Blizzard just posted patch notes for the 34.4.2 update, which is releasing later today. It’s kind of unexpected since we didn’t get any sort of teaser (usually we have one for balance updates), but here we are. It’s a small balance update for Standard and Arena, and a much bigger one for Battlegrounds.
In Standard, we’re getting a single card change – Morchie is now 3/6 (up from 2/5). It’s one of the new Legendaries from the mini-set, and giving a 4-drop +1/+1 in stats is actually a decently big buff. I’m not sure if that’s going to make her good enough, but it will definitely make her stick more often (which was the biggest issue before) and get better trades against small minions.
Devs also explained their reasoning as to why we don’t get more balance changes in Standard – they think that the mini-set impacted the meta enough that refreshing it right now is not necessary, and there are two big shakeups on the horizon (one is the usual big patch before rotation with card un-nerfs, and the second is the expansion + rotation itself). They’re also planning to nerf Elise the Navigator, but decided to do it as a part of a bigger patch (I’m not sure why).
In Arena, we’re getting three changes in total – Stasis Dragon is now a 7/7 (down from 8/8), Infinite Wolf now costs 4 mana (but it still remains banned for now because they’re working on some other changes) and The Great Dracorex can no longer be generated.
And, of course, the patch’s main focus is the Battlegrounds game mode. The last proper balance update for the mode happened shortly after the season started, and due to patch cadence and holiday break, this is the first opportunity to take another look at Season 12 meta. We had some smaller, server-side updates in the meantime, but those are usually focused on Armor changes and card bans/unbans.
Their two biggest goals in this patch were dialing down Deathrattle builds because they became too dominant, as well as buffing the weakest Timewarped cards that had low pick rates. Both should open up new viable strategies. And, of course, we also have some individual card nerfs/buffs that don’t fit into either of those categories.
You can read the full patch notes below:
Patch 34.4.2 rolls out today with balance changes for Hearthstone, Arena, and Battlegrounds.
Hearthstone Updates
Dev Comment: Well met! We’re pleased to see the meta in a solid spot. Your deckbuilding with the Echoes of the Infinite Mini-Set has sparked fresh archetypes like Imbue Rogue and Broxigar Demon Hunter, and it’s breathed new life into several existing decks.
Looking ahead, there are two major patches on the horizon: one featuring widespread balance changes, and the other bringing our annual set rotation and Core Set update. We expect some big meta shakeups in those patches, so we kept this update intentionally small. Morchie received a light buff to make her a more appealing option.
We’ve heard your feedback about Elise the Navigator, and she will be getting adjustments. Because she plays such a big role in the meta, we’re planning her update as part of those larger, more impactful patches. We appreciate your patience as we chart a new course for the famed explorer.
Card Changes
Morchie
Old: 2/5.
New: 3/6.
Arena Updates
Card Changes
The Great Dracorex can no longer be generated.
Stasis Dragon
Old: 8/8.
New: 7/7.
Infinite Wolf
Old: [3 Mana]
New: [4 Mana]
Dev Comment: Infinite Wolf will remain banned from drafts while we work on some larger changes.
Battlegrounds Updates
Dev Comment: Most of this patch focuses on tuning individual cards that were either overperforming or lagging behind. We also had two bigger goals in mind.
First, we wanted to dial back Deathrattles a bit. Deathrattle builds are fun and generally healthy for the game, but in the current meta they’ve become a little too dominant and too common. We’re adjusting Monstrous Macaw, Twilight Broodmother, Apexis Guardian, and Carapace Raiser to bring those strategies back to a more reasonable power level.
Our second goal was to give some love to Timewarped cards with low pick rates. These buffs should help them feel more rewarding and open up new options in your games. As always, we’ll be keeping an eye on how these changes play out and will make further updates if needed.
Our mid-season update is right around the corner, and we’re excited to share more soon. See you in the Tavern!
