A Tempo deck is all about initiative and using cards as a resource. This is a well-balanced deck that will present us with several options each turn. We will almost always be able to play a large minion, two small minions, or use a removal and play a minion or hero power. With so many options, the direction of the game is really in our hands moreso than any other deck. The key to success with this deck to pick the right moment to flip the board. If we tempo too hard in the beginning, we will use up all of our resources before finishing the game. If we wait too long trading endlessly on the board, we will run out of cards and options. This deck thrives on being able to extract value while tempo-ing hard, or using a value play to also add tempo to the board. Picking the right turn (and follow up turn) to do both will decidedly swing the game to our favor. We may not always be able to use our mana efficiently each turn, but when we do, it should be devastating.Strong against: Classic AggroWeak against: Mid-Ranged

A Classic Aggro deck gets on the board early and stays there for the entire match. This deck opens with 1-drops, or a fleet of 2-drops, and uses a combination of cheap minions, board buffs, other high tempo spells to control the board. The best part is that we are guaranteed to curve out well in every single match. We’ll run out of steam from our hand fairly quickly, but we’ve hopefully already won the game before that inevitability, or have the card draw to reload. The key to success with this deck is knowing when to trade on the board and when to deal face damage. This deck is a bit more flexible than it may appear to be at first glance, capable of sustaining itself into the late mid-game with advantageous trades on the board and liberal use of the hero power, or unleashing a massive wave of early game face damage to be finished off with reach. Either way, we’ll be the ones who set the pace in every matchup from the opening turns and we won’t take our foot off the gas pedal until it runs out.Strong against: Aggro-ControlWeak against: TempoMana Curve

A Classic Control deck has all of the answers. Our opponent plays a minion, we remove it or play a minion that hard counters the minion on the board. Our opponent plays two or three minions, we clear the board with a mass removal. When players think of a “control” deck, this is likely the type of deck they have in mind. The key to success with this deck is to have answers to anything our opponent throws at us. Prioritize playing card draw to draw into our answers, and treat bodies on the board as removal supplements. If we have large removals in hand, we play small bodies. If we have small/mass removals in hand, we play a large body. We have enough card advantage to last to the end game, so our goal is to repeatedly destroy our opponent’s tempo. Generally, if our opponent can’t end the game early, the value of our cards will stabilize the board and end the game in a lopsided fashion.
Strong against: Mid-Range
Weak against: Attrition

A Mid-Range deck is the most normal Arena deck. It is best known for playing minions on-curve throughout the entire match, repeatedly making good trades, and slowly building a large enough card advantage or tempo, depending on your opponent’s reaction, to end the game. Moreso than any other deck, this deck will win out if our opponent misses a drop. Because our opponent will likely have more initiative to shape the board, this deck is at the mercy of our opponent to dictate how the game will progress. The key to success with this deck is to recognize our role relative to our opponent by figuring out what our opponent is giving us. If he gives us tempo, then we use the tempo and push to end the game early. If he gives us value, then we repeatedly trade up on the board and look for card advantage. There is very little room for error here, so this deck type is where gameplay skill in anticipations make the biggest difference between success and failure.
Strong against: Tempo
Weak against: Classic Control