As was teased earlier in the week, Hearthstone has revealed a new patch, and bringing some major updates. This includes lessening the requirements for four Weekly Quests, and nerfing three cards in Standard. Some highlights:

  • "Win 10 games of Ranked Hearthstone" and "Win 10 games of Arena, Tavern Brawl, or Battlegrounds" now only require you to play 10 or 5 games respectively.
  • Showdown! now costs 3-Mana (was 2).
  • Thirsty Drifter now costs 7-Mana (was 6).
  • Molten Giant now costs 22-Mana (was 20).

And a bunch of Battlegrounds changes! You can see the full quote below:

Quote From Blizzard

Patch 29.4.2, launching today, brings the following balance changes, Weekly Quest updates, and more!

 

Weekly Quest Updates

Before the Weekly Quests changed in Patch 29.2, we didn’t adequately communicate the changes that were coming, or our reasoning for them. That’s something we’ll keep improving on.

Over the last few weeks, we’ve been listening to your experiences and looking at our data, and it’s clear that the new Weekly Quests didn’t do their job of rewarding you for your time playing the game. Going forward, we want to strike a much better balance between your time spent in Hearthstone and the rewards given by Weekly Quests.

So we’re making some more updates in this patch, reducing the requirements on the Weekly Quests that seem to be blocking player progression for many of you, while leaving the increased XP where it is. We hope these new changes will still reward you more while keeping Weekly Quests an attainable and fun goal for all players. We look forward to seeing how this iteration works out. Please keep the feedback coming! Thanks for playing, and we’ll see you in the Tavern.

 

- Tyler Bielman, Game Director

 

Win Games of Ranked

  • Old: Win 10 games of Ranked Hearthstone.
  • New: Play 10 games of Ranked Hearthstone.

Win Games of Arena, Tavern Brawl, or Battlegrounds

  • Old: Win 10 games of Arena, Tavern Brawl, or Battlegrounds.
  • New: Play 5 games of Arena, Tavern Brawl, or Battlegrounds.

Play Miniaturize or Mini cards

  • Old: Play 32 Miniaturize or Mini cards.
  • New: Play 10 Miniaturize or Mini cards.

Spend Mana

  • Old: Spend 750 Mana.
  • New: Spend 650 Mana.

 

Hearthstone Updates

Dev Comment: It’s early after the launch of the Dr. Boom’s Incredible Inventions Mini-Set and the metagame is still developing, so we’re making just a few balance adjustments in this patch, aimed at addressing early outlier decks. All three of the target decks are a little too good at flooding the board too early and too efficiently. The Molten Giant change slows Warlock down slightly and also makes the play pattern a bit more dangerous, allowing more room for a counterswing. Showdown is an enabler for Zilliax, Sea Giant, and Prismatic Beam in Paladin, so we think it could be less efficient for that deck. Finally, Thirsty Drifter is another strong swarming card, particularly at higher levels of play, and our data indicates that deck would likely trend upwards if we didn’t adjust it here, too. 

Showdown

  • Old: [2 Mana]
  • New: [3 Mana]

PALADIN_WW_051_enUS_Showdown-101109_NORMAL.png

Thirsty Drifter

  • Old: [6 Mana]
  • New: [7 Mana]

PRIEST_WW_387_enUS_ThirstyDrifter-101958_NORMAL.png

Molten Giant

  • Old: [20 Mana]
  • New: [22 Mana]

zzNEUTRAL_CORE_EX1_620_enUS_MoltenGiant-111472_NORMAL.png

The above craftable cards will be eligible for a full dust refund for two weeks following Patch 29.4.2. (Core Set versions of cards can’t be crafted or disenchanted; access the craftable version of Molten Giant by selecting the “Legacy” filter in the Collection).

 

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Battlegrounds Updates

Minion Pool Changes

The following minions have been removed from the minion pool:

  • Kindly Grandmother
  • Sly Raptor
  • Gentle Djinni

The following minions have been added to the minion pool:

  • Manasaber 
  • Rat Pack 
  • Lil’ Rag (with updates, see below) 

 

Battlegrounds Card Changes 

Rylak Metalhead 

  • Old: Taunt. Deathrattle: Trigger the Battlecry of the minion to the left of this. 
  • New: Taunt. Deathrattle: Trigger the Battlecry of an adjacent minion. 
  • Dev Comment: If there are Battlecry minions on both sides of Rylak, it will randomly trigger one. This is primarily a quality-of-life change after lots of reports from players frustrated that they or their Duos partner accidentally put Rylak in the wrong position and got no effect. 

