- Battlecry
Does something when you play it from your hand.
Battlecry is an ability where a particular effect activates when the card with the Battlecry is played directly from the hand. Although mostly limited to minions, some weapons also have Battlecries.
Activation of Battlecries are indicated by a flash of light from beneath the minion or weapon.
Battlecries are and long have been the most common type of ability in Hearthstone, representing the simplest way for a minion to bring an additional effect into play, and featuring a large variety of different effects.
Notes[]
- Battlecries do not activate if the card is brought into play by another card. For example, Alarm-o-Bot, Faceless Manipulator and Mirror Entity all place minions onto the board, but any Battlecries will not be activated.
- Battlecries generally occur once, when the card is brought into play. Unlike some other buffs, these effects do not therefore rely on the casting minion staying alive, and cannot be removed by destroying it. For example, destroying Stormwind Champion will remove its bonus effect from any affected minions, whereas Shattered Sun Cleric's Battlecry, once granted, will not be removed by killing the Cleric. This means Battlecry minions are generally some of the less valuable minions once they have been played, since much of their point value lies in their Battlecry.
- Order of play can be important. For example, if no other Murlocs are in play, playing Coldlight Seer, followed by Bluegill Warrior, will waste the Seer's Battlecry; while playing the Warrior first will allow it to benefit from the Seer's Battlecry.
- Battlecries take place each time the minion is played by the player. Cards such as Ancient Brewmaster, which return a minion to your hand, can be used to benefit from a minion's Battlecry effect more than once.
- Choose One and Combo effects on minions are not considered Battlecries. In particular, they have no interaction with Brann Bronzebeard, Shudderwock, or Corrupt the Waters.
Targeting[]
- If a Battlecry requires a specific target, that target must be selected immediately after playing the minion. Many Battlecries require a specific type of target, such as a friendly minion or Beast, and cannot be targeted at other targets.
- If a suitable target exists, the player must manually select it, even if there is no alternative target.
- If no suitable target is available, the Battlecry simply will not occur.
- While many Battlecries affect the Battlecry minion itself, targeted Battlecries cannot choose to target the possessing minion.
- An appropriate target must be selected, if possible. In some cases, this means granting an advantageous buff to an enemy minion, or inconveniencing a friendly minion. This can be circumvented by careful assessment and control of the minions on the board, but is otherwise unavoidable. If no valid target exists, the Battlecry will not take effect, although any visual-audio effects will still be triggered.
- While choosing a target, the player can choose to cancel the Battlecry. Doing so will actually reverse the summoning of the minion (which process has not actually occurred at that point, despite the display), something which is not normally possible. Note that if the Battlecry is unable to find a suitable target it will not activate, meaning the player will not get the chance to reverse the summoning.
Order of play[]
- Battlecries occur after the minion enters play, and after 'whenever you play' triggered effects such as those of Illidan Stormrage and Hobgoblin. Battlecries occur before Secrets such as Mirror Entity, as well as Knife Juggler's 'after you summon' effect. In the past, Battlecries took place before certain 'whenever you summon' effects, such as Ship's Cannon and Sword of Justice, however these cards have since been changed to say 'after you summon' to keep the wording consistent with the order.
- For references and a comprehensive description of the summoning process, see that section of the Advanced rulebook.
Strategy[]
- It is a common strategy for players to use return effects (effects that return a minion to its owner's hand) on their own Battlecry minions in order to benefit from the effect again. Minions such as Ancient Brewmaster, Youthful Brewmaster and Kidnapper, as well as spells such as Shadowstep and Dream, and hostile actions such as Sap, can all be used for this purpose. This type of play is most effective when combined with minions with powerful Battlecries.
- Brann Bronzebeard is the strongest Battlecry-specific synergy in the game, with the ability to activate any Battlecry twice. Note that in some cases this produces no significant extra effect, while in others the result can be quite undesirable.
