After a seemingly endless wait, the dawn of Standard format and the new expansion set draws near.
As we say goodbye to Naxxramas/Goblins vs. Gnomes--at least in the Standard competitive scene--new cards mean new opportunities and although the primary focus will be on the additions, some our oldest friends, from the Basic/Classic set, may make a comeback.
Warsong Commander and Frothing Berserker, after all, were the cards that made Patron Warrior a thing and without the much-ignored Paladin secrets, Mysterious Challenger never would have had the chance to be so annoying.
There are still a lot of cards that remain to be seen, but based on what we're losing, some of the original cards may re-emerge in the meta, at least while new deck archetypes are being worked out.
CAIRNE BLOODHOOF
When value over tempo was the prevailing environment in early Hearthstone, Cairne Bloodhoof found his way into many tournament decks. At six mana, a 4/5 that gets half of its value from another 4/5 Deathrattle, it's a slow card that needs time to get full value.
Loatheb and Sludge Belcher, introduced in Naxxramas, both presented problems for Cairne as very commonly played five-mana drops were awkward for Cairne to deal with.
And the possibility of some kind of nerf to Ironbeak Owl, something that has been hinted at but not confirmed, would be welcome to Cairne.
SEN'JIN SHIELDMASTA/SUNWALKER
Both these cards remain popular in Arena as the lack of being able to tailor your deck lets these cards retain value.
But just like Sludge Belcher helped shove out Cairne Bloodhoof, it also presented, in the five-mana slot, a preferable option to either of these cards. Getting the annoyance of the 1/2 Slime was worth the one-mana over Sen'jin and the Slime's extra annoyance without a ping removal made the Sunwalker's Divine Shield much less interesting.
But without that durable Sludge Belcher, suddenly these two old school taunts become much more interesting in constructed.
BARON GEDDON
Baron Geddon hasn't fallen completely out of the meta, but when he makes an appearance it's usually as part of the Wallet Warrior decklist.
Geddon's disappeared everywhere else, to the extent that I've seen pros on multiple occasions refer to the Baron as a Warrior class card accidentally. But Dr. Boom is gone from Standard, leaving a good seven-mana drop needed.
The Baron's five health is weak, but unlike most of the other options, he affects the board immediately and without any ornery condition required (I'm looking at you, Rend Blackhand).
And with the departure of some popular-but-annoying cards that could cause his two damage to lose value (Nerubian Egg, Haunted Creeper, Mad Scientist) there's less opportunity to backfire.
CHILLWIND YETI
While there are still several four drops yet to be revealed, the good ol' Chillwind Yeti fell plague to that common malady of four-drops: not being Piloted Shredder.
Without the brutal competition from Piloted Shredder, the Yeti might make a return appearance, at least for now. Remember when Mechanical Yeti was called a straight upgrade? Well, look who can still be used in competitive play!
POWER OF THE WILD
Blizzard is determined to make Beast Druid a thing and with the Mark of Y'Shaarj and a possible search for a new Druid deck archetype if the Force of Nature/Savage Roar nerf comes to pass, Power of the Wild could make a comeback as it can be either a 3/2 Beast or aid a more Token Druid deck.
It's never been a bad card, but it just didn't have great synergy with a Midrange Druid trying to ramp out and play a few obnoxious mid-mana minions while preparing the burst pieces.
PROPHET VELEN
On the very edge of the meta, generally played by top Priest players on ladder like Zetalot, there always has been an attempt to make a Burst Priest, with Mind Blasts and Auchenai Soulpriests and Flash Heals a first tier Priest deck.
It's never really worked, thanks to the inconsistency, but with Dr. Boom no longer around, there's at least a possibility that the new two-mana card, Embrace the Shadow, provides just enough of a boost that some kind of Shadow Priest deck that uses Velen could see play.
ARCANITE REAPER
Arcanite Reaper can't replace the Whirlwind Deathrattle that Death's Bite provides, but it does fit the spot as a midrange Warrior weapon between Fiery War Axe and Gorehowl.
Control Warrior likes weapons and there just aren't any other obvious replacements, with Cursed Blade geared towards an Aggro deck, Rusty Hook (from N'Zoth's First Mate) more of a ping, Tentacles for Arms being underpowered, and Ogre Warmaul designed for people who accidentally dusted all their other Warrior weapons.
A five-mana, 5/2 weapon isn't great, but it may have a place.