Minion and Spell Updates
Minion and Spell Pool Changes
Returning Minions
Apexis Guardian
Polarizing Beatboxer
Removed Minions
Double Demolisher
Dev Note: This change should help resolve some performance issues.
Pool Minion Changes
Monstrous Macaw
Old: [Tier 3] 4/3.
New: [Tier 4] 5/4.
Twilight Broodmother
Old: [Tier 4] 5/3.
New: [Tier 5] 7/4.
Stuntdrake
Old: 9/5.
New: 14/5.
Acid Rainfall
Old: 6/6. After you Refresh 4 times, gain the stats of the right-most minion in the Tavern. (4 left!)
New: 8/8. After you Refresh 5 times, gain the stats of the right-most minion in the Tavern. (5 left!)
Apexis Guardian
Old: 6/4. Deathrattle: Magnetize a random Volumizer to 2 other friendly Mechs.
New: 7/5. Deathrattle and Rally: Magnetize a random Magnetic Volumizer to another friendly Mech.
Utility Drone
Old: 5/7. At the end of your turn, give your minions +3/+3 for each Magnetization they have.
New: 4/6. At the end of your turn, give your minions +4/+4 for each Magnetization they have.
Profound Thinker
Old: 4/4. Rally: Get a random Spellcraft spell and cast a copy of it (targets this if possible).
New: 2/3. Rally: Get a random Spellcraft spell. This casts a copy of it (targets this if possible).
Dev Comment: The change to “This casts” means that this no longer counts as a spell cast by the player. It will no longer trigger the effects of cards like Daggerspine Thrasher.
Bluesy Siren
Old: Whenever a friendly Naga attacks, cast Deep Blues for +2/+3 on it. (3 times per combat.)
New: Whenever a friendly Naga attacks, this casts Deep Blues for +2/+3 on it. (3 times per combat.)
Dev Comment: The change to “This casts” means that this no longer counts as a spell cast by the player. It will no longer trigger the effects of cards like Daggerspine Thrasher.
Slitherspear, Lord of Gains
Old: 4/6. At the end of your turn, give your other Naga +1/+1. (Improved by each different spell you’ve cast this turn!)
New: 4/5. At the end of your turn, give your other Naga +2/+1. (Improved by each different spell you’ve cast this turn!)
Peggy Sturdybone
Old: 3/2. Whenever a card is added to your hand, give another friendly Pirate +1/+1.
New: 2/1. Whenever a card is added to your hand, give another friendly Pirate +2/+1.
Underhanded Dealer
Old: 4/4. After you gain Gold, gain +1/+1.
New: 3/3. After you gain Gold, Gain +1/+2.
Dastardly Drust
Old: 6/4. Whenever you get a Pirate, give your minions +1/+1. Give Golden ones +2/+2 instead.
New: 5/3. Whenever you get a Pirate, give your minions +2/+1. Give Golden ones +4/+2 instead.
Moon-Bacon Jazzer
Old: [Tier 3] 2/5.
New: [Tier 2] 2/3.
Bonker
Old: 3/7. Rally: This plays a Blood Gem on all your other minions.
New: 2/7. Rally: This plays 2 Blood Gems on all your other minions.
Bloodsnout Warlord
Old: 6/6. Whenever a friendly Rally minion attacks, this plays 2 Blood Gems on all your minions.
New: 5/5. Whenever a friendly Rally minion attacks, this plays 3 Blood Gems on all your minions.
Plankwalker
Old: 5/4. Whenever you cast a Tavern spell, give three random friendly minions +2/+2.
New: 6/4. Whenever you cast a Tavern spell, give three random friendly minions +2/+1.
Carapace Raiser
Old: [Tier 4]
New: [Tier 5]
Tier 7 Minion Changes
Polarizing Beatboxer
Old: [Tier 6]
New: [Tier 7]
The Last One Standing
Old: 9/9. Rally: Give a friendly minion of each type +9/+9 permanently.
New: 12/12. Rally: Give a friendly minion of each type +12/+12 permanently.
Stalwart Kodo
Old: 8/16.
