36.0.3 Patch Notes

2026-07-21 Hearthstone, Patch 36.0.3, Escape from Violet Hold, Battlegrounds, Arena, Balance Update
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Patch 36.0.3 Overview

Patch 36.0.3 launches today with balance changes for constructed Hearthstone, Arena, and Battlegrounds. The update targets early power spikes in several leading Standard decks, strengthens underperforming Escape from Violet Hold strategies, and makes substantial Wild Warlock changes.

Warlock, Death Knight, Priest, and Demon Hunter receive several Standard buffs. In Battlegrounds, the update takes a lighter approach ahead of the next season, with Mechs toned down and support added for Elementals and Quillboar.

Standard Balance Changes

Standard Nerfs and Adjustments

Vanessa the Ringleader (Nerfed)

  • Old: 6 Mana, 4 Attack / 4 Health.
  • New: 7 Mana, 4 Attack / 3 Health.

NEUTRAL_JAIL_407_enUS_VanessatheRingleader-124150_NORMAL.png

Blazing Invocation (Nerfed)

  • Old: Discover a Battlecry minion. It costs (1) less.
  • New: Discover a Battlecry minion.

SHAMAN_GIL_836_enUS_BlazingInvocation-48393_NORMAL.png

Warptooth (Nerfed)

  • Old: If three friendly characters take damage on one of your turns, summon this from hand or deck.
  • New: If four friendly characters take damage on one of your turns, summon this from hand or deck.

WARRIOR_JAIL_421_enUS_Warptooth-125803_NORMAL.png

Lotus Troublemaker (Adjusted)

  • Old: Battlecry: Deal 2 damage to a random enemy. Shoot 1 time! (While holding this, play cards for 2 Mana to shoot more!)
  • New: Battlecry: Deal 1 damage to a random enemy. Shoot 1 time! (While in hand or deck play cards for 2 Mana to shoot more!)

ROGUE_JAIL_470_enUS_LotusTroublemaker-129983_NORMAL.png

Confront the Tol'vir (Nerfed)

  • Old: 4 Mana.
  • New: 5 Mana.

HUNTER_CATA_560_enUS_ConfronttheTolvir-122939_NORMAL.png

Vanessa the Ringleader, Blazing Invocation, Warptooth, Lotus Troublemaker, and Confront the Tol'vir are eligible for full dust refunds for two weeks following Patch 36.0.3.

Standard Buffs

Blood Doctor Thal'ena (Buffed)

  • Old: 5 Mana.
  • New: 4 Mana.

DEATHKNIGHT_B_JAIL_446_enUS_BloodDoctorThalena-126365_NORMAL.png

Sawbones (Adjusted)

  • Old: 6 Mana, 6 Attack / 4 Health.
  • New: 5 Mana, 5 Attack / 3 Health.

DEATHKNIGHT_JAIL_444_enUS_Sawbones-126260_NORMAL.png

Emergency Surgery (Buffed)

  • Old: Choose an enemy minion. Summon three 3 Attack / 1 Health Undead with Lifesteal that attack it.
  • New: Choose an enemy minion. Summon four 3 Attack / 1 Health Undead with Lifesteal that attack it.

DEATHKNIGHT_BU_JAIL_454_enUS_EmergencySurgery-126911_NORMAL.png

The Living Plague (Buffed)

  • Old: 7 Mana, 7 Attack / 7 Health.
  • New: 6 Mana, 8 Attack / 8 Health.

DEATHKNIGHT_U_JAIL_443_enUS_TheLivingPlague-126259_NORMAL.png

Imp Gang Stooge (Buffed)

  • Old: Deathrattle: Put a 9 Attack / 9 Health Demon with Taunt and Lifesteal on the bottom of your deck.
  • New: Deathrattle: Put two 8 Attack / 8 Health Demons with Taunt and Lifesteal on the bottom of your deck.

WARLOCK_JAIL_399_enUS_ImpGangStooge-125917_NORMAL.png

Annihilation (Buffed)

  • Old: 9 Mana.
  • New: 8 Mana.

WARLOCK_JAIL_510_enUS_Annihilation-126128_NORMAL.png

Moragg (Buffed)

  • Old: 10 Mana.
  • New: 9 Mana.

