Way of the Witcher is almost here and with it a considerable amount of changes. As many of you guessed, some are centred around the "Witcher" tag, so that already existing cards interacting well with Witchers are properly adjusted for the arrival of the new ones. Of course aside from that, there were multiple balance changes to other cards and you can read about them in detail below.
And with the festive season already in full swing, we also introduce the feature of Gifting so you can send goodies to your friends in GWENT and celebrate together.
Closing the list of changes are game fixes, some very much anticipated (Eredin!), some Quality of Life, but all improving the experience we'd like to offer you.
Changes
- New Packges for Draft. More detailed info soon.
- Redraft, Settings and Quit buttons have been added to the Draft user interface.
Neutral
Eskel, Vesemir and Lambert power changed from 2 to 3.
Provision changed from 8 to 7.
Ability changed to:
Adrenaline 4: Summon Eskel/Vesemir/Lambert from your deck to this row.
Developer comment: The introduction of Adrenaline opens new possibility for old cards. We've decided to rehabilitate the Witcher trio but added the Adrenaline condition to make it less flexible and force to commit in round 1.
Vesemir Mentor ability changed to:
Deploy: Boost all allied Witcher units on the battlefield by 1.
Adrenaline 5: Also boost your Witcher units in hand and deck.
Developer comment: With plethora of new targets for Vesemir Mentor, his overall value increased a lot. Similarly to the Witchers trio, we introduced Adrenaline to the effect to keep it in check and force commitment.
Roach provision changed from 10 to 9.
Knickers provision changed from 9 to 8.
Dandelion: Poet provision changed from 12 to 11.
Portal provision changed from 13 to 12.
Ability changed to:
Deploy: Summon a random 4 provision unit from your deck to the left of this card
After 3 turns, Summon a random 4 provision unit from your deck to the right of this card.
Developer comment: In the past, the strategy to nerfing Portal was to nerf its targets. This time we would like to experiment with something different by removing one of Portal most oppressive feature: the ability to immediatly put two engines on the board. This allows us to bring Portal down one provision and most importantly rehabilitate its old targets by putting them back to 4 provisions.
Wagenburg now has a Siege Engine category.
Monsters
Haunt provision changed from 13 to 14.
Vran Warrior now has 1 armor.
Old Speartip provision changed from 13 to 12.
Imlerith ability changed to:
Deploy (Melee): Draw a card, then discard a card. If discarded card was a unit, boost self by its power.
Developer comment: New month, new Imlerith! We are adjusting Imlerith to have better synergy with Way of the Witcher cards such as Dol Dhu Lokke.
Skellige
Brokvar Hunter provision changed from 5 to 4.
An Crate Blacksmith now has 1 Armor.
Northern Realms
Vernon Roche provision changed from 12 to 11.
Lyrian Cavalry provision changed from 5 to 4.
Scoia'tael
Elven Swordmaster provision changed from 5 to 4.
Dwarven Chariot now has a Siege Engine category.
Nilfgaard
Coup de Grace provision changed from 10 to 9.
Damage dealt increased from 2 to 3.
Affan Hillergrand provision changed from 9 to 8.
Braathens power changed from 3 to 4.
Provision changed from 11 to 10.
Ability changed to: Assimilate.
Deploy: Create and play a bronze disloyal unit from your starting deck.
Developer comment: We would like Braathens to be a card that supports Assimilate and Spies archetypes, rather than just a good midrange card that can be put in any deck.
To make it so, we are adding a deck building condition that shouldn't be a problem for archetypes mentioned, but other archetypes can still run him if the player is willing to adjust their deck. At the same time, we are improving his stats.
Emissary boost to a unit increased from 6 to 7.
Assire Var Anahid provision changed from 8 to 7.
Nauzicaa Sergeant provision changed from 5 to 4.
Master of Disguise power changed from 3 to 4.
Viper Witcher name changed to Kingslayer.
Fire Scorpion now has 1 Armor.
Alba Armored Cavalry power changed from 4 to 5, Armor changed from 0 to 1.
Impera Enforcers now have Zeal.
New Features
Gifting. New feature giving players the ability to send gifts to their friends. (Available only for Meteorite Powder and Real Money purchases)
Game Fixes
Assire now reveals the picked card before putting it in the deck.
Developer comment: Quality of life change. This removes the need to check graveyard to know which card the opponent put back in the deck. Makes already shared information more accessible.
Miruna's tooltip now correctly mentions that the target is picked randomly.
Ampibious Assault, Blood Eagle, Avallac'h: Sage and Novigradian Justice will now properly show a shuffled version of the deck instead of listing the cards in order.
Vrihedd Officer tooltip was harmonized with other similar tooltips.
Eredin Bréacc Glas will now correctly increase the damage dealt by Frost.
Defender is now correctly referred to in tooltips as a status.
Units with the Bounty status will now grant coins correctly only when destroyed.
Master Mirror will now correctly transform cards that are able to interact with the deck, such as Oneiromancy and Matta Hu'uri.
Cantarella is now able to play Trap cards from the opponent's deck.
Icons in Reward Book tabs should now always be shown correctly.
