The 23.0 patch will change Hearthstone’s metagame even before we get to the Voyage to the Sunken City expansion.

Voyage to the Sunken City is only a week away, and that’s why Hearthstone deployed patch 23.0 today in preparation for the next expansion. Patch 23.0 is huge and will affect all Hearthstone game modes. These changes will have immediate effects, so be prepared to have a crazy week! Many cards nerfed during the last years will have their changes reverted so read this article to be ahead of the meta.

Year of the Hydra coming to Hearthstone with the 23.0 Patch
Year of the Hydra coming to Hearthstone with the 23.0 Patch

Patch 23.0 brings the Voyage to the Sunken City Expansion and the Year of the Hydra

Every Voyage to the Sunken City card has been revealed, it is just a matter of time until we get to play with them. The final card dump didn't have any specific reveals, but that doesn’t make them less important.

Many sleepers usually are incognito until they suddenly take over the meta. Yes, I’m looking at you Corridor Creeper. Check Hearthstone’s library if you want to check the full Voyage to the Sunken City card set. Maybe you get to discover the next meta breaker card.

With Voyage to the Sunken City expansion, Hearthstone will be entering the Year of the Hydra. On April 12, we will leave behind the Year of the Phoenix, as well as the Ashes of Outland, Scholomance Academy, and Madness at the Darkmoon Faire expansions.

Year of the Hydra Road Map - Hearthstone
Year of the Hydra Road Map - Hearthstone

Wild Gets Wilder with Hearthstone patch 23.0

The Wild format has a power level that makes most standard cards seem unplayable. That is why Blizzard is reversing many of the balance changes made specifically for Standard. With Hearthstone Patch 23.0, 24 cards will return to their original state.

What’s the catch? Well, these un-nerfs are live today, a week before the cards rotate out. So if one of your favorite decks got massacred by a previous balance patch, this is your time to shine!

The most iconic Hearthstone cards that get their nerfs reverted in Patch 23.0 include, Il’gynoth, Deck of Lunacy, and Kael0thas Sunrider.

Incanter's Flow going back to 2 Mana
Incanter's Flow going back to 2 Mana
Il'gynoth ready to OTK people
Il'gynoth ready to OTK people

Here is the full list in case you are wondering:

  • Apotheosis
  • Imprisoned Scrap Imp
  • Blackjack Stunner
  • Scavenger’s Ingenuity
  • Kael’thas Sunstrider
  • Corsair Cache
  • Crabrider
  • Mo’arg Artificer
  • Il’gynoth
  • Deck of Lunacy
  • Boggspine Knuckles
  • Dreadlord’s Bite
  • Shardshatter Mystic
  • Solarian Prime
  • Guardian Animals
  • Bloodboil Brute
  • Imprisoned Antaen
  • Jandice Barov
  • High Abess Alura
  • Lorekeeper Polkelt
  • Evocation
  • Priestess of Fury
  • Kayn Sunfury
  • Cabal Acolyte

Diamond Drek’Thar in the Shop

Alterac Valley's battle has come to an end. The Alliance was victorious, and to celebrate that, we all got an exclusive Vanndar Stormpike Diamond card. However, now it is time for the Horde to show their pride.

Drek’Thar Diamond version will be available in the shop for $24.99 or 3000 Gold (wow Diamond is expensive). Players that didn’t complete the Honor Track can still open their missing Legendary Faction Leader in Alterac Valley’s packs. However, there will be a special Hearthstone Achievement added with patch 23.0 that will grant a Golden copy of Drek’Thar / Vanndar.

Diamon Drek'Thar coming to Hearthstone Shop in 23.0 Patch
Diamon Drek'Thar coming to Hearthstone Shop in 23.0 Patch

The 23.0 Hearthstone patch also brings new Battlegrounds and Duels Heros, Arena updates, and new Mercenaries. So stay tuned to Esports.gg to get the latest Hearthstone news and updates. See you next time, in the Year of the Hydra!