Whew, it's certainly been an eventful day (or night for some of us). Letting all of these fresh announcements and cards properly sink in is bound to take a while, but we do have a full week set aside for doing just that until Voyage to the Sunken City arrives in all its drenched glory. 

We are also happy to report that this time around all the mobile storefronts seem to have released Hearthstone Patch 23.0 in a smooth manner. If you haven't yet been prompted that an update is available for your device, there is a good chance you can go look for it to be applied manually and begin the download (unless you are in no hurry to do so for other reasons, then enjoy while it lasts!). 

For anyone still looking to peruse all the official patch notes for obscure bug fixes or various game improvements, we'll be including them in full below as a point of reference. And should you need another reminder of everything noteworthy around the tavern, we've got that at the ready as well!

More From Year of the Hydra

Blizzard has plenty of new information to share about Year of the Hydra including the remaining cards for Voyage to the Sunken City.

Full 23.0 Patch Notes

A quick note to point out that these might still see some light adjustments in the near future (for example, we know of a handful of cards banned for the Duels mode, but not listed in the description here). We'll be sure to keep an eye on this and also update accordingly when or if Blizzard does. 

Quote From Blizzard

 

23.0 Patch Notes

Patch 23.0, launching today, charts a course for Hearthstone’s latest expansion, Voyage to the Sunken City, launching April 12! The patch also includes updates to Battlegrounds, Mercenaries, Duels, and Arena, as well as bug fixes and more.

Voyage to the Sunken City Sets Off on April 12!

Hearthstone’s next expansion, Voyage to the Sunken City, goes live on April 12! The new expansion includes 135 all-new cards, featuring the new Naga minion type, the Colossal and Dredge keyword mechanics, Sunken cards, and more! See all the new cards in the official card library today.

With the launch of the Voyage to the Sunken City comes a new Rewards Track with tons of cosmetics, XP boosts, packs, and a treasure trove of Gold! Check out our Rewards Track Refresh blog for all the details.

Enter the Year of the Hydra

When Voyage to the Sunken City goes live on April 12, we will enter the next Hearthstone Year: the Year of the Hydra! With the new Hearthstone year, cards from the Year of the Phoenix (which includes the Ashes of Outland, Scholomance Academy, and Madness at the Darkmoon Faire expansions) will rotate out of Standard. Some of the cards from the Core Set will also be replaced.

Learn more about the Core Set update and our other plans for the Year of the Hydra in the Year of the Hydra Announcement blog.

Wild Gets Wilder

Some balance changes over the years were made because cards were too powerful in Standard, even if they were not necessarily too powerful in Wild. The following cards will have their balance changes reverted on April 5 before they rotate into Wild with the launch of Voyage to the Sunken City on April 12:

  • Apotheosis
  • Imprisoned Scrap Imp
  • Blackjack Stunner
  • Scavenger’s Ingenuity
  • Kael’thas Sunstrider
  • Corsair Cache
  • Crabrider
  • Mo’arg Artificer
  • Il’gynoth
  • Deck of Lunacy
  • Boggspine Knuckles
  • Dreadlord’s Bite
  • Shardshatter Mystic
  • Solarian Prime (generated by Astromancer Solarian)
  • Guardian Animals
  • Bloodboil Brute
  • Imprisoned Antaen
  • Jandice Barov
  • High Abess Alura
  • Lorekeeper Polkelt
  • Evocation
  • Priestess of Fury
  • Kayn Sunfury
  • Cabal Acolyte

Standard players will have one week to give these cards a last hurrah while Wild players get started assimilating these newly re-strengthened cards into their format!

Diamond Drek’Thar is Here

Drek’Thar is back with a vengeance! The Alliance may have won the Battle for Alterac Valley, but this is a new day and the Horde is resilient and strong. You can show your Horde pride with the Diamond Drek’Thar Legendary card, now available in the shop. For the Horde!

Normal Drek’Thar can still be crafted or earned through Fractured in Alterac Valley packs like Vanndar or any other Legendary card. After Patch 23.0 goes live, the Honor Track event will end and anybody who did not complete the Honor Track will be able to earn Golden Drek’Thar/Golden Vanndar through an Achievement added with the patch.

 

Battlegrounds Updates

NEW HERO AND BUDDY

Ini Stormcoil

HS_23p0_HERO_enUS_IniStormcoil_SW01.png

  • MechGyver
    • Passive. After 9 friendly minions die, get a random Mech.

