Battlegrounds Updates

Dev Comment: There are quite a few changes in this patch, so let’s jump right in!

Starting with minions, our main goals are to bring down some of the stronger types, like Quillboar and Demons, while giving some help to underperforming types like Pirates.

We also want to call out Murlocs and Elementals specifically. While both types are underperforming overall, each has a particular strategy that has become too dominant and is warping how the type is played. For Elementals, that’s Living Azerite, and for Murlocs, it’s the combination of Expert Aviator/Diremuck Forager and Bile Spitter.

To address these strategies, we’ve reduced Living Azerite to +3/+3 and removed Expert Aviator. At the same time, we’re making several buffs across both types, including to Twilight Tidehunter, Shamanic Tidecaller, Unbound Tempest, and Ultraviolet Ascendant. Combined with other adjustments to individual cards and Trinkets, we hope these changes open up more viable strategies for both types.

Now, onto Dark Gifts. Overall, we want players to feel like they can use their Dark Gifts whenever it makes sense throughout the game. We’ve heard feedback that players feel too incentivized to use them during the early turns, so we’re adjusting their power to make holding onto them a more viable option.

We’re reducing the power of some early-game Dark Gifts, specifically Fresh Perspective and Toughened Shield, while buffing several mid- and late-game options, including Hostility, Resistance, and Incubation. We’re also making a rule change for turns 7-9 that guarantees at least two minions of your most common type in each Discover. Turns 10+ will continue to offer at least two minions of your most common type, as before. Together, these changes should give players more freedom to use their Dark Gifts when they want rather than feeling pressured to use them early.

The next season of Battlegrounds is just around the corner, and we’re excited to share more about what’s coming very soon. We’ll see you in the Tavern!

Minion and Spell Updates

Minion Pool Changes
Returning Minions
  • Murcules
Removed Minions
  • Expert Aviator
Minion Changes

Dark Paradox (Tier 2)

  • Old: 2/6. Whenever you play a card, gain +3 Attack.
  • New: 6/2. Whenever you play a card, gain +2 Health.

Dark Paradox (Tier 3)

  • Old: 3/3. Has +3/+3 for each Battlecry you've triggered this game (wherever this is).
  • New: 4/4. Has +4/+4 for each Battlecry you've triggered this game (wherever this is).

Harbinger Aph'lass

  • Old: [Tier 6]
  • New: [Tier 5]

Sacrificial Wrathguard

  • Old: 5/3. Deathrattle: Give minions in the Tavern +2/+2 this game. Activate (1): Improve this.
  • New: 6/3. Deathrattle: Give minions in the Tavern +2/+1 this game. Activate (1): Improve this.

Eredar Escapist

  • Old: 6/8. After your hero takes damage 4 times, get a copy of Corrupted Cupcakes. (4 left!)
  • New: 5/10. After your hero takes damage 5 times, get a copy of Corrupted Cupcakes. (5 left!)

Ashen Corruptor

  • Old: 6/6. After your hero takes damage, rewind it and give minions in the Tavern +2/+2 this turn.
  • New: 4/8. After your hero takes damage, rewind it and give minions in the Tavern +1/+2 this turn.

Crimson Vindicator

  • Old: 8/9. Divine Shield. Rally: Cast Mighty Dragonbreath.
  • New: 9/7. Divine Shield. Windfury. Rally: Cast Mighty Dragonbreath.

Living Azerite

  • Old: 8/6. Whenever you cast a Tavern spell, give Elementals in the Tavern +4/+3.
  • New: 6/6. Whenever you cast a Tavern spell, give Elementals in the Tavern +3/+3.

Ultraviolet Ascendant

  • Old: 6/6. Start of Combat: Give your other Elementals +3/+3. (Improves after you play an Elemental!)
  • New: 8/8. Start of Combat: Give your other Elementals +4/+4. (Improves after you play an Elemental!)

Unbound Tempest

  • Old: 3/12. After you play 4 Elementals, gain the stats of the highest-Health minion in the Tavern. (4 left!)
  • New: 3/9. After you play 3 Elementals, gain the stats of the highest-Health minion in the Tavern. (3 left!)

Spark Snapper

  • Old: 6/8. Whenever you play a Mech, Magnetize a 2/3 Satellite to it and improve this.
  • New: 8/8. Whenever you play a Mech, Magnetize a 2/2 Satellite to it and improve this.

Glambot

  • Old: 4/4. Whenever you cast a spell on a Mech, Magnetize a 4/4 Satellite to it.
  • New: 5/5. Whenever you cast a spell on a Mech, Magnetize a 5/5 Satellite to it.

