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Deathrattle
Does something when it dies.
Loot Hoarder screenshot

A LegacyLoot Hoarder displaying the Deathrattle icon

Deathrattle is an ability where the stated effect occurs when the minion or weapon is destroyed. Cards with Deathrattle appear with a skull and crossbones when in play. All classes have access to Deathrattles.

Notes[]

  • Minions may benefit from multiple Deathrattles at the same time. As with all abilities, Deathrattle can be removed from minions with Silences.
  • Deathrattle effects occur after battle damage has been calculated and minions destroyed. Additional effects caused by damaging spells such as LegacyBane of Doom will also take place before any Deathrattles.
  • Like triggered effects, players cannot choose the targets of Deathrattles. While the developers' policy is to explicitly state when a visible target of a Deathrattle is random, this may in some cases be left unstated, in order to simplify the card text.

Sequence of events[]

Death's Bite equipped screenshot

An equipped NaxxramasDeath's Bite displaying the Deathrattle icon

Main article: Advanced rulebook

Deathrattles and death-related effects take place after damage has been exchanged and minions/weapons have been destroyed and removed from the board. This prevents Deathrattles from acting upon other minions which were destroyed in the same combat. It also prevents several simultaneous events from acting upon consequences of Deathrattles or other triggered events. The same is true for secrets and triggered effects which are activated from death, such as NaxxramasDuplicate and LegacyCult Master, which are treated exactly the same as Deathrattles.

Note that all effects triggered from the death of a minion will play out in the order in which they were put into play, regardless of type of effect.[1] For example, if a mage plays NaxxramasDuplicate followed by LegacyAbomination, and the Abomination is then destroyed on the opponent's turn, the Duplicate will activate before the Abomination's own Deathrattle; while if the Abomination was played first, its Deathrattle will activate first, followed by the secret.[2][3] Deathrattles do not gain any special priority.

Note also that when multiple minions are killed simultaneously, their deaths will be resolved one at a time, in the order in which they entered play.

Once all destroyed minions have been removed from the board, each death will be resolved, including the activation of any death-related effects - this includes the minion's own Deathrattle, triggered effects such as Cult Master, and Secrets such as Duplicate. Resolution takes place one minion at a time, in order in which the minions entered play. As each death is resolved, all eligible triggered events will play out in the order in which the effect entered play, including the minion's own Deathrattle, Secrets and other effects. Each effect will play out individually and resolve, before the next activates. Once all related effects have played out for the minion, the next simultaneous minion's death will begin to resolve.

For example, if a LegacySylvanas Windrunner attacks another Sylvanas Windrunner, destroying both minions, the Deathrattle of the Sylvanas which was summoned first will take place first, followed by the Deathrattle of the Sylvanas which was summoned second. Order of minion summoning can therefore be extremely significant.

For a more thorough explanation of Deathrattles and their interactions with other effects, see the Advanced rulebook.

Cards with Deathrattle[]

For Wild format listings, see Deathrattle/Wild format

Collectible[]


Swipe left or right to see the cards.
RLK 957
REV 356
TSC 653
NX2 025
ETC 104
RLK 833
ETC 382
RLK 650
NX2 024
REV 952
TTN 906
ETC 536
CORE EX1 012
TTN 450
CORE GVG 076
ETC 385
RLK 511
RLK 070
CORE EX1 096
RLK 845
TSC 001
CORE FP1 007
CORE LOOT 413
TID 707
RLK 914
TSC 614
REV 845
CORE GIL 653
ETC 423
RLK 542
TSC 913
RLK 113
RLK 708
TTN 861
ETC 317
TTN 859
RLK 822
ETC 813
TTN 734
TTN 754
ETC 518
TSC 640
REV 374
CS3 013
REV 955
TTN 482
TSC 938
RLK 226
TSC 057
TSC 945
RLK 813
ETC 405
REV 829
MAW 022
ETC 832
ETC 520
REV 510
RLK 713
NX2 032
RLK 831
ETC 425
CORE BOT 312
RLK 217
TSC 935
TTN 900
RLK 223
RLK 604
ETC 388
CORE FP1 022
CS3 001
RLK 540
RLK 082
RLK 554
RLK 653
ETC 329
ETC 071
CORE GIL 667
REV 251
CS3 024
REV 012
RLK 591
CORE EX1 110
ETC 328
REV 015
TSC 645
TTN 481
NX2 034
CORE EX1 534
RLK 029
ETC 349
TTN 700
RLK 086
RLK 657
RLK 551
ETC 526
CORE BT 304
TSC 962
RLK 592
TTN 330
TID 711
REV 319
CORE EX1 383
ETC 321
RLK 830
ETC 086
REV 375

Uncollectible[]


Swipe left or right to see the cards.
GVG 110t
RLK 650t
REV 828t
TTN 470t
TSC 937t
TSC 937t3
TSC 950t2
TSC 950t
ETC 098t
RLK 907t
TSC 945t
TSC 026t
TSC 660t
NX2 034t
TSC 962t
NX2 034t1
NX2 034t2

Sources of Deathrattle[]

For Wild format listings, see Deathrattle/Wild format

Deathrattle generating cards[]

This section lists cards which generate Deathrattle minions.


