31.6 Patch Notes
Patch 31.6 is live. It opens the portal to the new expansion Into the Emerald Dream, includes a large mid-season Battlegrounds update (new heroes, Anomalies returning, minion and spell pool changes, and combat speed improvements), and delivers various Arena and bug fixes.
Into the Emerald Dream
Pre-purchase & launch
Into the Emerald Dream launches on March 25 and introduces 145 new collectible cards. The expansion focuses on Nature, Old Gods corruption, dragons, druids, and Wild Gods. Pre-purchase bundles are available now.
Free login reward: Ysera, Emerald Aspect
Log in now to receive one free copy of Ysera, Emerald Aspect (Legendary).* This offer is limited to one per account. Note: after Patch 32.4 Ysera will be granted upon opening your first Into the Emerald Dream pack instead of on login.
* Limit one per account. After Patch 32.4, Ysera, Emerald Aspect will be granted upon opening your first Into the Emerald Dream pack, instead of upon login.
Shop gift: Creature of Madness
The in-game Shop is offering two free copies of Creature of Madness (Common) as the first Dark Gifts. This offer is available until Patch 32.4; Creature of Madness will be obtainable through packs and normal card grants once the expansion launches.
In-Game Event: Release the Raptor!
From March 4 to March 25 complete event quests to progress a special rewards track. The track includes: 2 Raptor Herald Epic minions, 2 Golden Raptor Herald Epic minions, 2 Into the Emerald Dream Packs, 2 random The Great Dark Beyond Epic cards, 2 Golden Creature of Madness Common minions, 2 Tavern Tickets, and the Soulbringer Inge Death Knight Hero Skin. Raptor Herald will be added to a special Event set and playable immediately upon earning; it is scheduled to remain in Standard until the 2026 rotation alongside several other listed cards.
*Raptor Herald will be added to the special Event set and will be playable immediately upon earning. Raptor Herald is scheduled to stay in Standard until the 2026 Standard rotation along with Champions of Azeroth, Bob the Bartender, and Avatar of Hearthstone (Harth Stonebrew and the 11 “Gift” cards are leaving in the upcoming 2025 Standard rotation).
HSLeaderboard note: Pre-purchases and the free Ysera will likely affect early expansion decks and the first ladder metas.
Battlegrounds Updates
Dev Comment: This mid-season update adds StarCraft heroes and cosmetics, brings back and updates Anomalies (now in Duos as well), and introduces combat speed-up. Many changes are live now.
Anomalies return (including Duos)
Anomalies are tavern-wide modifiers that apply from the start of each game. This patch reintroduces Anomalies with adjustments: several older Anomalies were removed, some were updated, and 21 new Anomalies were added (4 of them Duos-only). New Anomalies will appear more often during the first two weeks of the patch. Secrets of Norgannon (Tavern Tier 7) has returned with an increased appearance rate.
The full pool of Anomalies in this patch includes a mix of new, returning, and updated effects. Key new Anomalies (selection):
- Lay of the Land: The Tavern offers 1 extra Tavern spell after each Refresh.
- Continuing Education: At the start of each turn, receive an Evolving Scroll that transforms each turn into a Tavern spell from a higher Tier.
- Rising Current: After you upgrade the Tavern, Discover a Tier 1 spell. (Improves every 2 turns.)
- Sin’dorei Mirror: After you buy your first Tavern spell each turn, get an extra copy of it. (Unlocks on Turn 5.)
- Marin’s Treasure Box: Trinkets are in this game; all heroes are Marin the Manager.
- Incubation Mutation: Minions with no type gain all minion types. (Dev note: neutral minions converted to All type are not included in type-specific random generation/Discover pools. Knockoff Wisdomball is banned with this Anomaly.)
- Factory Line: Every 2 turns, get a plain copy of your left-most minion. (Knockoff Wisdomball banned.)
- Cosmic Duality: At the start of the game, Discover a second Hero Power.
- Instant Warband: Start with 3 different Tier 1 minions in hand.
- (Duos) Pooled Resources: You can send Gold to your teammate.
Returning Anomalies and Updated Anomalies are also included (complete list in the original patch notes). Several Anomalies also include specific bans for certain cards to prevent broken interactions.
