Patch 26.2 launches Battlegrounds Season 4, where E.T.C.’s taking an exciting new show to Bob’s Tavern!
Battlegrounds Season 4 is Here
Are you ready to put the “band” in your warband?! Battlegrounds Season 4 is headlined by the new Rock Master Voone Hero, the new Venomous keyword, and a massive minion remix to Battlegrounds!
General Updates
On May 9, Battlegrounds Season 3 will end and Season 4 will begin. That means rankings will reset, Battlegrounds Buddies will be removed, minion pools will update, and the Battlegrounds Track will switch over. All rewards that were earned from the Season 3 Track, but not yet claimed, will automatically be claimed.
Minion types will be rolled out in phases for Season 4. On May 9, only six types will be eligible in all games: Beasts, Murlocs, Dragons, Elementals, Naga, and Undead. On May 11, Pirates will be added to the pool of eligible types. On May 15, Demons will be added to the pool of eligible types. Finally, on May 22, Quilboar and Mechs will be added to the pool of eligible types.
New Hero
Rock Master Voone
Upbeat Harmony
Passive. At the end of every 3 turns, get a plain copy of the left-most card in your hand.
Rock Master Voone will be available in all lobbies for two weeks after Patch 26.2.
Hero Updates
Lady Vashj (Relics of the Deep)
Old: Discover a Spellcraft spell of your Tier or lower. Passive: Your first one each turn is permanent.
New: Discover a Spellcraft spell of your Tier or lower. Its effect is permanent.
Lich Baz’hial (Graveyard Shift)
Old: [0 Gold] Take 4 damage. Gain 2 Gold.
New: [1 Gold] Steal a minion in Bob’s Tavern. Take damage equal to its Tavern Tier.
Shudderwock
No longer banned in Beast lobbies.
N’Zoth
No longer banned in any lobbies.
Mutanus
Now banned in Naga lobbies.
Vol’jin
Now banned in Naga lobbies.
Updated Armor Tiers
All Armor Tiers at the launch of Patch 26.2 will be as follows:
Hero Name
Armor
Armor (At Higher Levels)*
Captain Hooktusk
15
10
Millhouse Manastorm
10
8
Master Nguyen
10
-
Forest Warden Omu
10
-
Galewing
8
-
Mutanus the Devourer
10
13
Ysera
5
8
Arch-Villain Rafaam
10
-
Cookie the Cook
8
-
Scabbs Cutterbutter
10
-
Trade Prince Gallywix
10
5
The Lich King
10
-
Sire Denathrius
10
-
Vanndar Stormpike
10
-
Murloc Holmes
10
-
Silas Darkmoon
12
-
Tamsin Roame
16
-
Pyramad
14
-
The Rat King
9
-
Vol’jin
15
10
Elise Starseeker
10
-
George the Fallen
17
-
Xyrella
15
10
Lady Vashj
10
-
Maiev Shadowsong
18
10
C’Thun
10
17
Rokara
15
-
Tickatus
14
-
Varden Dawngrasp
9
-
N’Zoth
17
-
Death Speaker Blackthorn
14
-
Ini Stormcoil
8
10
Al’Akir
13
-
Lord Barov
19
10
Jandice Barov
12
-
Dancin’ Deryl
18
15
The Great Akazamzarak
13
-
Lich Baz’hial
10
-
Patchwerk
0
-
Sir Finley Mrrgglton
10
-
Galakrond
18
-
Guff Runetotem
10
15
Tess Greymane
14
-
Millificent Manastorm
10
15
Deathwing
18
14
Cariel Roame
10
14
Reno Jackson
15
-
Fungalmancer Flurgl
8
10
Professor Putricide
10
-
Yogg-Saron, Hope’s End
12
-
Nozdormu
15
-
Shudderwock
10
-
Patches the Pirate
5
14
Heistbaron Togwaggle
10
-
Malygos
10
-
Dinotamer Brann
13
-
Skycap’n Kragg
15
-
Sylvanas Windrunner
14
-
Infinite Toki
10
-
The Jailer
15
-
Lord Jaraxxus
10
16
Drek’Thar
16
-
Enhance-o-Mechano
15
-
Ozumat
15
-
Ragnaros the Firelord
