Patch 18.0.2 - Balance Changes - Kael'thas, Illucia & Battlegrounds
Blizzard announced the first Balance changes for Scholomance Academy, including some Balance changes for Battlegrounds.
Tuesday Update: Patch now LIVE.
Quote from Alec DawsonMindrender Illucia was quite strong, stronger than what we want out of cards like Mindrender Illucia (Star Student Stelina, Glide, etc.). We expected players to continue to learn how to take advantage of her, especially in the early game.
Quote from Alec DawsonKael'thas Sunstrider created too many turns that didn't feel like they should be possible. This change is aimed at eliminating some of those non-games that could occur because of his ability.
Quote from BlizzardIn the coming days we’ll be releasing a balance patch that includes a slew of Battlegrounds updates, adjustments for two minions in Standard, and handful of bug fixes.
Standard Balance Updates
Kael’thas Sunstrider
- Old: Every third spell you cast each turn costs (0). → New: Every third spell you cast each turn costs (1).
Mindrender Illucia
- Old: [Cost 2] → New: [Cost 3]
Mindrender Illucia will be eligible for a full dust refund for two weeks after the 18.0.2 patch goes live.
Battlegrounds Minion Updates
- Gentle Megasaur has been removed from the Battlegrounds minion pool.
- Arcane Cannon has been removed from Battlegrounds minion pool.
Rabid Saurolisk
- Old: 3 Attack, 2 Health → New: 4 Attack, 2 Health
Rat Pack
- Old: [Tier 2] → New: [Tier 3]
Pack Leader
- Old: [Tier 3] → New: [Tier 2]
Monstrous Macaw
- Old: 3 Attack, 2 Health → New: 4 Attack, 3 Health
Primalfin Lookout
- Old: [Tier 5] → New: [Tier 4]
- Now only Discovers minions from your current Tavern Tier or below.
Nat Pagle, Extreme Angler
- Old: Overkill: Summon a 0/2 Treasure Chest. → New: After this attacks and kills a minion, add a random minion to your hand.
- Minions generated are from your Tavern Tier or below.
Mama Bear
- Old: [Tier 6] 5 Attack, 5 Health. Whenever you summon a Beast, give it +5/+5.→ New: [Tier 5] 4 Attack, 4 Health. Whenever you summon a Beast, give it +4/+4.
Goldrinn, the Great Wolf
- Old: Deathrattle: Give your Beasts +4/+4. → New: Deathrattle: Give your Beasts +5/+5.
Battlegrounds Hero Updates
- Lady Vashj has been removed from the Battlegrounds Hero pool.
Captain Eudora
- Buried Treasure
- Old: Dig for a Golden minion! (4 Digs left.) → New: Dig for a Golden minion! (5 Digs left.)
Reno Jackson
- Gonna Be Rich!
- Old: [Cost 2] → New: [Cost 0]
The Lich King
- Reborn Rites
- Old: [Cost 1] → New: [Cost 0]
Galakrond
- Galakrond’s Greed
- Now freezes the minion added to Bob’s Tavern.
Bugs Fixes & Game Improvements
- Fixed a visual bug with Archwitch Willow’s play animation.
- Fixed a bug where Southsea Strongarm was showing incorrect art.
- Fixed a bug where casting Puzzle Box of Yogg-Saron with Rattlegore on board would cause the game to freeze.
- Fixed several technical bugs that would cause the game to crash.
Must be a nerf for tournament only.
I feel like poisonous was a bigger problem than divine shield, but should still be good. No longer discovering higher-tier Murlocs seems like a good change, too. Want an Amalgadon? Level to 6.
Getting rid of Arcane Cannon is great. That thing sucked, and added way too much RNG and swings to early turns.
Beast changes seem OK.
Galakrond change I really love. Now you don't have to freeze a board of bad minions to keep upgrading one. It'll be interesting to see if it works out as a highroll strategy.
Man, I have six(!) surplus Sorcerer's Apprentices waiting to be dusted... Can we please nerf them?
I'm guessing both the constructed nerfs are based on the performances at GM where Illucia seemed strong.
I don't understand the Galakrond freeze effect? I can HP and then roll the rest of my turn and that minion stays there or something?
Assuming it's similar to the imprison effect but you can buy it or unfreeze it if you want.
They care more about Battlegrounds than they do about HS itself, why Battlegrounds wasn't a separate game still boggles my mind.
Reno's heropower has been through quite a journey.
Meh, think Kael should have just been "THE third spell you cast each turn costs (0). Druid still has way too many tools to make use of it even with this change.
I'm fine with the Illucia nerf... since she was my free legendary so easy 1600 dust
Really happy with all these BG changes. Eudora is no longer a glorified A.F.K., the stupid RNG from Cannon and megasaur is finally gone, Lich King got a huge buff, basically everything that I wanted to see. Looking forward to go back to this mode.
Totally agree with you. But remember this is a game for kids. I mean... Secret Passage is still there...
Sad, they care more about Battlegrounds than Ladder.
I guess you are a standard player. Because in wild Illucia was insane in razakus priest.
It makes your anti aggro priest deck also beat combo. There are very few ways to counter it. I still think it’s OP, because I will definitely still keep her.
Reno's hero power going from 4 to 3 to 2 to 0 is funny to me for some reason.
I'd say murlocs are still playable. You just can't give them divine shield anymore and poison to all of them at once. You can still give them sick stats with brann, especially with the primalfin nerf. We'll see how this plays out. The beast buffs seem fine, should make them more playable now at least.
Can anyone say when will these be live? Can't find it here.
Thoughts: great nerfs and battleground changes. Totally agree with them.
I hope Blizz reverts these nerfs once in the wild
Hell no. I don't want more cancer Kaelthas turns against a druid or crazy combo disruption turns against Illucia.