Lord Jaraxxus (Classic)

This is the Classic format version of Lord Jaraxxus, a legendary warlock minion card.

For more information about Lord Jaraxxus, see the original version.

Generated cards and Hero Powers

 * Summoned minions

Strategy
Lord Jaraxxus is best played when you have less than 15 Health so you regain some Health. The new ability to summon 6/6 Infernals, in addition to Blood Fury, will increase your damage output and board control every turn for a low mana cost, giving your hero significant long-term advantages.

A 6/6 for 2 mana is extremely high-value, and over time they can overwhelm the board with their raw stats. Generally the only decks that can keep the Infernals under control are decks with lots of hard removal and freeze effects. On top of this, you gain a 3/8 weapon, which has enough durability to practically last the rest of the game and can be used to consistently deal damage to the enemy hero or remove weakened minions, as long as you have to health to afford it or heal back right after.

The main downside of Lord Jaraxxus is his high upfront mana cost. At 9 mana, there is very little you can follow up with after playing Jaraxxus, which make it difficult to play him in a disadvantaged board state. Therefore, Jaraxxus should be saved for when you're at a neutral or advantaged board state. Another major downside is your reduced max Health. At 15 health, you are much less likely to survive enemy swing turns or burst damage compared to 30. He is also vulnerable to weapon destruction from an Acidic Swamp Ooze or Harrison Jones - the latter which can either be a huge blessing if their hand is small or a curse if their hand is loaded or they're nearing Fatigue.

The state of the board is crucial when deciding the right time to play Jaraxxus. If the opponent has a selection of strong minions while the warlock has none, playing Jaraxxus may give them just the chance they need to finish the warlock off. However, if the board is empty or fairly evenly-balanced, the warlock need only hold their ground for a little while before Jaraxxus' powers lead them to victory. Cards like Twisting Nether are ideal for play in combination with Lord Jaraxxus, allowing the warlock to even the odds before tipping them substantially in their own favour. Jaraxxus is also generally less risky to play when the opponent's hand is small or empty. Jaraxxus is also better played when your deck is nearing Fatigue and Life Tap stops becoming useful.

Patch changes

 * Added.