[Updated on August 2]
It turns out it was only the beginning. Apparently. While it wasn't quite planned or intended in the first place, another hotfix patch became a necessity to correct a resulting error from the initial implementation of Patch 24.0.1 - namely the one where the ever popular Druid card Moonlit Guidance wasn't fully working. While at it, the Hearthstone team also took the opportunity to adjust a couple of things related to Duels mode's newest set of updates.
It's a server hotfix patch, meaning no downloads are necessary; as usual. And it should be live in all regions by now.
Quote From DeckTech Hotfix patch 2: Electric Boogaloo!Team is currently deploying a small hotfix patch to fix what broke with Moonlit Guidance and make a couple Duels adjustments
Update #1: It turns out the 2nd hotfix wasn't fully successful, after all.
Update #2: The 3rd hotfix eventually followed, and this time everything *should* be fully working. More details below.
The Moonlit Guidance Saga
Here is the brief form, quite literally:
Quote From Blizzard 24.0.1 Patch Notes (Pt. 2)We are currently in the process of deploying an unscheduled 24.0.1 server hotfix patch following yesterday’s scheduled 24.0.1 server hotfix patch. This unscheduled hotfix patch includes a fix to a bug that was introduced with yesterday’s patch as well as two Duels adjustments, as follows:
• Fixed a bug where Moonlit Guidance would not draw the Discovered card when played.
• Adjusted the Brittle Bones Duels treasure offering algorithm.
• Changed the cards in the “Live to Win” Duels card bucket to include more diverse offerings.
The Moonlit Guidance bug was very quickly discovered as players started posting about their mishaps while trying to get ahead with their favorite Lady Prestor Druid builds (or that card whose name we shoudn't mention i.e. Celestial Alignment).
Unfortunately, more than half a day later we received another message from the team, stating that the hotfix only partially did its job:
Quote From DeckTech Heads up, y’all, it seems hotfix 2 *mostly* worked, but for some reason Moonlit still doesn’t draw you the extra card if you specifically pick Guff (and, I’d guess, other Hero cards if that happens). Team’s aware and will be looking into it.
The much needed (slight) nerf to Guff Hero card that we didn't expect to get? Albeit just temporary.
Fast forward through the weekend (poor Grandmasters), and yet another hotfix was eventually willed into existence:
Quote From DeckTech Hotfix patch 3: Hopefully Third Time’s the Charm!The team has now deployed another server hotfix that should cleanup the outstanding issues with Moonlit Guidance.
This *should* be the last time we are reporting on this matter. Clean expansion launch ahead?
Quote From Blizzard
The team is investigating reports that Moonlit Guidance no longer draws the copy of the Discovered card when the Discovered card is played the same turn as Moonlit Guidance. Update: Another small server hotfix was implemented on 8/1 to address the issues that remained after the prior hotfix. [Resolved]
Duels - Brittle Bones Treasure & Boar Bucket
As for Duels, you might be aware of how the newest treasure Brittle Bones was already enabling some pretty broken interactions. It's all the fault of those unstable skeletons.
Leading up to the hotfix and afterwards, we also saw some added developer insights and clarifications from our lovable man in charge of Duels:
Quote From Ates Bayrak could you put the changes in english so us simple minds can understand?Brittle Bones "less"
"Live to Win” buckets now with less boars but more boars and maybe a chicken or two.
Elwynn Boar is all we knew anyway. Turns out he wasn't even kidding:
(Source)
But, back to spawning skeletons:
Quote From Ates Bayrak It is very strong, especially since everyone seems to be getting offered Brittle Bones. My steps of mitigation are to lower the likelihood of players seeing or targeting Brittle Bones. If we still see its dominance we will adjust further.Brittle is strong but it is very deck dependent. The change we are looking to make in the near future is to limit and tighten the likelihood you will see it with certain decks.
Brittle Bones was offered like, always… Fun but boring after the Nth time
Agreed.
Quote From Ates Bayrak You should really stop "balancing" op stuff by making it less common. You've done this with plenty of passives and people will still fish for it. Just makes for an awful experience for both players (sucks when you miss and sucks when ur opponent highroll their op passive)Totally agree sometimes we are happy with a design other times we are not. Brittle Bones for instance may see a change in the future but keep its rarity. It isn't ultra rare the card was showing up too often.
Previously On...
In case you need a quick reminder as to what came before:
Quote From Blizzard 24.0.1 Patch Notes (Pt. 1)We are currently in the process of rolling out a server-side hotfix with the following updates:
Balance Change:
- Grease Bot is being temporarily removed from the Battlegrounds minion pool.
Bug Fixes and Game Improvements:
- Fixed a bug where “Reveal a minion in each deck” (aka “jousting”) cards could reveal spells instead of minions.
- Fixed a bug preventing the Hats on Hats on Hats achievement from progressing.
- Promoted Deck Swabbie to the Pirate minion type in Duels.
- Temporarily disabled players from rolling Quests based on the new Murder at Castle Nathria mechanics until after the expansion launches. Players who have already rolled those Quests can re-roll them, save them until the expansion launches, or complete them in Duels.
Gossip time: not officially confirmed, but people in the Arena community seem to believe that some of the micro-adjustments are out of whack once again.
Have you even noticed something was off with Moonlit Guidance, or is Druid not your jam? Got any painful or joyful Duels memories to share with regards to Brittle Bones' power level?
Comments
At this point it's hilarious.
Update #1: We've received a message from the Hearthstone team that Moonlit Guidance still doesn't quite work correctly with Wildheart Guff (and possibly other Hero cards in fringe scenarios).
Update #2: This should be fixed for good now.
As I figured, brittle bones is crazy strong. Pretty much the only things I could lose to were other brittle bones decks or a boars build that got it on turn 4.
It will be good to tune down its appearance rate but it probably needs a limit like the first instance your spells kill an enemy minion, summon spooky skeletons..