Patch 33.6.2 launches today with a variety of updates for Battlegrounds, including the return of Anomalies and balance changes to Heroes, Buddies, and more.

Battlegrounds Updates

Dev Comment: Well met!

We’re overall quite pleased with the initial reception to the midseason shakeup. This patch’s minion adjustments primarily focus on nerfing Quilboar while buffing Beasts, Undead, and Elementals. We also made several changes to various Buddies and Heroes based on early performance data to bring them more in line with each other.

This patch also brings Anomalies back to the game! There are six brand-new Anomalies that interact with the Buddy system in different ways. In addition to these, we’ve curated 20 returning Anomalies to rejoin the pool. One Anomaly not returning this time is Secrets of Norgannon (also known as “The Tier 7 Anomaly”). We’ve chosen to hold it back until we’ve had a chance to adjust the Tier 7 minion pool.

This patch introduces a significant rule change to Anomaly appearance rates: after you play with an Anomaly, it won’t appear again for at least three games. This should help you experience a wider variety of Anomalies and keep each game feeling fresh.

We don’t expect to make further gameplay adjustments until sometime after Across the Timeways launches, but we’ll be keeping an eye on the meta in the meantime. We hope you enjoy these updates and we’ll see you in the Tavern!

Anomalies Return

Anomalies are back in Battlegrounds! Anomalies are tavern-transforming effects that apply to all players from the start of each game.

New Anomalies

• Summoning Pact: After you upgrade the Tavern, reduce the cost of your next Buddy by (2).
• Spirit of Friendship: After you press your Buddy Button, also Discover a Buddy.
• Third Nature: You can press your Buddy Button a 3rd time for a Golden Buddy. It costs half.
• Colorful Camaraderie: Buddies have all minion types.
• Partner in Crime: You have no Buddy Button. On turn 4, choose a Quest to get your Golden Buddy.
• Amicable Amendment: The Cost of your Buddy Button is 50% higher, but reduces by (1) after you buy a card.

Returning Anomalies

• A Faire Reward: Instead of a minion, Triple Rewards Discover a Tier 1 Darkmoon Prize. (Improves in 4 turns!)
• Audience's Choice: At the start of each turn, one player chooses a card for ALL players to get at end of turn.
• Bring Home the Bacon: Start with two upgrading 'Piggy Banks'. Break them open to gain Gold!
• Bring in the Buddies: Buddies are in the Tavern.
• Continuing Education: At the start of each turn, get an Evolving Scroll. Each turn, it transforms into a Tavern spell from a Tier higher.
• Double Header: The first time you buy a card each turn, get an extra copy of it.
• Eleventh Hour: The first time your hero takes fatal damage in combat, prevent it and gain 11 Gold next turn instead.
• Golden Arrow: Every 3 turns, get a Golden Arrow. (3 turns left!)
• Golganneth's Tempest: Minions cost 2 Gold. You cannot Refresh the Tavern. It Refreshes itself after you buy a card.
• Grapnel of the Titans: The first minion you buy each turn is free.
• Mimiron's Clockwork Stadium: You cannot upgrade the Tavern with Gold. It upgrades itself every 2 turns. (2 turns left!)
• Money Match: Start at 10 Gold.
• Overseer's Orb: After you upgrade the Tavern, Refresh it with minions of your most common type.
• Path of the Treasure-Seeker: After you Refresh 5 times, find the Golden Monkey! (5 left!)
• Perfected Alchemy: Start with a Goldenizer.
• Planar Alignment: At the start of each turn, get a random minion of your most common type. (Unlocks on Turn 2.)
• Scout's Honor: Start with a Golden Patient Scout in play.
• The Yogg-iseum: At the start of each turn, spin the SAME Wheel of Yogg-Saron.
• Treasure Hoard: On Turn [5/6/7/8/9], Discover a Golden Tier [3/4/5/6/7] minion. ([4/5/6/7/8] turns left!)
• Up-Prizing: After you upgrade the Tavern, Discover a Tier 1 Darkmoon Prize. (Improves in 3 turns!)

Minion Pool Changes

Returning Minions

• Hawkstrider Herald
• Silithid Burrower
• Whelp Smuggler

Removed Minions

• Karmic Chameleon

Minion and Spell Updates

Minion Changes

Greymane's Champion

• Old: 6/6. After you play an even-Tier card, give your even-Tier minions +1/+1.
• New: 4/4. After you play an even-Tier card, give your even-Tier minions +2/+2.

Kalecgos, Arcane Aspect

• Old: After you trigger a Battlecry, give your Dragons +1/+1.
• New: After you trigger a Battlecry, give your Dragons +2/+2.

