Patch 34.2 goes live tomorrow and brings a large Battlegrounds update (Season 12: Tavern at the Edge of Time), Arena additions, performance improvements, and many bug fixes. These notes cover Hearthstone gameplay, Arena, Battlegrounds content and balance changes. (Event and feature details are in the companion Patch 34.2 blog.)
Hearthstone Updates
Rewind Performance Optimizations
Rewind (the keyword that lets you replay a card) has been sped up and made smoother across the client so replaying cards is faster during gameplay.
Arena Updates
All Fabled cards (except Rafaam) from Across the Timeways are added to the Arena pool as Legendary Buckets. Drafting a Fabled card places it in your deck along with its associated cards; you may redraft those associated cards if you wish.
Battlegrounds Updates
Season 12 — Tavern at the Edge of Time — starts December 2. This season adds the Timewarped Tavern, new alternate‑timeline cards, and seasonal cosmetics.
When Season 12 starts, Anomalies and Buddies will be removed from the Tavern.
New System: Timewarped Tavern
The Timewarped Tavern appears twice per game and offers a special shop of five cards each time: a Minor Timewarp on Turn 6 and a Major Timewarp on Turn 9. These shops include unique minions, unique spells, alternate versions of existing cards, and (Minor Timewarp only) second hero powers. When you enter a Timewarped Tavern you receive two Chronum, a temporary currency used only in that shop; cards cost one or two Chronum and any unspent Chronum disappear at the end of the turn.
The Timewarped Tavern has its own rules:
- You cannot Freeze or Refresh the Timewarped Tavern.
- Your hand, board, and hero power do not function while buying in the Timewarped Tavern.
- If buying cards would exceed your hand limit, the hand limit is temporarily increased to accommodate them.
- Timewarped cards cannot Triple with their regular versions (e.g., Timewarped Busker only triples with other Timewarped Buskers).
Example Timewarped cards:
Tune‑In: Battlegrounds Developer Streams
Lead Designer Mitchell Loewen and guest Shadybunny will reveal Season 12 content on December 1 at 10:00 a.m. PST via Hearthstone livestreams. Watch on Twitch or YouTube for drops (watching one platform qualifies).
Dev co‑streams (Dec 2):
- DogDog with George Webb (BoarControl) — Dec 2, 2:00 p.m. PST (Drops: 2 Battlegrounds Tokens)
- HapaBear with Mitchell Loewen — Dec 2, 3:00 p.m. PST (Drops: 2 Battlegrounds Tokens)
Battlegrounds Track Refresh
Battlegrounds Ratings reset when Season 12 begins on December 2. The Season 12 Battlegrounds Track is themed around Across the Timeways and includes a Season Pass that grants +2 Hero options at the start of each game and additional cosmetics as you progress.
Hero Updates
Two new heroes appear in every game for the first two weeks of Season 12:
Murozond, Unbounded (15 Armor)
Murozond grants an extra visit to the Timewarped Tavern on Turn 8.
Time Twister Chromie (15 Armor)
Chromie's hero power replaces your Tavern with a fresh selection of Tavern Spells.
Hero Balance Changes
The list below shows heroes with direct Old / New changes. Each entry carries a short label indicating how the change affects power.
Sylvanas Windrunner (Nerfed)
Old: [2 Gold]
New: [3 Gold]
Scabbs Cutterbutter (Nerfed)
Old: [2 Gold]
New: [3 Gold]
Tess Greymane (Nerfed)
Old: [1 Gold]
New: [2 Gold]
Reno Jackson (Nerfed)
Old: Once per game, make a friendly minion Golden.
New: Once per game, make a friendly minion Golden. (Except Timewarped minions.)
Zerek, Master Cloner (Nerfed)
Old: Once per game, summon an exact copy of a friendly minion.
New: Once per game, summon an exact copy of a friendly minion. (Except Timewarped minions.)
Dinotamer Brann (Buffed)
Old: After you buy 5 Battlecry minions, get a Brann Bronzebeard. (Once per game.)
New: After you buy 4 Battlecry minions, get a Brann Bronzebeard. (Once per game.)
