HOTS – 17.04.2019 Patch Notes

General

The party size of enemies will no longer be shown during the match loading screen
Removed all party-size restrictions during the matchmaking process

Heroes

Developer Comment: As we promised in the past, we took a look at the overall Mana tension of all the Heroes in the game. We also have some philosophies about Mana that we want to keep going forward. They are:

Mana should be a meaningful part of the game, particularly in the early stages when wave clear is at a higher premium. We believe that as the game progresses, Mana tension should become less important as Heroes gain more base Mana and the game’s focus shifts to team fighting.

Mana tension doesn’t have to be the same for every Hero, but every Hero should feel it to some degree, otherwise it serves no purpose.

We like that some talents heavily mitigate Mana tension.

When we took a look at Mana tension in the game, we saw that, overall, things are in a fairly healthy spot, but could be fine-tuned and improved upon. We like the tension that the heroes who are closer to the middle of the spectrum have, with some examples being Malfurion, Tychus, and E.T.C. Our goal with these changes is to bring the outliers closer to the center. We are open to your feedback going forward if you think that the game needs to be stricter or more lenient in this area, or if you believe there are any outliers that we missed.

Tank

Anub'arak

Stats

Basic Attack damage reduced from 85 to 81

Abilities

Impale (Q)
- Damage reduced from 95 to 90
Burrow Charge (E)
- Damage reduced from 96 to 91

Talents

Level 1
- Legion of Beetles (Trait)
  - Spell Armor reduced from 40 to 30
Level 10
- Cocoon (R2)
  - Cooldown increased from 60 to 70 seconds

Arthas

Abilities

Frozen Tempest (E)
- Mana cost reduced from 15 to 13 per second

Talents

Level 4
- Frozen Wastes (E)
  - Mana cost reduction reduced from 4 to 2 per second

Diablo

Abilities

Fire Stomp (W)
- Mana cost increased from 30 to 35

Garrosh

Abilities

Groundbreaker (Q)
- Mana cost increased from 30 to 40

Stitches

Abilities

Slam (W)
- Mana cost increased from 35 to 40

Bruiser

Dehaka

Talents

Level 1
- Enduring Swarm (W)
  - Additional Functionality: Increase the duration of Dark Swarm by .5 seconds
Level 4
- Lurker Strain (E)
  - Additional Functionality: Reduce the cooldown of Burrow by 4 seconds
Level 10
- Isolation (R1)
  - Mana cost reduced from 100 to 70
- Adaptation (R2)
  - Cooldown reduced from 80 to 60 seconds
  - Mana cost reduced from 85 to 70
Level 13
- Ferocious Stalker (W)
  - Additional Functionality: Now also causes Dark Swarm to Slow enemy heroes by 15% for .75 seconds while Brushstalker's movement Speed bonus is active
  - Now shows Crit kickers when dealing increased damage

Imperius

Abilities

Solarian's Fire (W)
- Mana cost reduced from 60 to 50
Molten Armor (E)
- Mana cost increased from 50 to 75

Talents

Level 1
- Consuming Flame (W)
  - Adjusted Functionality: No longer has a quest component; Imperius gains bonus damage and slow to Solarion's Fire when picking the talent
  - Bonus damage reduced from 150 to 125
Level 4
- Bulwark of Flame (W)
  - Physical Armor amount increased from 70 to 75
  - Maximum Charges increased from 4 to 6
- Unshakable Faith (E)
  - Adjusted Functionality: No longer requires removing a disabling effect in order for Imperius to be healed
  - Healing reduced from 250 to 200
Level 7
- Flash of Anger (Q)
  - Damage increased from 180 to 198
  - Now shows Crit kickers when this damage procs
- Holy Fervor (Active)
  - Cooldown increased from 18 to 25 seconds

Malthael

Talents

Level 10
- Tormented Souls (R1)
  - Additional Functionality: When Tormented Souls is cast and when it expires, reset the cooldown of Wraith Strike

Rexxar

Talents

We've adjusted Rexxar's talents to be positioned in the same order as other heroes (ex. Q talents on top, then W, then E)
Level 1
- Easy Prey (Passive)
  - Bonus damage no longer applies to Misha, Charge!
  - Bonus damage to Minions and Mercenaries increased from 150% to 200%

Varian

Abilities

Parry (W)
- Mana cost increased from 20 to 30

Talents

Level 1
- Lion's Maw (Q)
  - Damage bonus per hit increased from 4 to 5
  - Enemy Heroes hit required for quest completion reduced from 30 to 25
- High King's Quest (Passive)
  - Damage bonus upon quest completion reduced from 45 to 30

