This is already a second nerf rally from Blizzard since the Rastakhans Rumble expansion. Is this a new trend? Well I personally like it, because it seems that Blizzard is proactively stopping oppressive strategies and over the top classes rather quickly. I got only one question. How does it affect new/budget players since they can just "lose" their decks before having time to craft a new one?

These changes are coming pretty soon, 5th of February to be more exact. Targeted classes are Paladin, Rogue, Hunter, and Shaman.

I would like to start with the Rouge:

Cold Blood mana cost increased from 1 to 2!

With this one, I highly agree because this card is a bit too flexible and sometimes creates threats with 1 mana-cost minions too early on the board. Like with 1/1 Divine Shield Argent Squire or 1/3 Dire Moles that are hard to get rid of in turn 1-3. Notably, this makes Cold Blood unplayable in the Odd Rogue deck in which both of these cards are used and with the upgraded hero power, Rouge is outclassing everyone in those early turns. I can't really say that this is killing the card, but it definitely brings some Rogue archetypes down to the "fair" power level.

This is for sure one of the needed changes. Eases a bit an already high pressure from rogue that goes unmatched most of the time.

Next up is Paladin:

Equality mana cost increased from 2 to 4!
Okay, this might seems like a really harsh change, but it actually isn't, at least doesn't seem like to me. Equality is considered a control card, for control decks obviously. The problem is that at 2 mana cost it can also be used in aggressive style decks, most notably in Even Paladin that rose in popularity since the Odd Paladin received a big nerf on Level Up in the last patch. 4 mana is a serious change and it shrinks the window for the Control/OTK Paladins to reset the board and stabilize, but I don't see that as too big of a problem. Most probably the reason for this nerf was it's usage in Even Paladin as I mentioned, in the combo with Avenging Wrath. For 8 mana Even Paladin is able to clear the board and keep the aggression going and deal 5-6 damage to the opponents face in the process.

I like this change, it emphasizes the control aspect of this card and only cripples its aggressive use as that should not be the case in the first place.

Maybe one of least expected, Shaman up next:

Flametongue Totem mana cost increased from 2 to 3!
Well, at least for me this one was unexpected but I can see why this is the case. The most obvious reason is, since they are nerfing down currently most oppressive deck there is a high possibility that already a decently strong Even Shaman deck would have too much. You can look at Flametoungue as a 3 mana at least a 4/3 if used properly since it will give 2 minions +2 attack and this can stack up as the trading goes and Flametongue survives on the board. For a 3 mana minion that seems quite right.

This also seems like a "fair" power level for the card even though it wasn't considered a problem on 2 mana I can understand the reasoning behind this change

Last but not least, my favorite target of the nerf is Hunter:

Hunter's Mark mana cost increased from 1 to 2!
Probably the most expected class to receive some nerfs and here we go, Hunter got double hit by the nerf gun. If anyone here was playing Hearthstone in the early days will know that Hunter's Mark was 0 mana and now it seems that even at 1 mana this card is too strong. Maybe it isn't all because of this card but in tandem with the 1/3 weapon Candleshot, it sees play in almost any Hunter deck since it is a cheap and highly reliable removal tool most of the time too hard to play around.

I don't think that Hunter's Mark nerf will be significantly felt in the Hunters power level or even removal abilities but the second nerf might do the trick.

Emerald Spellstone mana cost increased from 5 to 6!
YES! This is a well deserved nerf, it's been obvious that this card is too strong for its mana cost and the upgrade requirement. 5 mana for 12/12?! That seems OP to me. By making it 6 mana, it will remain strong, probably as strong as this card should be, but giving an extra turn for the opponent to get ready for this crazy board oriented card is crucial in every control match-up or any match-up for that matter.

Well deserved nerfs, especially for the Spellstone as with even more cards that support it, such as Subject 9 and new hero card Zul'jin this card was going out of control.

Funny enough, these cards are now lined up at the even mana cost, with secrets and both hero cards for hunter also in the even line-up there is a possibility for some new kind of hunter archetype. Even Hunter on the horizon?

Conclusion

I like this nerfs because they address the issues that the meta has but doesn't straight up kill the cards targeted by the nerfs nor does it kill decks that are using them. Good job from Blizzard, I hope to see these changes as regular as they seem with this expansion.

Thank you for reading!

, z3ll