Luna’s Pocket Galaxy Reno Mage is one of my all-time favorite decks in Hearthstone. I remember being one of the first players to try the five-mana version of the card in Reno Mage during Boomsday Wild Meta. From there, I was disappointed when Luna’s Pocket Galaxy was rightfully put back to seven mana. However, the nerf didn’t kill the deck and was even among the best during periods in 2020.
When Dragoncaster and Dragonqueen Alexstrasza received their nerfs, however, things didn’t look good for Luna’s Pocket Galaxy Reno Mage. When the cards were un-nerfed at the start of the year, the deck regained a lot of its past strength. The deck isn’t the “best” in the current meta by any means, but it has an incredibly unique and enjoyable playstyle. However, the LPG Reno Mage deck is one of the most expensive in the entirety of Hearthstone, so be warned before you start building it yourself.
Lord Xav LPG Reno Mage
The list I want to share with you all today is the one I used to reach #17 Legend earlier in the month (July Season).
Lord Xav LPG Reno Mage: AAEBAf0EHsABxQT3DfoOwxaFF9i7ApfBAt/EAsPqAs7vAu72Asb4AqCAA72ZA/yjA4ukA5KkA/CvA5GxA4S2A4y2A+G2A+DMA+XRA5LkA9LsA53uA6bvA7CKBAAA
The Core of Luna’s Pocket Galaxy Reno Mage.
Two important packages make up the core strength of the LPG Reno Mage archetype. The first, the non-duplicates and the expensive cards that go alongside Luna’s Pocket Galaxy.
The non-duplicate package includes the two Reno’s, Reno Jackson and Reno the Relicologist. In addition, Kazakus, Zephrys the Great, and Dragonqueen Alexstrasza fit in that package. These cards together form a strong base of anti-aggressive and anti-control tools with very flexible uses in the archetype.
In addition to the non-duplicate package, there are many cards you need to support Luna’s Pocket Galaxy. One that supports Luna’s Pocket Galaxy includes Tortollan Pilgrim to tutor LPG from your deck. Dragoncaster to play it at a reduced cost, and cards like Stargazer Luna allow you to play an entire board of minions after using Luna’s Pocket Galaxy. Some of the minions you include that synergize well with Luna’s Pocket Galaxy’s cost-reduction are the Alexstrasza’s, Alexstrasza, Dragonqueen Alesxstrasza, and Alexstrasza the Life-Binder.
Why the Dragons are so strong for Reno Mage
The Reno Mage build includes four primary dragons. The three Alexstrasza’s listed before, and the card Malygos, Aspect of Magic. Since you often have a filled hand when you play the LPG Reno Mage deck, having just these four is consistent enough to activate Dragoncaster whenever you need it.
After Luna’s Pocket Galaxy, there are some fun combos possible. A recent addition, due to the new Alexstrasza, the Life-Binder, is a three-card OTK. Using Brann Bronzebeard, alongside regular Alexstrasza and Alexstrasza, the Life-Binder allows you to kill any opponent from 30(30 + one armor) with ease. However, if you are in a bind, then the Life-Binder can also become a powerful new healing tool. Alexstrasza the Life-Binder has the ability to both damage, or heal you, whichever option is best for you at the moment.
Malygos, Aspect of Magic, fulfills a different role. The main strength is the card’s infinite flexibility. Each of the options, Polymorph, Fireball, Frost Nova, Frostbolt, Arcane Intellect, and Flamestrike, can win you the game given the right situation. If you don’t know which one you want to pick, the upgraded Polymorph is often best.
What is the Recursion Engine
Recursion Engine Tools
The recursion engine in our deck allows us to make “loops” of certain cards where we play them repeatedly to lock our opponent out of the game. The most common units to loop are Loatheb, Varden Dawngrasp, and Reno Jackson. Using Barista Lynchen, Potion of Illusion, and Zola the Gorgon to get extra copies of cards. Combining Brann Bronzebeard with these units amplified the effect even further.
The Loatheb loop is for spell-based matchups, particularly against decks like Reno Priest or Celestial Alignment Druid. Varden Dawngrasp is good for board-based matchups, where on occasion, you can board-lock your opponent.
Getting extra copies of Reno Jackson helps win against aggressive opponents without much burst damage, such as Odd Rogue. Other cards are good to get extra copies of, like our yellow cards, Zephrys the Great, Kazakus, and Dragonqueen Alexstrasza. The cards you copy depend on both the matchup and draw order which I’ll go into more detail in the matchups portion of this article.
Main Deck Tech Cards for Luna’s Pocket Galaxy Reno Mage
LPG Tech
Choosing the right tech cards is vital to succeeding with any deck that naturally plays one-offs. For LPG Reno Mage, these are even more valuable due to cards like Brann Bronzebeard. In the past, the Reno Mage deck performed notoriously bad against combo decks since Dirty Rat was our only option to counter it. However, since the addition of Mutanus the Devourer, our chances have improved significantly in these matchups. The additional tool to remove cards from your opponent’s hand, combined with the loops mentioned earlier, gives us a real shot to win in most games.
Cards like Zola the Gorgon and Barista Lynchen synergize well with these tools, particularly against the slower combo decks.
Ice Block is just an overall solid card that many lists include. The card performs against both combo and aggressive opponents, and it works well with Mad Scientist alongside additional secrets like Flame Ward. Another anti-aggressive tool worth using is Zilliax, which adds further healing to the Reno Mage deck.
A controversial tech card I find a lot of success with is The Amazing Reno. A card that removes – all – minions on the board from the game. The card performs especially well against Warlock, Big Priest, and other decks that like to create sticky boards that we are weak to due to our lack of effective board-clearing spells.
What other Tech Cards you should try for LPG Reno Mage
While I believe my current list is teched well for the current meta, there is always a chance for changes. Because of that, here are just a few tech cards you can consider if you are reading the article later on, or if you just want to try something different now.
Freeze tools like Ray of Frost, Brain Freeze, and Glacial Shard are situationally fantastic and help for both aggressive and the Darkglare Warlock matchups. When played with Frostweave Dungeoneer they create vital highroll opportunities against the more aggressive decks. In addition to the freezing options, Big Game Hunter is another card that assists you in the matchup against the dominant Darkglare Warlock.
To further improve your matchup against the more aggressive opponents, two cards stand out above the rest. Explosive Sheep and Animated Broomstick are a nightmare for any aggressive opponent. However, these cards reduce your consistency into slower matchups.
