The issue with Hearthstone's ranking system
This has been a topic for debate recently, so I thought I’d outline it here. Basically, the closeness that players have chosen to netdeck to the highest of the top tier decks has seeped all the way down to even the lowest ranks, around 20-18. This means that brand new players, likely using poorly optimized, budgeted decks, can and will be going up against full on Pirate Warriors and Aggro Shamans. So, why is this happening and what can be done?
That’s a good question, self! One of the main issues as to why many new players are being thrusted into the heat of the Aggro Meta has a lot to do with the lack of separation of ranks. Players who hit legend each season are only placed into about rank 15-16 when they return for the next season, while players who only climbed a few ranks are placed roughly into 20-18. This means that only a handful of wins separate these players from experienced, veteran pros at the start of each season. So, where do these players go? Many chose casual, others Wild, but the result is always the same. These decks are simply everywhere, and they have become so refined and so well known that virtually all players who climb the ladder well are playing only the highest of top tier decks.
How has Blizzard responded to this? For starters, Ben Brode issued a series of tweets saying he intends to nerf, rework, or rotate several of the staple classic cards into Wild. This could mean things like Bloodmage Thalnos, Azure Drake, Acidic Swamp Ooze (please no), and many more cards could be nerfed, reworked or sent out of standard in an attempt to keep the Meta changing. This, despite what many players complain about it, will indeed keep the Meta changing. With an unrefined Meta, it means that many fewer players will be running top tier decks, as there will always be more to try out. This becomes a bit of a catch-22, however. Nerf cards and rotate out the most beloved classic cards in the set (and no doubt infuriate /r/hearthstone) and spice up the Meta, or keep everything and continue to have new players suffer.
This is a meaty topic for debate, so what do you think? Is this fair to do to players, especially ones who have played so long, or is it long-desired justice for the new player experience?
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