Hand

A typical hand. The green highlighted cards can be played, while the yellow highlighted card has a special effect enabled by the current state of the game.

The hand is where each player keeps the cards currently available to them. The player can see their hand face-up at the bottom of the screen, while the opponent's hand is shown face-down at the top of the screen.

Notes

• To see the number of cards currently held in your hand, hover your cursor over your deck.
• To see the number of cards in the opponent's hand, hover your cursor over the opponent's deck.

Mechanics

The player can only play cards that are currently in their hand. Players place cards into their hand through drawing cards from their deck. A few other methods such as return effects and generate effects can also add cards to the player's hand.

Players can have a maximum of 10 cards in their hand at any time, unless Valdris Felgorge was played. Attempting to add a card to the hand when it is already full will cause that card to be destroyed, sometimes referred to as overdraw. Cards destroyed in this way are revealed to both players.

Playing a card removes it from the player's hand, and puts it into play. This is the main way for players to empty their hand. The only other way is through discard effects, which force the player to discard cards from their hand without playing them. Like overdraw, discard effects reveal the discarded cards to both players.

Hand size has some synergy with specific cards, such as Mountain Giant, Midnight Drake and Twilight Drake. It can also have strategic impact on the use of discard effects, and card draw mechanics such as Northshire Cleric.

Strategy

Hand tracking is a strategy used to track and predict what cards are in the opponent's hand. This can also be done during the mulligan phase to see how many cards the opponent kept in their opening hand.

For tips related to drawing cards and the size of your hand, see Card draw.

How to track the opponent's hand (part 1 of 2).

How to track the opponent's hand (part 2 of 2).

Related cards

Certain cards have effects specifically related to the size or contents of the player's hand; these are listed below.

For cards with effect that activate while in the player's hand, see In-hand effect.

