The Vicious Syndicate Data Reaper Podcast

Episode 183: Don't Raynor on My Parade Jan 26, 2025

The Heroes of Starcraft miniset has launched, and with it has come a brand new metagame with many classes enjoying their new cards. Join ZachO and Squash as they take a deep dive into the new developments, and what the future may have in store.

Episode 182: Heroes of StarCraft Jan 21, 2025

The new StarCraft miniset is launching TODAY! Join ZachO and Squash as they review the new cards for each class as well as a deep-dive into what to expect from each of the three factions joining the game.

Episode 181: Ethereal Cycles Jan 05, 2025

The Great Dark Beyond metagame has mostly settled, but a few interesting new things have begun to emerge from the darkness of space. Join ZachO and Squash as they dive into the state of standard Hearthstone once again.

Episode 180: Yap Time Dec 29, 2024

ZachO and Squash are back, but this time they are here to yap about the game as a whole. Join us for a retrospective on the last year in Hearthstone and what we hope to see moving forward in 2025.

Episode 179: Supernova Stories Dec 22, 2024

The Great Dark Beyond metagame is settling in for a holiday break, and ZachO and Squash have returned to discuss the most recent patch. Join us to learn about the best and worst decks, and a possible supernova of a meta development?!

Episode 178: Worlds Apart Dec 08, 2024

With the World Championships coming up, The Great Dark Beyond has settled into a metagame featuring multiple dominant, polarizing archetypes. Join ZachO and Squash as they dig into the data while covering the current standard metagame.

Episode 177: Over the Moon Nov 24, 2024

The Great Dark Beyond's first major patch has dropped, and things have certainly shaken up in Hearthstone's standard metagame. Join ZachO and Squash as they explore the state of all 11 classes.

Episode 176: No One Can Hear You Scream (About the Meta) Nov 10, 2024

The Great Dark Beyond has launched and Squash and ZachO are here to give their early impressions on how things are shaping up. Is this expansion a galactic success or a black hole of darkness? Tune in to find out.

Episode 175: In a Meta Not So Far Away Nov 03, 2024

The Great Dark Beyond is imminent, and a galactic change to the meta is coming soon. Join ZachO and Squash as they take a look at all of the new cards for the exciting new Hearthstone expansion.

Episode 174: Magical Mystery Tourists Sep 29, 2024

The Perils in Paradise meta is winding down after the miniset and several balance patches. Join ZachO and Squash as they review a surprisingly balanced and strong metagame as we also look ahead to the future.

Episode 173: Barnes' Burner Account Sep 15, 2024

The Traveling Travel Agency miniset has launched and a new (?) meta is taking shape. Join ZachO and Squash as they discuss the developments and how the miniset has changed the standard format.

Episode 172: The Skyla's the Limit Sep 08, 2024

The Perils in Paradise miniset is imminent! Join ZachO and Squash as they go class by class reviewing the new cards coming in The Traveling Travel Agency.

Episode 171: Rising Tidepool Pupils Aug 25, 2024

The Perils in Paradise meta has begun to settle down after the most recent balance patch. Join ZachO and Squash as they take a look at how things are looking right now as long as their hopes for an upcoming balance patch.

Episode 170: Sunshine and Rainbow DKs Aug 11, 2024

The first balance patch of the Perils in Paradise meta has arrived. Join ZachO and Squash as they discuss the changes and how they are impactful the game thus far.

Episode 169: Hydration Revelation Aug 04, 2024

The Perils in Paradise meta has settled down ahead of the first balance patch. Join ZachO and Squash as they take a look at the current meta, and what they believe needs changed in the coming weeks.

Episode 168: Vicious Syndicate's Summer Vacation Jul 28, 2024

Perils in Paradise is here and a...new? meta is forming. Join ZachO and Squash as they review the developments in each class and discuss what the future of this expansion may hold.

Episode 167: The Positively Preposterous Perils in Paradise Preview Jul 17, 2024

Perils in Paradise is imminent! Join ZachO and Squash as they review the set one class at a time, highlighting their favorite cards and predicting what will be powerful in the new meta.

Episode 166: Imbalance of Power Jul 07, 2024

In the lead-up to Perils in Paradise, ZachO takes a deep dive on the balance patches throughout Whizbang's Workshop to figure out how we got here, what we can do better, and what balance philosophy for a game like Hearthstone truly means.

Episode 165: Perils in Whizbang's Jun 30, 2024

The Perils in Paradise reveal season is in full swing, but we still have a few more weeks of Whizbang's left! Several meta developments have shifted things since we last had a podcast, so tune in to hear how this home stretch of Whizbang's Workshop is currently looking.

Episode 164: Twists and Turns Jun 02, 2024

The Whizbang's Workshop meta is winding down and ZachO has some updates on how the format is stabilizing. Listen to the end to also hear Zach and Squash's thoughts on the new Twist mode Whizbang's Heroes!

Episode 163: The Land of Highlander May 26, 2024

The Data Reaper podcast is back after a miniset and a nerf patch that have thrown some new wrinkles into the meta. Join ZachO and Squash as they take a deep dive into the current state of standard Hearthstone.

Episode 162: Dr. Boom's Magnificent Miniset May 12, 2024

The Whizbang's Workshop miniset is imminent! Join ZachO and Squash as they go class by class reviewing the new cards and how they might shake up the meta.

