Genn Greymane


 * ''For other appearances of Genn Greymane, see Genn Greymane (disambiguation).

Genn Greymane is a legendary neutral minion card, from The Witchwood set. It was once in the Hall of Fame set from April 4, 2019 to March 30, 2021.

Strategy
Genn Greymane offers a great Start of Game effect at the cost of having no odd-cost cards in your deck. While the effect is generally weaker than that of Baku the Mooneater, a 1-cost Hero Power allows you to fill in your curve more efficiently, and unlike Baku, Genn can be played as a minion that isn't horribly understatted.
 * Neutral - Some neutral minions are used in many of Even decks, most of which are excellent curve minions and synergy-based cards. The Lich King, Ragnaros the Firelord and Piloted Shredder are great drops, and Spellbreaker would be needed for dealing with buffed minions or ones with Taunt. And for hand decks, Twilight Drake and Mountain Giant are definitely powerful minions. Garrison Commander is widely accepted for the second chance to use the Hero Power.
 * Demon Hunter - Completely pointless, since Demon Claws already costs 1 mana.
 * Druid - Combined with Pounce and Savage Striker, 1-cost Shapeshift effectively helps being ahead in the early game. The template of Token Druid can be used, as Wispering Woods, Soul of the Forest, The Forest's Aid, and Power of the Wild are all even-costed. With the presence of Predatory Instincts and Stampeding Roar, big-beast combo is also possible. Spreading Plague and Ultimate Infestation are excellent defensive and card-draw spells.
 * Hunter - A 1-cost Steady Shot allows Hunter to pressure the opponent with constant face damage, and Hunter can use Secrets to maintain a tempo advantage. Cards like Scavenging Hyena and Savannah Highmane can be used to apply board pressure and round out games. Furthermore, Deathstalker Rexxar and Zul'jin, the two hero cards for Hunter, are both even-costed. However, Hunter has very few even-cost weapons; combined with the relative lack of early-game minions and loss of cards like Kill Command and Unleash the Hounds, Even Hunter may struggle at maintaining tempo.
 * Mage - Many of the stronger Inspire cards cards are even-cost, which Mages can take advantage of. Fallen Hero and Spirit of the Dragonhawk make those 1-cost Fireblasts more potent, and Garrison Commander and Coldarra Drake helps abuse it, which is powerful on Boneguard Lieutenant and Kodorider. The deck combines this with Mech cards, where it keeps powerful staples like Mechwarper, Piloted Shredder and Goblin Blastmage.
 * Paladin - This class already has access to a multitude of efficient 2-drops, such as Drygulch Jailor, Cathedral Gargoyle, and Hydrologist. As well, the reduced Hero Power allows for good Silver Hand Recruit and small minion synergy in the forms of Crystal Lion, Lightfused Stegodon, and Silver Sword. Paladin also has two great even-cost Legendary minions in the form of Sunkeeper Tarim and Tirion Fordring. (Main article: Even Paladin)
 * Priest - A 1-mana Lesser Heal has relatively little impact, and the loss of cards like Northshire Cleric makes it difficult for Priest to justify playing Genn Greymane. Raza the Chained serves the same purpose in Wild format, with the added benefit of working with Shadowreaper Anduin.
 * Rogue - This class has tempo and removal-based tools like Bloodmage Thalnos and Spellshifter in conjunction with Backstab and Eviscerate, as well as Fal'dorei Strider to provide board presence and Elven Minstrel for refuelling, which can be used in conjunction with the 1-cost Dagger Mastery to fight for the board. Rastakhan's Rumble gave Even Rogue access to a Pirate package with cards like Sharkfin Fan, Ticket Scalper, and Captain Hooktusk, as well as Sap and Walk the Plank as hard removal to compensate for the loss of Vilespine Slayer and Assassinate.
 * Shaman - This class has access to effective 2-mana cards like Totem Golem, Sandstorm Elemental, and Thing from Below. Murkspark Eel is a strong inclusion, with a good statline and powerful Even-restricted Battlecry. They also have access to strong Overload-based cards like Lava Shock and Vessina. Shamans can also employ Elemental or Jade Golem cards into their deck to fill out the midrange package, or use Totem cards for powerful aggro. (Main article: Even Shaman)
 * Warlock - Life Tap is already the most powerful basic hero power, and being able to use it on first turn is a major bonus. This can allow the Warlock to quickly draw and play Mountain Giant or Flesh Giant or build up a Twilight Drake. It also easily lets your life drop for Hooked Reaver. Warlock has plenty of even board clear and control, such as Hellfire, Dread Infernal, and Twisting Nether. Additionally, the Warlock death knight card Bloodreaver Gul'dan is even. (Link: Handlock)
 * Warrior - A 1-cost Armor Up! can be very effective with Armor-synergy cards such as Armorsmith, Bladed Gauntlet and Geosculptor Yip. Warrior can also include many damage-related cards as Inner Rage, Cruel Taskmaster and Rampage.

