A lot of changes are happening in Hearthstone. Many classes are getting weaker – but the Mage is significantly improved.
The release of the expansion “Sundered in Alterac Valley” in Hearthstone was only just under 2 weeks ago. However, the developers are apparently already dissatisfied with the balance, as the first patch has now been released. A total of 13 cards have been changed. Most changes are nerfs, but especially Mages can rejoice.
What nerfs are there? A lot. A total of 6 classes are receiving downgrades to make their most successful decks a little less effective.
The Druid spell “Celestial Alignment” will be more expensive. The mana cost will increase from 7 to 8, making it usable only later.
The Paladin minion “Alliance Banner-Bearer,” which draws a minion and gives all minions in hand +1/+1, loses one health point. With the loss of that health point, it becomes vulnerable to most hero powers and can be easier to eliminate.
Rogues will have to accept a downgrade of the “Eddizienter Okto-bot.” It will now cost 3 mana instead of just 2. Thus, it can be played later and used less efficiently in combos.
The Shaman minion “Snowdrift Watcher” has proven to be too strong. Not only does it freeze all other minions, but it also receives +1/+1 for each frozen minion. This can now only be done for 6 mana instead of 5.
The Warlock spell “Touch of the Nathrezim” will also be weakened, albeit only slightly. The healing when killing the minion has been reduced from 4 to 3 health points.
But Warlocks will suffer even more. The “Runed Mithril Rod” will now cost more, with its mana cost rising from 4 to 5. As a result, it can only be played later, thus gaining relevance only in the later game.
Warriors must make do with a weaker “Bloodsail Deckhand”. It loses one health point, making it more susceptible to hero powers and weaker minions or spells.
The neutral minion “Ironshank Min’trogg” is also being adjusted. Instead of summoning a copy of this minion when the opponent casts a spell, another Trogg is summoned instead. This means that the summoned Trogg no longer takes on the stats of the other card and comes in its standard form of 1/2.
Another adjustment is made to the neutral minion “Mo’arg Constructor.” Its mana cost increases by 1, but it also gains one health point. Ultimately, this should reduce the devastating combo potential of some life-steal and area spells.
What buffs are there? In terms of buffs, particularly Mages are the shining winners, but Hunters are also getting a little help. A total of 3 Mage cards are being improved.
The Grey Warden Parrot, a Mage minion, is being adjusted. Instead of costing 8 mana and having stats of 6/6, it now only costs 6 mana and has stats of 4/5. Since its Battlecry is really the valuable part – after all, it repeats a spell that cost 5 mana or more – this is clearly a buff.
The Mage hero card “Magister Dawngriff” will also improve. Its cost decreases to 7 and at the same time, the new hero ability also gets better. Instead of dealing only 1 damage, it will now deal a standard 2 damage.
The third adjustment for the Mage is the Flamestrike. Instead of “increasing hero power damage by 1,” the card now gets the addition “in this game.” As a result, the bonus also remains when switching hero powers – for example, through Magister Dawngriff.
Lastly, there is a buff for the Hunter hero card, Beastmaster Tavish. The new ability gained by the hero “Summon Companion” is reduced from 3 mana to 2 mana.
What effects do the nerfs have? This will likely only become clear over the coming days. So far, it seems that the changes have mainly improved Mages, who will now be represented much more frequently. Other classes, such as Warriors, Warlocks, or Druids, already had very solid decks that have become a little weaker due to the adjustments.
What do you think of the changes? Good and sensible innovations? Or has your favorite class become unplayably bad due to the nerfs?
