Our next Heroes of the Storm patch has just arrived to the Public Test Realm and will be available for playtesting until October 16. During this time, we kindly request your assistance in trying out some of the new content it contains before we officially release the patch to the live version of Heroes. Just like last time, if you encounter any bugs or other issues during your PTR play sessions, please stop by the PTR Bug Report forum to let us know about your experiences.

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General

New Special Event: Hallow's End 2017

Play 25 games during Hallow’s End in any mode except Custom Games, Training, or Heroes Brawl to earn spooky new items!

Here are some of the treats you’ll be able to unwrap by completing the three-part quest chain: Part 1: Play 2 Games during Hallow’s End Reward: Cartoon Headless Horseman Spray Part 2: Play 8 Games during Hallow’s End Reward: Hallow’s End Warcrest Banner Part 3: Play 15 Games during Hallow’s End Reward: Headless Horseman Portrait



PTR Note: While elements of this event may be visible on the Public Test Realm, any progress or rewards earned during PTR testing will not transfer to the live version of the game when this patch is officially released next week.

Hallow ' s End Loot Chests Once Hallow’s End begins after October 17, all Loot Chests you earn through progression (except Hero-Specific Chests), or purchase using Gems will be replaced with Hallow’s End Loot Chests. Weekly Brawl Rewards after October 20 will also award one Hallow’s End Chest. Also starting with Hallow’s End, special event Loot Chests will now guarantee at least one of the limited-time items from that event—including portraits, sprays, skins, and mounts! Until Hallow’s End concludes during the week of November 13, you’ll pick up one of these limited-time Loot Chests every time you level-up or earn a weekly Heroes Brawl reward. You can also head to the Loot tab in-game to purchase Rare Hallow’s End Chests directly using Gems. Additionally, please note that any Loot Chests you already own prior to the start of the event will not convert to Hallow’s End Chests.



Hotkeys

The hotkeys to switch between the Stats, Talents, and Death Recap tabs of the leader panel (currently F1 , F2 , and F3 ) can now be rebound in the Hotkeys menu.

These hotkeys now provide quick access to the respective tab of the leader panel when the hotkey is held down.

Windows XP/Vista Deprecation

In July, we announced our intention to end support for Windows XP and Windows Vista in Heroes of the Storm. With this patch, Heroes of the Storm will no longer run on these two operating systems. Players who are affected by this change are encouraged to upgrade to a newer OS version.

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New Hero: Junkrat

The destruction of the Australian omnium left the area an irradiated waste and survivors like Jamison Fawkes were greatly affected by radiation. Now as the explosive-obsessed criminal Junkrat, he is renowned for leaving havoc and bedlam in his wake.

Trait

Total Mayhem Upon dying, drop 5 grenades that explode after 0.75 seconds, each dealing 250 damage to nearby enemies.



Basic Abilities

Frag Launcher (Q) Launch a grenade that explodes at the end of its path or upon hitting an enemy, dealing 117 damage to nearby enemies. Grenades can ricochet off of terrain. Deals 50% less damage to Structures. Stores up to 4 charges. Frag Launcher's cooldown replenishes all charges at the same time.

Concussion Mine (W) Place a mine on the ground. Junkrat's Trait can be activated to detonate the mine, dealing 180 damage to nearby enemies and knocking them back. Junkrat can also be affected by Concussion Mine, but takes no damage. Limit 1 active mine.

Steel Trap (E) Place a trap on the ground that arms after 2 seconds. Deals 130 damage to the first enemy that walks over it and Roots them for 2 seconds.Limit 1 active trap.



Heroic Abilities

RIP-Tire (R) Create a motorized bomb with 500 Health that lasts 15 seconds. While active, Junkrat is immobile but gains control of RIP-Tire's movement. RIP-Tire can be reactivated to detonate immediately, knocking nearby enemies back, and dealing 750 damage to enemies in the center of the blast, and 450 damage to enemies outside of the center.