StarCraft heroes in Battlegrounds
Three StarCraft-themed heroes have been added and will be available in the initial hero offerings for every game for two weeks after Patch 31.6 (they cannot be rerolled during that period).
Kerrigan, Queen of Blades
Armor: 12
- Spawning Pool [7 Gold]: Unlock Tier 2 Zerg. Costs (1) less each turn. Passive: Start the game with a Larva.
- Evolution Chamber [7 Gold]: Unlock Tier 3 Zerg. Costs (1) less each turn. Passive: Your Larva can morph into a Tier 2 Zerg.
- Ultralisk Cavern [Passive]: Your Larva can morph into a Tier 3 Zerg.
Larva: 2 Attack / 2 Health. At the start of each turn, choose a Zerg to morph into. It keeps stats and enchantments.
Example Zerg minions (all listed as 2 Attack / 2 Health base and “morphs each turn”): Zergling (Start of Combat: Summon a copy), Roach (Taunt; end of your turn: gain Health equal to your Tier), Hydralisk (Windfury; whenever this attacks, permanently gain Attack equal to your Tier), and higher-tier Zerg like Mutalisk, Lurker, Viper, Infestor, and Ultralisk with their described abilities.
Jim Raynor
Armor: 12
- Lift Off [Passive]: Start with a 2 Attack / 2 Health Battlecruiser that adds an Upgrade to the Tavern whenever it is Refreshed.
- Battlecruiser: 2 Attack / 2 Health. Mech. The Tavern offers an extra Battlecruiser Upgrade each refresh.
Dev note: Battlecruiser Upgrades are a special pool of spells that enhance your Battlecruiser. Most Upgrades can be acquired multiple times; four specific Upgrades can be obtained only once each.
Artanis
Armor: 15
- Warp Gate: At the start of the game, choose from 2 Protoss minions to receive after you buy 16 cards.
- Notable Protoss minions include Colossus (Tier 5, 6 Attack / 12 Health, damages neighbors when it attacks), Carrier (Tier 5, 12 Attack / 4 Health, Avenge(4): summon a 3/3 Interceptor and then upgrade permanently), Immortal (Tier 5, 8 Attack / 8 Health, Start of Combat: gain stats of adjacent minions), Void Ray (Tier 5, 7 Attack / 1 Health, Divine Shield and buffs when friendly minions attack), and Mothership (Tier 5, 6 Attack / 8 Health, Avenge(5): get a random Protoss minion).
Two-week availability
For two weeks after the patch all three new heroes will be present in the initial hero offerings for every game and cannot be rerolled during that period.
Minion pool changes
The patch removes a selection of minions from the pool and returns others. Removed examples include Assistant Guard, Bazaar Dealer, Blazing Skyfin, Lil' Rag, and several Tier 7 minions such as Papa Bear and Granite Guardian. Returned examples include Cyborg Drake, Deadstomper, Shellemental, Cave Hydra, Mystic Sporebat, Mythrax the Unraveler, Nalaa the Redeemer, and others.
New minions
Technical Element [Tier 3, Elemental/Mech]
- 5 Attack / 5 Health. Magnetic. Can Magnetize to both Mechs and Elementals.
Captain Bonerender [Tier 4, Pirate/Undead]
- 5 Attack / 5 Health. After you summon a different minion in combat, summon an extra copy of it. (Dev comment: this effect does not loop with itself.)
Gentle Stag [Tier 3, Beast]
- 1 Attack / 5 Health. Whenever you summon a minion in combat, give your right-most minion +1 Attack / +1 Health permanently.
Bellowing Tyrant [Tier 7, Beast]
- 3 Attack / 2 Health. Taunt. Has +3 Attack / +2 Health for each Beast you’ve summoned this game (regardless of where that Beast is).
Arcane Behemoth [Tier 7, Elemental]
- 4 Attack / 8 Health. Taunt. After you sell an Elemental, gain that Elemental’s stats.
Stitched Salvager [Tier 7, Undead]
- 20 Attack / 4 Health. Start of Combat: Destroy the minion to the left of this. Deathrattle: Resummon an exact copy of that minion.
Changed minions (summary)
The following minions have had their stats or text updated in the pool. These are presented as adjusted entries since the patch provides the new text/stats.
Tortollan Blue Shell (Adjusted)
Tier 4 — 3 Attack / 6 Health. If you lost your last combat, this minion sells for 5 Gold.
