Ongoing effect

The welling of light indicating an ongoing effect

Ongoing effects are minion, weapon, and boss Hero Power abilities which grant special effects on an ongoing basis. Ongoing effects are often referred to as auras, particularly those which grant temporary enchantments to other targets.

Ongoing effects are distinguished from regular minion abilities such as Taunt in that their effects directly affect the state of other game elements, and/or are toggled on and off in response to the state of other game elements. This makes ongoing effects dynamic and synergistic abilities, capable of directly altering the function of the game, or manifesting additional abilities in response to the wider state of the game. Ongoing effects are also distinguished from abilities such as Enrage which are activated solely through personal state changes, and effects which grant one-time enchantments. Ongoing effects are contrasted with triggered effects, which only take effect in response to specific events.

Minions with ongoing effects are indicated on the battlefield by a pool of light periodically welling from beneath them. There are two exceptions - Old Murk-Eye and Prophet Velen - which do not. Any enchantments granted by ongoing effects are listed on affected minions, and not on the generating minion.

Auras

Ongoing effects which grant temporary enchantments or buffs to other minions are referred to as auras. Some notable examples of cards which provide persistent auras are Stormwind Champion and Murloc Warleader. Auras may affect all friendly minions, or all minions of a specific type. Auras usually take effect on the player's entire side of the board, but some auras only affect adjacent minions, such as Dire Wolf Alpha and Flametongue Totem. The key distinction between aura buffs and minion-specific buffs is that auras grant their effects only for as long as the aura-generating card remains in play. For example, Defender of Argus and Shattered Sun Cleric are examples of minions that give minion-specific buffs, but not auras. In Hearthstone, auras can be defined as continuously ongoing effects that are provided only by the presence of another card in play.

Auras, unlike permanent enchantments, cannot be removed by silencing the minion being affected by the aura, but only by neutralizing the minion generating the aura. Silencing or removing an aura-generating minion will remove its aura generation, and remove its aura effect from all affected minions. However, silencing the same minion will not prevent it from being affected by the auras of other minions.

If an aura minion meets the requirements for its own aura, it will benefit from it. For example, Tundra Rhino will gain Charge due to its own aura, and Warsong Commander will grant itself +1 Attack if you cast Potion of Madness on it.

Notes

While enchantments are normally applied to minions in the order in which they were granted, enchantments from auras and ongoing effects appear to be granted after all other enchantments have been applied, even if the aura was in place prior to the other buffs being gained. For the most part this prevents auras from being included in the calculations of other enchantments, but still allows them to be included in effect calculations such as Reversing Switch. For more details, see Advanced rulebook#Enchantments.