Shamanic Tidecaller

  • Old: 5/7. Whenever you cast a spell on a Murloc, give Murlocs in your hand and board +3/+3.
  • New: 6/9. Whenever you cast a spell on a Murloc, give Murlocs in your hand and board +3/+4.

Twilight Tidecaller

  • Old: 4/6. Whenever you cast a spell on this, give the left-most minion in your hand +8/+8.
  • New: 3/7. Whenever you cast a spell on this, give the left-most minion in your hand +9/+9.

Murcules

  • Old: Whenever this kills a minion, give a minion in your hand +2/+2.
  • New: Whenever this kills a minion, give a minion in your hand +3/+3.

Enterprising Escapee

  • Old: 6/6. After you spend 6 Gold, get a Lockbox. If you already have one, it opens 1 turn sooner instead. (6 Gold left!)
  • New: 7/5. After you spend 5 Gold, get a Lockbox. If you already have one, it opens 1 turn sooner instead. (5 Gold left!)

Ship Master Eudora

  • Old: 8/3. Deathrattle: Give your minions +6/+6. Golden ones keep it permanently.
  • New: 10/3. Deathrattle: Give your minions +8/+8. Golden ones keep it permanently.

Hooktusk, Master Marauder

  • Old: 4/4. After you Discover a card, give your other Pirates +1/+1. (Improved by Golden minions you played this game!)
  • New: 5/5. After you Discover a card, give your Pirates +1/+1. (Improved by Golden minions you played this game!)

Hot-Air Surveyor

  • Old: [Tier 4]
  • New: [Tier 5]

Sanguine Refiner

  • Old: 3/8. Rally: Your Blood Gems give an extra +1/+2 this game.
  • New: 4/9. Rally: Your Blood Gems give an extra +1/+1 this game.

Jailbird Juggernaut

  • Old: 6/15.
  • New: 13/17.

Obsidian Ravager

  • Old: 7/7.
  • New: 11/11.

Futurefin

  • Old: 7/13.
  • New: 17/23.

Last One Standing

  • Old: 15/15. Rally: Give a friendly minion of each type +15/+15 permanently.
  • New: 10/10. Rally: Give a friendly minion of each type +10/+10 permanently and improve this.

Champion of Sargeras

  • Old: 8/8. Battlecry and Deathrattle: Give minions in the Tavern +8/+8 this game.
  • New: 12/12. Battlecry and Deathrattle: Give minions in the Tavern +12/+12 this game.

Stalwart Kodo

  • Old: 16/32. After you summon a minion in combat, give it this minion's maximum stats. (3 times per combat.)
  • New: 15/30. After you summon a different minion in combat, give it double this minion's maximum stats. (3 times per combat)
Tavern Spell Changes

Misplaced Tea Set

  • Old: [3 Cost] Give a friendly minion of each type +4/+4.
  • New: [2 Cost] Give a friendly minion of each type +3/+3.

Perfect Vision

  • Old: [2 Cost]
  • New: [1 Cost]

Wave of Gold

  • Old: Give your minions +3/+2. Give Golden ones another +3/+2.
  • New: Give your minions +3/+3. Give Golden ones another +3/+3.

Natural Blessing

  • Old: Choose a minion. Give all minions that share a type with it +2/+1.
  • New: Choose a minion. Give all minions that share a type with it +2/+2.