Episode 161: Point of Reno Return May 05, 2024

The meta is starting to take shape after the most recent balance patch, and Reno Warrior is public enemy #1. Join ZachO and Squash as they discuss the meta and the different decks that are popping up to tackle the kings of the format.

Episode 160: The Agency Episode Apr 29, 2024

ZachO and Squash review the new meta after the balance patch that hoped to add more player agency to the game. How are things looking in the first week? Tune in to find out!

Episode 159: Firmly Grasp It Apr 07, 2024

Three weeks into Whizbang's Workshop, ZachO has a firm grasp of the meta. Tune in to hear a class-by-class breakdown and the definitive winners and losers from the first balance patch.

Episode 158: Shop 'til You Drop Apr 01, 2024

Join ZachO and Squash as the Hearthstone meta goes on a shopping spree! Is there anything out there that can dethrone the meta tyrant of Demon Hunter? Tune in to find out.

Episode 157: The Big Bang Mar 24, 2024

Whizbang's Workshop and the Year of the Pegasus are here! ZachO and Squash cover their first impressions of the new meta in this MASSIVE new episode!

Episode 156: Welcome to Whizbang's Mar 12, 2024

Whizbang's Workshop is right around the corner! Join Squash and ZachO as they give their first impressions of each of the class sets for the upcoming expansion.

Episode 155: Home Stretch Feb 26, 2024

We are in the final weeks of this standard meta, but things are happening! ZachO and Squash go over the state of the meta after the recent wacky balance patch and what to expect as Whizbang's Workshop approaches.

Episode 154: What's In Store for Core? Feb 12, 2024

ZachO and Squash review the upcoming changes to the Core set for the 10th year of Hearthstone, the Year of the Pegasus!

Episode 153: Sludge Won't Budge Feb 04, 2024

A massive balance patch hit the standard meta this past week and some significant meta developments are underway. But did the patch increase diversity in the meta, or actually make things even more narrow?

Episode 152: Let's Dew It Jan 21, 2024

The Deepholm miniset has launched and there are dramatic new developments in the meta. A new dew-o of decks are threatening the format, tune in to hear how things are looking so far!

Episode 151: Deepholm Deep Dive Jan 16, 2024

A new miniset is on its way! ZachO and Squash take a deep dive and go class by class analyzing the new cards.

Episode 150: We Need More Sponges Jan 07, 2024

Rogues keep on excavating and Druids keep on ramping, but what else is going on in the meta? Tune in until the end to hear ZachO's explanation of why we need more sponges in Hearthstone.

Episode 149: Can You Dig It? Jan 01, 2024

It's a New Year, and that means exciting things will be happening in Hearthstone! Squash and ZachO discuss the present, but also the future in this new episode of the Data Reaper Podcast.

Episode 148: New Host, New Meta Dec 24, 2023

A new host has arrived at the Data Reaper podcast, and with them a brand new meta after the most recent major balance patch. How are things looking in the first podcast since the launch of Showdown in the Badlands?

Episode 147: DRAW! Nov 06, 2023

Playing in a tournament has never been easier. Check out Mobius!

https://www.playmobius.co/vicious We're back and ready for a showdown. A new expansion is right around the corner!

Episode 146: It's Yogg Oct 02, 2023

A balance patch has dropped, but unfortunate timing meant one deck was missed! We give both sides of the battle all the information they need to try and beat Yogg or be Yogg.

Episode 145: Here's The Deal Sep 25, 2023

The miniset has arrived and a balance patch is already on the way! A certain Old God is taking over, but there's an even bigger monster at top ranks...

Episode 144: Power Struggle Sep 08, 2023

In this episode we discuss two important topics: what to do in a power outage and how the classes are fighting things out after the nerfs to Hunter.

Episode 143: Nature is Healing Sep 04, 2023

Hound Hunter's reign of terror has ended, giving Standard a fresh look. A new most popular class, hidden meta-breakers, and the return of an archetype many thought was dead.

Episode 142: Control the Face Aug 25, 2023

A monstrous patch brought new content, new expansion, new buffs, and an old archetype. In this episode we breakdown the meta of a post-patch world - starting with the incredibly popular Control Warrior!

Episode 141: Beat the Drum Aug 14, 2023

Hunter's dominance in the post-patch meta is no surprise, but a class written-off by many is ready to shake things up. We discuss everything going on after a very exciting launch to TITANS!

Episode 140: Siffting Through the Data Aug 06, 2023

It's time for the first podcast of TITANS! We take a look at the numbers and tell you what's working, what isn't, and why ZachO was secretly right about Mech Rogue all along.

Episode 139: TITANS TIME! Aug 01, 2023

Today is the day! The TITANS expansion has arrived, and we give one final overview of the set...

Episode 138: Major Breakthrough Jul 16, 2023

The Festivals of Legends is ready for a final encore. A major discovery might shake up the entire meta. Is there really a new best deck? We also discuss some of the freshly revealed cards from the next expansion!

Episode 137: Teased Titans Jul 10, 2023

The nerf to Whomper has made a huge impact on the Standard meta and we discuss all the ramifications. It's also time to rate the new Titans! These cards are strong... but which is the best?