Xul

Abilities

Cursed Strikes (W)
- Mana cost reduced from 60 to 50

Talents

Level 4
- Reaper's Toll (Q)
  - Quest requirement reduced from 20 to 16
  - Additional Functionality: When completed, now also reduces the Mana cost of Spectral Scythe by 20

Yrel

Talents

Level 1
- Light of Karabor (Q)
  - Adjusted Functionality: Increase Vindication's radius by 15%. If Vindication hits an enemy Hereo, increase its healing by 40%. If Vindication hits 2 or more enemy Heroes, increase its healing by 80%.
- Dauntless (Passive)
  - Physical Armor amount increased from 35 to 50
Level 10
- Sacred Ground (R2)
  - Armor amount increased from 40 to 50

Healer

Ana

Talents

Level 4
- Biotic Enhancements (W)
  - Cooldown reduction reduced from 4 seconds to 2 seconds
- Overdose (E)
  - Additional Functionality: While Aim Down Sights is active, Sleep Dart now pierces all enemy Heroes
Level 7
- Night Terrors
  - Damage increased from 8% to 10% maximum Health

Deckard Cain

Abilities

Healing Potion (Q)
- Healing amount increased from 255 to 270
Horadric Cube (W)
- Cooldown reduced from 14 seconds to 12 seconds
- Mana cost reduced from 40 to 35

Talents

Level 4
- Ruby (Active)
  - Lesser Healing Potion amount increased from 220 to 250
Level 7
- Cube Mastery (W)
  - Additonal Functionality: Reduce the Mana cost of Scroll of Sealing from 40 to 30

Lúcio

Talents

Level 7
- Boombox (Active)
  - Health of the Boombox has been increased from 217 to 350
Level 10
- High Five (R2)
  - Mana cost decreased from 50 to 35
Level 16
- Up the Frequency (E)
  - Cooldown reduction per Basic Attack reduced from .45 to .4 seconds
Level 20
- House Party (W)
  - Bonus healing per ally in Crossfade aura reduced from 10% to 8%

Rehgar

Talents

Level 16
- Rising Storm (W)
  - New Functionality: Casting Lightning Shield on an ally also casts an untalented version on Rehgar. Every time either Lightning Shield damages an enemy Hero, increase the damage of both Lightning Shields. Stacks up to 15 times.
  - Damage reduced from 15% to 10% per stack

Stukov

Talents

We've adjusted Stukov's Level 1 talents to be positioned in the same order as other heroes (ex. Q talents on top, then W then E)
Level 1
- Reactive Ballistospores (W)
  - Moved from Level 13
  - Cooldown increased from 10 to 15 seconds
Level 4
- Biotic Armor (Q)
  - Armor bonus when detonating Bio-Kill switch increased from 50 to 75
Level 10
- Flailing Swipe (R1)
  - Mana cost reduced from 100 to 80
Level 13
- Poppin' Pustules (Trait)
  - Moved from Level 1
  - Damage bonus increased from 100% to 150%

Uther

Abilities

Holy Light (Q)
- Mana cost reduced from 90 to 80

Support

Abathur

Abilities

Locust Strain (Trait)
- Damage increased from 40 to 46
Carapace (E)
- Shield amount reduced from 157 to 150

Talents

Level 1
- Reinforced Carapace (E)
  - Bonus Shielding reduced from 40% to 30%
- Survival Instincts (Trait)
  - Bonus Health increased from 60% to 100%
Level 4
- Prolific Dispersal
  - Additional Functionality: Now also increases the range of Toxic Nest by 30%
Level 13
- Bombard Strain (Trait)
  - Duration bonus increased from 50% to 75%
Level 16
- Volatile Mutation (Heroic)
  - Healing increased from 50% to 75% of the damage dealt

Melee Assassin

Alarak

Abilities

Discord Strike (Q)
- Mana cost increased from 45 to 55

Talents

Level 1
- Ruthless Momentum (W)
  - Adjusted Functionality: Reduce the Mana cost of Telekinesis from 30 to 20. Telekinesis' cooldown recharges 100% faster while above 75% health
  - Telekinesis' button will now glow when this cooldown bonus is active
Level 13
- Blade of the Highlord (Trait)
  - Maximum Sadism bonus increased from 30% to 40%

Butcher

Abilities

Butcher's Brand (W)
- Mana cost reduced from 65 to 60
Ruthless Onslaught (E)
- Mana cost reduced from 55 to 50

