A new Hearthstone patch is coming! It includes balance changes to Standard and Battlegrounds, and an update to the appearance rate of certain Arena cards. Battlegrounds and Arena have a ton of changes listed, so check the full patch notes below for more details on those.
Here are the Standard changes:
Agamaggan - Has 9 Attack (up from 8)
Dread Leviathan - Is an 8/8 (from a 9/6)
Seismopod - Is an 8-mana 8/8 (down from 9-mana 9/9)
Spiderling - Has 2 Health (down from 3)
The Forbidden Sequence - Requires 8 Discoveries to complete (up from 7)
The Food Chain - Shokk, Jungle Tyrant will no longer be able to discover Agamaggan, and can now discover Dread Leviathan and Seismopod.
Spiderling, [Hearthstone Card (The Forbidden Sequence[/card, The Food Chain will all be available for Dust refunds.
Quote From Hearthstone Patch 36.4.2 releases today with balance updates for Hearthstone, Arena, and Battlegrounds.
Hearthstone Updates
Dev Comment: Well met! Since the launch of the new Class Sets, we've been happy to see a diverse meta and continued experimentation across a wide range of decks. As a result, this patch is fairly small and focused on addressing a few gameplay patterns that have stood out as problematic.
We'll continue monitoring how the meta develops, and we'll make additional adjustments if needed. Thanks for playing, experimenting, and sharing your feedback with us.
The Food Chain
Dev Comment: We're making a unique adjustment to The Food Chain by changing Shokk's Discover pool. We wanted to remove Agamaggan as a Discover option because its ability to generate massive burst damage immediately after Shokk was played led to some of the deck's most frustrating outcomes. To accomplish this, we're increasing Agamaggan's Attack so it no longer qualifies for Shokk's Discover pool, while buffing Dread Leviathan and Seismopod so they do. These replacements tend to create slower, more defensive play patterns, reducing Shokk's most explosive outcomes while preserving the deck's identity. Overall, these changes are intended to be a net nerf to The Food Chain.
Agamaggan
Old: 8/9.
New: 9/9.
Dread Leviathan
Old: 9/6.
New: 8/8.
Seismopod
Old: [9 mana] 9/9.
New: [8 mana] 8/8.
Spiderling
Old: 1/3.
New: 1/2.
The Forbidden Sequence
Old: Quest Requirement: Discover 7 cards.
New: Quest Requirement: Discover 8 cards.
Dev Comment: While our standard dust refund policy only applies to cards that receive direct balance nerfs, this update includes changes intended to reduce the effectiveness of The Food Chain. As an exception, we'll be offering a full dust refund for The Food Chain for a limited time. This exception should not be considered a change to our standard refund policy.
Accordingly, The Food Chain, Spiderling, and The Forbidden Sequence will be eligible for a full dust refund for two weeks following Patch 36.4.2.
Arena Updates
Dev Comment: We've been closely monitoring Arena performance and have found that several classes are struggling to keep pace with the field, while Warrior and Death Knight have emerged as clear performance outliers. In addition, a bug has prevented cards from the Escape from Violet Hold set from appearing in drafts as intended. That issue is being fixed with this update, and we're also making targeted appearance rate adjustments to improve overall class balance.
With these adjustments, we're increasing the appearance rates of cards that support underperforming archetypes. Our goal is to create a healthier drafting environment where a wider variety of strategies can thrive. We'll continue monitoring Arena performance and make additional adjustments as needed.
Card Generation Pool Adjustments
The following cards have been removed from Arena's random generation pools.
Chow Down
Captain Crowley
Card Appearance Rates
Decreased Appearance Rates
The following cards will appear less often in Arena drafts.
Shadowflame Suffusion
Hook n' Heave
Windpeak Wyrm
Captain Crowley
Torch
Bygone Echoes
Shadows of Yesterday
Increased Appearance Rates
The following cards will appear more often in Arena drafts.
