Hearthstone

[Dantski]

I'm curious what people think of this Paladin draft:

1. Master Swordsmith/Azure Drake/Argent Commander

If you think Argent Commander is better, I won't really disagree. But both are insanely good.

2. Youthful Brewmaster/Acolyte of Pain/Hand of Protection

If I were a Mage, then Acolyte would be my choice. But since I know I'll likely get an Argent Protector or 2, I'd rather have the ability to re-battlecry, and both are great early game.

3. Consecration/Bloodfen Raptor/Novice Engineer

4. Consecration/Frost Elemental/Worgen Infiltrator

Obvious choice is obvious.

5. Hand of Protection/Core Hound/Faerie Dragon

Great against mages, solid in any event.

6. Blessing of Might/Ancient Brewmaster/Silver Hand Knight

All are good. 5/4 with the potential for shenanigans for 4 wins, though.

7. War Golem/River Crocolisk/Blessing of Wisdom

I love this card. 1-mana cantrip is the worst case, and getting 2-3 cards is NOT difficult, especially with lots of divine shields and the like.

8. Goldshire Footman/Spellbreaker/Scarlet Crusader

I have no 3s at this point, so Scarlet Crusader edges Spellbreaker.

9. Murloc Raider/Ironbeak Owl/Eye for an Eye

I'd say that vindicates my previous decision - Ironbeak is the only competent card there.

10. Blood Knight/Murloc Warleader/Molten Giant

I've popped my own Divine Shields to feed this card before.

11. Lord of the Arena/Truesilver Champion/Booty Bay Bodyguard

Next.

12. Dire Wolf Alpha/Elven Archer/Frost Elemental

As a Pally, this is a solid 2/2, especially since I can sacrifice some 2/1s to feed other cards at the same time.

13. Divine Favor/Mind Control Tech/Imp Master

All are fine. I went with Imp Master to overwhelm my foes with numbers.

14. Consecration/Leper Gnome/Silverback Patriarch

Next.

15. Noble Sacrifice/Hammer of Wrath/Lord of the Arena

Kill a creature and draw a card for 4 mana. Efficiency in a can.

16. Core Hound/Ironfur Grizzly/Raid Leader

This is the pick I most want back - I decided I needed some bigs, but Ironfur Grizzly would've been a decent fit in the end.

17. Argent Squire/Silvermoon Guardian/Hammer of Wrath

Ancient Brewmaster was my only 4-cost minion, and with a Blood Knight I don't mind getting more Divine Shields. Hammer of Wrath was tempting, though.

18. Novice Engineer/Young Dragonhawk/Guardian of Kings

Guardian of Kings is good. The other 2...not so much.

19. Redemption/Eye for an Eye/Frost Elemental

If Redemption triggered Battlecries, I'd have thought about this a little harder.

20. Young Priestess/Ancient Watcher/Mind Control Tech

Young Priestess would be much better at 1/2 IMO. Mind Control is solid.

21. Redemption/Bluegill Warrior/Amani Berserker

Easy call.

22. Thrallmar Farseer/Abusive Sergeant/Hammer of Wrath

Abusive Sergeant is ok, but Efficiency In A Can wins again.

23. Faceless Manipulator/Murloc Warleader/Molten Giant

I've got enough big cards that I don't need a Molten Giant.

24. Dread Corsair/Raid Leader/Hand of Protection

I'd need 2+ Truesilvers to consider the Corsair - Truesilvers are such an amazing fit for that card.

25. Argent Squire/Stormwind Knight/Darkscale Healer

I don't have any 1-costers. All are decent.

26. Murloc Tidehunter/Dalaran Mage/Guardian of Kings

Only good card of the lot.

27. Priestess of Elune/Argent Protector/Novice Engineer

No contest.

28. Hammer of Wrath/Dire Wolf Alpha/Scarlet Crusader

I need more 3s. That's the 4th Hammer of Wrath I've seen...and I passed up on 2 of them.

29. Core Hound/Spiteful Smith/Bloodsail Raider

Again, I wish I had 1 more Truesilver, or had gotten a Sword of Justice over my Epics.

30. Knife Juggler/Violet Teacher/Equality

1. I'd have taken Commander but not a bad choice.
2. Agree
3. Agree
4. I would've considered Frost Ele, but probably have made the same choice you did.
5. Agree
6. I really like the A. Brew but I think the Knight is better here.
7. Ok, not as much of a fan of this card as you are so I may have taken the Croc.
8. Ok again, you've made a reasonable argument on why you made this pick.
9. Agree
10. Agree
11. Agree
12. Ok
13. Agree
14. At this point I'd have been reluctant to take more Consecrates. Leper Gnome isn't an awful 1 drop.
15. Agree
16. You said it, Grizzly was better.
17. I don't think I've ever taken a Squire but I've been burned by so many. Prob have taken Hammer.
18. Agree
19. Redemption can be rather silly when a guy with Divine shield triggers it. Otherwise your pick is fine.
20. Agree
21. Agree
22. Agree
23. Prob correct, I can't see your curve right now so don't know if MG would be useful.
24. Maybe the right choice, Raid leader isn't bad with recruits but then you do already have the wolf.
25. I'd have taken Knight.
26. Agree
27. Agree
28. Agree
29. Agree, Smith isn't terrible without a weapon anyway.
30. This one heavily depends on what mana cards you need. I'd have been tempted to take Equality. Violet Teacher was also a good card.

I'm finding myself getting owned in Arena by Rogues (that deck above went 0-2 against Rogues, and only got to 6 wins banghead) - what do people recommend in drafts & play to be better able to deal with Rogues?

Honestly you probably don't have any issue with Rogues, everyone will probably have a bad run of games versus a class at some point. That said, being aware of Betrayal plays is important as well as Assassinates. I tend to hold my biggest minions against Rogues in the same way that I do versus Mage's. Try to get them to use those premium removal cards on something threatening but not as threatening as a Ysera or an Ironbark Protector etc. Always be aware of Deadly poison. I don't think you can draft around fighting against a single class, just make sure to value those Oozes.