In the middle of all the new expansion hype, Hearthstone's Battlegrounds is also getting an update in today's patch. Here are the major changes:

  • Armor system returns! The heroes have been divided into 7 Tiers, and they will get 0-10 Armor at the start of the lobby depending on which Tier they belong.
  • New Hero: Ambassador Faelin.
    • Passive Hero Power: Skip your first turn. Discover a Tier 2, 4, and 6 minion to get at those Tiers.
    • Faelin's Buddy: Submersible Chef.
      • [Tavern Tier 4] 4 Attack, 3 Health. Battlecry: Add a random Tier 1, 3, and 5 minion to your hand.
  • Shudderwock's Hero Power costs (1) again.
  • Four new minions have been added, and Murloc Tidehunter, Old Murk-Eye, and Maexxna have been removed from the minion pool.
  • Five minions have gotten updates to their stats or effect.

For full details, check the official patch notes below.

Quote From Blizzard

Battlegrounds Updates

SYSTEM UPDATE

The Battlegrounds Armor System is back! Now that we’ve had some time with our Buddies, we’ve assessed how Buddies and Armor will interact and think it is a good time for Armor to return. At the start of this patch, these will be the armor ranges and placements:

Tier 1 (0 Armor)
  • A. F. Kay
  • Bru’kan
  • Cariel Roame
  • Chenvaala
  • Dancin’ Deryl
  • Dinotamer Brann
  • Elise Starseeker
  • Fungalmancer Flurgl
  • George the Fallen
  • Guff Runetotem
  • King Mukla
  • Lord Barov
  • Lord Jaraxxus
  • Malygos
  • Millificent Manastorm
  • Onyxia
  • Patches the Pirate
  • Ragnaros the Firelord
  • Tamsin Roame
  • Tavish Stormpike
  • Trade Prince Gallywix
  • Vol’jin
  • Xyrella
  • Yogg-Saron, Hope’s End
  • Ysera

Tier 2 (2-5 Armor)
  • Al’Akir
  • Alexstrasza
  • Cookie the Cook
  • C’Thun
  • Death Speaker Blackthorne
  • Deathwing
  • Kael’thas Sunstrider
  • Maiev Shadowsong
  • Millhouse Manastorm
  • Mutanus the Devourer
  • Nozdormu
  • Overlord Saurfang
  • Scabbs Cutterbutter
  • Sir Finley Mrrgglton
  • The Curator
  • The Great Akazamzarak
  • The Lich King
  • Tickatus
  • Y’Shaarj
  • Zephrys, the Great

Tier 3 (3-6 Armor)
  • Arch-Villain Rafaam
  • Captain Hooktusk
  • Forest Warden Omu
  • Greybough
  • Rokara
  • Silas Darkmoon

Tier 4 (4-7 Armor)
  • Captain Eudora
  • Edwin VanCleef
  • Kurtrus Ashfallen
  • Lich Baz’hial
  • Master Nguyen
  • N’Zoth
  • Patchwerk
  • Rakanishu
  • Reno Jackson

Tier 5 (5-8 Armor)
  • Drek’Thar
  • Galakrond
  • Galewing
  • Illidan Stormrage
  • Jandice Barov
  • Queen Wagtoggle
  • Sindragosa
  • Skycap’n Kragg
  • Tess Greymane
  • The Rat King

Tier 6 (6-9 Armor)
  • Ambassador Faelin
  • Infinite Toki
  • Mr. Bigglesworth
  • Pyramad
  • Vanndar Stormpike

Tier 7 (7-10 Armor)
  • Aranna Starseeker
  • Shudderwock
  • Sneed
  • Varden Dawngrasp

Just like before, we will continue to monitor gameplay after the system goes live and might end up making adjustments in future updates.

NEW HERO

Ambassador Faelin

  • Expedition Plans
    • Passive.  Skip your first turn. Discover a Tier 2, 4, and 6 minion to get at those Tiers.

Head over to playhearthstone.com/cards for details!

Players with Battlegrounds Perks will have early access to the new Hero before it is formally released on March 31.

NEW BUDDY

Submersible Chef (Ambassador Faelin’s Buddy)

  • [Tavern Tier 4] 4 Attack, 3 Health. Battlecry: Add a random Tier 1, 3, and 5 minion to your hand.

Head over to playhearthstone.com/cards for details!Head over to playhearthstone.com/cards for details!

UPDATED HERO

Shudderwock

  • Snicker-snack
    • Old: [Costs 2] New: [Costs 1]

Head over to playhearthstone.com/cards for details!

NEW MINIONS

Swampstriker

  • [Tavern Tier 1, Murloc] 1 Attack, 4 Health. After you summon a Murloc, gain +1 Attack.

Head over to playhearthstone.com/cards for details!Head over to playhearthstone.com/cards for details!

Tad

  • [Tavern Tier 2, Murloc] 2 Attack, 4 Health. When you sell this, add another random Murloc to your hand.

Head over to playhearthstone.com/cards for details!Head over to playhearthstone.com/cards for details!

Baby Krush

  • [Tavern Tier 5, Beast] 7 Attack, 7 Health. Whenever this attacks, summon a 9/9 Devilsaur to attack the target first.

Head over to playhearthstone.com/cards for details!Head over to playhearthstone.com/cards for details!

Friend of a Friend

  • [Tavern Tier 6] 5 Attack, 6 Health. Battlecry: Discover a Buddy.
    • Some things are best left between you and your bestie. Buddies for the following heroes can’t be Discovered by Friend of a Friend: Bru’kan, Captain Hooktusk, Galewing, Jandice Barov, Kael’thas Sunstrider, King Mukla, Maiev Shadowsong, Malygos, Master Nguyen, Mutanus the Devourer, Overlord Saurfang, Silas Darkmoon, Tavish Stormpike, The Curator, The Rat King, Varden Dawngrasp, Onyxia, Queen Wagtoggle, Cookie the Cook, and Skycap’n Kragg.

Head over to playhearthstone.com/cards for details!Head over to playhearthstone.com/cards for details!

MINION POOL UPDATE

  • Murloc Tidehunter, Old Murk-Eye, and Maexxna have been removed from the minion pool.

UPDATED MINIONS

Acolyte of C’Thun

  • Old: [Tavern Tier 1] 2 Attack, 2 Health. New: [Tavern Tier 2] 2 Attack, 3 Health.

Head over to playhearthstone.com/cards for details!

Reanimating Rattler

  • Old: [Tavern Tier 5] 7 Attack, 3 Health. New: [Tavern Tier 4] 5 Attack, 3 Health.

Head over to playhearthstone.com/cards for details!

Strongshell Scavenger

  • Old: [Tavern Tier 5] New: [Tavern Tier 4]

Head over to playhearthstone.com/cards for details!

Mythrax the Unraveler

  • Old: At the end of your turn, gain +1/+2 for each minion type you control. New: At the end of your turn, gain +2/+2 for each minion type you control.

Head over to playhearthstone.com/cards for details!

Nosy Looter

  • Old: 7 Attack, 6 Health. New: 9 Attack, 8 Health.

Head over to playhearthstone.com/cards for details!