Coming back from several months away.

[Noomz]

And I notice that priest is still really strong low-mid bracket and in arena.
I've got no problem with facing most other classes, but when it's a priest I just get massively ticked off because of how excellent they are at removal, control and survival.

How and why does this change at higher brackets?

[Deleted]

And I notice that priest is still really strong low-mid bracket and in arena.
I've got no problem with facing most other classes, but when it's a priest I just get massively ticked off because of how excellent they are at removal, control and survival.

How and why does this change at higher brackets?

Priests have the least representation of all classes in all formats. Anything they can do others can simply do better.

[cudomix]

Except being irritant bastards who refuse to die and drag games on and on, they're no1 in that.

[Noomz]

Priests have the least representation of all classes in all formats. Anything they can do others can simply do better.

So I've just had bad luck against priests and/or I suck?

[kaiadam]

So I've just had bad luck against priests and/or I suck?

http://hearthstats.net/june

Priests are:

Arena - 6th played class (ahead of hunters, warriors, and warlocks), but last place in win percentage (43%).
Best matchup is against hunter, with almost a 49% chance of winning. Worst matchup is against rogue, with 37% chance of winning.

Constructed - 8th played class (ahead of warriors), but last place in win percentage (45%).
Best matchup is against mage, with 53% (!) chance of winning. Worst matchup is against rogue, with 40% chance of winning.

As for the how and why -

#1 their spells suck. SW:P and SW are some of the worst hard removal spells available, but they're the best priest has so they have to include it. Their best spell is circle of healing. Circle. Of. Healing.
#2 their class minions suck. Only two are ever used - cleric and soulpriest, and neither of them do well in actual combat as a 1/3 and a 3/1 respectively.
#3 their card draw sucks. Situational and often involves healing your opponent's minions.
#4 their hero power is ... meh. It's not the worst hero power, but it's really close.
#5 they have no reach. Priests can't put in a high damage burst combo in their deck without gimping themselves otherwise because the cards individually all suck (divine spirit, inner fire, stormwind knight.)

You're suffering from anecdotal evidence, confirmation bias, selective recall, and a whole bunch of other fallacies imo.

[Deleted]

#2 their class minions suck. Only two are ever used - cleric and soulpriest, and neither of them do well in actual combat as a 1/3 and a 3/1 respectively.

Not going to argue with other points - but Temple Enforcers, Cabal Shadow Priests and (upcoming) Dark Cultists are all quite strong and more than worth using.

[Raiju]

Not going to argue with other points - but Temple Enforcers, Cabal Shadow Priests and (upcoming) Dark Cultists are all quite strong and more than worth using.

and soulpriests stats are great for trading against the early game - I doubt any druid considers Violet teacher a badly statted card with same cost/attributes.

[Temp name]

and soulpriests stats are great for trading against the early game - I doubt any druid considers Violet teacher a badly statted card with same cost/attributes.

Soulpriest is a 3/1 because you NEED to use it with a Circle of Healing as a board wipe.. If you don't, you've done goofed.

[Raiju]

Soulpriest is a 3/1 because you NEED to use it with a Circle of Healing as a board wipe.. If you don't, you've done goofed.

Only if you're against a deck where the board wipe would be required, which freeze mage and miracle rogue (2 popular decks) do not qualify as.

Against others its a straight up 3/5 until the circle is required, or can be combined if necessary with PW:S to make a 3/3

[kaiadam]

What? Miracle rogue is the best opponent to use your soulpriest + coh on when they stealth their auctioneer on turn 5/6. You also don't play soulpriest against freeze mage without killing it somehow on the same turn ... the only reason priest has a winning record vs mage at all in constructed is because they can heal through the burn, and you're voluntarily giving up all your healing?

[Lotus Victoria]

Druids are still op.
Also, Miracle Rogues and Zoo Warlocks.

[Raiju]

What? Miracle rogue is the best opponent to use your soulpriest + coh on when they stealth their auctioneer on turn 5/6. You also don't play soulpriest against freeze mage without killing it somehow on the same turn ... the only reason priest has a winning record vs mage at all in constructed is because they can heal through the burn, and you're voluntarily giving up all your healing?

A mage who can ignore the soul priest the entire game and beat you is outplaying you massively. You burn harder than the mage does, so how on earth do they win that in your eyes?

If you are in a position to win soon the soulpriest solidifies that pressure rather than giving a miracle rogue time - ergo the worst mistake you can make. Ofcourse you don't waste if you aren't in that position, that's your own strawman.

[S7orm]

priests are the worst class on high rank, they get wrecked hard by Zoo Locks because of all the 4 attack minions (2x eggs, 2x dwarf, lot of possible 3s with +1 argus/dog). We'll see some fun with Voidcallers this season. Free doomguards, free doomguards for everyone!

i liked to play handlocks with loatheb the last days of july's season, if he can't answer a mountain giant right on turn 4, he basically can't cast spells on turn 5 and you can eat the taunts with soul siphon or black knight, that's a huge curve

overall priest gets easily countered by zoo/miracle (aka 80% of opponents) and have hard time vs token druids, that's why you don't see priests rank5+

[Noomz]

priests are the worst class on high rank, they get wrecked hard by Zoo Locks because of all the 4 attack minions (2x eggs, 2x dwarf, lot of possible 3s with +1 argus/dog). We'll see some fun with Voidcallers this season. Free doomguards, free doomguards for everyone!

i liked to play handlocks with loatheb the last days of july's season, if he can't answer a mountain giant right on turn 4, he basically can't cast spells on turn 5 and you can eat the taunts with soul siphon or black knight, that's a huge curve

overall priest gets easily countered by zoo/miracle (aka 80% of opponents) and have hard time vs token druids, that's why you don't see priests rank5+

Pity I'm a shaman then.
Zoo is plain lame.

[Deleted]

priests are the worst class on high rank, they get wrecked hard by Zoo Locks because of all the 4 attack minions (2x eggs, 2x dwarf, lot of possible 3s with +1 argus/dog). We'll see some fun with Voidcallers this season. Free doomguards, free doomguards for everyone!

i liked to play handlocks with loatheb the last days of july's season, if he can't answer a mountain giant right on turn 4, he basically can't cast spells on turn 5 and you can eat the taunts with soul siphon or black knight, that's a huge curve

overall priest gets easily countered by zoo/miracle (aka 80% of opponents) and have hard time vs token druids, that's why you don't see priests rank5+

That's odd, I find zoo/aggro to be my easiest matchups. Pyromancer/Shield/Smite, Soulpriest/Ring and Nova provide so much board clear I pretty much always get everything off. Most common sight by turn 6 is empty board vs empty board and equal HP, but with my hand full and the lock's empty.

[S7orm]

That's odd, I find zoo/aggro to be my easiest matchups. Pyromancer/Shield/Smite, Soulpriest/Ring and Nova provide so much board clear I pretty much always get everything off. Most common sight by turn 6 is empty board vs empty board and equal HP, but with my hand full and the lock's empty.

Zoo locks are running 8 deathrattle and 2 divine shield minions all with different health now, it's pretty hard to clear a board

[Nikkaszal]

Question out of curiosity - if you lay a Pyro then Smite an egg, does the Pyro damage happen before or after the 4/4 spawns?

[kaiadam]

After. 3 damage nuke + pyro fully kills a harvest golem.

[Temp name]

Depends on what order they were laid down I think. Don't quote me on that though, I have no idea.

[Vankrys]

as a priest i get serious pb against druid, lot's of minion with 4 attack. Also, lot's of big dude. Yes i know about PW, but i can't have more than 2 in a given deck.