Matchups and Mulligans – Everything you need to know
Some cards listed as commonly kept have some contextual restrictions. For example, you can only keep some of the more expensive cards if you have a cheaper / curve tool alongside it. Another one might be a card like Devolving Missiles, which you only keep alongside Dirty Rat into an opponent you suspect to be playing a combo deck.
If you are uncertain of the deck or archetype your opponent plays, try and keep in mind both or all the matchups it may be and adjust your decision accordingly. Tools that show the popularity of certain decks in the current meta assist you in making these predictions more accurately.
Fighting Demon Hunter as LPG Reno Mage
Odd Demon Hunter (Slightly Unfavored)
Odd Demon Hunter is often a frustrating matchup to play. But, with the right decklist and game sense, you can increase your edge in the matchup significantly. For inexperienced players, this matchup is significantly worse than most for Luna’s Pocket Galaxy Reno Mage.
As with many matchups into aggressive decks, the only thing that matters is fighting for control of the board. The more you can slow your opponent, the better your chances of success. Finding the right board-clearing effects and even some healing significantly improves your chances as well. Finding your yellow cards like Reno Jackson, Kazakus, and Zephrys, etc. matter more than any other.
Something to be aware of is that your opponent could access a card like Bad Luck Albatross, which could disrupt your game plan.
The commonly kept cards for Luna’s Pocket Galaxy Reno Mage into Odd Demon Hunter include: Armor Vendor, Devolving Missiles, Dirty Rat, Mad Scientist, Zephrys, Dungeoneer, Ice Block, Flame Ward, Kazakus, Varden Dawngrasp, and Reno Jackson. With the additions of Zilliax and Reno the Relicologist if you start with the Coin.
How to counter the Combo Druids as LPG mage
Celestial Alignment Druid (Favored)
Previously, our only option against the Combo Druid archetype, ahead of their “combo” was to play Dirty Rat and pray for the best. However, now with Mutanus the Devourer, the matchup improved drastically. It is safe to assume most Druids nowadays, especially since the nerf to Gibberling, play the Celestial Alignment Druid archetype.
Our strategy here involves pressuring them ahead of Celestial Alignment, and then following that up with Loatheb with our “one gold” turn post-Celestial Alignment, and then (ideally) using Brann Bronzebeard alongside Mutanus the Devourer to disrupt their combo the following round. Dirty Rat, as mentioned earlier, also performs well earlier in the game. Especially alongside a card like Devolving Missiles or a removal tool from Zephrys the Great.
Other tools like Ice Block perform well against the more-common Malygos Druids, but don’t do anything against Toggwaggle Druid. The other addition, The Amazing Reno, could save your life too clearing their board when they go off with their combo. That is especially true against Malygos Druid, who often include many largee Dragons nowadays.
Against all expected Druid’s, you commonly keep cards including Dirty Rat, Mutanus the Devourer, Devolving Missiles (alongside Dirty Rat), Loatheb, and Mad Scientist or Ice Block.
Why the return of Hunter isn’t good for Reno Mage
Even Hunter (Unfavored)
The Even Hunter archetype is gaining a lot of popularity recently in the Wild Hearthstone format. While my experience against the specific deck is limited, it is fair to say the matchup is unfavored at best. A one-mana-deal-two ability each turn adds a lot of pressure, in addition to their burst, Narubian Weblords, and secrets, just make it all-around not great.
That said, you still play all the yellow cards people love complaining about. A well-timed Reno Jackson, a good discover of Kazakus or Zephrys the Great can flip any game.
Commonly kept cards against Even Hunter (tentative) include Armor Vendor, Devolving Missiles, Dirty Rat, Mad Scientist, Zephrys, Dungeoneer, Ice Block, Flame Ward, Kazakus, Varden Dawngrasp, and Reno Jackson. Zilliax and Reno the Relicologist are only worth keeping if you play second and have access to The Coin.
How to approach the matchup against Mage & the mirror match
Secret Mage (Even)
Nowadays the matchup against Secret Mage feels quite even. It is more draw-dependent than I would like it to be, and sometimes Secret Mage just creates a board you can’t answer. In addition, Counterspell is tough to play against due to our lack of cheap spells to test and play around it. Similar to Even Hunter, however, our yellow cards steal the show, and on occasion the game.
The commonly kept cards against Secret Mage include Armor Vendor, Devolving Missiles, Dirty Rat, Mad Scientist, Zephrys, Dungeoneer, Ice Block, Flame Ward, Kazakus, Reno Jackson, Zilliax, Reno the Relicologist, Book of Specters, Manasaber, and Varden.
Mozaki Mage (Favored)
The matchup against Mozaki Mage is interesting. By far, the most important tool is Ice Block. If you can find a way to get Ice Block up on time, you can almost certainly win the game. If you create some pressure, your opponent has to spend mana freezing your units, lengthening your window to find Ice Block, or your other tools to counter their combo.
The Loatheb Loop is a decent option, but typically it only grants you a single turn since your opponent often finds their combo ahead of you. Due to their limited number of minions, Dirty Rat and Mutanus, the Devourer become much more consistent. Almost any time they find a minion, it’s something you are happy to see leave their hand. The main exception here is the card some Mozaki Mage players include called Taelan Fordring, a five-mana card that tutors the highest cost minion from your deck (Mozaki, Master Duelist nearly always).
However, that does create some options for you if your opponent makes the mistake of showing their hand through this card. Killing it, and then using Dirty Rat or Mutanus the Devourer near-guarantees, you find a unit they need to win.
Commonly kept cards include Dirty Rat, Devolving Missiles (alongside Mutanus or Dirty Rat), Ice Block (or Mad Scientist), and Reno Jackson.
The Luna’s Pocket Galaxy Reno Mage Mirror Match (Even)
The mirror match between Luna’s Pocket Galaxy Reno Mage decks often goes one of two ways. The first, one player draws Luna’s Pocket Galaxy, where the other doesn’t. Then the game just ends. That’s simple.
The second, which is far more interesting, is when both players find Luna’s Pocket Galaxy around a similar time (turn six to seven). The game turns into an exciting game of removal, trades, and decision-making. Often the player who casts Luna’s Pocket Galaxy first has a higher chance of winning. The player who gets to develop the board and make the first trades has the advantage.
What your strategy should be to win the match, however, is entirely situational. With experience, you’ll see new paths you can take to create an edge. Just some include playing to outlast your opponent on resources. Another is to try and end the game through the Alexstrasza OTK if your opponent wasted a Reno Jackson or doesn’t have their Ice Block prepared.