Name / Desc	Rarity	Type	Subtype	Class	Cost	Atk	HP	Description
Sand Breath	Common	Spell		Paladin	1			Give a minion +1/+2. Give it Divine Shield if you're holding a Dragon. After Uldum, EVERYONE had sand breath.
Corrosive Breath	Common	Spell		Hunter	2			Deal 3 damage to a minion. If you're holding a Dragon, it also hits the enemy hero. It's a breath of fresh terror!
Demonic Project	Common	Spell		Warlock	2			Each player transforms a random minion in their hand into a Demon. Another group project where Jaraxxus doesn't do any work.
Parachute Brigand	Common	Minion	Pirate	Any	2	2	2	After you play a Pirate, summon this minion from your hand. She flies standby.
Tasty Flyfish	Common	Minion	Murloc	Any	2	2	2	Deathrattle: Give a Dragon in your hand +2/+2. Reinforced with vitamins and mrglrls.
Brainstormer	Common	Minion	General	Any	3	3	1	Battlecry: Gain +1 Health for each spell in your hand. Her hair was always like that.
Electrowright	Common	Minion	General	Any	3	3	3	Battlecry: If you're holding a spell that costs (5) or more, gain +1/+1. Carefully assembled from two Electrowrongs.
Ferocious Howl	Common	Spell		Druid	3			Draw a card. Gain +1 Armor for each card in your hand. Have you ever heard the wolf cry to the blue corn moon?
Fire Hawk	Common	Minion	Elemental	Any	3	1	3	Battlecry: Gain +1 Attack for each card in your opponent's hand. It’s our fault for making all those card backs that look like food.
Scalerider	Common	Minion	General	Any	3	3	3	Battlecry: If you're holding a Dragon, deal 2 damage. Do Re Me Fa So La Spear Throw!
Violet Spellsword	Common	Minion	General	Any	4	1	6	Battlecry: Gain +1 Attack for each spell in your hand. If you have to wield a spell and a sword, then neither is performing to expectation.
Wing Commander	Common	Minion	General	Any	4	2	5	Has +2 Attack for each Dragon in your hand. "Flap! Flap! FLAP!"
Abyssal Summoner	Common	Minion	General	Warlock	6	2	2	Battlecry: Summon a Demon with Taunt and stats equal to your hand size. But gnomes have tiny hands...
Candle Breath	Common	Spell		Rogue	6			Draw 3 cards. Costs (3) less while you're holding a Dragon. "And Waxadred shall light their fires, with roaring breath hotter than pyres! Come before him, scamp and vandal, pledge your faith and lift your candle!"
Wyrmguard	Common	Minion	General	Any	7	3	11	Battlecry: If you're holding a Dragon, gain +1 Attack and Taunt. They think they're trusted guardians. Dragons think they're convenient snacks.
Arcane Breath	Rare	Spell		Mage	1			Deal 2 damage to a minion. If you're holding a Dragon, Discover a spell. One of many side effects from eating mana cookies.
Soul Infusion	Rare	Spell		Warlock	1			Give the left-most minion in your hand +2/+2. People called him a soulless monster. We're not sure this is better.
Breath of Dreams	Rare	Spell		Druid	2			Draw a card. If you're holding a Dragon, gain an empty Mana Crystal. Ysera has the worst morning breath.
Firetree Witchdoctor	Rare	Minion	General	Any	2	2	2	Battlecry: If you're holding a Dragon, Discover a spell. If your tree is on fire - stop, drop, and troll.
Nether Breath	Rare	Spell		Warlock	2			Deal 2 damage. If you're holding a Dragon, deal 4 damage with Lifesteal instead. "Whether the Nether is cold, whether the Nether is hot, we'll burn together, whatever the Nether, whether we like it or not."
Underbelly Fence	Rare	Minion	General	Rogue	2	2	3	Battlecry: If you're holding a card from another class, gain +1/+1 and Rush. She'll take anything you have—except scruples and a good work ethic.