New: 16/32.
Champion of Sargeras
Old: Battlecry and Deathrattle: Minions in the Tavern have +4/+4 this game.
New: Battlecry and Deathrattle: Minions in the Tavern have +5/+5 this game.
Buddy Changes
The following Buddies have had their Tier changed from 2 to 3:
Brann’s Epic Egg – Dinotamer Brann
Lil’ K.T. – Mr. Bigglesworth
Akali, Rock Rhino – Rockmaster Voone
Snow Elemental – Chenvaala
Hero Changes
Loh, Living Legend has been temporarily removed from the Hero Pool.
Murloc Holmes – Detective for Hire
Old: Look at 2 minions. Guess which one your next opponent had last combat for a Coin.
New: Look at 2 minions. Guess which one your next opponent had last combat for a Tavern Coin.
The Jailer – Rune of Damnation
Old: Destroy a friendly Undead to get a random Undead.
New: Destroy a friendly Undead to get a random Undead. (Unlocks at Tier 2.)
Rakanishu – Tavern Lighting
Old: Your Tavern spells give an extra +1/+1.
New: Your Tavern spells give an extra +1/+1. At the start of every 4 turns, improve this. (4 turns left!)
Jim Raynor – Lift Off
Nearly all levels of Jim Raynor’s Lift Off abilities have been buffed.
Hyperflight Rotors
Old: Give your Battlecruiser +5/7/9/12/16/22/32 Attack.
New: Give your Battlecruiser +6/8/11/15/20/28/40 Attack.
Smart Servos
Old: Give your Battlecruiser +5/7/9/12/16/22/32 Health.
New: Give your Battlecruiser +6/8/11/15/20/28/40 Health.
Yamato Cannon
Old: Give your Battlecruiser “Start of Combat: Deal 2/4/8/16/20/25/30 damage to the highest-Health enemy minion.”
New: Give your Battlecruiser “Start of Combat: Deal 3/6/9/18/24/30/40.
Advanced Ballistics
Old: Give your Battlecruiser “Rally: Give your other minions +1/2/3/4/5/6/7 Attack.”
New: Give your Battlecruiser “Rally: Give your other minions +2/3/4/5/6/8/10 Attack.”
Caduceus Reactor
Old: Give your Battlecruiser “Deathrattle: Give your left-most minions +1/+1,+2/+2, +3/+3, +6/+6, +8/+8, +12/+12, +22/+22.”
New: Give your Battlecruiser “Deathrattle: Give your left-most minions +1/+1, +2/+2, +4/+4, +7/+7, +10/+10, +15/+15, +25/+25.”
Hero Armor Changes
Jim Raynor’s Armor has been decreased to 12, and to 10 in Duos.
Rakanishu’s Armor has been decreased to 15, and to 13 in Duos.
The Jailer’s Armor has been increased to 10, and to 8 in Duos.
Timewarp Changes
Timewarp Pool Changes
Minor Timewarp
Timewarped Hunter has been removed from the pool.
Major Timewarp
Timewarped Probius has been removed from the pool.
Timewarped Deios’ appearance rate has been lowered to 50%.
Timewarped Sylvar has been returned to the Major Timewarp pool.
Timewarp Card Changes
Minor Timewarp
Timewarped Big Winner!
Old: Discover a Tier 3 Darkmoon Prize. Repeat at the start of every two turns.
New: Discover a Tier 3 Darkmoon Prize. Repeat at the start of every three turns.
Timewarped Sapper
Old: 5/4.
New: 10/6.
Timewarped Embalmer
Old: 9/9. One minion you play each turn gains Reborn. (1 left!)
New: 10/10. One minion you summon each turn gains Reborn. (1 left!)
Dev Comment: This is a wording only change to match the change made in 34.4.1 so that Embalmer works with Magnetic minions.
Timewarped Elise
Old: After you Refresh 4 times, make the highest-Tier minion in the Tavern Golden. (4 left!)
