Blizzard just posted patch notes for the 33.6.2 update coming out later today. The patch is solely focused on Battlegrounds, with a lot of balance changes and return of Anomalies.
When it comes to nerfs and buffs, about a dozen minion changes + a few changes to the pool were already teased yesterday. However, the patch also includes A LOT of Buddy adjustments and multiple updates to Heroes (not just Armor, but also Hero Power changes).
As for the Anomalies, there are six new ones that interact with Buddies in a brand new way (it’s the first time Anomalies and Buddies are together in the game) as well as 20 returning ones. However, one important change is that you won’t be able to queue into the same Anomaly a few times in a row. As of this patch, once you play a given Anomaly, it won’t appear for three subsequent matches. This way players will experience more variety and things will be more fresh.
Further adjustments aren’t expected until after Across the Timeways expansion drops (early November), but they’ll keep an eye on balance and make changes if necessary.
You can check out the full patch notes below:
Patch 33.6.2 launches today with a variety of updates for Battlegrounds, including the return of Anomalies and balance changes to Heroes, Buddies, and more.
Battlegrounds Updates
Dev Comment: Well met!
We’re overall quite pleased with the initial reception to the midseason shakeup. This patch’s minion adjustments primarily focus on nerfing Quilboar while buffing Beasts, Undead, and Elementals. We also made several changes to various Buddies and Heroes based on early performance data to bring them more in line with each other.
This patch also brings Anomalies back to the game! There are six brand-new Anomalies that interact with the Buddy system in different ways. In addition to these, we’ve curated 20 returning Anomalies to rejoin the pool. One Anomaly not returning this time is Secrets of Norgannon (also known as “The Tier 7 Anomaly”). We’ve chosen to hold it back until we’ve had a chance to adjust the Tier 7 minion pool.
This patch introduces a significant rule change to Anomaly appearance rates: after you play with an Anomaly, it won’t appear again for at least three games. This should help you experience a wider variety of Anomalies and keep each game feeling fresh.
We don’t expect to make further gameplay adjustments until sometime after Across the Timeways launches, but we’ll be keeping an eye on the meta in the meantime. We hope you enjoy these updates and we’ll see you in the Tavern!
Anomalies Return
Anomalies are back in Battlegrounds! Anomalies are tavern-transforming effects that apply to all players from the start of each game.
New Anomalies
Summoning Pact: After you upgrade the Tavern, reduce the cost of your next Buddy by (2).
Spirit of Friendship: After you press your Buddy Button, also Discover a Buddy.
Third Nature: You can press your Buddy Button a 3rd time for a Golden Buddy. It costs half.
Colorful Camaraderie: Buddies have all minion types.
Partner in Crime: You have no Buddy Button. On turn 4, choose a Quest to get your Golden Buddy.
Amicable Amendment: The Cost of your Buddy Button is 50% higher, but reduces by (1) after you buy a card.
Returning Anomalies
A Faire Reward: Instead of a minion, Triple Rewards Discover a Tier 1 Darkmoon Prize. (Improves in 4 turns!)
Audience’s Choice: At the start of each turn, one player chooses a card for ALL players to get at end of turn.
Bring Home the Bacon: Start with two upgrading ‘Piggy Banks’. Break them open to gain Gold!
Bring in the Buddies: Buddies are in the Tavern.
Continuing Education: At the start of each turn, get an Evolving Scroll. Each turn, it transforms into a Tavern spell from a Tier higher.
Double Header: The first time you buy a card each turn, get an extra copy of it.
Eleventh Hour: The first time your hero takes fatal damage in combat, prevent it and gain 11 Gold next turn instead.
Golden Arrow: Every 3 turns, get a Golden Arrow. (3 turns left!)
Golganneth’s Tempest: Minions cost 2 Gold. You cannot Refresh the Tavern. It Refreshes itself after you buy a card.
Grapnel of the Titans: The first minion you buy each turn is free.
Mimiron’s Clockwork Stadium: You cannot upgrade the Tavern with Gold. It upgrades itself every 2 turns. (2 turns left!)
Money Match: Start at 10 Gold.
Overseer’s Orb: After you upgrade the Tavern, Refresh it with minions of your most common type.
Path of the Treasure-Seeker: After you Refresh 5 times, find the Golden Monkey! (5 left!)
Perfected Alchemy: Start with a Goldenizer.
Planar Alignment: At the start of each turn, get a random minion of your most common type. (Unlocks on Turn 2.)
Scout’s Honor: Start with a Golden Patient Scout in play.
The Yogg-iseum: At the start of each turn, spin the SAME Wheel of Yogg-Saron.
Treasure Hoard: On Turn [5/6/7/8/9], Discover a Golden Tier [3/4/5/6/7] minion. ([4/5/6/7/8] turns left!)
Up-Prizing: After you upgrade the Tavern, Discover a Tier 1 Darkmoon Prize. (Improves in 3 turns!)