10
15
Y’Shaarj
13
-
Kael’thas Sunstrider
15
-
Sneed
17
-
Onyxia
14
-
Alexstrasza
10
-
Ambassador Faelin
12
-
Bru’kan
12
-
Zephrys, the Great
13
-
Edwin VanCleef
19
-
Rakanishu
14
-
Queen Azshara
13
-
Chenvaala
12
16
Tavish Stormpike
15
-
Captain Eudora
15
-
Greybough
16
-
Illidan Stormrage
17
-
Sindragosa
18
-
Mr. Bigglesworth
18
-
Kurtrus Ashfallen
17
15
Queen Wagtoggle
16
-
Overlord Saurfang
19
-
Aranna Starseeker
14
10
A.F. Kay
18
-
King Mukla
14
18
The Curator
18
-
Teron Gorefiend
10
12
E.T.C., Band Manager
10
-
Rock Master Voone
10
-
* Some Heroes have high winrate disparities between lower-MMR and higher-MMR players. To account for this, some heroes are given an alternative Armor value, depending on the average play level of the lobby you’re in. Any hero that only lists one Armor amount has that same Armor at all levels of play.
Keyword Updates: Poisonous, Venomous, Windfury, and Magnetic
Poisonous has been removed from Battlegrounds. A new Battlegrounds keyword, Venomous, will take its place! Venomous is like Poisonous except that only the first minion that is damaged by a Venomous minion each combat is instantly destroyed.
Mega-Windfury has also been removed from Battlegrounds. Now, when a Windfury minion is tripled, it will still have Windfury. This change is to make Windfury more in line with other keywords and to open up more design space in the future.
Finally, you can now Magnetize to your Mechs even if you have a full board (this change applies to all Modes, not just Battlegrounds). This change was made to make Mech games smoother by removing negative play experiences; it also lets us focus more on Magnetic with this update.
New Minions
Mistake [Tier 1, All]
1 Attack, 3 Health.
Incorporeal Corporal [Tier 1, Undead]
5 Attack, 5 Health. After this minion attacks, destroy it.
Southsea Busker [Tier 1, Pirate]
3 Attack, 1 Health. Battlecry: Gain 1 Gold next turn.
Manasaber [Tier 1, Beast]
4 Attack, 1 Health. Deathrattle: Summon two 0/1 Cublings with Taunt.
Upbeat Frontdrake [Tier 1, Dragon]
2 Attack, 1 Health. At the end of every 3 turns, get another random Dragon.
Low-Flier [Tier 2, Dragon]
3 Attack, 2 Health. At the end of your turn, give +2 Attack to all your minions with less Attack than this.
Humming Bird [Tier 2, Beast]
0 Attack, 3 Health. Your other Beasts have +2 Attack.
Backstage Security [Tier 2, Demon]
4 Attack, 6 Health. At the start of your turn, deal 1 damage to your hero.
Soul Rewinder [Tier 2, Demon]
3 Attack, 1 Health. After your hero takes damage, rewind it and give this +1 Health.
Lullabot [Tier 2, Mech]
2 Attack, 2 Health. Magnetic. At the end of your turn, gain +1/+1.
Upbeat Flutist [Tier 2, Murloc]
2 Attack, 5 Health. At the end of every 2 turns, give a random minion in your hand +9 Health.
Flourishing Frostling [Tier 2, Elemental]
0 Attack, 4 Health. Has +1 Attack for each Elemental you’ve played this game (wherever this is).
Reef Riffer [Tier 2, Naga]
1 Attack, 3 Health. Spellcraft: Give a minion stats equal to your Tavern Tier until next turn.
Zesty Shaker [Tier 3, Naga]
3 Attack, 4 Health. Once per Turn: After you cast Spellcraft spell on this, add a new copy of it to your hand.
Scourfin [Tier 3, Murloc]
