Hearthpwn

Everyone here knows the common rules of and surrounding our beloved game Hearthstone. Details like that every player has his own hero with 30 health points each or that each minion has attack and health points are things I don't really need to tell you about.

As mentioned in the headline I want to talk about other another type of rules - unwritten ones. Everyone who played some matches on his own, watched some pros play on their streams or browsed the web knows them.

You can't find those rules in your typical guide on how to play the game, you have to discover those gems. Sometimes we love them, sometimes we just nod indifferently at them and sometimes we even curse them.

My hope with this thread is that we are able to gather as many unwritten rules as we can in this thread. So I want you to share your unwritten rule with us!

The "rule" doesn't have to be objectively true, it sure is enough when it just seems to be true all the time the mentioned rule somehow applies in certain situations. Also I would like to count the rules. Also the rule doesn't have to be about playing the game only. It can also revolve around the whole periphery of HS!

I would appreciate it that you don't post the same rule twice, so please ensure before posting that your rule hasn't been mentioned yet!


So, let's start it off:

1. Every time you play Flame Juggler when your opponent has a 1-health minion, the effect of this card changes to "Battlecry: Deal 1 damage to the enemy hero." --- by Traambone

2. Every time you use Imp-losion on a 3 health minion, it will roll two. --- by tomnov

3. Every time you play Leeroy Jenkins and your opponent has a Knife Juggler, both knifes will hit Leeroy. --- by tomnov

4. When Brann Bronzebeard is in play and you have two spots open on your board, playing Mind Control Tech, when the opponent has only four minions, will destroy the minion you took. --- by CypherBenkes

5. Brann Bronzebeard[card]'s ability does not stack when you have two in play, but [card]Baron Rivendare's effect does stack when you have two in play. --- by CypherBenkes

6. Heroes can go below 0 health and be healed back to life. --- by Komorebi3

7. The game checks for deaths before deathrattles resolve (example: Zombie Chow and Hellfire when on low health) --- by Komorebi3

8. Sideshow Spelleater cannot copy PvE Adventure Boss abilities. [/card]Rend Blackhand[/card] cannot destroy unplayable legendary minions. --- by CypherBenkes

9. Warrior always has "Win axe" (Fiery War Axe) in starting hand. --- by Hanzo0712

10. Drawing into Beneath the Grounds tokens when Varian Wrynn is played will put any minions drawn into your hand instead of on the board because pulling a token interrupts the draw from Varian by introducing another draw effect. --- by CypherBenkes

11. If your deck contains a Kezan Mystic you cant play against mages and she will always in your starting hand. After you remove her your opponents will be mages and hunters. --- by metehan2399

12. Playing Lord Jaraxxus when any secrets are in play that alter or damage health (like Repentance) will affect the new starting health total. --- by CypherBenkes

13. Battlecries do not trigger before the minion enters play. It goes like this: 1. Minion enters play - 2. Battlecry triggers - 3. Minion is considered summoned --- by Asuryan

14. Sacrificial Pact can kill Lord Jaraxxus (even in hero form). --- by Giorgioksk

15. When an enemy is in fatigue and has Mal'Ganis in play; if you try to destroy him with Naturalize, the enemy hero won't take fatigue damage. First, the cards are being drawn, then the minion is destroyed. --- by Giorgioksk

16. It's ALWAYS, FREAKING. HUFFER. --- by YogoWafelPL

17. To get a legendary you need to write the name of the minion you want with the pack on the opening screen then pray to our lord and saviour RNGesus --- by Saachiela - doesn't know what to do with all those legendaries he/she gets

18. Warrior always plays Justicar Trueheart turn 6 unless you are the Warrior. In that case Justicar is in your last 5 cards. --- by Rudkos

19. The packs you get after an atrocious run in Arena have improved odds of getting an Epic or Legendary. --- by Traambone

20. RNGesus hates you when you have a winstreak. You'll lose multiple times even if your deck counters the opponent's and playing with another class/deck wont help at all. --- by Giorgioksk

