General
Performance-Based Matchmaking
+ Show Spoiler +
The matchmaking system has been updated to include a performance-based data-driven system, which takes individual player performance into account when determining MMR gains and losses.
Under this new system, players will now reach their intended Matchmaking Rating quicker and more accurately.
Read our recent blog about Performance-Based Matchmaking to learn more.
Game Camera Height
+ Show Spoiler +
In-game Camera height has been significantly increased in order to provide more visibility of the battlefield.
New Hero: Hanzo ( PTR Note: In order to focus playtesting and feedback on the 2018 Gameplay Update and Stealth changes found in this patch, Hanzo will not be available for play on the Public Test Realm until the week of November 27. )
Copy/Paste battlenet://heroes/hero/98/Hanzo in chat, left click the link and - at least at the moment - you can play in Try Mode.
+ Show Spoiler +
Once heir to the Shimada clan's criminal empire, Hanzo abandoned his birthright after he almost killed his younger brother. He now strives to perfect his skills as a warrior, and sees the Nexus and its endless conflict as the ideal training ground.
PTR Note: In order to focus playtesting and feedback on the 2018 Gameplay Update and Stealth changes found in this patch, Hanzo will not be available for play on the Public Test Realm until the week of November 27.
Trait
Natural Agility (D)
Target unpathable terrain or a Structure to jump to the other side of it.
Basic Abilities
Storm Bow (Q)
Activate to charge an arrow that deals 270 damage to the first enemy hit. Storm Bow's range increases the longer it is Channeled. Reactivate to fire.
Scatter Arrow (W)
Fire an arrow that deals 85 to the first enemy Hero hit. Scatter Arrow can collide with terrain and Structures, splitting into 5 arrows that travel extra distance, ricochet up to 4 additional times, and deal 85 damage each to the first enemy hit.
Sonic Arrow (E)
Fire an arrow that grants vision in a large area 8 seconds. Enemies inside are revealed for 1 second. If Sonic Arrow lands directly on an enemy, it deals 150 damage to them and follows them as they move.
Heroic Abilities
Dragonstrike (R)
After 1.5 seconds, summon a pair of Spirit Dragons which travel forward, dealing 52 damage every 0.25 seconds to enemy Heroes in its area. Enemies in the center take 150% damage.
Dragon’s Arrow (R)
Fire a missile that travels across the battleground. Explodes upon hitting an enemy Hero, dealing 100 damage to all nearby enemies and Stunning them for 0.5 seconds.
After traveling a medium distance, the damage is increased to 200 and the Stun duration to 1.25 seconds.
After traveling a long distance, the damage is increased to 350 and the Stun duration to 2 seconds.
2018 Gameplay Update
Battleground Objectives
+ Show Spoiler +
The first Battleground objective event will now activate 90 seconds into the match, following a 30-second warning, for the following Battlegrounds:
Blackheart’s Bay
Doubloon Chests will now consistently spawn 3 minutes after the final Chest during a the previous event has been captured.
Braxis Holdout
Beacon events after the first will now consistently spawn 2 minutes and 10 seconds after a previous Zerg wave has been defeated.
Dragon Shire
Shrines will now consistently spawn 2 minutes after a Dragon Knight has been killed.
The first Battleground objective event will now activate 3 minutes into the match, following a 30-second warning, for the following Battlegrounds:
Battlefield of Eternity
Cursed Hollow
Garden of Terror
Haunted Mines
Infernal Shrines
Sky Temple
Towers of Doom
Warhead Junction
The following Battleground objective timers are unchanged:
Tomb of the Spider Queen
Volskaya Foundry
The Minimap will now indicate the next objective spawn location for the following Battlegrounds:
Cursed Hollow
The first Shrine indicator will appear on the Minimap 30 seconds after the game begins, and subsequent indicators will appear 15 seconds after the previous Tribute has been captured.
Infernal Shrines
The first Tribute indicator will appear on the Minimap 30 seconds after the game begins, and subsequent indicators will appear 30 seconds after a Punisher is defeated.
Hover the cursor over a Shrine indicator on the Minimap to display whether it will be a Mortar, Frost, or Arcane Shrine.
