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In the 2017-2019 metagames, Hunter has consistently performed well. The 2017 sets of Journey to Un'Goro, Knights of the Frozen Throne and Kobolds & Catacombs will be rotating out of the Standard cycle in 2019 (within a couple of months). These expansions saw a good set of cards that could support Hunter, but not make it as OP as it was in the Huntertaker days.
Surprising decks that worked really well were Spell Hunter, which was a Hunter deck made only of different spells. It was an interesting shift from the typical Aggro Hunter which relied on small beasts and minions to inflict as much face damage as possible.
We've done a couple of pieces on Druid, highlighting the strongest cards leaving Constructed and Arena.
Here are some of the most impactful Hunter cards from those sets that will leave Standard soon.
#5. Kathrena Winterwisp
Expansion: Kobolds & Catacombs
Kathrena is one of the best legendaries printed for Hunter. It does not fit in an aggro Hunter deck but is impactful and fun to play in a more mid-range deck. This is the card that saw King Krush shine! Kathrena is typically used to pull big strong beasts such as King Krush, Witchwood Grizzly, Charged Devilsaur and others. The additional 6/6 body with the chance of a double beast pull is some value!
The most recently printed Oondasta gave the deck archetype even more support! If you happened to draw the Beast instead of playing, Oondasta can pull it for you. Oondasta is also a Beast, which has a very high mana cost even with the bonus Rush and Overkill effects. But Kathrena can also pull Oondasta from the deck and it has much more value to an already valuable card.
Legendaries like Kathrena are a rare, but pleasant sight. Here's hoping Blizzard prints more cards like her!
#4. Candleshot
Expansion: Kobolds & Catacombs
Candleshot is a weapon that was first thought as weak and will probably not seen play. But what many forgot was its synergy with Hunter's Mark, where the Hunter player could simply reduce the health of a big minion to 1, punch with Candleshot and get away with no damage done to them.
It's great at taking out low health minions due to its cheap cost, great at removing higher cost minions and great when the additional 1 damage comes in handy.
#3. Crackling Razormaw
Expansion: Journey to Un'Goro
The Adapt mechanic was unique to the Un'Goro set (we never saw it again after that). Crackling Razormaw is a better Bloodfen Raptor (the basic card which does nothing) and is a very versatile card when giving your minions a bonus. It was most popularly used to give Windfury to a buffed Scavenging Hyena. Even then, all the bonuses are quite useful to give to your beasts.
#2. Flanking Strike
Expansion: Kobolds & Catacombs
This is another surprising one that has seen inclusion in almost every hunter deck. Turns out, the 3/3 Wolf is useful. Hunter had an older card which is now rotated out, Quick Shot, which also dealt 3 damage and had a draw if your hand was empty. It is more costly than Kill Command and Quick Shot, but it has proven to be a great removal tool. It is in 89.1% of Hunter decks right now!
#1. Deathstalker Rexxar
Expansion: Knights of the Frozen Throne
Deathstalker Rexxar is a personal favourite of mine. He has a powerful Battlecry and the best hero power ever created. Crafting a Custom Zombeast involved creating 2 beasts 5 mana and below and combining their text effects. It must have been a nightmare to program, but it was the most fun and versatile hero power there is.
Deathstalker Rexxar still is an auto-include in almost every Hunter deck, even with the later Hunter hero card Zul'jin released. Zul'jin's hero power is nothing like Rexxar's!
Honourable Mentions
Rhok'delar
Expansion: Kobolds & Catacombs
Rhok'delar is the pillar of Spell Hunter and that deck was typically built around it. Getting random Hunter spells and secrets help Hunter players to build up a defensive mechanism or inflict removal on their opponent's minions.
Lesser Emerald Spellstone
Expansion: Kobolds & Catacombs
This card has been so useful and so impactful in Hunter that Blizzard had to nerf it to 6 mana. It is extremely easy to upgrade, requiring only one secret to play. Hunter has so many secrets that are great fits in a deck. Summoning 4 3/3 wolves (12/12 worth of stats) for 5 mana is extremely impactful, posing to be a threat enough and proving to be a good advantage for the Hunter board.
Stitched Tracker
Expansion: Knights of the Frozen Throne
Stitched Tracker allows you to get multiple copies on a minion and it especially comes in handy when you can have 2 Kathrenas, 2 King Krushes and more. Stitched Tracker has seen a lot of play in a variety of Hunter decks.
Wandering Monster
Expansion: Kobolds & Catacombs
Wandering Monster is a strong Hunter secret that allows you to get a free 3-cost minion for just 2 mana. It is a great defensive tool and if RNG is with you, it can pull a strong 3-cost minion to turn the game around for you.
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