Cards

For Wild format listings, see Ongoing effect/Wild format

Name / Desc	Rarity	Type	Subtype	Class	Cost	Atk	HP	Description
Crystal Core	None	Spell		Rogue	5			For the rest of the game, your minions are 5/5.
Flametongue Totem	Free	Minion	Totem	Shaman	2	0	3	Adjacent minions have +2 Attack. Totemsmiths like to use the rarest woods for their totems. There are even rumors of totems made of Ironbark Protectors.
Grimscale Oracle	Free	Minion	Murloc	Any	1	1	1	Your other Murlocs have +1 Attack. These are the brainy murlocs. It turns out that doesn’t mean much.
Raid Leader	Free	Minion	General	Any	3	2	2	Your other minions have +1 Attack. "That's a 50 DKP minus!"
Stormwind Champion	Free	Minion	General	Any	7	6	6	Your other minions have +1/+1. When Deathwing assaulted the capital, this soldier was the only member of his squad to survive. Now he's all bitter and stuff.
Timber Wolf	Free	Minion	Beast	Hunter	1	1	1	Your other Beasts have +1 Attack. Other beasts totally dig hanging out with timber wolves.
Tundra Rhino	Free	Minion	Beast	Hunter	5	2	5	Your Beasts have Charge. Tundra rhinos are often mistaken for kodos. Or am I mistaken?
Warsong Commander	Free	Minion	General	Warrior	3	2	3	Your Charge minions have +1 Attack. The Warsong clan is such drama. It's really not worth it to become a commander.
Cauldron Elemental	Common	Minion	Elemental	Any	8	7	7	Your other Elementals have +2 Attack. Decorating tip: Unused cauldrons can make a lovely elemental display.
Clockwork Automaton	Common	Minion	Mech	Any	5	4	4	Double the damage and healing of your Hero Power. Most mechs are pretty chill, but this one is all wound up.
Dire Wolf Alpha	Common	Minion	Beast	Any	2	2	2	Adjacent minions have +1 Attack. We are pretty excited about the upcoming release of Dire Wolf Beta, just repost this sign for a chance at a key.
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."
Gemstudded Golem	Common	Minion	General	Warrior	6	5	9	Taunt. Can only attack if you have 5 or more Armor. Perfectly accessorized to attract adventurers.
Ironwood Golem	Common	Minion	General	Druid	4	3	6	Taunt Can only attack if you have 3 or more Armor. Marketed as a "rust-proof iron golem."
Leokk	Common	Minion	Beast	Hunter	3	2	4	Your other minions have +1 Attack.
Lightspawn	Common	Minion	Elemental	Priest	4	0	5	This minion's Attack is always equal to its Health. Spawn of the Light? Or Pawn of the Lights?
Quartz Elemental	Common	Minion	Elemental	Priest	5	5	8	Can't attack while damaged. These elementals, along with feldspar and mica, are often taken for granite.
Radiant Elemental	Common	Minion	Elemental	Priest	2	2	3	Your spells cost (1) less. It's a literal lava lamp!
Sneaky Devil	Common	Minion	Demon	Any	4	2	2	Stealth Your other minions have +1 Attack. The result of a tragic accident involving a Defias Thug, a Wand of Polymorph, and a bundle of Fel Lotus.
Sorcerer's Apprentice	Common	Minion	General	Mage	2	3	2	Your spells cost (1) less. Apprentices are great for bossing around. "Conjure me some mana buns! And a coffee! Make that a mana coffee!"
Southsea Deckhand	Common	Minion	Pirate	Any	1	2	1	Has Charge while you have a weapon equipped. Pirates are into this new fad called "Planking".
Summoning Portal	Common	Minion	General	Warlock	4	0	4	Your minions cost (2) less, but not less than (1). NOT LESS THAN 1! Don't get any ideas!
Tar Creeper	Common	Minion	Elemental	Any	3	1	5	Taunt Has +2 Attack during your opponent's turn. If you won't come to the tar pits, we'll bring them to you!
Tar Lord	Common	Minion	Elemental	Warrior	7	1	11	Taunt Has +4 Attack during your opponent's turn. Tar Lord, man... legendary monster? Aw, forget it.
Tar Lurker	Common	Minion	Elemental	Warlock	5	1	7	Taunt Has +3 Attack during your opponent's turn. Hi, Tar here. Long time lurking, first time taunting…
Venture Co. Mercenary	Common	Minion	General	Any	5	7	6	Your minions cost (3) more. No Job is too big. No fee is too big.
Auchenai Soulpriest	Rare	Minion	General	Priest	4	3	5	Your cards and powers that restore Health now deal damage instead. The Auchenai know the end is coming, but they're not sure when.
Commanding Shout	Rare	Spell		Warrior	2			Your minions can't be reduced below 1 Health this turn. Draw a card. "Shout! Shout! Let it all out!" - Advice to warriors-in-training
Corpse Widow	Rare	Minion	Beast	Hunter	5	4	6	Your Deathrattle cards cost (2) less. Her marriage survived death, but it decayed pretty quickly after that.
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…
Ice Walker	Rare	Minion	Elemental	Mage	2	1	3	Your Hero Power also Freezes the target. Ice Walker you say? He doesn't have feet!
Kobold Monk	Rare	Minion	General	Any	4	3	6	Your hero can't be targeted by spells or Hero Powers. There is no candle.
Mana Wraith	Rare	Minion	General	Any	2	2	2	ALL minions cost (1) more. They come out at night to eat leftover mana crystals. "Mmmmmm," they say.
Mindbreaker	Rare	Minion	General	Any	3	2	5	Hero Powers are disabled. He's a mind breaker, dream taker, ghoul trainer, don't you mess around with him.
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!”
Pint-Sized Summoner	Rare	Minion	General	Any	2	2	2	The first minion you play each turn costs (1) less. She's quite jealous of the Gallon-Sized Summoner.
Runeforge Haunter	Rare	Minion	General	Rogue	4	5	3	During your turn, your weapon doesn't lose Durability. Don't worry, he'll keep an eye on that for you.
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.
Small-Time Buccaneer	Rare	Minion	Pirate	Any	1	1	1	Has +2 Attack while you have a weapon equipped. "Oh, I'm not serious about it. I only pirate on the weekends."
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.
Bladed Gauntlet	Epic	Weapon		Warrior	2	0	2	Has Attack equal to your Armor. Can't attack heroes. CAUTION: DO NOT SCRATCH NOSE.
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.
Emerald Hive Queen	Epic	Minion	Beast	Any	1	2	3	Your minions cost (2) more. She rules the emerald hive at the end of the yellow brick trail.
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.
Murloc Warleader	Epic	Minion	Murloc	Any	3	3	3	Your other Murlocs have +2 Attack. Do Murlocs ever get tired of making the same old sound? Nope! Mrglglrglglglglglglgl!
Nerubian Unraveler	Epic	Minion	General	Any	6	5	5	Spells cost (2) more. He loves a good yarn.
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!
Southsea Captain	Epic	Minion	Pirate	Any	3	3	3	Your other Pirates have +1/+1. When he saves enough plunder, he's going to commission an enormous captain's hat. He has hat envy.
Blood-Queen Lana'thel	Legendary	Minion	General	Warlock	5	1	6	Lifesteal Has +1 Attack for each card you've discarded this game. As a young blood-princess she learned the proper way for a lady to curtsy, how to address fellow members of royalty, and how to bite them.
Duskfallen Aviana	Legendary	Minion	General	Druid	5	3	7	The first card each player plays each turn costs (0). Someone called her "Tweety". She didn't take it well.
Frost Lich Jaina	Legendary	Hero card		Mage	9			Battlecry: Summon a 3/6 Water Elemental. Your Elementals have Lifesteal for the rest of the game. "Arthas was a spoiled child, playing with toys he could neither control nor understand. Come into the cold. I will show you the true power of the Frozen Throne."
Glinda Crowskin	Legendary	Minion	General	Warlock	6	3	7	Minions in your hand have Echo. Summon an unlimited* number of minions!** *Six **Wisps
Houndmaster Shaw	Legendary	Minion	General	Hunter	4	3	6	Your other minions have Rush. They’re good dogs, Tess.
Nozdormu	Legendary	Minion	Dragon	Any	9	8	8	Players only have 15 seconds to take their turns. Time to write some flavor text.
Prophet Velen	Legendary	Minion	General	Priest	7	7	7	Double the damage and healing of your spells and Hero Power. He's been exiled from his home, and all his brothers turned evil, but otherwise he doesn't have a lot to complain about.
Showing all 57 cards

