Patch notes for the upcoming 19.2 update have just dropped, and they include a bunch of Constructed nerfs. We’ve expected Blizzard to target mostly Demon Hunter, and so they did. Both of the two strongest lists – Aggro Demon Hunter & Soul Demon Hunter – will see substantial nerfs. On top of that, Highlander Hunter is seeing a nerf to their main win condition, and some generic, good Neutral cards are being hit. We’re also getting a bunch of Duels balance updates, but we’ll detail those in another post.
The patch is coming tomorrow (December 15th)!
Here’s a full list of Constructed balance changes:
- Blade Dance – Now Costs 3 mana (up from 2).
- Shardshatter Mystic – Now costs 4 mana (up from 3).
- Dreadlord's Bite – Now has 2 attack (down from 3).
- Dinotamer Brann – Now costs 8 mana (up from 7).
- Voracious Reader – Now costs 3 mana (up from 2).
- Lorekeeper Polkelt – Now costs 5 mana (up from 4).
You can disenchant all of the cards listed above for their full crafting costs for 2 weeks after the patch goes live (so until December 29).
See all the changes in a single, handy image here:
My prediction for the next VS meta report: Evolve shaman, Pure paladin, Libroom paladin, Miracle Rogue, aggro rogue tier 1; other shaman archetypes, face hunter, highlander hunter, lifesteal DH, bomb warrior tier 2; HL mage and control warrior high tier 3. I don’t really have much of an idea about where the other DH lists may fall, but my guess would be tier 2.
The main thing that might upset this is Priest becoming refined (I’ve no ide how this might affect things)
+1
I would say aggro tier 2, maybe higher. I don’t think the nerfs hit them that hard + it went very well against shaman, which is probably choice nb 1 when people have to switch decks.
Demon Hunter nerfs were obvious. But why the nerfs to Highland Hunter, is it truely such an opressive deck?
Yes? Highlander Hunter has a higher winrate at 63% than literally any dh deck
Face hunter is at 65 which was a big part of the Polkelt and Voracious Reader nerfs too
Where are those numbers from?
Probably HSReplay, but they’re probably taken from bronze-gold, so they’re not great. Nonetheless, Vicious Syndicate rate hunter as underplayed but tier 1:
https://www.vicioussyndicate.com/vs-data-reaper-report-181/
I have never complained publicly about this game. I even felt the battle pass was fair from day 1 (call me crazy). But they have seriously been complete crap with the balancing of paladin for YEARS. For two expansions now the same deck has been a problem in the meta. Introducing the new cards have created ZERO change in the deck. No ones even using Yrel?????? (At least I haven’t ever run into someone who played Yrel.) During scholomance on average Libram/pure pally stayed on average a whole 5% higher win rate than all the other decks. Sure now it’s not as oppressive but it’s still a pain to play against! It’s not fun and you have zero interaction with playing against it. Boom heals 8 health and an 8/8 with taunt AND divine shield for 5 mana??????? I remember wayyy back in the frozen throne days when Druid was oppressive and had the same win percent difference from the second highest top deck. They wasted NO time in nerfing Druid but have continually neglected the paladin issue.
Not a single one of these cards needed a nerf!
Suggestions
Aldor Attendant- 2 cost instead of 1 they nerfed mana wyrm because it’s stats were too much why are they keeping this card the way it is???? Especially because it gives a ton of value for mid- late game!
Libram of hope- summons a 6/6 or lose the divine shield part of the card
Turn one attendant cements games
Probably aggro DH player getting wrecked by Palladin heals. How did none of these cards deserve a nerf? DH is leading the ladder and destroying most decks, much more than palladin. Definitely deserved all these nerfs, probably won’t be enough to stop it, as no early game cards were nerfed. It’s well known Palladin wins vs aggro. You can easily beat him with a control deck. People like you are ruining the game.
Exactly they should have nerfed the early game cards not these. Never had an issue with Brann or Polkelt either. My main point is that whenever a deck is oppressive they nerf it. But throughout ALL of scholomance Libram had a significantly higher win percentage than the second top deck. But nothing was done. My other point is expansions are supposed to spice up the meta. Well that same deck had zero change and is still at the same win rate as the decks they just nerfed. At least aggro DH and highlander hunter had something new this meta.
Also I don’t understand what’s so oppressive about DH people need to learn how to play against aggro more… it’s not that hard.
Father what a chump losing to pally with his little budget aggro deck.
Cute.
You’re all missing the point… seriously. And yeah any budget deck would lose to pally so….
They’re not touching the current #1 deck in the game, that’s gonna be a huge issue: Combo Rogue is going to terrorize the meta now. ETC Warrior, Bomb Warrior, Enrage Warrior, Evolve Shaman, Pure Paladin and Libroom Paladin are also all very good and will make up a huge chunk of the new meta. I don’t think this will do anything to help the 4 absent classes get a foothold while those 4 untouched and much more powerful classes are in there way. They might just be joined by Demon Hunter and Hunter.
Funny enough, those you mentioned, except for Evolve shaman, is wrecked with any Highlander Mage deck, if you play your hand nicely. I can’t tell much, but I’ve been winning with Mage against Warrior and Paladin, especially ETC warrior, where they can’t OTK you if you carefully planned your board.
What are you talking about? Both Secret Rogue and Weapon Rogue have a higher winrate than the one single Combo deck played on ladder with <6000 games dude
By Combo Rogue, I of course meant the deck with Whirlkick Master that’s centered on cards with the keyword “combo”.