Mech Shaman

Mech Shaman is a type of shaman aggro deck, combining Mech synergy with the shaman's various burst capabilities to defeat opponents in the early game. An optional Overload synergy provides extra damage through cards like Tunnel Trogg.

Arriving at the start of Goblins vs Gnomes, Mech Shaman was the most popular Mech deck after the ubiquitous Mech Mage. However, the introduction of game formats saw the existing Mech Shaman deck's Standard format presence largely dismantled, with many players converting to non-Mech Aggro Shaman decks.

Deck type
Similar to the succeeding Aggro Shaman deck, Mech Shaman is all about early pressure, strong mulligans and burst damage. Mech Shaman mulligans aggressively for cards like Mechwarper, Annoy-o-Tron, Cogmaster and Whirling Zap-o-matic. The last is almost an alternative win condition for the deck: it is usually removed before it is able to be of much use (or prevented by Taunts) but when it is not, it is capable of delivering a win in the first few turns, especially in combination with Flametongue Totem, Rockbiter Weapon or Powermace's Deathrattle. While in practice this is rare, it reflects the overall strategy of the deck: early damage, followed by burst damage, followed by victory.

Mech Shaman focuses strongly on playing minions on curve, building up a strong board for sustained damage into the midgame. During the early game the shaman is often trading, but once the later game begins, the shaman should begin devoting their resources to bringing the opponent within reach of their burst damage. Mech Shaman uses trading as a means to an end: removing enemy minions prevents them from trading with the shaman's more valuable minions, thus quickly translating into more face damage.

Overload-synergy is an optional element of the deck, with Tunnel Trogg holding a similar position to Whirling Zap-o-matic; Unbound Elemental was another optional inclusion. Hex and Earth Shock were included sparingly for removing Taunts. Sir Finley Mrrgglton was a late addition to the deck, with similar priorities as Aggro Shaman: Life Tap or Steady Shot are usually preferred. Powermace is a key inclusion, and one of the main shaman Mech synergies. It offers good removal capabilities as well as a strong boost to the shaman's minions, for smart trading or even more face damage.

Mech Shaman has little in the way of sustain, but is somewhat slower than outright aggro decks, with a few heavier cards such as Dr. Boom and Fire Elemental, although these mostly serve specifically as alternative sources of face damage.

Key cards
With a wide range of variations, and substantial changes to the deck over time, it is not viable to accurately or extensively list the cards used in Mech Shaman decks. However, the following are examples of some cards commonly seen in a variety of Mech Shaman decks.


 * Optional