Minion Pool Changes
Returning Minions
Hawkstrider Herald
Silithid Burrower
Whelp Smuggler
Removed Minions
Karmic Chameleon
Minion and Spell Updates
Minion Changes
Greymane’s Champion
Old: 6/6. After you play an even-Tier card, give your even-Tier minions +1/+1.
New: 4/4. After you play an even-Tier card, give your even-Tier minions +2/+2.
Kalecgos, Arcane Aspect
Old: After you trigger a Battlecry, give your Dragons +1/+1.
New: After you trigger a Battlecry, give your Dragons +2/+2.
Hot-Air Surveyor
Old: [Tier 4] 3/7.
New: [Tier 5] 4/8.
Primeval Monstrosity
Old: 5/5. Stealth. Whenever a friendly Rally minion attacks, give a friendly minion of each type +3/+3 permanently.
New: 5/6. Stealth. Whenever a friendly Rally minion attacks, give a friendly minion of each type +3/+2 permanently.
Goldrinn, the Great Wolf
Old: 6/6. Deathrattle: For the rest of this combat, your Beasts have +6/+6.
New: 5/5. Deathrattle: For the rest of this combat, your Beasts have +5/+5.
Charlga
Old: 4/4. At the end of your turn, play a Blood Gem on all your other minions.
New: 3/3. At the end of your turn, play 2 Blood Gems on all your other minions.
Fearless Foodie
Old: [Tier 5] 3/5.
New: [Tier 4] 2/4.
Oranomonos, the Wilted
Old: After a friendly minion is Reborn, your Undead have +2 Attack this game (wherever they are).
New: After a friendly minion is Reborn, your Undead have +3 Attack this game (wherever they are).
Ultraviolet Ascendant
Old: 6/3. Start of Combat: Give your other Elementals +2/+1. (Upgrades after you play an Elemental!)
New: 5/2. Start of Combat: Give your other Elementals +2/+2. (Upgrades after you play an Elemental!)
Sky Admiral Rogers
Old: 4/5. After you spend 9 Gold, get a random Bounty.
New: 4/6. After you spend 10 Gold, get a random Bounty.
Master of Realities
Old: 6/6. Taunt. After a friendly Elemental gains stats, gain +1/+1.
New: 5/5. Taunt. After a friendly Elemental gains stats, gain +2/+2.
Tavern Spell Changes
Sanctify
Old: Give your minions with Divine Shield +7 Attack.
New: Give your minions with Divine Shield +6 Attack.
Buddy Changes
A. F. Kay – Snack Vendor
Old: [Tier 3] 4/4. At the end of your turn, give this minion’s stats to a different Tier 3 minion.
New: [Tier 5] 6/6. At the end of your turn, give this minion’s stats to a Tier 3 minion.
Jim Raynor – Tychus Findlay
Old: [Tier 5] 5/6. After you cast a Tavern spell, get a random Battlecruiser Upgrade.
New: [Tier 4] 4/6. After you cast 2 Tavern spells, get a random Battlecruiser Upgrade. (2 left!)
Xyrella – Baby Elekk
Old: [Tier 3] Whenever you play a minion with less Attack than this, give it +2/+2 and improve this.
New: [Tier 4] Whenever you play a minion with less Attack than this, give it +1/+1 and improve this.
Dancin’ Deryl – Asher the Haberdasher
Old: After you sell a minion, gain a +1/+1 hat that passes to a friendly minion when sold.
New: After you sell a minion, gain two +1/+1 hats that pass to a friendly minion when sold.
Kerrigan – Broken Horn
Old: [Tier 5] Battlecry: Discover a Zerg minion and set its stats to 6/6. It doesn’t morph.
New: [Tier 4] When you sell this, Discover a Zerg minion and set its stats to 6/6. It doesn’t morph.
Greybough – Wandering Treant
Old: 2/7. Whenever a friendly Taunt minion is attacked, give your minions +1 Attack permanently.
New: 3/9. Whenever a friendly Taunt minion is attacked, give your minions +1/+1 permanently.
Loh, the Living Legend – Stoneshell Guardian
Old: 3/7. Start of Combat: Copy your two left-most Rallies (except Stoneshell Guardian).
New: 4/7. Start of Combat: Copy all friendly Rallies (except Stoneshell Guardian).
Rokara – Icesnarl the Mighty
Old: 5/2. After a friendly minion kills an enemy, gain +1 Health permanently.
New: 6/2. After a friendly minion kills an enemy, gain +2 Health permanently.
Silas Darkmoon – Burth
Old: 5/6. After you Discover a minion, give it +4/+4 and upgrade this by +1/+1.
New: 6/7. After you Discover a minion, give it +2/+2 and improve this.
Skycap’n Kragg – Sharkbait
Old: [Tier 5] 4/2. Battlecry: Refresh your Hero Power.
New: [Tier 4] 4/3. When you sell this, Refresh your Hero Power.
Y’Shaarj – Baby Y’Shaarj
Old: [Tier 3] After you play a minion of your Tier, give your minions +1/+1.
