Silver Hand Paladin deck list guide - Darkmoon Faire - Hearthstone (December 2020)

Silver Hand Paladin isn't a new kind of Hearthstone deck, but it's one that's making a little bit of a comeback in the Darkmoon Faire meta. It's a deck that's built around the hero's core Silver Hand Recruit mechanic, and to that end it features new cards like Lothraxion the Redeemed and Carnival Barker with a load of Pure Paladin synergies from expansions gone by.

The idea really is that you have a number of ways to generate Silver Hand Recruits and lots of nice synergies between these dudes and the best buff cards the Paladin class has had for a while.

In the latest update for our Silver Hand Paladin guide, we've got a well-refined new take on this old archetype that you can get started with. We've also highlighted all of the clever combos and card synergies you can make use of with this deck. Before that though you'll find some Mulligan advice and a broad overview of how to actually play this deck.

Silver Hand Paladin deck list and strategy

Here's the version of Silver Hand Paladin being used in the current meta. As the archetype's making something of a return to power, expect further refinements in the weeks to come.

Select and copy the long ID string below, then create a deck in Hearthstone to export this deck into your game.

Deck Import ID: AAECAZ8FBITBA8PRA4feA4jeAw2crgOWtgPKuAP9uAPquQPruQPsuQPKwQOezQPK0QOC3gOE3gOi3gMA

General strategy

There are lots of synergies to weave together in this deck, but you’ll get used to it pretty quickly. It’s not just Silver Hand Recruits you’re relying on, it’s a whole host of sweet buff cards that’ll help you finish your enemies.

Early Game: Ideally you’ll get some level of presence on turn 1. Aldor Attendant or 1-drops from First Day of School are great choices here, as you’ll be able to contest enemy minions early on. You might even get some tasty options who’d otherwise be unavailable to Paladin, like Flame Imp or Bloodsail Flybooter.

In the early turns, focus on board control. Use Hand of A'dal and Libram of Wisdom to boost your small minions, and your Hero Power is a solid enough choice at this point in the game too.

Mid Game: Trade smartly. You want to be dealing face damage, but if you allow your opponent too much control they can run away with the game, so use your Divine Shield abilities brought about by the likes of Balloon Merchant to keep momentum. You can also play Carnival Barker into things like Air Raid or a Corrupted Day at the Faire to get a bunch of 2/3 minions, buffed from their initial 1/1 state.

Of course, your best plays come after you’ve played Lothraxion the Redeemed, and whacking out Aldor Truthseeker will cheapen your Libram cards big time, with Libram of Justice particularly helpful with its reduction of enemy minions to 1 health so you can ping them off with your Divine Shielded Silver Hand Recruits.

Late Game: Need extra resources to finish the enemy off? Well, you’re in luck. Lady Liadrin will give you back all the spells you’ve cast on friendly characters, including Libram of Hope which you should be looking to play as it offers both cheap healing and a big, sticky threat with the difficult-to-clear 8/8 Divine Shield. If you’re really struggling to survive too, High Exarch Yrel is like a ready-made discounted Shirvallah, the Tiger, and can Rush in to heal your face whilst putting up a Taunt wall. Basically, late on you just need to keep on buffing friendlies and surviving - eventually either you’ll run out of resources or your opponent will run out of health.

Silver Hand Paladin Mulligan Guide

Below is our guide on what to keep in your opening hand when playing Silver Hand Paladin.

1. First Day of School gives you instant fodder for early boards, as well as an option for later to activate Spellbursts like High Abbess Alura’s.

2. Aldor Attendant discounts your Librams by 1 mana, which can set you up for a Libram of Wisdom turn soon after. This is extremely useful for early trades and setting up later bigger plays.

3. Hand of A'dal is a big boost in stats for the early game, and a solid deck cycling tool. You even get it back later when you play Lady Liadrin.

Silver Hand Paladin tips, combos and synergies

Below are some tips for how to best play Silver Hand Paladin in the Darkmoon Faire meta:

- Libram of Wisdom can be used multiple times in a turn if you’ve discounted it to 0 mana. Try using it on a 1/1 minion and trading it away so it dies, you can then set up a conga line of buffs with Libram of Wisdoms, buffing your small minions, trading them off, and buffing another minion ready to attack. It’s a pretty good way to take back board control when things look dicey.

- Lothraxion the Redeemed is a fantastic card to play out as early as you’re given the opportunity. A free Divine Shield on your Silver Hand Recruits is somewhat reminiscent of Odd Paladin, giving you extra survivability and a more sticky and constant threat.

- High Abbess Alura will cast a random spell from your deck with her Spellburst effect. The possible targets of this are:

• First Day of School
• Air Raid
• Hand of A'dal
• Libram of Wisdom
• Day at the Faire
• Libram of Justice
• Libram of Hope

Remember, if these spells can target minions, they’ll target Alura.

- Carnival Barker works on all 1-health minions, not just Silver Hand Recruits. A lot of your pulls from First Day of School will benefit from this too.

- Be careful not to overfill your hand with Lady Liadrin, especially if you’ve played a lot of copies of Libram of Wisdom. You want to be getting your Libram of Hopes back in hand too!

- Don’t forget Lightforged Zealot for a bit of burst damage. The 4/2 Truesilver Champion can be used immediately to attack the enemy face, and is well worth playing if you can afford to.

- Remember to go face when you can. 1 damage from a Silver Hand Recruit doesn’t seem like a lot, but the couple games we’ve lost by 1 health when the damage was there for use says otherwise.