do not receive stealth (see: Force of Nature).
In addition to all minions starting with stealth, each player starts with 30 health and 10 armor.
Things to Consider
- Stealthed minions do not benefit from taunt. Taunt does not protect you during the first turn a minion is played; use this to your advantage against taunt-heavy decks. Sap can be extra annoying.
- Flare still isn't very good. Don't do it. Seriously. It doesn't even work with this brawl's mechanic.
MVP Minions
This brawl allows cards that have static abilities and start of turn abilities to be really good.
Alarm-o-Bot
At the start of your turn, swap this minion with a random one from your hand.
Pretty self explanitory as to why this card is good in the brawl. Load up on large creatures (preferably that don't have a battlecry) and drop them super early with this minion.
Virtually any legendary sees value here, Kel'Thuzad, Ragnaros, Deathwing (he was an MVP for me because he clears the board, effectively countering Kel'Thuzad). North Sea Kraken and Bog Creeper great for being commons.
Counters: Stampeding Kodo
Battlecry: Destroy a random enemy minion with 2 or less attack.
Stampeding Kodo, along with other random abilities, can get around stealth because you don't have to target the minion to kill it. Flame Cannon, Deadly Shot, and Fist of Jaraxxus have similar effects.
Doomsayer & Validated Doomsayer
Stealth protects both versions of Doomsayer. So you either get a free board clear (and effectively a time walk) or a 7/7 minion for 5.
Raging Worgen, Dust Devil, and other Windfury minions.
Stealth protects these normally fragile creatures so you can actually attack with them. Warriors can make good use of Raging Worgen and shamans can Rockbitter Weapon or Bloodlust a Dust Devil for a quick win.
Edwin VanCleef
Combo: Gain +2/+2 for each card played earlier this turn.
Turn two or three 7/7 (or 9/9) with stealth for fairly low effort.
Decks
I'm not going to mention each list for the tavern brawl, but the basic idea behind any of these decks works well for this week. Remember, this tavern brawl is in wild mode, so you can use some of the older cards if they are available to you.
Freeze Mage
The standard freeze mage list does well in this format. You'll get two turns with Emperor Thaurissan or a free turn with Archmage Antonidas and Alexstrasza (or Malygos).
Ramp Druid
Y'Shaarj, Rage Unbound ramp is solid in this tavern brawl. Ragnaros and Ysera are added bonuses (so is Sylvanas Windrunner).
Summary
That's about it for this tavern brawl. If you think I missed something, please let me know in the comments, in an email, or on Twitter.