Blizzard just posted a teaser of the upcoming balance update. It’s the second balance update in Into the Emerald Dream expansion. Sadly, it looks like the patch will only contain Battlegrounds changes, with zero Standard nerfs/buffs.
As I’ve already mentioned, the teaser doesn’t mention any Standard changes, so we shouldn’t expect them. The reason is most likely that The Embers of the World Tree mini-set is going to unlock exactly at the same time as the patch drops tomorrow. And Blizzard tends to be conservative about balance changes mixed together with content drops. Normally I would agree, but this time I’m not completely sure if it was the right call, given that the same decks dominate the meta for the last 4 weeks and new cards might not be able to change that. Of course, we’ll see how it turns out very soon.
The balance patch is focused solely on Battlegrounds, with lots of changes to the format. Between nerfs, buffs, reworks and minion pool shifts, we’re getting over 50 changes, so it should be a big shakeup to the meta. It looks like Blizzard is pretty light on nerfs, trying to target the stronget strategies such as Elementals with End of Turn effects and Mechs with Tavern Spells. At the same time, they’re looking to open new avenues for those and other minion types with tons of buffs. Keep in mind that the teaser image does not contain Trinket changes, but given that it’s the first big balance update for the format, I would expect TONS of adjustments for those too.
Until the full patch notes are released, we only know what cards are affected and not how! The patch will drop tomorrow (May 13), most likely around 10 AM PT. Patch notes are usually released an hour before the update itself. It’s not the official timing, but that’s how it works for most of those balance updates.
For now, check out the teaser below:
Battlegrounds
And here’s a full list of changes:
Buffs
- Dinotamer Brann (Hero)
- Gentle Stag
- Valiant Tiger
- Silithid Burrower
- Shadowdancer
- Spirited Whimsydrake
- Greenskeeper
- Bronze Steward
- Fire-forged Evoker
- Blazing Greasefire
- Dancing Barnstormer
- Arcane Behemoth
- Land Lubber
- Ancestral Automaton
- Grimscale Elegist
- Shoalfin Mystic
- Gormling Gourmet
- Slumber Sorcerer
- Defiant Shipwright
- Starry-eyed Explorer
- Goldgrubber
- Dastardly Drust
- Dreaming Thornweaver
- Darkgaze Elder
- Anub’arak, Nerubian King
- Drustfallen Butcher
- Noisul of the Many Faces
- Seafood Stew
- Natural Blessing
Nerfs
- Ashen Corruptor
- Amplifying Lightspawn
- Lokholar Frostforger
- Electron
- Apprentice of Sefin
- Coilskar Sapper
- Weary Mage
- Corrupted Bristler
- Three Lil’ Quilboar
- Tauren Spiritwalker
Mixed/Rework
- Technical Element
- Hackerfin
- Catacomb Crasher
Added to the Pool
- General Drakkisath
- Hunter of Gatherers
- Adaptive Ancestor
- Darkcrest Strategist
- Daggerspine Thrasher
- Handless Forsaken
- Kangor’s Apprentice
- Coast Guard
Removed from the Pool
- Low-Flier
- Slippery Slider
- Arm of the Empire
