The Best Hearthstone Legendary Cards Post Boomsday Expansion
Year of the Raven has been loaded with awesome content for Hearthstone fans. With a constantly evolving meta and a slew of new cards being introduced, it’s tough to decide which Llegendary cards are worth crafting.
Witchwood Legendaries gave players interesting options that could upgrade hero powers and dictate the entire structure of a deck. By adding the Rush and Echo mechanics, players were left with a lot more to think about. Now, with the latest boomin’ expansion players have an even bigger Legendary pool to choose from and the indecisiveness grows.
There will never be an explicit list of must-have legendary cards, but I’ve made this list based on popularity, win rate, and pure awesomeness. At the end of the day, Legendary cards are hard to come by and you should pick the ones you like the best. I’ll mention that I intentionally left Neutral cards as higher ranking, due to the fact you can experiment with more decks and classes.
Now let’s get on with this list.
21. Shudderwock
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Beware the Shudderwock, my son. We're fresh out of vorpal daggers.
This card’s art was inspired by a fictional creature in an old poem by Lewis Carroll called the “Jabberwocky”. Aside from the interesting trivia, you should consider crafting this card if you enjoy the Shaman class or get a kick out of Battlecry minions.
Why It Rocks: It’s honestly worth getting this card just to watch a replay of all of the battlecry cards you played in the match. The random target selection can get backfire, but it always makes for a fun time. I personally love this card because it performs so well with cheaper cards like Saronite Chain Gang and Lifedrinker. If you enjoy playing Shaman and don’t have a lot of dust, this card will give you plenty of entertaining options.
20. Houndmaster Shaw
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They’re good dogs, Tess.
One of the biggest issues Hunter decks face is a lack of consistent removal. With this tactful Hunter Legendary you’ll make double use of all minions as removal tools.
Why It Rocks: He’s arguably the best 4-drop available for Hunters and wears the classiest hat in the game. Putting the Houndmaster down on the 4th turn enables you to keep pushing face as newer minions help clear the board. He enables some gnarly combos with Scavenging Hyena and makes great use of the Hunter’s deathrattle cards. If you like sticking your hounds on enemies, Mr. Shaw is the perfect man to order them around.
19. Darius Crowley
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Arguably the best Warrior Legendary from the set, Darius is a threat in any well balanced deck.
“You either die a villain, or live long enough to see yourself become the hero”. Meaningful words from the Witchwood wolfman rushing into battle for Warriors.
Why It Rocks: Darius becomes the definition of a snowball when timed correctly. He’s a lower mana cost and slightly tweaked version of Grommash Hellscream and can be played to turn the tide of a battle. This legendary becomes a threat even when only buffed to 6/6 as his power can escalate if not dealt with quickly. He has excellent synergy with Woodcutter’s Axe and can become a major source of damage for your deck.
18. Lord Godfrey
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Betrayed the Alliance. Betrayed the Horde. All for 200 achievement points and a sweet, sweet hat.
Bang bang! Currently dominating the Arena scene, this witchwood gunslinger is a high value choice for Warlock fans.
Why It Rocks: Managing to kill at least one minion basically gives you a Flamestrike’s worth of removal while placing a 4/4 minion on your side. If timed well, this guy makes for an even better board clear than Twisting Nether. The only downside of Godfrey is the fact that you’ll often have to sacrifice some of your own minions, but that’s nothing new for experienced Warlocks.
17. Malfurion the Pestilent
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Cenarius once taught me about the precarious balance between life and death. I have come to understand: there IS no balance. Death always wins.
Death Knights have been all the rage this year and Malfurion is a prime example of why that is. Boasting an average of 56% win rate in ranked play, Malfurion is an excellent choice for Druid players who want to boost their deck.
Why It Rocks: This Death Knight card is fairly high in cost, but offers great flexibility regardless of your level of control in the game. The buff to Malfurion’s Hero Power allows him to take out medium-sized minions or armor up with hopes of turning board control in your favor.
16. Frost Lich Jaina
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Arthas was a spoiled child, playing with toys he could neither control nor understand. Come into the cold. I will show you the true power of the Frozen Throne.
Since we’re on the topic of Death Knights we might as well cover the icy witch of Hearthstone. With the ability to crawl back from way behind, this Hero card works best in slow-paced control-focused mage decks.
Why It Rocks: Permanent lifesteal with Elementals means infinite health as long as you manage to keep Elementals alive. This card’s immediate effect is quite underwhelming but offers immense value as the game drags on. Frost Lich Jaina synergizes perfectly with other mentionable Legendary cards such as Pyros and Baron Geddon.
15. Flobbidinous Floop
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Of all the scientists, he has the most knowledge (when measured in volume).
A very popular Legendary from the Boomsday Expansion, Mr. Floop has the ability to morph into any card previously played. It offers great versatility and can be fit into most Druid decks.
