Patch 28.2.1.190920

28.2.1.190920
Showdown in the Badlands
Ann. date:	December 8, 2023
Release date:	December 8, 2023
Version:	28.2.1
Build:	190920
Highlights & notes
Card changes
Official links
Patch Notes
Patch chronology
← Previous	28.2.0.190416
← Previous	28.2.0.190416
Next →	28.2.3.191554
Next →	28.2.3.191554
Useful links
Patches • Patches category

Patch 28.2.1.190920 is a Hearthstone patch released on December 8, 2023. It's a minor patch, containing card changes.

A hotfix for this patch, 28.2.2, was released on December 12, 2023.

Patch Notes

Patch 28.2.1 is a data-only patch launching today with the following updates.

Hearthstone Updates

Dev Comment: This is our balance patch for Worlds! We specifically requested this early balance window so that we could make changes that we think will make the coolest Worlds possible! Overall, we think the meta is in a good spot, with most classes having something interesting to play and most top decks having play patterns we're comfortable with. That lets us take a high confidence, step-wise approach with this patch, instead of making risky, drastic changes.

Enrage Warrior was the biggest standout we wanted to adjust down, and we wanted to make Sif Mage a bit more attackable. We're also taking this opportunity to buff some underperforming archetypes, especially with new cards. Excavate as a whole got a little love with buffs to a Treasure at each rarity, the Neutral Burrow Buster, and a couple low-performance class Excavate cards.

We have another balance patch window lined up for shortly after Worlds where we'll be able to make more changes—including maybe some more adventurous buffs. We'll keep an eye on how these changes land and we hope you'll join us for the World Championships on December 16th and 17th!

The following cards have been adjusted to be less powerful:

Inquisitive Creation

• Old: [4 Mana]
• New: [5 Mana]

Thori'belore

• Old: 4/4
• New: 4/3

Battleworn Faceless

• Old: [2 Mana]
• New: [3 Mana]

The cards listed above, plus the cards updated in Patch 28.2 (Fate Splitter, Monstrous Parrot, Counterfeit Blade, Dwarven Archaeologist, and Madam Goya), will be eligible for full dust refunds for at least three weeks following Patch 28.2.1.

The following cards have been adjusted to be more powerful:

Sludge on Wheels

• Old: 1/5
• New: 2/5

Detonation Juggernaut

• Old: [5 Mana] 3/6
• New: [4 Mana] 3/4

Snake Eyes

• Old: 2/3
• New: 2/4

Going Down Swinging

• Old: [5 Mana]
• New: [4 Mana]

Flint Firearm

• Old: [3 Mana] 3/3
• New: [2 Mana] 2/3

Blast Charge

• Old: [3 Mana]
• New: [2 Mana]

Antique Flinger

• Old: [4 Mana] 5/4
• New: [3 Mana] 4/3

Burrow Buster

• Old: 6/4
• New: 6/5

Escaping Trogg (Excavate Treasure)

• Old: 2/2
• New: 2/3

Canary (Excavate Treasure)

• Old: 2/1
• New: 2/2

Steelhide Mole (Excavate Treasure)

• Old: 2/7
• New: 3/7

Bug Fixes and Game Improvements

• [Hearthstone] Discovery of Magic will now always offer three Discover options when played (if you've played enough spell schools that only 1 or 2 remain, it will fill in with random spell(s) from the same spell school(s)).
• [Hearthstone] Fixed a bug where Kingpin Pud couldn't resurrect the entire Ogre-Gang.
• [Hearthstone] Fixed a bug where, if Reno, Lone Ranger was played while Hero Powers were disabled (like with a Mindbreaker in play), his Hero Power would not update.
• [Hearthstone] Fixed a bug where Chaos Gazer's effect triggered at the end of the turn it was played, instead of the end of the opponent's turn.
• [Battlegrounds] Fixed a bug where certain Tavern Spells weren't ever offered in Discover options.
• [Battlegrounds] Fixed a bug where Hero Powers that upgraded as you upgrade your Tavern were auto-upgrading.
• [Progression] Fixed a bug where some players received the Tae'thalan Bloodwatcher achievement upon login.

28.2.2 Patch Notes

Patch 28.2.2 is a server-side hotfix patch, rolling out now with the following updates:

Battlegrounds Updates

General Updates

We have adjusted turn times to be slightly shorter in the early game to minimize idle playtime and to be slightly longer in the late game to account for the current metagame. We will keep an eye on these and continue to iterate on them in the future.

Armor Updates

The following heroes now have less Armor:

• Lich Baz'hial has 5 Armor.
• Snake Eyes and Tae'thelan Bloodwatcher have 6 Armor.

The following heroes now have more Armor:

• Infinite Toki now has 13 Armor.
• Lord Barov now has 14 Armor at higher ranked lobbies, still has 19 Armor at lower ranked lobbies.
• Kurtrus Ashfallen, Death Speaker Blackthorn, and Vol'jin now have 15 Armor at all ranks.
• Fungalmancer Flurgl now has 16 Armor at higher ranked lobbies and 12 Armor at lower ranked lobbies.
• Dinotamer Brann now has 16 Armor.
• Overlord Saurfang now has 17 Armor.
• C'Thun now has 18 Armor at higher ranked lobbies, still has 10 Armor at lower ranked lobbies.
• Sylvanas Windrunner, Kael'thas Sunstrider, and Ambassador Faelin now have 18 Armor.
• The Jailer now has 19 Armor.
• Guff Runetotem, Ragnaros the Firelord, and Sneed now have 20 Armor.

Arena Adjustments

Card appearance rates have been adjusted. The general Priest class card appearance rate has been increased. Additionally, the appearance rate for certain high-impact cards was increased for Priest, Rogue, and Warlock, and was reduced for Hunter, Death Knight, Paladin, and Warrior.

Bug Fixes and Game Improvements

• [Hearthstone] Fixed a bug where Rowdy Partner and Linedance Partner's effects wouldn't activate after they were Shadowstepped (Greedy Partner was fixed in an earlier patch).
• [Hearthstone] Fixed a bug where Spurfang could sometimes summon an invisible minion with its Deathrattle.
• [Battlegrounds] Fixed a bug where Heistbaron Togwaggle's Hero Power wouldn't work on a Tavern full of Tavern Spells.
• [Progression] Fixed a bug where players who finished the Apprentice Track before the Tavern Guide could get stuck in the Tavern Guide.