Hearthstone Patch 7.1: Arena – Update brings radical changes

Changes are coming to the Arena in Blizzard’s online card game Hearthstone .

Recently, we reported on the changed plans for the “Year of the Mammoth” in Hearthstone. Classics like Ragnaros and Sylvanas are leaving the Standard format. However, this will not occur for a few weeks, when the new set is released: it is speculated for early April. But a new patch is likely coming next week.

So far, the Arena has existed somewhat detached from the rest of Hearthstone and has rarely been changed. However, with the February patch, a series of changes will be implemented. In the Arena, a lot is left to chance. Players are presented with a selection of 3 cards and must then choose one card to build their deck. The hero is also chosen randomly.

The criteria for which cards will be available to players will be significantly changed with the next patch. The cards will be shuffled once again.

The next patch brings major changes to the Arena of Hearthstone

Here’s how the Arena will change with 7.1:

• The format will switch from Wild to Standard – there will be fewer sets to choose from. And with the onset of the “Year of the Mammoth,” more sets will be rotated out. This will allow effects like the Jade Golem or synergy effects with Mechs to play a role in the Arena.
• Furthermore, “common and basic cards” will appear less frequently (those are the white ones). This creates more room for rare, epic, and legendary cards.
• Two cards will be available about half as often as now. These are the board clears Flamestrike and Abyssal Enforcer (a 3-damage to all Warlock minions card). These are the so-called board clears that empty the board.
• Spells will be more frequently available. It should be approximately 50:50 between minions and spells.
• Neutral minions from the Classic set will become rarer. They tend to be often textless and hence a bit boring.

Patch 7.1 and all these changes are expected “by the end of February.” It looks like a patch will come next week.

Further changes expected to come with patch 7.1 include card nerfs for two popular rush cards in Hearthstone:

Hearthstone Patch: Nerfs for Pirates and Shaman are coming, Ranked is changing