Tempo

A tempo deck makes threats and protects their chance to act. It is not just a deck that deals the most early damage. It also makes the enemy's next turn hard.

Ask whether your play improves your position while forcing an awkward answer. An answer that saves cards can still be too slow if you lose the whole board.

Make your turn count now

Plan the threat and its protection together. A cheap spell that saves a minion may let that minion attack for several more turns.

Draw or Discover first when knowing the result helps and does not block a needed play. Check lower costs, Combo rules, legal targets, and mana before choosing the order.

A lead will not last forever. Turn it into damage, a good trade, or another threat. Leaving mana unused can be right if it saves a key answer. But waiting turn after turn lets the enemy's bigger cards take over.

A simple example

Suppose you have a ready 3/3 and can use a cheap answer to remove the enemy's only minion. Your 3/3 can then attack the hero and stay on the board. A slower draw play might give you more cards while letting the enemy remove your threat. Compare what each choice leaves for the next turn. See the tempo and value lesson for this tradeoff.

Strengths and weak spots

Tempo is good at pressuring setup decks and forcing answers that take a full turn. It can struggle when the enemy removes your threat and makes their own at the same time. Repeated clears can also wear it down.

Know when to attack and when a good minion trade buys time for your stronger hand. When reviewing a loss, look for the first turn you gave up your lead for little gain, not only the final bad trade.

To plan your card roles and curve, check when you can play a threat and an answer together.