Blizzard has just announced new changes for Hearthstone’s ranked ladder and tweaks to a few problem cards. Starting in the next patch, if you reach ranks 15, 10 or 5, you will no longer be able to get demoted to previous ranks. So, if you manage to grind all the way to rank 10 and then lose a few games, you will no longer go back to rank 11. It’s an amazing change that I could not be happier about Blizzard implementing. This should help make the ranked ladder feel less terrible now that’s easier to climb.
On the Hearthstone reddit, Community Manager Zeriyah said they want: “the overall climb from rank to rank feel like more an accomplishment once you hit a certain milestone. In order to promote deck experimentation and reduce some of the feelings of ladder anxiety some players may face, we’re introducing additional Ranked Play floors.”
The biggest, and my favorite change, is nerfs to two stupidly powerful cards:
Small time Buccaneer: from 1/2 to 1/1
Spirit Claws: From 1 mana to 2
Aggro Pirate Shaman has been the strongest deck this meta, kicking out every other deck that tried to compete. With these nerfs, other decks, besides Pirates, might actually start seeing some play. The toxic atmosphere that came around after Mean Streets Of Gadgetzan might actually be over, hallelujah!
Patch 7.1 will drop at the end of February.
How do you feel about these changes? Tell us in the comments.
