Hearthstone Patch 23.2.2: nerfs, buffs, Battlegrounds updates and more

The latest Hearthstone patch features nerfs, buffs, Battlegrounds updates and more. Launched on Thursday, Hearthstone Patch 23.2.2 also includes a couple of minor changes to the Duels game mode.

Standard nerfs and buffs

Drek’Thar, Multi-Strike and Dragonbane Shot received nerfs in the latest Hearthstone patch. If Drek’Thar costs more than every minion in a player’s deck, then his Battlecry summons one minion from the player’s deck instead of two. Meanwhile, the cost of Multi-Strike and Dragonbane Shot increased by one mana.

According to the announcement, players have two weeks after Hearthstone Patch 23.2.2 to get full dust refunds for the craftable cards. This means only the normal version of Drek’Thar is eligible, and players who have the Diamond Drek’Thar at the time the patch went live can receive 3,000 upon login.

As for the buffed cards in the Standard game mode, Xhilag’s Stalk, which is a part of Xhilag the Abyss, now deals two damage to an enemy as opposed to one damage. Harpoon Gun got buffed in terms of its mana discount feature. After a hero attacks, it activates the Dredge keyword. If the player dredges up a Beast, then the minion’s cost gets reduced by three instead of two.

Next, Pet Collector received updated stats, becoming a 4/4 instead of a 3/3. Azsharan Saber and Sunken Saber changed from 3/3 minions to 4/3 ones. Blackwater Behemoth, Whirlpool, Shadowcloth Needle, Tooth of Nefarian, Tess Greymane and Dragged Below all experienced a single mana reduction. Wildpaw Gnoll, Hench-Clan Burglar, Sira’kess Cultist, Azsharan Scavenger, Sunken Scavenger and Bloodscent Vilefin changed in terms of mana and stats.

Additionally, Serpent Wig and SI:7 Smuggler received updated Battlecry text:

• Serpent Wig: Old: Give a minion +1/+1. If you played a Naga while holding this, add a Serpent Wig into your hand. → New: Give a minion +1/+2. If you played a Naga while holding this, add a Serpent Wig into your hand.
• SI:7 Smuggler: Old: Battlecry: Summon a random 0-Cost minion. (Improved for each other SI:7 card you have played this game). → New: Battlecry: Summon a random 1-Cost minion. (Improved for each other SI:7 card you have played this game).

Hearthstone Battlegrounds updates and more

Fungalmancer Flurgl’s Gone Fishing hero power got nerfed in Hearthstone Battlegrounds. The passive now requires the player to sell two minions instead of one before Bob’s Tavern receives a random Murloc. Meanwhile, the armor tiers of several heroes were adjusted. Malygos, Queen Azshara, Edwin VanCleef, Deathwing, Skycap’n Kragg and Onyxia were among them.

As for the minion changes in Hearthstone Battlegrounds, Snail Cavalry, Lava Lurker, Shoal Commander, Orgozoa, the Tender, Darkgaze Elder, Tidemistress Athissa, Critter Wrangler and Young Murk-Eye got nerfed.

Stormscale Siren, in particular, changed tavern tiers and have updated stats. Blizzard noted that the text update got rephrased, meaning it’s not a functional change.

• Stormscale Siren: Old: [Tavern Tier 3] 5 Attack, 4 Health. At the end of your turn, your Spellcraft minions cast their spells on themselves. → New: [Tavern Tier 5] 6 Attack, 5 Health. At the end of your turn, you cast your Spellcraft minions’ spells on them.

As for the Duels game mode, the latest Hearthstone update removed the Dragon Affinity passive treasure. Patch 23.2.2 also tuned the synergy rules for the Fire spell school’s passive treasures plus the Emerald Goggles.