Sub Scrubber (Ini Stormcoil’s Buddy)

  • [Tavern Tier 2, Mech] 4 Attack, 4 Health. After you play a Mech, gain +2/+2.

Players with Battlegrounds Perks will have early access to the new Hero before it is formally released on April 19.

 

BALANCE CHANGES

  • Varden Dawngrasp’s Hero Power - Twice as Nice

​

  • Old: Passive. After Bob’s Tavern is Refreshed, copy and Freeze one of his minions. → New: Passive. After Bob’s Tavern is Refreshed, copy his highest Tier minion and Freeze them both.
  • Varden’s Aquarrior (Varden Dawngrasp’s Buddy)
    • Old: ‘Twice as Nice’ also gives the copy stats equal to your Tavern Tier. → New: ‘Twice as Nice’ also gives both minions stats equal to your Tavern Tier.

 

PRODUCT UPDATES

The products previously called “Battlegrounds Finishers” are now called “Battlegrounds Strikes.” We feel this name more accurately describes the function of the cosmetic and is better suited to Battlegrounds.

A new Battlegrounds Strike – Deep Sea Vortex is going live with Patch 23.0. There will also be a new Shipwreck Cove Battlegrounds Board at patch launch, as well as a Bundle that offers the Strike, Board, and eight new Sunken City-themed Hero skins all rolled into one!

HS_Patch_23p0_InBlog_ProductBundle_GIF_486x350_SW01.gif

Mercenaries Updates

TASK SYSTEM REWORK

Starting with Patch 23.0, completing one Task in a Mercenary’s Task progression will automatically move you on to the next Task in that Mercenary’s progression. You can then continue that Mercenary’s Task progression until you have completed all Tasks for that Mercenary!

The Mysterious Stranger was initially designed and intended to give you more Tasks, but since that will now mostly happen automatically, we are reducing his appearance rate. He will still appear occasionally so that you can get more Tasks if you abandon a Task or complete a Mercenary’s Task progression. You will also still be able to get random new Tasks if you leave any normal Task slots open for the daily Task refresh.

The intent of this system update is to give players more of the Tasks they want, and more Tasks overall, while allowing players to explore more engaging gameplay patterns. We hope this new system will be an improvement for players trying to progress specific Mercenaries, or anybody who is always looking for the next Task to complete. We will monitor how this new system works, and make adjustments if needed, but we are also working on an even larger Task System rework that we are hoping to share more information about later on this year.

NEW MERCENARY

Murky (Epic Fighter)

  • 11/79 Maxed Stats
  • Abilities
    • Slime Time 5 (Nature): (Speed 4) Deal 12 damage to an enemy. Give it Taunt until the end of next turn.
    • Bubbly Bobble 5 (Nature): (Speed 4, Cooldown 1) Restore 13 Health to an adjacent Murloc. Swap places and both gain Divine Shield. Nature Combo: Repeat this.
    • Pufferfisher 5: (Speed 7, Cooldown 1)
      • (Murloc) 15 Attack, 10 Health. Deathrattle: Deal damage equal to this minion’s Attack to 3 random enemies.
  • Equipment
    • Time to Krill 4: Passive: Whenever a friendly Murloc Attacks an enemy with Taunt, give them +4 Attack.
    • Slippery When Wet 4: Passive: After one of your characters loses Divine Shield or Frozen, its next ability is (3) Speed faster.
    • March of the Murlocs 4: Battlecry: Summon 2 10/10 Murlocs.

HS_Patch_23p0_Mercs_Murky_GIF_180x219_SW01.gif

Murky is available for free as part of the Voyage to the Sunken City Rewards Track. Murky portraits are available as part of the Voyage to the Sunken City Tavern Pass. Murky and his portraits will be available for purchase in Mercenaries products after the end of the Voyage to the Sunken City expansion period.

 

MERCENARY BALANCE UPDATES AND REWORKS

Baron Geddon

  • Old: 10/82 Maxed Stats → New: 10/86 Maxed Stats
  • Molten Blade (Equipment)
    • Old (Rank 4): Heating Up deals 4 more damage. → New (Rank 4): Heating Up deals 7 more damage.

King Mukla

  • Dinner Time
    • Old (Rank 5): Speed 2, Cooldown 1 → New (Rank 5): Speed 1, Cooldown 1
  • Refreshing Bananas (Equipment)
    • Old (Rank 4): Bananas give an additional +4 Health. → New (Rank 4): Bananas give an additional +5 Health.
  • Radioactive Bananas (Equipment)
    • Old (Rank 4): Bananas give an additional +2 Attack → New (Rank 4): Bananas give an additional +4 Attack.

