The Vicious Syndicate Data Reaper Podcast

Follow The Vicious Syndicate Data Reaper Podcast
Share on
Copy link to clipboard

The Data Reaper podcast is a companion piece providing extra insight into the weekly report about the Hearthstone meta found at vicioussyndicate.com. Join us for a deeper dive into the numbers to help you improve your Hearthstone game. Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/vicious-syndicate/support

Vicious Syndicate


    • May 27, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • every other week NEW EPISODES
    • 1h 30m AVG DURATION
    • 193 EPISODES

    Ivy Insights

    The Vicious Syndicate Data Reaper Podcast is a highly enjoyable and informative podcast for Hearthstone players. Hosted by Zach-O and Ridiculous Hat, they provide insightful analysis of the meta and decks, while maintaining a fresh and entertaining atmosphere. This podcast is a great resource for those looking to improve their Hearthstone gameplay and reach higher ranks.

    One of the best aspects of this podcast is the chemistry between Zach-O and Ridiculous Hat. Their banter keeps the show lively and engaging, making it an enjoyable listening experience. They also explore competitive possibilities in the game, constantly providing new insights into deck strategies and ways to approach the meta. The majority of their analysis is data-driven, which adds a level of credibility to their discussions.

    However, there are occasional audio issues that can be distracting for listeners. Ridiculous Hat's voice is often too quiet, while Zach-O's voice can be too loud at times, especially with certain sounds like "S." These audio issues should be addressed over time as the hosts gain more experience with recording software.

    In conclusion, The Vicious Syndicate Data Reaper Podcast is a fantastic resource for Hearthstone lovers looking to enhance their gameplay. The hosts' chemistry, data-driven analysis, and entertaining banter make it a must-listen show. Despite occasional audio issues, this podcast has great potential for growth in the future.



    Search for episodes from The Vicious Syndicate Data Reaper Podcast with a specific topic:

    Latest episodes from The Vicious Syndicate Data Reaper Podcast

    Episode 193: In The Shadow of Colossus

    Play Episode Listen Later May 27, 2025 111:51


    The first major balance patch to the Embers of the World tree meta is live, and along with it a significantly new format. Plush has vanished into the forest, and in his absence dozens of new decks have strived to fill the void.Join ZachO and WorldEight as they discuss the impact of the new balance changes on both existing decks and emerging archetypes.

    Episode 192: Plush and Pull

    Play Episode Listen Later May 19, 2025 145:16


    The Embers of the World tree is live, and along with it a new meta. Imbue decks dictate the format, with imbue hunter forcing every deck to either get under the deck or hope to rat out the game's most adorable OTK.Join ZachO and WorldEight as they discuss the impact of the new mini set cards on the format.

    Episode 191: Burning Through Reveal Season

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 29, 2025 125:04


    The next mini set, Embers of the World Tree, releases in two weeks. The unusual patch cadence comes with a one day reveal "season".Join ZachO and WorldEight as they discuss the mini set cards. There is plenty of heat here to cook with, for both existing decks and possible new ones.

    Episode 190: Grog! Grog! Grog!

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 21, 2025 110:25


    With all of those Drunk Paladins out there, make sure to stay S.A.F.E.Join ZachO and WorldEight as they cover a somewhat settled meta in the Emerald Dream

    Episode 189: From Green Rag to Riches

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 12, 2025 66:01


    With the Starcraft mini-set nerfed in the latest balance patch, the format opens up! Almost every day over the course of one week features a new meta breaking deck, and two new decks emerge even after the report is published!Join ZachO and World Eight (for the first time time) for a comprehensive meta overview as well as discussion on what could be in store for the format moving forward.

    Episode 188: Beginnings and Endings

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 29, 2025 126:31


    Into the Emerald Dream has launched! Join ZachO and Squash (one last time) for a comprehensive meta overview as well as discussion on what could be in store for the format moving forward.

    Episode 187: One Short Day, In the Emerald Dream

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 22, 2025 166:23


    The newest Hearthstone expansion is mere days away! Join ZachO and Squash for a HUGE episode deep diving into each class in preparation for next week's set drop.