WARLOCK_JAIL_906_enUS_Moragg-124073_NORMAL.png

Stardust Scythe (Buffed)

  • Old: 2 Durability.
  • New: 3 Durability.

DEMONHUNTER_JAIL_730_enUS_StardustScythe-126660_NORMAL.png

Vicious Voidscale (Buffed)

  • Old: Deathrattle: Get a Void Soul.
  • New: Battlecry and Deathrattle: Get a Void Soul.

DEMONHUNTER_JAIL_733_enUS_ViciousVoidscale-126663_NORMAL.png

Irida Sinseeker (Buffed)

  • Old: 7 Attack / 5 Health.
  • New: 7 Attack / 7 Health.

DEMONHUNTER_JAIL_719_enUS_IridaSinseeker-126211_NORMAL.png

Tras'tath, Soul Parasite (Buffed)

  • Old: 1 Attack / 1 Health.
  • New: 3 Attack / 3 Health.

DEMONHUNTER_JAIL_721_enUS_TrastathSoulParasite-126222_NORMAL.png

Azalina Soulsever (Buffed)

  • New: Your starting health is 40...

PRIEST_JAIL_430_enUS_AzalinaSoulsever-126055_NORMAL.png

Karov the Broken (Buffed)

  • New: Now has Taunt.

PRIEST_JAIL_448_enUS_KarovtheBroken-126482_NORMAL.png

Enthralled Shade (Adjusted)

  • Old: 3 Mana, 4 Attack / 3 Health.
  • New: 2 Mana, 3 Attack / 2 Health.

PRIEST_JAIL_434_enUS_EnthralledShade-126127_NORMAL.png

Rampaging Hound (Buffed)

  • Old: 3 Attack / 12 Health.
  • New: 4 Attack / 12 Health.

WARRIOR_JAIL_435_enUS_RampagingHound-126136_NORMAL.png

Sewer Swimmer (Adjusted)

  • Old: 5 Mana, 5 Attack / 4 Health.
  • New: 4 Mana, 4 Attack / 3 Health.

HUNTER_JAIL_395_enUS_SewerSwimmer-125934_NORMAL.png

Wild Balance Changes

Wild Warlock receives the largest intervention in this patch, including a ban for Godfrey the Betrayer.

Godfrey the Betrayer (Nerfed)

  • Banned.

WARLOCK_JAIL_509_enUS_GodfreytheBetrayer-126125_NORMAL.png

The Soularium (Nerfed)

  • Old: 1 Mana.
  • New: 2 Mana.

WARLOCK_BOT_568_enUS_TheSoularium-49423_NORMAL.png

Elwynn Boar (Nerfed)

  • Old: Deathrattle: If you had 7 Elwynn Boars die this game, equip a 15 Attack / 3 Durability Sword of a Thousand Truths.
  • New: Deathrattle: If you had 10 Elwynn Boars die this game, equip a 15 Attack / 3 Durability Sword of a Thousand Truths.

NEUTRAL_SW_075_enUS_ElwynnBoar-64723_NORMAL.png

Swiftscale Trickster (Adjusted)

  • Old: 4 Mana, 2 Attack / 2 Health.
  • New: 6 Mana, 4 Attack / 4 Health.

ROGUE_TSC_936_enUS_SwiftscaleTrickster-72533_NORMAL.png

Arena Update

  • The appearance rate of Escape from Violet Hold cards has been increased in Arena.

Battlegrounds Updates

This smaller Battlegrounds balance pass focuses on reducing Mech power while improving Elemental and Quillboar options. Rylak Metalhead and Back to Back are unchanged in this patch, with changes planned for the next season.

Minion Pool Changes

  • Returning: Sanguine Refiner.
  • Removed: Dreaming Thornweaver.

Minion Balance Changes

Ingenious Inventor (Nerfed)

  • Old: Tavern Tier 5.
  • New: Tavern Tier 6.

PALADIN_BG35_890_enUS_IngeniousInventor-131606_NORMAL.pngPALADIN_BG35_890_G_enUS_IngeniousInventor-131607_GOLDEN.png

Silky Shimmermoth (Buffed)

  • Old: Whenever this takes damage, your Beetles have +2 Attack / +1 Health this game. Deathrattle: Summon a 2 Attack / 2 Health Beetle.
  • New: Whenever this takes damage, your Beetles have +2 Attack / +2 Health this game. Deathrattle: Summon a 2 Attack / 2 Health Beetle.

