The 2020 rotation and the arrival of the new Standard Year will, as always, be decisive in Hearthstone.
Three expansions will rotate out of Standard mode (Witchwood, Boomsday Project and Rastakhan's Rumble) and this should create a real revolution.
While they'll still be able for playing in Wild mode, a lot of Neutral cards from the previous expansions are going to leave the Standard mode, meaning that several different archetypes that are currently shaping the meta will be affected — or will even disappear.
Some of these cards weren't really used, but the disappearance from some others will definitely be noticed...
NB: we are based here on the Neutral cards used in the current meta, and not those that were played at a given time.
Legendary
- Zilliax: a must-have in most decks, whether Midrange or Control. This should remove any form of healing from decks like the Highlander Hunter or even the Galakrond Rogue for example.
- SN1P-SN4P: an ideal complement to Zilliax due to its Magnetism, it is also played in many decks due to its flexibility. A big endgame body, several small ones, or a decent body in early ... It will leave a big void.
- Whizbang the Wonderful: his departure signifies the end of competitive decks "free but random". To see if it will be replaced one day. Currently, Zayle, Shadow Cloak performs somewhat the same function.
- Mecha'thun: finished the Combo OTK decks, and there have been in almost all classes.
- Hakkar, the Soulflayer: it has its place in some decks very focused on Fatigue, and the fact of not being able to see it arriving thanks to Summoner's Call is a good thing.
Epic
- Crowd Roaster: Almost never in the basic lists, but it turns out to be a decent pick if you're playing a Dragons deck.
- Augmented Elekk: The Bomb Warrior won't be very happy with his departure, but that's about it.
- Nightmare Amalgam: gone from Battlegrounds and now Standard mode, it is not a good 2020 year for him!
- Some other notable departures: Sandbinder which was important in Shudderwock Shaman , Voodoo Doll in all Warlocks or Mage control decks, and Baleful Banker in Paladin Shirvallah. Witch's Cauldron carried many of the Odd Paladin decks back then too.
Rare
- Lifedrinker: aggressive decks will miss it. A little sustain and direct damage were perfect.
- Galvanizer: his departure should announce the end of the Mech Paladin decks.
- Mechanical Whelp : it will have been one of the best turns 6 to see summoned by Power of the Creation, and in the heart of the Deathrattle Rogue
- Firetree Witchdoctor: A fairly large loss for Dragon decks, especially the Highlander Mage.
Commons
The Year of the Phoenix is soon coming to Hearthstone, and with it the rotation of Standard mode on April 7. All the important cards that will rotate out are in this dedicated article.
