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Tavern Brawl
The subject of this article is only available in Tavern Brawls.
It is a part of limited content and does not appear in any other game modes.
The subject of this article is only available in Tavern Brawls.
Miniature Warfare
"That pesky Goblins vs GnomesShrinkmeister turned all your Hearthstone cards into toys! Now all your minions are 1/1 and only cost (1) mana!"

Miniature Warfare is a Tavern Brawl. It debuted on January 27, 2016. For exact times, see the schedule.

History[]

Tavern Brawl Start End Game format
33 January 27, 2016 February 1, 2016 Wild format
74 November 9, 2016 November 14, 2016
125 November 1, 2017 November 6, 2017
146 March 28, 2018 April 2, 2018 Standard format
395 January 4, 2023 January 11, 2023 Wild format

Overview[]

This Brawl sees players doing battle using classes of their choosing. During the Brawl, a special non-removable enchantment is given to each minion, changing its base stats to 1/1, and its mana cost to 1. However, buffs can still increase minions' stats beyond 1/1.

Notes[]

  • During this Brawl, each minion is given the "Miniature" enchantment, resulting in 1/1 stats. This enchantment is granted to all minions while still in the hand, and affects all minions whether played from the hand, or summoned by spells, Hero Powers, or other minions' effects. Minions summoned through effects like Battlecries like LegacySilver Hand Knight, Deathrattles like Goblins vs GnomesPiloted Shredder, and resurrection effects like Blackrock MountainResurrect or NaxxramasKel'Thuzad's end of turn effect, will immediately gain the "Miniature" enchantment and become 1/1s. Likewise, minions produced through transform effects will gain the "Miniature" enchantment immediately after transforming.
  • However, since the "Miniature" enchantment is applied before all other effects, buffs can increase minions' stats beyond 1/1. This includes Goblins vs GnomesHobgoblin, which recognizes the minion is a 1/1 and buffs it, and Battlecries such as those of LegacyTwilight Drake and LegacyFrostwolf Warlord, which work normally, although the base stats of the minions remain 1/1, resulting in lower stats overall. Conversely, playing LegacyInjured Blademaster or The Grand TournamentInjured Kvaldir will result in the minion immediately destroying itself.
  • The "Miniature" enchantment appears to be applied through a game-wide aura, and as a result cannot be removed through Silences or other effects. This prevents Silences like NaxxramasWailing Soul from working around the Brawl's rules.
    • Other enchantments can still be removed as normal.[1] For example, a LegacyRagnaros the Firelord reduced to 1/1 by the "Miniature" enchantment, then buffed to a 2/2 by LegacyDefender of Argus, will die to LegacyEarth Shock.
    • Under certain circumstances, the "Miniature" enchantment is capable of reversing fatal damage before it is able to destroy a minion. For example, if an Goblins vs GnomesExplosive Sheep trades with a NaxxramasSludge Belcher (the Sludge Belcher having been summoned first), the Explosive Sheep's Deathrattle will deal 2 damage to the Slime, but this damage will be immediately countered by the "Miniature" enchantment, changing it from a damaged 1/0 to a full Health 1/1.[2] The history will show that the Slime was killed, when in fact it will survive with no apparent damage. This may be intended, or due to a bug.
    • Similarly, if the target of a LegacyFaceless Manipulator's Battlecry is wounded, the damage may be overridden by the enchantment, with the copy instead created at its full maximum Health.[3]
  • The more technical explanation is that the "Miniature" enchantment is applied to all played/summoned minions (that do not already have it attached) during the next Summon Resolution Step. For more information, see Advanced rulebook#Summon Resolution Step and watch this video for full documentation of all interactions.
    • Minions "Miniature" while in the deck. For example, if Rastakhan's RumbleGral, the Shark's Battlecry eats Kobolds & CatacombsThe Darkness then it becomes a 21/21, not a 2/2.

Strategy[]

The low cost of minions allows players to play normally expensive minions from turn 1, and also allows them to empty their hands much more quickly than usual. Card draw can be useful in compensating for the unusually rapid outpouring of minions. Blackrock MountainChromaggus is a good pick in this regard, especially with an immediate card draw available, or with some way to ensure its survival until the next turn. The warlock's LegacyLife Tap can provide a steady source of cards, although the low damage potential of most cards can make the Hero Power's drawback a high price to pay, especially in the later game. However, this Brawl's cost reduction is matched by a reduction in stats, making minions' abilities and card text the main consideration.

