Hearthstone Battlegrounds is going to get some big updates in Patch 23.2 launching on May 10. First Battlegrounds season of Year of the Hydra is going to be Rise of the Naga!

[NEW INFO] In Kripparrian's reveal of Glowscale minion, developer Dominic Calkosz also reveals that Buddies are rotating out of Battlegrounds!

Here is a recap of things to come:

  • New season will reset Battlegrounds rankings.
  • New minion type - Naga.
    • They tend to give you spells or get more powerful when spells are played around them.
    • 16 new Naga minions will be added.
  • New keyword - Spellcraft.
    • Minions with the Spellcraft keyword grant a temporary spell each turn.
  • New Hero - Queen Azshara.
    • Two-sided Hero - looks like two different Hero Portraits and Hero Powers.
  • 5 minions will be removed and 5 new ones will be added.
  • 2 favorite minions will make a return.
  • Battlegrounds Lobby Legends - Noblegarden takes place on May 14 – 15.
    • It will include Queen Azshara and new Naga minions!
    • Qualifiers for next Lobby Legends will take place May 10 – May 31.

Battlegrounds Creator Reveals Schedule

Full release of Naga tribe and everything around is scheduled for May 9, but some of your favorite content creators will host a preview before that, here are the dates:

Blizzard's Naga & Spellcraft Tips and Tricks

Blizzard provided a few tips on how to play with Naga and Spellcraft keyword:

  • Each Spellcraft minion generates a Spellcraft spell every turn.
  • Spellcraft effects only last until your next Recruit phase. That means that each turn you get to choose where you put your spells for the next Combat.
  • Spellcraft spells leave your hand at the end of your turn—if you don’t use them, you lose them!
  • Spellcraft spells are generated as soon as you play the Spellcraft minion, and at the start of each Recruit phase.
  • If your hand is full, Spellcraft spells will “wait” until there is a free space in your hand, instead of getting destroyed or being delayed a turn.
  • Golden Spellcraft minions will generate Golden versions of the Spellcraft spells, with double the effect.
  • Some Naga care about when you play spells. That includes Spellcraft spells as well as things like Coins, Blood Gems, and triple rewards.

Quote From Blizzard

Prepare for the Rise of the Naga
Blizzard Entertainment
05/05/2022
Prepare for the Rise of the Naga

Bow down before Queen Azshara, for soon her army of Naga will flood into Battlegrounds! Patch 23.2, launching on May 10, will bring with it the first ever Battlegrounds Season, Rise of the Naga. The new season will bring a Battlegrounds Rating reset, a new hero, and an entire new minion type, the Naga!

New Minion Type: Naga

Naga are spell-thirsty minions that are drawn to magic. They tend to give you spells or get more powerful when spells are played around them.

New Keyword: Spellcraft

Some Naga have the unique new keyword, Spellcraft! Minions with the Spellcraft keyword grant a temporary spell each turn. That spell can give your minions a buff that lasts until the start of your next Recruit phase.

The Queen Comes for the Crown

Queen Azshara will be the newest hero to come to Battlegrounds. The Highborne Queen and her people were cursed to live out their days as vengeful Naga. After transforming into Naga Queen Azshara, wave after wave of Naga will be under your command! Do you have what it takes to lead them to victory?

Master the Magic

The Naga were destroyed by their inability to control their own insatiable thirst for magic. Don’t fall victim to the same fate! Here are few tips about how to play with Naga and Spellcraft to best channel their power:

  • Each Spellcraft minion generates a Spellcraft spell every turn.
  • Spellcraft effects only last until your next Recruit phase. That means that each turn you get to choose where you put your spells for the next Combat.
  • Spellcraft spells leave your hand at the end of your turn—if you don’t use them, you lose them!
  • Spellcraft spells are generated as soon as you play the Spellcraft minion, and at the start of each Recruit phase.
  • If your hand is full, Spellcraft spells will “wait” until there is a free space in your hand, instead of getting destroyed or being delayed a turn.
  • Golden Spellcraft minions will generate Golden versions of the Spellcraft spells, with double the effect.
  • Some Naga care about when you play spells. That includes Spellcraft spells as well as things like Coins, Blood Gems, and triple rewards.

The Naga Await

In total, 5 minions will be removed from the minion pool with Patch 23.2, to be replaced with 16 new Naga minions, 5 other new minions, and 2 returning favorites! More Naga will be revealed over the coming days, along with Developer Insights and other tidbits. Tune in as some of your favorite content creators preview some of the upcoming minions and mechanics before all updates are revealed on May 9. 

Make sure to also keep an eye on PlayHearthstone for daily recaps, art showcases, and more during this reveal weekend!

Battlegrounds: Lobby Legends

Be sure to watch 16 of the best Battlegrounds players in the world as they showcase Queen Azshara and the new Naga minions in Battlegrounds: Lobby Legends – Noblegarden on May 14 – 15, on YouTube and Twitch! For future Lobby Legends-hopefuls, a Battlegrounds reset means a new season, and the fourth Battlegrounds: Lobby Legends qualifying period will take place May 10 – May 31. Follow Hearthstone Esports on Twitter for updates, future event announcements, and tournament details!