    Episode 186: Dreaming of a Perfect Meta

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 2, 2025 70:39


    A new rotation into the Year of the Raptor is imminent, along with the Into the Emerald Dream expansion. Team 5 is promising big change in the coming weeks, and ZachO and Squash are here to talk about them.

    Episode 185: Core of the Argument

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 16, 2025 88:30


    A new year in Hearthstone is fast approaching! Join ZachO and Squash for a brief overview of the current meta, followed by a class-by-class breakdown of the newly announced Core Set.

    Episode 184: Terran Up the Meta

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 9, 2025 99:07


    We've had our first patch of the Heroes of Starcraft mini-set! Join ZachO and Squash as they review the new state of the meta.

    Episode 183: Don't Raynor on My Parade

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 26, 2025 122:37


    The Heroes of Starcraft miniset has launched, and with it has come a brand new metagame with many classes enjoying their new cards. Join ZachO and Squash as they take a deep dive into the new developments, and what the future may have in store.

    Episode 182: Heroes of StarCraft

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 21, 2025 109:23


    The new StarCraft miniset is launching TODAY! Join ZachO and Squash as they review the new cards for each class as well as a deep-dive into what to expect from each of the three factions joining the game.

    Episode 181: Ethereal Cycles

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 5, 2025 78:29


    The Great Dark Beyond metagame has mostly settled, but a few interesting new things have begun to emerge from the darkness of space. Join ZachO and Squash as they dive into the state of standard Hearthstone once again.

    Episode 180: Yap Time

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 29, 2024 105:03


    ZachO and Squash are back, but this time they are here to yap about the game as a whole. Join us for a retrospective on the last year in Hearthstone and what we hope to see moving forward in 2025. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/vicious-syndicate/support

    Episode 179: Supernova Stories

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 22, 2024 88:15


    The Great Dark Beyond metagame is settling in for a holiday break, and ZachO and Squash have returned to discuss the most recent patch. Join us to learn about the best and worst decks, and a possible supernova of a meta development?! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/vicious-syndicate/support

    Episode 178: Worlds Apart

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 8, 2024 71:15


    With the World Championships coming up, The Great Dark Beyond has settled into a metagame featuring multiple dominant, polarizing archetypes. Join ZachO and Squash as they dig into the data while covering the current standard metagame. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/vicious-syndicate/support

    Episode 177: Over the Moon

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 24, 2024 105:31


    The Great Dark Beyond's first major patch has dropped, and things have certainly shaken up in Hearthstone's standard metagame. Join ZachO and Squash as they explore the state of all 11 classes. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/vicious-syndicate/support

    Episode 176: No One Can Hear You Scream (About the Meta)

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 10, 2024 79:51


    The Great Dark Beyond has launched and Squash and ZachO are here to give their early impressions on how things are shaping up. Is this expansion a galactic success or a black hole of darkness? Tune in to find out. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/vicious-syndicate/support

    Episode 175: In a Meta Not So Far Away

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 3, 2024 149:53


    The Great Dark Beyond is imminent, and a galactic change to the meta is coming soon. Join ZachO and Squash as they take a look at all of the new cards for the exciting new Hearthstone expansion. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/vicious-syndicate/support

    Episode 174: Magical Mystery Tourists

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 29, 2024 98:41


    The Perils in Paradise meta is winding down after the miniset and several balance patches. Join ZachO and Squash as they review a surprisingly balanced and strong metagame as we also look ahead to the future. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/vicious-syndicate/support

    Episode 173: Barnes' Burner Account

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 15, 2024 80:28


    The Traveling Travel Agency miniset has launched and a new (?) meta is taking shape. Join ZachO and Squash as they discuss the developments and how the miniset has changed the standard format. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/vicious-syndicate/support

    Episode 172: The Skyla's the Limit

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 8, 2024 98:37


    The Perils in Paradise miniset is imminent! Join ZachO and Squash as they go class by class reviewing the new cards coming in The Traveling Travel Agency. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/vicious-syndicate/support

