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Hearthstone update 17.2.1 patch notes assist Shaman with new buffs

The next Hearthstone balance patch will look to bring several minions down a notch, but also look to give Shaman players a helping hand.

Ozzie Mejia

May 15, 2020 11:25 AM

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It was a fun couple of weeks for Hearthstone's newest class, the Demon Hunter. Even with a series of day two nerfs, it's been dominating the Standard meta. But now Blizzard is taking further aim one of the Demon Hunter's biggest weapons, while also offering some significant buffs for a handful of new Shaman cards.

The following balance tweaks will be implemented on May 18, according to the Hearthstone website:

• Aldor Attendant (Paladin): Now costs 1 mana with 1/3 stats (Down from 2 mana with 2/3 stats)
• Torrent (Shaman): Costs 4 mana (Down from 5 mana)
• Shattered Rumbler (Shaman): Now has 5/6 stats (Up from 4/6 stats)
• The Lurker Below (Shaman): Now has 6/5 stats (Up from 6/3 stats)
• Priestess of Fury (Demon Hunter): Now has 6/5 stats (Down from 6/7 stats)
• Crimson Sigil Runner (Demon Hunter): Now has 1/1 stats (Down from 2/1 stats)
• Scavenger's Ingenuity (Hunter): Now draws a Beast and gives it +2/+2. (Down from drawing a Beast and giving it +3/+3.)
• Shadowjeweler Hanar (Rogue): Now has 1/4 stats (Down from 1/5 stats)
• Blackjack Stunner (Rogue): Now reads "Battlecry: If you control a Secret, return a minion to its owner’s hand. It costs (1) more." (Changed from "Battlecry: If you control a Secret, return a minion to its owner’s hand. It costs (2) more.")
• Imprisoned Scrap Imp (Warlock): Now reads "CDormant for 2 turns. When this awakens, give all minions in your hand +2/+1." (Changed from "Dormant for 2 turns. When this awakens, give all minions in your hand +2/+2.")
• Bloodboil Brute (Warrior): Now has 5/8 stats (Down from 6/8 stats)
• Bloodsworn Mercenary (Warrior): Now has 2/2 stats (Down from 3/3 stats)

The latter eight cards are now eligible for full dust refunds for those who would rather not play them in their newly-nerfed forms. However, looking at these changes, there's nothing that's particularly game-breaking or unreasonable. Many of the stat changes don't affect the accompanying effects, which are what make those cards playable. The only exception there is Blackjack Stunner, which now feels a lot more fair for its 1-mana cost.

Blizzard also looks to be trying to give Shaman a much-needed boost. The Lurker Below, specifically, feels much more playable now, with its new 6/5 stats bringing it more in line with other Legendaries. I mean, it's a Legendary. It shouldn't have the same stat line as the Fire Elemental if it costs the same, right?

These balance changes will go into effect on Monday, May 18. Stay tuned, as we'll keep our eye on any further Hearthstone changes as they come in.

Ozzie Mejia

Senior Editor

Ozzie has been playing video games since picking up his first NES controller at age 5. He has been into games ever since, only briefly stepping away during his college years. But he was pulled back in after spending years in QA circles for both THQ and Activision, mostly spending time helping to push forward the Guitar Hero series at its peak. Ozzie has become a big fan of platformers, puzzle games, shooters, and RPGs, just to name a few genres, but he’s also a huge sucker for anything with a good, compelling narrative behind it. Because what are video games if you can't enjoy a good story with a fresh Cherry Coke?