Hunter
Ankylodon
Raptor-Nest Nurse
Ebonscale Scout
Stonetalon Striker
Carrier Whelp
Shadowed Informant
Whelp of the Infinite
Druid
Panther Mask
Seismopod
Lifebloom
Highborn Mentor
Warlock
Possessed Animancer
Asphyxiodon
Shrine of Twilight
Spire of Solitude
Mage
Sheep Mask
Tricksy Improviser
Breakout Architect
Wisprider
Spirit Gatherer
Paladin
Tyrannogill
Bitterbloom Knight
Flutterwing Guardian
Dragonscale Armaments
Shaman
Skywall Sentinel
Thunderquake
Stormfury
Tortotem
Priest
Ritual of Life
Soothsayer
Rogue
Costume Merchant
Deadly Bribe
Battlegrounds Updates
Dev Comment: In our last balance patch, we made broad changes across every minion type. This time, we're focusing on the types at the top and bottom of the meta.
For Beasts, our nerf to Tasty Lobster landed a bit too hard, so we're increasing its base buff to +2/+1 and moving Hoarding Hyena to Tavern Tier 4 to help the archetype compete.
Self-damage Demons have also been underperforming, so we're making several buffs across the board, alongside a more experimental redesign to Eredar Escapist (which we'll be keeping a close eye on).
Quilboars have been among the weakest minion types this season, so we're increasing Blood Gem scaling to help them keep pace.
Finally, we're giving Dragons a couple of modest buffs through Fire-forged Evoker and Mighty Dragonbreath to strengthen their late-game potential.
On the nerf side, our focus is primarily on Elementals and Naga. While both tribes have been highly popular, their overall power level hasn't been dramatically out of line. Unleashed Mana Surge stood out as one of the strongest Tier 6 minions in the game and the clearest Elemental outlier, making it our target for this round of adjustments.
For Naga, Cagey Conjurer and Fauna Whisperer were the main offenders. Conjurer's change is fairly straightforward, but Fauna presented a trickier challenge. Based on previous metas, changing it to affect only one minion would likely have been too severe, so instead we're toning down Natural Blessing to reduce Fauna's early tempo spikes.
While these nerfs are relatively light, our goal is that, combined with the buffs to Beasts, Demons, Quilboars, and Dragons, more minion types will feel both competitive and viable.
We don't expect to make any major balance changes before the mid-season update, which we'll be sharing more about soon.
We'll see you in the Tavern!
Hero Changes
Armor Adjustments
Armor Decreases
Reno Jackson
Armor: 16 → 12
Duos Armor: 14 → 10
Inge, the Iron Hymn
Armor: 17 → 10
Duos Armor: 15 → 8
Cariel Roame
Armor: 14 → 10
Duos Armor: 14 → 8
Alexstrasza
Armor: 10 → 8
Duos Armor: 8 → 6
Zerek, Master Cloner
Armor: 18 → 12
Duos Armor: 16 → 10
Vanndar Stormpike
Armor: 12 → 10
Duos Armor: 10 → 8
Forest Lord Cenarius
Armor: 16 → 13
Duos Armor: 14 → 11
Sneed
Armor: 20 → 15
Duos Armor: 18 → 13
Armor Increases
Time Twister Chromie
Armor: 12 → 14
Duos Armor: 10 → 12
Dancin' Deryl
Armor: 16 → 18
Duos Armor: 14 → 16
Heistbaron Togwaggle
Armor: 14 → 16
Duos Armor: 12 → 14
The Rat King
Armor: 12 → 14
Duos Armor: 10 → 12