Swipe left or right to see the cards.
TTN 862t1
TSC 653
RLK 650
TSC 950t2
TSC 950t
REV 828
REV 602
TTN 482
ETC 098
TSC 945
REV 505
TTN 751
RLK 831
RLK 217
RLK 653
RLK 752
TSC 937
REV 840
NX2 034
TTN 862
TSC 026
CORE GVG 110
TSC 950
TSC 660
TTN 470
TSC 962
REV 514
RLK 604t

Deathrattle granting cards[]

This section lists cards which grant the Deathrattle ability to other minions or to itself.


Swipe left or right to see the cards.
TTN 060t7
TTN 060t7t1
TTN 060t7t
ETC 104
ETC 424
RLK 538
RLK 909
NX2 016
RLK 867
RLK 970
TTN 734
RLK 910
CORE EX1 158
REV 955
RLK 225
CORE BOT 312
CS3 001
ETC 428
RLK 653
REV 373
RLK 550
REV 310
MAW 011
TTN 700

Related cards[]


Swipe left or right to see the cards.
ETC 424
RLK 538
RLK 912
TID 078
RLK 216
RLK 536
REV 333
RLK 217
JAM 005
ETC 428
REV 310
MAW 011
TSC 962t

Achievements[]

CategoryNameDescriptionRewards
Achievement Category 2Achievement SubCategory 2 logoGameplay - General - Neutral KeywordsDance with DeathPlay 100 cards with Deathrattle.10 Achievement Point
Achievement Category 2Achievement SubCategory 2 logoGameplay - General - Neutral KeywordsDance with DeathPlay 300 cards with Deathrattle.10 Achievement Point
Achievement Category 2Achievement SubCategory 2 logoGameplay - General - Neutral KeywordsDance with DeathPlay 1000 cards with Deathrattle.10 Achievement Point
Achievement Category 2Achievement SubCategory 2 logoGameplay - General - Neutral KeywordsDance with DeathPlay 3000 cards with Deathrattle.10 Achievement Point
Achievement Category 2Achievement SubCategory 2 logoGameplay - General - Neutral KeywordsDance with DeathPlay 10000 cards with Deathrattle.20 Achievement Point
Achievement Category 2Achievement SubCategory 3 logoGameplay - Darkmoon Faire - HunterRide Together, Die TogetherEnd your turn with 3 identical Deathrattle minions in play.20 Achievement Point
Achievement Category 2Achievement SubCategory 63 logoGameplay - Barrens - Demon HunterDon't Dead Open InsideSummon 50 Deathrattle minions without playing them, as Demon Hunter.20 Achievement Point
Achievement Category 2Achievement SubCategory 149 logoGameplay - Stormwind - HunterCarrion My Wayward SonRepeat the Deathrattles of 8 different cards using Monstrous Parrot.10 Achievement Point
Achievement Category 2Achievement SubCategory 149 logoGameplay - Stormwind - HunterCarrion My Wayward SonRepeat the Deathrattles of 16 different cards using Monstrous Parrot.20 Achievement Point
Achievement Category 2Achievement SubCategory 157 logoGameplay - Alterac Valley - PriestI Will Remember YouTrigger 50 Deathrattles with Xyrella, the Devout.10 Achievement Point
Achievement Category 2Achievement SubCategory 157 logoGameplay - Alterac Valley - PriestI Will Remember YouTrigger 100 Deathrattles with Xyrella, the Devout.10 Achievement Point
Achievement Category 2Achievement SubCategory 157 logoGameplay - Alterac Valley - PriestI Will Remember YouTrigger 200 Deathrattles with Xyrella, the Devout.20 Achievement Point
Achievement Category 2Achievement SubCategory 157 logoGameplay - Alterac Valley - RogueRolling In Their GraveHave 30 Deathrattle minions die while you control a Snowfall Graveyard.10 Achievement Point
Achievement Category 2Achievement SubCategory 157 logoGameplay - Alterac Valley - RogueRolling In Their GraveHave 60 Deathrattle minions die while you control a Snowfall Graveyard.10 Achievement Point
Achievement Category 2Achievement SubCategory 157 logoGameplay - Alterac Valley - RogueRolling In Their GraveHave 120 Deathrattle minions die while you control a Snowfall Graveyard.20 Achievement Point
Achievement Category 2Achievement SubCategory 160 logoGameplay - Sunken City - NeutralKillamariDestroy 3 enemies at once with Ozumat's Deathrattle effect.10 Achievement Point
Achievement Category 2Achievement SubCategory 160 logoGameplay - Sunken City - NeutralKillamariDestroy 6 enemies at once with Ozumat's Deathrattle effect.20 Achievement Point
Achievement Category 2Achievement SubCategory 167 logoGameplay - Castle Nathria - DruidBouquet of BonesTrigger 75 Deathrattles with Hedge Maze.20 Achievement Point
Achievement Category 2Achievement SubCategory 167 logoGameplay - Castle Nathria - MageSpooky Scary SkeletonsTrigger 15 Volatile Skeleton Deathrattles in one game.20 Achievement Point
Achievement Category 2Achievement SubCategory 169 logoGameplay - Lich King - ShamanMurlocalypse NowGive 6 minions a Deathrattle with one Rotgill.20 Achievement Point
Achievement Category 2Achievement SubCategory 169 logoGameplay - Lich King - ShamanDIY DeathrattleHave a Scourge Troll die with a Deathrattle 25 times.20 Achievement Point
Achievement Category 2Achievement SubCategory 169 logoGameplay - Lich King - WarlockS-imp-ly FintasticGive Nofin's Imp-ossible's Deathrattle to 2 Implocs at once.20 Achievement Point
Achievement Category 2Achievement SubCategory 169 logoGameplay - Lich King - WarlockS-imp-ly FintasticGive Nofin's Imp-ossible's Deathrattle to 4 Implocs at once.20 Achievement Point
Achievement Category 2Achievement SubCategory 172 logoGameplay - Festival of Legends - NeutralSurf's UpPass Crowd Surfer's Deathrattle between you and your opponent 40 times.10 Achievement Point
Achievement Category 2Achievement SubCategory 172 logoGameplay - Festival of Legends - NeutralSurf's UpPass Crowd Surfer's Deathrattle between you and your opponent 80 times.20 Achievement Point
Achievement Category 2Achievement SubCategory 172 logoGameplay - Festival of Legends - Death KnightWall of DeathGive 30 minions Deathrattles with Death Growl.10 Achievement Point
Achievement Category 2Achievement SubCategory 172 logoGameplay - Festival of Legends - Death KnightWall of DeathGive 60 minions Deathrattles with Death Growl.10 Achievement Point
Achievement Category 2Achievement SubCategory 172 logoGameplay - Festival of Legends - Death KnightWall of DeathGive 90 minions Deathrattles with Death Growl.20 Achievement Point
Achievement Category 2Achievement SubCategory 174 logoGameplay - Titans - NeutralRibbits and RibbytesHave Mecha-Leaper's deathrattle trigger 10 times in one game.200 Rewards Track - XP, 20 Achievement Point