Xyrella

  • Atonement
    • Old (Rank 5): Deal 15 damage. +3 damage each time you restore 20 Health. → New (Rank 5): Deal 20 damage. +3 damage each time you restore 20 Health.
  • Robes of Purity (Equipment)
    • Old (Rank 4): Atonement requires 5 less healing to upgrade. → New: Atonement requires 10 less healing to upgrade.

Scabbs Cutterbutter

  • Old: 11/77 Maxed Stats → New: 13/81 Maxed Stats
  • SI:7 Contract (Equipment)
    • Old (Rank 4): Tactical Strike’s Combo effect deals 4 more damage. → New: Tactical Strike’s Combo effect deals 8 more damage.
  • Honing Rod (Equipment)
    • Old (Rank 1): Shadow Blade gives +4 Attack first. → New: Shadow Blade gives +10 Attack first.

Millhouse Manastorm

  • Old: 6/69 Maxed Stats → 6/74 Maxed Stats
  • Greater Arcane Missiles
    • Old (Rank 5): Shoot three missiles at random enemies that deal 15 damage each. → New (Rank 5): Shoot three missiles at random enemies that deal 20 damage each.
  • Arcane Powder (Equipment)
    • Old (Rank 4): Arcane Explosion deals 4 more damage. → New (Rank 4): Arcane Explosion deals 5 more damage and enemies lose Stealth.

Cariel Roame

  • Old: 11/78 Maxed Stats → New: 12/78 Maxed Stats
  • Crusader’s Blow
    • Old (Rank 5): Attack an enemy. Deathblow: Restore 40 Health. → New: Attack an enemy. Deathblow: Restore 60 Health.
  • Tome of Light (Equipment)
    • Old (Rank 4): Passive: While this Merc has Taunt, it has +8 Attack. → New (Rank 4): Passive: While this Merc has Taunt, it has +12 Attack.

Uther

  • Blessing of Protection
    • Old (Rank 5): Restore 10 Health to a friendly character and give them Taunt this turn. → New (Rank 5): Restore 14 Health to a friendly character and give them Taunt this turn.
  • Lightbringer (Equipment)
    • Old (Rank 4): Hammer of Justice deals 4 more damage and slows the target by (2) Speed more. → New (Rank 4): Hammer of Justice deals 6 more damage and slows the target by (2) Speed more.
  • Gleaming Pauldrons (Equipment)
    • Old (Rank 4): Avenging Wrath deals 4 more damage. → New (Rank 4): Avenging Wrath deals 8 more damage.

Garrosh Hellscream

  • Old: 11/84 Maxed Stats → New: 12/84 Maxed Stats
  • Orcish Banner (Equipment)
    • Old (Rank 4): Battle Shout also restores 10 Health to your Orcs. → New (Rank 4): Battle Shout also restores 15 Health to your Orcs.

Captain Galvangar

  • Old: 11/71 Maxed Stats → New: 11/79 Maxed Stats
  • Rending Cleave
    • Old (Rank 5): Attack an enemy. If it has not acted this turn, apply Bleed (8) to it and adjacent enemies. → New (Rank 5): Attack an enemy. If it has not acted this turn, apply Bleed (12) to it and adjacent enemies.
  • Drek’Thar’s Boon (Equipment)
    • Old (Rank 4): Fatal Strike also applies Bleed (5). → New (Rank 4): Fatal Strike also applies Bleed (10).

Wrathion

  • Old: 12/73 Maxed Stats → New: 12/79 Maxed Stats
  • Creeping Madness
    • Old (Rank 5): Attack an enemy. Next turn they must use a different ability or take 20 damage. → New (Rank 5): Attack an enemy. Next turn they must use a different ability or take 25 damage.
  • Black Dragon Scales (Equipment)
    • Old (Rank 4): Tail Swipe also applies Bleed (5). → New (Rank 4): Tail Swipe also applies Bleed (10).

Vanessa Van Cleef

  • Old: 10/75 Maxed Stats → New: 13/75 Maxed Stats
  • Burgle Barrage
    • Old (Rank 5): Attack an enemy. Combo: Steal 5 Attack from them. → New (Rank 5): Attack an enemy. Combo: Steal 5 Attack from them first.
  • Extra Pockets (Equipment)
    • Old (Rank 4): After using Makeshift Weaponry, this Merc keeps up to 5 Attack. → New (Rank 4): After using Makeshift Weaponry, this Merc keeps up to 10 Attack.

