List of powercreeped cards

This is a list about cards which are powercreeps, or cards which are effectively better than other cards in every way.

Some may believe that these cards listed do not constitute as powercreep, however, they will still be listed as such due to the lack of a better term for them. Powercreep may be defined differently from what is defined in this article, if any confusion is caused from the name, this article is listing all cards which are objectively better than other cards. A name change can be considered if anyone is still confused.

This article will list cards which have been powercreeped, and list below them the cards which are better than them.

Class cards are designed to be more powerful than neutral cards, however they will be listed. Cards from different classes will also be compared with each other. Only collectible cards will be listed.

This is a work-in-progress list, feel free to expand it.

A powercreep defined here would have to fulfill one or more of the following criteria when compared to another card:
 * It has exactly the same card text, and more attack or health
 * It has exactly the same card text, and costs less mana
 * It has exactly the same mana cost and stats, but has more beneficial card text
 * It has exactly the same mana cost and stats, but has less counteractive card text
 * It has exactly the same mana cost and card text, but on a Battlecry minion (if powercreeped card is a spell that doesn't summon a minion)
 * It has exactly the same mana cost and card text, but can target additional characters or has more legal targets
 * It has exactly the same mana cost and card text, but does not require filling a condition to match powercreeped card
 * It has exactly the same mana cost and card text, but Discovers cards instead of generating random cards (with same restrictions)

