A large Battlegrounds patch is arriving this Thursday, October 15, and focuses on some seriously needed balance.
- Cora wrote some designer insights on the changes. See them here.
Quote From Blizzard On October 15, we’ll be releasing the 18.4.2 patch that includes numerous Battlegrounds balance updates! You can check out the full details of the patch below.
Battlegrounds Hero Updates
- Bartendotron has been removed from the Battlegrounds Hero Pool.
Ragnaros the Firelord
- DIE, INSECTS!
- Old: After you kill 20 enemy minions, get Sulfuras. → New: After you kill 25 enemy minions, get Sulfuras.
- Sulfuras
- Old: At the end of your turn, give your left and right-most minions +4/+4. → New: At the end of your turn, give your left and right-most minions +3/+3.
Maiev Shadowsong
- Imprison
- Old: Make a minion in Bob's Tavern Dormant. After 2 turns, get it with +1/+1. → New: Make a minion in Bob's Tavern Dormant. After 2 turns, get it with +1 Attack.
Chenvaala
- Avalanche
- Old: After you play 3 Elementals, reduce the cost of upgrading Bob's Tavern by (2). → New: After you play 3 Elementals, reduce the cost of upgrading Bob's Tavern by (3).
Patchwerk
- All Patched Up
- Old: Start with 50 Health instead of 40. → New: Start with 55 Health instead of 40.
Sindragosa
- Stay Frosty
- Old: At the end of your turn, Frozen minions get +1/+1. → New: At the end of your turn, Frozen minions get +2/+1.
King Mukla
- Bananarama
- Now has a chance to give King Mukla a Big Banana that gives a minion +2/+2.
Battlegrounds Minion Updates
- Whirlwind Tempest has been removed from the Battlegrounds minion pool.
- Pogo-Hopper has been removed from the Battlegrounds minion pool.
Selfless Hero
- Old: [Tier 1] → New: [Tier 2]
Deadly Spore
- Old: [Tier 4] → New: [Tier 5]
Salty Looter
- Old: 3 Attack, 3 Health. → New: 4 Attack, 4 Health.
Bloodsail Cannoneer
- Old: 4 Attack, 2 Health. → New: 4 Attack, 3 Health.
Party Elemental
- Old: 2 Attack, 2 Health. → New: 3 Attack, 2 Health.
Arcane Assistant
- Old: 3 Attack, 2 Health. → New: 3 Attack, 3 Health.
Majordomo Executus
- Old: At the end of your turn, give your left-most minion +1 / +1 for each Elemental you played this turn. → New: At the end of your turn, give your left-most minion +1/+1. Repeat for each Elemental you played this turn.
Lil’ Rag
- Old: [Tier 5] 4 Attack, 4 Health. → New: [Tier 6] 6 Attack, 6 Health.
Gentle Djinni
- Old: [Tier 6] 6 Attack, 8 Health. → New: [Tier 5] 4 Attack, 5 Health.
Comments
Probably all of these chances, except Maiev, seem fair. Some more needed than others, some buffs are certainly welcomed.
Im most surprised by removing Whirlwind Tempest, iv played Elementals fair bit and it is very rare that you have a Crackling Cyclone that can live pass 2nd attack. I did however had one amazing run as Rag, where my Mega-Windfury Cyclone was killing almost entire enemy board, that felt amazing :D (and still can, if you triple it). What other windfury minions there are? Only one that comes to mind is via Al'akir's hero power.
Cyclone is absolutely crazy. I mainly play constructed, but when I do play BGs I have been forcing elementals every run. Getting cyclone at the right time and getting to buff it has been the run-defining play (the difference between Top 4 or not, for me - admittedly not a BG pro by any means). Getting a big one golden (without the Whirlwind Tempest) can just obliterate an opponent's board.
When it does happen, you destroy all of their minions and deal 30+ damage. Al'Akir with cleave or Rag makes this happen more than you'd think. Pretty toxic.
ZAPP. He's got enough health to do some serious sniping with mega-windfury, if you can land the combo.
Oh, right! Totally forgot about him, i almost never see him to be honest, tho im pertty low rank :d
Not sure about the Maiev Nerf.. but, big hype for the Sindragosa buff!
Yeah, Maiev nerf seems harsh.
I'm okay with it. The real strength is the 1-cost minions, imo.
Agreed - the buff from Maiev is almost meaningless.