Episode 136: Attack on TITANS! Jun 30, 2023

A NEW FORMAT. A NEW EXPANSION. A NEW THREAT TO THE META? Let's talk about everything that's happening after the latest Hearthstone content patch.

Episode 135: Round the Twist Jun 25, 2023

A new mode is coming soon!! But first we have to talk about the twists and turns of Standard Hearthstone...

Episode 134: Purely Broken Jun 11, 2023

The Audiopocalypse mini-set has shaken things up, and we discuss where things have landed. Beyond the purely obvious, there are a few big surprises...

Episode 133: Ultimate Hunting Jun 04, 2023

A miniset has been released! Up is down, down is up, Hunter has healing, and Paladin has DAMAGE.

Episode 132: Enrage Against the Machine May 26, 2023

We have a miniset announcement! But first let's discuss current Standard and perhaps the most interesting class... Warrior?!

Episode 131: Highway to Hell May 22, 2023

We're looking at an early snapshot of the post-nerfs meta! The format is looking balanced with lots to experiment with... until the next mini-set arrives.

Episode 130: How Ya Doin, Corb? May 13, 2023

In corbett's first episode of the show we find out that Blue is out and Green is in, for a new-look Death Knight. We also speculate on upcoming balance changes!

Episode 129: How Ya Doin, Hat? May 07, 2023

For one last time, Hat will tell us. And he's doing fine even though this is his last episode - though don't worry, the show will be back with a new host soon.

Episode 128: Happy Little (Big) Cards May 01, 2023

We just put a little smorc over here and a little board over there...

Episode 127: The Zen of Zach Apr 22, 2023

He'll be nice. Promise. Hat has some big personal news and the meta has some recent developments, so what are you waiting for? Start listening!

Episode 126: The Full Picture? Apr 17, 2023

We only have an early snapshot of the meta right now, and while some classes are flourishing, others are fizzling out. But maybe some ideas just need more exposure...

Episode 125: Core Workout Mar 27, 2023

Our final podcast episode of Year of the Hydra is here to cover core set changes and the revealed cards so far.

Episode 124: Year of the Viper Mar 20, 2023

Festival of Legends has been revealed and we have a lot of cards to talk through, especially some neutrals that may (or may not) be bait!

Episode 123: Actual March of the Lich King Mar 11, 2023

It's like the launch meta, but it's in March now! Get it? Get it??? The 1 mana nerfs brought back a number of archetypes that could not function under the pressure of Gnoll and Quarter. Things are pretty good!

Episode 122: A Format Reborn Mar 06, 2023

The nerfs dramatically opened up available space for strategies new and old. Hat's pretty happy with the new best deck...

Episode 121: The Frozen Throne Feb 26, 2023

We have some things to talk about, but this isn't a format that yields a lot of deep conversation. Frost DK is broken. Play it until it's gone.

Episode 120: Baddius Feb 18, 2023

Chaddius is not the way to win games unless you get him off evolves on turn 2. But there are ways to win games beyond evolve scams in Return to Naxx! And we talk about them!

Episode 119: The Naxxramas Review Feb 13, 2023

We go through the whole set! One of us is excited about cards that cost 1 and one of us is excited about neutral legendaries.

Episode 118: Ungnolly Meta Feb 04, 2023

Who would've thought that Wildpaw Gnoll was oppressing minion strategies that are now flourishing?

Episode 117: Don't Ask About The Chart Jan 28, 2023

Do you really wanna see what the space between tempo and midrange looks like? Memes aside, we got a new balance patch and have some insights into the early data from 25.2.2.

Episode 116: Watch Post Ends It Jan 14, 2023

Seriously, if that thing lives, what do you even do? Zach has some other meta developments too.

Episode 115: A Fundamental Paw Jan 08, 2023

Is this meta broken on a fundamental level? Is this a balance issue or a larger design problem? Are these questions clickbait? (Yes.)

Episode 114: One Drops Good Dec 31, 2022

Play more one drops in your Frost DK, add one mana cyclers to your Miracle Rogue, kill people with one mana spells in your Quest DH, and buff one drops to make undead decks playable. Hat is happy.

Episode 113: Goodnight Sweet Prince Dec 24, 2022

They nerfed Renathal! Plus a whole bunch of other cards. We have a whole new format to talk to you about.

Episode 112: Dead Knight Dec 13, 2022

March of the Lich King is out and we have our early impressions before the first report!

Episode 111: Suffusion Confusion Nov 22, 2022

Since last week, we've had quite a few class cards revealed. The hosts talk through what we've seen at the halfway point of the reveal season.

Episode 110: The DK Wrap-up Nov 15, 2022

We have all the Death Knight cards, so let's talk about them!

Episode 109: Thawing the Frozen Throne Nov 08, 2022

Team 5 announced a lot of new stuff coming to the game with the next expansion, but in the meantime they dropped 125 cards into standard with the re-release of Knights of the Frozen Throne. What changed? Is Big Priest OP?

Episode 108: Mostly Rogue Oct 29, 2022

Seriously, there are so many rogue decks right now - they're not busted but they're all being played a lot and we have some insights.

Episode 107: Please Play Naga Priest Oct 22, 2022

If you don't play Naga Priest you'll be proving Zach right. Is that what you want?

