Blizzard Brings Buddies Back in Patch 29.6
Blizzard Entertainment is resurrecting the Buddies in Patch 29.6 for Battlegrounds, and they’re debuting in Battlegrounds Duos! Here’s everything you need to know to get the most out of your Buddies.
What’s a Buddy?
Buddies are special minions assigned to each hero, linked to their Hero Power, and are not part of the general minion pool. You can get copies of your Buddy throughout the match to strengthen your Warband and help you dominate your opponents.
Making Friends Again
Getting your Buddy is straightforward with the Buddy Button. Each hero has a Buddy Button with an initial cost based on the Tavern Tier of their Buddy. The cost decreases by 3 Gold each time you win or tie a combat, or by 2 Gold each time you lose. You can press the Buddy Button twice per game. The first press gives you one copy of your Buddy, and the second press gives you two. Since this is the first time Buddies are in Duos, there’s an extra 10 seconds added to all turn-timers to help you get used to the new mechanics.
New Buddies on the Block
Twelve brand-new Buddies are joining the battlegrounds! Here’s a sneak peek at some of the fresh faces:
- Cap’n Hoggarr – Shining Sailor (Tier 5, Pirate): Gain +1/+1 and add a Pirate to the Tavern after buying a Pirate.
- Inge, the Iron Hymn – Solemn Serenader (Tier 3, Undead): Gain half this minion’s Attack after using your Hero Power on a minion. (Swaps to Health next turn!)
- Rock Master Voone – Akali, Rock Rhino (Tier 4, Beast): At the end of every 2 turns, get a plain copy of the left-most card in your hand.
- Thorim, Stormlord – Veranus, Stormlord’s Mount (Tier 3, Dragon): At the end of your turn, transform the minion to the left of this into one from a tier higher (up to Tier 7!).
- Snake Eyes – Box Cars (Tier 4, Mech): At the start of your turn, roll a 6-sided die. Discover a Tavern spell of that Tier.
- Doctor Holli’dae – The Nine Frogs (Tier 5, Beast): After you buy a minion, get a random Tavern spell of the same Tier.
- Tae’thelan Bloodwatcher – Reliquary Attendant (Tier 4, Elemental): Once per turn, after you cast a Tavern spell, get a new copy of it.
- Nameless One – Faceless One (Tier 4): Battlecry: Get the Buddy of your teammate’s Hero Power.
- Cho – Halfus the Mighty (Tier 4): At the start of your turn, Discover a minion of your Tier. (50% chance to pass it!)
- Gall – Halfus the Wise (Tier 4): At the start of your turn, Discover a Tavern spell of your Tier. (50% chance to pass it!)
- Madam Goya – Mister Chu (Tier 4): Once per turn, after you pass a minion, get a plain copy of it.
- Flobbidinous Floop – Glorious Gloopling (Tier 5): At the start of your turn, get a plain copy of your teammate’s highest-Tier minion (except Buddies).
Updated Favorites
Several classic Buddies are also getting updates:
- Overlord Saurfang – Dranosh Saurfang (Tier 4): Gain the stats of any minion you buy.
- Ragnaros the Firelord – Lucifron (Tier 5): Trigger end-of-turn effects twice.
- Aranna Starseeker – Sklibb, Demon Hunter (Tier 3): Your next Refresh costs (0) after buying a card.
- Alexstrasza – Vaelastrasz (Tier 3, Dragon): Give your other minions +2/+2 during Battlecry and at the start of combat.
- Zephrys – Phyresz (Tier 4, Elemental): Discover a plain copy of a different minion that you have exactly one of. This update also includes some small functional updates for clarity.
- A.F. Kay – Snack Vendor (Tier 3): At the end of your turn, give your Tier 3 minions +1/+2.
- Death Speaker Blackthorn – Death’s Head Sage (Tier 5, Undead/Quilboar): Gain an extra Blood Gem whenever you get one.
- Queen Azshara – Imperial Defender (Tier 4, Naga): Cast a Spellcraft spell on this minion whenever you cast it on another friendly minion.
- Sire Denathrius – Shady Aristocrat (Tier 3): Discover a Quest when you sell this. Complete it to get an 8-Gold Coin Pouch.
