The communication about upcoming balance plans has been really stellar from the devs lately, but I think it’s the first time we’re hearing about a “balance schedule” for a month in advance. Lead Designer Alec Dawson just shared on Twitter that there are two Warlock balance changes planned for August 31. It all but confirms that August 31 will be the release of Patch 21.2 with a big Battlegrounds update (that’s also when we’re getting the Mercenaries gameplay showcase stream – should be really exciting).
Then, they will evaluate the meta, decide whether more changes are necessary, and possibly drop them later in September. Interestingly, Alex also mentions Battlegrounds – I’m sure that the big rework was really tough to balance and the early meta might look completely different than it does right now (and might not be completely balanced).
If I had to guess what changes in particular are being planned – Stealer of Souls seems most likely (Stealer build is not even that good, but it seems to be the most polarizing one – if Warlock draws correctly, then it can win the game as early as Turn 5-6), and for my second guess, I’d pick Touch of the Nathrezim (since it’s a common link between all strong Warlock builds in both formats). Or maybe they just go all in and nerf the Questline (The Demon Seed)?
Balance schedule over next month –
8/31: 2 Warlock changes (upping mana, feels focused)
8/31 to 9/10: Evaluating meta
9/10: Decide if changes are needed
Later Sept: Decided changes go live (BGs included)— Alec Dawson (@GW_Alec) August 25, 2021
Don’t nerf stealer! it’s already banned in wild. They need to fix the deck in wild. I haven’t played much standard but in wild this deck is awfully strong. They should nerf the 1 drop which hits them for 5 and gains them 5 Armor. It’s silly how much this 1 drop overpowers the deck in wild.
Well i have finished the 666 damage yesterday, so you can do the balance you want.
Personally Giant is still too cheap make cost 12 like the giant of spell. For stealer warlock? It’s not the easiest deck to play, you run out of time often, the zooish face build it’s more safe to play.
Have you ever been so bored about Hearthstone?
Me facing Shaman, ooh must be elemental.
Mage? no other than Burn Mage.
Priest? never doubt it’s Shadow Priest.
Hunter? What other than face face and face.
Warlock? Don’t ask.
Warrior? Never heard of it.
As long as Control deck is impossible to play, Hearthstone is dead to me.
I somewhat agree. Allthough the quests are nicely thought out, I feel with most of the games I’m playing against a timer which is not fun. It’s whoever completes his quest or combo first usually wins.
I agree it’s kinda sad so many cards don’t get played. But I’m just as guilty. I could put together a beast summon hunter but I just feel like I would get slacked.
I tried to play a draw neeru warlock and it was almost impossible to win. Like a 25-33% WR.
Shellacked*
Let’s all move to Legends of Runeterra, THAT is a card game.
If you’re looking for a control deck to play, I can recommend Fel demon hunter from personal experience, it seems pretty strong so far and is quite fun to play (I’ve been using VS’s list). I’ve also seen quest Shaman described as control, and that’s supposed to be one of the very best decks at the moment.
Warlock has far too much healing.
Tian Ding just twittered a win-rate ranking after the patch and QuestGiantWarlock is 4th with about 53,5% WR. The Stealer version doesn’t even make it in the list. (top 1% MMR of all players)
I’m very well aware, but I still think that Stealer might get hit. Sometimes balancing is done based on feelings, not data and people HATE the Stealer version way more than the Giants version. Not because it’s stronger, but because the games when they lose to it on Turn 5 are stuck in their minds and feel terrible.
Probably you are right, I just fear it might polarize the meta even more. Stealer Lock has enough counters in my opinion, I really have an issue with Handlock though, can’t really do much against it. So I’d much prefer a tiny nerf to Handlock, without destroying it completely, overall Handlock in Tier 1 is fine with me, but currently it seems like super S tier =D.
After all, if Stealer gets nerfed, my prediction is Shaman will be unstoppable unless you play Mage/Quest Hunter?! I really hope I am wrong here.
I think it will be Stealer and the Flesh Giant. The Giant should be 12 like any other giant. As said before, it sucks losing to the Stealer. But Shaman’s power creep is likely to be of concern. It was highly played at Silvermoon.
If Warlock goes away I don’t think Shaman will be an issue. Its so good because it beats the aggro decks out there to farm warlock. If warlock goes away midrange decks will have more of a chance. Handbuff paladin already abuses quest shaman for instance
It’s always the same thing,
Warlock is about to die and then Stealer makes it possible that the warlock plays so many cards that it takes his turn and more than half of my own turn to watch all the animations being done.
Then Warlock is at full health. I don’t have time to play my own cards and am dead next turn, if I’m not dead already.
Warlock huh. I’ve been doing pretty well against that with my face hunter deck. I think the meta is pretty balanced right now. Just me?
Hunter is doing well because the Quest decks are greedy and Hunter can go face before they finish the combos. Honestly Hunter might be ok. Warlock is largely targeted because of the hate against then right now. People don’t hate on Hunter as hard (and honestly, when i lose against a Face Hunter, i don’t feel screwed.)
Well yeah, Face Hunter is one of the deck’s worst matchups, that’s why 🙂
Of course. But I would say my winrate with the deck is no better than 60% which is not overboard in my opinion.
The thing about face is people don’t mind because they know exactly where they are in the game. Either you survive the onslaught and win or you dont.
It’s Stealer (feels) and Giant. What concerns me the most is no Shaman nerfs again. That class, mostly QShaman, has crazy matchup spread and warps the meta as much as Warlock (or Mage before).
They have been playing it “safe” with nerfs – but i agree with you. I think Stealer is the big culprit that makes those non-interactive combos possible. If they reduce the Lifesteal that Warlock gets, it would force them to not rush the combo as well.