Trinket Changes

Trinket Pool Changes
Lesser Trinket Pool Changes
Removed
  • Spell-powered Wrench
Greater Trinket Pool Changes
Removed
  • Quilligraphy Set
  • Fridge Magnet
  • Writhing Tentacles
Trinket Cost-Only Changes
Lesser Trinket Cost Increases
  • Training Certificate: 3 → 4
  • Bloodbound Earrings: 1 → 2
  • Hoggy Bank: 0 → 1
  • Jewelry Box: 0 → 1
  • Herding Horn: 3 → 4
  • Bazaar Sticker: 1 → 2
  • Glass of Perspective: 2 → 3
  • Warcry Totem: 4 → 5
Lesser Trinket Cost Decreases
  • Sunken Anchor: 6 → 5
  • Rockin' Music Box: 1 → 0
  • Magician's Top Hat: 2 → 1
  • Reflective Pendant: 6 → 5
  • Explorer's Binoculars: 1 → 0
  • Token of the Old Gods: 2 → 1
  • Chromatic Tear: 3 → 2
  • Putricide Sticker: 1 → 0
  • Conch Portrait: 5 → 4
  • Baller Portrait: 2 → 1
  • Yogg-Tastic Pastry: 5 → 3
  • Volumizer Portrait: 3 → 2
  • Sellemental Portrait: 4 → 3
  • Booty Bay Brew: 2 → 0
Greater Trinket Cost Increases
  • Sludge Portrait: 5 → 7
  • Blood Golem Sticker: 5 → 6
  • Snarky Portrait: 2 → 4
  • Trailblazer Sticker: 4 → 5
  • Beatboxer Portrait: 6 → 7
  • Glass of Perspective: 3 → 4
  • The Eye of Sargeras: 5 → 6
  • Maldraxxus Dagger: 6 → 7
  • Surprise Portrait: 5 → 6
Greater Trinket Cost Decreases
  • Boom's Monster Portrait: 6 → 4
  • Volumizer Portrait: 3 → 1
  • Jarred Frostling: 2 → 0
  • Czarina Portrait: 1 → 0
Trinket Text Changes
Lesser Trinkets

Wand of Divination

  • Old: [0 Cost] After you cast 3 spells on minions, gain 1 Gold. (3 left!)
  • New: [2 Cost] After you cast 2 spells on minions, gain 1 Gold. (2 left!)
  • Dev Comment: Now banned in Quill lobbies.

Cursed Crystal

  • Old: [3 Cost] After the Tavern is Refreshed, give its minions +3/+3 this turn.
  • New: [2 Cost] After the Tavern is Refreshed, give its minions +2/+2 this turn.

Weighted Gauntlet

  • Old: [Lesser Trinket] At the end of your turn, give your minions +1/+1. (Doubles at the start of each turn!)
  • New: [Greater Trinket] At the end of your turn, give your minions +7/+7. (Doubles at the start of each turn!)

Reusable Batteries

  • Old: The first time you buy a minion each turn, get a Magnetic Satellite with its stats.
  • New: After you buy a minion, get a Magnetic Satellite with its stats. (Twice per turn)

Quartermaster's Hook

  • Old: After you spend 50 Gold, replace this with a random Greater Pirate Trinket. (50 Gold left!)
  • New: After you spend 40 Gold, replace this with a random Greater Pirate Trinket. (40 Gold left!)

Stuffed Coin Purse

  • Old: When you reach Tier 6, gain 12 Gold.
  • New: When you reach Tier 6, gain 14 Gold.

Mama Bear Sticker

  • Old: Whenever you summon a Beast, give it +6/+6.
  • New: Whenever you summon a Beast, give it +7/+7.

Nerglish Phrasebook

  • Old: [0 Cost] After you play a minion, give the left-most minion in your hand +3/+3.
  • New: [1 Cost] After you play a minion, give the left-most minion in your hand +5/+5.

Lucky Tabby

  • Old: After 7 friendly minions die, get a random Beast. (7 left!)
  • New: After 6 friendly minions die, get a random Beast. (6 left!)

Inductive Gyroblade

  • Old: At the end of your turn, get a 4/4 Magnetic Satellite. (Improved by each Tavern spell you've cast this turn!)
  • New: At the end of your turn, get a 6/6 Magnetic Satellite. (Improved by each Tavern spell you've cast this turn!)

Dragonhead Staff

  • Old: After 13 friendly minions attack, replace this with a random Greater Dragon Trinket. (13 left!)
  • New: After 11 friendly minions attack, replace this with a random Greater Dragon Trinket. (11 left!)

Stormcoil Sticker

  • Old: After 6 friendly minions die, get a random Mech. (6 left!)
  • New: After 5 friendly minions die, get a random Mech. (5 left!)

Bob-blehead

  • Old: Gain 2 Gold. The Tavern no longer offers cards from Tier 1 or Tier 2.
  • New: Gain 3 Gold. The Tavern no longer offers cards from Tier 1 or Tier 2.
Greater Trinkets

Beetle Band

  • Old: [5 Cost] Avenge (7): Summon two 2/2 Beetles. Give them Taunt.
  • New: [4 Cost] Avenge (8): Summon two 2/2 Beetles. Give them Taunt.

Maw Caster Portrait

  • Old: [5 Cost] Get a Maw Caster. Whenever you destroy a minion outside combat, gain 2 Gold.
  • New: [1 Cost] Get a Maw Caster. Whenever you destroy a minion outside combat, gain 1 Gold.

