Overview
HandLock is a popular warlock deck that emphasizes high hand size, low health, and quick board clears to overwhelming the opponent. This deck is known for its intricate interactions and powerful draws, making it one of the most complex and challenging decks in Hearthstone.
Core Cards
Evenlock [Genn Greymane]
- One-time use
- Cost: 1 mana
- Effects: Gain 3 life, draw 3 cards
Mountain Giant
- Cost: 3 mana
- Effects: Gain 4 armor, add Mountain Giant to your hand
Sunfury Protector
- Cost: 2 mana
- Effects: Give a minion +4 armor, prevent it from being dismissed
Defender of Argus
- Cost: 4 mana
- Effects: Give a minion +4 armor until end of turn, draw a card if it dies
Twilight Drake
- Cost: 3 mana
- Effects: Summons a Twilight Drake, deal 3 damage to an opponent
Optional Cards
Vulgar Homunculus
- Cost: 2 mana
- Effects: Summons a copy of a_random minion, deal 3 damage to an opponent
Hellfire
- Cost: 4 mana
- Effects: deal 5 damage to a minion, burn another minion when it dies
Molten Giant
- Cost: 5 mana
- Effects: Summons a Molten Giant, deal 10 damage to an opponent
Hooked Reaver
- Cost: 4 mana
- Effects: Summons a copy of a_random minion
Abyssal Summoner
- Cost: 4 mana
- Effects: Summons an Abyssal Daemon, deal 5 damage to an opponent
Lesser Amethyst Spellstone
- Cost: 2 mana
- Effects: Protect a minion from being deleted, gain 2 armor
Counters
- Silence or removal spells can disrupt Hand Lock's early game draws and board clears.
- If the enemy does not remove Hand Lock's threats quickly, they will likely overwhelm the opponent with massive minions, removing any remaining board control.
Strategies
Early Game
- Save your early game draws (Twilight Drakes, Mountain Giants, Sunfury Protectors, Defender of Argus) for aggressive plays against aggro or slower decks. Prioritize drawing crucial late game cards like Arch-Villain Rafaam, Lord Jaraxxus, or even Genn Greymane.
- Use taunts (Sunfury Protector, Defender of Argus) to protect your board and ensure you deal damage to the opponent while staying alive.
Late Game
- Continue drawing cards with cards like Arch-Villain Rafaam, Lord Jaraxxus, and Genn Greymane to continue applying pressure.
- Focus on removing the opponent's board by prioritizing removal spells over board clears.
- Use burst damage (Hunter's Call of the Wild, Mage's Arcane Flakmage, Warlock's Death Coil) or board clears (Fire Elemental, Arcane Flakmage) to close out the game against the opponent's remaining threats.
##Hand Lock remains a top competitor in the Hearthstone ecosystem, with a unique playstyle that emphasizes quick draws, board clears, and powerful minion synergies. Its ability to consistently draw cards and apply constant pressure make Hand Lock a formidable challenge for any opponent, regardless of their chosen class or playstyle.