Rocket Ride (R) After 1.25 seconds, Junkrat launches into the air. While in the air, he can steer the landing location by moving. After 3.5 seconds, Junkrat lands, dealing 780 damage to nearby enemies and activating Total Mayhem. 5 seconds after landing, Junkrat reappears at the Altar and gains 150% additional Movement Speed until dismounted.



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Battlegrounds

Ranked Battleground Rotation Update

Added to Rotation Sky Temple Garden of Terror Braxis Holdout

Removed from Rotation Infernal Shrines Battlefield of Eternity Warhead Junction

The full Ranked Battleground Rotation is now as follows: Cursed Hollow Dragon Shire Haunted Mines Tomb of the Spider Queen Towers of Doom Volskaya Foundry Sky Temple Garden of Terror Braxis Holdout



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User Interface

Seasonal Item indicators have been added to items in Loot Chests and the Collection

Volskaya Foundry now has a unique “Point Guard” award for time spend standing on the Control Point

The Event Log is now enabled in the Observer UI

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Heroes

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Assassin

Gall Abilities Ogre Rage (D) It should now be more apparent when Ogre Rage (D) is active

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Genji

Talents

Level 20 The Dragon Becomes Me (R) Duration increase per swing reduced from 1 to .75 seconds



Kel'Thuzad

Abilities

Frost Blast (R) Cooldown reduced from 80 to 70 seconds Mana cost reduced from 70 to 60



Talents

Level 4 Strip Shields (E) Shield amount increased from 112 to 120

Level 13 Icy Grasp (W) Increased slow duration from 1.5 to 2 seconds Chain-Link (E) Added functionality: Also refunds the Mana cost of Chains Of Kel’Thuzad



Lunara

Abilities

Wisp (E) Move cooldown reduced from 5 to 1 seconds Number of attacks required to kill the Wisp increased from 1 to 2



Malthael

Abilities

Reaper’s Mark (Trait) Damage reduced from 2.25 to 2% of enemy Hero maximum Health



Zul'jin

Stats

Basic Attack Damage reduced from 106 to 90

Abilities

“You Want Axe?” Baseline Quest added !Quest: Every 5 Basic Attacks against Heroes increases your Basic Attack damage by 1 !Reward: After landing 75 Basic Attacks on enemy Heroes, increase your Basic Attack range by 1.1 !Reward: After landing 150 Basic Attacks on enemy Heroes, your Twin Cleave will revolve twice

Grievous Throw (Q) Duration decreased from 8 to 6 seconds

Twin Cleave (W) Cooldown increased from 8 to 10 seconds Mana cost increased from 50 to 60

Regeneration (E) Health restoration increased from 25 to 30% of maximum Health



Talents

Level 1 Boneslicer (Q) New functionality: Grievous Throw pierces all enemies and refunds 10 Mana per Hero hit. The effect is no longer is removed after 3 Basic Attacks. You Want Axe? (Passive) Removed Headhunter (Active) Moved from Level 4 New functionality: !Quest: Kill all unique enemy Heroes. Each one increases your damage by 2%. !Reward: Increase your Basic Attack range by 1.1. Recklessness (Passive) Moved from Level 7 Adjusted functionality: Gain 10% bonus attack damage while below 75% life. Gain 20% Spell Power while below 50% life.

Level 4 Troll’s Blood (E) New functionality: Increases Regeneration healing by 25%. If the effect fully finishes, also gain 10% of your maximum Mana. (New Talent) Amani Rage (Active) Activate to instantly lose 50% of your current Health and regain it over 6 seconds. Gain 10 Armor while this heal is active. Voodoo Shuffle (Active) Moved from Level 13 New functionality: Passively lower the cooldown and mana cost of Regeneration by 33%. Activate to remove to all slow and root effects.

