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.
The following cards have been removed from Arena's random generation pools.
- Chow Down
- Captain Crowley
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!
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 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 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.
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