For the sake of this article, the actions listed below are beneficial: Any card needs to have the ability to always do one of the above for it to fulfill that criteria. Avenging Wrath will always deal damage to an enemy, but having a possibility to gain an effect listed above is always better than not having any effect or have effects listed below. Having the chances to be both good and bad effectively cancels out its effectiveness over cards with the same stats, cost and no card text at all.
 * Restoring health to a friendly character, such as Shroom Brewer and Reno Jackson
 * Gaining armor, such as Plated Beetle and Drywhisker Armorer
 * Dealing damage to an enemy, such as Leper Gnome and Spring Rocket
 * Summoning minions for you, such as Violet Wurm and Giggling Inventor
 * Destroying an enemy minion, such as Assassinate and Demonbolt
 * Destroying the enemy hero, such as Mecha'thun
 * Destroying cards in the opponent's deck, such as Flik Skyshiv
 * Adding cards to your hand, such as Kazakus and Ravencaller
 * Discovering, such as Stonehill Defender and Arch-Thief Rafaam
 * Drawing cards, such as Loot Hoarder and Bonfire Elemental
 * Putting minions from hand into the battlefield, such as Voidcaller and Deathwing, Dragonlord
 * Recruiting or putting minions from deck into the battlefield, such as Master Oakheart and Y'Shaarj, Rage Unbound
 * Putting secrets into the battlefield, such as Arcane Keysmith and Mad Scientist
 * Taking control of enemy minions, such as Cabal Shadow Priest and Sylvanas Windrunner
 * Gaining attack, such as Bloodsail Raider and Frothing Berserker
 * Gaining health or durability, such as Twilight Drake and King's Defender
 * Gaining other positive effects, such as Corpsetaker and Carrion Drake
 * Giving a friendly minion beneficial effects, such as those given by Corpse Raiser and Acherus Veteran
 * Giving minions in your hand or deck beneficial effects, such as Grimestreet Pawnbroker and Prince Keleseth
 * Giving minions in the opponent's hand or deck detrimental effects, such as Chaos Gazer
 * Providing friendly minions with beneficial effects, such as those given by Murloc Warleader and Stormwind Champion
 * Providing your hero with beneficial effects, such as those given by Violet Illusionist and Kobold Monk
 * Providing your weapon with beneficial effects, such as those given by Captain Greenskin and Envenom Weapon
 * Destroying or lowering the durability of the opponent's weapon, such as Bloodsail Corsair and Acidic Swamp Ooze
 * Having divine shield, such as Argent Squire and Lone Champion
 * Having lifesteal, such as Bloodworm and Penance
 * Having windfury, such as Al'Akir the Windlord and Dragonhawk Rider
 * Having taunt, such as Silverback Patriarch and Paragon of Light
 * Having poisonous, such as Emperor Cobra and Patient Assassin
 * Having charge, such as Leeroy Jenkins and Armored Warhorse
 * Having rush, such as Scaleworm and Zilliax
 * Having inspire, such as Lowly Squire and Murloc Knight
 * Having echo, such as Hunting Mastiff and Phantom Militia
 * Having overkill, such as Sul'thraze and Baited Arrow
 * Having twinspell, such as The Forest's Aid
 * Having magnetic, such as Bronze Gatekeeper and Annoy-o-Module
 * Having Reborn, such as Restless Mummy and Murmy
 * Having Invoke, such as Fiendish Rites and Shield of Galakrond
 * Having Outcast, such as Eye Beam and Illidari Felblade
 * Having Spellburst, such as Diligent Notetaker and Wretched Tutor
 * Having Corrupt, such as Fleethoof Pearltusk and Day at the Faire (the Corrupted version must also be a powercreep)
 * Having Corrupted
 * Having Frenzy, such as Peon and Blademaster Samuro
 * Interacts beneficially with other keywords, such as Whirlwind Tempest and Y'Shaarj, the Defiler
 * Is a Libram card, such as Libram of Justice and Libram of Hope
 * Freezing enemy minions, such as Glacial Shard and Frost Nova
 * Adapting, such as Volcanosaur and Vicious Fledgling
 * Elusive, or not being targetable by spells or hero powers, such as Air Elemental and Bearshark
 * Gaining a beneficial effect while damaged, such as Amani Berserker and Grommash Hellscream
 * Activating a beneficial effect when damaged, such as Gurubashi Berserker and Blackhowl Gunspire
 * Stealth, such as Stranglethorn Tiger and Cloakscale Chemist
 * Temporary Stealth, such as Spirit of the Rhino and Coppertail Imposter
 * Providing spell damage, such as Celestial Emissary and Malygos
 * Shuffling beneficial cards into your deck, such as Fal'dorei Strider and Portal Overfiend
 * Shuffling harmful cards into opponent's deck, such as Seaforium Bomber and Beneath the Grounds
 * Reducing the cost of your cards, such as Galvanizer and Radiant Elemental
 * Increasing the cost of your opponent's cards, such as Doomed Apprentice and Boompistol Bully
 * Silencing enemy minions, such as Ironbeak Owl and Spellbreaker
 * Gaining or refreshing mana crystals, such as Wild Growth and Escaped Manasaber
 * Unlocking overloaded mana crystals, such as Lava Shock and Eternal Sentinel
 * Refreshing your hero power, such as Garrison Commander and Blackwald Pixie
 * Providing your hero power with beneficial effects, such as Waterboy and Steamwheedle Sniper
 * Giving a detrimental effect to the opponent's hero power, such as Saboteur and Blowtorch Saboteur
 * Has matching stats but also has Choose One options with alternative effects, such as Druid of the Scythe and Treenforcements
 * Is played or returned to hand when discarded, such as Silverware Golem and Clutchmother Zavas

