Galakrond Warlock deck list guide - Ashes of Outland - Hearthstone (April 2020)

Galakrond Warlock has previously been a Zoo-based archetype. This version though, is a more Midrange version, boasting both control tools to remove enemy threats and a strong ability to get minions on board and take the initiative.

Galakrond’s Warlock incarnation summons random Demons upon play, upgrading from 1, to 2, and finally to 4. Galakrond, Azeroth’s End also equips you a 5/2 Claw as a weapon, effectively acting as a free Arcanite Reaper as well as those chunky Demons it summons. It’ll be an interesting card to try out, that’s for sure.

Galakrond Warlock deck list and strategy

Here’s the Galakrond Warlock deck we’re using for the beginning of Ashes of Outland. We’ll keep you updated with any changes!

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

Deck Import ID: AAECAf0GBsUE/KMD068DkbED47QD8b8DDKMBigfECJ2pA+WsA+isA+qsA+usA+ysA/6uA6qvA/2wAwA=

General strategy

It's pretty easy to fully Invoke Galakrond, the Wretched with this deck. You'll be getting a board swarmed with imps and going from there, chipping away at your opponent.

Early Game: You have some solid early plays to keep your opponent at bay, particularly aggressive foes. Acidic Swamp Ooze and other low-cost minions can contest against aggro, but the likes of Nether Breath and Mortal Coil are your best friends here. Keep your minion cost low and try to get as many Invokes out there as possible.

Dragonblight Cultist is a great early option for getting Invokes started, and against aggro decks, a large hand combined with Dark Skies can scupper their plans real quick.

Mid Game: Keep Invoking and drawing cards when you can. Veiled Worshipper is a great play to refuel your hand too, since you're putting good stats on the board and drawing a bunch of cards. Remember though, you have to have Invoked twice to make the Battlecry go off. You can tell when it's ready to go with the yellow outline of the card.

Your Invoke cards, like Devoted Maniac and Dragonblight Cultist, always summon 2 1/1 Imps. This makes them more valuable than they may seem, offering immediate stats in play. They're ideal for keeping your tempo up and pulling off valuable trades.

Shield of Galakrond is another solid Invoke card to get your Galakrond upgraded. It’s a 5 mana 4/5 with Taunt, but it summons an extra 2/2 in stats with its Battlecry, making it far better than it otherwise would be.

Late Game: If you’ve drawn and Invoked Galakrond, it’s well worth playing him. Ideally, you’ve Invoked 4 times and are able to play Galakrond, Azeroth’s End, summoning 4 random demons and equipping a 5/2 weapon. It’s an immediate board presence as well as direct face damage to finish the game. Even without a fully upgraded Galakrond though, you might still want to play him for the altered Hero Power and extra random demons. Kronx Dragonhoof draws your Galakrond if you haven’t already, but if he’s already in play you’ll unleash a savage Devastation, potentially ending the game through either buffing your own minions or dealing 5 to face.

This deck includes Dragonqueen Alexstrasza and Zephrys the Great as well, a great option for late-game finishers. You'll only be able to use them when your deck is nearly empty though, so look out for that yellow glow on the cards in hand.

Galakrond Warlock Mulligan Guide

Below is our guide on what to keep in your opening hand when playing Galakrond Warlock.

1. It's worth holding on to Mortal Coil, especially with all the Demon Hunters running around these days. You'll be able to kill off an early threat as well as drawing a card to compensate.

2. Dragonblight Cultist gets you started on Invoking Galakrond, and gets you some solid trading potential to boot.

3. If you have a couple Invoke cards in hand, hold on to Veiled Worshipper as well. It's a ridiculously powerful play on curve.

Galakrond Warlock tips, combos and synergies

Below are some tips for how to best play Galakrond Warlock in the upcoming Ashes of Outland meta:

- Dragonblight Cultist and Fiendish Rites both Invoke Galakrond before triggering their effects, meaning the two 1/1 Imps summoned by the Invoke count towards the relevant buffs.

- Bad Luck Albatross is a decent card to play on curve, but also throws off enemies with decks built for specific circumstances. Highlander decks, as well as the likes of Pure Paladin and No Minion Mage will have their cards with deckbuilding restrictions removed if you shuffle Albatross into their deck.

- Alexstrasza immediately puts a Hero at 15 health. Always count for lethal damage - you might just have that amount of damage available on board. You can also use the Dragon aspect to heal yourself back up to 15 too.

- Galakrond, the Wretched and its improved forms summon random demon minions. These have a pretty high variance though. You might end up with a Voidwalker and a Doubling Imp, but there’s a solid chance to get bigger boys like Dread Infernal, Fel Lord Betrug, or Jumbo Imp. Either way, you’re pretty likely to get a frightening board, especially if you’ve upgraded to Galakrond, Azeroth’s End.

- Dark Skies is best used against aggressive opponents. Count the number of cards in your hand and the total amount of health of minions on board to work out whether you'll be able to fully clear it.

- Galakrond's Malice, the Hero Power for Galakrond once you’ve transformed, costs 2 mana to cast, but remember that you still gain the effect from Invoke cards even if he’s already in play.

- Kronx Dragonhoof has four potential Devastations. Decimation deals 5 to the enemy Hero and heals yours by 5. Reanimation summons an 8/8 Dragon with Taunt. Domination gives all your other minions +2/+2. Annihilation deals 5 to all enemy minions. Depending on your game’s state, you’ll want to choose carefully - sometimes you just want to end it all, whereas on other occasions you need to clear the board of enemy threats.