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Update 11:57PM EDT: Added blue tweets.

Leeroy Jenkins & Starving Buzzard Changes Confirmed

Earlier this morning, some people noticed changes to Leeroy Jenkins and Starving Buzzard. These changes were quickly reverted on the server side but it seems that they were intended changes and will be going live on or around September 22nd.

Quote from Zeriyah

Both before and after the release of Curse of Naxxramas: A Hearthstone Adventure, we have been monitoring card balance as more Hearthstone games are played along with the new cards that have been added. After careful consideration we have decided to make balance changes to Leeroy Jenkins (Neutral) and Starving Buzzard(Hunter). 

The following balance changes will be made in an upcoming patch:

• Leeroy Jenkins now costs 5 (up from 4)
• Starving Buzzard now costs 5 (up from 2) and now has 3 Attack and 2 Health (up from 2 Attack and 1 Health)

Leeroy Jenkins created a strategy that revolved around trying to defeat your opponent in one turn without requiring any cards on the board. Fighting for board control and battles between minions make an overall game of Hearthstone more fun and compelling, but taking 20+ damage in one turn is not particularly fun or interactive. This was occurring when Leeroy was used in combination with other cards like Power Overwhelming, Faceless Manipulator, Cold Blood, Shadowstep, and Unleash the Hounds, among others.

The amount of cards Starving Buzzard allowed Hunter players to draw ultimately ended up being too excessive for its low cost. This change will allow the Hunter’s opponent more time to react to both the Starving Buzzard and the cards drawn by its power.

Expert cards that are being changed can be disenchanted for their full cost for a limited time once this balance change goes live. The currently targeted date of this balance change is September 22nd. 

After these balance changes go live on September 22nd, we will not be making additional card changes between September 22nd and the Hearthstone World Championship at BlizzCon.

We will continue to make balance changes to Hearthstone only when we feel they are completely necessary in order to increase the variety of cards seen at all levels of play and make Hearthstone a more fun and interactive game for everyone.

Blue Tweets

Twitter, and the rest of the Hearthstone community outlets have been on fire this evening with questions and various emotions. Below are some important tweets from the Hearthstone team on the nerfs.

Quote from Blizzard on Twitter

I cant stop thinking how Buzzard nerf is just too much, I believe in your balance team but this seems like a overnerf.
It's possible. But if I had to choose a card to over-nerf, it'd be buzzard! :) (But we'll see, time will tell!)
Coupled with maybe Hunter's Mark from 0 to 1 mana cost.
Didn't want to change too much right now. It's important that game feels stable. - Ben Brode (Source)

You say it's possible that the Buzzard nerf is overkill. Does that mean you'd be open to a buff later if the change kills hunters?
I don't think this will kill hunters :) - Ben Brode (Source)

My thoughts on Buzzard nerf: Gadegetzan Auctioneer is a 4/4 for 5. Buzzard is 3/2 for 5. Similar abilities. Can't buzzard be 3 health @ 5mana?
We tested lots of numbers and this felt best :) - Ben Brode (Source)

Buzzard, 2 or 3 mana, 2-1 "Whenever a beast dies, draw a card." - what's wrong with going this route?
Our balance team tried a lot of options - we feel pretty good about the one we settled on. Give it a try! - Ben Brode (Source)

Can Leeroy be a 7/2 for 5 please I'm kinda gonna miss him
He's still around! - Ben Brode (Source)
You're right still good at 5 mana

Why no Flare nerf? i wanna play my secrets pally already.
Buzzard nerf is indirect flare nerf. You might see less Hunter, which means you run into flare less.
Also, less Hunters might mean less reason to run flare for remaining hunters, since less secrets to run into.
That said, we are still looking at Flare. It's possible we could see a change to it in the future, if it's still frustrating. - Ben Brode (Source)

Buzzard should be 2/1 for 3 battlecry draw a card. Draw 2 if you have a beast in play
That's a pretty different card. We could make that card, too! It's very different, emotionally, though. - Ben Brode (Source)

Just to clarify, we will get to disenchant these for full value after the changes, right?
Buzzard is basic and cannot be disenchanted. Leeroy can be disenchanted for full cost once the change goes live. - Zeriyah (Source)