History[]

In the build-up to Curse of Naxxramas, the adventure's class cards were revealed to players one by one, many of which featured Deathrattle effects, with text that did not specify that the effects were randomly targeted. This led to widespread confusion over the function of the effects. In a special forum post, Ben Brode explained that by omitting the word 'random', card text could be shortened. By establishing the rule that Deathrattles were never targetable, the developers would not have to explicitly state this on each card, which could eventually allow for the development of more "strategically deep" card effects, due to having more card space in which to describe them, potentially otherwise a limiting factor. Brode stated that "setting expectations now that triggers never allow choices allows us to make cards that otherwise would have too much text",[4] explaining that the omission of explicit statements to this effect "lays the groundwork for shortening the text."[5]

However, in the face of player confusion and preference for random effects to be explicitly described as such, the policy was altered, and the word 'random' added to several Naxxramas cards.

Patch changes[]

  • Forged in the Barrens logoPatch 20.0.0.77662 (2021-03-25): Fixed a bug where cards that target Deathrattle minions would still work with Madness at the Darkmoon FaireDeathwarden in play.
  • Curse of Naxxramas logo Patch 1.1.0.6024 (2014-07-22): The order in which Deathrattle abilities resolve has been updated to be more consistent.

References[]

  1. Tested by User:Taohinton, 2015-02-07. Playing a LegacyCult Master before or after a minion with Deathrattle, and then destroying the Deathrattle minion, will see the Cult Master's death-triggered effect activated before or after the minion's Deathrattle, respectively.
  2. Tested by User:Taohinton, 2015-02-07. Exactly as described: Played NaxxramasDuplicate followed by LegacyAbomination; the Abomination was then destroyed on the opponent's turn. The Duplicate activated first, before the Abomination's own Deathrattle.
  3. Tested by User:Taohinton, 2015-02-16/18. Various scenarios. For example: Played Goblins vs GnomesClockwork Gnome then NaxxramasAvenge; opponent destroyed Gnome, Gnome's Deathrattle triggered before Avenge. Played Avenge then LegacyAbomination; opponent destroyed Abomination, Avenge triggered before Abomination's Deathrattle.
  4. Ben Brode on Twitter. (2014-05-14). 
  5. Ben Brode on Twitter. (2014-05-14). 
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