Tyrande

  • Arcane Salvo
    • Old (Rank 5): Deal 8 damage to two random enemies. → New (Rank 5): Deal 12 damage to two random enemies. If any die, repeat this.
  • Elune’s Charm (Equipment)
    • Old (Rank 4): Arcane Shot deals 5 more damage. → New (Rank 4): Arcane Shot deals 15 more damage if the enemy has already acted.

Varian Wrynn

  • Splitting Strike
    • Old (Rank 5): Attack an enemy. Deathblow: Give your Humans +12 Attack. → New (Rank 5): Attack an enemy. Deathblow: Give your Humans +15 Attack.
  • Heroic Leap
    • Old (Rank 5): Deal 14 damage to an enemy. Your other Humans are permanently (1) Speed faster. → New (Rank 5): Deal 14 damage to an enemy. Your other Humans in play and bench are permanently (1) Speed faster.
  • Retaliation
    • Old (Rank 5): After an enemy Attacks this turn, gain +5 Attack and Attack it. → New (Rank 5): After an enemy Attacks this turn, gain +5/+5 and Attack it.
  • War Banner (Equipment)
    • Old (Rank 4): Retaliation also gives an additional +4 Attack. → New (Rank 4): Retaliation gives an additional +2/+10.

Gul’dan

  • Rain of Destruction
    • Old: Speed 8, Cooldown 1 → New: Speed 8, Cooldown 0.
  • Staff of Chaos (Equipment)
    • Old (Rank 4): Passive. After an Orc dies, gain +4 Fel Damage. → New (Rank 4): Passive. After an Orc or Demon dies, gain +4 Fel Damage.

Trigore

  • Frenzied Attack
    • Old (Rank 5): Attack an enemy. If this took damage this turn, deal 12 damage to a random adjacent enemy. → New (Rank 5): Attack an enemy. If this took damage this turn, deal 16 damage to a random adjacent enemy.
  • Backlash
    • Old (Rank 5): The next time an enemy damages an adjacent ally, gain +5 Attack and deal this Merc’s Attack damage to them. → New (Rank 5): Gain +5 Attack. Each time an enemy damages an adjacent ally this turn, deal this Merc’s Attack damage to them.

Sneed

  • Old: 7/77 Maxed Stats → New: 9/77 Maxed Stats
  • Activate Saw
    • Old (Rank 5): Gain +6 Attack for 2 turns. Attack a random enemy. → New (Rank 5): Gain +9 Attack for 2 turns. Attack a random enemy.
  • Skull Dust (Equipment)
    • Old (Rank 4): Bzzz!!! Gains Bleed (5). → New (Rank 4): Bzzz!!! Gains Bleed (10).
  • Extra Blades (Equipment)
    • Old (Rank 4): Sneed starts with Activate Blades active for 1 turn. → New (Rank 4): Battlecry: Start with Activate Saw 5 active for 2 turns.

Edwin, Defias Kingpin

  • Assassin’s Blade
    • Old (Rank 5): Attack an enemy. If it hasn’t acted yet this turn, gain +5 Health and Attack it again. → New (Rank 5): Attack an enemy. If it hasn’t acted yet this turn, gain +10 Health and Attack it again.
  • Kingpin’s Bounty
    • Old: Speed 4, Cooldown 2. → New: Speed 4, Cooldown 1.
  • Black Flag (Equipment)
    • Old (Rank 4): Passive: Adjacent Pirates are (4) Speed faster. → New (Rank 4): Passive: Your other Pirates are (4) Speed faster.
  • Even Shares (Equipment)
    • Old (Rank 4): Kingpin’s Bounty restores 10 more Health and affects all friendly characters. → New (Rank 4): Kingpin’s County restores 15 more Health and affects all friendly characters.

Thrall

  • Lightning Storm
    • Old (Rank 5): Deal 10 damage to all enemies. → New (Rank 5): Deal 10 damage to all enemies. They lose Stealth.

Mannoroth

  • Howl of Terror
    • Old (Rank 5): Reduce the Attack of all enemies by 15 this turn. → New (Rank 5): Reduce the Attack of all enemies by 15 this turn. They lose Stealth.

Ragnaros

  • DIE, INSECTS
    • Old (Rank 5): Deal 22 damage to a random enemy. Deathblow: Repeat this. → New (Rank 5): Deal 22 damage to a random enemy. It loses Stealth. Deathblow: Repeat this.

