I hate Hearthstone’s Pirate Warrior deck more then pushy people on the subway who chew with their mouths open while clipping their toenails and listening to music without headphones. The archetype has caused me unspeakable pain, especially when I see that N’zoth’s First Mate and Patches on turn one. I’m currently in Shanghai watching the Hearthstone Championship Tour, having to hold back my rage whenever I see an on-stage pro stooping low enough to use high seas Garrosh.
Pirate Warrior has stayed relatively the same since Mean Streets Of Gadgetzan , outside of Small Time Buccaneer needing to walk the plank after the nerf, but there have been a few surpises. The one that’s caught me off guard the most is Captain Greenskin , a Legendary from Hearthstone’s Classic set that was deemed trash by the community for most of it’s existence.
The five-mana goblin gives your weapon +1/+1, which is a pretty underwhelming Battlecry. Harrison Jones , a Legendary minion with the same stat line and cost, destroys an enemy weapon and allows you to draw cards depending on its durability. For one less mana you can just use Naga Corsair , though it does only grant your weapon one attack point. Still, why bother wasting the mana when there’s so much more Face to attack?
Captain Greenskin isn’t a popular card in the ladder version of Pirate Warrior since it’s just to slow. Why bother spending your five-mana turn on something that might not get to deal damage? Arcanite Reaper can slam for five and Leeroy Jenkins for six, in a fast-paced ranked match where you want to kill your opponent as quickly as possible, there no brainer add ins. In a tournament environment, where you get the chance to see what your opponent is playing and can plan ahead, there’s room for some interesting tech cards.
All three of the semi-finalists bringing Pirate Warrior, Hoej, Nappa and Ant, are using Captain Greenskin in their decks. Aggro decks seem to be the most successful here, destroying the slower control decks brought by other regions, like China. When everyone (who’s winning) is bringing Aggro Shaman, you need some durability to your weapons. Clearing a Flametongue Totem late in the game can help decide between a win and loss.
It might not be a mandatory add-in like Bloodsail Corsair or Fiery War Axe , but Captain Greenskin is a solid choice in Pirate Warrior. The main way the deck loses is by not drawing weapons. If you can’t use Bloodsail Cultist or Upgrade! to the best of your ability, your just losing out on free value. I would never use Pirate Warrior (though I have thought about it on some cold, lonely nights) but if I did, I’d add the goblin. It’s a strong minion that can push an advantage, but won’t help you when you’re behind, AKA every Pirate Warrior deck.
It might not work out in every game, but Captain Greenskin is a solid tech choice. The simple-minded morons who play Pirate Warrior can’t think turns in advance, but if you're not a pleb and are just playing the deck “to keep up with the meta” this Legendary might be a good fit for you.
Ant, after winning his quarter final match, said that he wanted to add a second Grimy Gadgeteer, but others advised against it. Remember, Hearthstone is a game of choices, play whatever you think is best regardless of what the pros, internet or that guy who added you after the game to yell at you, says.