Kael'thas Sunstrider (Adjusted)
Old: After you buy 3 minions, get a Gold Coin.
New: After you buy 3 minions, get a Tavern Coin.
Lord Barov (Adjusted)
Old: Guess which player will win their next combat. If you're correct, get 3 Gold Coins.
New: Guess which player will win their next combat. If you're correct, get 3 Tavern Coins.
Kerrigan, Queen of Blades (Buffed)
Old Spawning Pool: [7 Gold]
New Spawning Pool: [6 Gold]
Old Evolution Chamber: [9 Gold]
New Evolution Chamber: [8 Gold]
Thorim, Stormlord (Nerfed)
Old: Passive. At the start of the game, Discover a Tier 7 minion to get after you spend 55 Gold.
New: Passive. At the start of the game, Discover a Tier 7 minion to get after you spend 60 Gold.
Loh, the Living Legend (Nerfed)
Old: Restricted to Dragon and Quilboar lobbies.
New: Only restricted to Quilboar lobbies (no longer Dragon and Quilboar).
Ozumat (Buffed)
Old: Restricted to Beast lobbies.
New: No longer restricted to Beast lobbies.
Forest Lord Cenarius (Buffed)
Old: Restricted to Beast lobbies.
New: No longer restricted to Beast lobbies.
Hero Armor Updates
The following heroes have had their Armor reduced (values shown as Armor in Solos / Armor in Duos where applicable):
- Alexstrasza — 7 Armor (5 Armor in Duos)
- Buttons — 14 Armor (12 in Duos)
- Cap'n Hoggarr — 12 Armor (10 in Duos)
- Captain Eudora — 10 Armor (7 in Duos)
- Cookie the Cook — 7 Armor (5 in Duos)
- Death Speaker Blackthorn — 16 Armor (14 in Duos)
- Dinotamer Brann — 15 Armor (13 in Duos)
- Forest Lord Cenarius — 12 Armor (10 in Duos)
- Forest Warden Omu — 6 Armor (5 in Duos)
- Galakrond — 14 Armor (12 in Duos)
- Guff Runetotem — 8 Armor (6 in Duos)
- Millificent Manastorm — 12 Armor (10 in Duos)
- Nozdormu — 13 Armor (10 in Duos)
- Patches the Pirate — 12 Armor (10 in Duos)
- Rock Master Voone — 10 Armor (8 in Duos)
- Snake Eyes — 5 Armor (2 in Duos)
- Teron Gorefiend — 14 Armor (12 in Duos)
- Tess Greymane — 12 Armor (10 in Duos)
- The Rat King — 12 Armor (10 in Duos)
The following heroes have had their Armor increased:
- A. F. Kay — 15 Armor (13 in Duos)
- Al'Akir — 15 Armor (13 in Duos)
- Doctor Holli'dae — 12 Armor (10 in Duos)
- E.T.C., Band Manager — 14 Armor (12 in Duos)
- Kerrigan, Queen of Blades — 12 Armor (10 in Duos)
- Kurtrus Ashfallen — 12 Armor (10 in Duos)
- Lady Vashj — 16 Armor (14 in Duos)
- Pyramad — 14 Armor (12 in Duos)
- Queen Azshara — 10 Armor (8 in Duos)
Minion & Spell Updates (Highlights)
Many minions and Tavern spells were removed, returned, moved between tiers, or replaced by Timewarped versions. For full card images, visit the official Card Library.