zzNEUTRAL_BG26_801_enUS_RylakMetalhead-98829_NORMAL.pngzzNEUTRAL_BG26_801_G_enUS_RylakMetalhead-98830_GOLDEN.png

Pokey Thornmantle 

  • Old: 4/5. At the end of your turn, your Blood Gems give an extra +1/+1 this game. 
  • New: 6/7. At the start of your turn, your Blood Gems give an extra +1/+1 this game.

zzNEUTRAL_BG29_708_enUS_PokeyThornmantle-112882_NORMAL.pngzzNEUTRAL_BG29_708_G_enUS_PokeyThornmantle-112883_GOLDEN.png

Party Elemental 

  • Old: 4/2. After you play an Elemental, give a friendly Elemental other than it +1/+1. 
  • New: 3/2. After you play an Elemental, give a friendly Elemental other than it +2/+1. 

zzNEUTRAL_BGS_120_enUS_PartyElemental-64056_NORMAL.pngzzNEUTRAL_TB_BaconUps_160_enUS_PartyElemental-64058_GOLDEN.png

Deadstomper 

  • Old: 2/6 
  • New: 4/11 

zzNEUTRAL_BG28_634_enUS_Deadstomper-110666_NORMAL.pngzzNEUTRAL_BG28_634_G_enUS_Deadstomper-110667_GOLDEN.png

Whirling Lass-o-Matic 

  • Old: 9/5 
  • New: 7/4 

zzNEUTRAL_BG28_635_enUS_WhirlingLass-o-Matic-110668_NORMAL.pngzzNEUTRAL_BG28_635_G_enUS_WhirlingLass-o-Matic-110669_GOLDEN.png

Scrap Scraper 

  • Old: 5/5. Battlecry and Deathrattle: Get a random Magnetic Mech. 
  • New: 6/5. Deathrattle: Get a random Magnetic Mech. 

zzNEUTRAL_BG26_148_enUS_ScrapScraper-98592_NORMAL.pngzzNEUTRAL_BG26_148_G_enUS_ScrapScraper-98593_GOLDEN.png

Winged Chimera 

  • Old: 1/5. When this takes damage, give a frliendly minion of each type +1/+1. (3 times per combat). 
  • New: 1/6. When this takes damage, give a friendly minion of each type +1/+1. (Twice per combat). 

zzNEUTRAL_BG29_844_enUS_WingedChimera-108739_NORMAL.pngzzNEUTRAL_BG29_844_G_enUS_WingedChimera-108743_GOLDEN.png

Deep Blue Crooner 

  • Old: 4/4 
  • New: 2/2 

zzNEUTRAL_BG26_502_enUS_DeepBlueCrooner-98886_NORMAL.pngzzNEUTRAL_BG26_502_G_enUS_DeepBlueCrooner-98887_GOLDEN.png

Spellbound Seafarer 

  • Old: 4/6. After you buy 4 cards, get a random Tavern spell. 
  • New: 3/5. After you buy 3 cards, get a random Tavern spell. 

zzNEUTRAL_BG28_903_enUS_SpellboundSeafarer-105424_NORMAL.pngzzNEUTRAL_BG28_903_G_enUS_SpellboundSeafarer-105425_GOLDEN.png

Gunpowder Courier 

  • Old: 2/6. After you spend 5 Gold, give your Pirates +1 Attack. 
  • New: 1/6. After you spend 4 Gold, give your Pirates +1 Attack. 

zzNEUTRAL_BG26_810_enUS_GunpowderCourier-98889_NORMAL.pngzzNEUTRAL_BG26_810_G_enUS_GunpowderCourier-98890_GOLDEN.png

Sister Deathwhisper 

  • Old: 4/10. After a friendly minion is Reborn, give your Undead +1/+3 permanently. 
  • New: 5/9. After a friendly minion is Reborn, give your minions +1/+3 permanently. 

zzNEUTRAL_BG25_020_enUS_SisterDeathwhisper-95276_NORMAL.pngzzNEUTRAL_BG25_020_G_enUS_SisterDeathwhisper-95277_GOLDEN.png

Trigore the Lasher 

  • Old: 8/3. Whenever another friendly Beast takes damage, gain +1 Health permanently. 
  • New: 5/3. Whenever another friendly Beast takes damage, gain +1/+1 permanently. 

zzNEUTRAL_BG29_807_enUS_TrigoretheLasher-107930_NORMAL.pngzzNEUTRAL_BG29_807_G_enUS_TrigoretheLasher-107934_GOLDEN.png

