Update: The patch is now live on both PC and mobile (looks like they were released at the same time, which is great).
Patch 23.0.3 is launching today (in the afternoon PDT, so a few hours after the usual launch time) and we got full patch notes! On top of the Standard & Wild nerfs that were announced earlier, we also have some Battlegrounds & Duels balance changes + some bug fixes.
It’s a client patch, so you’ll have to download it. It means that the mobile launch might, like always, be up to a few hours later.
Check out full patch notes below:
Patch 23.0.3, launching today, provides balance updates to Standard, Wild, and Battlegrounds, as well as bug fixes and more!
Hearthstone Card Changes
Kazakusan
- Old: Battlecry: If all minions in your deck are Dragons, craft a custom deck of treasures. → New: Battlecry: If you played 4 other Dragons this game, craft a custom deck of treasures.
Miracle Growth
- Old: [Costs 7] → New: [Costs 8]
Secure the Supplies (the third portion of the Warrior Questline, Raid the Docks)
- Old: Play 2 Pirates. → New: Play 3 Pirates.
Pufferfist
- Old: 3 Attack, 4 Health → New: 3 Attack, 3 Health
Switcheroo
- Old: Draw 2 minions. Swap their stats. → New: Draw 2 minions. Swap their Health.
- Banned in Wild.
Kael’thas Sunstrider
- Old: Every third spell you cast each turn costs (0). → New: Every third spell you cast each turn costs (1).
The cards listed above, except for the uncraftable Kael’thas Sunstrider, will be eligible for full dust refunds until May 12.
Battlegrounds Changes
Hero and Buddy Changes
MechGyver (Ini Stormcoil’s Hero Power)
- Old: Passive: After 9 friendly minions die, get a random Mech. → New: Passive: After 12 friendly minions die, get a random Mech.
Aquarrior (Varden Dawngrasp’s Buddy)
- Old: [Tavern Tier 2] 3 Attack, 5 Health. → New: [Tavern Tier 3] 3 Attack, 6 Health.
Minion Changes
SI:Sefin
- Old: Avenge (3): Give a friendly Murloc Poisonous permanently. → New: Avenge (4): Give a friendly Murloc Poisonous permanently.
Coldlight Seer
- Old: [Tavern Tier 3] → New: [Tavern Tier 4]
Baby Krush
- Old: 7 Attack, 7 Health. Whenever this attacks, summon a 9/9 Devilsaur to attack the target first. → New: 6 Attack, 6 Health. Whenever this attacks, summon an 8/8 Devilsaur to attack the target first.
Duels Changes
Humble Blessings
- Old: [Costs 3] → New: [Costs 4]
Dev Comment: My bad.
Academic Research
- Old: Start of Game: Draw this. Gain 1 Mana Crystal. (Upgrades each time a friendly minion dies). → New: Gain 1 empty Mana Crystal. (Upgrades each time a friendly minion dies).
Valorous Display
- Old: [Costs 6] → New: [Costs 7]
Tempest’s Fury
- Old: [Costs 3] 2 Attack, 3 Durability → New: [Costs 4] 3 Attack, 3 Durability
Power Up! [Hero Power]
- Old: Give a minion Divine Shield & Windfury. → New: Give a minion Divine & Windfury. Overload: (1)
Scales of Justice
- Old: [Costs 5] → New: [Costs 6]
Ol’ Faithful
- Old: [Costs 3] → New: [Costs 4]
Bug Fixes and Game Improvements
- Cards like Twinbow Terrorcoil and Electra Stormsurge will now only work on spells that you cast from your hand, rather than spells cast by other cards you control, such as Nagalings or Cast When Drawn cards.
- Granted Lokholar to players who should have been granted Lokholar with their free new/returning player deck selection.
- Updated Unstable Evolution’s text to represent that it now has the “Echo” keyword.
- Fixed bugs with the user interface for Bob’s Bazaar in Tombs of Terror, preventing progression.
“Fixed bugs with the user interface for Bob’s Bazaar in Tombs of Terror, preventing progression.”
Haven’t checked this yet. Just got the updated when I had to close out and restart the game because of said bug…(a bit ironic).
Also in regards to “Secure the Supplies (the third portion of the Warrior Questline, Raid the Docks)”
I don’t see it making a big difference as by this point in the QL you have enough Mana/Cards to play another Pirate in the same turn. Now if they have increased the requirement in the first and/ or second parts that would have slowed the progression by a turn or two
“Pufferfist Old: 3 Attack, 4 Health → New: 3 Attack, 3 Health”
I don’t get this one as by the time I get this on the battlefield my opponent already has enough mana or a spell to remove it from the board with 4 Health on their next turn. The new stats are now aligned with Defias Cannoneer, but he does 2 damage to RANDOM enemy minions twice.
Pirate warrior is dead in Legend.
Lost 6 games in a row to ramp druid, 2x tempo dh, 2x quest hunter, control? pala, and 1 win against control warrior. This deck ain’t working anymore.
I guess they did not want Pufferfist (as a neutral card) to be better than Defias Cannoneer (as a class card).
Why did you spell “random” in capital letters? Random (i.e. unpredictable) is basically a bad thing (except if you want to circumvent shadow). The effect of Pufferfist is more predictable, but the ability of Defias Cannoneer is more effective if the opponent has few minions or minions with more than 2 health
To differentiate/bring attention to that effect versus ALL enemies with Pufferfist. I suppose it was that mechanic on Pufferfist which lead to the devs nerfing the health.