Why It Rocks: The amount of combos you can pull off with this guy is insane. He has poor stats for his cost, but he can be worth the mana if you clone strong control minions. Prime clone targets for this Legendary card include Malygos, The Lich King, and Hadronox although cloning basic cards is often worthwhile as well. I’ve included him in a Druid Mill deck and he’s saved me multiple times cloning a clutch Coldlight Oracle or Forest Guide to keep my mill tempo going. Overall, he’s an insanely good card to pick up if you enjoy playing the Druid class.
14. Dr. Boom, Mad Genius
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Of course I've gone mad with power. Ever try going mad without it?
Another entertaining Legendary from Boomsday is the self proclaimed mad genius, Dr. Boom. Although limited to only being used in Warrior decks, Dr. Boom offers a lot of excitement to anyone seeking to play the class.
Why It Rocks: In my opinion, Dr. Boom is the most exciting and worthwhile of all Hero cards. His high mana cost is compensated by granting 7 armor upon activation and enabling the use of Mechs as removal tools. The best part about this Legendary is his rotating Hero spell which adds variety to all matches and is worth using every turn. This Hero card synergizes amazingly well with cards like Omega Assembly and makes excellent use of the Delivery Drone and Micro-Squad Hero Powers.
13. Professor Putricide
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Among his more notable inventions: A tentacle-groomer, a plague that would wipe out all life on Azeroth, and a fidget spinner.
Hunter decks are performing extremely well this ranked season. This plagued professor doubles the value of any secrets played while he remains active.
Why It Rocks: This card alone can win you the game if you time it well. Ideally you’d want to play Cloaked Huntress on turn 3, giving you at least one free secret to play at the same time you summon the professor. Combining him with cards like Subject 9 gives Hunter decks an overwhelming amount of control and tempo.
12. Sunkeeper Tarim
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Ironically, his favorite number is 4.
A powerful Paladin class Legendary from the Journey to Un’Goro expansion. The Sunkeeper gives an immense amount of value for Paladin decks who make use of their Silver Hand Recruits.
Why It Rocks: This card is one of the biggest swing cards available to Paladins. He’ll weaken any enemies and can usually tank up to 3 affected minions assuming no intervention from your opponent’s cards. Tarim boasts great win rates in ranked play with a 51.7% in standard and a whopping 60.3% in Wild. He’s a worthwhile investment for an avid Paladin player.
11. Deathstalker Rexxar
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You were too slow, old friend. The hunt began long ago. And now... it will never end.
Did I mention Hunters are doing well? This Death Knight Hero card offers a tremendous amount of value paving way for powerful deck combinations.
Why It Rocks: The undead hunter offers too much value to simply ignore. This Death Knight card currently holds the highest win percentage out of any other Hero cards in the game. An affordable mana cost, 5 bonus armor, and 2 damage to all enemy minions makes Rexxar one of the best options for Hunters on the sixth turn. His Hero power provides a considerable amount of tempo to most decks and generates powerful minions that are usually difficult to deal with.
10. Edwin VanCleef
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He led the Stonemasons in the reconstruction of Stormwind, and when the nobles refused to pay, he founded the Defias Brotherhood to, well, deconstruct Stormwind.
An oldie but a goodie. VanCleef remains a powerful staple in many rogue decks enabling outright board control and early game victories.
Why It Rocks: There’s something extremely satisfying about summoning a 3 cost minion with 8/8 stats on the second turn. It’s highly unlikely to pull it off every game, but the card still remains a valuable option in Rogue decks. If you enjoy playing the Rogue, Vancleef is a must have card to experiment with.
9. AyaBlackpaw
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Though young, Aya took over as the leader of Jade Lotus through her charisma and strategic acumen when her predecessor was accidentally crushed by a jade golem.
Aya Blackpaw is a powerful tri-class minion part of the Jade Lotus class set. Although considered a neutral card, Aya is only available to Druid, Rogue, and Shaman.
Why It Rocks: If you ever want to experiment with any of the Jade Lotus decks, Aya is essential for your set. Her Deathrattle and Battlecry offer excellent value despite her lacking 5/3 stats. The only setback about crafting this card is that she is only playable in Ranked Wild where she boasts an impressive 62.5% win rate.
8. Subject 9
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The original clever girl.
This new critter from the Boomsday Project gives decks an insane amount of tempo enabling strong combos. It’s a neutral minion and can be used in any deck, but it’s currently favored for Secret Hunter Decks.
Why It Rocks: The little girl provides gives an obscene amount of card draw that could be useful for any class. It’s currently being used primarily in Hunter decks since they have the best secrets in the game, and it enables plenty of Hunter combos from being a beast type minion. If you’re a fan of experimenting with secret decks, this card enables you to pull off some insane plays.
7. Leeroy Jenkins
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At least he has Angry Chicken.
The viral video gave birth to countless appearances in Blizzard’s content. Now, the reckless adventurer even has its own Legendary card in Hearthstone. Despite the constant jokes, this card is actually quite good and can be fit into a variety of decks.
