Hearthstone Update Adjusts Power To Theotar, Nerfs Hunter Class, And Adds More Standard And Battlegrounds Changes

Blizzard plans to launch Hearthstone's Patch 24.4.3 later today with balance changes to Standard and Battlegrounds. Notably, the current meta card Theotar will receive power adjustments, the Hunter class will see an overall nerf, and Battlegrounds got a little bit of love here and there.

"Our goal with this patch is to reduce frustration and give weaker decks a bit more breathing room by reducing the overall power level of Hunter," stated the devs on the Hearthstone patch notes. Blizzard mentions they will keep an eye on Prince Renathal - knowing his popularity and current meta viability - but didn't want this patch "to completely shake up the meta" because "something fun" is coming in the future Patch 24.6.

For today's update, players will see Theotar, the Mad Duke, have a higher mana cost changing from four to five. The devs are aware how Theotar is a "defining card in the current meta" but "don't want him to be one of the most popular cards in the next expansion," hence the adjustment to lower his play rate across all ranks.

Patch 24.4.3 goes live later today!🧑‍🔧

This patch brings balance changes to Standard and Battlegrounds. https://t.co/fxjxFuLin9 pic.twitter.com/6CGwpAXJld

— Hearthstone (@PlayHearthstone) October 13, 2022

The Hunter class changes may follow the same trend of less playtime after an overall nerf in this update, including but not limited to Bear Spirit Wildseed dropping one health point and the reduced Beast cost from Harpoon Gun now two. Their reasoning is to "address some of the sharper play patterns" for Hunter "while simultaneously lowering the overall class power level."

The Battlegrounds side of things is relatively light: Fungalmancer Flurgl - Gone Fishing increases its selling minion cost, The Smoking Gun now with a reduced attack, and more.

Blizzard has teased that a "bigger Battlegrounds update" will come with the next patch and more changes to the meta, but for the time being, players can expect these changes to go live later today.

Note: Activision Blizzard is still under investigation by the state of California for serious harassment charges. CEO Bobby Kotick is alleged to have known about such actions within his company – and performed some himself – and shielded the perpetrators from consequences.