Listed below are counteractive, or negative effects:
 * Discarding, such as Doomguard and Howlfiend
 * Overloading, such as Stormforged Axe and Volcano
 * Removing cards off your deck, such as Keening Banshee and Fel Reaver
 * Destroying your own mana crystals, such as Blastcrystal Potion and Felguard
 * Increasing the mana cost of your cards, such as Venture Co. Mercenary and Embiggen
 * Doing damage to friendly characters, such as Ornery Tortoise and Ticking Abomination
 * Healing enemy characters, such as Zombie Chow and Corrupted Healbot
 * Summoning minions for your opponent, such as Marsh Drake and Mad Summoner
 * Giving playable cards to your opponent, such as Booty Bay Bookie and Griftah
 * Drawing cards for your opponent, such as Naturalize and Coldlight Oracle
 * Shuffling in negative or harmful cards into your deck, such as Ancient Shade and Impbalming
 * Giving your opponent other positive effects, such as Arcane Golem and Temporus
 * Giving your hero other negative effects, such as Cursed Blade
 * Giving both players positive effects, such as Jungle Moonkin and Mo'arg Artificer
 * Giving both players negative effects, such as Nerub'ar Weblord and Hakkar, the Soulflayer
 * Replacing cards in your hand and/or deck with random ones, such as Renounce Darkness and Transmogrifier
 * Being unable to attack normally, such as Ancient Watcher and Unpowered Mauler
 * Having restrictions on what it can attack, such as Icehowl and Supreme Abyssal
 * Having an effect which makes the minion attack unintended targets, such as Swamp King Dred and Deathwing, Mad Aspect
 * A minion which attacks random targets, such as Ogre Brute and Kobold Barbarian
 * Randomizing your targets, such as Mogor the Ogre and Mayor Noggenfogger
 * Is initially dormant when summoned, such as The Darkness and Imprisoned Antaen

The following are sidegrades, and not strictly powercreep:
 * Is only superior to another card based on random conditions, such as Transfer Student and Animal Companion
 * Having a random effect that can have good or bad outcomes, such as Puzzle Box of Yogg-Saron and Mad Bomber
 * Bouncing itself back to hand, potentially removing buffs, such as Coliseum Manager and Pen Flinger
 * Can conditionally be cheaper than another card but is more expensive by default, such as Anubisath Defender and Shirvallah, the Tiger
 * Converting healing into damage, such as Auchenai Soulpriest and Embrace the Shadow
 * Having an end of turn effect instead of a Battlecry, such as Priestess of Fury and EVIL Totem
 * Requires filling a condition in order to not be weaker than another card, such as Breath of Dreams and Crush
 * Having a detrimental effect that is counteracted numerically by its beneficial effect, such as High Priest Thekal and Crystallizer

Listed below are ignored:
 * Having minion types, such as Murloc Tinyfin and Deathwing
 * Having Spell schools, such as Fireball and Desperate Prayer
 * Being of a high rarity, such as Legendaries and Epics
 * Belonging to different classes
 * Being a wild format card
 * Having alternative Choose One options that give it different stats while having one of its choices be powercreeped
 * Being able to target multiple characters with a detrimental effect, but not to friendly characters
 * Having a beneficial effect on a Battlecry (as opposed to a Deathrattle)
 * Possible combos between specific cards for effects that normally are negative (ex. Synergy between Lakkari Sacrifice and discard cards, Enraging your minions via Whirlwind)

Onto the main part of this article, the list.

Alleycat
It turns out they're not here only for the cutest card contest.

Arcane Shot
Blizzard printed many more cheap spells, and even they were never the best.

Argent Squire
This is in fact a very popular card used in Odd Rogue, Quest Hunter, Odd Paladin, but it still manages to be beaten by this one card.

Blazing Battlemage and Enchanted Raven
Blizzard needed more things to power creep for this expansion.

Call of the Void
When the Void calls you, just read some books instead.

Dark Possession
You can deal 2 damage to friendly character... but what about not doing that and having next demon cost 1 less?

Deadscale Knight
Very insignificant.

Dire Mole
This is comparable to Enchanted Raven, but neutral. Even then, Dire Mole was still used frequently, which goes to show how good the 1-mana 1/3 statline is.

Divine Strength
A magical incantation to boost your stamina isn't as effective as getting sand blasted in your face, apparently.

Elven Archer and On the Hunt
Choosing feeble targets is the new strategy Hunters have developed over the years. Oh, and replacing their mastiffs with hyenas, too.