Sky Temple
The first Temple indicators will appear on the Minimap 30 seconds after the game begins, as well as 30 seconds after all Temples in the same event have been depleted.
Towers of Doom
The first Altar indicators will appear on the Minimap 30 seconds after the game begins, as well as 30 seconds after the final Altars in an event has been captured.
Warhead Junction
The first Warhead indicators will appear on the Minimap 30 seconds after the game begins, as well as 30 seconds after the final Warhead in an event has been collected.
Regeneration Globes
+ Show Spoiler +
Regeneration Globes will now become neutral (claimable by both teams) if not claimed within 3 seconds.
Time before Regeneration Globes expire has been reduced to 6 seconds.
Structures
+ Show Spoiler +
All attacking structures no longer have ammunition.
Walls will now be destroyed if their connected Towers and Gate are also destroyed. Walls can still be attacked normally.
Tower vision range has been increased by 25%
Tower damage to minions has been reduced by 25%
Structures now have a warmup period of .5 seconds before firing and must face their targets completely
Structure attack warning responsiveness has been significantly improved
Standalone Towers (found next to Forts and Keeps) have been removed.
The Health, granted Experience, and Damage of Standalone Towers has been redistributed into their surrounding gate Towers, Forts, and Keeps.
Forts and Keeps now have True Sight, meaning they will reveal and attack Stealthed Heroes.
True Sight is disabled while the Structure is disabled by effects such as the Raven Lord’s Curse or Sylvanas’ Black Arrow Trait.
Minions
+ Show Spoiler +
Minion base damage has been increased by roughly 10%
The 5 second delay before Minions spawn after the game begins has been removed.
Mercenaries
+ Show Spoiler +
Respawn Timers
Mercenary Camps will now spawn 60 seconds after the game begins
Siege Giant Camp
Siege Defenders
Defending Siege Giant attacks are now telegraphed on the terrain and can be dodged.
Siege Laners
Attack telegraphing and missile trajectory has been significantly improved.
Hellbat Camp
Respawn times have been doubled
Hellbats will now prioritize structures
Defender Hellbat Stats
Base health increased by 125%,
Health scaling increased by 200%
Damage increased by 125%
Damage scaling reduced by 50%
Laner Hellbat Stats
Base health increased by roughly 25%
Health scaling increased by 43%
Base damage increased by 50%
Damage scaling decreased by 66%
Damage taken from structures reduced by 50%
Attacks now apply a 3-second stacking -5 Armor debuff to all targets, stacking up to 20 times (structures included)
Knight Camp
Wizard Knight Laner
Wizard Knight Laner has a Spell Armor Aura
Grants all nearby Allies (Minions, Mercenaries, and Heroes) 30 Spell Armor
Spell Armor is immediately removed upon leaving the aura area.
This Aura is destroyed when the Wizard is killed
Wizard Knight Defender
Grants nearby Knight Defenders a 15 Spell Armor aura
This Aura is destroyed when the Wizard is killed
Sapper Camp
Sapper Defenders
Now fire their attacks at target areas, instead of directly at Heroes. This behaves like the laning Sappers
Sapper Explosion damage now scales over time
Health scaling increased by 33%
Respawn timer across all maps increased from 105 to 120 seconds
Laning Sappers now have 100 Armor vs Structures while charging and Towers will ignore charging Sappers
Art
+ Show Spoiler +
Heroes, Abilities, and Talents
Zeratul has received updated art to coincide with Talent changes.
Minimap
Minimap art has been updated across all Battlegrounds.
Stealth
Added an overlay to indicate when a Stealthed character goes Invisible
Added a new Stealth visual effect. Enemy Stealthed Heroes should now be easier to spot.
Battlegrounds
+ Show Spoiler +
Sandbox Custom Game Improvements
The following new cheats have been added to Sandbox Custom Games:
Spawn Camps
Respawn all Mercenary Camps.
Spawn Dummy
Creates a dialog allowing players to choose a type of dummy to spawn.
Player can then click in the game world to create a dummy of the selected dummy type at mouse cursor position.
One player cannot spawn more than 20 dummies.
When a player deals damage or heals a target dummy the Target Dummy Panel will pop up displaying the damage or healing dealt.