- Teron Gorefiend – Shadowy Construct (Tier 5, Undead): Give this minion’s max stats to another friendly minion upon Deathrattle.
- Queen Wagtoggle – Elder Taggawag (Tier 4): Gain the highest Attack and Health of your minions if you control four minions with different types at the start of combat.
- Shudderwock – Muckslinger (Tier 5): Get a random Battlecry minion with Battlecry.
- Yogg-Saron, Hope’s End – Acolyte of Yogg-Saron (Tier 4, Murloc): Spin the Wheel of Yogg-Saron at the start of every turn.
- Dancin’ Deryl – Asher the Haberdasher (Tier 4): Gain a +1/+1 hat that passes to a friendly minion when sold after you sell a minion.
- Ysera – Valithria Dreamwalker (Tier 4, Dragon): Gain +1/+1 whenever a Dragon enters your Warband or the Tavern.
- Malygos – Nexus Lord (Tier 4): Replace a card with one from one Tier higher with Arcane Alteration.
- Lord Barov – Barov’s Apprentice (Tier 4): Gain 1 Gold after playing a Coin. This now includes Tavern Coins.
- Rakanishu – Lantern Tender (Tier 4): Gain 2 Lantern Lights that give a minion stats equal to your Tier at the end of your turn.
- Tickatus – Ticket Collector (Tier 5): Discover a Darkmoon Prize from the next Tier when you sell this. This update is purely for clarity.
- Vol’jin – Master Gadrin (Tier 5): Minions targeted by Spirit Swap also gain each other’s Health.
- Lich Baz’hial – Unearthed Underling (Tier 3, Undead): Rewind damage taken by your hero and gain stats equal to that amount.
- Deathwing – Sinestra (Tier 4, Dragon): Give a friendly minion +1 Health permanently whenever it gains Attack during combat.
- Greybough – Wandering Treant (Tier 4): Give your minions +1 Attack permanently whenever a friendly Taunt minion is attacked.
Hero Pool and Minion Updates
Several heroes and minions are getting some tweaks:
- E.T.C. Band Manager is back in the Hero Pool.
- The Curator is banned in Demon lobbies because minions summoned by Cultist S’Thara will now resummon with Venomous if they had it before they died, which can be easily abused.
Minions leaving the pool include Augmented Laborer and Bazaar Dealer, while Poetic Pen Pal and Imposing Percussionist make a comeback.
New Minions Entering the Arena
Patch 29.6 also introduces a host of new minions:
- Barrens Brawler (Tier 3): Get a random Deathrattle minion with Battlecry.
- Barrens Conjurer (Tier 5): Get a random Battlecry minion with Deathrattle.
- Arid Atrocity (Tier 6, All): Summon a 7/7 Golem and give it +7/+7 for each friendly minion type that died this combat with Deathrattle.
- Prime Mate (Tier 4, Beast/Pirate): Gain 1 Gold next turn after a friendly Deathrattle minion dies.
- Ghoul-acabra (Tier 6, Undead/Beast): Permanently buff your minions +2/+2 whenever a Deathrattle triggers.
- Loc Prince (Tier 4, Murloc): Add +2/+2 to any stats gained (wherever this is).
- Fairy Gillmother (Tier 4, Murloc): Get a random Murloc at the end of your turn.
- Crow’s Nest Sentry (Tier 3, Pirate): Give your other Pirates +3 Health with Battlecry.
- Clunker Junker (Tier 4, Mech): Choose a friendly Mech and Discover a Mech to Magnetize to it with Battlecry.
- Three Lil’ Quilboar (Tier 5, Quilboar): Play three Blood Gems on your Quilboar with Deathrattle.
- Jumping Jack (Duos Only) (Tier 3, All): Pass this minion the first time it’s sold.
Minion Updates
Several minions are also getting updates:
- King Bagurgle (Tier 5, Murloc): Give your other Murlocs +3/+3 with Battlecry.
- Imposing Percussionist (Tier 4, Demon): Discover a Demon and deal damage to your hero equal to its Tier with Battlecry.
Get Ready for the Update
Patch 29.4 Ignites Hearthstone with Dr. Boom’s Incredible Inventions
All these updates are dropping in Patch 29.6. Stay tuned for the date announcements and more info. Your Buddies have been waiting—gear up and we’ll see you in the Tavern!