New: [Tier 4] After you summon a minion of your Tier, give your minions +1/+1.
Enhance-o Mechano – Enhance-o Medico
Old: [Tier 2] 2/2. After you buy a minion, gain +2/+2 for each Bonus Keyword it has.
New: [Tier 1] 3/3. After you buy a minion, gain +3/+3 for each Bonus Keyword it has.
Ini Stormcoil – Sub Scrubber
Old: [Tier 5] After you play a Mech, gain +2/+2.
New: [Tier 4] After you play a Mech, gain +3/+3.
Edwin VanCleef – SI:7 Scout
Old: [Tier 1] After you buy a card, gain +1/+1.
New: [Tier 2] After you buy a card, gain +2/+2.
Kurtrus Ashfallen – Living Nightmare
Old: [Tier 3] 6/4. After you buy a card, minions in the Tavern have +2/+1 this turn.
New: [Tier 2] 4/4. After you buy a card, minions in the Tavern have +2/+2 this turn.
The following Buddies have Tier and stats changes only:
Helpful Refreshes, from cards like Wondrous Wisdomball and Chromie, can no longer offer the ‘Tier 7’ roll before turn 7.
Dev Comment: The following changes were made to prevent unintended interactions that can cause infinite stat gain loops.
Sinestra is no longer triggered by Wrathscale Rogue.
Whelp Smuggler is no longer triggered by Wrathscale Rogue.
Titanic Guardian is no longer triggered by Master of Realities.
Hero Updates
Armor Changes
A. F. Kay now has 15 Armor and 13 in Duos
Al’Akir now has 13 Armor and 10 in Duos
Cariel Roame has 16 Armor and 13 in Duos
Dinotamer Brann has 15 Armor and 12 in Duos
Kerrigan, Queen of Blades has 16 Armor and 14 in Duos
Queen Wagtoggle has 10 Armor and 8 Armor
Rokara has 18 Armor and 16 in Duos
Sneed has 17 Armor and 13 in Duos
Yogg-Saron, Hope’s End has 8 Armor and 5 in Duos
Ysera has 17 Armor and 15 in Duos
Hero Changes
Yogg-Saron, Hope’s End
Old: Puzzle Box [Passive]: At the start of your turn, you cast a random Tavern spell.
New: Puzzle Box [Passive]: At the start of your turn, you cast a random Tavern spell. (Unlocks on Turn 3.)
Lord Jaxxarus
Old: Bloodfury [Passive]: After friendly minions deal 100 damage, open a portal to the Twisting Nether. (100 left!)
New: Bloodfury [Passive]: After friendly minions deal 150 damage, open a portal to the Twisting Nether. (150 left!)
Cariel Roame
Old: Conviction [2 Gold]
New: Conviction [1 Gold]
Sneed
Old: Pilot the Shredder [Passive]: Start the game with a 2/1 Shredder that summons the highest-Health minion from your hand.
New: Pilot the Shredder [Passive]: Start the game with a 2/1 Shredder that summons a minion from your hand and gives it Divine Shield.
Old: Sneed’s New Shredder: Deathrattle: Summon the highest-Health minion from your hand for this combat only.
New: Sneed’s New Shredder: Deathrattle: Summon the highest-Health minion from your hand and give it Divine Shield for this combat.
Old: Sneed’s New Shredder: Deathrattle: Summon the 2 highest-Health minions from your hand for this combat only.
New: Sneed’s New Shredder: Deathrattle: Summon the 2 highest-Health minions from your hand and give them Divine Shield for this combat.
Tamsin Roame
Old: Fragrant Phylactery: Start of Combat: Give your lowest-Attack minion “Deathrattle: Give your other minions this minion’s Attack.”
New: Fragrant Phylactery [Passive]: Start of Combat: Give your lowest-Attack minion “Deathrattle: Give your other minions this minion’s stats.”
Thorim, Stormlord
Old: Choose Your Champion [Passive]: At the start of the game, Discover a Tier 7 minion to get after you spend 65 Gold.
New: Choose Your Champion [Passive]: At the start of the game, Discover a Tier 7 minion to get after you spend 60 Gold.
Overlord Saurfang
Old: For the Horde! [Passive]: Minions in the Tavern have +1/+1. Improves after you buy 5 minions. (5 left!)
New: For the Horde! [Passive]: Minions in the Tavern have +1/+1. Improves after you buy 4 minions. (4 left!)
Tune In for Battlegrounds Behind the Scenes
Join Battlegrounds designer Mitchell Loewen for a special episode of the Blizzlet podcast as he dives into the return of Anomalies and the future of Buddies in Hearthstone Battlegrounds. Tune in October 13 at 7:30 p.m. PDT!
A Hearthstone player and writer from Poland, Stonekeep has been in a love-hate relationship with Hearthstone since Closed Beta. Over that time, he has achieved many high Legend climbs and infinite Arena runs. He's the current admin of Hearthstone Top Decks.