Warmaster Voone

  • Axe Throw
    • Old (Rank 5): Deal 8 damage to an enemy and one of its neighbors. → New (Rank 5): Deal 10 damage to an enemy and one of its neighbors. They lose Stealth.

Varden Dawngrasp

  • Flurry
    • Old (Rank 5): Deal 6 damage to 3 random enemy Mercs. They are (2) Speed slower next turn. → New (Rank 5): Shoot three missiles at random enemies that deal 7 damage each and slow for (2) Speed next turn.
  • Chilling Amulet (Equipment)
    • Old (Rank 4): Deathrattle: Deal 8 damage to all enemies. Freeze a random enemy until the end of next turn. → New (Rank 4): Deathrattle: Deal 14 damage to all enemies and Freeze a random enemy.

 

ADDITIONAL UPDATES

  • While on a Bounty, the Campfire node will now work with one click instead of requiring it be selected and then entered.
  • Vaelstrasz’s Bounty rewards will now be able to grant Murky Coins instead of Lady Anacondra Coins.
  • Multiple stacks of Bleed will now be combined into a total Bleed count that can be reduced by healing, instead of erased entirely.
  • Bleed damage will no longer be able to deal Critical damage.
  • Adjusted Mercenary card display and screen space for better Ability previews.

Duels Updates

GENERAL UPDATES

  • On April 5, the current Duels season will end, ratings will be reset to 0, and ongoing runs will be concluded.
  • Also on April 5, both the League of Explorers and the Saviors of Uldum expansions will be added to the eligible card pools for deckbuilding, buckets, and Discover effects.
  • Voyage to the Sunken City will be added to card buckets and Discover effects with the patch on April 5, but will not be able to be used in initial deckbuilding until the set launches on April 12.
  • All Core Set cards that are rotating out of the Core Set will be banned from April 5 until the Core Set updates on April 12. Core Set cards that will remain in the Core Set after the update will still be playable, as will any non-Core versions of any rotating cards that are eligible from another set. Learn more about the Core Set update in the Year of the Hydra blog.
  • The new heroes listed below will be available on April 5, with the new Duels season.
  • You will now be able to select from 5 different heroes at the start of a run, instead of 4.

 

NEW HEROES

The League of Explorers have come to Duels! Each of the four members of the league is a special dual-class hero that combines two different classes in fun and interesting ways. Reno Jackson is a Mage/Rogue, Sir Finley is a Paladin/Shaman, Elise Starseeker is a Druid/Priest, and Brann Bronzebeard is a Hunter/Warrior. When you pick one of those heroes, you’ll have access to cards from both their classes in creating your starter deck and picking your buckets.

For the first time ever, the new hero powers and signature treasures can be unlocked either by playing Duels or by unlocking those same hero powers and treasures in the Saviors of Uldum solo content: Tombs of Terror. Any hero powers or signature treasures that were already unlocked in Tombs of Terror will automatically be unlocked in Duels. Players who previously purchased Tombs of Terror can access it in the “Solo Adventures” Mode. Players who do not already own the Tombs of Terror can purchase that content from the Wild section of the in-game and web shops.

Reno Jackson has three new hero powers that you can unlock as you play:

  • Amateur Mage
    • [Costs 2] Deal 1 damage. Combo: Deal 2 instead.
  • “Relicologist”
    • [Costs 1] Your next spell this turn has Spell Damage +2.
    • Duels-only unlock criteria: Play 25 cards that cost 3 or less.
  • Arcane Craftiness
    • [Costs 2] Fire two missiles that deal 1 damage each. If any minion dies, repeat this.
    • Duels-only unlock criteria: Use your hero power 30 times.

Reno Jackson also has 6 signature treasures that you can unlock as you play:

  • Reno’s Lucky Hat
    • [2 Mana Spell] Give a minion +2/+2 and Spell Damage +2.
  • Reno’s Crafty Lasso
    • [2 Mana Weapon] 3 Attack, 2 Durability. After your hero attacks, copy a card from your opponent’s hand.
  • Reno’s Magical Torch
    • [2 Mana Spell] Deal 4 damage. Combo: Shuffle a copy of this into your deck that deals 2 more damage.
    • Duels-only unlock criteria: Play 25 Class minions from Saviors of Uldum.
  • Sr. Tomb Diver
    • [4 Mana Minion] 5 Attack, 5 Health. Battlecry: If you played 5 Secrets this game, your Hero Power becomes ‘Discover a Treasure’.
    • Duels-only unlock criteria: Play 25 Class minions from The Sunken City.
  • Lei Flamepaw
    • [4 Mana Minion] 2 Attack, 6 Health. After your first spell each turn, cast it again (on the same target).
    • Duels-only unlock criteria: Play 25 Class spells from Saviors of Uldum.
  • The Gatling Wand
    • [5 Mana Spell] Deal 3 damage split randomly among all enemy minions (improves for each spell you’ve cast this game).
    • Duels-only unlock criteria: Play 25 Class spells from The Sunken City.