Breath of the Infinite	Rare	Spell		Priest	3			Deal 2 damage to all minions. If you're holding a Dragon, only damage enemies. It's called "circular breathing."
Lightning Breath	Rare	Spell		Shaman	3			Deal 4 damage to a minion. If you're holding a Dragon, also damage its neighbors. Recipe: One dragon, four wool socks, thick shag carpet.
Garden Gnome	Rare	Minion	General	Druid	4	2	3	Battlecry: If you're holding a spell that costs (5) or more, summon two 2/2 Treants. "Greetings, my little shrubs... It's whittlin' time."
Molten Breath	Rare	Spell		Warrior	4			Deal 5 damage to a minion. If you're holding a Dragon, gain 5 Armor. Pizza so hot it burns OTHER PEOPLE’S MOUTHS.
Scaleworm	Rare	Minion	Beast	Any	4	4	4	Battlecry: If you're holding a Dragon, gain +1 Attack and Rush. A popular local alternative to bananas.
Twilight Drake	Rare	Minion	Dragon	Any	4	4	1	Battlecry: Gain +1 Health for each card in your hand. Twilight drakes feed on Mystical Energy. And Tacos.
Vendetta	Rare	Spell		Rogue	4			Deal 4 damage to a minion. Costs (0) if you're holding a card from another class. A vengeful and vicarious vanguard against violent villains or vexed victims.
Bewitched Guardian	Rare	Minion	General	Druid	5	4	1	Taunt Battlecry: Gain +1 Health for each card in your hand. Amwitched. Beingwitched. Beenwitched.
Chronobreaker	Rare	Minion	Dragon	Priest	5	4	5	Deathrattle: If you're holding a Dragon, deal 3 damage to all enemy minions. If he asks to borrow your watch, just say no.
Crazed Netherwing	Rare	Minion	Dragon	Warlock	5	5	5	Battlecry: If you're holding a Dragon, deal 3 damage to all other characters. Always tail swipes left.
Emberscale Drake	Rare	Minion	Dragon	Warrior	5	5	5	Battlecry: If you're holding a Dragon, gain 5 Armor. The third little dragon made his armor out of adamantite.
Hunting Party	Rare	Spell		Hunter	5			Copy all Beasts in your hand. Not sure I'd call it a good party if everyone ends up beside themselves.
Sunreaver Warmage	Rare	Minion	General	Any	5	4	4	Battlecry: If you're holding a spell that costs (5) or more, deal 4 damage. What, did you expect the Sunreavers to be coldages?
Witchwood Grizzly	Rare	Minion	Beast	Any	5	3	12	Taunt Battlecry: Lose 1 Health for each card in your opponent's hand. You know what they say about people with big hands? Small bears.
Dragoncaster	Rare	Minion	General	Mage	6	4	4	Battlecry: If you're holding a Dragon, your next spell this turn costs (0). It’s challenging to perform magic on dragonback. It’s so easy to drop the rabbit.
Meteorologist	Rare	Minion	General	Mage	6	3	3	Battlecry: For each card in your hand, deal 1 damage to a random enemy. Some say the world will end in fire. Some say in ice. Why not BOTH?
Cathedral Gargoyle	Epic	Minion	General	Paladin	2	2	2	Battlecry: If you're holding a Dragon, gain Taunt and Divine Shield. Fly like an eagle, drop like a rock.
Crystalsong Portal	Epic	Spell		Druid	2			Discover a Druid minion. If you hand has no minions, keep all 3. Experience the draw of the wild!
Envoy of Lazul	Epic	Minion	General	Priest	2	2	2	Battlecry: Look at 3 cards. Guess which one is in your opponent's hand to get a copy of it. "Note to self: possess someone who's local and knows directions next time."
Dark Skies	Epic	Spell		Warlock	3			Deal 1 damage to a random minion. Repeat for each card in your hand. "It's a drizzle of fire. A fine mist, really."
Smolderthorn Lancer	Epic	Minion	General	Warrior	3	3	2	Battlecry: If you're holding a Dragon, destroy a damaged enemy minion. Here comes “The Smolder.”
