Patch 34.0.2 is live with balance updates across Standard Hearthstone, Wild, and Battlegrounds. Below are the changes grouped for quick reference and playtesting.
Hearthstone Updates
Developer note: The team likes the new decks emerging from Across the Timeways and wants to keep the format open to experimentation. This round trims several long-standing, highly influential cards—such as Fyrakk—to encourage more class-specific win conditions and fresh deck ideas.
Cards with reduced power
Fyrakk the Blazing (Nerfed)
Old: [9 mana] Battlecry: Cast 20 Mana worth of Fire spells at random enemies.
New: [10 mana] Battlecry: Cast 15 Mana worth of Fire spells at random enemies.
Design intent: A modest cooldown to a dominant Neutral finisher.
Ancient of Yore (Nerfed)
Old: Dormant for 2 turns. While Dormant, gain 5 Armor and draw a card at the end of your turn.
New: Dormant for 2 turns. While Dormant, gain 3 Armor and draw a card at the end of your turn.
Arkonite Defense Crystal (Nerfed)
Old: Taunt
New: No longer has Taunt
Escape the Underfel (Nerfed)
Old: Play 5 Temporary cards. Quest reward Underfel Rift costs 3 mana.
New: Play 6 Temporary cards. Quest reward Underfel Rift costs 5 mana.
Dive the Golakka Depths (Nerfed)
Old: Play 5 Murlocs.
New: Play 6 Murlocs.
Note: This Quest saw heavy play at lower ranks; the intent is to reduce its prevalence there.
Sparkling Phial (Nerfed)
Old: [3 mana]
New: [4 mana]
Corpsicle (Nerfed)
Old: [2 mana]
New: [3 mana]
Sanguine Infestation (Nerfed)
Old: [4 mana]
New: [5 mana]
Sandbox Scoundrel (Nerfed)
Old: Your next card this turn costs (3) less.
New: Your next card this turn costs (2) less.
Resuscitate (Nerfed)
Old: [5 mana]
New: [6 mana]
Testing Dummy (Nerfed)
Old: Deathrattle: Deal 8 damage randomly split among all enemies.
New: Deathrattle: Deal 8 damage split among enemy minions.
Chemical Spill (Nerfed)
Old: [5 mana]
New: [6 mana]
Ultralisk Cavern (Nerfed)
Old: [3 mana]
New: [4 mana]
Metal Detector (Nerfed)
Old: After your hero attacks and kills a minion, get a Coin.
New: Deathrattle: Get a Coin.
Impact: This change makes the effect less consistent and harder to trigger.
R.C. Rampage (Nerfed)
Old: [4 mana]
New: [5 mana]
Battlefiend (Nerfed)
Old: 1 Attack / 3 Health.
New: 1 Attack / 2 Health.
Wild Updates
Developer note: A few targeted Wild adjustments are intended to rein in outliers. Holy Wrath’s consistency and burst are higher than desired for Wild, and Discard Warlock will be monitored to keep its cumulative power in check.
Cards with reduced power
Holy Wrath (Adjusted)
Old: [5 mana] Draw a card and deal damage equal to its cost.
New: [3 mana] Draw a card and deal damage equal to its cost to a minion.
Why “Adjusted”? The mana cost is lower (which would increase power), but the damage is now restricted to a minion (which reduces reach). Overall impact is mixed.
Malchezaar's Imp (Nerfed)
Old: [1 mana]
New: [2 mana]
Battlegrounds Updates
Developer note: This is likely the final major balance pass for the season. The adjustments focus on Demons, Murlocs, and Undead to reshape the top-end power of some archetypes while buffing underperforming areas.
- Demons: Removed Cultist S'Thara and weakened Lord of Ruins to reduce the ceiling of Demon damage archetypes.
- Murlocs: Adjusted Young Murk-Eye and Azerite Empowerment to lower the peak of Magicfin Mycologist builds.
- Undead: Several broad buffs were applied to help Undead compete.
On HSLeaderboard, these Battlegrounds updates should shift some common win lines and make room for different strategies next season.
