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Area of effect (AoE) is the term for an effect which affects all characters of the specified type. Common targets for AoEs include all enemy minions, all minions, and all characters.

AoE is defined in contrast to 'single-target' and 'multiple target'. While AoEs may affect multiple targets, they have no limit to the number of targets affected, and their targets are determined by the nature of the AoE (e.g., "all minions") rather than by selecting a set number of individual targets. Positional effects function as limited-area AoEs, but in game terms are multiple target effects. AoEs are distinguished from multi-targets spells such as LegacyArcane Missiles and LegacyCleave, which are essentially multiple single-target effects.

The term AoE refers solely to the effect's target and does not describe its actual outcome. The most common types of AoE are healing and damage-dealing spells.

Notes[]

  • AoEs affect all valid targets simultaneously. However, triggers resulting from each character affected are still applied one at a time, in the order the minions were played.
  • AoEs affect all targets before any related triggers are activated. For example a LegacyCircle of Healing will heal all minions before any Northshire Clerics will begin to activate.

Strategy[]

The effect of an AoE on a given target is not diminished by the presence of more targets. This means that AoEs are generally more valuable the more valid targets are in play, since the AoE takes full effect on all of them. Damage-dealing AoEs can be very effective for tackling large groups of minions. AoEs tend to be most effective against large groups of weak minions, and least effective against small numbers of powerful minions.

AoEs can be very useful for dealing damage to targets with Stealth. Although stealthed minions cannot be targeted directly, AoEs will still affect them. Mage is a class with strong AoE damage abilities, but all classes have some form of AoE available.

Types[]

Below is a breakdown of the many types of AoE.

*Cards like Baron Geddon and Brawl exclude one minion from the effect, but hit all other targets as described. Ysera Awakens and Dread Infernal are two other examples of this type of targeting. Minions such as Stormwind Champion that provide ongoing AoE buffs similarly exclude themselves from the effect.

**Cards like Holy Nova, Blizzard, Fatespinner, and Breath of the Infinite have combined or alternate effects and thus falls into multiple categories.

Cards[]

For Wild format listings, see Area of effect/Wild format

Swipe left or right to see the cards.
TTN 858t2
TTN 858t3
TTN 800t
TTN 960t2
REV 920t
ETC 449
NEW1 009
RLK 818
CORE SW 441
RLK 609
TSC 927t
RLK 209
CORE EX1 400
ETC 069
JAM 009
JAM 008
CORE NEW1 021
ETC 332
CORE EX1 619
CORE GVG 076
CORE EX1 610
CORE EX1 129
JAM 013
EX1 160b
NX2 016
TTN 078
CORE EX1 160
TSC 039t
TSC 056
CORE NEW1 020
RLK 048
REV 353t4
TSC 923
ETC 079
CORE EX1 103
CORE CS2 093
ETC 542
CORE DMF 709
ETC 209
CORE CS2 062
TID 085
TID 002
CORE CS1 112
RLK 015
NEW1 033
CORE EX1 259
ETC 085t3
CORE EX1 507
NX2 017
REV 924
TSC 002
CORE CS2 122
RLK 910
CORE EX1 158
CORE NEW1 027
NX2 002
RLK 219
TSC 913t
CORE AT 075
DREAM 02
RLK 225
NX2 020
REV 513
CORE OG 254
CORE SW 107
TSC 610
RLK 707
ETC 399
TTN 478
TTN 853
ETC 520
RLK 709
TTN 483
CORE EX1 197
TSC 926
REV 352t
RLK 104
TTN 455
TTN 463
JAM 018t
RLK 730
CORE CS2 046
CORE EX1 407
REV 252
REV 252t
RLK 035
TTN 831
RLK 658
JAM 018t3
TID 709t2
ETC 034
JAM 018
JAM 018t2
RLK 550
MAW 009t
MAW 009
RLK 815
TID 703
JAM 018t4
TSC 924
CORE CS2 028
REV 840
ETC 314t
TTN 800
ETC 314
RLK 828
REV 835t
CORE GVG 008
RLK 224
CORE CFM 751
TTN 858
CORE EX1 249
REV 950
ETC 373
CORE BT 271
RLK 063
ETC 373b
TTN 866
REV 014
TSC 064
CORE CS2 222
CORE EX1 573
REV 369
TTN 954
EX1 573a
TTN 940
TSC 029
TSC 962
TTN 940a
CORE UNG 848
RLK 741
CORE EX1 312
TSC 209
REV 017t
CORE GVG 021
TTN 960
ETC 086
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