- Battlecry minions are often good targets for cost-related transform effects like Evolve and Recombobulator. This is because a positive Battlecry accounts for some of the minion's value, meaning that once the Battlecry has been activated, the remaining minion is often below par for its cost (although this is often untrue for minions with self-buffing Battlecries). Because of this transforming a Battlecry minion has a good chance of producing a stronger or more valuable minion.
Cards with Battlecry[]
- For Wild format listings, see Battlecry/Wild format
The list of cards with Battlecry is quite extensive, and so is not listed visually, but can be explored through the table below. Click "Expand" to see the table. The table will only list the first 100 cards. To see more, click "Customize this list" and change the amount of cards presented.
Collectible[]
Name | Class | Type | Rarity | Cost | Atk | HP/Dur. | Armor | Description |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Abusive Sergeant | Minion | 1 | 1 | 1 | Battlecry: Give a minion +2 Attack this turn. | |||
Air Guitarist | Minion | 1 | 1 | 1 | Battlecry: Give your weapon +1 Durability. | |||
Annoying Fan | Minion - Mech | 1 | 1 | 2 | Battlecry: Choose a minion. It can't attack while this is alive. | |||
Arcane Wyrm | Minion | 1 | 1 | 2 | Battlecry: Add an Arcane Bolt to your hand. | |||
Armor Vendor | Minion | 1 | 1 | 3 | Battlecry: Give 4 Armor to each hero. | |||
Babbling Book | Minion | 1 | 1 | 2 | Battlecry: Add a random Mage spell to your hand. | |||
Beaming Sidekick | Minion | 1 | 1 | 2 | Battlecry: Give a friendly minion +2 Health. | |||
Body Bagger | Minion - Undead | 1 | 1 | 3 | Battlecry: Gain a Corpse. | |||
Click-Clocker | Minion - Mech/Beast | 1 | 1 | 1 | Divine Shield. Battlecry: Give a random Mech in your hand +1/+1. | |||
Concoctor | Minion | 1 | 1 | 2 | Battlecry: Add a random Concoction to your hand. | |||
Crystalsmith Cultist | Minion | 1 | 1 | 2 | Battlecry: If you're holding a Shadow spell, gain +1/+1. | |||
Dredger Staff | Minion | 1 | 1 | 2 | Battlecry: Give minions in your hand +1 Health. | |||
Drone Deconstructor | Minion - Mech | 1 | 1 | 2 | Battlecry: Get a 1/1 Magnetic Sparkbot with a random bonus effect. | |||
Elven Archer | Minion | 1 | 1 | 1 | Battlecry: Deal 1 damage. | |||
Filletfighter | Minion - Pirate | 1 | 3 | 1 | Battlecry: Deal 1 damage. | |||
Flame Imp | Minion - Demon | 1 | 3 | 2 | Battlecry: Deal 3 damage to your hero. | |||
Flowrider | Minion - Naga | 1 | 2 | 1 | Battlecry: If you're Overloaded, Discover a spell from your deck. | |||
Free Spirit | Minion - Beast/Undead | 1 | 1 | 2 | Battlecry and Deathrattle: Your Hero Power gains 1 more Armor this game. | |||
Frequency Oscillator | Minion - Mech | 1 | 2 | 1 | Battlecry: The next Mech you play costs (1) less. | |||
Glacial Shard | Minion - Elemental | 1 | 2 | 1 | Battlecry: Freeze an enemy. | |||
Jeweled Macaw | Minion - Beast | 1 | 1 | 2 | Battlecry: Add a random Beast to your hand. | |||
Noxious Cadaver | Minion - Undead | 1 | 1 | 2 | Battlecry: Deal 2 damage to an enemy and your hero. | |||
