Standard reference & strategy
Reference
Reference

How to read this wiki’s labels

Published by Learn HearthstoneFoundational reference2 min read

Use the labels to tell game rules from player terms. Learn where to find definitions, deck plans, and patch changes.

A term may name an official rule, a player idea, or a number used in reports. These are different things. A deck type tells you its plan. The name alone does not show how strong it is or which cards every version uses.

Glossary and slang

The Glossary combines official game vocabulary with jargon for strategy, deck building, data and events. “Play to your outs” is one example. Slang has its own section for jokes, nicknames and short reactions, such as “never lucky” and “yoink.” Both lists run from A to Z.

Each entry has a blue category badge at the bottom, after its definition and any examples. Some labels combine more than one use. These labels help explain the terms; they do not create game rules.

What the labels mean

  • OFFICIAL: A term the game uses for a rule, card feature, or system. It may not be a keyword.
  • OFFICIAL KEYWORD: A named card rule explained by card text or a tooltip.
  • OFFICIAL RULES TEXT: A printed event or rule, such as Start of Game. It may not be a separate keyword.
  • OFFICIAL SYSTEM: A resource, card type, deck rule, or card family, such as Corpses or Locations.
  • COMMUNITY: A player term for a plan, action, or deck type, such as aggro or tempo.
  • COMMUNITY SLANG: Informal player words, jokes, or short forms. They do not set rules.
  • DATA: A number or measure. Check how the source defines it.
  • PROBABILITY: A term about chance or unknown results.
  • TOURNAMENT: A term for a contest or event step. Check the event's rules.

Some labels combine two uses. OFFICIAL COMMUNITY means a game idea also used as player shorthand. COMMUNITY DATA means player language used in analysis. COMMUNITY PROBABILITY means player language about chance. DATA PROBABILITY joins stats and chance. OFFICIAL PROBABILITY joins game rules and chance. OFFICIAL TOURNAMENT joins game rules and events.

These labels do not say that a card is legal in Standard now or that a deck is strong.

How to use the deck guides

Deck types explain broad plans, such as aggro, control, and combo. The class guides explain each class’s tools, resources and tradeoffs. These teach choices. They are not live rankings or full deck lists.

Before crafting, check the whole list, card legality, recent changes, and the games behind any claims. Two decks with the same name may use different cards and get different results. Patch history helps explain rule and card changes.