If player deals damage to multiple dummies with an AOE ability, the number will be the combination of damage done to all dummies.
If the team hasn't dealt damage or healing to any of the dummies for 8 seconds, the Target Dummy Panel will disappear for that team.
If a player hasn't dealt damage or healing to any of the dummies for 8 seconds, their damage and DPS will be reset to 0.
Clear Dummies
If the "Share Cheat" checkbox is unchecked, remove all the dummies created by all players.
If the "Share Cheat" checkbox is checked, remove all the dummies created by that player.
Toggle Fog of War
Disabling Fog of War for a team will remove Fog of War, revealing the whole map for that team.
Reset HP/MP
If the "Share Cheat" checkbox is unchecked, reset all players' Health and Mana to full.
If the "Share Cheat" checkbox is checked, reset the player's Health and Mana to full.
Complete Quests
If the "Share Cheat" checkbox is unchecked, complete all talent quests for all player.
If the "Share Cheat" checkbox is checked, complete all talent quests for that player.
Instant Respawn
If the "Share Cheat" checkbox is unchecked, instantly respawn all dead Heroes.
If the "Share Cheat" checkbox is checked, instantly respawn the player's Hero.
Haunted Mines
+ Show Spoiler +
Issuing a Move command within the Mines while on the Battleground’s upper level, or vice versa, will now cause the Hero to use the Mine Entrance or Exit that is the shortest distance from the issued order.
Summoned Grave Golem
Fort and Keep attacks no longer reduce attack speed
Will no longer interrupt its attacks mid-swing to use an Ability
Now passes through player-created walls rather than stopping to destroy them
Ranked Battleground Rotation Update
+ Show Spoiler +
Added to Rotation
Warhead Junction
Removed from Rotation
Volskaya Foundry
Garden of TerrorThe full Ranked Battleground Rotation is now as follows:
Battlefield of Eternity
Braxis Holdout
Cursed Hollow
Dragon Shire
Infernal Shrines
Sky Temple
Tomb of the Spider Queen
Towers of Doom
Warhead Junction
Design
Stealth
+ Show Spoiler +
Stealth players will now become “Invisible” after remaining still for 1.5 seconds.
Invisible Heroes will not display the Stealth visual effect and can still be removed from Stealth by taking damage. This includes Heroes under the effects of temporary Stealth effects such as Samuro’s Windwalk or Tyrande’s Shadowstalk.
Additionally, Heroes cannot become Invisible while occupying a capture point, such as Braxis Holdout or Mercenary Camp Beacons. Instead, they will retain normal Stealth visual effects.
User Interface
+ Show Spoiler +
In-Game UI
General
Hero portraits will now be displayed when heroes are inside the following Vehicles, Battleground objectives, or Hero Abilities:
Dragon Knight
Garden Terror
Triglav Protector
Anub'arak - Cocoon
Lt. Morales – Medivac Dropship
Stitches - Gorge
Zagara - Devouring Maw
Manual Talent Tier and Hero Status Callouts
Players can now press ALT + left-click Hero portraits and the Team Level UI at the top of the screen to generate notifications for the following situations:
Press ALT + left-click an ally’s Hero portrait to inform teammates when that ally needs assistance.
ALT + left-clicking a dead Hero’s portrait will generate a chat message indicating that Hero’s remaining respawn time.
ALT + left-clicking an enemy Hero portrait will ping that Hero’s location on the Minimap if they are within allied vision. If that enemy is outside of allied vision, a chat message will inform allies that the Hero is missing.
Press ALT + right-click the Team Level UI to indicate when both teams are on even Talent tiers, or when one team has a Talent tier advantage over the other.
Nova
+ Show Spoiler +
Abilities
Snipe (Q)
Damage reduced from 310 to 255.
Baseline quest added:
Hitting an enemy Hero increases the damage of Snipe by 5% stacking 5 times. When at max stacks (5) it gains an additional 25% damage. If Snipe fails to hit a target, all stacks are lost.