Level 7 Vicious Assault (Q) New functionality: Grievous Throw’s bonus damage is increased by 30%. Arcanite Axes (W) Moved from Level 1 New functionality: Passively reduce the cooldown of Twin Cleave by 2 seconds. !Quest: Hit enemy Heroes with Twin Cleave. !Reward: Every enemy Hero hit increases the damage of Twin Cleave by .75. This talent has no cap. Ferocity (Passive) Moved from Level 16

Level 13 Eye of Zul’jin (Q) New functionality: Basic Attacks against enemies Heroes increase Zul’jin’s movement speed by 3% for 2 seconds, stacking up to 30% Lacerate (Trait) Moved from Level 16 Ensnare (Active) Moved from Level 20 Now only hits enemy Heroes Duration reduced from 3 to 1.5 seconds Cooldown increased from 45 to 60 seconds

Level 16 Swirling Death (W) Removed Let the Killing Begin (Passive) Moved from Level 4 Wrong Place Wrong Time (W) Moved from Level 7 Adjusted functionality: Heroes hit at the apex of your Twin Blades suffer an additional 150 damage and grant 5 stacks of You Want Axe. (New talent) No Mercy (Q) Basic Attacks against Heroes marked with Grievous Throw ignore Armor.

Level 20 Amani Resilience (R) Added functionality: Also increases the duration of Taz’Dingo by 1 second in addition to the current effects. Buzzsaw (R) Added functionality: If Guillotine kills a Hero, instantly heal to full Health. Forest Medicine (E) Moved from Level 13 New functionality: Regeneration no longer requires a channel and the heal cannot be interrupted.



LEVEL (TIER) Zul'jin Talents 1 (1) Boneslicer (Q) Recklessness (Passive) (!) Headhunter (Passive) 4 (2) Troll's Blood (E) Voodoo Shuffle (Active) Amani Rage (active) 7 (3) Vicious Assault (Q) (!) Arcanite Axes (W) Ferocity (D) 10 (4) Taz'Dingo! Guillotine — 13 (5) Lacerate (W) Eye of Zul'jin (Passive) Ensnare (Active) 16 (6) Wrong Place Wrong Time (W) No Mercy! (Passive) Let the Killing Begin (Passive) 20 (7) Amani Resilience (R) Buzzsaw (R) Forest Medicine (E)

(!) indicates a Questing Talent.

Italic text indicates a NEW Talent.

Underlined text indicates a MOVED Talent.

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Specialist Abathur Abilities Spike Burst (W) Damage increased from 116 to 120

Ultimate Evolution (R) Cooldown increased from 50 to 70 seconds

Nazeebo Stats Health reduced from 1638 to 1502

Health Regeneration reduced from 3.4125 to 3.1291 Abilities Corpse Spiders (Q) Damage increased from 35 to 36

Plague of Toads (E) Damage reduced from 20 to 18

Voodoo Ritual (Trait) Health per stack of Voodoo Ritual increased from 4 to 6

Ravenous Spirit (R) Cast range increased by 1

Talents Level 13 Superstition (Passive) New functionality: Gain 40 Spell Armor, taking 40% less damage from Abilities. Basic Attacks from enemy Heroes remove this bonus for 3 seconds

Level 16 Spider Colony (Q) New functionality: Every time a Spider attacks an enemy Hero, reduce the cooldown of Wall of Zombies and Plague of Toads by .25 seconds

Developer Comment: We want to shift more of Nazeebo’s Health into the amount of Voodoo Ritual stacks he has, as the reward for Voodoo Ritual was mostly felt in unlocking Vile Infection at level 20. We’re changing Spider Colony to no longer reduce the cooldown of Corpse Spiders, because the synergy between the Spider Talents were so high that if you picked any one of them the rest of your Talent choices were locked in. Since we are changing the level 16 Talent to now affect Plague of Toads instead of Corpse Spiders, we’re shifting some of the damage out of Plague of Toads into Corpse Spiders. For Superstition, we wanted to get most of the spirit of what the old Talent did, but have more gameplay interactions. Often the only counter play to Superstition lied in what the enemy team composition was, and we’d rather have more counter play relying in decisions made during the course of the game. Probius Abilities Warp in Pylon (D) Health increased from 380 to 400

Talents Level 1 Gather Minerals (Passive) Damage bonus increased from 25 to 35%

Level 13 Shield Battery (D) Shield duration after leaving Pylon field reduced from 4 to 2 seconds Shield amount increased from 12 to 14

