In-hand effect

In-hand effects are card effects which are active while they are in the player's hand, rather than while in the battlefield. In-hand effects are notable for being exceptions to the general game rule that cards do not become active until played or otherwise put into play.

Most cards with in-hand effects have a variable mana cost that changes in response to game conditions, as with Molten Giant or Knight of the Wild. Other effects include increasing stats (as with Bolvar Fordragon or Blubber Baron), transforming into other cards (as with Shifter Zerus and Molten Blade), or directly causing an effect outside of the card itself (as with Cursed!).

Because mana cost modifications are lost upon being played, the consequences of most in-hand effects exist only while in the hand. Modifications made to the card itself other than mana cost tend to survive into the battlefield, although they will be lost if returned to the hand. Most in-hand effects are calculated on an ongoing basis, depending on certain events within the game; these provide their values regardless of when they were brought into the hand. Others activate at specific times, only recording the number of times the triggering event has taken place while they were in the hand.

In-hand effects are distinguished from on-draw effects, which activate when they are drawn from the deck, but not otherwise while they are in the player's hand. However, since on-draw effects must first be drawn into the player's hand in order to activate, they are in a sense in-hand effects.

Name / Desc	Rarity	Type	Subtype	Class	Cost	Atk	HP	Description
Dread Corsair	Common	Minion	Pirate	Any	4	3	3	Taunt. Costs (1) less per Attack of your weapon. "Yarrrr" is a pirate word that means "Greetings, milord."
Shifting Scroll	Common	Spell		Mage				Each turn this is in your hand, transform it into a random Mage spell. Next turn, this is going to be AMAZING.
Crystal Lion	Rare	Minion	General	Paladin	6	5	5	Divine Shield Costs (1) less for each Silver Hand Recruit you control. Standard issue recruit gear: 1 silver sword, 1 Lordaeron insignia, 2 bags of crystal kibble.
Happy Ghoul	Rare	Minion	General	Any	3	3	3	Costs (0) if your hero was healed this turn. When life gives you snow…
Molten Blade	Rare	Weapon		Warrior	1	1	1	Each turn this is in your hand, transform it into a new weapon. It’s a sword! It’s a knife! It’s a swizzle-stick!
Obsidian Shard	Rare	Weapon		Rogue	4	3	3	Costs (1) less for each card you've played from another class. You know you’re a Rogue when a sharp rock makes you go “Ooh! Dagger!”
Arcane Tyrant	Epic	Minion	Elemental	Any	5	4	4	Costs (0) if you've cast a spell that costs (5) or more this turn. Tyrant is such a strong word.
Corridor Creeper	Epic	Minion	Beast	Any	7	2	5	Costs (1) less whenever a minion dies while this is in your hand. It likes the smell of dead things, which is curious, as it has no visible nose.
Mountain Giant	Epic	Minion	General	Any	12	8	8	Costs (1) less for each other card in your hand. His mother said that he was just big boned.
Sea Giant	Epic	Minion	General	Any	10	8	8	Costs (1) less for each other minion on the battlefield. See? Giant.
Snowfury Giant	Epic	Minion	Elemental	Shaman	11	8	8	Costs (1) less for each mana crystal you've Overloaded this game. This minion goes all the way to 11!
Showing all 11 cards

Name / Desc	Rarity	Type	Subtype	Class	Cost	Atk	HP	Description
Cursed!	None	Spell		Warlock	2			While this is in your hand, take 2 damage at the start of your turn.
Dragon's Breath	Common	Spell		Mage	5			Deal 4 damage. Costs (1) less for each minion that died this turn. Dragons breathe fire, sure, but did you know they can also breathe Cotton Candy? It's harder to give them a reason to do that, though.
Nerubian Prophet	Common	Minion	General	Any	6	4	4	At the start of your turn, reduce this card's Cost by (1). It’s a self-reducing prophecy.
Solemn Vigil	Common	Spell		Paladin	5			Draw 2 cards. Costs (1) less for each minion that died this turn. Each year, folk gather in front of Blackrock Mountain to mourn those who were mind-controlled into the lava.
Volcanic Drake	Common	Minion	Dragon	Any	6	6	4	Costs (1) less for each minion that died this turn. Volcanic Drakes breathe lava instead of fire. The antacid vendor at Thorium Point does a brisk business with them.
Everyfin is Awesome	Rare	Spell		Shaman	7			Give your minions +2/+2. Costs (1) less for each Murloc you control. Everyfin is cool when you're part of a murloc team!
Kabal Crystal Runner	Rare	Minion	General	Mage	6	5	5	Costs (2) less for each Secret you've played this game. "Listen, I can cut you in on a little of this premium mana, but you can't tell my boss."
Knight of the Wild	Rare	Minion	General	Druid	7	6	6	Whenever you summon a Beast, reduce the Cost of this card by (1). He gets a discount on the tournament entry fee because he is his own horse.
Second-Rate Bruiser	Rare	Minion	General	Any	5	4	5	Taunt. Costs (2) less if your opponent has at least three minions. He'll be a first-rate bruiser once he gets used to his contacts.
Thing from Below	Rare	Minion	General	Shaman	6	5	5	Taunt. Costs (1) less for each Totem you've summoned this game. Just can't resist the opportunity to hang around with a bunch of totems.
Volcanic Lumberer	Rare	Minion	General	Druid	9	7	8	Taunt Costs (1) less for each minion that died this turn. The roots, the roots, the roots is on fire!
Arcane Giant	Epic	Minion	General	Any	12	8	8	Costs (1) less for each spell you've cast this game. Claims to be drawn to Karazhan because of the ley lines. Actually, just loves Moroes’ cooking.
Blubber Baron	Epic	Minion	General	Any	3	1	1	Whenever you summon a Battlecry minion while this is in your hand, gain +1/+1. When oil, railroad, steel, robber, and red are all already taken, your options are limited.
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.
Crush	Epic	Spell		Warrior	7			Destroy a minion. If you have a damaged minion, this costs (4) less. Using this card on your enemies is one of the best things in life, according to some barbarians.
Frost Giant	Epic	Minion	General	Any	10	8	8	Costs (1) less for each time you used your Hero Power this game. Don't ask him about the beard. JUST DON'T.
Molten Giant	Epic	Minion	General	Any	20	8	8	Costs (1) less for each damage your hero has taken. He gets terrible heartburn. BECAUSE HE IS FULL OF LAVA.
Bolvar Fordragon	Legendary	Minion	General	Paladin	5	1	7	Whenever a friendly minion dies while this is in your hand, gain +1 Attack. Spoiler alert: Bolvar gets melted and then sits on an ice throne and everyone forgets about him.
Shifter Zerus	Legendary	Minion	General	Any	1	1	1	Each turn this is in your hand, transform it into a different minion. It's like being able to play with THREE angry chickens!
Skycap'n Kragg	Legendary	Minion	Pirate	Any	7	4	6	Charrrrrge Costs (1) less for each friendly Pirate. What's more boss than riding a parrot with a jawbone for a shoulderpad while wielding a giant hook-lance-thing and wearing a pirate hat? NOTHING.
Showing all 20 cards

In-hand effect

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