Heart of the Forest

  • Old: Your Tavern spells give an extra +1/+1. After you cast 6 Tavern spells from hand, improve this. (6 left!)
  • New: Your Tavern spells give an extra +1/+1. After you cast 5 Tavern spells from hand, improve this. (5 left!)

Gold Mallet

  • Old: At the end of your turn, give your minions +4/+2. (Improved by Golden minions you've played this game!)
  • New: At the end of your turn, give your minions +4/+4. (Improved by Golden minions you've played this game!)

Miniature Ship

  • Old: After you cast a Tavern spell, give your Pirates +3/+3.
  • New: After you cast a Tavern spell, give your Pirates +4/+4.

Jar o' Gems

  • Old: [0 Cost] After 2 friendly minions attack each combat, this plays a Blood Gem on all your Quilboar. (2 left!)
  • New: [3 Cost] After a friendly Quilboar attacks each combat, this plays a Blood Gem on all your Quilboar.

All-Purpose Kibble

  • Old: [2 Cost] Whenever a friendly Beast attacks, give it +3 Attack and permanently improve this.
  • New: [4 Cost] Whenever a friendly Beast attacks, give it +4 Attack and permanently improve this.

Nerglish Phrasebook

  • Old: [1 Cost] After you play a minion, give the left-most minion in your hand +6/+6.
  • New: [2 Cost] After you play a minion, give the left-most minion in your hand +10/+10.

Inductive Gyroblade

  • Old: [0 Cost] At the end of your turn, get a 12/12 Magnetic Satellite. (Improved by each Tavern spell you've cast this turn!)
  • New: [2 Cost] At the end of your turn, get a 20/20 Magnetic Satellite. (Improved by each Tavern spell you've cast this turn!)

Portable Factory

  • Old: [0 Cost] Discover a Tier 5 minion with a type. At the start of each turn, get another copy of it.
  • New: [2 Cost] Discover a Tier 6 minion with a type. At the start of each turn, get another copy of it.

Sky Golem Portrait

  • Old: Get a Falling Sky Golem. Start of Combat: Give your minions "Deathrattle: Give your minions +2/+2 permanently."
  • New: Get a Falling Sky Golem. Start of Combat: Give your minions "Deathrattle: Give your minions +3/+3 permanently."

Secret Schematic

  • Old: After you buy a Mech, get a random Tavern spell.
  • New: After you buy a Mech, get a random Tavern spell that costs (2) or more.

Trusty Crowbar

  • Old: Whenever you get a Pirate, give your left-most minion +16/+16.
  • New: Whenever you get a Pirate, give your left-most minion +20/+20.

Booty Bay Brew

  • Old: Whenever you spend Gold, give two friendly Pirates +6/+6.
  • New: Whenever you spend Gold, give two friendly Pirates +8/+8.

Dark Gifts

Dark Gift Text Changes

Fresh Perspective

  • Old: Can be offered on turns 3-5.
  • New: Can be offered on turns 4-5.

Desecration

  • Old: Has +3/+3 for each card you've discarded this game.
  • New: Has +3/+2 for each card you've discarded this game.

Incubation

  • Old: +4/+4. In 2 turns, double this minion's stats.
  • New: +6/+6. In 2 turns, double this minion's stats.

Battle Scars

  • Old: Can be offered on turns 7-10.
  • New: Can be offered on turns 7-9.

Hostility

  • Old: Start of Combat: Double this minion's Attack.
  • New: +15 Attack. Start of Combat: Double this minion's Attack.

Resistance

  • Old: Start of Combat: Double this minion's Health.
  • New: +15 Health. Start of Combat: Double this minion's Health.

Charisma

  • Old: Can be offered on turns 7-11.
  • New: Can be offered on turns 7-10.

Golemancy

  • Old: Can be offered on turns 9-11.
  • New: Can be offered on turns 9-12.

Toughened Shield

  • Old: Can be offered on turns 3-6; Whenever you play a card, gain +3 Health.
  • New: Can be offered on turns 3-5; Whenever you play a card, gain +2 Health.

Sharpened Sword

  • Old: Can be offered on turns 3-6.
  • New: Can be offered on turns 3-5.

Worship

  • Old: Can be offered on turn 12.
  • New: Can be offered on turn 11.

Other Dark Gift Changes
  • Relentless Deflector can no longer be offered with Furtiveness.
  • From turn 7 onward, you will be offered at least 2 minions of your most common type.

General Battlegrounds Changes

  • Animations for multiple Living Azerites in play have been consolidated.