23.2.1 Patch Notes - Arena Balance Changes & Bugfixes
Blizzard posted about some Server-side Hotfixes and Bug fixes, that will NOT need client downloads, that will be available later today.
Quote from BlizzardPatch 23.2.1, a server-side hotfix patch available later today, includes several adjustments to Arena and bug fixes across game modes.
Arena Changes
Several micro-adjustments were made to the appearance frequency of certain class cards. Some overperforming Neutral cards have had their appearance frequency reduced.
Additionally, the following cards will no longer be able to be drafted:
- Acidmaw
- Am'gam Rager
- Bolf Ramshield
- Eerie Statue
- Evolved Kobold
- Frozen Mammoth
- Helmet Hermit
- Horn of Wrathion
- Lock and Load
- Nat, the Darkfisher
- Naval Mine
- Package Runner
- Power Word: Glory
- Silithid Swarmer
Developer Comment: This Arena season, the gulf between the best and worst performing classes has been particularly wide. To bring class win rates into an acceptable range, we are using a new form of card appearance frequency balancing. This method is still under development, but the team is rolling out a version now to address immediate issues. This method is a work in progress, and more adjustments will follow if this round falls short of our goals.
Additionally, we are removing some weak cards and low-performing synergy cards from Arena. We hope these changes reduce the number of draft picks with no good options. Long term, we want build-around cards and synergy decks to be viable strategies, but we need an Arena environment designed to support that goal. The team is exploring options now.
This is the start of a new era for Arena. Going forward, the team is committed to a planned balance update shortly after each Hearthstone content patch, plus additional balance updates as needed.
Bug Fixes
- Fixed a bug causing Call of the Grave and Nine Lives to stop fully functioning.
- Fixed a bug on the website Card Library that prevented Spellcraft from appearing as a keyword.
- Fixed the text error showing the Mercenaries N’Zoth event was ending within an hour.
- Fixed a bug that caused errors when attempting certain Bounties.
- Fixed a bug that caused inaccurate tracking of the sixth N’Zoth event Task. Now the Task will correctly be completed once you’ve triggered 10 Deathrattles during the Dragonbone Golem fight (note: the Task is to trigger all 10 Deathrattles during the boss fight, not throughout the entire Bounty).
- Fixed a bug that caused the Duels Treasure, Academic Research, to not give any mana crystals.
- Fixed a bug causing a small number of players to see the “playful sprites” error message when attempting to login.
I wouldn't call it new. Jackasses have been floating this horseshit around for forever.
This patch is not live right? Frozen Mammoth can still be drafted
If Arena is going to be used as a testing ground then this "new era" better involve free casual arena runs.
I wonder when they'll fix Barbed Nets on mobile.
A little bit of synergy is nice, but I think we already kind of had that. Maybe they can make naga and spells appear more consistently, but what makes arena fun, laid back and flexible (deck building wise) is that no class really has the option to rule with synergy. On the other hand, shaman and mage had some busted shit going in alterac without concrete synergy going, until the mixed dragon package opened up to more classes and a lot of wyrmrest disciples :p
I wonder if they also fixed the feature that it is impossible to draft even a single legendary to your deck if you've stopped paying actual money for the game.
is this a new conspiracy theory?
Sad times for Duels enjoyers.
I'm glad that they are paying attention to the Arena, and announced changes are welcomed, but this is very worrying:
I will never get tired of repeating: the more synergies in the Arena, the worse it is for the Arena. This is the only mode where there are not so many synergies, it's one of its biggest benefits, and yet they try to feed us with synergies again. Can't we leave at least one mode where there are few synergies? Some players (crazy ones, I know) like to see yetis on board eating spider tanks, not a worsened version of constructed, like Duels.
Totally agree. What I love about arena is, that you see cards there which you would never see in constructed. For example the lone champion 2/4 who gets divineshield+taunt if he is the only minion on your side. Or the boulderfist ogre. Just cards which are good on their own. Not those type of "win more" cards.
Give us Naga fix , BG is unplayable right now. People are leaving this game mode very quickly
as they have always left befor first round taht has nothing to do wit Naga/murlocs being only buildable stuff
People are leaving games quickly because they want the new hero