21. Boom Bot. Azure Drake. R.I.P. (this has originally been a comment with images instead of text) --- by SnowWhiteOo

22. When your opponent plays a Leper Gnome (or any 1 health minion really) on turn one and you answer with Arcane Missiles, all 3 missiles will hit the enemy's face. --- by Lord_Tyyranus

23. Hunter will always be SMOrc. --- by SirNightmare99

24. Your Imp-losion is always 2, theirs is always 4. --- by futhead_y1ggy

25. Priests always wait to take your best minion. We secretly always copy your legendary cards too. --- by Shadow_Dcord

26. All effects triggered from the death of a minion will play out in the order in which they were put into play, regardless of type of effect. For example, if your opponent plays Haunted Creeper and afterwards you equip Death's Bite and proceed to kill Haunted Creeper with your last weapon hit, the Spectral Spiders die from the deathrattle. If the playing order of the cards has been the other way round, this wouldn't have happened. --- by RocknCrom and Traambone

A collection of actual card (and hero power) effect texts:

Emperor Thaurissan: At the beginning of your opponent's turn, destroy this minion.
Arcane Missiles: Destroy an enemy Shade of Naxxramas.
War Golem: Battlecry: Summon two 1/1 Wisps. WARNING: Wisps do NOT explode.
Counterspell: Secret: When you opponent plays The Coin, counter it.
Warsong Commander:
Sneed's Old Shredder: Deathrattle: Summon Majordomo Executus.
Confessor Paletress: Inspire: Summon Majordomo Executus.
Piloted Shredder: Deathrattle: Summon Doomsayer or Lorewalker Cho. If you have Auchenai Soulpriest, summon Mistress of Pain instead. If your opponent has Shield Slam in his hand, summon Wrathguard instead.
Mysterious Challenger: Battlecry: Your opponent concedes.
Fireball. Deal 6 damage. Always at the bottom of your deck.
Grim Patron: Battlecry: Discard your hand, fill your board with 3/2 Grim Patrons and put a Flamestrike in your opponent's hand.
Arcane Golem: Charge. Can only attack heroes.
Auchenai Soulpriest: Battlecry: Deal 4 damage to ALL minions.
Dark Peddler: Battlecry: Add Power Overwhelming to your hand.
Force of Roar (9 mana): Summon three 4/2 Treants with Charge, and give your hero +2 Attack.
Muster for Battle: Equip a 1/4 weapon, summon three 1/1 minions and deal 3 damage ""randomly"" split among all enemies.
Unleash the Hounds: For each enemy minion, summon a 1/1 Hound with Charge and deal as much damage ""randomly"" split among all enemies.
Spellslinger: Add a Totemic Might to your hand and a Pyroblast to your opponent's hand.
Kel'Thuzad: Always wins Brawls. If your opponent had Sylvanas Windrunner before the Brawl, concede instead.
Millhouse Manastorm: Battlecry: Gain 400 dust.
Justicar Trueheart: Battlecry: Replace your Hero Power with 'Gain 4 Armor' or 'Restore 4 Health'.
Totemic Call: Summon a Stoneclaw Totem.
Elise Starseeker: Put a Map to the Golden Monkey at the bottom of your deck.

--- ALL submitted by CheeseEatingSurrenderMonkey (before the introduction of Standard and Wild) ---


Flamecannon/Deadly Shot/Sabotage: Destroy an enemy Silver Hand Recruit.
Unstable Portal: Put Emperor Thaurissan to your hand. It costs (3) less.
Flamewaker: Battlecry: Deal 10 damage to the enemy hero.
Avenge: Secret: When one of your minions dies, give +3/+2 to Mysterious Challenger.
Murloc Knight: Inspire: Summon another Murloc Knight.
Dark Cultist:
Soulfire: Discard a Doomguard.
Brawl: Destroy all minions except the last one summoned this turn.
Faceless Manipulator: Take control of an enemy Ragnaros the Firelord.
Burgle/Nefarian: Battlecry: Destroy Lord Jaraxxus.