Hot-Air Surveyor

• Old: [Tier 4] 3/7.
• New: [Tier 5] 4/8.

Primeval Monstrosity

• Old: 5/5. Stealth. Whenever a friendly Rally minion attacks, give a friendly minion of each type +3/+3 permanently.
• New: 5/6. Stealth. Whenever a friendly Rally minion attacks, give a friendly minion of each type +3/+2 permanently.

Goldrinn, the Great Wolf

• Old: 6/6. Deathrattle: For the rest of this combat, your Beasts have +6/+6.
• New: 5/5. Deathrattle: For the rest of this combat, your Beasts have +5/+5.

Charlga

• Old: 4/4. At the end of your turn, play a Blood Gem on all your other minions.
• New: 3/3. At the end of your turn, play 2 Blood Gems on all your other minions.

Fearless Foodie

• Old: [Tier 5] 3/5.
• New: [Tier 4] 2/4.

Oranomonos, the Wilted

• Old: After a friendly minion is Reborn, your Undead have +2 Attack this game (wherever they are).
• New: After a friendly minion is Reborn, your Undead have +3 Attack this game (wherever they are).

Ultraviolet Ascendant

• Old: 6/3. Start of Combat: Give your other Elementals +2/+1. (Upgrades after you play an Elemental!)
• New: 5/2. Start of Combat: Give your other Elementals +2/+2. (Upgrades after you play an Elemental!)

Sky Admiral Rogers

• Old: 4/5. After you spend 9 Gold, get a random Bounty.
• New: 4/6. After you spend 10 Gold, get a random Bounty.

Master of Realities

• Old: 6/6. Taunt. After a friendly Elemental gains stats, gain +1/+1.
• New: 5/5. Taunt. After a friendly Elemental gains stats, gain +2/+2.

Tavern Spell Changes

Sanctify

• Old: Give your minions with Divine Shield +7 Attack.
• New: Give your minions with Divine Shield +6 Attack.

Buddy Changes

A. F. Kay - Snack Vendor

• Old: [Tier 3] 4/4. At the end of your turn, give this minion's stats to a different Tier 3 minion.
• New: [Tier 5] 6/6. At the end of your turn, give this minion's stats to a Tier 3 minion.

Jim Raynor - Tychus Findlay

• Old: [Tier 5] 5/6. After you cast a Tavern spell, get a random Battlecruiser Upgrade.
• New: [Tier 4] 4/6. After you cast 2 Tavern spells, get a random Battlecruiser Upgrade. (2 left!)

Xyrella - Baby Elekk

• Old: [Tier 3] Whenever you play a minion with less Attack than this, give it +2/+2 and improve this.
• New: [Tier 4] Whenever you play a minion with less Attack than this, give it +1/+1 and improve this.

Dancin' Deryl - Asher the Haberdasher

• Old: After you sell a minion, gain a +1/+1 hat that passes to a friendly minion when sold.
• New: After you sell a minion, gain two +1/+1 hats that pass to a friendly minion when sold.

Kerrigan - Broken Horn

• Old: [Tier 5] Battlecry: Discover a Zerg minion and set its stats to 6/6. It doesn't morph.
• New: [Tier 4] When you sell this, Discover a Zerg minion and set its stats to 6/6. It doesn't morph.

Greybough - Wandering Treant

• Old: 2/7. Whenever a friendly Taunt minion is attacked, give your minions +1 Attack permanently.
• New: 3/9. Whenever a friendly Taunt minion is attacked, give your minions +1/+1 permanently.

Loh, the Living Legend - Stoneshell Guardian

• Old: 3/7. Start of Combat: Copy your two left-most Rallies (except Stoneshell Guardian).
• New: 4/7. Start of Combat: Copy all friendly Rallies (except Stoneshell Guardian).

Rokara - Icesnarl the Mighty

• Old: 5/2. After a friendly minion kills an enemy, gain +1 Health permanently.
• New: 6/2. After a friendly minion kills an enemy, gain +2 Health permanently.

Silas Darkmoon - Burth

• Old: 5/6. After you Discover a minion, give it +4/+4 and upgrade this by +1/+1.
• New: 6/7. After you Discover a minion, give it +2/+2 and improve this.

Skycap'n Kragg - Sharkbait

• Old: [Tier 5] 4/2. Battlecry: Refresh your Hero Power.
• New: [Tier 4] 4/3. When you sell this, Refresh your Hero Power.

Y'Shaarj - Baby Y'Shaarj

• Old: [Tier 3] After you play a minion of your Tier, give your minions +1/+1.
• New: [Tier 4] After you summon a minion of your Tier, give your minions +1/+1.