Pinning Shot (W)
Damage from 110 to 105
Holo Decoy (E)
Added functionality:
Decoys now deal 10% of Nova’s damage
Permanent Cloak (Trait)
Added functionality:
Gain 15% movement speed while Stealthed
Triple Tap (R)
Damage per shot from 338 to 372
(New) Ghost Protocol (1)
Activate to instantly cloak, leave a Holo Decoy at your feet, and become unrevealable for .5 seconds.
Talents
Level 1
Advanced Cloaking (Trait)
New functionality:
Increase your Stealth movement speed by 5%. While Stealthed, gain 2 additional mana regeneration per second.
Level 7
Snipe Master (Q)
Removed
Perfect Shot (Q)
Moved from Level 16
Cooldown reduction on Hero hit reduced from 3 to 2 seconds
Level 13
Psionic Efficiency (Q)
Bonus range increased from 10 to 15%
(New Talent) Ionic Force Field (Trait)
Gain 25 Armor for 2 seconds after losing stealth
Level 16
Lethal Decoy (E)
Damage bonus from clones increased from 40 to 50%
Level 20
(New Talent) Apollo Suit (Trait)
Reduce the cooldown of Permanent Cloak from 3 to 1 second
Samuro
+ Show Spoiler +
Stats
Basic Attack damage increased from 88 to 110
Abilities
Mirror Image (Q)
Samuro will now appear in the direction of the player’s Mouse Cursor when Mirror Image is cast.
Mirror Image damage is no longer a fraction of Samuro’s Attack Damage. Mirror Image base damage has been greatly reduced to 9.
Mirror Images are no longer instantly destroyed by Structures
Critical Strike (W)
Cooldown increased from 8 to 10 seconds
Illusion Master (R)
New functionality:
Reduce the cooldown of Advancing Strikes to 8 seconds
Now increases the attack damage of Mirror Images by 100%
Now also increases Samuro’s Basic Attack damage by 10%
Image Transmission (Trait)
Additional functionality:
Activate to switch places with the target Mirror Image, removing most negative effects from Samuro and the target Mirror Image. 25-second cooldown.
Talents
Tooltips for various talents have been updated to reflect whether Samuro or his Mirror Images benefit from their effects
Level 1
Way of the Wind (E)
New Functionality: Gain 40% Movement Speed for 3 seconds upon entering or exiting Stealth by using Wind Walk
Way of the Blade (W)
No longer grants bonus Critical Strike damage
Way of Illusion (Q)
Mirror Images no longer benefit from this talent
Level 4
One with the Wind (E)
Armor gain now also lasts for 3 seconds after being revealed
Mirror Images now also gain Armor
Armor amount reduced from 60 to 30
Level 7
Phantom Pain (W)
Mirror Images no longer benefit from this talent
Crushing Blows (W)
Mirror Images no longer benefit from this talent
Bonus Critical Strike damage has been removed
Additional functionality:
Samuro’s Basic Attacks against enemy Heroes reduce the cooldown of Critical Strike by 1.5 seconds
Level 13
Kawarimi (E)
Reduced the time between Samuro issuing a new order after using Wind Walk and the image following it. It should now be harder for the new Image to follow Samuro’s new movements after using Wind Walk.
Level 16
Press the Attack (Trait)
Attack Speed bonus reduced from 15% to 10% per stack. Maximum bonus decreased from 60% to 40%
Harsh Winds (E)
Mirror Images no longer benefit from this talent
Merciless Strikes (W)
Mirror Images no longer benefit from this talent
Valeera
+ Show Spoiler +
Abilities
Vanish (D)
Movement Speed increased from 10% to 20%
Ambush (Q)
If Valeera is Vanished for 3 seconds, this ability has 5 range and teleports Valeera behind her target.
Damage reduced from 180 to 130
Now also reduces enemy Armor by 10 for 4 seconds
Cheap Shot (W)
Stun duration reduced from 1.25 to .75 seconds
Now Blinds the target for 2 seconds after the stun effect ends
If Valeera is Vanished for 3 seconds, this ability has 5 range and teleports Valeera behind her target
Garrote (E)
Silence duration increased from 2.25 to 2.75 seconds
If Valeera is Vanished for 3 seconds, this ability has 5 range and teleports Valeera behind her target
Talents
Level 1
Subtlety (D)
Adjusted functionality:
Now triggers when Valeera teleports to her target with Ambush, Cheap Shot, and Garrote.
