Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft is a deceptive game because it can be so easy to get into, but doing well winds up being a bit of a challenge. Well, for those just jumping into the game with its iPad release, here are a few general tips on how to get better at Hearthstone.
If you're serious about becoming a good player, dedicate yourself to doing so. This is not a standard mobile title, this is a Blizzard-made PC game that's available on mobile. Yes, it has an easy learning curve to get into, but there's a steep mountain to climb to be an expert, and part of that is collecting all the great cards that are out there.
So, if you're going to go from newb to even just being respectable at the game, be prepared to dig in. Get ready to lose often, and to spend a lot of time learning how to play well as much as actually trying to play. Remember: you're at a disadvantage because there's plenty of experienced players out there already thanks to the game's PC beta period, even though there are those folks just jumping in as well. Also remember: this is a free-to-play game. You may want to spend money on booster packs if you want to get better cards.
Take advantage of the resources that are out there. The benefit to this being a widely established game is that there are a ton of resources out there already. Use them! If you have a question, Google it - someone's probably answered it! There are sites like the
Hearthstone Gamepedia Wiki,
Liquidhearth which includes a
very handy tier list for the Arena mode and a
forum to browse and ask questions in. This guide to the
25 best cards is extremely enlightening because some of them are common. Also, the game is
one of the most popular titles on Twitch. Watch and see what people are doing, and learn accordingly!
Don't be afraid to experiment. It can be easy when starting out to stick with the starting class and to just try and build them out. Don't do so - there are nine classes in total, and it's possible that one might be more conducive to your play style than another. So try them out as you unlock them. This is why I say you should be dedicated. You likely won't get to a position where you are at an optimal level for a long time if you're committed to being good.
So always be trying out different things, playing as different classes, trying different strategies, and especially forming different decks. I recommend reviewing a deck often: is a card a good idea to have in a deck? Would a new card be better than one already in the deck you've made that you're comfortable with? You won't know for sure until you try it out for yourself.
Pay attention. Try not to be distracted when you're playing seriously. You want to know at all times what your strategy is going to be, what cards you're going to play - and more importantly, not play, as a powerful ability might be better served for later. Mana amounts are more of a suggestion of what you can do, not what you must do. You have some time to make moves, so take advantage of it!
But the other big reason to pay attention is that decks are only 30 cards. While it's impossible to know what exactly a player has in their deck, if you know they've used something already (especially twice), then you know what they can't do in the future, or can even just have an idea on what they might do, based on their class (this is why you experiment)! Be smart, and you can outwit your opponent.
Play often! You're not going to get better by not playing. Play regularly - practice against the AI, especially when starting out. But try to complete the missions daily if you're a serious player: they're free gold for the taking, and free gold means less real-world money spent on arena entries and booster packs (or just more of them if you're intent on not paying)! And remember: the things you learn will stick more when you play and do them more. Your account will transfer between different platforms, so you can play wherever you so choose.
So get out there, and get Hearthing those stones for great victory!
