Patch 18.0 - Scholomance Academy, Game Improvements, Battleground Changes & Legendary Quest Chain
Blizzard just announced patch notes for Patch 18.0, which adds Scholomance Academy into the game, Game Improvements, Battleground Changes & Legendary Quest Chain.
Updated information in the cardback section.
There are some parts that weren't included in patch notes
- New weapon frames are available in-game
- There are 2 new cardbacks
- Ranked September 2020 (left) - This cardback was created in the "Cardback creation live-stream by Luke Mancini"
- Ranked October 2020 (right)
- [NEW] Cupcake cardback will apparently be available for purchase when the expansion launches next week
Quote from BlizzardToday’s 18.0 patch includes a smattering of Battlegrounds updates and game improvements. Its arrival means Hearthstone’s newest expansion, Scholomance Academy, is almost here! All Scholomance Academy cards have officially been revealed and while you can't use the new cards until they’ve unlocked on August 6, you can get a head start on building your launch day decks with our online deck builder!
Battlegrounds Updates
NEW HERO
Mr. Bigglesworth
- Kel’Thuzad’s Kitty [Passive]
- When a player dies, Discover a minion from their warband. It keeps any enchantments.
Players with Battlegrounds Perks will have early access to Mr. Bigglesworth before the hero is formally released on August 13.
NEW MINIONS
Menagerie Mug
- [Tier 2] 2 Attack, 2 Health
- Battlecry: Give 3 random friendly minions of different minion types +1/+1.
Menagerie Jug
- [Tier 4] 3 Attack, 3 Health
- Battlecry: Give 3 random friendly minions of different minion types +2/+2.
REMOVED MINIONS
- Zoobot has been removed from Battlegrounds
- Menagerie Magician has been removed from Battlegrounds.
Game Improvements & Miscellaneous Updates
- Class-specific weapon frames have been added to every weapon in Hearthstone.
- Scholomance Academy cards will be added to Arena when the expansion unlocks on August 6.
- Free decks for new and returning players have been updated (recipes can be found here).*
- Returning players no longer need to complete the returning player experience to claim their free deck.
- Poisonous damage now has a special poison damage indicator and effect.
- Pressing the Hide button on mobile when making a card choice in-game will now also hide the banner that describes the choice, no longer obscuring vision of the opponent’s armor total.
- Spells created by Evocation will now disappear at the same time at the end of the turn instead of one by one.
- Target indicators will now more accurately represent an opponent’s target selection when aiming a Battlecry or targeted spell.
- Removed a delay from the damage effect for Mad Bomber and Demolisher.
- Reduced the delay between casting Plot Twist and its shuffling animation.
- Fixed a bug where Galakrond, the Tempest was showing the upgrade animation over the deck upon the fourth Invoke.
- Fixed a bug where heroes would not slot back into their portraits correctly after attacking.
- Fixed visual display issues with Deathwing’s Battlegrounds hero power.
- Battlegrounds summon speed improvements for Pack Leader and Mama Bear have been re-introduced.
* Limited one per account. A returning player is defined as one who has not logged into Hearthstone for 120 consecutive days.
Free Class Legendary & Launch Quests
Starting August 6, players will receive a random Scholomance Academy Legendary class card just for logging in, and can complete a chain of Legendary Quests to earn a total of six Scholomance Academy card packs!** Quests will be initially available on the following dates:
- August 6, 10:00 AM PT / 19:00 CEST: Play 25 Cards in Play mode to earn 2 Scholomance Academy card packs.
- August 7, 10:00 AM PT / 19:00 CEST: Play 20 Spells in any mode to earn 2 Scholomance Academy card packs.
- August 8, 10:00 AM PT / 19:00 CEST: Win 3 games any mode to earn 2 Scholomance Academy card packs.
** Limit one random Legendary class card per account. Must log in by October 27 to claim.
Haven't played it yet, but Mr Bigglesworth doesn't seem very good.
* It does nothing until someone dies. Because you're essentially playing a powerless hero up until that point, that's more likely to be you than literally any other hero, as even the worst hero that actually has a power has some advantage over a completely vanilla character.
* Even when it does do something, it's a crapshoot. Getting a ready made minion is definitely good, but not only is it pretty random just how good that minion is, but it may not have any synergy with your own warband.
* With the previous point, the lack of synergy might be fine if you end up getting something with enough stats to include anyway - but the people who die earlier are more likely to have weaker minions with less buffs.
I honestly think it will end up in tier 4. Not having a hero power until the mid/late game is pretty crippling, and it makes you rely more on lucky tavern rolls than basically any other hero - then on top of tavern roll luck, you're hoping on discovered minion luck when your hero power finally does go off.
Edit: apparently keeping enchants also means staying golden (if it was), and apparently when you play said golden minion, you also get a triple treat. That could be enough to make the hero viable. It's still uncomfortable playing a powerless hero until the midgame at earliest, but if you top 4 you're probably getting 2-3 free golden minions off the hero power, which makes it end up being as good as Eudora (though slightly weaker in that you're not getting the first by turn 5).
Played biggles three times. Your assessment is spot on for me so far. Getting rekt early on with no advantage (at least Krag can choose if they are desperate). One person even sold their whole war and before dying because they saw they were losing (hella spiteful). I did once have a nice turn and got 2 people dying at once and getting some Goldens and nice discovers. However I do have to say my mid range boards in all of these plays were just awful and I obviously blame rng not my skill
Menagerie changes do nothing against Divine Shield Poisonous Murlocs with Brann and Megasaur...
Free legendary is back
kinda disapointed they didn't adress the megasaur in the room
Probably because now i'm used to a better standard, since hearthstone is now only the side card game for me (actually i'm playing more battlegrounds than constructed...). But i guess i'm asking too much, god forbid bli$$ard go bankrupt by allowing the players to choose a class legendary to get for free...
Damn, after getting Transfer Student I wasn't expecting a free legendary, really nice.
Anything about the new game mode?
Maybe 3 month later. New game mode it will be adventure with only basic cards.
Note - Don't play Transfer Student. On the new board, it has the effect of adding a dual class card to your hand, but since the scholomance cards aren't out yet, it just does nothing and ends up being a 2/2.
Yet, another variance making Transfer Student unique and interesting to play :D
Well played, Hearthstone team.
Mr. Bigglesworth should have a special interaction when he battles ghost Kel'Thuzad
OH MY GOD, MUG AND JUG! MUG AND JUUUG!!! I might be overreacting but I love the silverware.
Cool Murlocs still haven’t been addressed, and Mr. Bigglesworth is already a top tier hero. God dammit Battlegrounds.
Ok that was what I needed to know. Golden minions are 100% worth being at a disadvantage early on.
Sick artwork on the cups. Great changes overall.
ain't those from Karazhan adventure?
It's the same as in the adventure!
Why the fuck can't you pick which legendary to get? I only play priest so i'm only interested in Illucia.