Goldshire Footman
Some Control Warlocks are actually willing to play Wax Elemental and Goldshire Footman rather than a small demon because of Bloodreaver Gul'dan although what this might show.

Mecharoo, Murmy and Possessed Villager
...which proves once again why you should always carry a Tinyfin with you.

Murloc Raider
Everyone has used this card a couple of times, at least in the tutorial. The list of cards which are powercreeped here is quite long, even longer than the one for Silverback Patriarch:

Pilfer
Rogue's Tome of Intellect and Babbling Book.

Radiance
Another card that was powercreeped when released. As an extreme budget self-heal card, it's hopelessly outclassed in Wild.

Secret Plan
Lottery Trumps a well-built plan, i guess.

Shooting Star
While Spell Damage can make Shooting Star more useful, screaming Fel at your opponent usually gets the job done better.

Small-Time Buccaneer
Used to be insane but now someone has been hiding in the shadows that takes his spot.

Storm's Wrath
The storm seems rather calm, because it got powercreeped the second it saw release. Although there are cards that don't mind the creep at all.

Tome of Intellect
Sure, you can find spells in a book, but it's even better if the book itself fights for you.

Warbot
Now you know who would win between Orcs and Mechs.

Wicked Whispers
Sure, you could try using the discard to your advantage, but this is not what this page is about.

Worgen Infiltrator
To be fair, Rogues are supposed to be better at the whole "stealth" thing.

Arcane Explosion
This basic card known from tutorial has been powercreeped.

Arcane Servant and River Crocolisk
This is another underwhelming basic card, and is in fact not bad in arena, unfortunately too many cards compete with it. Transmogrifier doesn't count because it might transform your board clear or combo piece.

Bloodfen Raptor and Puddlestomper
Bloodfen Raptor was good enough that Blizzard printed what is effectively the same card, but definitely not good enough for the following, at least Fishflinger, Wild Pyromancer, Wyrmrest Purifier and Sightless Watcher technically doesn't powercreep the two.

Blowgill Sniper
Both of these cards are as unremarkable as it can get, but one is still better than the other.

Convert
Convert fits thematically, and that's why it got reprinted with an actual combo-able effect.

Darkbomb
This actually does not affect the game at all; Darkbomb is for Warlock and that's what makes it special.

Duskboar
This is a smaller Magma Rager, but better.

Embrace the Shadow
There's actually no difference between these two cards in practice, but at least the latter is less of a dead draw if your combo isn't assembled.

Explorer's Hat
Should've hit the books instead.

Fallen Sun Cleric
This makes Shattered Sun Cleric look even worse now.

Frostwolf Grunt
There was no good reason for Blizzard to release a card like this.

Heroic Strike
A hero has to have its villain, and for now, the villain is winning.

Holy Light
This card might have been played if it was a priest card.

Kobold Geomancer
There were many similar cards which were better than Kobold Geomancer, but only two were a powercreep.

Mark of Y'Shaarj
These are cards are secretly identical. It's just that Paladins are always beast-mode.

Midway Maniac
A fallen druid is more flexible than a fanatical imp.

Murloc Tidehunter
With the release of Whispers of the Old Gods, what was once a trivial Basic minion is now slightly more powerful.

Shatter
Blizzard thought that Shatter was too weak, so they tried it again.

Shrinkmeister
Why shrink one minion when you can shrink them all?

Thrive in the Shadows
Yeah, thriving is great. But have you tried just looking?

Toxicologist
This card was powercreeped when released.

Twisted Worgen
This abomination was powercreeped the expansion it was released in.

Upgradeable Framebot
At least Upgradeable Framebot powercreeps Am'gam Rager.

Youthful Brewmaster
These young brewmasters have much to learn.

Acolyte of Agony
Pain or suffering? 6 damage to a minion seems a better deal.