Zagara Stats Base Maximum Health reduced from 1643 to 1575

Health regen reduced from 3.4 to 3.3 Abilities Devouring Maw (R) Cooldown reduced from 100 to 80 seconds

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Support

Ana Stats Basic Attack Damage increased from 30 to 33 Talents Level 4 Overdose (Passive) Adjusted functionality: No longer applies to Biotic Grenade Sleep Dart now applies 3 Doses to targets hit



Developer Comment: Ana has had an incredibly successful launch into the Nexus, and seems to be falling into a great place balance-wise. We are still light on high-level data for her, so our changes this patch are very light. We realize that she has some synergy concerns and wanted to get a small jump on the largest catalyst to those – Overdose. While playing her internally before launch, we knew she had the potential to single-handedly shift the meta, not to mention increase the amount of double-support we see. Rest assured that we are keeping a close eye on both of these concerns and are prepared to act accordingly if the need arises.

Brightwing

Miscellaneous

Phase Shift (Z) will now also call out the targeted ally in an allied chat announcement upon activation.

Abilities

Pixie Dust (E) Spell Armor reduced from 30 to 25

Emerald Wind (R) Soothing Mist bonus healing amount reduced from 8 to 5%



Talents

Level 7 Phase Shield (Z) Shield amount reduced from 400 to 350



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Kharazim Talents Level 1 Transcendence (Trait) Healing increased from 96 to 103 per 3 Basic Attacks Insight (Trait) Cooldown reduction increased from 1.5 to 1.75 seconds per 3 Basic Attacks

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Lt. Morales

Stats

Base Maximum Health reduced from 1605 to 1550

Health regen reduced from 3.34 to 3.23

Talents

Level 1 Clear (E) Cooldown Reduction from first quest unlock reduced from 4 to 3 seconds

Level 4 Blast Shield (E) Shield amount reduced from 8 to 6% of maximum Health

Level 13 Second Opinion (E) Cooldown reduction for hitting 2 Heroes increased from 1 to 2 seconds



Stukov

Stats

Health reduced from 1682 to 1590

Health regen reduced from 3.5 to 3.3

Abilities

Healing Pathogen (Q) Heal amount reduced from 40 to 37



Talents

Level 1 Spine Launcher (Passive) Damage reduction increased from 30 to 40% Poppin Pustules (D) Added functionality: Now increases the final damage of Weighted Pustule by 50%

Level 16 Superstrain (Q) Added functionality: Now also applies to targets who are Rooted while under the effect of Healing Pathogen Universal Carrier (Q) Heal reduction decreased from 60 to 50% Eye Infection (W) Removed



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Warrior

Cho

Abilities

Ogre Hide (D) It should now be more apparent when Ogre Hide (D) is active.



D.Va

Talents

Level 1 Rush-down (Q) Cooldown reduction for dealing or taking damage increased from 5 to 7 seconds Crash Course (Q) Number of Heroes hit to complete Quest reduced from 25 to 20 Pro Moves (Passive) Duration of the Movement Speed bonus increased from 1.25 to 1.5 seconds

Level 4 Diverting Power (W) Movement Speed penalty reduced from 50 to 30%

Level 7 Nuclear Option (E) Damage bonus increased from 50 to 70%

Level 20 Stop and Pop (R) Damage bonus increased from 150 to 200% Concussive Pulse (Active) Cooldown reduced from 8 to 7 seconds



Garrosh

Talents

Level 20 Death Wish (R) No longer increases the duration of Warlord’s Challenge



Johanna

Stats

Base Maximum Health increased from 2179 to 2350

Health regen increased from 4.5 to 4.9

Abilities

Falling Sword (R) Slow duration increased from 2.5 to 3 seconds



Talents

Level 1 Hold Your Ground (D) Additional Shield amount increased from 20 to 30%

Level 13 Roar (Q) Damage for hitting 2 or more Heroes increased from 125 to 150% Blessed Hammer (Active) Damage increased from 80 to 84



