24.4.3 Patch Notes - Balance Changes For Constructed & Battlegrounds
Blizzard just released the Patchnotes for the upcoming Patch. It features Balance changes for Constructed & Battlegrounds.
Quote from BlizzardPatch 24.4.3 is a data-only client patch, scheduled for October 13, that includes the following updates and bug fixes:
Hearthstone Updates
Dev Comment: The meta is relatively stable right now, with just a few outliers. Our goal with this patch is to reduce frustration and give weaker decks a bit more breathing room by reducing the overall power level of Hunter.
The one notable outlier that is not getting changed, but which we are keeping a close eye on, is Prince Renathal. He is powerful and popular, but we don’t want this patch to completely shake up the meta, because we have something fun coming in Patch 24.6 and we want to see how Renathal performs in the next expansion before making changes to him.
The following cards have been adjusted down in power:
Theotar, the Mad Duke
- Old: Costs 4
- New: Costs 5
Dev Comment: Theotar is a defining card in the current meta. He plays an important role in giving players agency against powerful late-game plays, but he can also be very frustrating to lose to. We don’t want him to be one of the most popular cards in the next expansion, and our goal with this change is to lower his playrate across all ranks. If his playrate doesn’t drop significantly with this change, we’ll evaluate further changes at the next opportunity.
Stag Spirit Wildseed
- Old: 5 Attack, 4 Health
- New: 4 Attack, 3 Health
Bear Spirit Wildseed
- Old: 2 Attack, 5 Health
- New: 2 Attack, 4 Health
Harpoon Gun
- Old: After your hero attacks, Dredge. If it’s a Beast, reduce its cost by (3).
- New: After your hero attacks, Dredge. It it’s a Beast, reduce its cost by (2).
Dev Comment: Hunter has been the most popular and arguably the most powerful class in the game for some time, especially in lower ranks. These changes are meant to address some of the sharper play patterns this class is capable of, while simultaneously lowering the overall class power level.
The above craftable cards, as well as Spirit Poacher, Stag Charge, Wild Spirits, and Ara’lon will be eligible for full dust refunds for two weeks following Patch 24.4.3.
Battlegrounds Updates
Dev Comment: This is a smaller update, as we’ve spread our recent changes across the last few hotfix patches. Battlegrounds players should expect a bigger Battlegrounds update with the next major patch, Patch 24.6.
Hero Update
Fungalmancer Flurgl – Gone Fishing
- Old: Passive: After you sell 4 minions, get a random Murloc.
- New: Passive: After you sell 5 minions, get a random Murloc.
- Fungalmancer Flurgl has been moved from Armor Tier 1 (0 Armor) to Armor Tier 4 (4-7 Armor)
Quest Reward Update
The Smoking Gun
- Old: Your minions have +5 Attack.
- New: Your minions have +4 Attack.
- The Smoking Gun is now easier to earn.
Minion Updates
Nether Drake
- Old: [Tavern Tier 2] 0 Attack, 4 Health
- New: [Tavern Tier 3] 1 Attack, 5 Health
Twilight Emissary
- Old: [Tavern Tier 3] 4 Attack, 4 Health
- New: [Tavern Tier 2] 3 Attack, 3 Health
Bug Fixes and Game Improvements
- [Battlegrounds] Fixed a bug where Dark Force Malygos was not able to be claimed or equipped.
The only reason this card sees as much play as it does is because it's the cheapest and most powerful disruption in the game. Decks that have no business running disruption usually, like aggro, would run this guy simply because it'd fuck the opponent over for cheap. To say his play rate isn't going to drop is actually dumb, but we'll see.
Theotar can single handedly win games. An increased mana cost of 1 won't change that. In the very least I'd like to see it's discovery functionality to include duplicate cards. I'd wager that the majority of the player base would be perfectly fine with the card if that were the case.
What? Did you just suggest that Agro decks should never run tech in any given meta? You're probably the same kind of player that thinks control is stupid...
Teching and changing deck lists is a good sign of a healthy evolving meta, this includes agro decks.
It will reduce the use rate, not because of the actual mana change, but because they nerfed it at all - it now qualifies for a refund, which tons of people will do. Simply removing it from many people's collections will lower its use rates.
Why would I even want to disenchant it, only stupid people would do that.
Huh, I was expecting the most powerful disruption in the game to become a 6 mana 5/5 or have his effect nerfed. Well, this'll still hit his play rate by atleast 8% because it's much harder to play a 5 mana brick than a 4 mana one.
Also, he's out of Even deck range, which is sad for Even Shaman and Warlock.
I'd appreciate it if they nerf more hunter cards too, I'll take the dust gladly.
I think he could even be 8-9 mana with stats 8/8. Current nerf is BS.
Na lower his stats even mor just to make his affect what it is worth.
Okay, then make it 6 mana 0/1 minion :D