Buddy Updates
Tier changes
The following Buddies have had their Tier increased by 1 (moved to a higher Tier — generally weaker):
- Tychus Findlay (Jim Raynor) (Nerfed) — Tier 2 → 3
- Kil'rek (Lord Jaraxxus) (Nerfed) — Tier 2 → 3
- Hunter of Old (Tess Greymane) (Nerfed) — Tier 3 → 4
The following Buddies have had their Tier decreased by 1 (moved to a lower Tier — generally stronger):
- Crabby (Tavish Stormpike) (Buffed) — Tier 4 → 3
- Nexus Lord (Malygos) (Buffed) — Tier 4 → 3
- Karl the Lost (George the Fallen) (Buffed) — Tier 3 → 2
- Piloted Whirl-O-Tron (Sneed) (Buffed) — Tier 5 → 4
- Sub Scrubber (Ini Stormcoil) (Buffed) — Tier 4 → 3
- Baby Y'Shaarj (Y'Shaarj) (Buffed) — Tier 4 → 3
- Spirit Raptor (Bru'kan) (Buffed) — Tier 2 → 1
- SI:7 Scout (Edwin VanCleef) (Buffed) — Tier 2 → 1
- Snow Elemental (Chenvaala) (Buffed) — Tier 3 → 2
- Unearthed Underling (Lich Baz'hial) (Buffed) — Tier 2 → 1
- Festergut (Professor Putricide) (Buffed) — Tier 5 → 4
- Wandering Treant (Greybough) (Buffed) — Tier 5 → 4
- Akali, Rock Rhino (Rock Master Voone) (Buffed) — Tier 3 → 2
- Baby Elekk (Xyrella) (Buffed) — Tier 4 → 3
Buddy changes
Elementium Squirrel Bomb (Millificent Manastorm) (Buffed)
Old: Deathrattle: Deal 2 damage to a random enemy minion for each of your Mechs that died this combat.
New: Deathrattle: Deal 4 damage to a random enemy minion for each of your Mechs that died this combat.
Icesnarl the Mighty (Rokara) (Buffed)
Old: After a friendly minion kills an enemy, gain +2 Health permanently.
New: After a friendly minion kills an enemy, gain +3 Health permanently.
Anomaly changes
- Sylvanas Windrunner has been banned from Audience’s Choice.
- Jim Raynor has been banned from Continuing Education.
- Rock Master Voone has been banned from Path of the Treasure Seeker.
- Treasure Hoard, Scout's Honor, and The Yogg-iseum have had reduced appearance rates at high ranks.
Minion & Spell pool changes
The following minions were removed from the pool:
- Cultist S'Thara
- Transmuted Bramblewitch
- All-Seeing Elder
Minion and spell updates
Young Murk-Eye (Adjusted)
Old: 10 Attack / 5 Health. At the end of your turn, trigger the Battlecries of adjacent Murlocs.
New: 9 Attack / 6 Health. At the end of your turn, trigger the Battlecry of an adjacent minion.
Coldlight Diver (Nerfed)
Old: 3 Attack / 1 Health. Battlecry and Deathrattle: Get a random Tier 1 Tavern spell.
New: 1 Attack / 1 Health. Battlecry and Deathrattle: Get a random Tier 1 Tavern spell.
Lost City Looter (Adjusted)
Old: [Tier 3] 2 Attack / 2 Health. Taunt. At the end of your turn, get a random Bounty.
New: [Tier 4] 5 Attack / 5 Health. Taunt. At the end of your turn, get a random Bounty.
Why “Adjusted”? The minion moved to a higher Tier (generally weaker) but gained much larger base stats — a mixed change.
Peggy Sturdybone (Adjusted)
Old: [Tier 4] 4 Attack / 2 Health. Whenever a card is added to your hand, give another friendly Pirate +1/+1.
New: [Tier 3] 3 Attack / 2 Health. Whenever a card is added to your hand, give another friendly Pirate +1/+1.
Eternal Knight (Adjusted)
Old: 4 Attack / 1 Health. Has +2 Attack / +1 Health for each friendly Eternal Knight that died this game.
New: 3 Attack / 1 Health. Has +3 Attack / +1 Health for each friendly Eternal Knight that died this game.
Oranomonos, the Wilted (Adjusted)
Old: [Tier 6] 3 Attack / 8 Health. After a friendly minion is Reborn, your Undead have +3 Attack this game.
New: [Tier 5] 2 Attack / 8 Health. After a friendly minion is Reborn, your Undead have +2 Attack this game.
Noisul of the Many Faces (Adjusted)
Old: [Tier 5] 2 Attack / 8 Health. Whenever you summon an Undead, give all your Undead +2 Attack / +1 Health permanently.