Muradin

Stats

Basic Attack damage reduced from 97 to 88

Abilities

“It’s Hammer Time!” Baseline Quest added !Quest: Hit 25 enemy Heroes with Storm Bolt. Enemy Heroes who die within 2.5 seconds of being hit by Storm Bolt grant 3 stacks. !Reward: Once you gained 25 stacks, Basic Attacks will reduce the cooldown of Storm Bolt by 1 second, and Storm Bolt will pierce the first target hit, hitting an additional target

Stormbolt (Q) Mana cost decreased from 60 to 50

Avatar (R) Mana cost decreased from 100 to 80

Haymaker (R) Mana cost decreased from 80 to 60



Talents

Level 1 Perfect Storm (Q) No longer reduces the Mana cost of Storm Bolt

Level 4 Crowd Control (W) Removed Sledgehammer (Q) Damage bonus reduced from 400 to 300% Reverberation (W) Attack and Movement Speed slow duration increased from .5 to 1 seconds Thunder Burn (W) Adjusted functionality: Now requires hitting an enemy Hero to create a second Thunder Clap Second Thunder Clap now also applies a 25% Attack Speed slow for 2.5 seconds.

Level 7 Piercing Bolt (Q) Removed Iron-Forged Momentum (Passive) Removed Landing Momentum (E) Removed Heavy Impact (E) Moved from Level 16 Give ‘em the Axe! (Passive) Moved from Level 16 Bonus damage reduced from 60 to 50% Skullcracker (Passive) No longer grants bonus Attack Speed Added functionality: Every 3rd Basic Attack against an enemy now deals 60% bonus damage in addition to the stun

Level 13 Burning Rage (Passive) Removed Spell Shield (Passive) Removed (New Talent) Bronzebeard Rage (Passive) Passively deal damage to nearby enemies. Auto-attacking an enemy Hero who is stunned, rooted, or slowed increases the damage by 100% for 3 seconds

Level 16 Dwarf Launch (E) Bonus range decreased from 50 to 40% Bonus impact radius removed Added functionality: Hitting an enemy Hero now reduces the cooldown of Dwarf Toss by 3 seconds Stoneform (D) Healing reduced from 40 to 30% of Muradin’s Maximum Health

Level 20 Unstoppable Force (R) New functionality: While Avatar is active you gain 20 Armor and Basic Attacks reduce the cooldown of Thunder Clap and Dwarf Toss by .5 seconds Grand Slam (R) No longer reduces the Mana cost of Haymaker Added functionality: If an enemy Hero dies within 3 seconds of being hit by Haymaker, gain an additional charge of Haymaker



LEVEL (TIER) Muradin Talents 1 (1) Block (Passive) (!) Perfect Storm (Q) Third Wind (Trait) 4 (2) Sledgehammer (Q) Reverberation (W) Thunder Burn (W) 7 (3) Heavy Impact (E) Give 'em the Axe! (Passive) Skullcracker (Passive) 10 (4) Avatar Haymaker — — 13 (5) Healing Static (W) Thunder Strike (W) Bronzebeard Rage (Passive) 16 (6) Dwarf Launch (E) Imposing Presence (Active) Stoneform (D) 20 (7) Unstoppable Force (R) Grand Slam (R) Hardened Shield (Active) Rewind (Active)

(!) indicates a Questing Talent.

Italic text indicates a NEW Talent.

Underlined text indicates a MOVED Talent.

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Collection

Note: Seasonal Items from previous Hallow’s End events have also been temporarily re-added to the game. You can find more information in our Hallow’s End blog.