Episode 106: Don't Nerf Renathal Oct 18, 2022

Oh you know it's a clickbait title. And we mean it - but not for the reasons you might think! Check out our early impressions of the 24.4.3 balance patch and see if Theotar going to 5 actually changed anything.

Episode 105: Bored Based Meta Oct 08, 2022

We're waiting for nerfs and have some speculation around what might be changed... along with some good old Zach rants.

Episode 104: Hunter Good, Jailer Bad Oct 01, 2022

There's more content in the podcast than just what's in the title! Come listen to our analysis of the early miniset meta.

Episode 103: Maw and Disorder Review Sep 26, 2022

It's time for a special mini-set review edition of the podcast where we go over all the cards coming out in tomorrow's patch!

Episode 102: Good Patch Sep 17, 2022

We have our first report after the balance changes. There are a lot of interesting changes to the format and it seems like the dream of board-based strategies has come true!

Episode 101: Nagas in Nathria Sep 13, 2022

The newest balance patch changed things once again and it's time to lower those curves and bring out some minions! Hat's happy at least.

Episode 100: Looking Back, Looking Forward Sep 03, 2022

A hundred episodes in! Thank you for being there with us along the way. We take a little walk down memory lane before discussing our hopes for the upcoming balance patch.

Episode 99: Airing of Grievances Aug 26, 2022

Zach has thoughts on general balance philosophy and translates them to what happened with the first patch in Nathria.

Episode 98: Devour Your Devourer Aug 13, 2022

Who would've expected a meta where a 9 drop removal minion is highly played? Not us. There are plenty of other things to learn from the first data reaper report of the expansion before the nerfs.

Episode 97: The Nathria Narrative Aug 07, 2022

Welcome to Murder at Castle Nathria! We don't have a full report yet, but we have early impressions and you're going to want to hear them in our longest episode ever.

Episode 96: Premeditating on Murder at Castle Nathria Jul 24, 2022

All the cards are out and we have over a week until we get to play with them... so what do we do? We theorychat! Zach has been deep in the lab making decklist drafts and Hat got to play on the theorycrafting stream--tune in to hear where our perspectives overlap.

Episode 95: Double Zilliax, Hat! Jul 10, 2022

We have new information that shows that Renathal is actually making some decks better instead of worse! On top of that, we have a bunch of new cards to review together.

Episode 94: The Prince Renathal Episode Jul 02, 2022

You knew it was coming. Do you want to hear about how Renathal decks are doing after a few days? Of course you do.

Episode 93: You Should Play Holy Paladin Jun 25, 2022

It's yet another meta where the best deck is both underplayed and in the Paladin class. Just play it. But hey, we have stuff to talk about in every class! Well, almost every class...

Episode 92: The Big Spell Mage Counter Jun 20, 2022

You might need one if the meta keeps going the way it's been headed. After the last round of changes we have another completely new meta - tune in to get our first impressions!

Episode 91: Shield Chatter Jun 12, 2022

It's Warrior's format now and we're all just living in it. Well, Warrior and Rogue. Well, Warrior, Rogue, and DH...

Episode 90: It Doesn't Beat Warrior Any More Jun 05, 2022

Unless you're playing Boar Priest or Alignment Druid, at least. We have a lot to talk about with mini-set standard and there's also 10+ minutes of Elden Ring discussion after the outro!

Episode 89: The Buffs Were Good May 22, 2022

No, really, they were. We might not have a single dead class... there's one that we have questions about but it's not the one you think.

Episode 88: How Ya Doin Zach? May 07, 2022

There has been some concern that Hat always ask Zach how he's doing and never gets an answer. Fear not, because this week we get the answer. Tune in to find out! We also talk about standard and some of the new high skill cap decks that have made the rounds on social media.

Episode 87: Call to Barnes Apr 30, 2022

There are some pretty interesting post-nerf insights, though of course the diamond elephant in the room gets some special coverage again this week from Zach. All his homies hate Drek'Thar. But there's more to talk about too- especially with some classes that gained some breathing room after the Kazakusan rework.

Episode 86: Oracle is Core-acle Apr 23, 2022

Seriously, play two Oracles of Elune! Well, at least until the deck gets nerfed on Tuesday. We recorded this episode 12 hours before the nerf announcements, but you might not believe that after hearing how close some of our predictions were. (Mostly Zach's.)

Episode 85: Bait and Switcheroo Apr 16, 2022

Set sail! The Voyage to the Sunken City is underway and we're here with early impressions after two and a half days of the new standard year.

Episode 84: Four Set Goggles Apr 11, 2022

After locking himself in the lab, Zach has emerged with a pile of decklists and thoughts about the new meta - and Hat supplements that with his own experience from the theorycrafting streams. It's time for the last episode of the Year of the Gryphon. Hail Hydra!

Episode 83: Fires of Zach-Oshari Mar 26, 2022

Zach has big dreams about some of the cards from the new set and Hat's here to stoke the flames. This set is a class-by-class review of all the new cards we've seen so far and there are a lot of them!

Episode 82: Journey to the Sunken City Mar 19, 2022

The new set has been announced and the new cards have big Un'Goro two vibes! Listen to Zach and Hat talk over the new mechanics along with some very preliminary card evaluations.

