Patch 35.6.2: A New Expansion Looms, and Balance Updates Follow
The latest patch for Hearthstone brings a host of changes, with a focus on balancing the game as a new expansion approaches. The design team has been hard at work, making adjustments to various cards and mechanics to ensure a fair and engaging experience for all players.
Card Updates
Hearthstone Updates:
Confront the Tol'vir: A mana nerf to counter the dominance of No Hand Hunter and Companion Hunter builds. The design team notes that Hunter has been appearing too frequently, and this adjustment aims to bring things back into balance.
The Eternal Hold: A slight change to its effect, making it less powerful in No Minion Demon Hunter decks. This adjustment ensures that the card's performance aligns with the rest of the field.
Hatchery Helper: A minor tweak to Token Druid, a resilient archetype that has withstood multiple changes. The design team aims to keep it in check without making it too weak.
Twilight Egg: A reduction in its deathrattle effect, making it less efficient in early-game strategies. This change helps rein in midrange and aggro decks.
Crystallized Leyline: A buff to give it a better chance to impact the game, as the previous adjustment didn't quite achieve the desired effect.
Arena Updates:
- Several cards have been added to the Arena draft pool, including Bursting Leyline, Mystic Runesaber, and Leywalker, among others.
Battlegrounds Updates:
The design team is happy with the meta post-midseason update but made some adjustments. They buffed minions to support specific classes and brought back some returning minions like Felhorn and Trench Fighter.
A focus on nerfing Dragons was implemented, with changes to cards like Ring Bearer and Twilight Hatchling. The goal is to reduce the prevalence of certain strategies.
Trinket changes aim to smooth out power levels and address unintended interactions.
Minion Updates
Returning Minions: Felhorn, Costume Enthusiast, and Trench Fighter return to the game.
Cut Minions: Egg of the Endtimes and several others are removed, with some having their effects adjusted.
Double Time (Mister Clocksworth): A wording change for clarity.
Tidecaller Prophet: A wording change for increased clarity.
Bronze Chromadrake and Green Chromadrake: Adjustments to their battlecry effects.
Twilight Broodmother: A tier upgrade and a slight increase in health.
Holo Rover: A tier upgrade and a change to its divine shield effect.
Primitive Painter: A reduction in health and a change to its effect.
Bream Counter: An increase in health and a change to its effect.
Moon-Bacon Jazzer: A tier downgrade and a reduction in health.
Hot-Air Surveyor: A tier downgrade and a reduction in health.
Skeletal Strafer: A reduction in health and a change to its effect.
Dustbone Devastator: A reduction in health and a change to its rally effect.
Dead Sea Ravager: A reduction in health and a change to its rally effect.
Brazen Buccaneer: A reduction in health and a change to its effect.
Butchering: A significant increase in the attack bonus.
Trinket Updates
Trinket Pool Bans: Double Stitch Needle is banned in Murloc games, and several others are banned from specific anomalies.
Lesser Trinket Pool Changes: Egg of the Endtimes Portrait is removed, and Chromatic Tear is returned.
Greater Trinket Pool Changes: Egg of the Endtimes Portrait is removed, and several cost adjustments are made.
Lesser Trinket Cost-Only Changes: Cost increases and decreases for various trinkets.
Greater Trinket Cost-Only Changes: Cost increases and decreases for greater trinkets.
Anomaly Updates
Anomaly Gameplay Changes: Added time to turns for specific anomalies and removed increased rarity for new trinkets.
Trinkets and Timewarped Card Bans: Several trinkets and timewarped cards are banned from specific anomalies and games.
Bug Fixes and Gameplay Improvements
- Battlegrounds: VFX adjustments, bug fixes, and improvements to various cards and mechanics.
As the new expansion approaches, the design team continues to fine-tune the game, ensuring that every card and mechanic contributes to a balanced and engaging experience. With these updates, players can look forward to a fresh and exciting meta, where strategy and skill reign supreme.
