Blizzard has just announced Battlegrounds Season 4, which is releasing alongside a huge update, the biggest one so far in terms of minion changes. While we don’t get a new minion type or a completely new big mechanic (in fact, Buddies are gone once again), instead we’re getting a huge minion shake-up. Every minion type is getting multiple new minions (as well as some changes to the currently existing ones), often adjusting the way the whole tribe is played.
Another big update relates to keywords. Say goodbye to Poisonous and welcome Venomous. The new keyword, on top of being technically more correct, works the same way as Poisonous with one caveat – it only works once (like Divine Shield, for example). The first minion you damage in combat gets destroyed. While the small Poisonous minions that died after one hit won’t really get affected much, now strategies that aim at building high health minions with Poisonous will no longer work. Additionally, “Mega-Windfury” is gone and triple Windfury minions will just have Windfury. This is to stay in line with all the other keywords that don’t get buffed by tripling a minion.
We’re also getting a new Hero (Rockmaster Voone) as well a new minion mechanic – Upbeat Minions. Those have ongoing effects, but ones that trigger every few turns instead of every turn. They start very slowly but their effects are generally pretty strong.
Importantly, unlike other updates, this one will release in phases. First we start with Playtest Preview event on May 4 – Battlegrounds content creators from around the world will gain early access to the update, although with a limited minion pool. Then Season 4 will launchi on May 9 with 6 minion types available. The last four minion types will be added over the next two weeks. Blizzard will also drop detailed “dev talk” videos that discuss the changes as they go out.
To celebrate the update, Twitch drops will be active. You can get a new Brann Bronzegill Hero skin for watching any Hearthstone Twitch stream for an hour between May 9 and May 16.
Learn more about the update from the blog post below:
Battlegrounds Season 4 is coming soon, with Patch 26.2. Starting on May 9, Buddies are taking a break and E.T.C.’s World Tour is coming to Battlegrounds, with a new hero and a stadium full of new minions!
New Hero – Rockmaster Voone
Voone is the frontliner to the show, and he’s ready to rock! Every third turn, his passive Hero Power gives you a plain copy of the left-most card in your hand. Time the beat to get your best card in perfect harmony!
New Upbeat Minions
Voone’s not the only upbeat artist hitting the stage. “Upbeat” minions are minions that have special effects that trigger every few turns that they’re in play. The longer you have them in play, the more times their effects trigger. These minions really put the “band” in your “warband”!
Keyword Updates – Poisonous, Venomous, and Windfury
We’re updating some keywords in Battlegrounds Season 4. Poisonous is being removed from Bob’s Tavern to be replaced with a new Battlegrounds keyword: Venomous! During each round of combat, the first minion that is damaged by a Venomous minion is instantly destroyed. You can think of Venomous like Poisonous, but it only triggers once (like Reborn and Divine Shield). We’re excited to see how this swap from Poisonous to Venomous will change up the Tavern.
Additionally, we’re removing Mega-Windfury from Battlegrounds. From now on, when a Windfury minion is tripled, it will still have normal Windfury. Windfury was the only Keyword that resulted in a “double-buff” when the minion is tripled, so we think taking that interaction out will make the game more consistent and open up space for us to explore in the future.
Massive Minion Type Remix
In Season 4, we’re remixing and revamping our entire Battlegrounds minion pool. 59 minions are being removed from the minion pool! In their place, we’re introducing 58 new minions and bringing back 3 returning minions! We’re also updating several of the minions that are sticking around. You can see what all the minion types will be up to, below.
Beasts
Beasts are switching up their pack with new ways to summon Beasts in combat and give combat buffs, plus, Azeroth’s best wrapper alive.
Murlocs
Murlocs are seeing a few shifting tides. They are subbing out Poisonous for the new Venomous keyword, and are getting some new handbuff synergies—allowing them to swarm their enemies from even beyond the board.
Dragons
Dragons are back with lots of new instruments, emphasizing Battlecries and in-combat buffs.
Elementals
Elementals are rocking, frosting, and gusting onto the scene with lots more ways to buff your shop, buff your warband, and promote lots of buying and selling elementals.
Naga
Naga are deep in the blues, and drowning in even more spell and Spellcraft synergies than before.
Undead
The shambling Undead are back with a few more options, keeping with the themes of minions dying and being summoned in combat.
Pirates
Pirates have a new crew that’s even more obsessed with getting and spending Gold than ever before.
Demons
Demons have even more ways to reward you with power, if you’re willing to pay the price.
Quilboar
Quilboar are picking up even more Blood Gems and Blood Gem synergies than before.
Mechs
Mechs are more Magnetic than ever before, with extra bonuses that stack up as you play. Magnets, they’re so metal.
Neutrals
And this crew has everything you need to harmonize with your chosen minion types and make your warband really sing.
Battlegrounds Track Refresh
On May 9, Battlegrounds Season 3 will end and Season 4 will begin. At that point, players will switch over and begin earning rewards on the new Season 4 Battlegrounds Track. Any rewards that were already earned from the Season 3 Battlegrounds Track, but not yet claimed, will be automatically claimed on your behalf.
The Season 4 Battlegrounds Track includes rocking new E.T.C.-themed and musical cosmetics. Pick up the Season Pass to instantly get +2 Hero options at the start of each game. Then, unlock all stages of the new E.T.C.’s World Tour Legendary Strike as you progress along the Track, earn up to 15 additional Hero Skins throughout the Season, and more!