At the end of the day, the Luna’s Pocket Galaxy deck focuses on gaining tempo. Start there, and see what your options are as the game goes along. For the mirror match, your best cards include Frostweave Dungeoneer, Zephrys the Great, Luna’s Pocket Galaxy, Tortollan Pilgrim, Manasaber, and Kazakus. As many of you notice, many of these cards help you find Luna’s Pocket Galaxy. As such, if you start with the card in your hand, you don’t need to keep the others in your starting hand.
Why Odd Paladin is our best Paladin-matchup
Most Paladin archetypes aren’t a great matchup for Reno Mage. With the right curve and some help from our yellow-card friends, nothing is impossible. However, the secrets they play and the speed at which they snowball make it tough to compete in many situations. You are most excited to see Odd Paladin between the current Paladin decks and the “Death and Taxes” Paladins are the worst since we don’t do well with the increased cost of our cards.
Against all the Paladin decks, our mulligan is quite similar. Cards like Armor Vendor, Devolving Missiles, Mad Scientist, Zephrys, Frostweave Dungeoneer, Flame Ward, Kazakus, Varden Dawngrasp, and Reno Jackson are always worth holding. And as usual, Zilliax and Reno the Relicologist perform best when kept alongside The Coin.
Why Priest is one of our best matchups
Reno Priest (Very favored)
Ah, good old Reno Priest, our favorite matchup. Not only is the matchup pretty free, but the games feel very different as your game plan changes depending on your draw order. Most commonly, the game involves setting up Alexstrasza’s OTK, Ice Block, and utilizing your disruption cards. However, there are some interesting options along the way. Luna’s Pocket Galaxy is pretty important in this matchup and allows massive boards backed by the Loatheb loop to close out the game. That is, after they switch to Shadowreaper Anduin form.
Your commonly kept cards against Reno Priest include Dirty Rat + Devolving Missiles, Zephrys the Great, Ice Block, Frostweave Dungeoneer, Luna’s Pocket Galaxy, Tortollan Pilgrim, Manasaber, and Kazakus.
Big Priest (Favored)
In the past, the Big Priest matchup was tougher than it is now. However, since the addition of Varden Dawngrasp as a stalling tool and the new Alexstrasza’s OTK, it is much easier to close out games than ever before. In addition, if you play cards like Malygos Aspect of Magic and The Amazing Reno for additional polymorphs & minion-counters, you stand a much better shot. Alternatively, as the deck relies heavily on Spells, you can stall them through the Loatheb loop if they have a slower start to the game.
The single best card in the matchup here is Devolving Missiles. Besides that, cards like Varden Dawngrasp, Kazakus, Zephrys the Great, Malygos, Aspect of Magic, and Loatheb are worth holding if you get the chance.
How Rogue lines up against the deck & tips to improve the matchup
Kingbane Rogue (Slightly Unfavored)
Kingsbane Rogue is one of the tougher aggressive opponents you might encounter. The deck has a significant amount of reach and consistent damage through their weapon, allowing them to kill you through the additional health Reno Jackson provides. However, as per usual, we have a lot of ways to stop that from happening. The most common situations include using Zephrys the Great to generate Acidic Swamp Ooze(s).
For those who include Glacial Shard in their list, this is just one of the matchups that card performs in tremendously. Besides that, like with many typical aggressive decks, our game plan stays similar to most. Try and fight the board, and use your taunts to your advantage.
Your commonly kept cards against Kingsbane Rogue include Armor Vendor, Devolving Missiles, Dirty Rat, Flame Ward, Ice Block, Zephrys the Great, Frostweave Dungeoneer, Varden Dawngrasp, Reno Jackson, and Zilliax.
Odd Rogue (Favored)
Odd Rogue is the slowest of the aggressive Rogue decks in the current meta. Because of that, we perform better against the archetype than many other Rogue lists. Odd Rogue plays like a tempo deck rather than a true face-is-the-place deck, which gives us many opportunities to contest the board. Cards like Reno the Relicologist, alongside tools like Flame Ward and the potion Kazakus provides, giving us a good shot at winning.
In addition to the three mentioned above, there are a few more cards we want to hold in our Mulligan. These include Armor Vendor, Devolving Missiles, Dirty Rat, Mad Scientist, Zephrys the Great, Frostweave Dungeoneer, Varden Dawngrasp, and Reno Jackson.
Pillager Rogue (Slightly Favored)
On occasion, the matchup against Pillager Rogue devolves into an Ice Block or Bust matchup. However, we have more tools to improve our chances along the way. Devolving Missiles and Zephrys the Great help answer an early Spirit of the Shark, which buys us a lot of time.
In general, pressure is important. The pressure allows us to have minions on the board to answer what the Pillager Rogue attempts to do. That is especially important when you don’t have access to Reno Jackson yet.
Using Dirty Rat or Mutanus the Devourer to remove a combo-piece, such as the Spirit of the Shark, can hurt their game plan significantly. Loatheb, on occasion, helps stall for just long enough to make it to the spot you want to be.
The best cards for the matchup include Devolving Missiles, Mad Scientist (or Ice Block, Ice Block is preferred), Zephrys the Great, Dirty Rat, and Loatheb.
Matchup advice for LPG Mage vs. Shaman
Shudderwock Shaman (Favored)
In the matchup against Shudderwock Shaman, the most important aspect is to set up recurring disruption tools. There are many cards you are happy to see leave their hand, with differing levels of impact. Hitting their infinite tools like Saronite Chain Gang, Grumble Worldshaker, Dopplegangster, or even Shudderwock himself matter the most.
Due to Shudderwock Shaman’s powerful combination of Firemancer Flurgl & Toxfin, it isn’t as impactful to play for tempo, as you might lose your units at a very low cost. The Alexstrasza OTK is a very common way the game ends, as Shudderwock Shaman rarely gains enough armor to disrupt it.
The versions of Shudderwock Shaman that include Galakrond are even easier to beat. As those versions rely more on winning through tempo rather than going infinite with Shudderwock, you can easily counter their game plan with The Amazing Reno.
Common cards worth holding include Zephrys the Great, Dirty Rat, Devolving Missiles, Mutanus the Devourer, Frostweave Dungeoneer, and Kazakus.
Murloc Shaman (Even)
Murloc Shaman is effectively just another aggressive deck. It’s slightly more explosive than some and slightly slower than others, but it isn’t much different in the end. Our game plan remains; our mulligan is again quite similar. Keep tools that assist you against aggressive opponents like Armor Vendor, Devolving Missiles, Dirty Rat, Mad Scientist, Zephrys the Great, etc., and play your own game.