--- ALL submitted by AK45 (before Standard and Wild) ---


Tirion Fordring: Battlecry: Flip a coin. If heads, win. If tails, silence this minion.
Reno Jackson: "Well fought. I concede."
Dr. Boom: Battlecry: Win.
Wobbling Runts: Battlecry: "Let me change your mind."
Deathwing: Battlecry: Discard your hand and destroy all minions. Put a BGH in your opponent's hand.
Avenging Wrath: Deal 8 damage to your opponent, unless you're pushing for lethal.
Millhouse Manastorm: Battlecry: Put every spell in your opponent's deck into their hand.

--- ALL by SDhn2a ---


Bolf Ramshield: This card can't be chosen as an attack target. --- by Traambone
Soulfire: Deal 4 damage to the enemy hero, discard your win condition. --- by devcrom3

Flamestrike: Destroy all enemy minions. If you BM afterwards, your opponent concedes.
Knife Juggler: Whenever you play Muster for Battle or Unleash the Hounds, deal 3 damage to the enemy hero.
Dr. Boom: Summon 2 1/1 Boom Bots. When they die, they deal 4 damage to your opponent.
Big Game Hunter: Destroy Dr. Boom.

--- ALL by SirNightmare99 ---

Battlecry's trigger before the minion enters play

minions can die and then be buffed/healed, but heroes cannot (e.g. Hellfire zombie chow when u are on 1 hp. You die)

every time you use Imp-losion on a 3 health minion it will roll 2

every time you play Leeroy Jenkins and you opponent has a Knife Juggler, both knifes will hit leeroy 

When Brann Bronzebeard is in play, and you have two spots open on your board, playing Mind Control Tech when the opponent has only four minions will destroy the minion you took.

Brann Bronzebeard's ability does not stack when you have two in play, but Baron Rivendare's effect does stack when you have two in play.

Quote from Coincedence >>

Battlecry's trigger before the minion enters play

minions can die and then be buffed/healed, but heroes cannot (e.g. Hellfire zombie chow when u are on 1 hp. You die)

Sideshow Spelleater cannot copy PvE Adventure Boss abilities. Rend Blackhand cannot destroy unplayable legendary minions.

Warrior always has "Win axe" in starting hand.

(btw this thread can easily go into salty direction)

If you have two or less health, attacking the opposing hero with Gladiator's Longbow when the opponent has Explosive Trap will kill you.

Quote from CypherBenkes >>

Sideshow Spelleater cannot copy PvE Adventure Boss abilities. Rend Blackhand cannot destroy unplayable legendary minions.

Quote from Little_Muffin >>

Quote from CypherBenkes >>

Sideshow Spelleater cannot copy PvE Adventure Boss abilities. Rend Blackhand cannot destroy unplayable legendary minions.

 I was heart broken when I heard about this one :(

Drawing into Beneath the Grounds tokens when Varian Wrynn is played will put any minions drawn into your hand instead of on the board because pulling a token interrupts the draw from Varian by introducing another draw effect.

If your deck contains a Kezan Mystic you cant play against mages and she will always in your starting hand. After you remove her your opponents will be mages and hunters.

Playing Lord Jaraxxus when any secrets are in play that alter or damage health will affect the new starting health total.

Quote from Coincedence >>

Battlecry's trigger before the minion enters play

Quote from Asuryan >>

Quote from Coincedence >>

Battlecry's trigger before the minion enters play

 That's not true. It goes like this:

1. Minion enters play
2. Battlecry triggers
3. Minion is considered summoned

Read this for more detail:
http://hearthstone.gamepedia.com/Advanced_rulebook#Playing.2Fsummoning_a_minion

Quote from CypherBenkes >>

If you have two or less health, attacking the opposing hero with Gladiator's Longbow when the opponent has Explosive Trap will kill you.

Sacrificial Pact can kill Lord Jaraxxus (many players dont know about this)

When an enemy is in fatigue and has Mal'Ganis in play; if you try to destroy him with Naturalize, the enemy hero won't take fatigue damage, even though he should (aka first draws, then Mal'Ganis gets destroyed)

It's ALWAYS. FREAKING. HUFFER.

To get a legendary you need to write the name of the minion you want with the pack on the opening screen then pray to our lord and saviour rngesus.

You just gotta believeeeeee

It's always Huffer.

Every Warrior starting hand has the War Axe.

If your Auchenai Soulpriest dies along with your Zombie Chow, it will heal the enemy hero.