Zeratul

Abilities

Singularity Spike (W)
- Mana cost reduced from 80 to 70

Ranged Assassin

Azmodan

Abilities

Globe of Annihilation (Q)
- Mana cost increased from 60 to 70
Summon Demon Warrior (W)
- Mana cost reduced from 30 to 25
All Shall Burn (E)
- Mana cost reduced from 40 to 30

Talents

Level 7
- Art of Chaos (Q)
  - Mana refund increased from 30 to 40

Chromie

Stats

Basic Attack damage increased from 73 to 82

Abilities

Sand Blast (Q)
- Damage increased from 280 to 315
- Echo damage reduced from 50% to 40% of Chromie's damage
Dragon's Breath (W)
- Damage increased from 195 to 204
- Coolddown reduced from 15 to 14 seconds
- Mana cost reduced from 75 to 65
Time Trap (E)
- Mana cost reduced from 30 to 20

Talents

Level 1
- Deep Breathing (W)
  - Damage bonus increased from 2 (up to 50) to 3 (up to 60)
  - Damage bonus at Quest Complete increased from an additional 50 to 60
- Timewalker's Pursuit (Active)
  - No longer provides Mana Regeneration at Quest Complete
  - Spell Power bonus increased from 5% to 10%
Level 2
- Andorhal Anomaly (E)
  - Cooldown reduction increased from 5 to 8 seconds
- Chronic Conditions (E)
  - Slow increased from 25% to 30%
Level 8
- Slowing Sands (R1)
  - Mana cost reduced from 4 to 3 per second
Level 11
- Gnome Speed Ahead (Q)
  - No longer increases Mana Regeneration
- Here and There (Active)
  - Range increased from 9 to 11
  - Range from which you can teleport to an Echo increased from 3 to 4
  - Cooldown reduced from 30 to 25
Level 14
- Shifting Sands (Q)
  - Spell Power bonus per enemy hit reduced from 8% to 5%
  - Spell Power bonus maximum increased from 40% to 50%
  - Duration reduced from 10 to 8 seconds
- Fast Forward (Q)
  - Cooldown of Sand Blast reduced from .75 to .5 seconds
  - Range required to hit Sand Blast reduced from 70% to 50%
- Quantum Overdrive (Active)
  - Cooldown increased from 30 to 45 seconds
  - Duration reduced from 10 to 8 seconds
  - Hitting an enemy Hero with Sand Blast reduces Quantum Overdrive's cooldown by 3 seconds
Level 18
- Unravelling (R1)
  - Spell Armor reduction increased from 2 to 5 per 0.25 seconds (maximum is still -30)
- Stuck in a Loop (R2)
  - Now also increases recharge rate from 500% to 700%
- Blessing of the Bronze (Active)
  - Is now an activatable Talent with a 90 second cooldown
  - Now lasts 8 seconds
  - Basic Ability recharge rate increased from 30% to 35%
  - Movement Speed increased from 10% to 20%

Greymane

Abilities

Swipe (Q)
- Mana cost reduced from 30 to 25

Hanzo

Abilities

Storm Bow (Q)
- Mana cost increased from 15 to 20
Scatter Arrow (W)
- Mana cost increased from 40 to 50

Li-Ming

Abilities

Aether Walker (E)
- Adjusted Functionality: Now removes the Mana cost of Teleport

Developer Comment: How about now?

Lunara

Abilities

Crippling Spores (W)
- Mana cost increased from 40 to 50

Raynor

Abilities

Penetrating Round (Q)
- Mana cost increased from 50 to 65
Inspire (W)
- Mana cost increased from 40 to 50

Sgt. Hammer

Abilities

Spider Mines (Q)
- Mana cost increased from 45 to 50
Concussive Blast (W)
- Mana cost increased from 60 to 80
Neosteel Plating (E)
- Mana cost increased from 30 to 60

Sylvanas

Talents

Level 4
- Possession (Active)
  - Cooldown increased from 8 to 12 seconds

Zul'jin

Abilities

Greivous Throw (Q)
- Mana cost reduced from 50 to 40

Bug Fixes

The AI now has a better understanding of when to attack and when to defend Immortals on Battlefield of Eternity
Garrosh is no longer able to throw Hanamura Temple's Payload
Chromie can no longer use Here and There to get outside of a Battleground's playable area
The Caldeum Complex event now displays the correct time remaining in the Quest Panel
Cyberpunk skin tints now properly display with the Spring Event icon in the Collection
Viewing replays generated between March 26's and April 17's patches has been disabled to prevent client crashes