Enhance-o Mechano - Enhance-o Medico

• Old: [Tier 2] 2/2. After you buy a minion, gain +2/+2 for each Bonus Keyword it has.
• New: [Tier 1] 3/3. After you buy a minion, gain +3/+3 for each Bonus Keyword it has.

Ini Stormcoil - Sub Scrubber

• Old: [Tier 5] After you play a Mech, gain +2/+2.
• New: [Tier 4] After you play a Mech, gain +3/+3.

Edwin VanCleef - SI:7 Scout

• Old: [Tier 1] After you buy a card, gain +1/+1.
• New: [Tier 2] After you buy a card, gain +2/+2.

Kurtrus Ashfallen - Living Nightmare

• Old: [Tier 3] 6/4. After you buy a card, minions in the Tavern have +2/+1 this turn.
• New: [Tier 2] 4/4. After you buy a card, minions in the Tavern have +2/+2 this turn.

The following Buddies have Tier and stats changes only:

• Cariel Roame - Captain Fairmount: [Tier 4] → [Tier 2]
• Ysera - Valithria Dreamwalker: [Tier 4] → [Tier 2]
• Teron Gorefiend - Shadowy Construct: [Tier 4] → [Tier 2]
• Rock Master Voone - Akali, Rock Rhino: [Tier 3] → [Tier 2]
• Shudderwock - Muckslinger: [Tier 5] → [Tier 3]
• Al'Akir - Spirit of Air: [Tier 3] → [Tier 1]
• The Great Akazamzarak - Street Magician: [Tier 4] → [Tier 2]
• Alexstrasza - Vaelastrasz: [Tier 5] → [Tier 4]
• Mutanus the Devourer - Nightmare Ectoplasm: [Tier 2] → [Tier 1]
• Lich Baz'hial - Unearthed Underling: [Tier 4] → [Tier 2]
• Varden Dawngrasp - Varden's Aquarrior: [Tier 3] → [Tier 1]
• Tae'thelan Bloodwatcher - Reliquary Attendant: [Tier 5] → [Tier 3]
• The Lich King - Arfus: [Tier 3] → [Tier 2]
• Dinotamer Brann - Brann's Epic Egg: [Tier 3] → [Tier 2]
• Snake Eyes - Box Cars: [Tier 6] → [Tier 4]
• Inge, the Iron Hymn - Solemn Serenader: [Tier 3] → [Tier 2]
• Chenvaala - Snow Elemental: [Tier 4] → [Tier 2]
• Guff Runetotem - Baby Kodo: [Tier 5] → [Tier 4]
• Kael'thas Sunstrider - Crimson Hand Centurion: [Tier 3] → [Tier 2]
• Forest Warden Omu - Evergreen Botani: [Tier 5] → [Tier 4]
• Fungalmancer Flurgl - Sparkfin Soothsayer: [Tier 3] → [Tier 2]
• Mr. Bigglesworth - Lil' K.T.: [Tier 3] → [Tier 2]
• Cap'n Hoggarr - Shining Sailor: [Tier 4] → [Tier 3]
• Reno Jackson - Sr. Tomb Diver: [Tier 2] → [Tier 1]
• Zerek, Master Cloner - Mini-Zerek: [Tier 3] → [Tier 2]
• Cookie the Cook - Sous Chef: [Tier 2] → [Tier 1]
• Tickatus - Ticket Collector: [Tier 5] → [Tier 4]
• Rakanishu - Lantern Tender: [Tier 5] → [Tier 4]
• Arch-Villain Rafaam - Loyal Henchman: [Tier 3] → [Tier 2]
• Forest Lord Cenarius - Malorne: [Tier 4] → [Tier 3]
• King Mukla - Crazy Monkey: [Tier 2] → [Tier 1]
• The Curator - Mishmash: [Tier 4] → [Tier 3]
• Tess Greymane - Hunter of Old: [Tier 4] → [Tier 3]
• Drek'Thar - Frostwolf Lieutenant: [Tier 3] → [Tier 2]
• Master Nguyen - Lei Flamepaw: [Tier 5] → [Tier 4]
• Maiev Shadowsong - Shadow Warden: [Tier 3] → [Tier 2]
• Exarch Othaar - The Celestial Archive: [Tier 2] → [Tier 1]
• Trade Prince Gallywix - Bilgewater Mogul: [Tier 3] → [Tier 4]
• Captain Eudora - Dagwik Stickytoe: [Tier 2] → [Tier 3]
• Scabbs Cutterbutter - Warden Thelwater: [Tier 3] → [Tier 4]
• Jandice Barov - Jandice's Apprentice: [Tier 4] → [Tier 5]
• Vanndar Stormpike - Stormpike Lieutenant: [Tier 3] → [Tier 4]
• Patches the Pirate - Tuskarr Raider: [Tier 5] → [Tier 6]
• Sire Denathrius - Shady Aristocrat: [Tier 3] → [Tier 4]
• Onyxia - Many Whelps: [Tier 2] → [Tier 3]
• George the Fallen - Karl the Lost: [Tier 2] → [Tier 3]
• Marin the Manager - Fantastic Bellhop: [Tier 5] → [Tier 6]
• Ragnaros the Firelord - Lucifron: [Tier 4] → [Tier 5]
• Millhouse Manastorm - Magnus Manastorm: [Tier 3] → [Tier 4]
• The Jailer - Mawsworn Soulkeeper: [Tier 3] → [Tier 4]
• Captain Hooktusk - Raging Contender: [Tier 5] → [Tier 6]
• Sindragosa - Thawed Champion: [Tier 5] → [Tier 6]