Priestess Valishj | Minion - Naga | 1 | 1 | 1 | Battlecry: Refresh an empty Mana Crystal for each spell you've cast this turn. | |||
Psychic Conjurer | Minion - Undead | 1 | 1 | 2 | Battlecry: Copy a card in your opponent’s deck and add it to your hand. | |||
Sanguine Soldier | Minion | 1 | 2 | 1 | Divine Shield Battlecry: Deal 2 damage to your hero. | |||
Saxophone Soloist | Minion - Murloc | 1 | 1 | 2 | Battlecry: If you control no other minions, add a Saxophone Soloist to your hand. | |||
Shattershambler | Minion - Elemental | 1 | 1 | 3 | Battlecry: Your next Deathrattle minion costs (1) less, but immediately dies when played. | |||
Sir Finley, Sea Guide | Minion - Murloc | 1 | 1 | 3 | Battlecry: Swap your hand with the bottom of your deck. | |||
Skeletal Sidekick | Minion - Undead | 1 | 1 | 2 | Battlecry: Give a friendly Undead +2 Attack. | |||
Suspicious Alchemist | Minion | 1 | 1 | 3 | Battlecry: Discover a spell. If your opponent guesses your choice, they get a copy. | |||
Swashburglar | Minion - Pirate | 1 | 1 | 2 | Battlecry: Add a random card from another class to your hand. | |||
Tour Guide | Minion | 1 | 1 | 1 | Battlecry: Your next Hero Power costs (0). | |||
Trinket Tracker | Minion - Undead | 1 | 1 | 1 | Battlecry: Draw a 1-Cost spell. | |||
Voodoo Doctor | Minion | 1 | 2 | 1 | Battlecry: Restore 2 Health. | |||
Ymirjar Frostbreaker | Minion | 1 | 1 | 2 | Battlecry: Gain +1 Attack for each Frost spell in your hand. | |||
Amalgam of the Deep | Minion - All | 2 | 2 | 3 | Battlecry: Choose a friendly minion. Discover a minion of the same minion type. | |||
Anonymous Informant | Minion | 2 | 2 | 3 | Battlecry: The next Secret you play costs (0). | |||
Aqua Archivist | Minion - Elemental | 2 | 2 | 2 | Battlecry: The next Elemental you play costs (2) less. | |||
Arcanologist | Minion | 2 | 2 | 3 | Battlecry: Draw a Secret. | |||
Argent Protector | Minion | 2 | 3 | 2 | Battlecry: Give a friendly minion Divine Shield. | |||
Astalor Bloodsworn | Minion | 2 | 2 | 2 | Battlecry: Add Astalor, the Protector to your hand. Manathirst (5): Deal 2 damage. | |||
Audio Amplifier | Minion - Mech | 2 | 2 | 3 | Battlecry: Set your maximum Mana and hand size to 11. | |||
Azsharan Scavenger | Minion - Murloc | 2 | 2 | 3 | Battlecry: Put a 'Sunken Scavenger' on the bottom of your deck. | |||
Baritone Imp | Minion - Demon | 2 | 2 | 2 | Battlecry: Take Fatigue damage. Gain that much Attack and Health. | |||
Bibliomite | Minion | 2 | 5 | 4 | Battlecry: Choose a card in your hand to shuffle into your deck. | |||
Bloodsail Raider | Minion - Pirate | 2 | 2 | 3 | Battlecry: Gain Attack equal to the Attack of your weapon. | |||
Bone Flinger | Minion - Undead | 2 | 2 | 3 | Battlecry: If a friendly Undead died after your last turn, deal 2 damage. | |||
Bonedigger Geist | Minion - Undead | 2 | 2 | 2 | Battlecry: Spend a Corpse to gain +1/+2. | |||
Celestial Projectionist | Minion | 2 | 3 | 2 | Battlecry: Choose a friendly minion. Add a temporary copy of it to your hand. | |||
Class Action Lawyer | Minion | 2 | 2 | 3 | Battlecry: If your deck has no Neutral cards, set a minion's stats to 1/1. | |||