Reno Shaman (Very Favored)
I feel more favored into Reno versions of Shaman over the Shudderwock versions because they only run one-offs of their combo pieces, increasing the impact of disrupting them. The Reno Shaman’s that include Mutanus the Devourer also reduce the consistency of Ice Fishing, which would otherwise guarantee their combo with Firemancer Flurgl and Toxfin.
Common keeps against Reno Shaman include Zephrys the Great, Dirty Rat & Mutanus the Devourer, Devolving Missiles, Mad Scientist, Frostweave Dungeoneer, Kazakus, and Luna’s Pocket Galaxy.
Luna’s Pocket Galaxy Mage Matchup advice vs. Warlock
Darkglare Warlock (Very Unfavored)
The notorious Darkglare, unfortunately, is the biggest thing holding back Reno Mage. The matchup is horrid for Reno Mage but not completely unwinnable. A teched Shard can go a long way, alongside tools like Varden Dawngrasp. Copying Varden Dawngrasp, in particular, is important.
The Darkglare Warlock’s are likely to use whatever they need to get rid of that minion as soon as possible if you play it by itself. Zephrys the Great’s purpose is to help us answer giants. Reno Relicologist clears the board of one giant, but you need to maintain board to trade down for this to work. If you’re very lucky, the right Kazakus five-mana potion could clear a significant portion of your opponent’s board.
One way to win the matchup is by reaching The Amazing Reno, but that won’t be easy. The matchup just sucks, and that is just what we have to deal with for now. With the current win rate of Darkglare Warlock, an additional nerf isn’t out of the question. As such, it is worth keeping Luna’s Pocket Galaxy mage in mind if that occurs.
The best cards in the matchup include Zephrys the Great, Varden Dawngrasp, Reno Relicologist, Mad Scientist, Devolving Missiles, Frostweave Dungeoneer, and Kazakus.
Discard Warlock (Unfavored)
Discard Warlock is pretty much the unpopular cousin of Darkglare Warlock. However, if you find yourself facing one, brace yourself. The matchup for Reno Mage is tough since their deck can build a single board much faster than Darkglare Warlock. That said, your yellow cards like Zephrys the Great, Kazakus, and Reno Jackson do highroll occasionally, as with all aggressive matchups.
Commonly kept cards include Armor Vendor, Devolving Missiles + Dirty Rat, Mad Scientist, Zephrys, Dungeoneer, Ice Block, Flame Ward, Kazakus, Varden, and Reno Jackson & when you are on the coin, Zilliax and Reno the Relicologist.
Cute Warlock (The mass zero-cost unit deck) (Favored)
Cute Warlock typically skips the first few turns to tap and draw before making their big board. That allows you to get on board first, and the game often ends after you clear their first large board. Your mulligan is similar to the Discard Warlock in the way you respond to their aggression matches.
Common Keeps: Armor Vendor, Devolving Missiles, Dirty Rat, Mad Scientist, Zephrys, Dungeoneer, Ice Block, Flame Ward, Kazakus, Varden, and Reno Jackson. On Coin: Zilliax and Reno the Relicologist.
Reno Warlock (Slightly Favored)
Renolock is a very tricky matchup that depends a lot on the Reno Warlock’s build. Typically, we win the game with Luna’s Pocket Galaxy, but we are in a deep hole if they find an opportunity to Brann Bronzebeard & Tickatus. Fortunately, some Reno Warlock players don’t include Tickatus in their build, and we have some chances to deny either of the pieces of their combo in our usual ways.
Something that helps a lot is to use our various Polymorphing effects on their Demons to reduce the potency of Bloodreaver Guldan. In addition, playing around Lord Godfrey and Twisting Nether is crucial for trying to set up lethal. The Alexstrasza OTK is a common finisher in this matchup.
The best cards against Reno Warlock include Luna’s Pocket Galaxy, Zephrys the Great, Devolving Missiles, Mad Scientist, Frostweave Dungeoneer, Kazakus, and Dirty Rat.
Matchup advice vs. Warrior
Pirate Warrior (Even)
Pirate Warrior is just another average-speed aggressive-styled deck. The main card to look out for is Rokara, who could surprise you and ruin the board you wanted to clear.
The best mulligan options are the same as against any other aggressive deck. Armor Vendor, Devolving Missiles, Dirty Rat, Mad Scientist, Zephrys the Great, Frostweave Dungeoneer, Ice Block, Flame Ward, Kazakus, Varden Dawngrasp, and Reno Jackson with & without the Coin. And Zilliax & Reno the Relicologist only with access to the Coin.
Odd Warrior (Very Favored)
As you might imagine, Odd Warrior is an incredibly easy matchup. Odd Warrior can do (almost) nothing proactive, and Ice Block protects you even against the rare OTK-play. Take all the time you need to set up Luna’s Pocket Galaxy and build towards a Loatheb-loop through Barista Lynchen.
The best cards in the matchup include Zephrys the Great, Luna’s Pocket Galaxy, Frostweaver Dungeoneer, and Tortollan Pilgrim.
Dead Man’s Hand Warrior (Favored)
The matchup against Dead Man’s Hand Warrior is tricky. Their deck is as, if not more, vulnerable to disruption tools as we are. Finding an opportunity to deny a Coldlight Oracle from their hand reduces the potency of their deck significantly.
In addition, many Dead Man’s Hand Warriors removed Brawl from their lists, which improves our chances of pressuring them through the minions we naturally develop. While rare, the Alexstrasza OTK is a possible way to close out the game if you get consistent damage throughout the game.
The best cards for your mulligan include Zephrys the Great, Luna’s Pocket Galaxy, Frostweave Dungeoneer, and the pair of Dirty Rat & Devolving Missiles.
Final Thoughts
LPG Reno Mage can be a very rewarding deck to pilot and is decent into the current meta. While the deck is only around even into many aggressive decks, it has room to grow (particularly with the new card Fire Sale) and can be teched more heavily into the matchup. The deck has very good pressure into control, especially post-LPG, and a decent number of options to disrupt the combo. Raza Priest is one of the premier decks of the format, and one of our best matchups is very good for us.
Unfortunately, as long as Darkglare remains the best deck in the format, it’s going to be hard for LPG to be a top-tier deck. More stall or mass removal (like a mass poly, Priest gets Psychic Scream, so only seems fair) can help in that matchup, but we’ll see if Blizzard prints those cards. In an ideal world, Darkglare will get nerfed, but that seems even more unlikely. That said, I thoroughly enjoy the deck and hope it becomes more popular, as the mirror is a very fun game of back and forth board swings.
For more of Lord Xav, be sure to follow him on Twitter & Twitch. What you might also like is our coverage of Hearthstone Battlegrounds. Just a few of our recent pieces include our guides to Kartrus Ashfallen & Trade Prince Gallywix.