Energy return reduced from 10 to 8 per second.
Crippling Poison (Active)
Slow duration reduced from 5 to 4 seconds.
Valeera’s poison is no longer removed after the first damaging Ability, but instead is applied by all Valeera's Abilities for 4 seconds. This duration does not start until Valeera damages her first enemy.
Level 4
Wound Poison (Active)
Healing reduction duration decreased from 5 to 4 seconds
Valeera’s poison is no longer removed after the first damaging Ability, but instead is applied by all Valeera's Abilities for 4 seconds. This duration does not start until Valeera damages her first enemy
Level 7
Slice and Dice (E)
Valeera's Basic Attacks now restore 2 Energy.
Level 13
Death from Above (Q)
New functionality:
Ambush reduces the cooldown of Vanish by 4 seconds.
Blind (W)
Now increases the duration of Cheap Shot’s Blind from 2 to 4 seconds.
Strangle (E)
Spell Power reduction increased from 25% to 40%
Duration reduced from 7 to 6 seconds
Level 16
Assassinate (Q)
Bonus damage reduced from 100% to 50%
Now also increases the Armor reduction of Ambush by 10 when the target is isolated.
Moved from level 7
Expose Armor (E)
Removed.
Level 20
Nightslayer (D)
Removed.
Rupture (D)
Damage bonus now stacks immediately to 100%, instead of stacking up to 30%.
Moved from level 16
Elusiveness (D)
Moved from Level 13
Movement Speed bonus increased from 10% to 20%
Valla
+ Show Spoiler +
Abilities
Level 1
Monster Hunter (Q)
Now tracks stacks instead of damage on the quest tracker
Zeratul
+ Show Spoiler +
Abilities
Shadow Assault (R)
Removed
(New Talent) Might of the Nerazim (R)
Passive: After using an Ability, Zeratul’s next Basic Attack within 6 seconds deals 40% more damage
Activate to duplicate the last ability cast. Damaging abilities deal 50% less damage. This ability does not benefit from talents. 20-Second Cooldown
Talents
Level 1
Vorpal Blade (1)
Added as a baseline ability. Default Hotkey: 1
(New Talent) Move Unseen (Passive)
Gain 25% bonus Movement Speed while Stealthed
Shadow Hunter (E)
Regen Globe required for quest completion reduced from 20 to 15
Mana cost reduction of Blink increased from 2 to 3
Level 4
Combo Slash (Passive)
Removed
Grim Task (Passive)
Removed
(New Talent) Psionic Strength (Passive)
Damaging an enemy Hero with Basic Attacks or Abilities increases Zeratul's damage by 6% for 3 seconds, stacking up to 5 times.
(New Talent) Darkness Descends (Active)
Passive: Increase Zeratul’s attack speed by 10%.
Activated ability – Zeratul gains 40% bonus attack speed for 5 seconds. 30-second cooldown
Level 7
Wormhole (E)
Duration increased from 2 to 3 seconds
Slip into Shadow (E)
Removed
(New Talent) Warp Skirmisher (1)
Vorpal Blade now has 2 charges. Casting Vorpal Blade also causes Zeratul's next Basic Attack within 6 seconds to deal 30% bonus damage
Level 16
Sentenced to Death (W)
Bonus damage reduced from 40 to 30%
Level 20
Rewind (Active)
Removed
Nerazim Fury (R)
Removed
(New Talent) Twilight Falls (R)
Activating Might of the Nerazim resets the cooldown of all of Zeratul’s Basic Abilities
(New Talent) Shadow Mending (Passive)
Zeratul heals himself for 75% of Ability Damage Dealt to enemy Heroes
Abathur
+ Show Spoiler +
Abilities
Spawn Locust (Trait)
Health increased from 288 to 316
Talents
Level 1
Survival Instincts (Trait)
Bonus Health decreased from 50% to 40%
Level 7
Calldown: MULE (Active)
No longer refills Structure ammo
The Lost Vikings
+ Show Spoiler +
Talents
Level 4
It’s a Sabotage! (Passive)
No longer removes Structure ammo
Damage increased from 27 to 35
Muradin
+ Show Spoiler +
Talents
Level 4
Sledgehammer (Q)
No longer removes Ammo from structures
Collection
+ Show Spoiler +
Hero Price Reduction
Artanis’ prices have been reduced to 7,000 Gold and 625 Gems.