When building a deck it's important to remember that minion stats and costs will not survive into the Brawl; for example, The Grand TournamentNorth Sea Kraken is strictly better than LegacyFire Elemental, which is strictly better than LegacyStormpike Commando, which is strictly better than LegacyElven Archer. This often contradicts ingrained familiarity with the value of cards, with poor cards outperforming those that are normally highly prized. Abilities are put into the spotlight, often making cards with low stats for their cost far more desirable. The Grand TournamentVarian Wrynn becomes a superb card, especially in a minion-heavy deck, drawing or putting into play four cards in total for just 1 mana. In contrast, minions with Overload are usually undesirable, due to their disproportionately high overall cost.

Miniature Warfare screenshot

Aggressive turn 1 strategies are surprisingly effective during this Brawl

Stat buffs and AoE removal are the order of the day in this Brawl. Minions like Blackrock MountainDark Iron Skulker, LegacyKnife Juggler, and Knights of the Frozen ThroneDespicable Dreadlord provide excellent removal abilities at minimal cost, as do Battlecry damage minions like The Grand TournamentNorth Sea Kraken and Journey to Un'GoroPrimordial Drake. LegacyStampeding Kodo and Whispers of the Old GodsShadow Word: Horror is capable of targeting most minions, but can work around Stealth, increased Health and Divine Shields. Minions with Charge and Divine Shield (LegacyArgent Commander, The Grand TournamentArgent Horserider) gain a similar effect, although with the potential for increased damage if combined with Attack buffs. AoE spells like LegacyWhirlwind, LegacyFan of Knives, LegacyArcane Explosion, One Night in KarazhanMaelstrom Portal, Knights of the Frozen ThroneSpirit Lash, LegacyExplosive Trap, and LegacyHoly Nova are almost guaranteed board clears, although Health buffs can prevent this. LegacyShiv is an excellent pick, essentially giving free removal. Likewise LegacyMortal Coil brings an almost guaranteed card draw to replace it.

Cards that summon other minions can provide excellent value and board control. Basic options include 2-for-1s like LegacyMurloc Tidehunter, LegacyRazorfen Hunter, NaxxramasEchoing Ooze, and Kobolds & CatacombsGreen Jelly, while others such as Goblins vs GnomesDr. Boom, Knights of the Frozen ThroneSindragosa, NaxxramasHaunted Creeper, Journey to Un'GoroEggnapper, and The League of ExplorersWobbling Runts provide 3 or 4 minions for the price of 1; LegacyOnyxia tops the list, summoning up to 7 minions for the price of 1. Cards which repeatedly summon minions, such as The Grand TournamentMurloc Knight or The Grand TournamentSilver Hand Regent, can provide good value if they can survive long enough, while The Grand TournamentDreadsteed and Kobolds & CatacombsFungalmancer provide massive value due its low stats no longer being a handicap. A slightly more expensive option is Goblins vs GnomesImp-losion, combining removal with summoning 2-4 minions. Similarly, Goblins vs GnomesMuster for Battle deserves a special mention for both its spread of Silver Hand Recruits and its LegacyLight's Justice, which can often be used to remove separate four minions before expiring, providing a massive board control opportunity for just 3 mana. Both of these spells combo easily with LegacyKnife Juggler for extra damage, as do all minions which summon other minions.

Buffs from minions like LegacyHoundmaster, The League of ExplorersKeeper of Uldaman, Knights of the Frozen ThroneBonemare, Kobolds & CatacombsFungalmancer, LegacyStormwind Champion, The League of ExplorersAnubisath Sentinel, and LegacyCenarius can allow your minions to trade very favourably against the opponent's for just 1 mana. Goblins vs GnomesHobgoblin provides amazing value in this Brawl, buffing every minion played to a 3/3. Spell buffs cost more, but can prove to be just as useful. Cards like LegacyMark of the Wild, Goblins vs GnomesVelen's Chosen, NaxxramasAvenge, Goblins vs GnomesDark Wispers, Journey to Un'GoroSpikeridged Steed, and Journey to Un'GoroDinosize can make a single minion hard to kill and hard-hitting, while AoE buffs like Mean Streets of GadgetzanMark of the Lotus, The Grand TournamentCompetitive Spirit, The Grand TournamentBolster, Knights of the Frozen ThroneStrongshell Scavenger, and Whispers of the Old GodsWisps of the Old Gods are highly valuable when swarming with minions. Hand-buffing cards like Mean Streets of GadgetzanSmuggler's Run and Mean Streets of GadgetzanGrimestreet Enforcer can prove just as powerful.