Patches the Pirate
Armor: 18 → 19
Duos Armor: 16 → 17
Silas Darkmoon
Armor: 14 → 16
Duos Armor: 12 → 14
E.T.C., Band Manager
Armor: 14 → 16
Duos Armor: 12 → 14
Loh, the Living Legend
Armor: 17 → 19
Duos Armor: 15 → 17
Tras'tath, Soul Parasite
Armor: 10 → 15
Duos Armor: 10 → 13
Cap'n Hoggarr
Armor: 12 → 14
Duos Armor: 10 → 12
Scabbs Cutterbutter
Armor: 15 → 18
Duos Armor: 13 → 16
Xyrella
Armor: 12 → 14
Duos Armor: 10 → 12
Snake Eyes
Armor: 5 → 8
Duos Armor: 2 → 6
Y'Shaarj
Armor: 18 → 20
Duos Armor: 16 → 18
Kurtrus Ashfallen
Armor: 14 → 16
Duos Armor: 12 → 14
Infinite Toki
Armor: 10 → 15
Duos Armor: 8 → 13
Kael'thas Sunstrider
Armor: 16 → 18
Duos Armor: 14 → 16
Sindragosa
Armor: 7 → 10
Duos Armor: 5 → 8
Maiev Shadowsong
Armor: 17 → 18
Duos Armor: 15 → 17
Minion and Tavern Spell Changes
Minion Changes
Tasty Lobster
Old: 1/1. Deathrattle: Give a random friendly Beast +1/+1. Improve your future Tasty Lobsters.
New: 2/1. Deathrattle: Give a random friendly Beast +2/+1. Improve your future Tasty Lobsters.
Hoarding Hyena
Old: [Tier 5] 5/6.
New: [Tier 4] 4/6.
Goldrinn, the Great Wolf
Old: [Tier 6] 8/8. Deathrattle: Your Beasts have +8/+8 until next turn.
New: [Tier 5] 7/7. Deathrattle: Your Beasts have +7/+7 until next turn.
Lurking Leviathan
Old: 3/8. Whenever you summon a Beast, give it +2 Attack and improve this permanently.
New: 3/9. Whenever you summon a Beast, give it +3 Attack and improve this permanently.
Eredar Escapist
Old: 6/6. After your hero takes 3 damage, cast Shiny Ring. (3 left!)
New: 6/8. After your hero takes 4 damage, get a copy of Corrupted Cupcakes. (4 left!)
Soul Rewinder
Old: 4/1. After your hero takes damage, rewind it and give this +1 Health.
New: 4/2. After your hero takes damage, rewind it and give this +2 Health.
Ashen Corruptor
Old: 5/6. After your hero takes damage, rewind it and give minions in the Tavern +1/+1 this turn.
New: 6/6. After your hero takes damage, rewind it and give minions in the Tavern +2/+2 this turn.
Tichondrius
Old: 3/3. After your hero takes damage, give your Demons +3/+3.
New: 4/4. After your hero takes damage, give your Demons +4/+4.
Malchezaar, Prince of Dance
Old: 2/1.
New: 4/3.
Devout Hellcaller
Old: 2/2. After another friendly Demon deals damage, gain +1/+2 permanently.
New: 4/4. After another friendly Demon deals damage, gain +2/+2 permanently.
Bronze Timewalker
Old: 2/9.
New: 4/5.
Fire-forged Evoker
Old: 8/5. Start of Combat: Give your Dragons +2/+1. Improves permanently after you cast a Tavern spell.
New: 8/6. Start of Combat: Give your Dragons +2/+2. Improves permanently after you cast a Tavern spell.
Unleashed Mana Surge
Old: 6/5. After you play an Elemental, give your Elementals +4/+4.
New: 6/9. After you play an Elemental, give your Elementals +2/+3.
Utility Drone
Old: 4/6. At the end of your turn, give your minions +4/+4 for each Magnetization they have.
New: 4/5. At the end of your turn, give your minions +4/+5 for each Magnetization they have.
Sanguine Champion
Old: 9/3. Battlecry and Deathrattle: Your Blood Gems give an extra +1/+1 this game.