Luna’s Pocket Galaxy Reno Mage is one of my all-time favorite decks in Hearthstone. I remember being one of the first players to try the five-mana version of the card in Reno Mage during Boomsday Wild Meta. From there, I was disappointed when Luna’s Pocket Galaxy was rightfully put back to seven mana. However, the nerf didn’t kill the deck and was even among the best during periods in 2020.
When Dragoncaster and Dragonqueen Alexstrasza received their nerfs, however, things didn’t look good for Luna’s Pocket Galaxy Reno Mage. When the cards were un-nerfed at the start of the year, the deck regained a lot of its past strength. The deck isn’t the “best” in the current meta by any means, but it has an incredibly unique and enjoyable playstyle. However, the LPG Reno Mage deck is one of the most expensive in the entirety of Hearthstone, so be warned before you start building it yourself.
The list I want to share with you all today is the one I used to reach #17 Legend earlier in the month (July Season).
Lord Xav LPG Reno Mage: AAEBAf0EHsABxQT3DfoOwxaFF9i7ApfBAt/EAsPqAs7vAu72Asb4AqCAA72ZA/yjA4ukA5KkA/CvA5GxA4S2A4y2A+G2A+DMA+XRA5LkA9LsA53uA6bvA7CKBAAA
The Core of Luna’s Pocket Galaxy Reno Mage.
Two important packages make up the core strength of the LPG Reno Mage archetype. The first, the non-duplicates and the expensive cards that go alongside Luna’s Pocket Galaxy.
The non-duplicate package includes the two Reno’s, Reno Jackson and Reno the Relicologist. In addition, Kazakus, Zephrys the Great, and Dragonqueen Alexstrasza fit in that package. These cards together form a strong base of anti-aggressive and anti-control tools with very flexible uses in the archetype.
In addition to the non-duplicate package, there are many cards you need to support Luna’s Pocket Galaxy. One that supports Luna’s Pocket Galaxy includes Tortollan Pilgrim to tutor LPG from your deck. Dragoncaster to play it at a reduced cost, and cards like Stargazer Luna allow you to play an entire board of minions after using Luna’s Pocket Galaxy. Some of the minions you include that synergize well with Luna’s Pocket Galaxy’s cost-reduction are the Alexstrasza’s, Alexstrasza, Dragonqueen Alesxstrasza, and Alexstrasza the Life-Binder.
Why the Dragons are so strong for Reno Mage
The Reno Mage build includes four primary dragons. The three Alexstrasza’s listed before, and the card Malygos, Aspect of Magic. Since you often have a filled hand when you play the LPG Reno Mage deck, having just these four is consistent enough to activate Dragoncaster whenever you need it.
After Luna’s Pocket Galaxy, there are some fun combos possible. A recent addition, due to the new Alexstrasza, the Life-Binder, is a three-card OTK. Using Brann Bronzebeard, alongside regular Alexstrasza and Alexstrasza, the Life-Binder allows you to kill any opponent from 30(30 + one armor) with ease. However, if you are in a bind, then the Life-Binder can also become a powerful new healing tool. Alexstrasza the Life-Binder has the ability to both damage, or heal you, whichever option is best for you at the moment.
Malygos, Aspect of Magic, fulfills a different role. The main strength is the card’s infinite flexibility. Each of the options, Polymorph, Fireball, Frost Nova, Frostbolt, Arcane Intellect, and Flamestrike, can win you the game given the right situation. If you don’t know which one you want to pick, the upgraded Polymorph is often best.
What is the Recursion Engine
The recursion engine in our deck allows us to make “loops” of certain cards where we play them repeatedly to lock our opponent out of the game. The most common units to loop are Loatheb, Varden Dawngrasp, and Reno Jackson. Using Barista Lynchen, Potion of Illusion, and Zola the Gorgon to get extra copies of cards. Combining Brann Bronzebeard with these units amplified the effect even further.
The Loatheb loop is for spell-based matchups, particularly against decks like Reno Priest or Celestial Alignment Druid. Varden Dawngrasp is good for board-based matchups, where on occasion, you can board-lock your opponent.
Getting extra copies of Reno Jackson helps win against aggressive opponents without much burst damage, such as Odd Rogue. Other cards are good to get extra copies of, like our yellow cards, Zephrys the Great, Kazakus, and Dragonqueen Alexstrasza. The cards you copy depend on both the matchup and draw order which I’ll go into more detail in the matchups portion of this article.
Main Deck Tech Cards for Luna’s Pocket Galaxy Reno Mage
Choosing the right tech cards is vital to succeeding with any deck that naturally plays one-offs. For LPG Reno Mage, these are even more valuable due to cards like Brann Bronzebeard. In the past, the Reno Mage deck performed notoriously bad against combo decks since Dirty Rat was our only option to counter it. However, since the addition of Mutanus the Devourer, our chances have improved significantly in these matchups. The additional tool to remove cards from your opponent’s hand, combined with the loops mentioned earlier, gives us a real shot to win in most games.
Cards like Zola the Gorgon and Barista Lynchen synergize well with these tools, particularly against the slower combo decks.
Ice Block is just an overall solid card that many lists include. The card performs against both combo and aggressive opponents, and it works well with Mad Scientist alongside additional secrets like Flame Ward. Another anti-aggressive tool worth using is Zilliax, which adds further healing to the Reno Mage deck.
A controversial tech card I find a lot of success with is The Amazing Reno. A card that removes – all – minions on the board from the game. The card performs especially well against Warlock, Big Priest, and other decks that like to create sticky boards that we are weak to due to our lack of effective board-clearing spells.
What other Tech Cards you should try for LPG Reno Mage
While I believe my current list is teched well for the current meta, there is always a chance for changes. Because of that, here are just a few tech cards you can consider if you are reading the article later on, or if you just want to try something different now.
Freeze tools like Ray of Frost, Brain Freeze, and Glacial Shard are situationally fantastic and help for both aggressive and the Darkglare Warlock matchups. When played with Frostweave Dungeoneer they create vital highroll opportunities against the more aggressive decks. In addition to the freezing options, Big Game Hunter is another card that assists you in the matchup against the dominant Darkglare Warlock.
To further improve your matchup against the more aggressive opponents, two cards stand out above the rest. Explosive Sheep and Animated Broomstick are a nightmare for any aggressive opponent. However, these cards reduce your consistency into slower matchups.
Matchups and Mulligans – Everything you need to know
Some cards listed as commonly kept have some contextual restrictions. For example, you can only keep some of the more expensive cards if you have a cheaper / curve tool alongside it. Another one might be a card like Devolving Missiles, which you only keep alongside Dirty Rat into an opponent you suspect to be playing a combo deck.