HUNTER_BG32_204_enUS_SilkyShimmermoth-121135_NORMAL.pngHUNTER_BG32_204_G_enUS_SilkyShimmermoth-121136_GOLDEN.png

Fearless Foodie (Buffed)

  • Old: Tavern Tier 4.
  • New: Tavern Tier 3.

DRUID_BG30_123_enUS_FearlessFoodie-113154_NORMAL.pngDRUID_BG30_123_G_enUS_FearlessFoodie-113155_GOLDEN.png

Vinespeaker (Adjusted)

  • Old: Tavern Tier 6, 7 Attack / 8 Health. After a friendly Deathrattle minion dies, your Blood Gems give an extra +1 Attack this game.
  • New: Tavern Tier 5, 5 Attack / 6 Health. After a friendly Deathrattle minion dies, your Blood Gems give an extra +2 Attack this game.

DRUID_BG35_437_enUS_Vinespeaker-130157_NORMAL.pngDRUID_BG35_437_G_enUS_Vinespeaker-130158_GOLDEN.png

Prophet of the Boar (Buffed)

  • Old: 2 Attack / 3 Health.
  • New: 3 Attack / 4 Health.

NEUTRAL_BG20_203_enUS_ProphetoftheBoar-70153_NORMAL.pngNEUTRAL_BG20_203_G_enUS_ProphetoftheBoar-70155_GOLDEN.png

Sanguine Refiner (Buffed)

  • Old: 3 Attack / 10 Health. Rally: Your Blood Gems give an extra +1 Attack / +1 Health this game.
  • New: 3 Attack / 11 Health. Rally: Your Blood Gems give an extra +1 Attack / +2 Health this game.

DRUID_BG33_885_enUS_SanguineRefiner-122566_NORMAL.pngDRUID_BG33_885_G_enUS_SanguineRefiner-122567_GOLDEN.png

Glowing Cinder (Adjusted)

  • Old: Tavern Tier 3, 3 Attack / 1 Health. Deathrattle: Your Elementals give an extra +1 Health this game.
  • New: Tavern Tier 4, 4 Attack / 1 Health. Deathrattle: Your Elementals give an extra +2 Health this game.

MAGE_BG32_842_enUS_GlowingCinder-119951_NORMAL.pngMAGE_BG32_842_G_enUS_GlowingCinder-119952_GOLDEN.png

Sand Swirler (Adjusted)

  • Old: Tavern Tier 4, 5 Attack / 3 Health.
  • New: Tavern Tier 3, 4 Attack / 3 Health.

MAGE_BG32_841_enUS_SandSwirler-119949_NORMAL.pngMAGE_BG32_841_G_enUS_SandSwirler-119950_GOLDEN.png

Wrath Weaver (Adjusted)

  • Old: 1 Attack / 4 Health. After you play a Demon, deal 1 damage to your hero and gain +2 Attack / +1 Health.
  • New: 1 Attack / 3 Health. After you play a Demon, deal 1 damage to your hero and gain +2 Attack / +2 Health.

WARLOCK_BGS_004_enUS_WrathWeaver-59670_NORMAL.pngWARLOCK_TB_BaconUps_079_enUS_WrathWeaver-59679_GOLDEN.png

Battlegrounds Trinket Changes

Trinket Pool Updates

  • Removed from the Lesser Trinket pool: Tiger Carving and Alliance Keychain.
  • Removed from the Greater Trinket pool: Tiger Carving and Vinespeaker Portrait.

Lesser Trinket Cost Changes

Cost increases

  • Eternal Portrait: 5 → 6.
  • Cursed Crystal: 1 → 2.
  • Sous Chef Sticker: 1 → 2.
  • Transcribing Typewriter: 1 → 2.

