Blizzard just posted patch notes for the 33.2.1 update. It’s a server-side hotfix rolling out today. As usual, patches like that roll out in waves, so you might not see it immediately, but you should get it over the next few hours.
This patch mostly focuses on Battlegrounds balance changes to Minions, Quests and Hero Armor. As always, the overperforming ones have been adjusted to be slightly weaker and vice versa. It’s the first bigger balance update since Season 11 launched last Tuesday, so if you had some complaints with the early meta, I hope they were addressed here.
The patch also contains a bunch of hotfixes for both Constructed and Battlegrounds. No balance changes in Constructed or Arena adjustments (again, we’ll probably have to wait until a proper patch to see those).
You can read the full patch notes below:
Greetings!
33.2.1 is a server-side hotfix patch, rolling out today. Please select the relevant topic below for further details.
Bug Fixes and Game Improvements
Bug Fixes and Game Improvements – BATTLEGROUNDS
- Nightmare Par-tea Guest now spawns to hand at a less nightmare-ish speed.
- Untold Riches no longer adds cards to hand every turn during combat on a teammate’s client.
- Hand protection has been added to Untold Riches as intended.
- Golden Lava Lantern now correctly triggers when tripled with Elemental of Surprise.
- Vine Climber now properly activates when an Elemental is magnetized.
- P-0UL-TR-0N no longer attacks or triggers Divine Shield twice when it has Windfury.
- Quest Rewards will no longer appear twice in the same offering.
- Bilgewater Mogul is no longer available through Open Auditions.
- Gilnean War Horn and Ghastly Mask no longer offer invalid minions like Shoalfin or Ship Master Eudora.
- Untold Riches now grants only one gold pouch, as expected.
Bug Fixes and Game Improvements – HEARTHSTONE
- Mutanus the Devourer’s stats now update visually even if the turn ends early while Dive the Golakka Depths is in play.
- Murloc buffs and Dive the Golakka Depths effects now trigger in the correct order, preventing visual desyncs.
- Dormant minions that receive handbuffs now correctly progress The Food Chain quest.
- All You Can Eat now properly selects unique minions.
- An issue involving Spiritsinger Umbra and Tortollan Ninja’s Deathrattle has been resolved.
Balance updates
Minion Pool Updates
- Tad — returned to the minion pool.
- Parched Wanderer — removed from the minion pool.
Battlegrounds Updates – MINIONS (Buffs)
- Primitive Painter (Tier 6, Murloc): After you play a card from Tier 3 or below, give your Murlocs +1/+1 → +1/+2. Golden: +2/+2 → +2/+4.
- Bream Counter (Tier 4, Murloc): While in hand, after you play a Murloc, gain +3/+3 → +4/+4. Golden: +6/+6 → +8/+8.
- Deathly Striker (Tier 6, Undead): Avenge (5) → Avenge (4).
- Friendly Geist (Tier 5, Undead): Deathrattle bonus increased: +1 → +2 Attack. Golden: +2 → +4 Attack.
- Yorik Smite (Tier 5, Pirate): End-of-turn buff: +1/+1 → +2/+2; Golden minions +4/+4 → +6/+6. Golden card: +2/+2 → +4/+4; Golden minions +8/+8 → +12/+12.
- Ship Master Eudora (Tier 6, Pirate): Deathrattle buff: +5/+5 → +8/+8 (Golden minions keep it permanently). Golden: +10/+10 → +16/+16.
- Improviser (Tier 3, Demon): Avenge (3) → Avenge (2): Tavern minions get +1/+1 next turn (Golden: +2/+2).
- Devout Hellcaller (Tier 4, Demon): Scaling: +1/+1 → +1/+2. Golden: +2/+2 → +2/+4.
Battlegrounds Updates – SPELLS (Buffs)
- Haunted Carapace (Tier 3, Undead spell): +2/+1 → +3/+1 until next turn.
Battlegrounds Updates – MINIONS (Nerfs)
- Sanguine Refiner (Tier 6, Quilboar): Rally bonus: +1/+2 → +1/+1. Golden: +2/+4 → +2/+2.
- Vine Climber (Tier 4, Elemental): Buff: +2/+2 → +2/+1. Golden applies twice.
