Patch 36.6.3 releases today with balance changes for Hearthstone and Battlegrounds. The Standard adjustments target Dragon Warrior and Attack Druid, while the Battlegrounds update reduces Aberration tempo and improves several underperforming strategies.
Hearthstone Balance Changes
Blizzard considers the wider Standard environment healthy, so this is a measured update ahead of Reign of the Black Empire.
Windpeak Wyrm (Nerfed)
- Old: Kindred: Costs (3) less.
- New: Kindred: Costs (2) less.
Infest the Scullery (Nerfed)
- Old: Summon two random 3-Cost minions.
- New: Summon two random 2-Cost minions.
Battlegrounds System and Pool Updates
Aberrations are no longer guaranteed in every lobby and now have the standard 50% appearance chance. Going forward, new minion types are expected to receive a one-week guarantee, while new Heroes will continue to receive a two-week guarantee. New Trinket appearance rates have also returned to normal.
Deities now require 4 friendly Aberration deaths in a combat to be summoned, up from 3. Their Tavern Tier has also been reduced to limit the hero damage caused by Aberration boards.
Blizzard does not plan further major balance changes before Reign of the Black Empire launches.
Returning Minions
- Ship Master Eudora
- Eternal Tycoon
- Jailbird Juggernaut
Removed Minions
- Briarback Drummer
- Timewarped Thorncaller
Battlegrounds Minion Changes
Abyssal Envoy (Nerfed)
- Old: 3 Attack / 4 Health.
- New: 2 Attack / 2 Health.
Nightmare Corroder (Adjusted)
- Old: 7 Attack / 4 Health. Deathrattle: Get a Sludge Corrosion.
- New: 4 Attack / 5 Health. At the end of your turn, get a Sludge Corrosion.
Mysterious K'Thir (Buffed)
- Old: 8 Attack / 8 Health. At the end of your turn, discard your 3 left-most Tavern spells. Gain +8 Attack / +8 Health for each discarded.
- New: 10 Attack / 13 Health. Whenever you cast a Tavern spell, give your minions and your Deity +3 Attack / +3 Health.
Unwilling Slacker (Buffed)
- Old: 1 Attack / 1 Health.
- New: 3 Attack / 2 Health.
Vicious Mindslasher (Adjusted)
- Old: 3 Attack / 1 Health.
- New: 1 Attack / 2 Health.
Tentacle of C'Thun (Adjusted)
- New minion type: Aberration.
Dark Paradox (Tier 2) (Buffed)
- Old: 2 Attack / 4 Health. Whenever you play a card, gain +2 Attack.
- New: 2 Attack / 6 Health. Whenever you play a card, gain +3 Attack.
Dark Paradox (Tier 3) (Buffed)
- Old: 2 Attack / 2 Health. Has +2 Attack / +2 Health for each Battlecry you've triggered this game (wherever this is).
- New: 3 Attack / 3 Health. Has +3 Attack / +3 Health for each Battlecry you've triggered this game (wherever this is).
Hopebringer (Buffed)
- Old: 3 Attack / 3 Health. Start of Combat: Give your minions +3 Attack / +3 Health. (Permanently improves after a friendly minion loses Divine Shield!)
- New: 4 Attack / 3 Health. Start of Combat: Give your minions +4 Attack / +3 Health. (Permanently improves after a friendly minion loses Divine Shield!)
Living Azerite (Buffed)
- Old: 6 Attack / 5 Health. Whenever you cast a Tavern spell, give Elementals in the Tavern +3 Attack / +2 Health this game.
- New: 8 Attack / 6 Health. Whenever you cast a Tavern spell, give Elementals in the Tavern +4 Attack / +3 Health this game.
Auto Reveille (Adjusted)
- Old: 6 Attack / 6 Health. After you buy 3 cards, get a random Magnetic Volumizer. (3 left!)
- New: 4 Attack / 8 Health. After you buy 3 cards, Magnetize a random Volumizer to this and get a copy of it. (3 left!)
Gunpowder Courier (Adjusted)
- Old: 2 Attack / 6 Health. Whenever you spend 5 Gold, give your Pirates +2 Attack. (5 Gold left!)
- New: 2 Attack / 5 Health. Whenever you spend 6 Gold, give your Pirates +3 Attack / +1 Health. (6 Gold left!)
Lovesick Balladist (Buffed)
- Old: 3 Attack / 2 Health. Battlecry: Give a Pirate +1 Health. (Improved by each Gold you've spend this turn!)
- New: 3 Attack / 4 Health. Battlecry: Give a Pirate +2 Health. (Improved by each Gold you've spend this turn!)
Thorned Trailblazer (Buffed)
- Old: Tier 4.
- New: Tier 3.
Razorfen Flapper (Buffed)
- Old: 6 Attack / 2 Health. Deathrattle: Get a Blood Gem Barrage.
- New: 5 Attack / 3 Health. Battlecry and Deathrattle: Get a Blood Gem Barrage.
Turbo Hogrider (Buffed)
- Old: 5 Attack / 7 Health. After you play a Choose One card, this plays a Blood Gem on all your other Quilboar.