Episode 81: Hearthstone History Mar 05, 2022

Zach puts on his professor Hat once again to walk us through the history of hearthstone from a design perspective.

Episode 80: Board to Death Feb 26, 2022

Our first full report on the Onyxia's Lair meta has dropped. What do the hosts think of the polarizing standard environment? Tune in to find out.

Episode 79: 50 Ways to Leave Your Kazzy Feb 20, 2022

Onyxia's Lair had a bigger impact than anticipated thanks to the dramatic improvement Kazakusan has brought to Druid. We have some early impressions of the meta as well as some predictions as to what will change.

Episode 78: Gallonyxia's Lair Feb 13, 2022

What a two-parter. We're thrilled to have Gallon on for a 30 minute dev interview and then after that there are a whole lot of new cards to cover from the Onyxia's Lair mini-set!

Episode 77: Flow Had To Go Feb 05, 2022

The first report of the 22.2 meta has made it clear... that things aren't very clear at all. The meta is open with lots of options and tremendous class diversity. Thank goodness they nerfed Mozaki.

Episode 76: The Third Alterac Launch Jan 30, 2022

Is standard saved? We're back after 22.2 brings 8 balance changes and frees the format from the Gnoll strangehold. There are lots of surprises here!

Episode 75: The Breaking Point Jan 15, 2022

The standard meta is badly warped around Gnolls and Scabbs. The hosts have a sobering discussion around the state of standard and talk about how they're handling it.

Episode 74: Shadowcrafting The Meta Jan 09, 2022

Well, after the last report, Thief Rogue has exploded on ladder... how much of a problem is it? Are there other decks that are a problem? Is Guff a good boy? (Yes, he is.)

Episode 73: The Most Diverse Meta Ever? Jan 01, 2022

After multiple days of deck refinement and 15 hours of writing, Zach has emerged from the lab with over 40 decklists for the latest report. Is this the most diverse meta ever? And is Thief Rogue broken?

Episode 72: Draw Should Cost Mana Dec 25, 2021

13 cards were changed the day after worlds and we have some early impressions of the new meta. Are the solitare five dead?

Episode 71: Celestial Misalignment Dec 18, 2021

The first and last report of pre-nerf Alterac is here. The devs have heavily implied nerfs are coming this week after worlds, so it's time for some patented ZachO predictions - not to mention a full review of the new meta.

Episode 70: Hat is Wrong in Alterac Dec 12, 2021

Everyone's wrong on occasion, of course, but it's funnier when it's Hat predicting that Hero Tamsin would not make it into Handlock. Find out what other predictions came true (or didn't) in the first episode in Alterac!

Episode 69: It's One Mana, Hat Nov 28, 2021

All the cards for Alterac Valley have been revealed and we're quite thankful for the extra time. Tune in for a class by class review!

Episode 68: Hero Card Meta Nov 21, 2021

We've got early impressions and we've got new cards! We've got time for both somehow - let's discuss the meta we have now along with what could be the meta we have in two weeks when Alterac comes out.

Episode 67: The Final Stormwind Nerfs Nov 13, 2021

The first full report for Deadmines is done just in time to anticipate nerfs next week. What's good now and what will be good after the changes?

Episode 66: It's Good Against Anacondra Nov 07, 2021

The Deadmines has shaken up standard and there are a ton of new decks to talk about along with some updates on older ones. Mr. Smite seems to be everywhere and has even found his way into strange Druid combo decks. Is it good? Tune in.

Episode 65: Zach Outsmarts Hat (again) Oct 30, 2021

Thank goodness we have new cards to talk about! There were sixteen Deadmines cards revealed on Thursday and the crew talks about every single one of them.

Episode 64: Meta Dynamics 102 Oct 23, 2021

School is back in session as ZachO puts on his high skill cap and expands on the paradigm between resource and initiative with real-world examples to help illustrate opportunities to grow as a player. If you haven't listened to episode 45, we strongly recommend doing so first!

Episode 63: Stormwind Stability Oct 16, 2021

The meta has a few developments going on, so it's time for one more review of standard before the mini-set. The format is unusually balanced and diverse with a few surprises worth covering even three months in.

Episode 62: The All-Time Highest Skill Cap Oct 09, 2021

Is Garrote Contact Rogue really the most skill-testing deck of all time? Can a deck's skill ceiling really be measured in data? Yes and yes. Tune in to find out the details.

Episode 61: 21.3 and Design Oct 02, 2021

The first full report of 21.3 is out and we're here to break it down along with a lengthy discussion on the state of standard's balance and play patterns. This meta isn't for everyone, but does that mean there are fundamental flaws in the designs?

Episode 60: The Big Warrior Matchup (w/Alec) Sep 25, 2021

21.3 is live with some significant changes--we were curious about Team 5's perspective on the meta so we had Alec on again to tell us what they think! Join us for an interview and a very early look at the new meta.

Episode 59: Il'Gynoth is Good... Again Sep 18, 2021

The pace of Stormwind patches hasn't slowed down and we're due for 14 card changes next week. Alec himself challenged Zach to come up with a list of changes - and Hat has some (bad) guesses too.