6 Attack, 3 Health. Deathrattle: Give a random minion in your hand +5/+5.
Accord-o-Tron [Tier 3, Mech]
2 Attack, 3 Health. Magnetic. At the start of your turn, gain 1 extra Gold.
Malchezaar, Prince of Dance [Tier 3, Demon]
5 Attack, 2 Health. 2 Refreshes each turn cost Health instead of Gold.
Keyboard Igniter [Tier 3, Demon]
4 Attack, 2 Health. Battlecry: If you’ve taken damage since last turn, give your other Demons +1/+2.
Rylak Metalhead [Tier 3, Beast]
3 Attack, 4 Health. Taunt. Deathrattle: Trigger the Battlecries of adjacent minions.
Dev Comment: Reminder that buffs awarded in combat are not permanent.
Banana Slamma [Tier 3, Beast]
2 Attack, 5 Health. After you summon a Beast in combat, double its stats.
Moon-Bacon Jazzer [Tier 3, Quilboar]
2 Attack, 5 Health. Battlecry: For the rest of the game, your Blood Gems give an extra +1 Health.
Gunpowder Courier [Tier 3, Pirate]
2 Attack, 4 Health. After you spend 5 Gold, give you Pirates +1 Attack.
Radio Star [Tier 3, Undead]
3 Attack, 1 Health. Deathrattle: Add a plain copy of the minion that killed this to your hand.
Xylo Bones [Tier 4, Undead]
5 Attack, 1 Health. After you summon a minion in combat, gain +3 Health permanently.
Lovesick Balladist [Tier 4, Pirate]
3 Attack, 4 Health. Battlecry: Give a Pirate +1 Health for each Gold spent this turn.
Underhanded Dealer [Tier 4, Pirate]
2 Attack, 2 Health. After you gain Gold, gain +1/+1.
Blade Collector [Tier 4, Pirate]
3 Attack, 2 Health. Also damages the minions next to whomever this attacks.
Prickly Piper [Tier 4, Quilboar]
6 Attack, 3 Health. Deathrattle: For the rest of the game, your Blood Gems give an extra +1 Attack.
Upbeat Duo [Tier 4]
4 Attack, 2 Health. Battlecry: Choose a minion. At the end of every 2 turns, this gives you a plain copy.
Plagued Tidewalker [Tier 4, Murloc/Undead]
2 Attack, 7 Health. Venomous.
Scrap Scraper [Tier 4, Mech]
3 Attack, 6 Health. Avenge (4): Get a random Magnetic Mech.
Bassgill [Tier 4, Murloc]
6 Attack, 2 Health. Deathrattle: Summon the highest Health minion from your hand for this combat only.
Bream Counter [Tier 4, Murloc]
4 Attack, 4 Health. While this is in your hand, after you play a Murloc, gain +3/+2.
Dancing Barnstormer [Tier 4, Elemental]
4 Attack, 2 Health. Deathrattle: Elementals in Bob’s Tavern have +2/+2 for the rest of the game.
Upbeat Upstart [Tier 4, Elemental]
4 Attack, 4 Health. Taunt. At the end of every 2 turns, set this minion’s Health to the highest in your warband.
Deep Blue Crooner [Tier 4, Naga]
2 Attack, 2 Health. Spellcraft: Give a minion +1/+1 until next turn. Improve your future Deep Blues.
Silent Swimmer [Tier 4, Naga]
5 Attack, 3 Health. Spellcraft: Give a minion +3/+5 and Stealth until next turn.
Stormbringer [Tier 4, Dragon]
1 Attack, 7 Health. After a different friendly Dragon gains Attack, this also gains it.
Disco Shuffler [Tier 5, Dragon]
4 Attack, 3 Health. Choose One – Trigger a friendly minion’s Battlecry; or Discover a Battlecry minion.
Sanctum Rester [Tier 5, Dragon]
5 Attack, 5 Health. Start of Combat: Give your other Dragons +8 Health.
Electric Synthesizer [Tier 5, Dragon]