Wispering Woods	Epic	Spell		Druid	4			Summon a 1/1 Wisp for each card in your hand. We didn't actually fire the guy who named Dark Wispers.
Unseen Saboteur	Epic	Minion	General	Any	6	5	6	Battlecry: Your opponent casts a random spell from their hand (targets chosen randomly). Far more effective than the flamboyant saboteur.
Astromancer	Epic	Minion	General	Mage	7	5	5	Battlecry: Summon a random minion with Cost equal to your hand size. All signs point to Antonidas.
Crowd Roaster	Epic	Minion	Dragon	Any	7	7	4	Battlecry: If you're holding a Dragon, deal 7 damage to an enemy minion. Every major show has an opening act to warm up the crowd.
Mana Giant	Epic	Minion	Elemental	Mage	8	8	8	Costs (1) less for each card you've played this game that didn't start in your deck. Spell more and save more with a GIANT discount!
Mountain Giant	Epic	Minion	Elemental	Any	12	8	8	Costs (1) less for each other card in your hand. His mother said that he was just big boned.
Chameleos	Legendary	Minion	Beast	Priest	1	1	1	Each turn this is in your hand, transform it into a card your opponent is holding. He's everyone you want to be.
Dragonrider Talritha	Legendary	Minion	General	Paladin	3	3	3	Deathrattle: Give a Dragon in your hand +3/+3 and this Deathrattle. You can't just run away from your problems. Unless you have another dragon to jump to.
Madame Lazul	Legendary	Minion	General	Priest	3	3	2	Battlecry: Discover a copy of a card in your oppponent's hand. Of course she knows the future, she's been looking at your cards the WHOLE TIME!
Stargazer Luna	Legendary	Minion	General	Mage	3	2	4	After you play the right-most card in your hand, draw a card. She's Dr. Boom's right-hand mage.
Flobbidinous Floop	Legendary	Minion	General	Druid	4	3	4	While in your hand, this is a 3/4 copy of the last minion you played. Of all the scientists, he has the most knowledge (when measured in volume).
War Master Voone	Legendary	Minion	General	Warrior	4	4	3	Battlecry: Copy all Dragons in your hand. War Master sounds cooler than Dragon Sitter.
Malygos, Aspect of Magic	Legendary	Minion	Dragon	Mage	5	2	8	Battlecry: If you're holding a Dragon, Discover an upgraded Mage spell. It's official. We can say Malygeese.
Flik Skyshiv	Legendary	Minion	General	Rogue	6	4	4	Battlecry: Destroy a minion and all copies of it (wherever they are). Junior explorers scan the night sky in fear of her candle’s flame!
Glinda Crowskin	Legendary	Minion	General	Warlock	6	3	7	Minions in your hand have Echo. Summon an unlimited* number of minions!** *Six **Wisps
Valdris Felgorge	Legendary	Minion	General	Warlock	7	4	4	Battlecry: Increase your maximum hand size to 12. Draw 4 cards. I don't mean to pry, but you don't by chance happen to have six fingers on both of your hands?
Hex Lord Malacrass	Legendary	Minion	General	Mage	8	5	5	Battlecry: Add a copy of your opening hand to your hand (except this card). Extremely awkward cousin of Hex Lord Malaclass.
Emeriss	Legendary	Minion	Dragon	Hunter	10	8	8	Battlecry: Double the Attack and Health of all minions in your hand. Taste your world's corruption! It tastes like chicken.
King Phaoris	Legendary	Minion	General	Any	10	5	5	Battlecry: For each spell in your hand, summon a random minion of the same Cost. When you're the king of the cats, the whole desert is your litterbox.
Mecha'thun	Legendary	Minion	Mech	Any	10	10	10	Deathrattle: If you have no cards in your deck, hand, and battlefield, destroy the enemy hero. "Your software will fail. Your users will abandon you. You are already obsolete."
Showing all 62 cards