- New: 6 Attack / 8 Health. After you play a Choose One card, this plays 2 Blood Gems on all your other Quilboar.
Razorfen Vineweaver (Adjusted)
- Old: 5 Attack / 5 Health. Rally: This plays 3 permanent Blood Gems on itself.
- New: 4 Attack / 4 Health. Rally: This plays 4 permanent Blood Gems on itself.
Lichling Hoarder (Buffed)
- Old: 5 Attack / 10 Health. Avenge (4): Get a plain copy of a minion that started in your warband this combat.
- New: 6 Attack / 9 Health. Avenge (3): Get a plain copy of a minion that started in your warband this combat.
Barrier Banshee (Buffed)
- Old: 7 Attack / 7 Health. After a friendly minion is Reborn, gain Divine Shield and +7 Attack / +7 Health.
- New: 8 Attack / 8 Health. After a friendly minion is Reborn, gain Divine Shield and +8 Attack / +8 Health.
Eternal Summoner (Buffed)
- Old: Tier 6.
- New: Tier 5.
Holy Vanguard (Buffed)
- Old: 5 Attack / 5 Health. Divine Shield. Has +15 Attack / +15 Health if you have 15 or less Health.
- New: 10 Attack / 10 Health. Divine Shield. Has +30 Attack / +30 Health if you have 15 or less Health.
Expert Aviator (Adjusted)
- Old: 3 Attack / 4 Health. Rally: Summon the highest-Attack minion from your hand for this combat only.
- New: 3 Attack / 5 Health. Rally: Summon the highest-Attack Murloc from your hand for this combat only.
Young Murk-Eye (Adjusted)
- Old: 9 Attack / 6 Health. At the end of your turn, trigger the Battlecry of an adjacent minion.
- New: 8 Attack / 5 Health. At the end of your turn, trigger the Battlecries of adjacent minions.
Sewer Escapee (Adjusted)
- Old: Tier 4, 4 Attack / 5 Health.
- New: Tier 5, 7 Attack / 7 Health.
Ultraviolet Ascendant (Buffed)
- Old: 6 Attack / 3 Health. Start of Combat: Give your other Elementals +3 Attack / +2 Health. (Improves after you play an Elemental!)
- New: 6 Attack / 6 Health. Start of Combat: Give your other Elementals +3 Attack / +3 Health. (Improves after you play an Elemental!)
Spark Snapper (Buffed)
- Old: 5 Attack / 5 Health. Whenever you play a Mech, Magnetize a 2 Attack / 2 Health Satellite to it and improve this.
- New: 6 Attack / 8 Health. Whenever you play a Mech, Magnetize a 2 Attack / 3 Health Satellite to it and improve this.
Ship Master Eudora (Adjusted)
- Old: Tier 6, 10 Attack / 5 Health. Deathrattle: Give your minions +8 Attack / +8 Health. Golden minions keep it permanently.
- New: Tier 5, 8 Attack / 3 Health. Deathrattle: Give your minions +6 Attack / +6 Health. Golden minions keep it permanently.
Duos and Deity Changes
Void Priest Cloner (Adjusted)
- Old: 4 Attack / 5 Health. Whenever you discard a card, Pass a copy of it. (2 times per turn.)
- New: 5 Attack / 6 Health. After you discard a card, Pass a plain copy of it. (Once per turn.)
C'Thun (Buffed)
- Old: Tier 3.
- New: Tier 1.
Y'Shaarj (Buffed)
- Old: Tier 3.
- New: Tier 1.
Tavern Spell Changes
Easterly Winds (Buffed)
- Old: After the Tavern is Refreshed this game, give a random minion in it +8 Attack / +8 Health.
- New: After the Tavern is Refreshed this game, give a random minion in it +9 Attack / +9 Health.
Blood Gem Barrage (Adjusted)
- Old: Tier 3. After the Tavern is Refreshed this game, give its minions +1 Attack / +1 Health worth of Blood Gems.
- New: Tier 4. After the Tavern is Refreshed this game, give its minions +2 Attack / +2 Health worth of Blood Gems.
Gem Confiscation (Buffed)
- Old: This plays 2 Blood Gems on a minion. It steals all Blood Gems from its neighbors.
- New: This plays 3 Blood Gems on a minion. It steals all Blood Gems from its neighbors.
Butchering (Adjusted)
- Old: 2 Cost. Destroy a friendly Undead. Your Undead have +5 Attack this game (wherever they are).
- New: 3 Cost. Destroy a friendly Undead. Your Undead have +8 Attack this game (wherever they are).
Dark Gift Changes
Spell Siphon (Nerfed)
- Old: First Appearance Minimum Turn 4.
- New: First Appearance Minimum Turn 5.
Transcendence (Nerfed)
- Old: First Appearance Minimum Turn 7.
- New: First Appearance Minimum Turn 8.