    Episode 171: Rising Tidepool Pupils

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 25, 2024 86:16


    The Perils in Paradise meta has begun to settle down after the most recent balance patch. Join ZachO and Squash as they take a look at how things are looking right now as long as their hopes for an upcoming balance patch. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/vicious-syndicate/support

    Episode 170: Sunshine and Rainbow DKs

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 11, 2024 96:06


    The first balance patch of the Perils in Paradise meta has arrived. Join ZachO and Squash as they discuss the changes and how they are impactful the game thus far. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/vicious-syndicate/support

    Episode 169: Hydration Revelation

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 4, 2024 99:40


    The Perils in Paradise meta has settled down ahead of the first balance patch. Join ZachO and Squash as they take a look at the current meta, and what they believe needs changed in the coming weeks. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/vicious-syndicate/support

    Episode 168: Vicious Syndicate's Summer Vacation

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 28, 2024 104:55


    Perils in Paradise is here and a...new? meta is forming. Join ZachO and Squash as they review the developments in each class and discuss what the future of this expansion may hold. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/vicious-syndicate/support

    Episode 167: The Positively Preposterous Perils in Paradise Preview

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 17, 2024 159:19


    Perils in Paradise is imminent! Join ZachO and Squash as they review the set one class at a time, highlighting their favorite cards and predicting what will be powerful in the new meta. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/vicious-syndicate/support

    Episode 166: Imbalance of Power

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 7, 2024 83:22


    In the lead-up to Perils in Paradise, ZachO takes a deep dive on the balance patches throughout Whizbang's Workshop to figure out how we got here, what we can do better, and what balance philosophy for a game like Hearthstone truly means. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/vicious-syndicate/support

    Episode 165: Perils in Whizbang's

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 30, 2024 88:33


    The Perils in Paradise reveal season is in full swing, but we still have a few more weeks of Whizbang's left! Several meta developments have shifted things since we last had a podcast, so tune in to hear how this home stretch of Whizbang's Workshop is currently looking. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/vicious-syndicate/support

    Episode 164: Twists and Turns

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 2, 2024 74:41


    The Whizbang's Workshop meta is winding down and ZachO has some updates on how the format is stabilizing. Listen to the end to also hear Zach and Squash's thoughts on the new Twist mode Whizbang's Heroes! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/vicious-syndicate/support

    Episode 163: The Land of Highlander

    Play Episode Listen Later May 26, 2024 113:29


    The Data Reaper podcast is back after a miniset and a nerf patch that have thrown some new wrinkles into the meta. Join ZachO and Squash as they take a deep dive into the current state of standard Hearthstone. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/vicious-syndicate/support

    Episode 162: Dr. Boom's Magnificent Miniset

    Play Episode Listen Later May 12, 2024 100:46


    The Whizbang's Workshop miniset is imminent! Join ZachO and Squash as they go class by class reviewing the new cards and how they might shake up the meta. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/vicious-syndicate/support

    Episode 161: Point of Reno Return

    Play Episode Listen Later May 5, 2024 83:37


    The meta is starting to take shape after the most recent balance patch, and Reno Warrior is public enemy #1. Join ZachO and Squash as they discuss the meta and the different decks that are popping up to tackle the kings of the format. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/vicious-syndicate/support

    Episode 160: The Agency Episode

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 29, 2024 95:56


    ZachO and Squash review the new meta after the balance patch that hoped to add more player agency to the game. How are things looking in the first week? Tune in to find out! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/vicious-syndicate/support

    Episode 159: Firmly Grasp It

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 7, 2024 86:41


    Three weeks into Whizbang's Workshop, ZachO has a firm grasp of the meta. Tune in to hear a class-by-class breakdown and the definitive winners and losers from the first balance patch. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/vicious-syndicate/support

    Episode 158: Shop 'til You Drop

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 2024 97:14


    Join ZachO and Squash as the Hearthstone meta goes on a shopping spree! Is there anything out there that can dethrone the meta tyrant of Demon Hunter? Tune in to find out. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/vicious-syndicate/support