Sir Finley has three new hero powers that you can unlock as you play:

  • New “Recruits”
    • [Costs 2] Summon a 2/2 Amalgam Explorer.
  • Bubble Blower
    • [Costs 1] Discover a Shaman or Paladin minion with Battlecry. Overload: (1).
    • Duels-only unlock criteria: Play 25 Battlecry cards.
  • Power Up!
    • [Costs 2] Give a minion Divine Shield and Windfury.
    • Duels-only unlock criteria: Play 20 Dredge cards.

Sir Finley also has 6 signature treasures that you can unlock as you play:

  • Finley’s Pith Helmet
    • [2 Mana Spell] Give all friendly minions +2 Health. Shuffle this card into your deck.
  • Maxwell, Mighty Steed
    • [5 Mana Minion] 3 Attack, 5 Health. Rush. Reborn. Has +2 Attack for each other minion on the battlefield.
  • Truesilver Lance
    • [5 Mana Weapon] 3 Attack, 1 Durability. Lifesteal. After you Overload, gain +1 Durability.
    • Duels-only unlock criteria: Play 25 Class minions from Saviors of Uldum.
  • Sr. Scout
    • [5 Mana Minion] 6 Attack, 6 Health. Rush, Windfury. At the end of your turn, deal 6 damage to a random enemy minion.
    • Duels-only unlock criteria: Play 25 Class minions from The Sunken City.
  • Karl the Lost
    • [8 Mana Minion] 6 Attack, 6 Health. Battlecry: Summon six Silver Hand Recruits and give all friendly minions Taunt and Divine Shield.
    • Duels-only unlock criteria: Play 25 Class spells from Saviors of Uldum.
  • Scales of Justice
    • [5 Mana Spell] Transform all minions into 1/1 Murlocs. Fill your hand with random Murlocs that cost (1).
    • Duels-only unlock criteria: Play 25 Class spells from The Sunken City.

Elise Starseeker has three new hero powers that you can unlock as you play:

  • Elise’s Might
    • [Costs 2] Choose One: +2 Attack this turn; or Gain 2 Armor.
  • Druidic Teaching
    • [Costs 2] Restore 2 Health, then draw a card if the target is at full Health.
    • Duels-only unlock criteria: Play 40 spells.
  • Starseeker
    • [Passive] After you cast 3 spells in a turn, add a ‘Moonfire’ to your hand.
    • Duels-only unlock criteria: Attack 10 times with your hero.

Elise Starseeker also has 6 signature treasures that you can unlock as you play:

  • Starseeker’s Tools
    • [4 Mana Spell] Discover a minion and a spell. They cost (2) less.
  • Elise’s Machete
    • [5 Mana Weapon] 3 Attack, 3 Durability. After your hero attacks, summon two 2/2 Treants. Give them Rush.
  • Addarah
    • [7 Mana Minion] 3 Attack, 6 Health. Battlecry: Shuffle all enemy minions into your deck.
    • Duels-only unlock criteria: Play 25 Class minions from Saviors of Uldum.
  • Sr. Navigator
    • [5 Mana Minion] 2 Attack, 10 Health. Whenever you target this minion with a spell that costs (2) or more, add a copy of the spell to your hand.
    • Duels-only unlock criteria: Play 25 Class minions from The Sunken City.
  • Academic Research
    • [3 Mana Spell] Start of Game: Draw this. Gain 1 Mana Crystal. (Upgrades each time a friendly minion dies).
    • Duels-only unlock criteria: Play 25 Class spells from Saviors of Uldum.
  • Staff of Renewal
    • [10 Mana Spell] Resurrect 5 friendly minions with the highest Cost. Give them Taunt.
    • Duels-only unlock criteria: Play 25 Class spells from The Sunken City.