Gameplay Updates

• Helpful Refreshes, from cards like Wondrous Wisdomball and Chromie, can no longer offer the 'Tier 7' roll before turn 7.
• Dev Comment: T​he following changes were made to prevent unintended interactions that can cause infinite stat gain loops.
  • Sinestra is no longer triggered by Wrathscale Rogue.
  • Whelp Smuggler is no longer triggered by Wrathscale Rogue.
  • Titanic Guardian is no longer triggered by Master of Realities.

Hero Updates

Armor Changes

• A. F. Kay now has 15 Armor and 13 in Duos
• Al'Akir now has 13 Armor and 10 in Duos
• Cariel Roame has 16 Armor and 13 in Duos
• Dinotamer Brann has 15 Armor and 12 in Duos
• Kerrigan, Queen of Blades has 16 Armor and 14 in Duos
• Queen Wagtoggle has 10 Armor and 8 Armor
• Rokara has 18 Armor and 16 in Duos
• Sneed has 17 Armor and 13 in Duos
• Yogg-Saron, Hope's End has 8 Armor and 5 in Duos
• Ysera has 17 Armor and 15 in Duos

Hero Changes

Yogg-Saron, Hope's End

• Old: Puzzle Box [Passive]: At the start of your turn, you cast a random Tavern spell.
• New: Puzzle Box [Passive]: At the start of your turn, you cast a random Tavern spell. (Unlocks on Turn 3.)

Lord Jaraxxus

• Old: Bloodfury [Passive]: After friendly minions deal 100 damage, open a portal to the Twisting Nether. (100 left!)
• New: Bloodfury [Passive]: After friendly minions deal 150 damage, open a portal to the Twisting Nether. (150 left!)

Cariel Roame

• Old: Conviction [2 Gold]
• New: Conviction [1 Gold]

Sneed

• Old: Pilot the Shredder [Passive]: Start the game with a 2/1 Shredder that summons the highest-Health minion from your hand.
• New: Pilot the Shredder [Passive]: Start the game with a 2/1 Shredder that summons a minion from your hand and gives it Divine Shield.

• Old: Sneed's New Shredder: Deathrattle: Summon the highest-Health minion from your hand for this combat only.
• New: Sneed's New Shredder: Deathrattle: Summon the highest-Health minion from your hand and give it Divine Shield for this combat.
• Old: Sneed's New Shredder: Deathrattle: Summon the 2 highest-Health minions from your hand for this combat only.
• New: Sneed's New Shredder: Deathrattle: Summon the 2 highest-Health minions from your hand and give them Divine Shield for this combat.

Tamsin Roame

• Old: Fragrant Phylactery: Start of Combat: Give your lowest-Attack minion "Deathrattle: Give your other minions this minion's Attack."
• New: Fragrant Phylactery [Passive]: Start of Combat: Give your lowest-Attack minion "Deathrattle: Give your other minions this minion's stats."

Thorim, Stormlord

• Old: Choose Your Champion [Passive]: At the start of the game, Discover a Tier 7 minion to get after you spend 65 Gold.
• New: Choose Your Champion [Passive]: At the start of the game, Discover a Tier 7 minion to get after you spend 60 Gold.

Overlord Saurfang

• Old: For the Horde! [Passive]: Minions in the Tavern have +1/+1. Improves after you buy 5 minions. (5 left!)
• New: For the Horde! [Passive]: Minions in the Tavern have +1/+1. Improves after you buy 4 minions. (4 left!)

Tune In for Battlegrounds Behind the Scenes

Join Battlegrounds designer Mitchell Loewen for a special episode of the Blizzlet podcast as he dives into the return of Anomalies and the future of Buddies in Hearthstone Battlegrounds. Tune in October 10 at 7:30 p.m. PDT!