Mythrax the Unraveller (Adjusted)
Tier 4 — 4 Attack / 2 Health. At the end of your turn, gain +2 Attack / +1 Health for each different friendly minion type.
Shellemental (Adjusted)
Tier 4, Elemental/Naga — 4 Attack / 4 Health. Spellcraft: Choose a minion in the Tavern. Give its stats to a random friendly minion until next turn.
Sprightly Scarab (Adjusted)
Tier 3, Beast — 2 Attack / 1 Health. Choose One — Give a Beast +1 Attack / +1 Health and Reborn; or give it +8 Attack.
Mystic Sporebat (Adjusted)
Tier 5, Beast — 8 Attack / 1 Health. Deathrattle: Get a random Tavern Spell.
Ichoron the Protector (Adjusted)
Tier 4, Elemental — 3 Attack / 1 Health. Divine Shield. Whenever you play an Elemental, give it Divine Shield until next turn. (Dev comment: this changes the timing from “after” to “whenever”.)
Tidemistress Athissa (Adjusted)
Tier 6, Naga — 2 Attack / 6 Health. Whenever you cast a spell, give your Naga +1 Attack / +1 Health.
Spell pool and new spells
- Removed from Spell Pool: Unmasked Identity and Boundless Potential.
- Returned to Spell Pool: Sacred Gift (now at Tier 7).
New Spells
Forest’s Bounty [Tier 4] — [2 Gold] Choose One — Give a minion +7 Attack / +7 Health; or Give your minions +2 Attack / +1 Health.
Sharing is Caring [Tier 7] — [2 Gold] Start of Combat: Your left-most minion gains stats equal to the nearest enemy minion’s.
Blade of Ambition [Tier 7] — [6 Gold] Choose a minion. Set its Attack and Health to match the highest in your warband.
Hallowed Ritual [Tier 7] — [5 Gold] Discover a Tier 7 minion.
Spell changes
Fandral’s Fortune (Adjusted) [Tier 6] — [3 Gold] Discover a Choose One card. It now has both effects combined.
Sacred Gift (Adjusted) [Tier 7] — [4 Gold] Give a minion Divine Shield.
Other Battlegrounds updates & quality-of-life
- StarCraft cosmetics on the Battlegrounds Rewards Track are now earnable and claimable.
- Combat speed-up: battle animations will accelerate during longer fights and then slow near the end for a dramatic finish.
- Certain cards that have no valid target for their effect will now grant a Consolation Coin (example: Chef’s Choice).
- Invigorating Conch, Divine Armor, and Soul Pact have been removed from the Quest Reward pool.
Arena update
All current Arena runs will end and a new Arena season begins with Patch 31.6. The Arena pool this season includes: Festival of Legends, TITANS, Showdown in the Badlands, Whizbang’s Workshop, Perils in Paradise, The Great Dark Beyond, and additionally Wayward Probe, Raptor Herald, and Creature of Madness.
Bug fixes and game improvements
- General: Updated recommended device specs. Players with mobile devices that have 4GB or less memory are advised to turn off High Quality Mode (Settings → Downloads). This will disable all voicelines, including those from hero skins.
- Hearthstone: Brood Queen renamed to Hive Queen for lore consistency.
- Hearthstone: Aman’Thul’s wording updated to clarify it only Discovers class Legendaries.
- Fixed multiple animation-related crashes; animations that were temporarily disabled are restored.
- Fixed issues with Carrier summon timing, Starship launchpad glow, Uluu Choose One targeting, Screaming Banshee summoned stats, and many other card-specific bugs.
- Battlegrounds: Deaths now resolve from Start of Combat Hero Power effects before Start of Combat minion effects trigger. Multiple bugs fixed including hero reroll armor display, Tickatus hand-space protection, Doubloon Grifter tracker reset, Bob-blehead shop blocking, and Duos-specific crash fixes.
- Progression: Fixed missing Legend gem in ranked rewards and several achievement tracking bugs.
- Cosmetics: Fixed Mythic Kerrigan defeat animation and several Game Board clickable issues.
- Various performance, connectivity, and miscellaneous bug fixes and improvements.
HSLeaderboard note: The Battlegrounds Anomalies and StarCraft heroes are likely to shake up the mid-season meta; expect fresh strategies in both Solo and Duos.