Iridescent Skyblazer 

  • Old: 3/8. Whenever a friendly Beast takes damage, give a friendly Beast other than it +1/+1 permanently. 
  • New: 3/7. Whenever a friendly Beast takes damage, give a friendly Beast other than it +1/+2 permanently. 

zzNEUTRAL_BG29_806_enUS_IridescentSkyblazer-107937_NORMAL.pngzzNEUTRAL_BG29_806_G_enUS_IridescentSkyblazer-107938_GOLDEN.png

Murky 

  • Old: 6/4. Battlecry: Give a friendly Murloc +10/+10. 
  • New: 4/4. Battlecry: Give a friendly Murloc +4/+4 for each one you control. 

zzNEUTRAL_BG24_012_enUS_Murky-92418_NORMAL.pngzzNEUTRAL_BG24_012_G_enUS_Murky-92430_GOLDEN.png

Hungering Abomination 

  • Old: 6/7. Avenge (1): Gain +1/+1 permanently. 
  • New: 4/5. Avenge (1): Gain +1/+2 permanently. 

zzNEUTRAL_BG25_014_enUS_HungeringAbomination-95273_NORMAL.pngzzNEUTRAL_BG25_014_G_enUS_HungeringAbomination-95275_GOLDEN.png

Molten Rock 

  • Old: 3/2 
  • New: 3/3 

zzNEUTRAL_BGS_127_enUS_MoltenRock-64296_NORMAL.pngzzNEUTRAL_TB_Baconups_202_enUS_MoltenRock-64300_GOLDEN.png

Flourishing Frostling 

  • Old: [Tier 4] 1/1. Has +1/+1 for each Elemental you played this game (wherever this is). 
  • New: [Tier 5] 2/1. Has +2/+1 for each Elemental you played this game (wherever this is). 

zzNEUTRAL_BG26_537_enUS_FlourishingFrostling-101267_NORMAL.pngzzNEUTRAL_BG26_537_G_enUS_FlourishingFrostling-101268_GOLDEN.png

Lil’ Rag 

  • Old: [Tier 5] 6/6 
  • New: [Tier 4] 4/4 

zzNEUTRAL_BGS_100_enUS_LilRag-63624_NORMAL.pngzzNEUTRAL_TB_BaconUps_200_enUS_LilRag-64076_GOLDEN.png

Roaring Rallier 

  • Old: 3/4. Whenever a friendly Dragon attacks, give it +2/+2. 
  • New: 3/5. Whenever a friendly Dragon attacks, give it +2/+1. 

zzNEUTRAL_BG29_816_enUS_RoaringRallier-109806_NORMAL.pngzzNEUTRAL_BG29_816_G_enUS_RoaringRallier-109807_GOLDEN.png

Amber Guardian 

  • Old: [Tier 3] 3/2. Start of Combat: Give another friendly Dragon +2/+2 and Divine Shield. 
  • New: [Tier 5] 7/7. Start of Combat: Give another friendly Dragon +7/+7 and Divine Shield. 

zzNEUTRAL_BG24_500_enUS_AmberGuardian-95006_NORMAL.pngzzNEUTRAL_BG24_500_G_enUS_AmberGuardian-95010_GOLDEN.png

Timecap’n Hooktail 

  • Old: 2/5 
  • New: 1/4 

zzNEUTRAL_BG27_005_enUS_TimecapnHooktail-103676_NORMAL.pngzzNEUTRAL_BG27_005_G_enUS_TimecapnHooktail-103677_GOLDEN.png

Impulsive Trickster 

  • Old: 2/3 
  • New: 3/3 

zzNEUTRAL_BG21_006_enUS_ImpulsiveTrickster-72059_NORMAL.pngzzNEUTRAL_BG21_006_G_enUS_ImpulsiveTrickster-72922_GOLDEN.png

Oozeling Gladiator 

  • Old: 1/2 
  • New: 2/2 

zzNEUTRAL_BG27_002_enUS_OozelingGladiator-103670_NORMAL.pngzzNEUTRAL_BG27_002_G_enUS_OozelingGladiator-103671_GOLDEN.png

Wrath Weaver 

  • Old: 1/3 
  • New: 1/4 

zzNEUTRAL_BGS_004_enUS_WrathWeaver-59670_NORMAL.pngzzNEUTRAL_TB_BaconUps_079_enUS_WrathWeaver-59679_GOLDEN.png

Backstage Security 

  • Old: At the start of your turn, deal 1 damage to your hero. 
  • New: Battlecry: Deal 1 damage to your hero. 