Removed Minions
- Coilskar Sapper, Weary Mage, Divine Sparkbot, Felblaze Leader, Soul Juggler, Polarizing Beatboxer, Rot Hide Gnoll, Darkgaze Elder, Shoalfin Mystic, Eternal Summoner, Hungry Snapjaw, Whelp Smuggler, P-0UL-TR-0N, Disguised Graverobber, Rickety Repairbot, Piggyback Imp, Interrogator Whitemane, Mama Bear, Raptor Elder, Valiant Tiger, Sandstone Drake, Void Earl, Murky, Splash Fisher, Expert Technician, Nimble Hatchling, Shipwrecked Rascal, Flotsam Flinger, Golem Archivist, Grimscale Elegist, Greymane's Champion, Fauna Whisperer, Carapace Raiser, Kalecgos, Arcane Aspect, Gleaming Trader, Alleycat, Bigwig Bandit, Master of Realities, General Drakkisath, Vine Climber, Proud Privateer, Campfire Shadow, Charmwing, Molten Rock, Primeval Monstrosity, Hot-Air Surveyor, Mooneater's Champion, Crater Miner, Choral Mrrrglr, Oranomonos, the Wilted, Improviser, Holo Rover, Poetic Pen Pal, Stomping Stegodon, Silivaz the Vindictive, Super Constructor, Prodigious Tusker, Mummifier, Noisul of the Many Faces, Thieving Rascal, Adaptive Ancestor, Lost City Looter, Beacon of Hope, Elemental of Surprise, Showy Cyclist, Glim Guardian, Ruins Renovator, Glowgullet Warlord, Hog Watcher, Blazing Skyfin, Sky Admiral Rogers, Mechanized Gift Horse, False Implicator, Hawkstrider Herald, Lantern Lava, Friendly Bouncer, Greenskeeper, Nadina the Red, Southsea Busker, Lightfeather Screecher, Eternal Knight, Wizened Captain, Icky Imp, Azsharan Cutlassier, Scarlet Skull, Geared Guard, Bile Spitter, Whirring Protector, Sun-Bacon Relaxer, Cupcake Peddler, Ride-or-Die, Frantic Alarm-o-Bot, Wrathscale Rogue
New & Returning Content
Season 12 adds hundreds of new Timewarped minions, spells, hero powers, and a refreshed pool of minions across Tiers 1–7. The patch notes include full lists of new Minor and Major Timewarped minions and spells, new pool minions and new Tier 7 minions. (See the official release for the complete lists.)
Notable Old → New Pool Minion Changes
Below are pool minions and tavern spells that received explicit Old / New changes. Each entry includes a short label.
Friendly Saloonkeeper (Nerfed)
Old: Battlecry: Your teammate gets a Gold Coin.
New: Battlecry: Your teammate gets a Tavern Coin.
Felboar (Nerfed)
Old: After you cast 2 spells, consume a minion in the Tavern to gain its stats. (2 left!)
New: After you cast 3 spells, consume a minion in the Tavern to gain its stats. (3 left!)
Sewer Rat (Nerfed)
Old: Taunt. Deathrattle: Summon a 2/3 Turtle with Taunt.
New: Deathrattle: Summon a 2/3 Turtle with Taunt.
Sly Raptor (Adjusted)
Old: [Tier 3] 1 Attack / 3 Health. Deathrattle: Summon a random Beast. Set its stats to 6 Attack / 6 Health.
New: [Tier 4] 1 Attack / 4 Health. Deathrattle: Summon a random Beast. Set its stats to 8 Attack / 8 Health.
Goldrinn, the Great Wolf (Buffed)
Old: 6 Attack / 6 Health. Deathrattle: For the rest of this combat, your Beasts have +6 Attack / +6 Health.
New: 8 Attack / 8 Health. Deathrattle: For the rest of this combat, your Beasts have +8 Attack / +8 Health.
Indomitable Mount (Buffed)
Old: [Tier 6] Deathrattle: Summon a random Beast from Tiers 3, 4, and 5.
New: [Tier 5] Deathrattle: Summon a random Beast from Tiers 2, 3, and 4.
Impulsive Trickster (Adjusted)
Old: [Tier 2] 3 Attack / 3 Health.
New: [Tier 3] 5 Attack / 5 Health.
Silent Enforcer (Adjusted)
Old: [Tier 5] 8 Attack / 2 Health. Taunt. Deathrattle: Deal 4 damage to all minions (except friendly Demons).
New: [Tier 4] 6 Attack / 2 Health. Taunt. Deathrattle: Deal 2 damage to all minions (except friendly Demons).
Shadowdancer (Adjusted)
Old: [Tier 4] 4 Attack / 2 Health.
New: [Tier 5] 5 Attack / 4 Health.