Patch changes

Patch 1.0.0.4944 (2014-03-11): The visual effect for ongoing effects has been adjusted and now occurs more frequently.

	Cards
By type	Hero card Minion Spell Weapon
By class	Druid Hunter Mage Paladin Priest Rogue Shaman Warlock Warrior
By minion type	All Beast Demon Dragon Elemental Mech Murloc Pirate Totem General
By ability	Adapt Auto-Attack Auto-cast Battlecry Cast spell Charge Choose One Choose Twice Combo Copy Deal damage Deathrattle Destroy Discard Discover Divine Shield Draw cards Echo Elusive Enrage Equip Forgetful Freeze Gain Armor Generate Immune Inspire Joust Lifesteal Mega-Windfury Modify cost Overload Permanent Poisonous Put into battlefield Put into hand Quest Recruit Refresh Mana Remove from deck Replace Rush Restore Health Return to hand Secret Shuffle into deck Silence Spell Damage Spend mana Start of Game Stealth Summon Taunt Take control Transform Unlimited attacks Upgradable Windfury
By effect type	Area of effect In-deck effect In-hand effect On-discard effect On-draw effect Ongoing effect Positional effect Random effect Resurrection effect Triggered effect
By card set	Basic Classic Whispers of the Old Gods One Night in Karazhan Mean Streets of Gadgetzan Journey to Un'Goro Knights of the Frozen Throne Kobolds and Catacombs The Witchwood
	Blackrock Mountain Grand Tournament The League of Explorers Goblins vs Gnomes Naxxramas Hall of Fame
By rarity	Free Common Rare Epic Legendary