Brann Bronzebeard has three new hero powers that you can unlock as you play:

  • Spread Shot
    • [Costs 2]: Deal 1 damage, then 1 damage to the enemy hero.
  • Well Equipped
    • [Costs 2]: Equip a random weapon and set its Durability to 1.
    • Duels-only unlock criteria: Play 15 weapons.
  • Dino Tracking
    • [Passive]: At the start of your turn, Discover which card you draw.
    • Duels-only unlock criteria: Discover 30 times.

Brann Bronzebeard also has 6 signature treasures that you can unlock as you play:

  • Ol’ Faithful
    • [3 Cost Weapon] 4 Attack, 2 Durability. After your hero attacks, deal 1 damage to all enemies.
  • Brann’s Saddle
    • [3 Cost Spell] Give a friendly Beast +3/+3 and ‘Deathrattle: Give Brann’s Saddle to another friendly Beast.’
  • Titan-Forged Grapnel
    • [4 Cost Spell] Destroy 2 random enemy minions. Gain Armor equal to their combined Attack.
    • Duels-only unlock criteria: Play 25 Class minions from Saviors of Uldum.
  • Sr. Excavator
    • [5 Cost Minion] 3 Attack, 6 Health. Battlecry: Draw 3 cards. Any minions you draw cost (4) less.
    • Duels-only unlock criteria: Play 25 Class minions from The Sunken City.
  • Flo Slatebrand
    • [6 Cost Minion] 4 Attack, 4 Health. Battlecry and Deathrattle: Add a random Treasure to your hand.
    • Duels-only unlock criteria: Play 25 Class spells from Saviors of Uldum.
  • Brann’s Epic Egg
    • [7 Cost Minion] 0 Attack, 3 Health. After this takes damage, summon King Krush.
    • Duels-only unlock criteria: Play 25 Class spells from The Sunken City.

 

NEW PASSIVE TREASURES

  • Edge of Dredge—Pool 1
    • After you Dredge, draw a card and shuffle your deck.
  • Coil Casting—Pool 1
    • After you play your first Naga each turn, add a random 1-Cost spell to your hand.
  • Optimized Polarity—Pool 1
    • After you play your first Non-Magnetic Mech each turn, add a random (1) mana Mech with Magnetic to your hand.
  • Beckoning Bicorn—Pool 1
    • After you play your first Pirate each turn, summon a Patches the Pirate.
  • Cookie’s Ladle—Pool 1
    • After you play your first Murloc each turn, draw a Murloc.
  • Forgotten Depths—Pool 1
    • At the start of game, put 3 Colossal minions on the bottom of your deck. They cost (3) less.

 

TREASURE UPDATES

For the Alliance and For the Horde

  • The unlock criteria for these two signature treasures have been removed.
  • Dev Comment: Okay, 200 was a bit much, wannit?

Traktamer Aelessa

  • Old: 2 Attack, 3 Health → New: 2 Attack, 5 Health

Mo’arg Outcast

  • Old: [Costs 4] → New: [Costs 3]

Marvelous Mycelium

  • Old: Discover a Choose One card. Choose One cards and powers have both effects combined until end of turn. → New: Discover two Choose One cards. They have both effects combined. Shuffle this card into your deck.

Slate’s Syringe

  • Old: Steal up to 3 Attack and Health from an enemy minion. Give those stats to a random friendly Beast. → New: Steal up to 4 Attack and Health from an enemy minion. Give those stats to a random friendly Beast.

Britz Blazebucket

  • Old: After you play a spell, summon a random minion of the same Cost. It dies when it takes damage. → New: After you play a spell, summon two random minions of the same Cost that die when they take damage.

Drocomurchanicas

  • Old: Deathrattle: Draw a Dragon, Murloc, and Mech. They cost (2) less. → New: Deathrattle: Draw a Dragon, Murloc, and Mech. They cost (3) less.
  • Dev Comment: Oh wow! Menagerie got better with this!

Humble Blessings

  • Old: [Costs 4] → New: [Costs 3]

Su Leadfoot

  • Old: [Costs 4] → New: [Costs 3]

Ace in the Hole

  • Old: [Costs 3] → New: [Costs 2]

Scion of the Deep

  • Old: [Costs 3] 2 Attack, 2 Health → New: [Costs 2] 2 Attack, 4 Health

Joras Thuldoom

  • Old: Whenever your Health changes on your turn, summon a copy of this minion. → New: Rush. Whenever your Health changes on your turn, summon a copy of this minion.

