Hearthstone Battlegrounds patch notes confirm new heroes update

A new Hearthstone update has been released today bringing some big changes to the Battlegrounds Mode.

Blizzard is set to launch a major patch for the game next week as part of the Decent of Dragons release.

This will include changes to Battlegrounds Mode as well as adding the new card expansion to the game.

But today has seen more changes made to Battlegrounds before the big December 10 release date.

New heroes have been added to the Battlegrounds Mode, which means there are new Hero Powers to exploit and plan for.

Demons and Mechs have been the dominant builds in the mode’s early days and Blizzard is continuing to make changes.

This includes balance tweaks as well as adding new Heroes to the game and removing some for good measure.

This week sees the release of Edwin Vancleef, Sylvanas Windrunner, and Arch-Villain Rafaam.

You can read about their Hero Powers below and it would seem that Vanvcleef might prove a popular choice moving forward.

Edwin Vancleef

Sharpen Blades – Costs 1. Give a minion +1/+1 for each minion you’ve bought this turn.

Sylvanas Windrunner

Banshee’s Blessing – Costs 0. Remove a friendly minion to give adjacent minions +1/+1.

Arch-Villain Rafaam

I’ll Take That! – Costs 1. Next combat, add a plain copy of the first minion you kill to your hand. (Note: this is an unbuffed, non-golden copy.)

Blizzard has also confirmed that there are few heroes returning this week, including Millificent Manastorm and Lich Baz’hial.

And there are also a list of Heroes leaving Hearthstone Battlegrounds this week, including Patches the Pirate, Bartendotron, Pyramad, Professor Putricide, and Trade Prince Gallywix.

Blizzard has also taken the opportunity to add two new minion cards this week, including King Bagurgle and Floating Watcher.

King Bagurgle is a Tier 5 card and can give your other Murlocs 4+4 for an endgame showdown. This could prove useful if you level up fast and get lucky with his Majesty popping up enough to give you a three-card upgrade.

Floating Watcher is Tier 3 and provides a 4+4 boost whenever your hero takes damage. This could prove great for players who hit a rough patch and start taking heavy damage.

Other balance changes for Hearthstone Battlegrounds can be found via the patch notes shared by Blizzard:

• Minions
  • Lightfang Enforcer
    • At the end of your turn, give a friendly Mech, Beast, Murloc and Demon +2/+2. → At the end of your turn, give a friendly Mech, Beast, Murloc and Demon +2/+1.

• Heroes
  • Millificent Manastorm
    • Tinker
      • All Mechs in Bob’s Tavern get +1/+1. → All Mechs in Bob’s Tavern get +1 Attack.
  • Patchwerk
    • All Patched Up
      • Starts at 60 Health. → Starts at 50 Health.
  • A. F. Kay
    • Procrastinate
      • Skip your first 2 turns. Start with a minion from Tavern Tier 3 and Tavern Tier 4. → Start with two minions from Tavern Tier 3.
  • The Rat King
    • King of Beasts
      • Whenever you Hire a Beast give it +1/+2. Swaps type each turn. → Whenever you Hire a Beast give it +1/+1. Swaps type each turn.
  • Lich Baz’hial
    • Graveyard Shift
      • Get a Coin and take 3 damage. → Get a Coin and take 2 damage.
  • The Great Akazamzarak
    • Prestidigitation
      • Will now be harder to get Ice Block consecutively.
      • Removed Hand of Salvation as a possible secret.