Hearthstone Battlegrounds Season 4 changes the game with new minions and keywords, plus the removal of Poisonous — now live!

Hearthstone Battlegrounds Season 4 is now live, and it promises to stir up the game like never before with an overhaul to the minion roster, keyword changes, and more.

Your tried-and-true minion compositions might play differently from now on, with some of their aspects being reinforced, and others being expunged. The Poisonous keyword is no more — but it also lives on in a different form. A lot is changing, so let’s head right into it.

New hero: Rockmaster Voone

Voone is a new hero with a passive hero power that gives you a ton of value — as long as you remember to hold the correct cards in your hand.

Rockmaster Voone

• Upbeat Harmony
  • Passive. At the end of every 3 turns, get a plain copy of the left-most card in your hand.

Every three turns, you get a copy of the left-most card you’re holding — which not only saves you a lot of gold, but can also make it considerably easier for you to find triples! This seems like a strong hero power, well worth trying.

Buddies, Mega-Windfury and Poisonous are out; Venomous is in

Buddies are being removed from the game again, which will make some players cry and others rejoice. But they’re taking something with them: starting with Season 4, two keywords — Mega-Windfury and, far more importantly, Poisonous — won’t be in the game anymore.

The Poisonous keyword is being replaced by Venomous, which has the same effect — if you damage a minion, you kill it — but only triggers once per combat. Venomous is more in line with other strong keywords like Divine Shield and Reborn, which only work once per combat as well.

This change alone should greatly affect the game, and make Murlocs, specifically, have to rely more on their buffing effects. But there’s good news: Murlocs are getting many new ways to buff your board, including handbuffs — that is, the ability to buff cards in your hand, so that they’re already stronger once you play them.

In fact, Murlocs aren’t the only minion type that is seeing their playing patterns altered: every type is getting changed, because many minions are being removed from the game, and new ones are being introduced to replace them.

Several new minions join the fray

Mech compositions relying on Divine Shield are about to have a much harder time existing, with the removal of Grease Bot and Holy Mecherel. Demons can no longer “juggle” since Soul Juggler is no more, but their ability to negate damage gets better with Kathra’natir being replaced by Soul Rewinder.

One of the most popular minions for Menagerie compositions, Tea Master Theotar, has been removed as well. Meanwhile, new minion Drakkari Enchanter might make an impact to the game similar to Brann Bronzebeard and Titus Rivendare, with its ability to make end of turn effects trigger twice. But these are just a few standout examples, so let’s read on to find out everything that’s changing.

Tier 1

• Beast
  • New:
    • Manasaber (4/1, Deathrattle: Summon two 0/1 Cublings with Taunt)
  • Removed:
    • Alleycat
• Dragon
  • New:
    • Upbeat Frontdrake (2/1, At the end of every 3 turns, get another random Dragon)
  • Removed:
    • Evolving Chromawing
    • Red Whelp
• Undead
  • New:
    • Incorporeal Corporal (5/5, After this minion attacks, destroy it)
  • Removed:
    • Rot Hide Gnoll
• Pirate
  • New:
    • Southsea Busker (3/1, Battlecry: Gain 1 Gold next turn)
  • Removed:
    • Deck Swabbie
• Neutral
  • New:
    • Mistake (1/3, This minion has all types)
  • Removed:
    • Tavern Tipper

Tier 2

• Beast
  • New:
    • Hummingbird (0/3, Your other Beasts have +2 Attack)
  • Removed:
    • Rabid Saurolisk
• Murloc
  • New:
    • Upbeat Flutist (2/5, At the end of every 2 turns, give a random minion in your hand +9 Health)
  • Returning:
    • Saltscale Honcho
  • Removed:
    • Murloc Warleader
• Dragon
  • New:
    • Low Flier (3/2, At the end of your turn, give +2 Attack to your minions with less Attack than this)
• Elemental
  • New:
    • Flourishing Frostling (0/4, Has +1 Attack for each Elemental you played this game — wherever this is)
  • Removed:
    • Party Elemental
• Naga
  • New:
    • Reef Riffer (1/3, Spellcraft: Give a minion stats equal to your Tavern Tier until next turn)
• Pirate
  • Moving from Tier 4:
    • Ripsnarl Captain
  • Removed:
    • Southsea Captain
• Demon
  • New:
    • Soul Rewinder (3/1, After your hero takes damage, rewind it and give this +1 Health)
    • Backstage Security (4/6, At the start of your turn, deal 1 damage to your hero)
  • Removed:
    • Piggyback Imp
• Quilboar
  • Moving from Tier 3:
    • Thorncaller
  • Removed:
    • Roadboar
• Mech
  • New:
    • Lullabot (2/2, Magnetic, At the end of your turn, gain +1/+1)
• Neutral
  • Removed:
    • Poetic Pen Pal