Am'gam Rager
The less known Rager in the family of Ragers, this one somehow becomes even worse than the original Magma Rager. This is the list:

Arcane Intellect
Cards are never immune to power creep, no matter how useful it is.

Carrion Grub
This thing is just a slightly bigger River Crocolisk.

Dalaran Mage
Having 1 Attack really kills its viability.

Desert Hare
Microtech Controller was already decent for token decks, so Blizzard decided to print a statically worse version of it for the next Standard year. One redeeming factor is its synergy with Evolve Shaman, though.

Emperor Cobra
Emperor or not, Beast decks would take a Beast.

Fierce Monkey
Sadly, Fierce Monkey would be outshined himself.

Fiery War Axe
Once one of the best weapons in the game, after the nerf, many weapons became better.

Flying Machine
Flying Machine may be a success story, but that doesn't mean it isn't feeling a little... cowed.

Hench-Clan Sneak
He would DEFINITELY be a lot sneakier if he let go of that power cord.

Hired Gun
Crime doesn't pay as much as playing the fool.

Ice Rager
Flame beats ice, that's a known thing.

Ironfur Grizzly
Another card for Fierce Monkey to shine!

Kobold Barbarian
50% of the time, Ogre Brute hits the wrong thing all the time. Why not have a minion that 100% of the time hits the wrong thing most the time?

Landscaping
It takes some time for trees to grow.

Magma Rager
This card is known for being one of the worst cards in Hearthstone, however, unlike Silverback Patriarch, Magma Rager is not powercreeped that often. The one upside Magma Rager does get is that it is in Standard Format... at least until the Year of the Gryphon.

Nightmare Amalgam and Spider Tank
This is another case of being too simple, and Fierce Monkey is on top again. Although Nightmare Amalgam has way more tribes than Spider Tank, it is more vulnerable to Hungry Crab, Golakka Crawler, Dragonslayer, Hemet Nesingwary, etc. Teron Gorefiend is a little too double-edged to make it in this list.

Scarlet Crusader
Shouldn't the Scarlet Crusade be better at this by now?

Shadow Bolt
Warlocks study a lot of forbidden and risky magical elements. Shamans call their dragon friends and mages just spit fire and get better results anyway.

Silverback Patriarch
This is likely the first card people think about when they hear the word powercreep, this card is powercreeped so many times even cards which powercreep this card are getting powercreeped. This card even has its own article talking about the list of cards which powercreep it. Find it here. This, however, will not be the card with the most powercreeps.

Soot Spewer
To be fair, I doubt many people miss this card.

Spring Rocket
Sometimes, rockets aren't always the best answer.

Squirming Tentacle
This is the powercreep which was power creeped, still better than Silverback Patriarch though.

Volcanic Potion
Already a fantastic card, to the point where the improved versions are still sometimes run without any synergies.

Wild Growth
Once one of the best ramp cards in Hearthstone somehow got powercreeped after a nerf. You can get a Excess Mana by playing this after turn 10, though.

Blood Witch
It's not even that good on games where you want to lose the fastest.

Chillwind Yeti
Basic cards just have to be powercreeped, no matter how good they are.

Circus Amalgam
Unfortunately, being able to get hit by more tech cards is not an advantage.

Evil Heckler
Even if the Heckler is not damaged, his insults really hurt.

Evolved Kobold
Even after evolving, Evolved Kobold did not escape the fate of being powercreeped.

Fire Plume Phoenix
Accidents... They happen, you know?

Infested Wolf
This flea-bitten mutt was long due for being outperformed.

Lost Tallstrider
This card is very similar to Booty Bay Bodyguard, but it has many more cards which powercreep it.

Molten Reflection
...And then it immediately got power creeped in the same expansion.

Mortal Strike
Blizzard might have nerfed this card too much to the point where it is worse than a basic card.

Scaleworm
The Warsongs don't need Dragons to rule the Barrens.

Sen'jin Shieldmasta
Everyone should remember this guy from their Hearthstone beginning; yeah it's powercreeped, but it is still a very good budget option.