Why It Rocks: Because at least you have chicken. Jokes aside, Leeroy is considered one of the best neutral Legendary cards in the game. His high attack stat makes him perfect for finishing off your opponent or removing high threat targets from the board. In the past he’s been used to pull off impressive one turn kill combos with Shadowstep and Cold Blood or Flametongue Totem and Windfury. If you’re a newer player and need Legendaries that can fit into several scenarios, Leeroy is a great choice to craft.
6. The Black Knight
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He was sent by the Lich King to disrupt the Argent Tournament. We can pretty much mark that a failure.
TBK is another valuable card from the Classic set that can be useful in just about any deck. His taunt minion removal spell makes him a perfect candidate to start game-ending momentum.
Why It Rocks: He’s the perfect destroyer of dreams. Just as your opponent assumes control with a beefy Taunt minion, TBK comes in to vaporize their defense along with their hopes of winning. His removal effect can be used in conjunction with cards like Mark of the Wild, Mark of Nature, and Ancestral Healing to forcibly give enemy minions Taunt. The Black Knight is a classic neutral card meaning it can be used in a deck for any class in both Standard and Wild competitive play.
5. Zilliax
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Everything but the kitchen sink. Oh wait, there's one on his back.
Fresh out of the Boomsday project, this mechanized menace is a defender’s dream draw. If you want to be on the frontier of the Mech meta, Zilliax is an excellent choice to experiment with.
Why It Rocks: He’s smothered in special effects which enable him to come in as a defensive removal tool. His base stats are on the low side so ideally you’d want to combine him another Mech using the Magnetic mechanic. He’s currently experiencing slightly above-average win rates in competitive play despite being less than a month old. I have a feeling that as the meta evolves and becomes more inclusive of Mechs, Zilliax will play an important role.
4. Prince Keleseth
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Three Princes stand before you. This one wants to buff his brothers.
A useful Legendary card with the power to permanently buff your minions for the rest of the match. His powerful Battlecry has earned him constant usage throughout the year.
Why It Rocks: Playing him early enough in the game will give you a noticeable advantage for the rest of the match. You always run the risk of drawing him too late, or not at all; so make sure your deck can pull a victory without the Battlecry. Rogues can pair him with Shadowstep to activate his Battlecry multiple times resulting in a deck brimming with brawn. Warlocks rely on him to provide extra stats in the popular “Zoolock” deck; but to be frank he can be considered useful in any deck as long as he’s played early enough.
3. The Lich King
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All that I am: anger, cruelty, vengeance, 8 attack - I bestow upon you, my chosen knight.
The frosty tyrant made his way into Hearthstone along with an entire expansion of content. He’s considered one of the strongest 8-drop neutral cards and does well in just about any deck.
Why It Rocks: Aside from his stats, his special effect can oftentimes turn the tide of a battle. There’s a total of eight Death Knight cards available and some are more situational than others. Despite the RNG drawbacks and high cost, whenever The Lich King is placed on the board he's guaranteed to make a strong impact. Currently he holds an average of 55% win rate in ranked matches.
2. Baku the Mooneater
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In her defense, it did look like a cookie.
This neutral legendary card has the ability to modify your Hero Power in exchange for leaving even cost cards out of your deck. Although at times challenging to pull off, Baku has had a strong presence in the game since the Witchwood expansion.
Why It Rocks: Baku can be used to upgrade any class’ Hero Power making it a valuable resource for curious deck builders. Having this card in your collection enables you build powerful decks such as Odd Paladin and Odd (face) Hunter which are currently dominating competitive play. The only downside of Baku is the fact that he’s a terrible card to draw with a high 9 mana cost and mediocre 7 / 8 stats. Despite the bad stats, the upgraded Hero Power is often times enough to carry your deck to victory. Currently, Baku has a 56.4% win rate in Standard play and an impressive 62.4% in Wild decks.
1. Genn Greymane
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Ever since Sylvanas killed his son, he's dreamed of getting… even.
Genn Greymane is the even counterpart to Baku’s deck. He can also be included in any deck and simply lowers your Hero Power cost to 1 mana as long as your deck consists of only even cards.
Why It Rocks: Despite having a simpler and seemingly underwhelming effect, Genn has become the most successful Legendary card in the game. Since the meta is more shifted towards control, many hero powers that affect the board benefit massively from having a lower mana cost. Additionally, many decks have amazing 2 cost cards and can further boost the benefits of having Genn in your deck. Popular decks like Even Paladin and Even Warlock have gained control over the meta. Greymane currently has the highest win rate out of any other Legendary card in the game with a 55.5% win rate in Standard and 64.1% in Wild. Including Genn in your collection offers a ton of deck building options that are great for players looking to experiment with their cards.
Conclusion
Legendary cards are an expensive luxury that are often times only acquired through sheer luck. If you’re like me, you’ll probably keep rolling copies of the Legendaries you already own and will be forced to use your precious dust to craft the cards you want.
I hope this article served you as a general guideline informing you on different Legendary cards and why they’re worth having in your collection. Sometimes it’s best to ignore win rates and simply go with the card you find the most fun. At the end of the day it’s just a game, right?
