Hearthpwn

Hey boys n' girls I wanted to share a mage deck that's doing pretty good in legend rank for me right now - It's mage with a more reliable early thanks to the new babbling book card.

 

had trouble putting up the image so here's two links:

 http://imgur.com/a/pJgZK

http://imgur.com/vnOoCNP

General Strategy: 

This deck is similar to most tempo mages but you want to play more defensive (with your units) or "reactive" than the typical tempo mage: While we have both polymorph and flamestrike in this deck to "react" against the opponents' board, we have smaller minions both in numbers and size so try to not over-commit on the board. Otherwise go for early tempo plays if you get a good hand with mana wyrm/sorcerer's apprentice.

*do go all in sometimes if you are running out of options

 TL;DR - go for tempo plays early, be conservative with minions since they are limited resources

Key Points:

- Usually go for tempo plays

- Save some combo pieces

- Mulligan for early drops, early spells for aggro decks, draws and early drops vs control

- Trade with spells rather than minion since the number of minions are limited

- Do take some risky plays if the payoff is great and potential risk is low

- Praise Yogg

 

Mooligan (mulligan)

In general always keep Mana wyrm and Sorcerer's Apprentice keep cards like mirror image or arcane blasts if you have these cards. Keep babbling too.

Vs. aggro -  early drops and early removal cards

Vs. control - keep early drops and some draws

with coin - consider keeping flamewaker

 

Key card functions:

Babbling book: a nice card draw plus a 1-1 body, this card is really broken compared to novice engineer! Helps contest the board vs some 2 drops and low health minions with a ping. Great for all stages of the game.

Polymorph: Most tempo mage doesn't tek this especially since the addition of Firelands Portal - they simply use that as a removal instead. However this card is excellent in dealing with big drops like rag or deathwing, or annoying deathrattle minions like cairne or sylvy. It's especially powerful against revival cards like ressurect or n'zoth.

Firelands portal: Pretty much everyone is running this card atm, use it as a removal, or desperation spell to dig for a taunt, or a leeroy for 11 damage.

Flamestrike: Great board clear, not alot of people are running flamestrike right now since most tempo mages are running double firelands portal and it competes the slot vs flamestrike for late game spells. Luckily for us babbling books makes up for this greedier build by giving us 2 more early drops.

yog: Use him as a board removal and more when you are in a desperate situation. 

Card replacements:

Arcane Blast: This card is really good in tempo mage, you should really do your best to craft it. If you have only 1 copy, an arcane explosion could be used, albeit it's much weaker.

Yogg: If you don't like him or don't have him, you can put another high impact drop card like a rag or antonidas; Pyro can be subbed instead as a finisher, arcane giant for additional tempo, azure drake for smoother midgame, card draw and spell damage.

Azure drake: Azure drake is a great card to replace a polymorph or flamestrike if you prefer to add more tempo to this deck.

 Babbling book: Well this deck's name has babbling in it, but if you don't have the wing or something you can put a bloodmage for a draw and another arcane blast buff. Argent squire or arcane anamoly can work as well!