New: 9/4. Battlecry and Deathrattle: Your Blood Gems give an extra +2/+1 this game.
Sanguine Refiner
Old: 2/8. Rally: Your Blood Gems give an extra +1/+1 this game.
New: 3/8. Rally: Your Blood Gems give an extra +1/+2 this game.
Prodigious Tusker
Old: 1/3.
New: 2/5.
Fearless Foodie
Old: [Tier 4]
New: [Tier 3]
Jailbird Juggernaut
Old: Rally: Summon a Golem with stats equal to this minion's Blood Gems to attack the target first. (0/0)
New: Rally: Summon a Golem with this minion's stats to attack the target first.
Private Investigator
Old: 2/4. Activate (1): Gain 3 Gold next turn.
New: 5/6. Activate (1): Gain 2 Gold next turn.
Cagey Conjurer
Old: [Tier 3]
New: [Tier 4]
Forsaken Weaver
Old: 3/10. After you cast a Tavern spell, your Undead have +2 Attack this game (wherever they are).
New: 3/8. After you cast a Tavern spell, your Undead have +3 Attack this game (wherever they are).
Drustfallen Butcher
Old: 2/9. Avenge (4): Get a Butchering.
New: 2/7. Avenge (3): Get a Butchering.
Tyrael
Old: Activate (2): Set another minion's stats to 50/50.
New: Activate (1): Set another minion's stats to 50/50.
Tavern Spell Pool Changes
Sanctify has been removed from the Tavern Spell Pool.
Tavern Spell Changes
Mighty Dragonbreath
Old: Give your minions +2/+1. Repeat for your Dragons. Repeat for your minions with Divine Shield.
New: Give your minions +3/+2. Repeat for your Dragons. Repeat for your minions with Divine Shield.
Natural Blessing
Old: [Cost 4] Choose a minion. Give all minions that share a type with it +3/+3.
New: [Cost 2] Choose a minion. Give all minions that share a type with it +2/+1.
Trinket Changes
Trinket Pool Changes
Lesser Trinket Pool Changes
The following have been removed from the Lesser Trinket pool:
Blessing Portrait
Copper Coil
Cowrie Necklace
Deathwhisper Sticker
Greater Trinket Pool Changes
Coral Spear has been removed from the Greater Trinket pool.
Lesser Trinket Cost-Only Changes
Cost Increases
Warcry Totem: 2 → 3
Splinter of Aurum: 2 → 3
Demonic Bloodletter: 2 → 3
Ominous Stone: 0 → 2
Herding Horn: 1 → 2
Wand of Divination: 0 → 1
Floating Candle Set: 3 → 4
Sellemental Portrait: 5 → 6
War Drum: 2 → 3
Chromatic Tear: 2 → 3
Cost Decreases
Bleeding Heart: 3 → 2
Kaleidoscope: 1 → 0
Jailer Sticker: 4 → 3
Glowing Gauntlet: 1 → 0
Ophidian Staff: 5 → 3
Spell-powered Wrench: 2 → 0
Minion Bait: 1 → 0
Pilgrimp Sticker: 2 → 1
Scraper Sticker: 4 → 2
Lucky Tabby: 1 → 0
Putricide Sticker: 2 → 1
Fish Portrait: 2 → 1
Emergency Gearblade: 2 → 0
Comfy Coffin: 3 → 1
Holy Mallet: 1 → 0
Dragon Skull: 3 → 2
Automaton Portrait: 1 → 0
Lesser Trinket Text Changes
Archaic Scroll
Old: After you cast 7 spells, get a random Naga. (7 left!)
New: After you cast 8 spells, get a random Naga. (8 left!)
Bubble Crown
Old: Once you cast 12 spells, your Tavern spells give an extra +4/+4. (12 left!)
New: Once you cast 14 spells, your Tavern spells give an extra +4/+4. (14 left!)
Gold Mallet
Old: At the end of your turn, give your minions +2/+1. (Improved by Golden minions you've played this game!)