Coroner | Minion | 2 | 2 | 2 | Battlecry: Freeze an enemy minion. Manathirst (6): Silence it first. | |||
Crazed Alchemist | Minion - Undead | 2 | 2 | 2 | Battlecry: Swap the Attack and Health of a minion. | |||
Cruel Taskmaster | Minion | 2 | 2 | 3 | Battlecry: Deal 1 damage to a minion and give it +2 Attack. | |||
Cult Neophyte | Minion | 2 | 3 | 2 | Battlecry: Your opponent's spells cost (1) more next turn. | |||
Dirty Rat | Minion | 2 | 2 | 6 | Taunt Battlecry: Your opponent summons a random minion from their hand. | |||
Dreamboat | Minion - Naga | 2 | 1 | 2 | Battlecry: Restore 3 Health to all other friendly minions. Gain +1/+1 for each one Overhealed. | |||
False Disciple | Minion | 2 | 2 | 2 | Battlecry: Discover a Legendary Priest minion from the past. | |||
Fogsail Freebooter | Minion - Pirate | 2 | 2 | 2 | Battlecry: If you have a weapon equipped, deal 2 damage. | |||
Frightened Flunky | Minion | 2 | 2 | 3 | Taunt Battlecry: Discover a Taunt minion. | |||
Ghoulish Alchemist | Minion - Undead | 2 | 3 | 2 | Battlecry: Your next Concoction costs (0). | |||
Grimestreet Outfitter | Minion | 2 | 2 | 2 | Battlecry: Give all minions in your hand +1/+1. | |||
Groovy Cat | Minion - Beast | 2 | 2 | 1 | Battlecry and Deathrattle: Your Hero Power gives your hero 1 more Attack this game. | |||
Hematurge | Minion | 2 | 2 | 3 | Battlecry: Spend a Corpse to Discover a Blood Rune card. | |||
Hipster | Minion | 2 | 1 | 3 | Battlecry: Discover a spell from your opponent's class that isn't in their deck. | |||
Imp-oster | Minion - Demon | 2 | 1 | 1 | Battlecry: Choose a friendly Imp. Transform into a copy of it. | |||
Injured Tol'vir | Minion | 2 | 2 | 6 | Taunt Battlecry: Deal 3 damage to this minion. | |||
Instrument Tech | Minion | 2 | 1 | 2 | Battlecry: Draw a weapon. | |||
K9-0tron | Minion - Mech/Beast | 2 | 2 | 3 | Battlecry: Dredge. If it's a 1-Cost minion, summon it. | |||
Kaja'mite Creation | Minion | 2 | 3 | 2 | Battlecry: Discover a spell from another class that costs (3) or less. | |||
Mad Bomber | Minion | 2 | 3 | 2 | Battlecry: Deal 3 damage randomly split between all other characters. | |||
Maze Guide | Minion | 2 | 1 | 1 | Battlecry: Summon a random 2-Cost minion. | |||
Menacing Nimbus | Minion - Elemental | 2 | 2 | 3 | Battlecry: Add a random Elemental to your hand. | |||
Murkwater Scribe | Minion - Naga | 2 | 3 | 2 | Battlecry: The next spell you play costs (1) less. | |||
Murloc Tidehunter | Minion - Murloc | 2 | 2 | 1 | Battlecry: Summon a 1/1 Murloc Scout. | |||
Mysterious Visitor | Minion | 2 | 2 | 3 | Battlecry: Reduce the Cost of cards copied from your opponent by (2). | |||
Necrotic Mortician | Minion | 2 | 2 | 3 | Battlecry: If a friendly Undead died after your last turn, Discover an Unholy Rune card. | |||
Nerubian Flyer | Minion - Undead | 2 | 2 | 3 | Battlecry: If a friendly Undead died after your last turn, summon a 2/2 Nerubian. | |||
Obsidiansmith | Minion - Pirate | 2 | 3 | 2 | Battlecry: Dredge. If it's a minion or a weapon, give it +1/+1. | |||
