Hearthstone: The Best 6 Neutrals from Rise of Shadows in Arena

Hearthstone's Rise of Shadows is dropping tomorrow on 9 April. All the cards from the set have been revealed too. Hearthstone's Standard Rotation Year of the Dragon is here too, which means cards from the 2017 set will leave Arena as well. Cards from Journey to Un'Goro, Knights of the Frozen Throne and Kobolds & Catacombs will not be available in Arena anymore.

So now the pool card in Arena has grown smaller, till it grows again by December. There have been some very interesting additions to the pool of cards in each class as well as the Neutrals. The "Lackey" cards are a great addition to the possibilities you can have in Arena. Here are 6 of the best Neutral minions being added to Arena.

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#6. Potion Vendor

Potion Vendor is basically Voodoo Doctor on steroids. The effect which it has in not new to Hearthstone. Darkscale Healer is a 5-cost card with a 4/5 body and is a Basic card, it has been around since Hearthstone's inception. Kobolds & Catacombs received a similar card but it had a 3/3 body and cost 3.

Potion Vendor is stronger than both of these. The cost is much cheaper and the effect from the previous cards is what made them good, not the body. It is a great 1-drop to play even in the late game.

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#5. Toxfin

Toxfin is the only Murloc Neutral card that was introduced in the set. Shaman got some really great Murloc additions too, including a legendary. The Poisonous effect in Arena has a lot of value. It can help you recover the board and gain control from your side of the board. Or a Poisonous minion can punish your opponent.

The card's effect is not compromised by its body, so playing a 1/2 1-drop is something that will always be handy, especially if you lack 1-drops from your draft.

#4. Proud Defender

A well-statted Taunt minion is always useful in Arena. Proud Defender retains the effect from Tar Creeper (which is rotating out) but more conditionally so. A 4/6 Taunt if you're behind on the board can buy you some time. The attack doesn't matter as much as it's health. At 6 health, opponents will still need to clear that much health.

However, it is probably weak to heavy removal from classes such as Mage or Rogue.

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#3. Soldier of Fortune

An over statted minion for its cost? Mostly does well in Arena. Soldier of Fortune's body stats and cost is reminiscent of Hoarding Dragon from Kobolds & Catacombs. That's if you attack twice. It is not a bad pick on the 4-drop slot and it can be used defensively and offensively pretty well.

There is the obvious downside of letting your opponent get out a minion early through Coins, but that also depends on how well they are drawing and maintaining hand size.

#2. Eccentric Scribe

Eccentric Scribe may not see too much play in Constructed. It synergizes really well with Token Druid cards and the new Shaman cards. The minion is sticky and gives you four 1/1 tokens which you can use on your board. It feels like a neutral Savannah Highmane. The strong effect of 1/1 tokens was seen in Violet Wurm, which is leaving Arena too.

Eccentric Scribe contests being one of the most powerful Arena Neutrals from the Rise of Shadows set.

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#1. Tunnel Blaster

Board clears are some of the best things you can have in Arena. Tunnel Blaster's effect is similar (and better) to Chillmaw from The Grand Tournament. Tunnel Blaster is also a 7 health Taunt minion and your opponent will have to play right into it. It may be weakened by Silence but in Arena, Silence effects are not that common.

While there is the disadvantage of clearing your own board, Tunnel Blaster can be helpful when you are lagging behind on the board. The card is quite situational, your opponent can try to play around it but a 3 damage board clear effect can be very harmful to your opponent's tempo.

With board clears like Primordial Drake leaving Arena, a strong Neutral AOE card could be what some classes need.

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