Image courtesy of Blizzard Entertainment
April is wrapping up, and Hearthstone’s meta is starting to take a defined shape after all the recent balance changes. Whether you’re grinding to Legend, farming gold during your lunch break, or just looking for something fresh to play, Card Gamer has got you covered. Here are the best Hearthstone decks you should absolutely try out as of April 30th, 2025!
Starship Wheel Warlock
Starship Wheel Warlock is that classic case of “goofy at first, terrifying later.” If you were a fan of the old-school Control Warlock decks (such as Rin Control from the Witchwood days, which is one of my favorite decks ever) you’re going to love this one.
Thanks to Kil’jaeden and the Starship package, this version doesn’t just meme around; it’s likely the strongest archetype we currently have in the meta.It’s not as autopilot as some other decks in the meta right now, but if you like games where you slowly grind your opponent into dust, this will feel like home (especially in a Demon Hunter matchup).
Still, it’s not a complete meta-breaker; for example, the Drunk Paladin matchup is an absolute nightmare. Plus, mirror matches with this deck are pretty hilarious because whoever plays their Wheel of Death first usually wins. Still, as long as the meta stays light on hyper-aggressive decks, Starship Wheel Warlock might just be one of the smartest choices you can make for grinding Hearthstone Ranked, that’s for sure.
Big Demon Hunter
Big Demon Hunter is just like any “big” archetype in Hearthstone history; it can beat pretty much anything if you draw cards in the right order. The post-nerf metagame finally slowed down enough to give this deck some breathing room, and the Ball Hog + Felhunter combo completely reshapes how it plays. It’s not just the old Illidari Inquisitor blowout plan anymore; now, you can adapt your game plan depending on the matchup.
Sure, you can still slam a Cliff Dive and go for an OTK, but you can also play it slower and lean on Ball Hog resurrections to grind your opponent out. Some greedier lists even include Shaladrassil and Ferocious Felbat to double down on the late game, and while it’s a lot of value, it’s not exactly Paladin-proof, which can be an issue. Anyway, the general “core” of the archetype is pretty flexible, so you can tweak your tech choices based on whatever you’re seeing on the ladder.
Drunk Paladin
Drunk Paladin is the classic “day one ladder bully,” as it counters basically every slower deck in the format, with Big Demon Hunter being its favorite punching bag. So yeah, don’t be surprised if your early-season ladder is absolutely flooded with this deck.
The main game plan is simple: scam out massive stats with Sea Shanty and Lightbots, and if that somehow fails, you’ve got Ursol + Shaladrasill as a solid backup plan. It’s relatively easy to pilot, too, making it an ideal choice if you’re aiming to hit Legend rank for the first time.
Still, keep in mind that metagames adapt quickly, and if Drunk Paladin becomes too dominant, people will find ways to punish it. Plus, with a new mini-set dropping in just two weeks, crafting this deck might not be the safest investment long-term, as its general power level is… well, okay-ish. It’s solid, but far from being called “broken.” Still, I can see how even a slight power creep in the mini-set could push this deck down to Tier 3 or 4.
Protoss Rogue
Post-nerf Protoss Rogue still quietly holds on to its spot in the meta. And if you’re tired of Demon Hunters running you over, this might be the Rogue deck you’re looking for. Unlike Ashamane or Pirate Rogue, Protoss Rogue actually has a real shot at winning those matchups. However, it’s probably also the hardest Rogue archetype to pilot right now if you want consistent results.
If the ladder gets flooded with Drunk Paladins (and it most likely will), Protoss Rogue is easily your best counter-pick, with some lists posting a +60% win rate into Paladin. Even after recent nerfs, the deck’s core strength didn’t disappear — it’s just super matchup-dependent. Depending on what ranks you’re grinding through, Protoss Rogue can feel like either the smartest or the most punishing choice. Pick wisely.
Handbuff Hunter
Handbuff Hunter can beat Demon Hunters, Paladins, and Rogues pretty consistently, plus it’s a relatively budget-friendly option compared to other decks on this list. Sure, it’s not the fanciest list out there, but if you play it cleanly, pulling off around a 55% win rate at basically any rank is totally realistic.
From my experience, it can even compete against Starship Wheel Warlock, though that matchup is still unfavorable if the game drags on too long. Some players are teching in Death Roll to try and swing matchups harder, but running two copies might be overkill.
Starship Death Knight
Starship Death Knight is clearly a control-style deck as its core, but it can absolutely swing games out of nowhere — especially with Arkonite Defense Crystal still doing work despite nerfs. Honestly, if you’re preparing for a Hearthstone tournament and building a lineup, this is probably one of the first decks you lock in, just because of how insanely versatile it is across different matchups.
Personally, I lean toward the BBU lists that run 2x Dirty Rat and The Headless Horseman. Sure, you lose access to Vampiric Blood, but with tools like Ancient of Yore, Sanguine Infestation, and of course, Arkonite Defense Crystal, you really don’t need it. This version can still easily outvalue almost anything you run into — and in a meta that’s constantly shifting, that’s pure gold.
Zarimi Priest
Zarimi Priest is one of those decks you mostly see farming players below Diamond — and honestly, it’s not exactly fun to face, but it’s pretty effective. The general plan is simple:
- Mulligan for cheap cards
- Tempo out dragons
- Draw and discover through your deck
- Jam the combo when the time is right
The combo itself isn’t rocket science: you play Naralex, then Ysera, which discounts all your dragons and gives you three extra mana crystals, letting you flood the board and close out the game in one explosive turn. It’s clean, it’s nasty, and it works — at least until you run into a Big Demon Hunter or Ashamane Rogue. Still, if you’re looking for the best Priest archetype to climb with right now, Zarimi Priest is the clear winner.
Menagerie Death Knight
Lastly, we have Menagerie Death Knight, and that is your go-to if you want to climb and still have time left on your work break. One of the biggest upsides is that a lot of players will mulligan like they’re facing Starship Death Knight or some slow control DK, and meanwhile, you’re just rushing them down with aggressive openers.
Menagerie Death Knight is easily one of the fastest decks at punishing anyone who can’t clear your early boards, making it a great pick against Paladin, Rogue, and Zarimi Priest — especially if you’re climbing below Diamond.
At Legend, though, it’s a different story because decks like Wheel Warlock and Big Demon Hunter simply won’t let you do it. That said, post-nerf meta shifts definitely helped Menagerie Death Knight feel a lot better, and if you want to speedrun your early ranks, this is quite a good smart pick. Plus, it’s cheap, beginner-friendly, and a fantastic deck for ironing out those classic Hearthstone beginner mistakes. Just know when to switch it up.
So, that’s the full lineup! Remember — the meta can shift relatively fast, especially with a mini-set just around the corner, so pick your decks wisely and be ready to adapt.
And hey — when you inevitably get tired of Hearthstone laddering and need a break, why not check out something fresh? My Card Gamer colleague, Jason, wrote a brilliant review on SpellRogue, a roguelike that mixes cards and dice: Review: Will You Be Enchanted by SpellRogue?