New Skins

Junkrat Drowned Junkrat Rusted Junkrat Convict Junkrat Clowning Junkrat Fallen Junkrat Devilish Fallen Junkrat Hellish Fallen Junkrat Orcish Fallen Junkrat Warped Fallen Junkrat

Cassia Whirlpool Pirate Queen Cassia Velvet Pirate Queen Cassia

Genji Iron Dragon Genji First Dragon Genji

Greymane Dr. Wolf and Stein Greymane Hazardous Dr. Wolf and Stein Greymane Mysterious Dr. Wolf and Stein Greymane StormPunk Dr. Wolf and Stein Greymane Inferno Dr. Wolf and Stein Greymane

Zarya Crimson High Gravity Zarya

Valeera Vampire Slayer V Rogue Vampire Slayer V Phantom Vampire Slayer V Midnight Vampire Slayer V Coldheart Vampire Slayer V

Brightwing Bewitching Brightwing Spirited Bewitching Brightwing Wild Bewitching Brightwing Crimson Bewitching Brightwing Dusk Bewitching Brightwing

Gazlowe Paper Bag Gazlowe Waste Bag Gazlowe Bag of Bolts Gazlowe Deep Bag Gazlowe Awkward Paper Bag Gazlower

Murky Garden Shambler Murky Lilac Shambler Murky Tulip Shambler Murky Orchid Shambler Murky Hibiscus Shambler Murky

Chromie Creepie Chromie Dottie Creepie Chromie Haunted Creepie Chromie Innocent Creepie Chromie Monster Creepie Chromie

Cho’gall Pump’kin Cho’gall Fel Pump’kin Cho’gall Twilight Pump’kin Cho’gall Burning Pump’kin Cho’gall Magic Pump’kin Cho’gall



Mounts

Phantom Stallion Picnic Phantom Stallion Grim Phantom Stallion Jack-o’-Phantom Stallion Secret Phantom Stallion Spectral Stallion



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Bug Fixes

General

Fixed a number of typo and tooltip errors across several aspects of the game.

AI

AI Heroes controlling the Garden Terror will no longer become unresponsive.

Art

D.Va: The keychain attached to D.Va’s Light Gun will now correctly appear during Hero Select.

Leoric: Fixed an issue preventing Leoric’s Basic Attack cleave animation from playing when using certain skins.

Tyrande: The area of effect indicator for Eagle Eye Tyrande’s Lunar Flare should now be more visually apparent when cast on Sky Temple while using Low graphic settings.

Zeratul: Zeratul’s face mask will no longer appear to stretch in the Collection while using Low graphic settings.

Heroes, Abilities, and Talents

Brightwing: The channel for Phase Shift will now properly cancel if the allied target dies.

Brightwing: The channel for Phase Shift will now properly cancel if Brightwing is Rooted.

Garrosh: Casting Body Check with the Brute Force Talent on a Boss will no longer cause a Healing debuff icon to appear next to its Health bar.

Garrosh: Fixed an issue causing Body Check to receive less bonus damage than intended after casting Double Up to reach 50 Armor.

Jaina: Fixed an issue that prevented Summon Water Elemental from being cast on the opposite side of unpathable terrain in areas that are within range and visible to the player.

Johanna: Fixed an issue causing the Shield Glare to lower the cooldown of the Blinded by the Light talent by an incorrect amount.

Kel’Thuzad: Shadow Fissure can now be cast on the minimap.

Kel’Thuzad: Shadow Fissure can now be cast between map levels on the Haunted Mines battleground.

Leoric: Fixed an issue causing enemy Heroes affected by Leoric’s Entomb ability to lose allied vision after Leoric had chosen the Buried Alive talent.

Lunara: Fixed an issue preventing Lunara from Leaping over several different friendly units after choosing the Boundless Stride talent.

Rehgar: Fixed an issue that drastically reduced the attack range of Feral Lunge.

Stukov: Abilities that move Heroes, like Alarak’s Telekinesis and Stiches’ Hook, no longer remove Weighted Pustule from the affected Hero.

Valla: Caltrops will no longer display Health bars or selection rings when clicked.

User Interface

Right clicking a player in your friends list and choosing the Whisper option will once again open the chat input field.

Score Screen: Counters for Chromie’s Sand Blast and The Butcher’s Fresh Meat quests will now continue to increment on the in-game score screen after reaching their soft caps.

Score Screen: The counter for Lt. Morales’ Clear! Talent will no longer disappear from the in-game score screen while she is inside a Medivac.

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