Hearthstone: Witchwood - Monster Card Synergies - Reviewed

Introduction

Hearthstone’s The Witchwood expansion introduced a variety of new mechanics and synergies, particularly centered around Echo, Rush, and the Worgen transformations. Among the most intriguing aspects were the Monster-themed cards, which offered unique tribal synergies. In this review, we’ll analyze the most powerful Monster card synergies, their viability in competitive play, and how they shaped the meta during The Witchwood era.

1. The Rise of Monster Tribal Synergies

Unlike traditional tribal decks like Murlocs or Pirates, the Monster tag was more subtle but still impactful. Key cards such as Houndmaster Shaw, Duskbat, and Wing Blast encouraged Beast and general Monster-based strategies.

Key Monster Synergy Cards:

• Houndmaster Shaw (4 Mana 3/6 Legendary) – Gives all minions Rush, enabling immediate board control.
• Duskbat (3 Mana 2/4 Beast) – Gains +2/+2 if your hero took damage that turn, synergizing with self-damage Warlock.
• Wing Blast (4 Mana Spell) – Deals 4 damage to a minion. If you control a Beast, it costs (1).

These cards encouraged Hunter and Warlock decks to experiment with Beast-heavy builds, though the archetype never reached top-tier status.

2. Houndmaster Shaw – The Cornerstone of Rush Synergy

Houndmaster Shaw was one of the most influential cards from The Witchwood, enabling Rush-based strategies across multiple classes.

Best Decks Utilizing Shaw:

• Midrange Hunter – Combined with Dire Frenzy and Unleash the Hounds for tempo swings.
• Odd Paladin – Used Silver Hand Recruits with Rush for board dominance.
• Tempo Warrior – Paired with Militia Commander and Woodcutter’s Axe.

While not strictly a "Monster" deck, Shaw’s ability to grant Rush made him a staple in midrange strategies.

3. Warlock’s Duskbat & Self-Damage Synergy

Duskbat was a key piece in Zoo Warlock and Even Warlock decks, rewarding self-damage mechanics.

Synergies:

• Kobold Librarian and Flame Imp – Triggered Duskbat’s buff.
• Hellfire and Spellstone – Provided board clears while activating Duskbat.

Though not a dominant archetype, Duskbat showcased how Monster synergies could enhance existing strategies.

4. Wing Blast – The Underrated Removal

Wing Blast was a flexible removal tool, especially in Spell Hunter and Midrange Hunter decks.

Why It Worked:

• Beast Requirement – Easy to fulfill with Animal Companion or Houndmaster.
• Cost Reduction – At (1) Mana, it was one of the most efficient removals in the game.

Despite its power, Wing Blast was overshadowed by Flanking Strike and Deadly Shot in most lists.

5. The Witchwood’s Legacy – Were the Monster Synergies Successful?

While Monster synergies didn’t dominate the meta like Odd/Even decks, they provided interesting deck-building options.

Strengths:

• Flexibility – Could be slotted into multiple archetypes.
• Unique Playstyle – Encouraged board-centric strategies.

Weaknesses:

• Lack of Support – Not enough high-impact Monster cards to form a dedicated deck.
• Power Creep – Outshined by stronger tribal decks like Odd Paladin and Even Shaman.

Conclusion

The Witchwood’s Monster synergies were an experimental yet underutilized aspect of the expansion. While Houndmaster Shaw became a meta staple, other Monster-themed cards like Duskbat and Wing Blast saw niche play. Ultimately, these synergies added depth to deck-building but lacked the consistency to dominate competitive play.

Would you like to see more Monster-themed cards in future expansions? Let us know in the comments!

Tags: #Hearthstone #Witchwood #MonsterSynergy #HoundmasterShaw #Duskbat #WingBlast #CardReview #HSMeta