(Update: Patch should be live now on PC. It might take a while longer to be released on mobile.)
Blizzard has just announced a balance update. Two Constructed + one Battlegrounds cards are getting changed. The patch will drop later today, January 8. Here’s a full list of changes:
- Edwin VanCleef – Now costs 4 mana (up from 3). (Update: Edwin will get HoF’d at the end of this Standard year with its nerf reverted)
- Boggspine Knuckles – Now has 3 attack (down from 4).
- Elistra the Immortal – Now is a 4/4 (down from 7/7).
While the Knuckles nerf was obvious, I’m kind of surprised that it was only nerfed so slightly. Yes, the difference between 3 and 4 attack is noticeable, mostly because you will no longer be able to play Knuckles and drop 0 mana Dread Corsair on the same turn before hitting, but I wonder if that’s enough. In the best-case scenario, the deck will still be good, but no longer dominate the meta. I guess we’ll find out soon, can’t really dismiss nerfs before they’re out and tested.
And I honestly can’t believe that they’ve finally pulled the trigger on Edwin nerf. It basically became a meme in the community, everyone was asking for Edwin nerf / HoF for such a long time, but it never happened. The card has been the strongest Classic Legendary for a long time and auto-include in Roue for the last couple of years. It became even more powerful lately with the introduction of Foxy Fraud (which allows some crazy outcomes, like 10/10+ Edwin as early as Turn 1). On the other hand, it’s been such an iconic Legendary, and often the first thing that came to mind when talking about Rogue in Hearthstone. I think that Rogue did deserve a nerf too (even more so if Shaman gets nerfed – the class would then start dominating the meta instead), but I thought about targeting Foxy Fraud instead or maybe even Prize Plunderer in addition. Many Rogue players will be in shambles now.
And finally, Elistra has been a very common sight in Battlegrounds ever since Patch 19.2. While it wasn’t necessarily the best minion to have in every late game build, Elistra’s base stats were so high that getting it early would produce a massive spike in power. Most of other “lots of stats” T6 cards like Ghastcoiler or Imp Mama often rely on RNG to produce good outcomes, but thanks to the DS + Reborn combo, Elistra was consistently powerful. Nerfing it to 4/4 is pretty harsh, but it will keep the card’s functionality in late game warbands (the difference between 4 and 7 attack is not that big anyway if minions have 50+ health at times) without giving that big power spike right after Discovering it.
You can check out official patch notes here.
And here’s a quick visual roundup of the changes:
So far the knuckles nerf has been really ineffective. It only reduces the interaction with Dread Corsair, which is far from the most problematic/powerful interaction in the deck. If they truly wanted to balance the card they would have reduced durability by 1.
All weapon durability is always 2 at minimum.
Considering other aspect of the weapon itself, devs pointed out that the nerf is intended to reduce shaman ability to put pressure on board with cards like Dread Corsair, allowing opponent some time to counter.
Plus, even if it’s not too significant, the total damage from 2xKnuckles + 2xPillager is reduced by 4 damage, to 28.
I honestly don’t know what they’re thinking. These nerfs do absolutely nothing without buffing all the trash classes… The weapon nerf specifically seems really ineffective
The attack reduction is a good hit, makes it slightly less effective to deal with boards without the broom (mana increase would be a bigger nerf, but at least the deck remains playable this way). Edwin mana increase is just a big tempo loss for Rogue, one doesn’t need to explain more. More decks will be able to stand up against these two now (imo warrior will dominate)
edwin isn’t the only card that makes rogue strong and the weapon having 1 less damage doesn’t influence the deck that much since they can generate a stupid amount of stats with all the minions they create anyway
Disagree.
Weapon attack reduction make unplayable 0 mana 3 3 taunt. and it is a big deal. Evolve shaman doesnt have good early game play. And now it will have really bad winrate against fast tempo decks like face hunter,zoo lock etc. All ppl gonna see that in a short period of time.
Edwin was win more card in current rogue decks. And with nerf it is gonna lose some percentages. Thats is the meaning of balance update instead of making cards or class like in past.