If you are uncertain of the deck or archetype your opponent plays, try and keep in mind both or all the matchups it may be and adjust your decision accordingly. Tools that show the popularity of certain decks in the current meta assist you in making these predictions more accurately.
Fighting Demon Hunter as LPG Reno Mage
Odd Demon Hunter (Slightly Unfavored)
Odd Demon Hunter is often a frustrating matchup to play. But, with the right decklist and game sense, you can increase your edge in the matchup significantly. For inexperienced players, this matchup is significantly worse than most for Luna’s Pocket Galaxy Reno Mage.
As with many matchups into aggressive decks, the only thing that matters is fighting for control of the board. The more you can slow your opponent, the better your chances of success. Finding the right board-clearing effects and even some healing significantly improves your chances as well. Finding your yellow cards like Reno Jackson, Kazakus, and Zephrys, etc. matter more than any other.
Something to be aware of is that your opponent could access a card like Bad Luck Albatross, which could disrupt your game plan.
The commonly kept cards for Luna’s Pocket Galaxy Reno Mage into Odd Demon Hunter include: Armor Vendor, Devolving Missiles, Dirty Rat, Mad Scientist, Zephrys, Dungeoneer, Ice Block, Flame Ward, Kazakus, Varden Dawngrasp, and Reno Jackson. With the additions of Zilliax and Reno the Relicologist if you start with the Coin.
How to counter the Combo Druids as LPG mage
Celestial Alignment Druid (Favored)
Previously, our only option against the Combo Druid archetype, ahead of their “combo” was to play Dirty Rat and pray for the best. However, now with Mutanus the Devourer, the matchup improved drastically. It is safe to assume most Druids nowadays, especially since the nerf to Gibberling, play the Celestial Alignment Druid archetype.
Our strategy here involves pressuring them ahead of Celestial Alignment, and then following that up with Loatheb with our “one gold” turn post-Celestial Alignment, and then (ideally) using Brann Bronzebeard alongside Mutanus the Devourer to disrupt their combo the following round. Dirty Rat, as mentioned earlier, also performs well earlier in the game. Especially alongside a card like Devolving Missiles or a removal tool from Zephrys the Great.
Other tools like Ice Block perform well against the more-common Malygos Druids, but don’t do anything against Toggwaggle Druid. The other addition, The Amazing Reno, could save your life too clearing their board when they go off with their combo. That is especially true against Malygos Druid, who often include many largee Dragons nowadays.
Against all expected Druid’s, you commonly keep cards including Dirty Rat, Mutanus the Devourer, Devolving Missiles (alongside Dirty Rat), Loatheb, and Mad Scientist or Ice Block.
Why the return of Hunter isn’t good for Reno Mage
Even Hunter (Unfavored)
The Even Hunter archetype is gaining a lot of popularity recently in the Wild Hearthstone format. While my experience against the specific deck is limited, it is fair to say the matchup is unfavored at best. A one-mana-deal-two ability each turn adds a lot of pressure, in addition to their burst, Narubian Weblords, and secrets, just make it all-around not great.
That said, you still play all the yellow cards people love complaining about. A well-timed Reno Jackson, a good discover of Kazakus or Zephrys the Great can flip any game.
Commonly kept cards against Even Hunter (tentative) include Armor Vendor, Devolving Missiles, Dirty Rat, Mad Scientist, Zephrys, Dungeoneer, Ice Block, Flame Ward, Kazakus, Varden Dawngrasp, and Reno Jackson. Zilliax and Reno the Relicologist are only worth keeping if you play second and have access to The Coin.
How to approach the matchup against Mage & the mirror match
Secret Mage (Even)
Nowadays the matchup against Secret Mage feels quite even. It is more draw-dependent than I would like it to be, and sometimes Secret Mage just creates a board you can’t answer. In addition, Counterspell is tough to play against due to our lack of cheap spells to test and play around it. Similar to Even Hunter, however, our yellow cards steal the show, and on occasion the game.
The commonly kept cards against Secret Mage include Armor Vendor, Devolving Missiles, Dirty Rat, Mad Scientist, Zephrys, Dungeoneer, Ice Block, Flame Ward, Kazakus, Reno Jackson, Zilliax, Reno the Relicologist, Book of Specters, Manasaber, and Varden.
Mozaki Mage (Favored)
The matchup against Mozaki Mage is interesting. By far, the most important tool is Ice Block. If you can find a way to get Ice Block up on time, you can almost certainly win the game. If you create some pressure, your opponent has to spend mana freezing your units, lengthening your window to find Ice Block, or your other tools to counter their combo.
The Loatheb Loop is a decent option, but typically it only grants you a single turn since your opponent often finds their combo ahead of you. Due to their limited number of minions, Dirty Rat and Mutanus, the Devourer become much more consistent. Almost any time they find a minion, it’s something you are happy to see leave their hand. The main exception here is the card some Mozaki Mage players include called Taelan Fordring, a five-mana card that tutors the highest cost minion from your deck (Mozaki, Master Duelist nearly always).
However, that does create some options for you if your opponent makes the mistake of showing their hand through this card. Killing it, and then using Dirty Rat or Mutanus the Devourer near-guarantees, you find a unit they need to win.
Commonly kept cards include Dirty Rat, Devolving Missiles (alongside Mutanus or Dirty Rat), Ice Block (or Mad Scientist), and Reno Jackson.
The Luna’s Pocket Galaxy Reno Mage Mirror Match (Even)
The mirror match between Luna’s Pocket Galaxy Reno Mage decks often goes one of two ways. The first, one player draws Luna’s Pocket Galaxy, where the other doesn’t. Then the game just ends. That’s simple.
The second, which is far more interesting, is when both players find Luna’s Pocket Galaxy around a similar time (turn six to seven). The game turns into an exciting game of removal, trades, and decision-making. Often the player who casts Luna’s Pocket Galaxy first has a higher chance of winning. The player who gets to develop the board and make the first trades has the advantage.
What your strategy should be to win the match, however, is entirely situational. With experience, you’ll see new paths you can take to create an edge. Just some include playing to outlast your opponent on resources. Another is to try and end the game through the Alexstrasza OTK if your opponent wasted a Reno Jackson or doesn’t have their Ice Block prepared.