3 Attack, 7 Health. Battlecry: Give your other Dragons +4 Attack.
Gusty Trumpeter [Tier 5, Elemental]
4 Attack, 5 Health. After you sell 6 Elementals, get another random Elemental.
Operatic Belcher [Tier 5, Murloc]
5 Attack, 2 Health. Venomous. Deathrattle: Give a friendly Murloc Venomous.
Utility Drone [Tier 5, Mech]
4 Attack, 5 Health. At the end of your turn, give your minions +1/+1 for each Magnetization they have.
Drakkari Enchanter [Tier 5]
1 Attack, 5 Health. Your end of turn effects trigger twice.
Imposing Percussionist [Tier 5, Demon]
6 Attack, 6 Health. Battlecry: Discover a Demon and deal damage to your hero equal to its Tavern Tier.
Tichondrius [Tier 5, Demon]
4 Attack, 4 Health. After your hero takes damage, give your other Demons +1/+1.
Bongo Bopper [Tier 5, Quilboar]
5 Attack, 5 Health. At the end of your turn, get a Blood Gem and play 2 more on this.
Record Smuggler [Tier 5, Pirate]
7 Attack, 6 Health. At the start of your turn, gain 1 Gold. Repeat for each other friendly Pirate.
Upbeat Impressionist [Tier 5, Pirate]
8 Attack, 4 Health. At the end of every 2 turns, make a Pirate in your hand Golden.
The Boogie Monster [Tier 6]
3 Attack, 8 Health. After you play a Tier 1 minion, progress to the next Tier and give your minions +1/+2.
Dev Comment: This caps at Tier 6, at which point you need to keep playing Tier 6 minions to get the effect.
Octosari, Wrap God [Tier 6, Beast]
6 Attack, 7 Health. Deathrattle: Summon a 2/2 Tentacle. (Gains +2/+2 permanently after you summon a minion in combat!)
Polarizing Beatboxer [Tier 6, Mech]
3 Attack, 7 Health. Whenever you Magnetize another minion, it also Magnetizes to this.
Choral Mrrrglr [Tier 6, Murloc]
6 Attack, 6 Health. Start of Combat: Gain the stats of all minions in your hand.
Rock Rock [Tier 6, Elemental]
4 Attack, 4 Health. After you play an Elemental, give your minions +2 Attack. (Swaps to Health next turn.)
Elemental of Surprise [Tier 6, Elemental]
8 Attack, 8 Health. Divine Shield. This minion can triple with any Elemental.
Bristlebach [Tier 6, Quilboar]
2 Attack, 10 Health. Avenge (1): Play a Blood Gem on all your Quilboar.
Fleet Admiral Tethys [Tier 6, Pirate]
5 Attack, 6 Health. After you spend 8 Gold, get another random Pirate.
Minion Updates
Wrath Weaver
Old: 1 Attack, 3 Health. After you play a Demon, deal 1 damage to your hero and gain +2/+2.
New: 1 Attack, 4 Health. After you play a Demon, deal 1 damage to your hero and gain +2/+1.
Tad
Old: 2 Attack, 4 Health.
New: 2 Attack, 2 Health.
Snail Cavalry
Old: 4 Attack, 2 Health.
New: 5 Attack, 2 Health.
Deep Sea Angler
Old: Spellcraft: Give a minion +3 Health and Taunt until next turn.
New: Spellcraft: Give a minion +4 Health and Taunt until next turn.
Thorncaller
Old: [Tier 3] 4 Attack, 3 Health. Battlecry and Deathrattle: Get a Blood Gem.
New: [Tier 2] 3 Attack, 2 Health. Deathrattle: Get a Blood Gem.
Ripsnarl Captain
Old: [Tier 4] 4 Attack, 6 Health. Whenever another friendly Pirate attacks, give it +3/+3.
New: [Tier 2] 2 Attack, 4 Health. Whenever a friendly Pirate attacks, give it +3 Attack.
Tarecgosa
Old: [Tier 4]
New: [Tier 3]
Eventide Brute
Old: [Tier 4] 5 Attack, 4 Health.
New: [Tier 3] 3 Attack, 2 Health.
Pufferquil
Old: After a spell is played on this, gain Poisonous until end of turn.