Level XP To Level Cumulative XP Free Reward With Season Pass 1 0 0 2 Hero Slots 2 20 20 E.T.C.’S Main Stage (Rare Board) 3 20 40 Applauding E.T.C (Rare Emote) 4 20 60 World Tour (Rare Strike) 5 30 90 Punk-Pop Vol’jin (Rare Hero Skin) 6 30 120 Happy Blingtron (Rare Emote) 7 30 150 Tavernwave Tavish (Rare Hero Skin) 8 30 180 Mister Mukla (Legendary Hero Skin) 9 40 220 Merch Manager Silas (Rare Hero Skin) 10 40 260 Kragg Love (Rare Emote) 11 40 300 Mixmaster N’zoth (Epic Hero Skin) 12 50 350 E.T.C., King of Rock (Legendary Hero Skin) 13 50 400 Vanndar Stormpipes (Rare Hero Skin) 14 50 450 MC Scabbs, No (Rare Emote) 15 50 500 Doom Symphony (Rare Strike) 16 60 560 Glitch_CoilST0RM.ini // Glitchvibe Ini (Rare Hero Skin) 17 60 620 Whistling Mukla (Rare Emote) 18 60 680 The Pyramp 3000 // Pyramplifier (Epic Hero Skin) 19 60 740 Radnar Horns (Rare Emote) 20 60 800 Paparazzo Gro’kan (Rare Bartender) 21 60 860 Enhance-o-musician (Rare Hero Skin) 22 60 920 DJ Manastorm (Rare Emote) 23 60 980 Country Kragg (Epic Hero Skin) 24 60 1040 World Tour (Epic Strike) 25 60 1100 Sad Rocker Rokara (Rare Emote) 26 60 1160 Entrancing Ysera (Rare Hero Skin) 27 60 1220 Nevermind, A.F.Kay (Rare Emote) 28 60 1280 Sire Melodious (Legendary Hero Skin) 29 60 1340 Bru’kan, Rock God (Epic Hero Skin) 30 60 1400 Entrancing Ysera (Rare Emote) 31 60 1460 Doom Symphony (Epic Strike) 32 60 1520 Showstopper Alexstrasza (Rare Hero Skin) 33 60 1580 One-Vashj Band (Epic Hero Skin) 34 60 1640 One Vashj Band (Rare Emote) 35 60 1700 MC Scabbs (Rare Hero Skin) 36 60 1760 Study Kay (Legendary Hero Skin) 37 60 1820 MC Scabbs, Yes (Rare Emote) 38 60 1880 Rocker Rokara (Rare Hero Skin) 39 60 1940 DJ Manastorm (Legendary Hero Skin) 40 60 2000 World Tour (Legendary Strike) Tour Dates to Watch Out For
With so many changes coming to Battlegrounds, we’re rolling out our minions in phases instead of all at once. We’ll start with an initial batch of six minion types, and then add the rest of the minion types over the next couple weeks. This will give you a chance to learn the minions type adjustments without being overwhelmed, and it’ll spread the fun! We also have a special preview event and some upcoming Dev Talks to chat about the changes as they come out. Here’s the lineup:
- May 3: Dev Talk 1
- May 4: Playtest Preview Event
- May 8: 26.2 Patch Notes
- May 9: Dev Talk 2; Patch 26.2 goes live with minion phase one (Beasts, Murlocs, Dragons, Elementals, Naga, and Undead)
- May 11: Dev Talk 3; Pirates are added to the minion pool
- May 15: Dev Talk 4; Demons are added to the minion pool
- May 22: Dev Talk 5; Quilboar and Mechs are added to the minion pool
We hope to see you at the shows!
Battlegrounds Preview Event
On May 4 and May 5, players from around the world will be participating in preview stream events, playing with the new Battlegrounds Season 4 content. The players will be playing with just the six minion types (Undead, Beasts, Murlocs, Dragons, Elementals, and Naga) that will be available when Patch 26.2 goes live. Participating players will be streaming to their own channels and will have Season Pass giveaways for their viewers, so make sure you check it out! The participating players are:
NA Group (May 4, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. (PT))
LATAM Group (May 4, 1 p.m. – 6 p.m. (PT))
EMEA Group (May 4, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. (PT))
APAC Group (May 5, 3 a.m. – 6 a.m. (PT) / 7 p.m. – 10 p.m. (KST))
Battlegrounds Twitch Drops
Celebrate the new Battlegrounds Season with special Battlegrounds Twitch drops! From May 9 at 10 a.m. PT to May 16 at 11:59 p.m. PT, you can watch any Hearthstone Twitch stream for 1 hour to earn the Brann Bronzegill Battlegrounds Hero Skin! Make sure you link your Twitch and Battle.net accounts so that your viewing time counts towards drops.
The Brann Bronzegill Hero Skin may become available for purchase in the in-game shop in a later patch.
No Hydra??
I cant wait for mag mechs, looks super fun. If that is what Pirates have I personally feel they got shafted. And I feel it doesnt look rewarding enough to play health loss cards for Demons. But it is exciting to see all these fresh type changes.
Yea, that’s what I was thinking… Pirates look very weak without Hogger, Salty Looter and Southsea Strongarm.
Also agree with the Demons – seems like too much health to lose, also Felbat gets a small nerf (affecting only other demons)
On the other hand, I would say that Quilboar look stronger than before with the permanent upgrade to blood gems, but my pick for winner would be Elementals – they generally got some good cards, but what the hell is that new 6 drop which can triple with any Elemental? Does that mean that I have 2 copies of some elemental and then this new 6 drop appears in the shop – I buy it and I get a golden version of the elemental which I previously had twice? Plus it gets divine shield? If yes, then I think it’s incredibly strong, because it will lead to full board of huge divine shield elementals.