At the end of the day, the Luna’s Pocket Galaxy deck focuses on gaining tempo. Start there, and see what your options are as the game goes along. For the mirror match, your best cards include Frostweave Dungeoneer, Zephrys the Great, Luna’s Pocket Galaxy, Tortollan Pilgrim, Manasaber, and Kazakus. As many of you notice, many of these cards help you find Luna’s Pocket Galaxy. As such, if you start with the card in your hand, you don’t need to keep the others in your starting hand.
Why Odd Paladin is our best Paladin-matchup
Most Paladin archetypes aren’t a great matchup for Reno Mage. With the right curve and some help from our yellow-card friends, nothing is impossible. However, the secrets they play and the speed at which they snowball make it tough to compete in many situations. You are most excited to see Odd Paladin between the current Paladin decks and the “Death and Taxes” Paladins are the worst since we don’t do well with the increased cost of our cards.
Against all the Paladin decks, our mulligan is quite similar. Cards like Armor Vendor, Devolving Missiles, Mad Scientist, Zephrys, Frostweave Dungeoneer, Flame Ward, Kazakus, Varden Dawngrasp, and Reno Jackson are always worth holding. And as usual, Zilliax and Reno the Relicologist perform best when kept alongside The Coin.
Why Priest is one of our best matchups
Reno Priest (Very favored)
Ah, good old Reno Priest, our favorite matchup. Not only is the matchup pretty free, but the games feel very different as your game plan changes depending on your draw order. Most commonly, the game involves setting up Alexstrasza’s OTK, Ice Block, and utilizing your disruption cards. However, there are some interesting options along the way. Luna’s Pocket Galaxy is pretty important in this matchup and allows massive boards backed by the Loatheb loop to close out the game. That is, after they switch to Shadowreaper Anduin form.
Your commonly kept cards against Reno Priest include Dirty Rat + Devolving Missiles, Zephrys the Great, Ice Block, Frostweave Dungeoneer, Luna’s Pocket Galaxy, Tortollan Pilgrim, Manasaber, and Kazakus.
Big Priest (Favored)
In the past, the Big Priest matchup was tougher than it is now. However, since the addition of Varden Dawngrasp as a stalling tool and the new Alexstrasza’s OTK, it is much easier to close out games than ever before. In addition, if you play cards like Malygos Aspect of Magic and The Amazing Reno for additional polymorphs & minion-counters, you stand a much better shot. Alternatively, as the deck relies heavily on Spells, you can stall them through the Loatheb loop if they have a slower start to the game.
The single best card in the matchup here is Devolving Missiles. Besides that, cards like Varden Dawngrasp, Kazakus, Zephrys the Great, Malygos, Aspect of Magic, and Loatheb are worth holding if you get the chance.
How Rogue lines up against the deck & tips to improve the matchup
Kingbane Rogue (Slightly Unfavored)
Kingsbane Rogue is one of the tougher aggressive opponents you might encounter. The deck has a significant amount of reach and consistent damage through their weapon, allowing them to kill you through the additional health Reno Jackson provides. However, as per usual, we have a lot of ways to stop that from happening. The most common situations include using Zephrys the Great to generate Acidic Swamp Ooze(s).
For those who include Glacial Shard in their list, this is just one of the matchups that card performs in tremendously. Besides that, like with many typical aggressive decks, our game plan stays similar to most. Try and fight the board, and use your taunts to your advantage.
Your commonly kept cards against Kingsbane Rogue include Armor Vendor, Devolving Missiles, Dirty Rat, Flame Ward, Ice Block, Zephrys the Great, Frostweave Dungeoneer, Varden Dawngrasp, Reno Jackson, and Zilliax.
Odd Rogue (Favored)
Odd Rogue is the slowest of the aggressive Rogue decks in the current meta. Because of that, we perform better against the archetype than many other Rogue lists. Odd Rogue plays like a tempo deck rather than a true face-is-the-place deck, which gives us many opportunities to contest the board. Cards like Reno the Relicologist, alongside tools like Flame Ward and the potion Kazakus provides, giving us a good shot at winning.
In addition to the three mentioned above, there are a few more cards we want to hold in our Mulligan. These include Armor Vendor, Devolving Missiles, Dirty Rat, Mad Scientist, Zephrys the Great, Frostweave Dungeoneer, Varden Dawngrasp, and Reno Jackson.
Pillager Rogue (Slightly Favored)
On occasion, the matchup against Pillager Rogue devolves into an Ice Block or Bust matchup. However, we have more tools to improve our chances along the way. Devolving Missiles and Zephrys the Great help answer an early Spirit of the Shark, which buys us a lot of time.
In general, pressure is important. The pressure allows us to have minions on the board to answer what the Pillager Rogue attempts to do. That is especially important when you don’t have access to Reno Jackson yet.
Using Dirty Rat or Mutanus the Devourer to remove a combo-piece, such as the Spirit of the Shark, can hurt their game plan significantly. Loatheb, on occasion, helps stall for just long enough to make it to the spot you want to be.
The best cards for the matchup include Devolving Missiles, Mad Scientist (or Ice Block, Ice Block is preferred), Zephrys the Great, Dirty Rat, and Loatheb.
Matchup advice for LPG Mage vs. Shaman
Shudderwock Shaman (Favored)
In the matchup against Shudderwock Shaman, the most important aspect is to set up recurring disruption tools. There are many cards you are happy to see leave their hand, with differing levels of impact. Hitting their infinite tools like Saronite Chain Gang, Grumble Worldshaker, Dopplegangster, or even Shudderwock himself matter the most.
Due to Shudderwock Shaman’s powerful combination of Firemancer Flurgl & Toxfin, it isn’t as impactful to play for tempo, as you might lose your units at a very low cost. The Alexstrasza OTK is a very common way the game ends, as Shudderwock Shaman rarely gains enough armor to disrupt it.
The versions of Shudderwock Shaman that include Galakrond are even easier to beat. As those versions rely more on winning through tempo rather than going infinite with Shudderwock, you can easily counter their game plan with The Amazing Reno.
Common cards worth holding include Zephrys the Great, Dirty Rat, Devolving Missiles, Mutanus the Devourer, Frostweave Dungeoneer, and Kazakus.
Murloc Shaman (Even)
Murloc Shaman is effectively just another aggressive deck. It’s slightly more explosive than some and slightly slower than others, but it isn’t much different in the end. Our game plan remains; our mulligan is again quite similar. Keep tools that assist you against aggressive opponents like Armor Vendor, Devolving Missiles, Dirty Rat, Mad Scientist, Zephrys the Great, etc., and play your own game.
Reno Shaman (Very Favored)
I feel more favored into Reno versions of Shaman over the Shudderwock versions because they only run one-offs of their combo pieces, increasing the impact of disrupting them. The Reno Shaman’s that include Mutanus the Devourer also reduce the consistency of Ice Fishing, which would otherwise guarantee their combo with Firemancer Flurgl and Toxfin.