Draft Patch Notes
The arrival of Way of the Witcher means new cards, and more new exciting possibilities for all Game Modes, including Draft Mode! With the recent update we added brand new packages: Mechanical - Adrenaline, Tribal - Witchers, Value - Self poison and Offensive - Control. Of course the entirety of Draft Mode will be upgraded with the cards from the new expansion, enhancing the previously existing packages. As a finishing touch, there are some general balance changes and shuffles between package content which you can read all about in the changelog below.
Increased the odds of being offered Tactical Advantage
Urn of shadows stratagem now will only be offered if you choose:
- Frightener
- Koshchey
- Haunt
- Dol Dhu Lokke
Added in Tribal - Witchers package as a default available package. Increased odds of seeing it after picking it or Thinning - Witcher Trio or Wombo Combo - Witcher Trio
Added in a Value - Self Poison package
Added in Offensive - Control package
Mechanical - Traps has been moved to Offensive - Traps as well as the following cards added:
- Iorveth
Increased odds of getting Spell focused special package after choosing Alzur as a core card
Replaced Albrich core card with Ivar Evil-Eye which boosts the following packages:
- Tribal - Witchers
- Offensive - Control
- Tribal - Beasts (only Vypper Variant)
Added new Nilfgaard Core Card Gorthur Gvaed:
- Tribal - Witchers
- Value - Deck Shuffle
- Tribal - Beasts (only Vypper Variant)
Replace Blueboy Lugos core card with Arnaghad which boosts the following packages:
- Mechanical - Bloodthirst
- Tribal - Witchers
- Offensive - Control
Added new Skellige Core Card Haern Caduch which boosts the following packages:
- Tribal - Witchers
- Value - Self Wound
- Special - Raid
Harald An Craite core card now also boosts the following packages:
- Mechanical - Bloodthirst
Core Card Malena now properly increases odds of seeing Mechanical - Move package.
Replace Iorveth core card with Gezras which boosts the following packages:
- Mechanical - Move
- Tribal - Witchers
- Offensive - Traps
Added new Scoia'tael core card with Stygga Castle which boosts the following packages:
- Mechanical - Move
- Tribal - Witchers
- Defense - Armor
Replace Immortals core card with Erland of Larvik which boosts the following packages:
- Defense - Boost
- Tribal - Witchers
- Value - Deck Shuffle
Added new Northern Realms core card with Kaer Seren which boosts the following packages:
- Mechanical - Charge
- Tribal - Witchers
- Value - Prebuff
Replace Madame Luiza core card with Fallen Rayla which boosts the following packages:
- Mechanical - Tribute
- Offensive - Poison
Added new Syndicate core card with Salamandra Hideout which boosts the following packages:
- Mechanical - Tribute
- Value - Self Poison
Added in custom versions of swarm packages available to Mourntart Core Card in an attempt to make decks with her more viable.
Replace Weavess: Incantation core card with Koshchey which boosts the following packages:
- Mechanical - Deathwish
- Tribal - Insectoids
Added new Monsters core card with Dol Dhu Lokke which boosts the following packages:
- Mechanical - Deathwish
- Tribal - Insectoids
- Special - Organic
The following cards were added to Coin package:
- Salamandra lackey
With the following removed:
- Oxenfurt Naturalist
"The following cards were added to Mechanic - Tribute:
- Salamander
- Salamandra Mage
- Madame Luiza
General reshuffle of Mechanical - Deathwish packages
Added:
- Weavess: Incantation
- Succubus
- Viy
- Hybrid
The following cards were added to Mechanical - Bloodthirst:
- Gerd
- Bear Witcher
- Bear Witcher Mentor
- Armor Up
The following cards were added to Mechanical - Move:
- Saber-Tooth Tiger
- Brehen
- Gaetan
- Cat Witcher
- Cat Witcher Mentor
- Cat Witcher Saboteur
- Cat Witcher Adept
- Making a bomb
The following cards were added to Mechanical - Order:
- Coen
The following cards were added to Tribal - Mages:
- Cosimo Malaspina
The following cards were added to Tribal - Insectoids:
- Idr
Overhaul of Tribal - Beasts package (many changes) and no longer a default package.
The following Core Cards and Leader Abilities will now enable Tribal - Beasts:
- Mourntart
- Svalblod Totem
- Ursine Ritual
The following cards were added to Defense - Shields:
- Cosimo Malaspina
The following cards were added to Value - Deck Shuffle:
- Griffin Witcher Adept
The following cards were added to Value - Self Wound:
- Blueboy Lugos
- Bear Witcher Mentor
- Bear Witcher Quartermaster
- Bear Witcher Adept
The following cards were added to Value - Board Swarming:
- Idarran of Ulivo
- Wererat
- Siegfried
- Chimera
- Hybrid
- Siren
- Cockatrice
- Morvudd
- Plague Maiden
The following cards were added to Special - Neutral:
- Triangle within a Triangle
The following cards were added to Special - Tactics:
- Coated Weapons
The following cards were added to Special - Raid:
- Armor Up
The following cards were added to Special - Move:
- Making a bomb
The following cards were added to Special - Warfare:
- Target Practice
The following cards were added to Special - Crimes:
- Stolen Mutagens
The following cards were added to Special - Organic:
- Spontaneous Evolution