New: After a spell is played on this, gain Venomous until end of turn.
Annihilan Battlemaster
Old: [Tier 5] 5 Attack, 1 Health.
New: [Tier 4] 3 Attack, 1 Health.
Young Murk Eye
Old: 8 Attack, 5 Health. At the end of your turn, the Murloc to the left of this triggers its Battlecry.
New: 7 Attack, 4 Health. At the end of your turn, the minion to the left of this triggers its Battlecry.
Vanessa VanCleef
Old: 3 Attack, 4 Health. Whenever this attacks, give your Pirates +2/+2 permanently.
New: 3 Attack, 7 Health. Whenever this attacks, give your Pirates +2/+1 permanently.
Mantid Queen
Old: Poisonous. Start of Combat: For each of your minion types gain +5/+5, Windfury, Divine Shield, or Taunt.
New: Venomous. Start of Combat: For each of your minion types gain +5/+5, Windfury, Reborn, or Taunt.
Famished Felbat
Old: At the end of your turn, each friendly Demon consumes a minion in Bob’s Tavern to gain its stats.
New: At the end of your turn, your other Demons consume a minion in Bob’s Tavern to gain its stats.
Charlga
Old: At the end of your turn, play a Blood Gem on all friendly minions.
New: At the end of your turn, play a Blood Gem on your other minions.
Kalecgos, Arcane Aspect
Old: After you play a minion with Battlecry, give your Dragons +1/+1.
New: After you trigger a Battlecry, give your Dragons +1/+1.
Dev Comment: This means you get the bonus not just when you play a Battlecry minion, but also whenever any effect triggers a Battlecry—including an additional trigger from Brann. “Trigger” doesn’t require there’s a successful target for the Battlecry; you can still just play a Battlecry minion for this effect.
Minion Pool Updates
Bloodsail Cannoneer, Saltscale Honcho, and Palescale Crocoscale have been returned to the minion pool.
59 minions have been removed from the minion pool:
Ball of Minions; Arm of the Empire; Poetic Pen Pal; Tea Master Theotar; Friend of a Friend; Alley Cat; Cave Hydra; Bird Buddy; Goldrinn, the Great Wolf; Impatient Doomsayer; Kathra’natir; Piggyback Imp; Soul Juggler; Bigfernal; Voidlord; Iron Sensei; Holy Mecherel; Cyborg Drake; Grease Bot; Felfin Navigator; Swolefin; Toxfin; Seafood Slinger; Party Elemental; Dazzling Lightspawn; Lil’ Rag; Master of REalities; Gentle Djinni; Lieutenant Garr; Shoal Commander; Warden of Old; Eelbound Archer; Waverider; Roadboar; Bristleback Brute; Groundshaker; Agamaggan, the Great Boar; Darkgaze Elder; Red Whelp; Nether Drake; Atramedes; Razorgore; Evolving Chromawing; Deck Swabbie; Salty Looter; Southsea Strongarm; Southsea Captain; Goldgrubber; Cap’n Hoggarr; Greta Gold-Gun; Dread Admiral Eliza; First Mate Pip; Rot Hide Gnoll; Lich Doctor; Jelly Belly; Possessive Banshee; Murloc Warleader; Rabid Saurolisk; and Tavern Tipper.
The Brann’s Blessing Darkmoon Prize now reads, “Your Battlecries trigger an extra time this turn.”
Y’Shaarj’s Hero Power, Embrace Your Rage, has gotten a text-only update for clarity.
Alexstrasza's Hero Power, Queen of Dragons, has gotten a text-only update for clarity.
The text of Brann’s Epic Egg (Dinotamer Brann’s Buddy) has gotten a text-only update for clarity.
The Cost to upgrade from Tavern Tier 4 to Tavern Tier 5 is not reverting; it is now 11 Gold as a regular rule.
New Battlegrounds Track
The Season 4 Battlegrounds Track, with the Season Pass, features 40 new levels of rewards, including 5 Legendary Hero Skins, 10 Epic Hero Skins, 5 Rare Hero Skins, 1 Rare Board, 1 Rare Bartender, 12 Rare Emotes, 2 Epic Strikes, and 1 Legendary Strike that you build as you progress!