In World of Warcraft

 * '' is the current King of, and one of the original founders of the . He is a large bearish man, a brawny warrior with thick features, a heavy beard, and black and gray armor. Greymane has also been noted for being stubborn, proud, strong-willed, cunning, and arrogant.


 * ''During the, Greymane met with the other human leaders at to hear of 's fall at the hands of the orcish . Greymane joined the other human leaders in forming the Alliance of Lordaeron to counter the Horde threat, but due to his pride, he offered only token support. After the conclusion of the Second War, Greymane chafed at using Gilnean taxes to help pay for the orc  and . Greymane decided that Gilneas could not and would not pay for the wars of other nations, so he withdrew Gilneas from the Alliance, ordered the construction of the  and isolated Gilneas from the rest of the world.


 * ''Around the time of the, Greymane instructed Archmage Arugal, a wizard loyal to Gilneas, to summon feral worgen to protect Gilneas from the  threat. The plan backfired, and the worgen curse would eventually run rampant among the Gilnean population. In the time between the Third War and the , the number of those afflicted with the Worgen curse had grown and were now attacking . To counter the threat, Greymane helped to defend the city and aided in the evacuation of citizens to . In the aftermath, Greymane faced the dual threats of the  and the  invasion, culminating in the battle to retake Gilneas City from the Forsaken and witnessing the death of his son and heir, Liam.


 * ''Humbled by his son's death and the devastation of his kingdom, Greymane accepted the aid of the night elves, who had offered to relocate Gilnean survivors to . In a fit of stubbornness, Greymane was against formally rejoining the until he had almost lost his  and daughter during the crossing. After a short layover at Darnassus and reestablishing diplomatic ties with King Varian Wrynn, Greymane becomes a changed man. Greymane becomes a staunch supporter of the Alliance, adding the ferocity of the Gilneans to the considerable might of the Alliance, intent on one day reclaiming his lost kingdom.

In Hearthstone

 * ''We dare not approach the king too closely, but this is what we know.


 * ''Genn Greymane is King of Gilneas (the country and the city). His arrogance, stubbornness, and overconfidence once led Gilneas down a path of isolationism that brought it to the brink of destruction. Had he not learned to be a better ruler since those days, the city might already be lost.


 * ''In the days since the curse began afflicting the wood, he has worked tirelessly in the service of his city. He is often confined to his study, working into the wee hours by gaslight, night after night. The constant flow of reports emerging from the city allow him no rest: disappearances in the wood, horrifying shapes with glowing eyes stalking the city streets, and an endless array of ever stranger and more disturbing phenomena. There are even rumors that citizens have turned to a doomsaying “Crowskin” cult that operates in shadowy back rooms and cellars.


 * ''The normally tough-minded people of Gilneas are gripped with fear, suspicion, and superstition, but King Greymane has an iron will, and he expects the same of his subjects. His response has been to crack down, demanding absolute discipline and dedication. He’s tasked one of his finest thieftakers with investigating the cult, a man named Shaw. That’s not all: the Worgen King is currently recruiting the best monster hunters in Gilneas for a sortie into the forest.


 * No subtlety here: he intends to confront the threat head-on and howling.

Trivia

 * Genn was initially designed for Whispers of the Old Gods when his voice actor was recording for Heroes of the Storm, but didn't make the cut. His effect was similar to the transforming Worgen cards released in The Witchwood, swapping stats and between Charge and Taunt each turn.
 * At the onset of the Year of the Dragon, Genn joined Baku the Mooneater, Black Cat, Glitter Moth, Gloom Stag, and Murkspark Eel as the first non-Classic cards to rotate into the Hall of Fame.

Patch changes

 * Move from Hall of Fame to The Witchwood set.
 * Moved from The Witchwood to the Hall of Fame set.
 * ''Commentary: Baku and Genn are powerful cards that have promoted new strategies since their introduction in the metagame. Those strategies have been more prevalent than we’d intended in Standard, and we felt that they might end up overshadowing what we're going to introduce in the Year of the Dragon. In order for set rotation to breathe new life into Standard and maintain overall health of the ladder, we are rotating Baku and Genn into the Hall of Fame a year earlier than normal.


 * Added.