Preview of balance changes for 3.16

Hi all!

A new version with some new features is almost upon us, and the World Championships are not far away, so we thought now would be a good time to address some under-costed draw cards from Shattered Fates and Lost Lands, and make a few other minor changes to Shattered Fates too.

Before I start though, I want to make a statement regarding the Seek mechanic we introduced in Lost Lands Part 1.

From the outset, players have rightfully declared the Seek mechanic to be very strong ... and we've agreed with them! But we saw it as essential for raising the viability of more tightly-coupled combo-oriented decks and we're very happy with how that's gone. However, we're not that happy with how the raw value being given by some Seek cards has made them show up in more places than we expected and/or impact balance in some unfavourable ways.

To combat this, in 3.16, we're establishing a higher default activation cost for this special type of draw, which will now be 2 Shadow Energy (as found on Aldmor Artisan and Twilight Luminary already) and we've taken away the ability to build a deck around fetching hero attachments.


Without further ado, here are the changes to tackle under-costed draw and seeking of hero attachments:


Hunter’s Gambit - Cost increased to 3cc (from 2cc). Ability changed to "Attach to target opposing ally. That ally has -2 health. When Hunter's Gambit is destroyed, draw 2 cards." (from "Attach to target opposing ally. That ally has -1 health. When Hunter's Gambit is destroyed, draw 2 cards.").

Confluence of Fate - Cost increased to 4cc (from 3cc).

Vigilant Wisp - Health increased to 5HP (from 4HP). Activation cost changed to 2SE (from 2cc).

General of Unaxio - Cost reduced to 5cc (from 6cc). Ability changed to "When General of Unaxio is summoned, you may seek an attachment that can't attach to a hero." (from "While you control a Templar ally, General of Unaxio costs 1 less resource to summon. When General of Unaxio is summoned, you may seek an attachment.").

Aldmor Scout - Health increased to 4HP (from 3HP). Activation cost increased to 2SE (from 1SE).


Whilst you probably won't agree with all of the above changes, I hope you can appreciate it's only draw and there are still just the same number of draw options for every hero ... but just more appropriately costed. (And, in all but one case, there was some compensation given for the loss rather than it being straight nerf.)

With the draw changes out of the way, we can now get onto the other changes to Shattered Fates:


Wulven Tactician - Ability changed to "While every ally you control is a Wulven ally and you control no weapons or armor, opposing abilities and items cost 1 additional resource to summon." (from "While every ally you control is a Wulven ally, opposing abilities and items cost 1 additional resource to summon.").

Gold-Laced Shield - Defence value reduced to 1 (from 2). Durability increased to 4 (from 3).

Helm of Saymeht - Durability reduced to 3 (from 4). Ability changed to "1D: Target weapon in your graveyard with cost 4 or less is returned to play with 2 durability." (from "1D: Target weapon in your graveyard with cost 4 or less is returned to play with 1 durability.").

Sword of Might - Durability increased to 4 (from 3).

Spirit Shuriken - Ability changed to "1SE: If there are at least 3 opposing allies in play, target opposing ally is killed and Spirit Shuriken loses 1 durability." (from "1SE: If there are at least 3 opposing allies in play, target opposing ally is killed.").


As always, we're interested in your views on these and I'm sure other people will be too, so feel free to post your thoughts below.