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Marcin Filipowicz

Crown of the Heavens is not yet here, but allow me to offer you just a taste of another delicious card. What does it bring to us players? The force of destruction has arrived! Prepare yourself for the incoming apocalypse as Fire and Brimstone will rain upon us!

While writing this preview, the first thing I noticed is the overall flavor. That might sound strange for you as I’m known as a competitive player, but first and foremost I’m a Warcraft fan. I love the game and the cards. Fire and Brimstone does not disappoint me here as the card represents its name to the fullest. Richard Wright pictures here a temple-like structure being destroyed by blazing meteorites. I can almost hear the sound of the explosion and smell the sulfur as the whole image is very dynamic. This scenery is only strengthened by the captivating flavor text spoken by Tyrus Blackhorn, a powerful Satyr Demon.

“Look to the sky…can you see it? Your salvation has arrived.”

Speaking of salvation, this again works really well with this card’s power, which is not too shabby at all!

So what do we get here? It’s a very universal removal ability that has a reasonable cost and restriction.

In the current Core format, Warlock might be the black horse class that will emerge after the new set hits the shelves. It was very close to being a competitive deck even before Invoke to the Nether got reprinted. Now I’m sure that many players that love to play with fel energies will rejoice and try to build the ultimate deck that will destroy their opponents. The new set also seems to be full of Demons, which is only fitting for our notorious summoning class.

So what’s the real value, then? Fire and Brimstone brings a versatile answer to every important card type on the table. This allows us to balance our removal cards in the deck and apply more hate, or reduce it. For instance, currently most of decks are packing both Obsidian Drudge and Obsidian Drakonid as answers to abilities or equipment. They also had to be destroyed to take effect. How many times did you wish for the Drakonid you drew was instead a Drudge that could help with an opposing armor? This time is now over!

Following on that thought, our new and shiny card gives you a strategic advantage as, no matter what hits the table, you have a good chance to destroy it. Grand Crusader or Aspect of the Wild? Easy. Etched Dragonbone Girdle or The Horseman’s Horrific Helm? With pleasure. Dulvar, Hand of the Light or a huge Jhuunash? Yummy. Of course there are some cards that you can’t beat with Fire and Brimstone like Al’Akir the Windlord, but still, the card reacts with most of the current card base, and its power to answer just about anything makes Fire and Brimstone one of the highlights for Warlock as a whole.

It’s basically a new look at Banish to the Nether, which was always a very powerful spell in the Warlock’s arsenal. The cost is different, true. To proceed with your destruction you have to exhaust full four resources. Personally, I think that it’s balanced and it won’t stop me from playing it.

Let’s also look at the restriction text, which limits it to Destruction Warlock decks only. Playing as a Destruction Warlock, you won’t be able to play Soul Swap, Everlasting Affliction, Siphon Life, Jhuunash, or Haaroon. On the other hand you will be able to use Chaos Bolt, which is a strong damage dealing card and a form of removal as well. I don’t consider this a big disadvantage in my deck building, and Jhuunash is not a must-have in every deck. I will gladly switch it to gain some more stability and control.

Now we know that Fire and Brimstone shines in our Constructed decks. How does it fare in Draft and Sealed? The answer is simple: it’s solid. You might open it in the second or third booster in an Aftermath Block Booster Draft. At that time you should have enough information to decide whether you first pick it, or pass it over a good uncommon. A decent removal card in Limited is always an asset and in the current format this card might give you an edge that will win you games. Whereas in Core it’s more subtle, here you can just blast away your opponent's nine cost ogre with a four cost ability, or react to his Sorrow’s End game-plan with the same exact card next game, when equipment removal seems to be scarce. It’s a silver bullet card that can either save you, or help you push tempo for the victory. On the other hand ,while you’re facing a Warlock in Limited, don’t expect this card every single game. It’s a rare after all, and will make an appearance from time to time.

Warlock is becoming stronger and is slowly leaning towards a more control-ish strategy.I love this class and I certainly hope to play it in the upcoming months. Then I will make the skies rain Fire and Brimstone!

-Marcin “Gnimsh” Filipowicz

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