New: At the end of your turn, give your minions +1/+1. (Improved by Golden minions you've played this game!)
Rune of Transmutation
Old: After you cast 15 spells, replace this with a random Greater Naga Trinket. (15 left!)
New: After you cast 18 spells, replace this with a random Greater Naga Trinket. (18 left!)
Stormcoil Sticker
Old: [Cost 0] After 8 friendly minions die, get a random Mech. (8 left!)
New: [Cost 1] After 6 friendly minions die, get a random Mech. (6 left!)
Lionfish Portrait
Old: Get a Lurking Lionfish. Whenever a friendly Beast attacks, give it +2/+2.
New: Get a Lurking Lionfish. Whenever a friendly Beast attacks, give it +4/+2.
Nomi Sticker
Old: After you play an Elemental, give Elementals in the Tavern +2/+2 this game.
New: After you play an Elemental, give Elementals in the Tavern +3/+2 this game.
Greater Trinket Cost-Only Changes
Cost Increases
Dramaloc Sticker: 5 → 6
Myrmidon Sticker: 1 → 3
Groundbreaker Portrait: 5 → 6
Multilayered Shield: 2 → 4
Honeycomb Ring: 1 → 4
Bassgill Portrait: 1 → 2
Ghastly Sticker: 3 → 4
Recycling Sticker: 3 → 5
Escapee Portrait: 6 → 7
Cost Decreases
Pocket Cyclone: 1 → 0
Pagle's Fishing Rod: 4 → 3
Privateer Portrait: 5 → 4
Fancy Spellbook: 3 → 0
Dalaran Cheese Wheel: 1 → 0
Fridge Magnet: 4 → 1
Lightfeather Sticker: 1 → 0
Insurrectionist's Blade: 3 → 2
Booty Bay Brew: 2 → 0
Wolfhead Flail: 5 → 4
Jailer Sticker: 4 → 3
Herald Sticker: 3 → 2
Ironforge Anvil: 4 → 1
Quilligraphy Set: 2 → 1
Reinforced Shield: 3 → 1
Greater Trinket Text Changes
Lava Lamp
Old: After you sell 6 minions, get a random Elemental. (6 left!)
New: After you sell 7 minions, get a random Elemental. (7 left!)
Nazjatar Postcard
Old: [Cost 7] After you play a Naga, get a random Spellcraft spell.
New: [Cost 2] After you play 2 Naga, get a random Spellcraft spell. (2 left!)
Baller Portrait
Old: [Cost 6] Get a Temperature Shift. After you play 10 Elementals, repeat this. (10 left!)
New: [Cost 5] Get a Temperature Shift. After you play 11 Elementals, repeat this. (11 left!)
All-Purpose Kibble
Old: [Cost 0] Whenever a friendly Beast attacks, give it +2 Attack and permanently improve this.
New: [Cost 2] Whenever a friendly Beast attacks, give it +3 Attack and permanently improve this.
Inductive Gyroblade
Old: At the end of your turn, get a 8/8 Magnetic Satellite. (Improved by each Tavern spell you've cast this turn!)
New: At the end of your turn, get a 12/12 Magnetic Satellite. (Improved by each Tavern spell you've cast this turn!)
Miniature Ship
Old: After you cast a Tavern spell, give your Pirates +2/+2.
New: After you cast a Tavern spell, give your Pirates +3/+3.
Trusty Crowbar
Old: Whenever you get a Pirate, give your left-most minion +12/+12.
New: Whenever you get a Pirate, give your left-most minion +16/+16.
Thaumaturgist Portrait
Old: Get a Thaumaturgists. Your Thaumaturgists' Spellcrafts are permanent.
New: Get 2 Thaumaturgists. Your Thaumaturgists' Spellcrafts are permanent.
What do you think of these changes? Do they affect the meta in any way? Let us know in the comments below!
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