Hearthstone launches patch 22.0.2 with balance updates and more

Hearthstone launched Patch 22.0.2 on Monday featuring balance adjustments, Battlegrounds changes and a Mercenaries update.

Standard card updates

For standard mode, a bunch of cards received power adjustments. These include Celestial Alignment, Alliance Bannerman, Efficient Octo-bot, Snowfall Guardian, Touch of the Nathrezim, Runed Mithril Rod, Bloodsail Deckhand, Irondeep Trogg and Mo’arg Artificer.

• Celestial Alignment: Old: [Costs 7] → New: [Costs 8]
• Alliance Bannerman: Old: 2 Attack, 2 Health → New: 2 Attack, 1 Health
• Efficient Octo-bot: Old: [Costs 2] → New: [Costs 3]
• Snowfall Guardian: Old: [Costs 5] → New: [Costs 6]
• Touch of the Nathrezim: Old: Deal 2 damage to a minion. If it dies, restore 4 Health to your hero. → New: Deal 2 damage to a minion. If it dies, restore 3 Health to your hero.
• Runed Mithril Rod: Old: [Costs 4] → New: [Costs 5]
• Bloodsail Deckhand: Old: 2 Attack, 2 Health → New: 2 Attack, 1 Health
• Irondeep Trogg: Old: After your opponent casts a spell, summon a copy of this. → New: After your opponent casts a spell, summon another Irondeep Trogg.
• Mo’arg Artificer: Old: [Costs 2] 2 Attack, 4 Health → New: [Costs 3] 2 Attack, 5 Health

Hearthstone players have two weeks to get a full dust refund for these cards. The only exception is Bloodsail Deckhand because it’s a card from a Core Set.

Mage and hero card updates

According to the developers, some adjustments are being made to buff Mage decks and less powerful hero cards. Beaststalker Tavish, Grey Sage Parrot, Magister Dawngrasp and Wildfire received the following changes:

• Beaststalker Tavish: Old: [Hero Power Costs 3] → New: [Hero Power Costs 2]
• Grey Sage Parrot: Old: [Costs 8] 6 Attack, 6 Health → New: [Costs 6] 4 Attack, 5 Health
• Magister Dawngrasp: Old: [Costs 8] → New: [Costs 7]
• Magister Dawngrasp: Old: Hero Power: Deal 1 Damage. Honorable Kill: Gain +2 Damage. → New: Hero Power: Deal 2 Damage. Honorable Kill: Gain +2 Damage.
• Wildfire: Old: Increase the damage of your Hero Power by 1. → New: Increase the damage of your Hero Power by 1 this game.

Hearthstone Battlegrounds balance changes

As for Hearthstone Battlegrounds, several heroes and minions received updates. These heroes include Sneed and Tamsin. Other characters had armor tier changes as well.

Sneed and Tamsin details:

• Sneed’s Replicator: Old: [Costs 1] → New: [Costs 2]
• Fragrant Phylactery Old: [Costs 0] Start of Combat: Destroy your lowest Health minion. Give its Health to all your others. → New: [Costs 1] Start of Combat: Destroy your lowest Health minion. Give its stats to all your others.

Armor tier changes:

• Sneed: Armor Tier changed from Tier 1 (0 Armor) to Tier 2 (2-5 Armor)
• Scabbs Cutterbutter: Armor Tier changed from Tier 2 (2-5 Armor) to Tier 1 (0 Armor)
• Cariel Roame: Armor Tier changed from Tier 6 (6-9 Armor) to Tier 7 (7-10 Armor)
• Deathwing: Armor Tier changed from Tier 4 (4-7 Armor) to Tier 5 (5-8 Armor)
• Millificent Manastorm: Armor Tier changed from Tier 3 (3-6 Armor) to Tier 5 (5-8 Armor)
• Overlord Saurfang: Armor Tier changed from Tier 6 (6-9 Armor) to Tier 7 (7-10 Armor)
• Patches the Pirate: Armor Tier changed from Tier 3 (3-6 Armor) to Tier 2 (2-5 Armor)
• Trade Prince Gallywix: Armor Tier changed from Tier 4 (4-7 Armor) to Tier 2 (2-5 Armor)

As for minions in Hearthstone Battlegrounds, Prized Promo-Drake changed from a 5/5 to a 3/3 and Dazzling Lightspawn changed from a 4/5 to a 2/5.

Mercenaries and more

For Hearthstone Mercenaries, all heroic Level 20 bounties now have at least one pile of Legendary Coins. This is part of the bounty completion rewards.

Moreover, Abominable Lieutenant can no longer be selected in the Arena game mode in Hearthstone Patch 22.0.2.