Tier 3

• Beast
  • New:
    • Rylak Metalhead (3/4, Taunt, Deathrattle: Trigger the Battlecries of adjacent minions)
    • Banana Slamma (2/5, After you summon a Beast in combat, double its stats)
  • Removed:
    • Cave Hydra
• Murloc
  • New:
    • Scourfin (6/3, Deathrattle: Give a random minion in your hand +5/+5)
  • Removed:
    • Felfin Navigator
    • Swolefin
• Dragon
  • Moving from Tier 4:
    • Tarecgosa
  • Removed:
    • Nether Drake
• Naga
  • New:
    • Zesty Shaker (3/4, Once per Turn: After you cast a Spellcraft spell on this, add a new copy of it to your hand)
  • Moving from Tier 4:
    • Eventide Brute
  • Removed:
    • Shoal Commander
    • Warden of Old
• Undead
  • New:
    • Radio Star (3/1, Deathrattle: Add a plain copy of the minion that killed this to your hand)
  • Removed:
    • Jelly Belly
    • Lich Doctor
• Pirate
  • New:
    • Gunpowder Courier (2/4, After you spend 5 Gold, give your Pirates +1 Attack)
  • Returning:
    • Bloodsail Cannoneer
  • Removed:
    • First Mate Pup
    • Salty Looter
    • Southsea Strongarm
• Demon
  • New:
    • Keyboard Igniter (4/2, Battlecry: If you’ve taken damage since last turn, give your other demons +1/+2)
    • Malchezaar, Prince of Dance (5/2, 2 Refreshes each turn cost Health instead of Gold)
  • Removed:
    • Kathra’nathir
    • Soul Juggler
• Quilboar
  • New:
    • Moon-Bacon Jazzer (2/5, Battlecry: For the rest of the game, your Blood Gems give an extra +1 Health)
  • Moved to Tier 2:
    • Thorncaller
  • Removed:
    • Bristleback Brute
• Mech
  • New:
    • Accord-o-Tron (2/3, Magnetic, At the start of your turn, gain 1 extra Gold)
  • Removed:
    • Iron Sensei
• Neutral
  • Removed:
    • Arm of the Empire
    • Bird Buddy

Tier 4

• Murloc
  • New:
    • Bream Counter (4/4, While this is in your hand, after you play a Murloc, gain +3/+2)
    • Bassgill (6/2, Deathrattle: Summon the highest Health minion from your hand for this combat only)
• Dragon
  • New:
    • Stormbringer (1/7, After a different friendly Dragon gains Attack, this also gains it)
  • Moved to Tier 3:
    • Tarecgosa
  • Removed:
    • Atramedes
• Elemental
  • New:
    • Dancing Barnstormer (4/2, Deathrattle: Elementals in Bob’s Tavern have +2/+2 for the rest of the game)
    • Upbeat Upstart (Taunt. At the end of every 2 turns, set this minion’s Health to the highest in your warband)
  • Removed:
    • Dazzling Lightspawn
    • Master of Realities
• Naga
  • New:
    • Deep Blue Crooner (2/2, Spellcraft: Give a minion +1/+1 until your next turn. Improve your future Deep Blues)
    • Silent Swimmer (5/3, Spellcraft: Give a minion +3/+5 and Stealth until next turn)
  • Moved to Tier 3:
    • Eventide Brute
  • Removed:
    • Eelbound Archer
    • Waverider
• Undead
  • New:
    • Xylo-bones (5/1, After you summon a minion in combat, gain +3 Health permanently)
  • Removed:
    • Possessive Banshee
• Pirate
  • New:
    • Underhanded Dealer (2/2, After you gain Gold, gain +1/+1)
    • Blade Collector (3/2, Also damages the minions next to whomever this attacks)
    • Lovesick Balladist (3/4, Battlecry: Give a Pirate +1 Health for each Gold spent this turn)
  • Removed:
    • Goldgrubber
    • Ripsnarl Captain
• Demon
  • Moving from Tier 5:
    • Annihilan Battlemaster
  • Removed:
    • Bigfernal
    • Impatient Doomsayer
• Quilboar
  • New:
    • Prickly Piper (6/3, Deathrattle: For the rest of the game, your Blood Gems give an extra +1 Attack)
  • Removed:
    • Groundshaker
• Mech
  • New:
    • Scrap Scraper (3/6, Avenge (4): Get a random Magnetic Mech)
  • Removed:
    • Grease Bot
• Dual-type (Murloc / Undead)
  • New:
    • Plagued Tidewalker (2/7, Venomous)
• Neutral
  • New:
    • Upbeat Duo (4/2, Battlecry: Choose a minion. At the end of every 2 turns, this gives you a plain copy)
  • Removed:
    • Ball of Minions