New: After you Refresh 5 times, make the highest-Tier minion in the Tavern Golden. (5 left!)
Timewarped Jazzer
Old: Deathrattle: Your Blood Gems give an extra +1 Health this game.
New: Deathrattle: Your Blood Gems give an extra +2 Health this game.
Timewarped Geomancer
Old: Avenge (2): Get a Blood Gem.
New: Avenge (5): Get a Blood Gem. Your Blood Gems give an extra +1/+1 this game.
Timewarped Recycler
Old: Avenge (5): Increase your maximum Gold by (1).
New: Avenge (4): Increase your maximum Gold by (1).
Timewarped Red Whelp
Old: Start of Combat: Deal 2 damage to two random enemy minions. (Improves after you play a Dragon!)
New: Start of Combat: Deal 3 damage to two random enemy minions. (Improves after you play a Dragon!)
Timewarped Jelly Belly
Old: After a friendly minion is Reborn, give your minions +1/+2 permanently.
New: After a friendly minion is Reborn, give your minions +2/+2 permanently.
The Following cards will be returning to the Minor Timewarp with changes:
Timewarped Whelp Smuggler
Old: Whenever a friendly minion gains Attack, give it +2 Health.
New: Whenever a friendly minion gains Attack, give it +3 Health.
Timewarped Seer
Old: 8/6.
New: 9/9.
Timewarped Tipper
Old: [1 Chronum] If you have any unspent Gold at the end of your turn, get a random minion and Tavern spell.
New: [2 Chronum] If you have any unspent Gold at the end of your turn, increase your maximum Gold by 1.
Timewarped Relaxer
Old: After you sell a Quilboar, this plays 2 Blood Gems on a random friendly minion.
New: After you sell a Quilboar, this plays 3 Blood Gems on a random friendly minion.
Major Timewarp
Timewarped Overfiend
Old: After you buy a card, give your Demons +3/+3.
New: After you buy a card, give your Demons +4/+4.
Timewarped Nomi
Old: After you play an Elemental, give minions in the Tavern +3/+2 this game.
New: After you play an Elemental, give minions in the Tavern +4/+3 this game.
Timewarped Deadstomper
Old: After you summon a minion, give your minions +3 Attack permanently.
New: After you summon a minion, give your minions +4 Attack permanently.
Timewarped Mrrrglr
Old: Start of Combat: Give adjacent minions the stats of all the minions in your hand.
New: Start of Combat: Give adjacent Murlocs the stats of all the minions in your hand.
Timewarped Grease Bot
Old: Divine Shield. After a friendly minion loses Divine Shield, give your minions +3/+3 permanently.
New: Divine Shield. After a friendly minion loses Divine Shield, give your minions +2/+2 permanently.
Timewarped Nalaa
Old: Whenever you cast a spell, give a friendly minion of each type +4/+4.
New: Whenever you cast a spell, give a friendly minion of each type +4/+3.
Timewarped Clefthoof
Old: At the end of your turn, give your Beasts +1/+2 and deal 1 damage to them, three times.
New: At the end of your turn, give your Beasts +2/+2 and deal 1 damage to them, three times.
Timewarped Interpreter
Old: Whenever you play or Magnetize a Mech, give your Mechs +3/+2.
New: Whenever you play or Magnetize a Mech, give your Mechs +3/+3.
The following will be returning to the Major Timewarp with changes:
Timewarped Promo-Drake
Old: Start of Combat: Give your minions +2/+2. Improves after you spend 5 Gold. (5 left!)
New: Start of Combat: Give your minions +5/+5. At the end of your turn, improve this.
Timewarp Cost-Only Changes
The following cards have had their Cost decreased from (2) to (1):
Minor Timewarp
Timewarped Shadowdancer
Timewarped Upstart
Timewarped Mothership
Other Battlegrounds Changes
Timewarped Lei will no longer be offered in Timewarps if you have Sky Cap’n Kragg’s Hero Power.
Turn time on turn 8 has been increased by 10 seconds.
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.