Insatiable Ur'zul (Nerfed)
Old: 4 Attack / 7 Health. Taunt. After you play a Demon, consume 2 minions in the Tavern to gain their stats.
New: 4 Attack / 6 Health. Taunt. After you play a Demon, consume a random minion in the Tavern to gain its stats.
Wrath Weaver (Buffed)
Old Type: Neutral.
New Type: Demon.
Crackling Cyclone (Adjusted)
Old: [Tier 2] 4 Attack / 1 Health.
New: [Tier 1] 2 Attack / 1 Health.
Utility Drone (Adjusted)
Old: [Tier 4] 3 Attack / 5 Health. At the end of your turn, give your minions +2 Attack / +1 Health for each Magnetization they have.
New: [Tier 6] 6 Attack / 8 Health. At the end of your turn, give your minions +2 Attack / +2 Health for each Magnetization they have.
Saltscale Honcho (Buffed)
Old: After you play a Murloc, give a friendly Murloc other than it +2 Health.
New: After you summon a Murloc, give a friendly Murloc other than it +2 Health.
Hot Springer (Buffed)
Old: Battlecry: Give your other Murlocs +3 Health.
New: Battlecry: Give all other Murlocs in your hand and board +4 Health.
King Bagurgle (Buffed)
Old: Battlecry: Give your other Murlocs +2 Attack / +3 Health.
New: Battlecry: Give all other Murlocs in your hand and board +2 Attack / +3 Health.
Canopy Swinger (Adjusted)
Old: [Tier 2] 3 Attack / 4 Health. Battlecry: Give your other Murlocs +2 Attack.
New: [Tier 3] 4 Attack / 5 Health. Battlecry: Give all other Murlocs in your hand and board +4 Attack.
Shell Collector (Nerfed)
Old: Battlecry: Get a Gold Coin.
New: Battlecry: Get a Tavern Coin.
Greedy Snaketongue (Nerfed)
Old: Rally: Get a Gold Coin.
New: Rally: Get a Tavern Coin.
Zesty Shaker (Adjusted)
Old: [Tier 2] 3 Attack / 4 Health.
New: [Tier 3] 5 Attack / 6 Health.
Deep-Sea Angler (Adjusted)
Old: [Tier 1] 2 Attack / 2 Health. Spellcraft: Give a minion +2 Health and Taunt until next turn.
New: [Tier 3] 2 Attack / 3 Health. Spellcraft: Give a minion +2 Attack / +6 Health and Taunt until next turn.
Tranquil Meditative (Nerfed)
Old: 3 Attack / 9 Health. Spellcraft: Your Tavern spells that give stats grant an extra +2 Health this game.
New: 3 Attack / 8 Health. Spellcraft: Your Tavern spells that give stats grant an extra +1 Attack / +1 Health this game.
Waverider (Nerfed)
Old: Spellcraft: Give a minion +2 Attack / +2 Health and Windfury until next turn.
New: Spellcraft: Give a minion +2 Attack / +2 Health. If it's a Naga, also give it Windfury until next turn.
Gunpowder Courier (Adjusted)
Old: [Tier 3] 1 Attack / 6 Health. Whenever you spend 5 Gold, give your Pirates +1 Attack. (5 left!)
New: [Tier 4] 2 Attack / 6 Health. Whenever you spend 5 Gold, give your Pirates +2 Attack. (5 left!)
Underhanded Dealer (Nerfed)
Old: [Tier 5] 6 Attack / 6 Health.
New: [Tier 3] 1 Attack / 1 Health.
Briny Bootlegger (Nerfed)
Old: 4 Attack / 4 Health. Deathrattle: Get a Gold Coin.
New: 4 Attack / 2 Health. Deathrattle: Get a Tavern Coin.
Fleet Admiral Tethys (Nerfed)
Old: Whenever you spend 9 Gold, get a random Pirate. (9 left!)
New: After you spend 9 Gold, get a random Pirate. (9 left!)
Bonker (Buffed)
Old: 3 Attack / 6 Health. Windfury. Rally: Play a Blood Gem on all your other minions.