New Bundles – The following new Bundles and Skin Packs are available for a limited time!
Hanzo Heroic Bundle
Winter Veil 2017 Bundle
Winter Veil Classic Bundle
New Announcers
Hanzo
New Skins
Hanzo
Kinoko Honzo
Sora Hanzo
Dragon Hanzo
Demon Hanzo
Farstrider Hanzo
Icebound Farstrider Hanzo
Iron Farstrider Hanzo
Holy Farstrider Hanzo
Scarlet Farstrider Hanzo
Genji
Storm Oni Genji
Golden Genji
Nihon Genji
Leoric
Immortal Space Lord Leoric
Lúcio
Azure Soundblast Lúcio
Lunara
Harvest Champion Lunara
Zarya
Citrine Thunderguard Zarya
Industrial Zarya
New Mounts
The following Mounts have been awarded to players who reached Platinum in Hero League or Bronze in Team League during 2017 Ranked Season 3:
Titanium Cybersteed
Carbon Cybersteed
Master Cybersteed
The following Mounts have been awarded to players who reached Master or higher in Hero League or Team League during 2017 Ranked Season 3:
Epic Titanium Cybersteed
Epic Carbon Cybersteed
Epic Master Cybersteed
Bug Fixes
+ Show Spoiler +
General
Fixed a number of typo and tooltip errors across several aspects of the game.
Art
Kharazim: Kharazim's arms and upper body now animated correctly during his dizzy animation.
Leoric: The Shroud of the Dead King Talent will now correctly play an animation and a sound when activated.
Samuro: Monkey King Samuro’s model will no longer exhibit flickering during Hero Select while running Medium or High graphic settings.
The Lost Vikings: Fixed an issue causing Baelog to cast superfluous shadows on the terrain.
Battlegrounds
Sky Temple: Fixed an issue that could prevent Temple lasers from appearing correctly on the Minimap.
Structures: Auriel's Blinding Flash and Artanis' Suppression Pulse can no longer Blind Structures.
Towers of Doom: The Headless Horseman Boss is no longer incorrectly categorized as a Monster.
Volskaya Foundry: Fixed an issue in which Heroes on the outer edge of the Hall of Storms would not receive Healing or protection.
Heroes, Abilities, and Talents
Alexstrasza: Life-Binder is no longer interrupted when entering or exiting Dragonqueen.
Diablo: Fixed an issue that could cause Shadow Charge to deal its collision damage multiple times under certain circumstances.
Garrosh: Casting Wrecking Ball on Mercenaries will no longer cause them to leash while in combat.
Gul'dan: Movement caused by a conveyor belt will no longer cancel Rain of Destruction channeling.
Kel'thuzad: The Power of Icecrown Talent will now correctly grant bonus Spell Power for enemy Heroes Slowed by Chains of Kel’Thuzad with the Chains of Ice Talent.
Li-Ming: Zei's Vengeance and Arcane Orb tooltips have been updated to clarify bonus damage functionality. Damage amounts have not been changed.
Lt. Morales: The Second Opinion Talent will now correctly grant cooldown reduction when one of the Heroes struck by Displacement Grenade is piloting a Vehicle, like the Garden Terror.
Lunara: Fixed an inconsistency that allowed Lunara to cast Leaping Strike over some, but not all, allied units after learning Boundless Stride.
Medivh: Creating a Portal entrance after learning Portal Mastery and then entering the Triglav Protector will no longer prevent him from using the Protector’s abilities.
Muradin: Learning Reverberation no longer incorrectly updates the Attack Speed Slow amount in Thunder Clap’s tooltip.
Murky: Spawn Egg with the Egg Hunt Talent can now be cast correctly on Volskaya Foundry’s conveyor belts.
User Interface
Death Recap: Fortification Camp Turret attacks now display a Turret icon in the Death Recap screen.