Even if the basic cards are quite limited, some of them are really powerful and easily at the level of the expert cards! You'll see in this top 10 the cream of the basic cards that will ensure you a strong deck without having to spend a single arcane dust!
A card with average stats for its mana cost, but its ability is very powerful if you already have a creature on the table! In HearthStone, buffing your creatures is the best way of surprising your opponent and putting them in difficulty! The Shattered Sun Cleric transforms a classic turn 2 (3/2) into a much more dangerous 4/3 creature, which could make a big difference at the start of a game!
For two mana you have a little creature and a draw card. At first glance this card seems a bit useless because it is very weak on the table, but the fact that it is "free" - since it gives you a card - allows you to filter your deck and get to your key cards faster!
In HearthStone the best creatures are the ones that combine good stats with a good ability, and the Ooze is a perfect example. With normal stats for a turn 2 (3/2), it's a strong creature. In addition, its ability could very well put your opponent in dire straits! If it has no weapon or if you have this creature from the start of the game, don't hesitate to play it since it is still a very good turn 2! However you can choose to keep it in your hand to destroy a weapon later in the game!
A charge creature with one health point, it won't stay long on the table, but will simply allow you to deal 2 damage for 2 mana. This creature is quite similar to a spell, because it won't normally spend more than one turn on the board. Very useful for trading with two health point creatures or to finish off a taunt, it can also be used to put pressure on the table if you already have other creatures!
For 5 mana it's one of the most expensive basic creatures, but can prove to be very useful if you have a lot of creatures on your table! If you have at least one other creature on the table, you get a 5/5 for 5, which is pretty decent. However if you have more than one creature on the table, the Frostwolf Warlord becomes a huge creature and a real problem for your opponent! If, for example, you manage to play an 8/8 for only 5 mana, your enemy will have to get rid of it very quickly or risk a quick defeat! Unfortunately you will often be forced to play this card without having allied minions, making this card too expensive for its stats!
A creature and a card! The mana cost might seem a bit high for such weak stats, but keeping a card advantage is very important when the game lasts a while! Also, the Gnomish Inventor can even trade with the weak creatures without leaving them any health, which is very practical!
The best of the "big" free creatures. 6/7 for 6 mana, the Ogre is a strong creature even if it doesn't have an extra ability. It will allow you to kill most of the creatures on the board while surviving almost any trade. The earlier you play it, the greater the pressure. Your opponent will have to get rid of it quickly or watch his health points drop drastically!
The free taunt card! For 4 mana you have a card with 5 health points, which is very difficulty to kill in turn 4! Also its three attack points will allow you to kill the creatures that throw themselves at it! Don't go looking to trade with this creature unless you have to! Just let the enemy creatures kill themselves going against it!
A solid creature. It has 5 health points, making it very difficult to kill at this level in the game! It's a very worthwhile creature which can very often trade with one or two enemy creatures. Its 4 attack points allow it to avoid the Priest's Shadow Word and its 5 health points avoid death from an Argent Commander or a Shadow Bolt, for example!
Hearthstone Guide: Top 10 Cards to Craft
Hearthstone Guide: Example of an Arena Draft
Hearthstone Guide: Top 10 Combos and Card Combinations
HearthStone: Top 10 Shaman CardsHearthstone Guide: Presentation of the Arena Mode