    Episode 157: The Big Bang

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 24, 2024 148:04


    Whizbang's Workshop and the Year of the Pegasus are here! ZachO and Squash cover their first impressions of the new meta in this MASSIVE new episode! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/vicious-syndicate/support

    Episode 156: Welcome to Whizbang's

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 12, 2024 127:28


    Whizbang's Workshop is right around the corner! Join Squash and ZachO as they give their first impressions of each of the class sets for the upcoming expansion. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/vicious-syndicate/support

    Episode 155: Home Stretch

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 26, 2024 67:38


    We are in the final weeks of this standard meta, but things are happening! ZachO and Squash go over the state of the meta after the recent wacky balance patch and what to expect as Whizbang's Workshop approaches. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/vicious-syndicate/support

    Episode 154: What's In Store for Core?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 12, 2024 78:14


    ZachO and Squash review the upcoming changes to the Core set for the 10th year of Hearthstone, the Year of the Pegasus! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/vicious-syndicate/support

    Episode 153: Sludge Won't Budge

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 4, 2024 70:24


    A massive balance patch hit the standard meta this past week and some significant meta developments are underway. But did the patch increase diversity in the meta, or actually make things even more narrow? --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/vicious-syndicate/support

    Episode 152: Let's Dew It

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 21, 2024 81:35


    The Deepholm miniset has launched and there are dramatic new developments in the meta. A new dew-o of decks are threatening the format, tune in to hear how things are looking so far! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/vicious-syndicate/support

    Episode 151: Deepholm Deep Dive

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 16, 2024 78:47


    A new miniset is on its way! ZachO and Squash take a deep dive and go class by class analyzing the new cards. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/vicious-syndicate/support

    Episode 150: We Need More Sponges

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 7, 2024 62:41


    Rogues keep on excavating and Druids keep on ramping, but what else is going on in the meta? Tune in until the end to hear ZachO's explanation of why we need more sponges in Hearthstone. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/vicious-syndicate/support

    Episode 149: Can You Dig It?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 1, 2024 94:02


    It's a New Year, and that means exciting things will be happening in Hearthstone! Squash and ZachO discuss the present, but also the future in this new episode of the Data Reaper Podcast. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/vicious-syndicate/support

    Episode 148: New Host, New Meta

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 24, 2023 86:18


    A new host has arrived at the Data Reaper podcast, and with them a brand new meta after the most recent major balance patch. How are things looking in the first podcast since the launch of Showdown in the Badlands? --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/vicious-syndicate/support

    Episode 147: DRAW!

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 6, 2023 127:30


    Playing in a tournament has never been easier. Check out Mobius! https://www.playmobius.co/vicious We're back and ready for a showdown. A new expansion is right around the corner! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/vicious-syndicate/support

    Episode 146: It's Yogg

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 2, 2023 102:13


    A balance patch has dropped, but unfortunate timing meant one deck was missed! We give both sides of the battle all the information they need to try and beat Yogg or be Yogg. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/vicious-syndicate/support

    Episode 145: Here's The Deal

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 25, 2023 98:47


    The miniset has arrived and a balance patch is already on the way! A certain Old God is taking over, but there's an even bigger monster at top ranks... --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/vicious-syndicate/support

    Episode 144: Power Struggle

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 8, 2023 73:10


    In this episode we discuss two important topics: what to do in a power outage and how the classes are fighting things out after the nerfs to Hunter. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/vicious-syndicate/support

    Episode 143: Nature is Healing

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 4, 2023 74:34


    Hound Hunter's reign of terror has ended, giving Standard a fresh look. A new most popular class, hidden meta-breakers, and the return of an archetype many thought was dead. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/vicious-syndicate/support

    Claim The Vicious Syndicate Data Reaper Podcast

    In order to claim this podcast we'll send an email to with a verification link. Simply click the link and you will be able to edit tags, request a refresh, and other features to take control of your podcast page!

    Claim Cancel