Droplet of Insanity

  • Old: [Costs 5] → New: [Costs 4]

Gift of the Old Gods

  • Old: [Costs 6] → New: [Costs 4]

Binding Chains

  • Old: [Costs 4] → New: [Costs 3]

Moonbeast

  • Old: 4 Attack, 5 Health. Your Eclipse spells cost (0). → New: 4 Attack, 6 Health. At the end of your turn, add a random Eclipse spell to your hand. Your Eclipse spells cost (0).

Zukara the Wild

  • Old: 3 Attack, 5 Health. → New: 3 Attack, 6 Health.

Collector’s Ire

  • Old: [Costs 6] → New: [Costs 5]
  • Dev Comment: More buffs to Menagerie!

Flame Waves

  • Old: At the end of your turn, deal 2 damage to all enemies for each Fire spell you’ve cast this turn. → New: At the end of your turn, deal 2 damage to all enemy minions for each Fire spell you’ve cast this turn.
  • Dev Comment: Hey, you know who you are, yes, you, look what you made me do to my boy.

Scepter of Summoning

  • Moved from Treasure Pool 2 to Treasure Pool 2 Ultra Rare

 

HERO POWER UPDATES

Vile Concoction (Infiltrator Lilian’s Hero Power)

  • Old: Give a minion Poisonous. Combo: Also give it Stealth for 1 turn. → New: Give a minion Poisonous. Combo: Also give it +1/+1 and Stealth for 1 turn.

 

BUCKET UPDATES

  • The Menagerie bucket has been removed.
    • Dev Comment: Nooooo! How could we do this right when we give it buffs?!
  • New buckets have been added for Voyage to the Sunken City archetypes.

Arena Updates

When the expansion unlocks on April 12, ongoing Arena runs will end and a new Arena season will begin. The eligible pool of card sets will rotate so that the following sets will make up the Arena card pool:

  • Core
  • League of Explorers
  • Whispers of the Old Gods
  • The Grand Tournament
  • United in Stormwind
  • Fractured in Alterac Valley
  • Voyage to the Sunken City

 

Bug Fixes and Game Improvements

  • Added a Recently Completed Achievements U.I. that will make it easier to claim your Achievements.
  • In order to avoid a negative play experience with Radiance of Azshara, Unstable Evolution has had its effect updated to function like it has the Echo keyword (meaning that copies after the first copy can’t Cost less than 1). Its text will be updated to add the Echo keyword in a future update. As a result of this change, Unstable Evolution will be eligible for a full dust refund for 2 weeks after the 23.0 patch goes live.
  • Fixed a bug where Kurtrus, Demon-Render would not upgrade if the attack did not cause damage (such as attacking into a Divine Shield or a Bulwark of Azzinoth).
  • Fixed a bug where Breath of Dreams did not grant a mana crystal if you had 10 or more mana with Wildheart Guff.
  • Fixed a bug where Ancient Reflections copied over “while damaged” effects if the original target was damaged.
  • Increased Wax Rager’s death limit from 8 to 51 for instances where it would die multiple times from one effect, from cards like Perpetual Flame and Spammy Arcanist.
  • Solar Eclipse has had its wording updated. This is not an update to the card’s function.
  • Fixed a bug where the “refund” search term did not work in German.
  • Fixed a bug causing some languages to be unable to see the text of the Tavern Brawl chalkboard.
  • Fixed a bug causing occasional de-syncs in Battlegrounds, resulting in players and/or spectators seeing different results from the same battle.
  • Fixed a visual bug where Mercenaries crafting costs sometimes appeared to cost double.
  • Fixed a visual bug where Mercenaries’ Tasks appeared as “Task 1” on the Mysterious Stanger node.
  • Fixed a bug where the Positive Equilibrium treasure did not grant the Nature and Fire Damage bonuses listed.
  • Fixed a bug that allowed Chi-Ji’s Flamehearth Brooch to activate even if Chi-Ji was on the Bench.
  • Fixed a bug where if Wrathion died while in dragon form, he would not count as having died for future Bounty encounters or for purposes of ensuring enough play has passed to count as a win in the Fighting Pit.
  • Fixed a bug where Wrathion’s Task 10 did not track if he was in dragon form.
  • Updated Rokara’s Tribal Fortitude Task to be based on damage dealt by Tribal Warfare, so that it can be completed as written.
  • Fixed a bug where Elemental Chaos in Duels was not affected by Spell Damage or Professor Slate. 
  • Misc. other performance enhancements and bug fixes to make your seat comfier around the hearth.

Got any favorite picks?