While we already knew that a balance update should be coming next week, we now have a more straightforward confirmation, with some numbers. Alec Dawson just shared on Twitter that balance patch will be coming next week. We don’t know the exact date or contents yet, we have some info about the numbers.
According to Game Designer Alec Dawson, the patch will have 5 nerfs and… 10 buffs. That’s right – it’s been a while since the last time we’ve seen any buffs, but I think that it’s something the meta needs right now. Some classes are clearly underperforming even compared to the middle of the pack, so just nerfing the few best ones won’t make enough of an impact to balance the meta fully.
We’ll post the exact changes as soon as they’re announced. And if they aren’t – we’ll have a speculation post going more in-depth into the cards that could see both nerfs and buffs.
Had some great balance talks over the last few days. 5 nerfs, 10 buffs in next week’s patch. Looking to bring up some underperforming classes/archetypes, there’s some spicy stuff.
— Alec Dawson (@GW_Alec) May 7, 2021
Update:
Okay, so we do have so me info after all. According to interview with Alec Dawson, two Neutral cards are getting targeted, including one… Murloc. I’m pretty sure no one knows what that Murloc could be, right? I guess it will remain a mystery until the official announcement…
According to a community interview with @GW_Alec, 2 Neutral cards will be nerfed, including a murloc. And Barrens Blacksmith in bgs will be removed. https://t.co/5BRnjSNdHk
— ZelKnow (@ZelKnow) May 7, 2021
I personally think Shaman is in a good spot right now. It is one of the five classes that I play with. I would like to see Mage and Paladin class identity reworked. They had been pushing random Mage for awhile now -lunacy, reno, puzzle box, turtle. There is no skill with those cards. Paladin always gets the overpowered and boring cards, imo. Also it is just not fun ever playing against secrets of any class. Unfun mechanic.
Curious – what are you running? I have had some luck with Aggro Shaman with a good mulligan but it feels handicapped to me. The class seems all over the place right now and Wild is just as bad unless you go Murlocs – and that’s a tier 2 deck at best. This isn’t me being a smartass – i love Shaman and wonder what is working for others.
Fun to see many buffs!
Well we all know Crabrider is screwed and Paladin will take a gut punch or two. I think Warrior will survive if they don’t touch Samuro but that card is getting a LOT of play in Warrior and Priest.
My educated guess on buffs, judging from Boomsday, which had a good spread between rarities (with legendaries and epics getting much of the buffs back then):
– Shaman buffs for sure. I don’t think they’ll touch any old-style “Spell Damage” cards (sorry, Ras Frostwhisper) but i could see a 1–mana reduction for Inara Stormcrash as reasonable. It’s hard to say what they will buff as the class just lacks direction right now. Murlocs, Elementals, Totems… where are we headed?
– Warlock is hurting so he will get buffs. I just hope it’s not the “empty deck” theme cards they buff because… gross.
– I could also see… never thought i would say this… DH getting buffs as well. The whole Deathrattle package has potential but just isn’t strong enough in current form.
– It may be time for Refreshing Spring Water to get a nerf. Two cards for zero mana in Spell Mage just feel broken.
– Both of Druid’s legends are not meta this cycle. Maybe one of those will get a cost reduction or a stat buff? (They often buff the cards that have low play rates, that’s kind of the point.)
– Rogue will be untouched. The class has several playable builds and a good toolset right now even after the Jandice Barov nerf.
– Priest is slow right now but playable. The legendaries are strong however so i expect lower-rarity buffs. Whether they touch Samuro could be key. Some cards from the “healing” theme of Priest (Lightshower Elemental, maybe?) could get buffed but that is risky, because those cards make Xyrella more effective. People are really hating on control this cycle.
– Hunter may be fine though i would keep an eye on Kolkar Pack Runner.
– Warrior will be fine if they don’t touch Samuro. Could hurt it if the card gets hit.
– Another mana increase for Sword of the Fallen, (2 mana for 2 secrets is still quite good), perhaps even for Hand of Adal as well. Paladin’s draw engine and deck thinning are quite strong right now.
I’m in favor to buffs but I hope they have learned from their previous mistakes. Luna Galaxy at five it’s the most cancer card ever printed.
I have been wondering why they haven’t done any buffs since boomsday (not reverts) , especially for standard, I haven’t really seen anyone else bringing this up on any forum either so I am pleasently surprised to see that buffing standard cards wasn’t a one-off thing.
Hopefully shaman will be at least half decent and if it is, hopefully they won’t put it back in the garbage tier after two weeks.
Yeah, I prefer buffs, they give you more cards to try.
They did buff a few during Ashes of Outland too, but it certainly could be nice to see them more frequently, especially since they’re generally much less disruptive than nerfs.
Yeah Shaman is a dumpster fire right now. They need to just buff the whole class at this point.
Crabrider 1/3, Hand of A’dal 2/1 or 1/2, Tickatus 7 mana, Incantor’s Flow 3 mana, Mankrik’s wife to 6-8 health. They won’t nerf Priest and that will be a mistake with Tickatus nerfed.
They will buff all the caravans’ health. I also expect some buffs to Shaman and maybe one to Warlock. Would be cool to see some zoo again.
You heard it here first!
Damn only one week before myabe some of the decks I’m trying might become mjeeeeeee. xD
classic hearthstone. announcement of announcement
Well played.