Silvermoon Guardian
Once the only 4-drop with Divine Shield is now powercreeped; it looks like guardians were not enough for Alliance.

Soul Split
As cool as the name and artwork looks, it was printed as a worse version of old mage spell, and even got creeped in the set it was introduced. Not every Demon Hunter card can be super strong.

Steel Rager
Well, it IS a Rager card, after all.

Stegodon
Stegodon is the minion one would know as "the thing that's summoned from Spikeridged Steed." It's been powercreeped since the expansion it was released in.

Unsleeping Soul
I would also get insomnia, if during my release I was powercreeped from the get go. At least it's good for Silence Priest.

Walk the Plank
Another reason why Rastakhan's Rumble felt off.

Antique Healbot
Speaking of Amber Watcher, it's literally better than the former "best healing card". You think Blizzard was trying to push Control Paladin?

Bonfire Elemental
As unconventional as it is, it's still pretty decent in Elemental Mage decks.

Booty Bay Bodyguard
This is straight up powercreep by design for being too weak.

Dalaran Crusader
Apparently, a faire attraction is stronger than the crusade.

Darkshire Alchemist
Alchemy is perfectly safe (MOST of the time)!

Emberscale Drake
What to choose? Dragon scales or a giant shield?

Fen Creeper
Fen Creeper was outdone by Sen'jin Shieldmasta in usefulness, as he does the same job better for 1 mana less.

Flame Lance
Premium arena removal got itself some unfair competition.

Grook Fu Master
No one used that card anyways.

Pit Fighter
At least this is still a good pick in the Arena.

Power Word: Tentacles
Good triumphs over evil, and this card is proof. Also evil's power level was really restricted by Divine Spirit existing, it turns out.

Salty Dog
Pirate decks would take a pirate, even if it was powercreeped.

Stand Against Darkness
While the Silver Hand are standing their ground, the Illidari are being more proactive.

Stormpike Commando
The Stormpikes' HUUUUUGE GUNS have seen better days, but it took a random arthropod of all things to seal the deal.

Stranglethorn Tiger
The beasts of Stranglethorn Vale aren't as much "strangle" as they are "thorn".

Ancient of Blossoms
Slap a dragon on anything, and it becomes better.

Archmage
Unfortunately, Archmage was never ready for this.

Boulderfist Ogre
Even the king of vanilla minions is not immune.

Lord of the Arena
Every vanilla or single keyword basic card is sooner or later doomed to powercreep.

Sunwalker
The student outshines the master.

Windfury Harpy
Firstly they nerfed her look, then they decided to finish her with powercreep.

Bog Creeper
At least Bog Creeper powercreeps Fearsome Doomguard.

Captured Jormungar
It wasn't really that good to begin with.

Core Hound
The worse choice for Ancient of War, except it's even worse.

Fearsome Doomguard
Rather weak for its cost, it has been overshadowed by many new cards, just like other cards of its generation.

Furious Ettin
Now they have even more reasons to be furious.

Grotesque Dragonhawk
This card never got its 5 minutes. Even on the arena it was a semi-optimal pick.

War Golem
This is another example of the basic set being to simple; ironically it's outclassed even among Basic set.

Fossilized Devilsaur
This might be a more straightforward chain of powercreeps than Silverback Patriarch.

Ironbark Protector
At least it has Tree in art.

Burly Shovelfist
He never skipped dig day, yet it still didn't prevent him from getting power creeped.

Icehowl
He can never go face, always trade.

King Krush
Seems like the beloved giant dino has quite the competitors among the Core Set.

Onyxia
Still worse with a Blubber Baron in hand.

Faceless Behemoth
This card is basically the amplified version of War Golem.

Deathwing
Core Deathwing is less destructive than the Classic one, so it's more powerful??

Living Monument
It's less slower than the former, probably literally too.