Episode 58: GIMME DA BRUTE Sep 11, 2021

The post-Stealer meta has continued to develop and the first official report has a lot for us to expand on. Does Rod make Handlock OP? Is Garrote Rogue the highest skill cap deck ever? Can Zach do an accurate Feno impression? Tune in to find out.

Episode 57: One Mana Matters Sep 04, 2021

What would Stormwind look like without Stealer of Souls? Well, we finally get the chance to find out thanks to another couple of balance changes that went live earlier this week. And Flesh Giant moved one mana again... does it even matter? Yes. Yes it does.

Episode 56: Flow Will Save Us Aug 28, 2021

The first report of patch 21.0.3 is here and it turns out it'll be the final report as well - some Warlock changes have been announced for next week! What does that mean for the rest of the classes?

Episode 55: Don't Overreact Aug 21, 2021

8 nerfs! Team 5 went wide with changes as expected. We don't have a full report yet, but we have early insights into the new meta and it may not be what you're expecting. Don't worry, we talk about Stealer... but there's a lot more to discuss.

Episode 54: Stealer of Winrates Aug 14, 2021

We didn't get nerfs yet though we know they're coming - but we do have the first report of Stormwind and it's a doozy! And of course, at the end we update our balance predictions to see if we can figure out what the team will do on Tuesday.

Episode 53: The Start of Stormwind Aug 07, 2021

It's time for the first look at the United in Stormwind standard environment! There are more decks to cover than we've ever done before in a single episode. Join us for an early peek at what the numbers are saying.

Episode 52: Priest Deleted? Jul 19, 2021

We have an early look at the 20.8.2 field as Barrens winds down. With the significant changes to Priest and the removal of Gibberling highrolls, the field looks rosy for Rush Warrior... but are there other developments to discover? Is Priest actually dead?

Episode 51: Watching for Nerfs Jul 10, 2021

We don't have new cards, but we do have new information from Alec via tweet - balance changes are coming next week! There are also some interesting developments to Watch out for in standard that deserve discussion.

Episode 50: SmackO in Stormwind Jul 04, 2021

United in Stormwind is our next expansion! We have a ton of new cards to talk about as well as the new mechanics introduced in the reveal stream on Thursday.

Episode 49: The Light Shall Burn You Jun 26, 2021

There's a lull at the end of the third month of the Barrens meta, but there's been plenty of activity on social media around the class everyone loves to hate. The boys spend some time talking about the data and player sentiment around Priest with some interesting data points that might surprise you.

Episode 48: Cut C'Thun, Improve Deck Jun 19, 2021

The second report of Wailing Caverns has given us some new developments. Can Hybrid Shaman work? Should Rush Warrior play N'Zoth? Are we going full yoink? Tune in and find out!

Episode 47: Card Draw Good Jun 12, 2021

Thanks to the release of some powerful new Shaman cards, we finally have something to talk about with Thrall! The first full week of data from the Wailing Caverns meta has given us a lot of insights to go over for every class... well, almost every class.

Episode 46: Looking For Group Jun 03, 2021

With only hours to spare between the patch notes and the mini-set's release, Zach and Hat find time for an EMERGENCY EPISODE covering all the new cards and the surprise nerfs!

Episode 45: Meta Dynamics May 29, 2021

We're waiting for the Wailing Caverns to open - but for this episode, we're trying something a little different and exploring the general concept of meta dynamics.

Episode 44: The Spice Must Flow May 22, 2021

Alec promised spice, but the initial impressions seemed to be that not much had changed. We don't think those initial impressions were accurate. Take a listen to get some context into the meta's developments after the first report of 20.2.2.

Episode 43: Taking Out The Trash May 16, 2021

We have an early look at what's good after the sudden 20.2.2 changes, but the meta is barely formed at this point. We have some idea of what to play and a much better idea of what not to play.

Episode 42: TEN BUFFS, HAT! May 08, 2021

Two hours before the show recorded, Alec tweeted that 5 nerfs and 10 buffs are coming! Join us as we try to sleuth out what the possible changes could be.

Episode 41: Go With The Flow May 01, 2021

We have confirmation that balance changes are coming but not what they are yet - and this meta isn't done developing. Zach has some spicy takes to share on where things are now and where they could go!

Episode 40: Flex Taping the Meta Apr 24, 2021

Not sure what 3 drops to play? Need some extra value in your standard deck? Sounds like a job for FLEX TAPE NEUTRALS! What would win in a fight - the lifebinder or one angry orc?

Episode 39: Zach Just Wants to Play Priest Apr 19, 2021

Episode 39 is live! Despite some technical delays, we've still got a lot of early insights to share about the post-nerf meta. @ZachODR @RidiculousHat @PlayHearthstone

Episode 38: Priest is OPee Apr 10, 2021

Has Zach broken the code? No, but we're finding ways to have fun and potentially deal with this warped meta until nerfs come out next week. Big thanks to Craptasm for our intro this week- it's solid gold.

Episode 37: Just Play Paladin Apr 03, 2021

No, we mean it. Play Paladin. It's time for a very early look at the Forged in the Barrens meta! The environment has changed and the meta continues to develop- but there are some early outliers that are worth discussing.

Episode 36: Alec's Back! Mar 20, 2021

Alec returns for another interview covering Team 5's current design philosophy! After that, Zach and Hat take a look at some of the new cards and give their initial thoughts.