New: 3 Attack / 7 Health. Rally: This plays a Blood Gem on all your other minions.
Razorfen Geomancer (Adjusted)
Old: 3 Attack / 1 Health. Battlecry: Get a Blood Gem.
New: 2 Attack / 1 Health. Battlecry: Get 2 Blood Gems.
Paint Smudger (Adjusted)
Old: [Tier 3] 5 Attack / 3 Health. Whenever you cast a Tavern spell, play a Blood Gem on another friendly Quilboar.
New: [Tier 6] 5 Attack / 5 Health. Whenever you cast a Tavern spell, play a Blood Gem on 3 friendly minions.
Soulsplitter (Buffed)
Old: [Tier 3] 4 Attack / 2 Health. Reborn. Start of Combat: Give a friendly Undead Reborn.
New: [Tier 4] 5 Attack / 2 Health. Reborn. Start of Combat: Give a friendly Deathrattle minion Reborn.
Ghoul of the Feast (Adjusted)
Old: [Tier 3] 2 Attack / 5 Health. Avenge (2): Give a friendly minion of each type +3 Attack.
New: [Tier 5] 2 Attack / 8 Health. Avenge (1): Give a friendly minion of each type +1 Attack / +2 Health permanently.
Removed & New Tavern Spells
Several Tavern spells were removed (e.g., Cry Foul, High Tea Service, Murky's Fish, Haunted Carapace, Nimble Wingbeat, and all Bounty spells) and many new Tavern spells were added, including Search Through Time (Tier 2), Blood Gem Barrage (Tier 3), Easterly Winds (Tier 4), Brood of Nozdormu (Tier 5), Wave of Gold (Tier 5), Hand of Deios (Tier 6), and several Timewarped Major spells.
Changed Tavern Spells (Adjusted)
Staff of Enrichment (Adjusted)
Old: [Tier 3] Give minions in the Tavern +1 Attack / +1 Health this game.
New: [Tier 4] Give minions in the Tavern +2 Attack / +2 Health this game.
Gem Confiscation (Adjusted)
Old: Play 2 Blood Gems on a friendly minion. It steals all Blood Gems from its neighbors.
New: This plays 2 Blood Gems on a minion. It steals all Blood Gems from its neighbors.
Leaf Through the Pages (Adjusted)
Old: [2 Gold] Your next three Refreshes cost (0).
New: [1 Gold] Gain 2 free Refreshes.
Many other pool and tier adjustments were made (new Tier 7 minions, returning minions, pool rebalances and Trinket/Buddy updates). See the full patch list for the complete card-by-card entries.
Bug Fixes and Game Improvements
- [Battlegrounds] Fixed cases where Taunt and Reborn could persist incorrectly after effects like Sin'dorei Straight Shot or Tricky Trousers by changing how those keywords are applied and removed.
- [Battlegrounds] Increased the cost to upgrade the Tavern from Tier 4→5 and Tier 5→6 by 1 Gold in both Solos and Duos.
- [Battlegrounds] Reverted Hero mulligan timer to 70 seconds now that Buddies and Anomalies are removed.
- [Battlegrounds] Hovering over the Refresh button now shows how many free Refreshes you have available.
- [Battlegrounds] Start-of-turn Refresh checks now use card sizes in the Tavern rather than number of minions. The card pool size per Tier is: Tier 1: 4, Tier 2: 5, Tier 3: 5, Tier 4: 6, Tier 5: 6, Tier 6: 7.
- [Battlegrounds] Increased Maximum Combat Speedup and turn timers in Duos.
- [Standard] Fixed a bug where Sparking Phial didn't give a reduction when targeting minions with Divine Shield.
- [Standard] Fixed an audio bug where Broxigar's initial voice line could be missing.
- [Quests] Stopped weekly/daily quests tied to The Lost City of Un'Goro from being granted.
- [Achievements] Fixed Mouths to Feed progression stopping after nine.
- [Wild] Fixed a visual issue where Spreading Madness missiles looked like they moved too slowly.
- [Pets] Fixed several Arfus visual bugs.
Check the companion Patch 34.2 blog for upcoming events and additional feature notes.
