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The Hearthstone Battlegrounds Rise of the Naga season will kick off with the new Spellcraft keyword, a bunch of new cards, and more.
The Hearthstone Battlegrounds Rise of the Naga season will launch on May 10th, and arriving alongside the Voyage to the Sunken City shenanigans will be the Spellcraft keyword, minion pool updates, and Queen Azshara herself!
New Spellcraft Mechanic and No More Battlegrounds Buddies
The newSpellcraft keywordis new to Hearthstone Battlegrounds, andKripparrianwent into detail about it in a video.
“Spellcraft is a mechanic that triggers when you play the card for the first time," Kripparrian said. “So it’s kind of like the Battlecry effect in that regard. But it’s not a Battlecry effect, so you’re not like going to get double the effect with Bran. The Spellcraft effect will also trigger at the start of each turn, so you’re going to get the effect every turn.”
Minions that have the Spellcraft keyword grant a temporary spell, and that spell must be used on the same turn it was generated. The Spellcraft effects last until the player’s next Recruit phase. Therefore, If the player’s hand is full, then these spells will “wait” until a free space is available in the player’s hand.
As for Golden Spellcraft minions, they will generate Golden versions of the Spellcraft spells and have double the effect.
“[…] It allows you a more dynamic playstyle because instead of locking in your decisions, your Divine Shields, let’s say, you have the option to use the card that you get from the Spellcraft every single turn differently each turn based on what your opponent might have and how you might be able to counter him,” Kripparrian also noted in terms of how Spellcraft will affect the meta.
Kripparrianalso confirmed with Hearthstone Battlegrounds Game DesignerDominic Calkoszthat Battlegrounds Buddies will be rotating out of the game mode.
“Buddies are rotating out to make room for Naga,” Calkosz said. “That will be a big shake-up in itself, but it also gives us space to do more powerful things and have less complication going on overall.”
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Amalgadon Leaves Minion Pool and Nightmare Amalgam Returns
While Kripparrian revealed the Glowscale card,Educated Collinsparticipated in card reveals as well. In a video with Shadybunny, he presented the Deep-Sea Angler, Eventide Brute, and Mantid Queen.
The video also noted that Amalgadon will leave the minion pool, while Nightmare Amalgam will make its return.
“Amalgadon is out,” Shadybunny said. “For the past two years, Amalgadon has been the strongest late-game minion. If you could add more Amalgadons to your board, it was probably the correct play. With this change, we might be seeing variety in endgame boards.”
Meanwhile,CarryPotterand Gotorkun introduced Shell Collector, Waverider, Corrupted Myrmidon, and Darkgaze Elder.
Hearthstone Battlegrounds Minions Enter Rise of the Naga Season
In addition to the aforementioned cards and the Snail Cavalry, Tidemistress Athissa, Mini-Myrmidon, Shoal Commander, and Stormscale Siren revealed in Blizzard’sannouncement,Kid InvincibleandNinaisNoobshowcased the rest of the cards coming to Hearthstone Battlegrounds.
These include Bristleback Knight, Critter Wrangler, Eelbound Archer, Lava Lurker, Leeroy the Reckless, Orgozoa, the Tender, Pashmar the Vengeful, Reef Explorer, and Young Merk-Eye.
Here is the full list of minions:
Queen Azshara Joins Hearthstone Battlegrounds
TheNaga theme in Hearthstone Battlegroundsis not complete without Queen Azshara. She will have the Azshara’s Ambition passive, which lets her begin her Naga Conquest through discovering a Naga.
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