Episode 35: Game Ogre, Man! Mar 13, 2021

We're all waiting for the Barrens card reveals, but the meta isn't done developing! And not only that, but this episode features a special live discussion of the decklist posts from MT Ironforge as they happen and a discussion of the nerf reversions.

Episode 34: The Big DH Dream Mar 02, 2021

The meta is stable, but the core set sure isn't. Zach and Hat take the time to give both larger thoughts on the new core set and class by class specifics.

Episode 33: Zach versus Vanessa Feb 22, 2021

Instead of reviewing the meta, it's time to review all of the things that we learned at BlizzCon. Zach and Hat dig deep into the core set and Forged in the Barrens with what we know right now.

Episode 32: Zach Classic Feb 13, 2021

Big news! The core set and Hearthstone Classic have both been announced. Zach and Hat give their initial thoughts before diving into the meta and taking a look at some of the latest developments, including the rise of spell damage mage.

Episode 31: Ridiculous Skill Cap Feb 02, 2021

The first report of the Darkmoon Races meta had FIFTEEN tier 1 decks! Are they all actually good? Is this a high skill meta? Will Zach lose his damn mind? All the answers are here!

Episode 30: The Darkmoon Derby Jan 20, 2021

With the mini-set being announced on Tuesday and released on Thursday, the team has to race to release an episode talking about all the new cards. Come hear some hot takes about the mid-set expansion!

Episode 29: 4Headwin Jan 12, 2021

It finally happened. Not only did they nerf Boggspine Knuckles, but they nerfed Edwin Van Cleef. Zach and Hat have a lot to discuss about the nerfs, the newly forming meta, and the possibility of what's to come for classic and basic.

Episode 28: New Year, Same Shaman Jan 02, 2021

Happy new year! The best decks may be the same, but there's some movement in other classes that's worth looking into.

Episode 27: Merry Stickmas Dec 26, 2020

On our last episode of 2020, Zach and Hat discuss the latest evolution of the meta. Zach has his finger on the pulse of the latest developments in our decklists... and a lot of them run a certain 5 mana 4/4. Happy holidays!

Episode 26: Explosive Evolution Dec 19, 2020

19.2 has brought changes to the standard environment, and for better or worse, some predicted meta adjustments seem to be coming true. Join us for an early look at the new meta.

Episode 25: ZachO Notes and Hat Feelings Dec 12, 2020

It's almost certain that there will be balance changes on Tuesday, but there are still new developments to explore in standard before then. Tune in to hear about the rise of Whirlkick Master, the true nature of Highlander Druid, and some guesses from the hosts on what will be adjusted.

Episode 24: Zephrys the Chicken Dec 05, 2020

Aggro Demon Hunter is back with a... vengeance. Zach and Hat review report #180 and talk about the dominant decks, the shape of the six playable classes, and hopes for potential future changes and developments to come.

Episode 23: The Full Darkmoon Faire Report Nov 28, 2020

Two podcasts in one week! The first report on the Darkmoon Faire meta is out and we're here to break it down for you class by class. Can Illidan be stopped? Does Shaman exist? What crazy experiments will ZachO come up with next? The answers to all of these questions are inside.

Episode 22: ZachO Unleashed Nov 23, 2020

We're back, and we have a special early look at the meta mere days after release. ZachO doesn't have to be held back by the data here and wastes no time in serving up hot takes.

Episode 21: A Chat with Alec Dawson Nov 07, 2020

For the first time, the VS team gets to sit down with Team 5 - we're joined this week by Alec Dawson, senior game designer for Hearthstone. This interview is packed with information, including Alec's perspective on randomness and value generation, the team's balance philosophy, thoughts on Yogg-Saron, and an idea of where the classic set is headed. Make sure you tune in for this one!

Episode 20: The Return of the Old Gods Oct 27, 2020

A new set announced already? That's Madness... at the Darkmoon Faire! There's already plenty to discuss in the early post-patch meta with the recent significant tweaks to mage, but on top of that, we have new cards to go over!

Episode 19: Emotion Flinger Oct 17, 2020

Between the report and the podcast recording, more nerfs were announced and a new trailer was teased! We have lots of speculation about what's coming next Thursday and plenty of discussion about the mage nerfs as well as a full review of the meta as usual.

Episode 18: Sparkly ZachOpinions Oct 10, 2020

Now that we have a full report on the 18.4 patch, we have more information to help guide you through this new meta. But this episode is not just about data, and when it comes time to talk about Mage, the hosts work on their virtual twitlonger skills to give you some opinions about their perception of the alleged "created by" meta.

Episode 17: Initial 18.4 Impressions Oct 03, 2020

The latest patch has nerfed both Tortollan Pilgrim and Guardian Animals and the format has seen a significant shakeup as a result. There isn't a full report yet, but there's enough data to get early impressions. Is Soul DH unstoppable? Will people ever play Paladin at high legend? Did Hat get something right?? Tune in and find out!

Episode 16: Full Yoink Music Sep 26, 2020

While the meta continues to develop, archetypes are starting to stabilize and this week has Druid on top, though it's far from unbeatable. But there are still new decks and new builds to be found - not just for Paladin either!

