Bless the Wild
x2
1
Defiance
x4
1
Gold-Plated Revolver
x4
1
Hooru Blueprints
x4
1
Permafrost
x2
2
Ice Bolt
x4
2
Plunk Wumpkin
x4
2
Xultan Ambassador
x4
3
Helena, Skyguide
x4
3
Jada, Peacekeeper
x4
3
Jufi, Sprite Seer
x4
4
Velise, Bear Rider
x4
5
Quinn, Master Tracker
x4
Justice Sigil
x5
Primal Sigil
x6
Greater Plans
x4
Hooru Tome
x4
Justice Sketch
x2
Rune of Trickery
x2
Seat of Order
x4
View Deck on Shiftstoned
1. Is Bless the Wild any good? The number of actually spells played on creatures is quite small, and even then you are paying 3 to negate them.
2. I know you say you liked the Blueprints, but wouldn't just playing cards with inscribe be better? In particular, it seems almost criminal not to play Hojin - he's both mana and a good 5 power play, especially when you can pump Helena.
3. I think Ice Bolt is suspect, even with the upgrade. Giving your opponent a free ramp is no joke, especially when a lot of decks have good ways to use the mana.
4. Believe it or not, I think Xultan Ambassador is very overrated. This is a tempo format, and I've beaten a lot of players who had an Ambassador out by simply concentrating on developing my board and beating down rather than just card drawing. You don't really need the card draw - you will still usually have plenty of ways to draw or filter cards.
5. Jufi is another suspect card. You aren't going for the long game here, and you don't have tons of other draw, so it's likely this card will just be a 1/3 for a long time.
Overall, Hooru is probably the best deck, but there's a lot of ways to build it. I think there are some upgrades you can put in this deck. And yes, Helena and Plunk are probably tied for the best cards in the deck.
1) Bless the Wild is certainly flex. I've only recently added it to combat some directed removal from Stonescar and the mirror. Even without the contract it has utility as a combat trick. Usually it ends up protecting a killing blow in the late game, when the opponent has been saving up removal for a while.
2) I haven't tried Hojan, Beloved Son, to be honest. It does look powerful. I will craft a couple and try it here.
3) There just aren't many good removal options in Hooru that don't require your opponent attacking into you outside Permafrost and Ice Bolt. What else do you suggest?
4) Ambassador typically at least replaces itself and blocks, or otherwise it can build up large card advantage over a few turns if allowed to live. It would change the character of the deck to remove Ambassador.
5) Jufi, Sprite Seer/Xultan Ambassador/Plunk Wumpkin is pretty much a package deal. If one were to remove Ambassador, Jufi would have to go as well. Note the following cards that "draw" in the deck: Xultan Ambassador, Dragon's Eye, Plunk Wumpkin, Hooru Blueprints, Velise, Bear Rider, Quinn, Master Tracker. It has generally been sufficient to pump Jufi to a decent size, but her real value lies in the Dragon's Eyes.
The deck reminds me a bit of Hooru Kira. Midrange aggro (rather than actual "real" aggro), with some card draw and evasive maneuvres. It seems to adjust very well to anything in the currently wild Expedition meta.
1. Definitely try Hojan. He's great, especially when you consider it has Inscribe
2. Removal is tough. Honestly, I rely more on combat tricks (I now use Finest Hour, which has been great and weapons (which is why the Priestess is so good).
3. I've seen Ambassador cut from a number of Hooru decks recently.
4. You are right that this deck is very flexible and adaptable. Good luck with it!