Blizzard has launched a new Hearthstone update today, with the official 22.2.2 patch notes confirming all the big pool and card changes.

Today has seen a refresh in the card pool available in a number of Hearthstone’s main modes.

The main focus has been on balance changes for Mercenaries, Battlegrounds and Duels, but there are also important bug fixes listed as well.

The big news is that the difficulty has been lowered on the Snowclaw, High Justice Grimstone, Captain Galvangar, Lokholar the Ice Lord, and Drek’Thar Heroic Bounties.

Elsewhere, Duels has seen all of its Battle Totem, Disks of Legend, and Totem of the Dead moved from Treasure Pool 2 to Treasure Pool 2 Ultra Rare.

Hearthstone Update 22.2.2 Patch Notes Today

The Hearthstone Duels rebalancing was supposed to happen before now but has taken Blizzard longer than expected to implement following its announcement. But the biggest changes and tweaks have been saved for Hearthstone Battlegrounds and its new Buddy system.

Today’s Hearthstone update patch notes include a long list of Buddy Changes that will fundamentally shift the meta for the rest of 2022. You can find the biggest tweaks listed below, and can also be found on the official Hearthstone website.

MINION POOL CHANGE

  • Archdruid Hamuul has been removed from the minion pool.

BUDDY CHANGES

  • Elementium Squirrel Bomb (Millificent Manastorm’s Buddy)Old: Deathrattle: Deal 4 damage to a random enemy minion. Repeat for each of your Mechs that died this combat. → New: Deathrattle: Deal 3 damage to a random enemy minion for each of your Mechs that died this combat.
  • Eclipsion Illidari (Illidan Stormrage’s Buddy)Old: [Tavern Tier 2] “Wingmen” also gives “Immune while Attacking” for one attack only. → New: [Tavern Tier 3] Your first minion that attacks has “Immune while Attacking” for one attack only.
  • Snack Vendor (A.F. Kay’s Buddy)Old: At the end of your turn, give your Tavern Tier 3 minions +1/+1. → New: At the end of your turn, give your Tavern Tier 3 minions +1/+2.
  • Captain Fairmount (Cariel Roame’s Buddy)Old: At the end of your turn, give three random friendly minions +1/+1. → New: At the end of your turn, give five random friendly minions +1/+1.
  • Ticket Collector (Tickatus’s Buddy)Old: Battlecry: Discover a Darkmoon Prize from the most recent Prize turn. → New: Battlecry: Discover a Darkmoon Prize from the next Prize turn.
  • Muckslinger (Shudderwock’s Buddy)Old: After you play a minion, add a Battlecry minion to Bob’s Tavern. → New: After you play a minion, add a Battlecry minion to Bob’s Tavern. Give it +2/+2.
  • [Golden version] Old: After you play a minion, add two Battlecry minions to Bob’s Tavern. → New: After you play a minion, add a Battlecry minion to Bob’s Tavern. Give it +4/+4.
  • Crabby (Tavish Stormpike’s Buddy)Old: [Tavern Tier 3] 5 Attack, 3 Health → New: [Tavern Tier 4] 2 Attack, 3 Health
  • Karl the Lost (George the Fallen’s Buddy)Old: [Tavern Tier 3] 7 Attack, 4 Health → New: [Tavern Tier 4] 3 Attack, 4 Health
  • Baby Elekk (Xyrella’s Buddy)Old: [Tavern Tier 2] → New: [Tavern Tier 3]
  • Mishmash (The Curator’s Buddy)Old: [Tavern Tier 2] 3 Attack, 3 Health → New: [Tavern Tier 3] 2 Attack, 2 Health
  • Bilgewater Mogul (Trade Prince Gallywix’s Buddy)Old: [Tavern Tier 3] → New: [Tavern Tier 4]
  • Sparkfin Soothsayer (Fungalmancer Flurgl’s Buddy)Old: 7 Attack, 5 Health → New: 5 Attack, 4 Health
  • Asher the Haberdasher (Dancin’ Deryl’s Buddy)Old: 3 Attack, 3 Health → New: 2 Attack, 2 Health
  • Magnus Manastorm (Millhouse Manastorm’s Buddy)Old: [Tavern Tier 2] → New: [Tavern Tier 3]
  • Unearthed Underling (Lich Baz’hial’s Buddy)Old: [Tavern Tier 3] → New: [Tavern Tier 4]
  • Apostle of Galakrond (Galakrond’s Buddy)Old: [Tavern Tier 3] 5 Attack, 7 Health → New: [Tavern Tier 2] 3 Attack, 5 Health
  • Sr. Tomb Diver (Reno Jackson’s Buddy)Old: [Tavern Tier 3] 7 Attack, 3 Health → New: [Tavern Tier 2] 4 Attack, 1 Health
  • Evergreen Botani (Forest Warden Omu’s Buddy)Old: 7 Attack, 6 Health → New: 9 Attack, 7 Health