Common keeps against Reno Shaman include Zephrys the Great, Dirty Rat & Mutanus the Devourer, Devolving Missiles, Mad Scientist, Frostweave Dungeoneer, Kazakus, and Luna’s Pocket Galaxy.
Luna’s Pocket Galaxy Mage Matchup advice vs. Warlock
Darkglare Warlock (Very Unfavored)
The notorious Darkglare, unfortunately, is the biggest thing holding back Reno Mage. The matchup is horrid for Reno Mage but not completely unwinnable. A teched Shard can go a long way, alongside tools like Varden Dawngrasp. Copying Varden Dawngrasp, in particular, is important.
The Darkglare Warlock’s are likely to use whatever they need to get rid of that minion as soon as possible if you play it by itself. Zephrys the Great’s purpose is to help us answer giants. Reno Relicologist clears the board of one giant, but you need to maintain board to trade down for this to work. If you’re very lucky, the right Kazakus five-mana potion could clear a significant portion of your opponent’s board.
One way to win the matchup is by reaching The Amazing Reno, but that won’t be easy. The matchup just sucks, and that is just what we have to deal with for now. With the current win rate of Darkglare Warlock, an additional nerf isn’t out of the question. As such, it is worth keeping Luna’s Pocket Galaxy mage in mind if that occurs.
The best cards in the matchup include Zephrys the Great, Varden Dawngrasp, Reno Relicologist, Mad Scientist, Devolving Missiles, Frostweave Dungeoneer, and Kazakus.
Discard Warlock (Unfavored)
Discard Warlock is pretty much the unpopular cousin of Darkglare Warlock. However, if you find yourself facing one, brace yourself. The matchup for Reno Mage is tough since their deck can build a single board much faster than Darkglare Warlock. That said, your yellow cards like Zephrys the Great, Kazakus, and Reno Jackson do highroll occasionally, as with all aggressive matchups.
Commonly kept cards include Armor Vendor, Devolving Missiles + Dirty Rat, Mad Scientist, Zephrys, Dungeoneer, Ice Block, Flame Ward, Kazakus, Varden, and Reno Jackson & when you are on the coin, Zilliax and Reno the Relicologist.
Cute Warlock (The mass zero-cost unit deck) (Favored)
Cute Warlock typically skips the first few turns to tap and draw before making their big board. That allows you to get on board first, and the game often ends after you clear their first large board. Your mulligan is similar to the Discard Warlock in the way you respond to their aggression matches.
Common Keeps: Armor Vendor, Devolving Missiles, Dirty Rat, Mad Scientist, Zephrys, Dungeoneer, Ice Block, Flame Ward, Kazakus, Varden, and Reno Jackson. On Coin: Zilliax and Reno the Relicologist.
Reno Warlock (Slightly Favored)
Renolock is a very tricky matchup that depends a lot on the Reno Warlock’s build. Typically, we win the game with Luna’s Pocket Galaxy, but we are in a deep hole if they find an opportunity to Brann Bronzebeard & Tickatus. Fortunately, some Reno Warlock players don’t include Tickatus in their build, and we have some chances to deny either of the pieces of their combo in our usual ways.
Something that helps a lot is to use our various Polymorphing effects on their Demons to reduce the potency of Bloodreaver Guldan. In addition, playing around Lord Godfrey and Twisting Nether is crucial for trying to set up lethal. The Alexstrasza OTK is a common finisher in this matchup.
The best cards against Reno Warlock include Luna’s Pocket Galaxy, Zephrys the Great, Devolving Missiles, Mad Scientist, Frostweave Dungeoneer, Kazakus, and Dirty Rat.
Matchup advice vs. Warrior
Pirate Warrior (Even)
Pirate Warrior is just another average-speed aggressive-styled deck. The main card to look out for is Rokara, who could surprise you and ruin the board you wanted to clear.
The best mulligan options are the same as against any other aggressive deck. Armor Vendor, Devolving Missiles, Dirty Rat, Mad Scientist, Zephrys the Great, Frostweave Dungeoneer, Ice Block, Flame Ward, Kazakus, Varden Dawngrasp, and Reno Jackson with & without the Coin. And Zilliax & Reno the Relicologist only with access to the Coin.
Odd Warrior (Very Favored)
As you might imagine, Odd Warrior is an incredibly easy matchup. Odd Warrior can do (almost) nothing proactive, and Ice Block protects you even against the rare OTK-play. Take all the time you need to set up Luna’s Pocket Galaxy and build towards a Loatheb-loop through Barista Lynchen.
The best cards in the matchup include Zephrys the Great, Luna’s Pocket Galaxy, Frostweaver Dungeoneer, and Tortollan Pilgrim.
Dead Man’s Hand Warrior (Favored)
The matchup against Dead Man’s Hand Warrior is tricky. Their deck is as, if not more, vulnerable to disruption tools as we are. Finding an opportunity to deny a Coldlight Oracle from their hand reduces the potency of their deck significantly.
In addition, many Dead Man’s Hand Warriors removed Brawl from their lists, which improves our chances of pressuring them through the minions we naturally develop. While rare, the Alexstrasza OTK is a possible way to close out the game if you get consistent damage throughout the game.
The best cards for your mulligan include Zephrys the Great, Luna’s Pocket Galaxy, Frostweave Dungeoneer, and the pair of Dirty Rat & Devolving Missiles.
Final Thoughts
LPG Reno Mage can be a very rewarding deck to pilot and is decent into the current meta. While the deck is only around even into many aggressive decks, it has room to grow (particularly with the new card Fire Sale) and can be teched more heavily into the matchup. The deck has very good pressure into control, especially post-LPG, and a decent number of options to disrupt the combo. Raza Priest is one of the premier decks of the format, and one of our best matchups is very good for us.
Unfortunately, as long as Darkglare remains the best deck in the format, it’s going to be hard for LPG to be a top-tier deck. More stall or mass removal (like a mass poly, Priest gets Psychic Scream, so only seems fair) can help in that matchup, but we’ll see if Blizzard prints those cards. In an ideal world, Darkglare will get nerfed, but that seems even more unlikely. That said, I thoroughly enjoy the deck and hope it becomes more popular, as the mirror is a very fun game of back and forth board swings.
For more of Lord Xav, be sure to follow him on Twitter & Twitch. What you might also like is our coverage of Hearthstone Battlegrounds. Just a few of our recent pieces include our guides to Kartrus Ashfallen & Trade Prince Gallywix.
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