Lesser Trinket Cost Changes
Cost Increases
- Hammer of Twilight (Nerfed): 1 → 2
- Corrupted Baton (Nerfed): 1 → 2
- Willbreaker Sticker (Nerfed): 1 → 2
- Corrupted Coin Portrait (Nerfed): 0 → 3
- Pilgrimp Sticker (Nerfed): 2 → 3
- Rewinder Portrait (Nerfed): 3 → 4
- Bloodbound Earrings (Nerfed): 0 → 1
- Consuming Claw (Nerfed): 1 → 2
- Ominous Stone (Nerfed): 2 → 3
Cost Decreases
- Baleful Incense (Buffed): 4 → 3
- Innkeeper's Stein (Buffed): 1 → 0
- Tickatus Sticker (Buffed): 3 → 2
- Splinter of Aurum (Buffed): 3 → 2
- Jailer Sticker (Buffed): 3 → 2
- War Drum (Buffed): 3 → 2
- Glowing Crystal (Buffed): 1 → 0
- Wand of Divination (Buffed): 1 → 0
- Portable Factory (Buffed): 6 → 5
- Enigmatic Headstone (Buffed): 1 → 0
- Ancient Wishbone (Buffed): 1 → 0
- Booty Bay Brew (Buffed): 3 → 2
- Scraper Sticker (Buffed): 2 → 1
- Comfy Coffin (Buffed): 1 → 0
- Nerglish Phrasebook (Buffed): 1 → 0
- Staff of the Scourge (Buffed): 5 → 3
- Water Wheel (Buffed): 1 → 0
- Lockbox Portrait (Buffed): 2 → 1
- Inductive Gyroblade (Buffed): 1 → 0
- Baller Portrait (Buffed): 3 → 2
- Reusable Batteries (Buffed): 1 → 0
- Sellemental Portrait (Buffed): 5 → 4
- Mindslasher Portrait (Buffed): 5 → 4
Greater Trinket Cost Changes
Cost Increases
- Converter Portrait (Nerfed): 4 → 6
- Hackerfin Portrait (Nerfed): 5 → 6
- Evil Experiment (Nerfed): 0 → 4
- Hammer of Twilight (Nerfed): 1 → 3
- Corrupted Baton (Nerfed): 1 → 3
- Mask of Ancient Ones (Nerfed): 3 → 4
- Flaming Portrait (Nerfed): 6 → 7
- Makeshift Master (Nerfed): 0 → 3
- Tome of the Ancients (Nerfed): 0 → 2
- Herald Sticker (Nerfed): 2 → 3
- Aggem Sticker (Nerfed): 0 → 2
Cost Decreases
- Cookie's Stirring Rod (Buffed): 2 → 0
- Bassgill Portrait (Buffed): 2 → 1
- Butcher's Sickle (Buffed): 3 → 1
- Privateer Portrait (Buffed): 3 → 1
- Czarina Portrait (Buffed): 3 → 1
- Heart of the Forest (Buffed): 4 → 3
- Writhing Tentacles (Buffed): 1 → 0
- Nomi Sticker (Buffed): 4 → 1
- Accord-o-Tron Portrait (Buffed): 5 → 3
- Booty Bay Brew (Buffed): 2 → 1
- Recycling Sticker (Buffed): 5 → 3
- Protective Ring (Buffed): 3 → 2
- Electrode Attractor (Buffed): 3 → 1
- Inductive Gyroblade (Buffed): 2 → 0
Greater Trinket Effect Changes
Maldraxxus Dagger (Adjusted)
- Old: 7 Cost. Discover a plain copy of a minion in your warband with a Dark Gift. At the start of each turn, repeat this.
- New: 6 Cost. Discover a plain copy of a friendly minion with a Dark Gift. Repeat at the start of every 2 turns.
Sludge Portrait (Nerfed)
- Old: 3 Cost. Get a Sludge Corrosion. After you discard a card, get a Sludge Corrosion.
- New: 5 Cost. Get a Sludge Corrosion. After you discard a spell, get a Sludge Corrosion.
Lava Lamp (Buffed)
- Old: After you sell 7 minions, get a random Elemental. (7 left!)
- New: After you sell 6 minions, get a random Elemental. (6 left!)
Artisanal Urn (Buffed)
- Old: Your Undead have +15 Attack.
- New: Your Undead have +20 Attack.
Shark Cannon (Buffed)
- Old: After you spend 10 Gold, give your Pirates +1 Attack / +1 Health and improve this. (10 Gold left!)
- New: After you spend 7 Gold, give your Pirates +1 Attack / +1 Health and improve this. (7 Gold left!)
Jarred Frostling (Buffed)
- Old: 3 Cost. Start of Combat: Give 2 friendly Elementals "Deathrattle: Summon a Flourishing Frostling".
- New: 2 Cost. Start of Combat: Give 3 friendly Elementals "Deathrattle: Summon a Flourishing Frostling".
Additional Battlegrounds Changes
- Aberrations are no longer guaranteed in every lobby.
- Sinister Invitation now offers higher-Tier minions more frequently.
- Maw Caster can no longer be offered Echoing Voice.
- Arch-Villain Rafaam and Victim Specter can no longer be offered in Aberration lobbies.
- The increased appearance rate for new Trinkets has been removed. New Trinkets now appear at the same rate as all other Trinkets.
- The visual effects for Living Azerite and Seafood Stew now resolve more quickly.