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Hearthstone Deck Guide: Healing Zoo Warlock

Hearthstone Deck Guide: Healing Zoo Warlock

Burning the damage candle at both ends

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Zoolock is a classic aggro archetype that's been around from the earliest days of the game. It's particularly popular with new players because you can build a pretty powerful deck on the cheap. It's fallen out of favour the last few seasons, though, as the meta has slowed down.

Now though, it's back with a very surprising twist. What was once known as a super-aggressive deck now comes packed with healing effects. Yet it works thanks to some unusual combos, and it can help keep you in the game if you suffer a bad draw.

Card Choices
  • 2 x Flame Imp
  • 2 x Kobold Librarian
  • 2 x Soul Infusion
  • 2 x Soulfire
  • 2 x Voidwalker
  • 2 x Doubling Imp
  • 2 x Doomguard
  • 2 x Lightwarden
  • 2 x Voodoo Doctor
  • 1 x Prince Keleseth
  • 2 x Fungal Enchanter
  • 2 x Happy Ghoul
  • 2 x Tar Creeper
  • 1 x Void Ripper
  • 2 x Lifedrinker
  • 2 x Saronite Chain Gang
  • 1 x Spellbreaker
  • 2 x Fungalmancer
  • 1 x Leeroy Jenkins

Deck code:

Although there are a few pricey cards in this build, it's easy to replace them with budget options, although it weakens the deck.

Keleseth is the most important big card here: run him if you can. If you can get him out early his hero power is a massive game swing. If you need to replace him, there are plenty of good options for that 2-mana slot.

There are so many, in fact, that you'll want to run a number of them: junk Doubling Imp and maybe one Saronite Chain Gang. Then fill your deck with two Dire Wolf Alpha and two Vulgar Homuculus.

The other Legendary is new Boomsday card The Solarium. You can simply swap this for a second Lifedrinker. It's a useful card but not necessary: indeed it can occasionally backfire.

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1
Mulligan

It's an old saw by now, but if you're running Keleseth, you want him in your hand. It's the best 2-mana card in the game. The other two cards you always want are Kobold Librarian and Flame Imp.

Some other cards are worthwhile if you've got a bit of early healing, like Voodoo Doctor, in your draw. Happy Ghoul is the real winner here - it's a massive play if you can get it out early for free. Lightwarden is worthwhile too.

If you think you're facing an aggro deck, it's also worth holding on to a Voidwalker. But in the current meta, they're mostly speedbumps.

2
Defensive Duties

Don't. This is a highly aggressive deck, and you should play it as such. It wins by pressuring the enemy life total as fast as possible.

That said, this version of Zoo Warlock does have more recourse to defensive play if it becomes absolutely necessary. Saronite Chain Gang, for example, will keep you alive for another turn or two, although it's mostly here to combo with Keleseth.

The big bonus you have if you're on the back foot, though, is all that healing. You can spam your hero power to try and get a few more workable cards in hand. Then using healing cards to heal yourself, and any Taunt minions you have out.

The best thing about this is that with cards like Happy Ghoul and Lightwarden, healing can lead to a sudden and surprising tempo swing. Done well it can switch you from taking the punishment to dealing it out.

3
Play Style

As with most aggressive decks, your approach to the game depends on the deck you're facing.

If you're up against what looks like a slow or mid-range deck, it's all about the beatdown. Over the long term their deck will outvalue yours so your job is to close out the game before that happens.

Get as much on the board as quickly as you can and pummel away at the face. If you fear your enemy may have access to area damage spells you can keep a card or two in reserve, but your hero power will help you rebuild your board in emergencies.

If you do go into mid or late game with this deck, you can use healing and Taunts to protect yourself and look to end things with burst damage like Doomguard.

Against other aggro decks, however, trading for board control is the name of the game. Your healing and Taunt gives you a lot more staying power than most aggro decks, especially if you apply that healing to your minions.

Aim to make trades that leave your minions alive if you can. Fungal Enchanter can lead to some incredible turns when you wipe off the enemy board, then restore all your minions to prime condition. Here you can always use Void Ripper as a sudden source of burst damage to quickly end the game.

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Matt Thrower
Matt Thrower
Matt is a freelance arranger of words concerning boardgames and video games. He's appeared on IGN, PC Gamer, Gamezebo, and others.