- Sundered Matriarch (Tier 5, Naga): Health aura: +2 → +1. Golden: +4 → +2.
- Stomping Stegodon (Tier 4, Beast): Rally buff: +2/+2 → +1/+1. Golden: +4/+4 → +2/+2.
Battlegrounds Updates – COMBAT SPEED/TIMERS
- Combat speed: Maximum combat speed has been increased.
- Turn 2: 10 seconds shorter.
- Turn 3: 5 seconds shorter.
Battlegrounds Updates – QUESTS
- Secret Culprit — Removed Captain Sanders.
- Anima Bribe — Banned in Elementals lobbies.
- Double-Headed — Banned in Elementals lobbies.
- Norgannon’s Reward — Banned in Elementals lobbies.
- Rallying Cry — Banned in Beast lobbies.
- Rushing Winds — Banned in Beast lobbies.
The following Quest Rewards have been made more difficult to complete:
The following Quest Rewards have been made easier to complete:
- Untold Riches
- Anima Bribe
- Snicker Snacks
- Smelting Chamber
- Grim Freshener
- Cooked Book
- Tumbling Disaster
- Perpetual Incantation
Armor changes
Battlegrounds Updates – ARMOR REDUCTIONS
The following heroes now have less Armor:
- Mutanus the Devourer has 16 Armor, and 13 Armor in Duos
- Lady Vashj has 13 Armor, and 10 Armor in Duos
- Al’Akir has 12 Armor, and 10 Armor in Duos
- Dancin’ Deryl has 12 Armor, and 10 Armor in Duos
- Sylvanas Windrunner has 18 Armor, and 16 Armor in Duos
- Ozumat has 16 Armor, and 14 Armor in Duos
- Y’Shaarj has 15 Armor, and 12 Armor in Duos
- Edwin VanCleef has 16 Armor, and 13 Armor in Duos
- Rakanishu has 17 Armor, and 15 Armor in Duos
- Illidan Stormrage has 12 Armor, and 10 Armor in Duos
- Death Speaker Blackthorn has 17 Armor, and 12 Armor in Duos
- Queen Wagtoggle has 15 Armor, and 12 Armor in Duos
- A. F. Kay has 16 Armor, and 13 Armor in Duos
- Thorim, Stormlord has 14 Armor, and 12 Armor in Duos
- Tae’thelan Bloodwatcher has 17 Armor, and 15 Armor in Duos
Battlegrounds Updates – ARMOR INCREASES
The following heroes now have more Armor:
- Forest Warden Omu has 8 Armor, and 6 Armor in Duos
- Cookie the Cook has 9 Armor, and 7 Armor in Duos
- Trade Prince Gallywix has 8 Armor, and 5 Armor in Duos
- The Lich King has 12 Armor, and 10 Armor in Duos
- Vanndar Stormpike has 16 Armor, and 12 Armor in Duos
- N’Zoth has 14 Armor, and 10 Armor in Duos
- Guff Runetotem has 10 Armor, and 8 Armor in Duos
- Tess Greymane has 16 Armor, and 13 Armor in Duos
- Professor Putricide has 17 Armor, and 15 Armor in Duos
- Shudderwock has 10 Armor, and 8 Armor in Duos
- Patches the Pirate has 12 Armor, and 10 Armor in Duos
- Dinotamer Brann has 17 Armor, and 15 Armor in Duos
- Bru’kan has 15 Armor, and 12 Armor in Duos
- Sindragosa has 16 Armor, and 14 Armor in Duos
- Teron Gorefiend has 14 Armor, and 12 Armor in Duos
- E.T.C., Band Manager has 16 Armor, and 16 Armor in Duos
- Snake Eyes has 7 Armor, and 5 Armor in Duos
- Forest Lord Cenarius has 14 Armor, and 12 Armor in Duos
- Ysera has 8 Armor at low ranks
- Millificent Manastorm has 16 Armor, and 12 Armor in Duos. Armor is increased at low ranks to 8.
Known Issues in 33.2.1
- Battlegrounds Guide: Updated cards will not have the changes reflected in their card text in the guide until patch 33.2.2 (with a permanent fix to this planned for the future)