Cost decreases

  • Minion Bait: 2 → 1.
  • Glowing Gauntlet: 2 → 1.
  • Rendle Sticker: 1 → 0.
  • Rusty Trident: 2 → 1.
  • Jewelry Box: 1 → 0.
  • Automaton Portrait: 2 → 1.
  • Beetle Band: 1 → 0.
  • Nomi Sticker: 2 → 1.
  • Mama Bear Sticker: 1 → 0.
  • Lucky Tabby: 3 → 1.
  • Pocket Cyclone: 2 → 0.
  • Water Wheel: 2 → 1.
  • Scrapsmith Portrait: 1 → 0.
  • Great Boar Sticker: 2 → 1.
  • Rewinder Portrait: 2 → 1.
  • Comfy Coffin: 5 → 3.
  • Enigmatic Headstone: 3 → 1.
  • Maxwell Sticker: Tavern Tier 3/4/5 costs change from 1/3/5 Gold to 0/2/4 Gold.

Lesser Trinket Effect Changes

Defiler Portrait (Adjusted)

  • Old: 0 Gold. Get a Woodland Defiler. Fodders in the Tavern have +2 Attack / +2 Health.
  • New: 1 Gold. Get a Woodland Defiler. Fodders in the Tavern have +4 Attack / +4 Health.

Quilligraphy Set (Buffed)

  • Old: Avenge (4): Your Blood Gems give an extra +1 Health this game.
  • New: Avenge (3): Your Blood Gems give an extra +1 Health this game.

Bubble Crown (Nerfed)

  • Old: Once you cast 10 spells, your Tavern spells give an extra +4 Attack / +4 Health. (10 left!)
  • New: Once you cast 12 spells, your Tavern spells give an extra +4 Attack / +4 Health. (12 left!)

Archaic Scroll (Nerfed)

  • Old: After you cast 6 spells, get a random Naga. (6 left!)
  • New: After you cast 7 spells, get a random Naga. (7 left!)

Greater Trinket Cost Changes

Cost increases

  • Nazjatar Postcard: 5 → 6.
  • Protective Ring: 2 → 3.
  • Deathtouch Apple: 3 → 4.
  • Powder Keg: 2 → 4.
  • Beatboxer Portrait: 4 → 5.
  • Wicked Tome: 4 → 5.
  • Lava Lamp: 1 → 3.

Cost decreases

  • Soul Fermenter: 4 → 3.
  • Rivendare Portrait: 3 → 2.
  • Lorewalker Scroll: 1 → 0.
  • Pocket Cyclone: 2 → 1.
  • Quilligraphy Set: 4 → 1.
  • Thornspike Pauldron: 2 → 1.
  • Gilnean Thorned Rose: 2 → 1.
  • Fang Anklet: 6 → 5.
  • Murky Sticker: 3 → 2.
  • Czarina Portrait: 5 → 3.
  • Wildfeather Duster: 3 → 1.
  • Faerie Dragon Scale: 4 → 3.
  • Redeemer Portrait: 2 → 1.
  • All-Purpose Kibble: 2 → 0.
  • Maxwell Sticker: Tavern Tier 3/4/5 costs change from 1/3/5 Gold to 0/2/4 Gold.

Greater Trinket Effect Changes

Bettle Band (Nerfed)

  • Old: Avenge (6): Summon two 2 Attack / 2 Health Beetles. Give them Taunt.
  • New: Avenge (7): Summon two 2 Attack / 2 Health Beetles. Give them Taunt.

Baller Portrait (Nerfed)

  • Old: Get a Temperature Shift. After you play 9 Elementals, repeat this. (9 left!)
  • New: Get a Temperature Shift. After you play 10 Elementals, repeat this. (10 left!)

Booty Bay Brew (Buffed)

  • Old: Whenever you spend Gold, give a friendly Pirate +5 Attack / +6 Health.
  • New: Whenever you spend Gold, give a friendly Pirate +6 Attack / +7 Health.

Defiler Portrait (Buffed)

  • Old: Get a Woodland Defiler. Fodders in the Tavern have +10 Attack / +10 Health.
  • New: Get a Woodland Defiler. Fodders in the Tavern have +15 Attack / +15 Health.

Innkeeper's Hearth (Buffed)

  • Old: Discover two Tier 6 minions. Set their stats to 20 Attack / 20 Health.
  • New: Discover two Tier 6 minions. Set their stats to 30 Attack / 30 Health.

Deathtouch Apple (Adjusted)

  • Old: 3 Cost. After a friendly Undead is Reborn, give it Reborn. (3 times per combat.)
  • New: 4 Cost. After a friendly Undead is Reborn, give it Reborn. (3 times per turn.)

Source: Blizzard Entertainment