Minions that can snowball with stats are also powerful in this brawl. LegacyBlood Imp, Knights of the Frozen ThroneShadow Ascendant, The Grand TournamentBoneguard Lieutenant, Knights of the Frozen ThroneCrypt Lord, Goblins vs GnomesFloating Watcher and The Grand TournamentKvaldir Raider are all good sources of ongoing Health buffs. LegacyQuesting Adventurer is especially if immediately followed by a few other cards. NaxxramasShade of Naxxramas, especially if played early, can provide great value. LegacyEdwin VanCleef and Journey to Un'GoroBiteweed can turn into huge minions with a big enough hand. Knights of the Frozen ThroneWicked Skeleton is a strong follow-up after a board clear. Whispers of the Old GodsC'Thun can also turn huge early on or a cheap and powerful finisher with the right amount of support.

The value of buffs in turn provides some value for Silences like LegacyIronbeak Owl and LegacySpellbreaker.

Due to the presence of so many minions, in addition to aura buffs, many decks can make good use of board synergy cards like LegacyFrostwolf Warlord and Goblins vs GnomesEnhance-o Mechano.

The reduced cost of minions makes a LegacyShadowstep combo entirely free, which can be useful for reactivating Battlecries. Conversely, return effects like LegacyVanish and LegacySap are generally far less effective, unless the player has too full a hand to accommodate the return of all their minions.

Knights of the Frozen ThroneShadow Essence summons a 5/5 minion, which makes it an all-around powerful card.

Hero Powers like LegacyFireblast, LegacyShapeshift and LegacyDagger Mastery function to remove almost any minion, while the Totems generated by LegacyTotemic Call are also set to 1/1. LegacyReinforce is unchanged, but its value is dramatically increased. LegacyLife Tap has great potential due to the ability to empty the hand so quickly.

Many powerful minions are made far more accessible by this Brawl, and while their stats are rendered irrelevant, their reduced cost means their abilities can be brought into play from the start of the game. A strong turn 1 play is LegacyRagnaros the Firelord; if the opponent has not yet played a minion, this is a guaranteed 8 damage to the face to start things off. LegacyAlexstrasza is even stronger, immediately setting the opponent's Health to 15. Goblins vs GnomesDr. Boom is a good play due to providing three minions for the price of one, plus the Boom Bots' Deathrattles. Blackrock MountainChromaggus is an excellent possibility for card draw. NaxxramasKel'Thuzad, while hard to protect for long, has great trading potential. LegacyOnyxia provides up to 7 minions for the price of 1. LegacySylvanas Windrunner is still a good deterrent, although the disposability of most minions make it easier to dodge her Deathrattle; for priests, LegacyCabal Shadow Priest is usually superior, providing a similar (but immediate) 2-for-1 due to minions' reduced Attack. Many other powerful cards such as LegacyYsera and Knights of the Frozen ThroneThe Lich King likewise become much more accessible.

Access for spell-oriented decks is also expedited due to the lower cost of certain critical minions. LegacyArchmage Antonidas is available earlier, but more importantly can be easily comboed with several spells to provide immediate value and a potential win condition. The 1-cost LegacyMalygos and LegacyProphet Velen makes high-damage spell decks such as freeze mage and LegacyMind Blast-priest highly accessible, as well as enabling a variety of one turn kills. Even without a dedicated deck, Countering the opponent's board is facilitated through minions like LegacyBaron Geddon, LegacyAbomination, Whispers of the Old GodsTwilight Flamecaller, Journey to Un'GoroPrimordial Drake, and Knights of the Frozen ThroneDespicable Dreadlord with their reduced cost making them readily available for stalling.

Turn one kills are possible during this Brawl, thanks to LegacyAlexstrasza and LegacyRagnaros the Firelord. With two copies of LegacyInnervate or Mean Streets of GadgetzanCounterfeit Coin, Alexstrasza (reducing the opponent's Health to 15), Ragnaros, then LegacyFaceless Manipulator to copy Ragnaros deals 16 damage to enemy hero at end of first turn for lethal. Players going second has more chance to draw the right cards thanks to CoreThe Coin, but there is also a higher chance the opponent can screw up this combo by playing a minion.

Lore[]

This Brawl shows Goblins vs GnomesShrinkmeister to be far more powerful than anyone ever realised, since he normally only reduces a single minion's Attack by 2 for a single turn.

References[]

 
  1. Tested by User:Taohinton, 2016-01-27
  2. Tested by User:Taohinton, 2016-01-28
  3. Tested by User:Taohinton, 2016-01-29. Faceless Manipulator copied damaged 5/4 The Grand TournamentKvaldir Raider (maximum Health 8, due to LegacyTemple Enforcer buff) - copy produced was an undamaged 5/8.


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