New: [Tier 6] 3 Attack / 9 Health. Whenever you summon an Undead, give all your Undead +3 Attack / +2 Health permanently.
Carapace Raiser (Buffed)
Old: [Tier 5]
New: [Tier 4]
Catacomb Crasher (Buffed)
Old: 5 Attack / 10 Health. Whenever you would summon a minion that doesn't fit in your warband, give your minions +1 Attack / +1 Health permanently.
New: 6 Attack / 10 Health. Whenever you would summon a minion that doesn't fit in your warband, give your minions +2 Attack / +1 Health permanently.
Fire-forged Evoker (Buffed)
Old: 8 Attack / 5 Health. Start of Combat: Give your other Dragons +1 Attack / +1 Health. After you cast a Tavern spell, improve this.
New: 9 Attack / 6 Health. Start of Combat: Give your Dragons +1 Attack / +1 Health. After you cast a Tavern spell, improve this.
Fauna Whisperer (Buffed)
Old: 3 Attack / 8 Health. At the end of your turn, cast Natural Blessing on the minion to the left of this.
New: 4 Attack / 9 Health. At the end of your turn, cast Natural Blessing on adjacent minions.
Goldrinn, the Great Wolf (Buffed)
Old: 5 Attack / 5 Health. Deathrattle: For the rest of this combat, your Beasts have +5 Attack / +5 Health.
New: 6 Attack / 6 Health. Deathrattle: For the rest of this combat, your Beasts have +6 Attack / +6 Health.
Lord of Ruins (Nerfed)
Old: After a friendly Demon deals damage, give friendly minions other than it +2 Attack / +2 Health.
New: After a friendly Demon deals damage, give friendly minions other than it +2 Attack / +1 Health.
Spell changes
Azerite Empowerment (Nerfed)
Old: Give your minions +3 Attack / +3 Health twice.
New: Give your minions +2 Attack / +2 Health twice.
Hero updates
Thorim, Stormlord — Choose Your Champion (Buffed)
Old: Passive. At the start of the game, Discover a Tier 7 minion to get after you spend 60 Gold.
New: Passive. At the start of the game, Discover a Tier 7 minion to get after you spend 55 Gold.
Kerrigan (Nerfed)
Old: Spawning Pool [6 Gold]
New: Spawning Pool [7 Gold]
Old: Evolution Chamber [8 Gold]
New: Evolution Chamber [9 Gold]
Mutalisk (Buffed)
Old: After a friendly minion kills an enemy, gain +1 Attack permanently. (Morphs each turn!)
New: After a friendly minion kills an enemy, gain +3 Attack permanently. (Morphs each turn!)
Artanis — Carrier (Buffed)
Old: Avenge (4): Summon a 3 Attack / 3 Health Interceptor. Then improve this permanently.
New: Avenge (4): Summon a 5 Attack / 5 Health Interceptor. Then improve this permanently.
Colossus (Buffed)
Old: Rally: Deal 1 damage to the target's neighbors. (Upgrades when you spend Gold!)
New: Rally: Deal 2 damage to the target's neighbors. (Upgrades when you spend Gold!)
Hero armor changes
The following Heroes have had their Armor reduced (Nerfed):
- E.T.C., Band Manager (Nerfed) — 12 Armor and 10 in Duos
- Jim Raynor (Nerfed) — 14 Armor and 12 in Duos
- Reno Jackson (Nerfed) — 14 Armor and 12 in Duos
- Yogg-Saron, Hope's End (Nerfed) — 12 Armor and 10 in Duos
The following Heroes have had their Armor increased (Buffed):
- Ambassador Faelin (Buffed) — 14 Armor and 12 in Duos
- Dinotamer Brann (Buffed) — 18 Armor and 15 in Duos
- Forest Lord Cenarius (Buffed) — 17 Armor and 15 in Duos
- Fungalmancer Flurgl (Buffed) — 15 Armor and 12 in Duos
- Overlord Saurfang (Buffed) — 18 Armor and 15 in Duos
- Patches the Pirate (Buffed) — 17 Armor and 15 in Duos
- Queen Azshara (Buffed) — 14 Armor and 12 in Duos
- Queen Wagtoggle (Buffed) — 14 Armor and 12 in Duos
- Sindragosa (Buffed) — 10 Armor and 8 in Duos
- The Rat King (Buffed) — 15 Armor and 13 in Duos
- Vanndar Stormpike (Buffed) — 17 Armor and 15 in Duos