zzNEUTRAL_BG26_528_enUS_BackstageSecurity-101103_NORMAL.pngzzNEUTRAL_BG26_528_G_enUS_BackstageSecurity-101104_GOLDEN.png

Fire Dancer 

  • Old: 5/2 
  • New: 6/3 

zzNEUTRAL_BG29_843_enUS_FireDancer-108491_NORMAL.pngzzNEUTRAL_BG29_843_G_enUS_FireDancer-108493_GOLDEN.png

Defiant Shipwright 

  • Old: Whenever this gains Attack, gain +1 Health. 
  • New: Whenever this gains Attack, gain +1 Health permanently. 
  • Dev Comment: This means it will now keep Health gained with this effect during combat. 

zzNEUTRAL_BG21_018_enUS_DefiantShipwright-72061_NORMAL.pngzzNEUTRAL_BG21_018_G_enUS_DefiantShipwright-74899_GOLDEN.png

Fiery Felblood 

  • Old: 3/2 
  • New: 2/1 

zzNEUTRAL_BG29_877_enUS_FieryFelblood-109744_NORMAL.pngzzNEUTRAL_BG29_877_G_enUS_FieryFelblood-109745_GOLDEN.png

Underhanded Dealer 

  • Old: 4/4 
  • New: 6/6 

zzNEUTRAL_BG26_815_enUS_UnderhandedDealer-99014_NORMAL.pngzzNEUTRAL_BG26_815_G_enUS_UnderhandedDealer-99015_GOLDEN.png

Bream Counter 

  • Old: 5/5. While this is in your hand, after you play a Murloc, gain +3/+2. 
  • New: 4/4. While this is in your hand, after you play a Murloc, gain +3/+3. 

zzNEUTRAL_BG26_137_enUS_BreamCounter-98509_NORMAL.pngzzNEUTRAL_BG26_137_G_enUS_BreamCounter-98513_GOLDEN.png

King Bagurgle 

  • Old: [Tier 5] 6/3. Battlecry: Give your other Murlocs +3/+3. 
  • New: [Tier 4] 5/3. Battlecry: Give your other Murlocs +2/+2. 

zzNEUTRAL_BGS_030_enUS_KingBagurgle-60247_NORMAL.pngzzNEUTRAL_TB_BaconUps_100_enUS_KingBagurgle-60396_GOLDEN.png

Cloning Conch 

  • Old: [Tier 5] 
  • New: [Tier 4] 

zzNEUTRAL_BG28_601_enUS_CloningConch-110400_NORMAL.png

Dreamer’s Embrace 

  • Old: [Tier 4] 
  • New: [Tier 5] 

zzNEUTRAL_BG28_883_enUS_DreamersEmbrace-105266_NORMAL.png

Scavenge for Parts 

  • Old: [2 Gold] 
  • New: [3 Gold] 

zzNEUTRAL_BG28_600_enUS_ScavengeforParts-110383_NORMAL.png

Plunder Seeker 

  • Old: Steal a random card from the Tavern. Repeat for each friendly Pirate. 
  • New: Steal a random card from the Tavern for each Pirate you control. 

zzNEUTRAL_BG28_609_enUS_PlunderSeeker-110471_NORMAL.png

 

Duos-Only Card Changes 

Orc-estra Conductor 

  • Old: 4/2. Battlecry: Give a minion +2/+1. (Upgraded for each Orc-estra your team has played this game). 
  • New: 4/4. Battlecry: Give a minion +2/+2. (Upgraded for each Orc-estra your team has played this game). 

zzNEUTRAL_BGDUO_119_enUS_Orc-estraConductor-105799_NORMAL.pngzzNEUTRAL_BGDUO_119_G_enUS_Orc-estraConductor-105808_GOLDEN.png

Man’ari Messenger 

  • Old: [Tier 4] 8/5 
  • New: [Tier 5] 9/6 

zzNEUTRAL_BGDUO_121_enUS_ManariMessenger-106320_NORMAL.pngzzNEUTRAL_BGDUO_121_G_enUS_ManariMessenger-106544_GOLDEN.png

 

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Bug Fixes and Game Improvements 

  • [Battlegrounds] Removed Drakkari Embalmer from the Professor Putricide Hero Power pool due to an undesired interaction. 
  • [Collection] Fixed a bug where Standardized Pack wasn’t showing under the “NEW” tab in the Collection. 

What do you think of this latest patch? Were there any changes you think they missed? Let us know in the comments below!