For more details about the Season 4 Battlegrounds Track, and the new Battlegrounds Season Pass, see our Season 4 Announcement Blog.
New In-Game Event: Mrrglgroove Dance Party
We’re throwing a Battlegrounds party to celebrate the launch of Season 4! From May 16 to May 30, you can complete Battlegrounds-based Event Quests to earn Event XP on the special event rewards track. Complete the rewards track to earn three Murlocized Battlegrounds Hero Skins!
Heroic Tavern Brawl Returns Again!
On May 17, the Heroic Tavern Brawl (Standard format) is back for more fierce competition against top players! Pay the entry fee and then play until you either get 3 losses or 12 wins. The further you get, the bigger your rewards!
There will also be three special Legendary Quests active during the Heroic Brawl. Win one game of Hearthstone (even outside of the Heroic Tavern Brawl) to win 1 Standard Pack. This means that players who don’t want to participate in the Heroic Tavern Brawl can still easily get their weekly Tavern Brawl pack, and players who do participate in the Heroic Tavern Brawl get a little additional prizing. Win 3 games in Heroic Tavern Brawl (across any number of runs) to get the new Frostmonger Sai Death Knight Hero Skin. And win an astonishing 12 games in a single Heroic Tavern Brawl run for the ultimate prize: the Crimson Knight Sai Hero Skin!
Bug Fixes and Game Improvements
[General] Hearthstone has upgraded to a more recent Unity version. Minimum spec requirements to play Hearthstone now require at least iOS 12/Mac 10.14.
[General] Fixed a bug where background sound from other apps could not be played on certain mobile devices.
[General] Re-enabled the ability to see opponent’s mouse-overs.
[Hearthstone] Updated the interaction between Thornmantic Musician and Dormant Beasts (such as Wildseeds) so that the Dormant Beast will no longer consume the Musician’s effect.
[Hearthstone] Corrected typing for Wild Pyromancer. It is now an Undead in all formats except for Classic (where there are no Undead—sorry, Sylvanas).
[Hearthstone] Fixed a bug where players were unable queue games with decks containing golden cards that were added automatically by the card re-rolling system.
[Hearthstone] Fixed a bug where players were sometimes unable to add cards to E.T.C.’s Band on mobile.
[Hearthstone] Fixed a bug where Photographer Fizzle’s Snapshot would be empty after a backwards zone transition (such as after being moved from your hand to your deck).
[Hearthstone] Fixed a bug where Rush minions that attacked and then were moved through time by Anachronos would not be able to attack when they returned.
[Hearthstone] Fixed a bug where the minion Felscale Evoker was classified as a Shadow spell.
[Hearthstone] Fixed a bug where Reckoning ceased to exist after it rotated out of Standard.
[Hearthstone] Fixed a bug that allowed players to put four copies of Muster for Battle in their Wild decks.
[Battlegrounds] Fixed a bug where Golden Freedealing Gambler would sometimes only sell for 3 Gold.
[Mercenaries] Fixed bugged interactions with the resistance bug of the Summit Campfire Ability and various Equipment.
[Mercenaries] Fixed a bug where the Ysera’s Vengeance Equipment did not apply damage buff to the Verdant Breath Ability.
[Mercenaries] Fixed bugs with the Ysera Emerald Dream Ability (Nightmare and Ysera Awakens).
[Mercenaries] Fixed bugs where the various Equipment effects did not progress beyond Tier 4.
[Mercenaries] Fixed a bug where the Flametongue Totem Treasure always dealt Tier 1 damage.
[Mercenaries] Fixed a bug with the Razorgore boss fight.
[Mercenaries] Fixed a bug where Ragnaros’s Task 10 did not progress.
[Mercenaries] Fixed a bug where some buffs didn’t correctly update text boxes.
[Collection] Fixed a bug where Diamond Darkbishop Benedictus and Diamond Ragnaros the Firelord were missing from Standard.