Beast

Beasts are a type of minion especially associated with hunters, and to a lesser extent druids. Hunters have a variety of class-specific Beast minions as well as specific ability cards which benefit Beasts. Beasts are the most common specific type of minion.

For a list of card art featuring beasts, see Beast art.

Strategy
Similar to Murlocs, Beasts are capable of immediately forming a strong offense and causing your opponent to go on the defensive. Unlike Murlocs, Beast cards have a wide range of mana costs allowing Beast-themed decks to be effective past early game. Beasts are also capable of generating significant card advantage and supporting themselves far better than other minion type.

The downside of Beast strategies is that Beasts often have lower stats or lack additional effects compared to non-Beast minions with identical costs on their own. In order to make up for their lower value, decks should include various synergy cards such as Houndmaster, Menagerie Warden, Kill Command, or Mark of Y'Shaarj. Beast minions with passive buffs to other Beasts or themselves can also make up for their lower stats, such as Timber Wolf or Tundra Rhino. Beast decks also suffer from a dependence on having a Beast in play, which can sometimes prevent the player from activating related synergies.

Beast synergy effects are largely reserved for Hunters and Druids. Beast Hunter decks contain many sticky minions to maintain aggression combined with burst damage from cards such as Tundra Rhino and Kill Command. Beast Druids compound the already strong value of their beasts with more well-valued cards such as Menagerie Warden to control the board.

Uncollectible
Uncollectible Beasts cannot be collected by players but can be obtained during play through the effects of other cards.

Cards that generate Beasts
These cards bring new Beasts into play through their card text.