A new season of Battlegrounds is marching intoHearthstoneforFestival of Legends, and it is making an important fix to the format’s most frustrating keyword. Though the content update is bringing a huge remix to the popular auto-battler game mode, the fix for this particular mechanic might be the most important change coming toHearthstone.On May 9,Hearthstoneis launching Patch 26.2, bringing with it a bunch of new content to the Battlegrounds mode. The mechanics, minion pools, and rewards track fromHearthstone Battlegrounds Season 3will be retired, and the format will receive aFestival of Legendsfacelift.RELATED:Amazon Prime Gaming is Giving Away Free Hearthstone CardsHowever, one change in particular promises to fix an age-old problem withHearthstoneBattlegrounds. The Poisonous keyword is being permanently removed from the format, and the new Venomous keyword is replacing it. Like Poisonous, Venomous destroys any minion it damages, but unlike its predecessor, it only works on the first minion it hurts, rather than all of them.
Poisonous has been a devastating keyword in Battlegrounds for a long time. The keyword could only be effectively countered by a few strategies in the game, such as Divine Shield or direct damage, and it made playing againstWarcraft’sinfamous Murlocsneedlessly frustrating. Considering how literally toxic the mechanic was, virtually every Battlegrounds player is happy to see this change made to the format.
This new Battlegrounds patch is adding other exciting things as well. Season 4 is adding Rockmaster Voone as a hero that copies a card in the player’s hand every three turns–a mechanic shared by new minions like the Upbeat Frontdrake and Upbeat Impressionist. 59 minions are leaving the pool to make room for 58 new minions and three returning ones. Lastly, the Battlegrounds Track is refreshing with a new set ofunlockable cosmetics inspired by musical theme ofFestival of Legends.
Hearthstonewill be introducing this new pool of minions in waves. Beasts, Murlocs, Dragons, Elementals, Undead, andNaga will make up theHearthstoneBattlegroundsminion poolwhen the patch drops on May 9, with Pirates sailing in on May 11 and Demons coming on May 15. Finally, May 22 will fill the minion pool with Quilboar and Mechs.
Blizzard is also running a Twitch Drop campaignto celebrate the newHearthstoneBattlegrounds patch. From May 9 through May 16, players can watch an hour of anyHearthstonestreamer on Twitch and earn the Brann Bronzegill skin for free. Players who miss out on this freebie can expect the skin to eventually make its way to the in-game shop in the future.
Hearthstoneis available now for Mobile and PC.
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