I often get requests to build cheaper Hearthstone decks, and I decided to take a look at Resurrect Priest from a budget perspective. Now, I do not think it is possible to do a full budget list without any Epics, but it is possible to succeed on the ladder all the way to Legend with a Resurrect Priest that includes only four Epics and no craftable Legendaries.
This is the cheapest currently viable control deck, so if you want to take a look at something else than aggro or midrange without having a ton of dust, Resurrect Priest with its immense defensive capabilities just might fit the bill. As an additional upside, you get to play with Priest’s Galakrond!
Semi-Budget Resurrect Priest decklist
Deck code: AAECAa0GBNYKmJsD47QDyMADDdMKl4cDgpQDmZsDoaEDr6UD0aUDmakDn6kD2awD8qwDza8D/bADAA==
I mostly played this list, which does include Kronx Dragonhoof, because I built this deck based on a viewer request, and he had Kronx, so I just threw it in for some additional fun. It is by no means necessary – it is not even included in the full-cost lists – and it can easily be replaced with a second copy of Forbidden Words for a more budget experience.
Upgrading from here to a full-cost list is simple and straightforward:
All you need to do is the following (preferably in this order):
- Remove a Grave Rune for Zere’s Cloning Gallery
- Remove a Shadow Word: Death for Zilliax
- Remove Kronx Dragonhoof for Catrina Muerte
Bam, done! The full-cost deck code is this: AAECAa0GCNMK1gqggAONggOTmwOYmwPZrAPIwAMLl4cDgpQDmZsDoaEDr6UD0aUDmakDn6kD8qwDza8D/bADAA==
Semi-Budget Resurrect Priest mulligan
Your basic mulligan with the deck is to keep the Bad Luck Albatross, Psychopomp, and Penance.
There are also other potentially good cards to keep depending on the matchup:
- Shadow Word: Death can be useful against Rogue’s Edwin VanCleef
- Breath of the Infinite or Mass Hysteria can be useful against decks that swarm the board
- Sandhoof Waterbearer can be useful against aggressive decks.
Semi-Budget Resurrect Priest tips and tricks
Remember that you have multiple ways to win games. While getting an early Bad Luck Albatross and then resurrecting that to fill the opponent’s deck with 1/1 tokens is a powerful strategy, it is not the only one. Sometimes you want to avoid playing the Albatross so that you can ensure resurrecting more defensive minions, or if you pick up your first Albatross very late, you may want to win a slower deck in fatigue and not give them more cards.
Controlling your resurrect pool is important. Especially if you have found an early Psychopomp, think carefully what you want it to bring back. Albatross is often great, as then you will fill your opponent’s deck with junk, but sometimes defending well is more important.
Galakrond has two roles in the deck: it is a hard-removal tool, one that is capable of removing one or two random minions (two only if you have found both copies of Time Rip), and it is a value engine that provides infinite minions. The value part is mostly useful if you go for the Albatrosses and just aim to outvalue the opponent from there. Remember to keep an eye on your resurrect pool if you still have unused Mass Resurrection spells left.
You are playing a control deck. Ration your removal and try to fit them to the level of threat the opponent is able to build. You can run out of removal if you spend it carelessly, but you can also die if you are too greedy. It can be hard to find the balance, but in general, you want to be at least somewhat greedy.
Semi-Budget Resurrect Priest gameplay video
Finally, here is a recap of the guide and some gameplay footage to give you a better idea of what the deck is capable of.