Tier 5

• Murloc
  • New:
    • Operatic Belcher (5/2, Venomous, Deathrattle: Give a friendly Murloc Venomous)
  • Removed:
    • Toxfin
• Dragon
  • New:
    • Sanctum Rester (5/5, Start of Combat: Give your other Dragons +8 Health)
    • Electric Synthesizer (3/7, Battlecry: Give your other Dragons +4 Attack)
    • Disco Shuffler (4/3, Choose One: Trigger a friendly minion’s Battlecry; or Discover a Battlecry minion)
  • Removed:
    • Razorgore, the Untamed
• Elemental
  • New:
    • Gusty Trumpeter (4/5, After you sell 6 Elementals, get another random Elemental)
  • Removed:
    • Lil’ Rag
• Pirate
  • New:
    • Record Smuggler (7/6, At the start of your turn, gain 1 Gold. Repeat for each other friendly Pirate)
    • Upbeat Impressionist (8/4, At the start of every 2 turns, make a random Pirate in your hand Golden)
  • Removed:
    • Cap’n Hoggarr
• Demon
  • New:
    • Imposing Percussionist (6/6, Battlecry: Discover a Demon. Deal damage to your hero equal to its Tier)
    • Tichondrius (4/4, After your hero takes damage, give your other Demons +1/+1)
  • Moved to Tier 4:
    • Annihilan Battlemaster
  • Removed:
    • Voidlord
• Quilboar
  • New:
    • Bongo Bopper (5/5, At the end of your turn, get a Blood Gem and play 2 more on this)
  • Removed:
    • Agamaggan, the Great Boar
• Mech
  • New:
    • Utility Drone (4/5, At the end of your turn, give your minions +1/+1 for each Magnetization they have)
  • Removed:
    • Holy Mecherel
• Neutral
  • New:
    • Drakkari Enchanter (1/5, Your end of turn effects trigger twice)
  • Removed:
    • Friend of a Friend

Tier 6

• Beast
  • New:
    • Octosari, Wrap God (6/7, Deathrattle: Summon a 2/2 Tentacle. It gains +2/+2 permanently after you summon a minion in combat!)
  • Removed:
    • Goldrinn, the Great Wolf
• Murloc
  • New:
    • Choral Mrrrglr (6/6, Start of Combat: Gain the stats of all the minions in your hand)
  • Removed:
    • Seafood Slinger
• Elemental
  • New:
    • Rock Rock (4/4, After you play an Elemental, give your minions +1 Attack. Swaps to Health next turn!)
    • Elemental of Surprise (8/8, Divine Shield. This minion can triple with any Elemental)
  • Removed:
    • Gentle Djinni
    • Lieutenant Garr
• Pirate
  • New:
    • Fleet Admiral Tethys (5/6, After you spend 8 Gold, get another random Pirate)
  • Removed:
    • Dread Admiral Eliza
• Quilboar
  • New:
    • Bristlebach (2/10, Avenge (1): Play a Blood Gem on all your Quilboar)
  • Removed:
    • Darkgaze Elder
• Mech
  • New:
    • Polarizing Beatboxer (3/7, Whenever you Magnetize another minion, it also Magnetizes on this)
• Dual-type (Naga / Pirate)
  • Removed:
    • Greta Gold-Gun
• Neutral
  • New:
    • The Boogie Monster (3/8, After you play a Tier 1 minion, progress to the next Tier and give your minions +1/+2)
  • Removed:
    • Tea Master Theotar

And there’s still much more, like a Battlegrounds Track refresh with plenty of new rewards, and new Twitch drops from May 9 to May 16! The changes for Season 4 are so massive that the developers will host several Dev Talks from May 1 through 22, have a Preview Event on May 4, and roll out the new minions in waves.

Make sure to catch the official blog to learn even more about this gigantic update to the Battlegrounds, which is live right now!