Descent of Dragons

The below cards are planned for release with Descent of Dragons, coming December 10, 2019.

Name / Desc	Rarity	Type	Subtype	Class	Cost	Atk	HP	Description
Cleric of Scales	Rare	Minion	General	Priest	1	1	1	Battlecry: If you're holding a Dragon, Discover a spell from your deck. If she can't find a spell, it's a clerical error.
Rotnest Drake	Rare	Minion	Dragon	Hunter	5	6	5	Battlecry: If you're holding a Dragon, destroy a random enemy minion. Clean your room, or I'm taking your favorite minion away!
Chaos Gazer	Epic	Minion	Demon	Warlock	3	4	3	Battlecry: Corrupt a playable card in your opponent's hand. They have 1 turn to play it! No matter the game rules, it's always playing Go Fish.
Showing all 3 cards

Wild format

 This section contains information exclusive to Wild format.

Name / Desc	Rarity	Type	Subtype	Class	Cost	Atk	HP	Description
Brave Archer	Common	Minion	General	Hunter	1	2	1	Inspire: If your hand is empty, deal 2 damage to the enemy hero. This is a "bearly" concealed reference.
Twilight Whelp	Common	Minion	Dragon	Priest	1	2	1	Battlecry: If you're holding a Dragon, gain +2 Health. The twilight whelps are basically magic-vampires. Despite this, they are not a reference to any popular series of novels.
Netherspite Historian	Common	Minion	General	Any	2	1	3	Battlecry: If you're holding a Dragon, Discover a Dragon. She can tell you all about the history of people not STANDING IN THE GREEN BEAM!
Quick Shot	Common	Spell		Hunter	2			Deal 3 damage. If your hand is empty, draw a card. Han shot first.
Blackwing Technician	Common	Minion	General	Any	3	2	4	Battlecry: If you're holding a Dragon, gain +1/+1. This is who you go to when your Blackwing needs a tune up. Don't go to a cut rate Blackwing tune up shop!
Elder Longneck	Common	Minion	Beast	Druid	3	5	1	Battlecry: If you're holding a minion with 5 or more Attack, Adapt. And so the bartender says, “Why the long neck?”
Nightbane Templar	Common	Minion	General	Paladin	3	2	3	Battlecry: If you're holding a Dragon, summon two 1/1 Whelps. Originally joined to be Arcanagos’ Templar, but has to admit that ordering pizza has become waaaay easier.
Tanaris Hogchopper	Common	Minion	General	Any	4	4	4	Battlecry: If your opponent's hand is empty, gain Charge. The Hogchoppers are well-known throughout Kalimdor for being a real, actual group.
Blackwing Corruptor	Common	Minion	General	Any	5	5	4	Battlecry: If you're holding a Dragon, deal 3 damage. He got his name when he gave Blackwing some comic books and rock & roll records.
Alexstrasza's Champion	Rare	Minion	General	Warrior	2	2	3	Battlecry: If you're holding a Dragon, gain +1 Attack and Charge. "Put more spikes on her. No, more spikes. What part of 'more spikes' do you not understand? MORE SPIKES!" - Alexstrasza
Wyrmrest Agent	Rare	Minion	General	Priest	2	1	4	Battlecry: If you're holding a Dragon, gain +1 Attack and Taunt. Keeping tabs on the Grand Tournament is priority #1 for the five mighty Dragonflights!
Divine Favor	Rare	Spell		Paladin	3			Draw cards until you have as many in hand as your opponent. This is not just a favor, but a divine one, like helping someone move a couch with a fold out bed!
Goblin Sapper	Rare	Minion	General	Any	3	2	4	Has +4 Attack while your opponent has 6 or more cards in hand. He’s not such a binge exploder anymore. These days, he only explodes socially.
Core Rager	Rare	Minion	Beast	Hunter	4	4	4	Battlecry: If your hand is empty, gain +3/+3. It takes a special kind of hunter to venture deep into a firey lava pit and convince a monster who lives there to come home and be a cuddly housepet.
Duskbreaker	Rare	Minion	Dragon	Priest	4	3	3	Battlecry: If you're holding a Dragon, deal 3 damage to all other minions. Waking up at the break of dusk is just not as impressive.
Midnight Drake	Rare	Minion	Dragon	Any	4	1	4	Battlecry: Gain +1 Attack for each other card in your hand. Still fearsome in the daytime.
Drakonid Operative	Rare	Minion	Dragon	Priest	5	5	6	Battlecry: If you're holding a Dragon, Discover a card in your opponent's deck. His job is to spy on the Goons and the Jade Lotus, but he's OBVIOUSLY a dragon so it's pretty hard work.
Book Wyrm	Rare	Minion	Dragon	Any	6	3	6	Battlecry: If you're holding a Dragon, destroy an enemy minion with 3 Attack or less. His favorites are classic tragedies like "The Hobbit" and "Grendel".
Dead Man's Hand	Epic	Spell		Warrior	2			Shuffle a copy of your hand into your deck. I got two pair, Rags and Armorsmiths. What you got?
Twilight Acolyte	Epic	Minion	General	Priest	3	2	4	Battlecry: If you're holding a Dragon, swap this minion's Attack with another minion's. The dragons mostly keep him around as a snack.
Twilight Guardian	Epic	Minion	Dragon	Any	4	2	6	Battlecry: If you're holding a Dragon, gain +1 Attack and Taunt. A result of magical experiments carried out by the Black Dragonflight, it's not his fault that he's a vicious killer.
Leatherclad Hogleader	Epic	Minion	General	Any	6	6	6	Battlecry: If your opponent has 6 or more cards in hand, gain Charge. The Hogchoppers, the terrors of Tanaris, can always be found at one tavern or another in Gadgetzan, refueling for totally real and legit adventures that they go on.
Clockwork Giant	Epic	Minion	Mech	Any	12	8	8	Costs (1) less for each card in your opponent's hand. He and Mountain Giant don't get along.
Chillmaw	Legendary	Minion	Dragon	Any	7	6	6	Taunt Deathrattle: If you're holding a Dragon, deal 3 damage to all minions. Chillmaw keeps trying to ruin the Grand Tournament, and she would've done it too, if it weren't for those dang kids!
Rend Blackhand	Legendary	Minion	General	Any	7	8	4	Battlecry: If you're holding a Dragon, destroy a Legendary minion. Rend believes he is the True Warchief of the Horde and he keeps editing the wikipedia page for "Warchief of the Horde" to include his picture.
Showing all 25 cards