It’s safe to say that Hearthstone: Battlegrounds is a success so far. Being publicly available for around a month now, people have been enjoying the latest entry to the Auto-Battler genre. And it seems that the developers are also enthralled by the latest game mode as balance and content patches have already been released. The tavern has plenty of room to grow, so why not speculate on some cards that you might see enter the battlegrounds sooner or later.

This article will take a look at legendary cards that compliment the Battlegrounds style and would fit in the game as it stands today. This means that Elementals and Dragons were left out since there are no cards (besides Nightmare Amalgam technically) currently within the mode. Also, you’d be quite surprised to see how many legendary cards can’t quite work in Battlegrounds given that some interact with your deck, spells, weapons, healing, etc. This is, by no means, an end all be all list, but rather a lighthearted start to a discussion as to where Battlegrounds could expand. Without further a-do, let’s jump into the list.

Blackhowl Gunspire

One of the most beautiful things about Battlegrounds is that it gives cards that were rendered near unplayable in the other game modes a chance to shine. Cards like Junkbot, Ironhide Direhorn, and Bolvar, Fireblood see frequent pickings and often find themselves in winning lineups. One card that was immediately dismissed by the community upon its unveiling was Blackhowl Gunspire. At seven mana with three attack and nine health, as well as dealing three damage when attacked to a random enemy, the card doesn’t seem too bad.

The problem this card runs into is two-fold: no tribal synergies and you cannot direct an attack with the card (a-la Ragnaros the Firelord). In other words, you had to rely on either your opponent to hit it or find a less than ideal way of damaging him yourself. However, in Battlegrounds, one side of the board must be completely cleared in order for a round to end. So no matter what, a Gunspire on the field can actually gain value. The card would need to be tweaked a bit so that it doesn’t target the enemy hero. Also the card still loses value for not having a tribe attached. None the less, Blackhowl Gunspire could be a strong mid-game card ranging from about three to four stars.

Flobbidinus Floop

Shifting from a card that never saw competitive standard play, to an extremely versatile Druid combo staple. Flobbidinous Floop is a card that opens up many interesting strategies in Battlegrounds. The card itself only transforms once a minion has been played before it. Meaning that you could get an easy gold card as long as you’re managing your board space and playing your cards appropriately. Additionally, having two identical minions, such as Scavenging Hyena or Junkbot, on the field is often a great way to win the mid-game. The card itself isn’t broken since it requires additional cards to gain value, so between three and four stars would be a suitable home for Floop.

Sir Finley Mrrgglton

Knowing when to pivot your compositions and commit to an archetype is an essential skill for Battlegrounds players. Unfortunately, if you’re playing a hero like Jaraxxus, for example, you may feel obligated to commit to demons even if it’s not working out since the tribe synergies with your hero power. Additionally, some hero powers are just outright bad such as Pyramad and Patches the Pirate. If only there was a card that allowed you the option to swap your hero power and catch your opponents off guard. Enter: Sir Finley Mrrgglton. This Murloc explorer allows the user to swap to a new hero power of their choosing. Being able to enhance your tools into the late game is essential for weaker heroes and heroes who lose steam after the early game. Since the selection is random and there are plenty of bad hero powers, Sir Finley could be reasonably balanced at two stars.

Da Undatakah

Deathrattle minions have found great success in Battlegrounds since minions return to the field after each round. So what better Deathrattle minion is there for Battlegrounds than the one who has not one, not two, but three Deathrattle effects. Da Undatakah being able to copy the Deathrattle effects of friendly minions that have died opens itself up to numerous archetypes. From mech-based strategies with Kaboom Bot and Mechano-Egg to beast synergies with Rat Pack and Goldrinn, The Great Wolf.

With such a variety of play and the strength of the card, any lower than six stars would be busted. The skill involved with not playing Deathrattle minions that could dilute the pool, to advancing your Tavern Tier without leaving yourself vulnerable, makes playing an Undatakah archetype potentially both challenging and exciting.

Zola the Gorgon

Rounding out the list with a potential spicy pick, Zola the Gorgon has been one of, if not the most favorable cards to exist in Hearthstone. Giving players a golden copy of a friendly card on the field is both a fantastic spin on the legend of Medusa, from whom the character is inspired by, and has been a great combo enabler that adds a bit of pizzazz. Now that golden minions have more function in Battlegrounds aside from looking pretty, Zola seems like a shoo-in. The card would excel in late mid-game and early late game where you are settling into your archetype while having minions your willing to sell. The card is strong but not as strong as other six-star minions, so five stars seem like a sensible position.

And with that, the list is concluded. With legendary finished, the next step, logically, would be to look at Epic minions. That list is in the works and with far more minions to choose from, it can be expected within a week or so. For more news and discussion, check back at The Game Haus for more Hearthstone as well as other esport titles every day.

Follow Brad on Twitter @BradKillion for the latest opinions and musing about the world of esports.



Featured image courtesy of Blizzard Entertainment

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