Episode 15: Run The Good Cards Sep 19, 2020

The first report is out! The post-18.2 meta looks to be smaller but it still has some interesting developments. Why is cyclone mage so popular? Did the Totem Goliath buff do anything? Can we still go full yoink? Find out the answers to these questions and more!

Episode 14: An Early Look at the 18.2 Meta Sep 12, 2020

The nerfs are live, and while it's too early for the first report, we can get some initial impressions. Join Zach and Hat for a review of what's going on with each class and where things look to be headed.

Episode 13: Balance and Balancing in 18.2 Sep 05, 2020

A month in to Scholomance and the meta is shaping up to historic levels of class balance - but the designers aren't done yet and 5 new card changes have been announced as part of the 18.2 patch on Tuesday. In addition to their regular overview of how each class is doing, Zach and Hat take the time to talk about the impact of each nerf and where this meta could shift in time for this weekend's Masters Tour and beyond.

Episode 12: ZachO the Griefer Aug 29, 2020

The meta keeps developing and podcast episodes keep getting longer! There's so much more to explore in the Scholomance meta - join us for a class by class review where no stone is left unturned.

Episode 11: Return of the SMOrc Aug 22, 2020

The Scholomance meta continues to defy stability, and the mid-week release of the 18.0.2 balance patch changed yet another variable. There's no report this week, but ZachO and Hat have some fresh data to share and discuss from the most recent class shifts. Going face is back on the menu!

Episode 10: Scholomance is in Session Aug 15, 2020

Scholomance Academy has hit standard and the impact cannot be overstated - this is a new world! It's a wide open meta with something for (almost) every class to do. Zach and Hat go class by class after the first Data Reaper report to try and make sense of it all.

Episode 9: Scholomance Eve Theorycrafts Aug 05, 2020

Zach and Hat can't wait for the new set and there's only one day to go! There's only one thing to talk about - the upcoming meta and our hopes for what's good, what's fun, and what's both.

Episode 8: Winding Down the Ashes Meta Jul 25, 2020

It's time for a last look at what feels like a new meta, as the final balance patch for Outlands has created significant change. But the new expansion is two weeks away and it's time to turn our perspective to what's coming after a review of the most recent Data Reaper report. We go card by card for all of the reveals so far - and there's lots to discuss.

Episode 7: Early 17.6 Impressions and Scholomance Academy Jul 18, 2020

There's a lot to talk about this week! Not only has the new 17.6 patch dramatically changed the meta at the end of the Ashes expansion cycle, but the next expansion has been announced and cards have been revealed. ZachO and Hat take a very early look at what each class looks like after the most recent balance update before diving directly into a card by card discussion of what we've seen so far from Scholomance Academy.

Episode 6: Ashes of Outland Nerfs - Round 5 Jul 11, 2020

Another wave of balance changes has been announced just before the next Masters Tour! While the nerfs are meant to set up the next expansion to have a larger impact per Blizzard, we expect them to have a major impact on the meta that we're in now. Join us for a review of every nerf on a card by card basis as well as a per-class analysis of what we predict the standard environment will look like.

Episode 5: The Amani Berserker Meta Jun 30, 2020

Yes, Amani Berserker. The new "enrage" aggro Demon Hunter is taking the ladder by storm after the discovery and evolution of a promising early build from the China Gold Championship. In addition to some analysis of the more unusual card inclusions and play patterns of the latest DH list, ZachO and Hat also reflect on the "forgotten classes" of Paladin and Shaman to figure out what help they need before speculating on what the next expansion could do for archetypes that can't quite cut it right now.

Episode 4: A Discussion of Meta Dynamics Jun 23, 2020

This episode takes on a different form as ZachO and Hat discuss the dynamics of the post-Twin Slice rework meta. Demon Hunter is still on top and Warrior is not far behind - and there has been a growing conversation on social media about the state of the game, including a long post from Zach himself. We have a constructive discussion about how we got here, what we think the problems are, and what the future of the game could look like with players and devs working together.

Episode 3: The Rise of Bomb Control Jun 13, 2020

Bomb Control Warrior has taken the top spot in the standard meta as expected, and with that comes additional meta developments. There are still refinements to be found in many archetypes, Demon Hunter and Druid included - and Rogue looks like it could end up being the third best class in the meta if decklists adapt.

https://www.vicioussyndicate.com/vs-data-reaper-report-165/

1:45 - Meta developments with Warrior and DH
25:10 - Continuing Druid refinement
34:48 - Rogue builds investigated
44:27 - Quick hits on other classes

Episode 2: Demon Hunter, Warrior, and Druid Jun 06, 2020

Zach and Hat are back and this week's meta calls for some deeper review of the top classes. Demon Hunter is still very strong even after the third round of nerfs and it seems like Warrior was left unscathed as well, not to mention the continuing refinement of Control Warrior. Druid is undergoing some fascinating developments and has transformed from one deck into three.

Episode 1: The Post-Patch Meta and Initial Class Developments May 30, 2020

Welcome to the Data Reaper Podcast! In the pilot episode, ZachO and RidiculousHat cover the initial findings from the first data reaper report after the 12 card balance change. In addition to an initial review of the developing meta, there's lots to talk about with class developments- Warrior is showing a surprising amount of class diversity while Druid and Rogue are in the middle of significant adjustments.

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