Party Animal | Minion - Beast | 2 | 2 | 3 | Battlecry: Give +1/+1 to a minion of each type in your hand. | |||
Prismatic Elemental | Minion - Elemental | 2 | 1 | 3 | Battlecry: Discover a spell from any class. It costs (1) less. | |||
Queensguard | Minion - Naga | 2 | 2 | 3 | Battlecry: Gain +1/+1 for each spell you've cast this turn. | |||
Rolling Stone | Minion - Elemental | 2 | 2 | 2 | Rush Battlecry: If the last card you played costs (1), gain +1/+1. | |||
Roosting Gargoyle | Minion | 2 | 2 | 3 | Battlecry: Give a friendly Beast +2 Attack. | |||
Rotten Rodent | Minion - Undead/Beast | 2 | 2 | 1 | Battlecry: Reduce the Cost of all Deathrattle cards in your deck by (1). | |||
Scourge Tamer | Minion - Undead | 2 | 2 | 2 | Battlecry: Craft a custom Zombeast. | |||
Seafloor Savior | Minion - Mech | 2 | 2 | 2 | Battlecry: Dredge. If it's a minion, give it this minion's Attack and Health. | |||
Selective Breeder | Minion | 2 | 1 | 3 | Battlecry: Discover a copy of a Beast in your deck. | |||
Silvermoon Farstrider | Minion | 2 | 2 | 3 | Battlecry: Give all Arcane spells in your hand Spell Damage +1. | |||
Sketchy Stranger | Minion | 2 | 2 | 2 | Battlecry: Discover a Secret from another class. | |||
Snakebite | Minion - Naga | 2 | 1 | 1 | Rush Battlecry: Gain +1/+1 for each minion that died this turn. | |||
Spellcoiler | Minion - Naga | 2 | 2 | 3 | Battlecry: If you've cast a spell while holding this, Discover a spell. | |||
Spirit Poacher | Minion | 2 | 2 | 2 | Battlecry: Summon a random Dormant Wildseed. | |||
Suspicious Peddler | Minion - Undead | 2 | 2 | 3 | Battlecry: Discover a 1-Cost card. If your opponent guesses your choice, they get a copy. | |||
Thornveil Tentacle | Minion | 2 | 2 | 2 | Lifesteal Battlecry: Deal 2 damage to a random enemy minion. | |||
Trench Surveyor | Minion - Mech | 2 | 3 | 2 | Battlecry: Dredge. If it's a Mech, draw it. | |||
Tuskarrrr Trawler | Minion - Pirate | 2 | 2 | 3 | Battlecry: Dredge. | |||
Vicious Bloodworm | Minion - Beast | 2 | 3 | 2 | Battlecry: Give a minion in your hand Attack equal to this minion's Attack. | |||
Vrykul Necrolyte | Minion - Undead | 2 | 2 | 2 | Battlecry: Give a friendly minion "Deathrattle: Summon a 2/2 Zombie with Rush." | |||
Watcher of the Sun | Minion | 2 | 2 | 3 | Battlecry: Get a random Holy spell. Forge: Also restore 6 Health to your hero. | |||
Youthful Brewmaster | Minion | 2 | 3 | 2 | Battlecry: Return a friendly minion from the battlefield to your hand. |
Uncollectible[]
Sources of Battlecry[]
- For Wild format listings, see Battlecry/Wild format
These cards have effects that generate Battlecry cards.
Related cards[]
- For Wild format listings, see Battlecry/Wild format
Achievements[]
Name | Requirements | Rewards |
---|---|---|
FOR THE ACHIEVEMENT!!! (1/5) | Play 150 cards with Battlecry. | 10 |
FOR THE ACHIEVEMENT!!! (2/5) | Play 500 cards with Battlecry. | 10 |
FOR THE ACHIEVEMENT!!! (3/5) | Play 1500 cards with Battlecry. | 10 |
FOR THE ACHIEVEMENT!!! (4/5) | Play 5000 cards with Battlecry. | 10 |
FOR THE ACHIEVEMENT!!! (5/5) | Play 15000 cards with Battlecry. | 20 |