Poisonous
- Poisonous
Destroy any minion damaged by this.
Poisonous is a minion ability that causes any minion damaged by them to be destroyed. Poisonous minions on the battlefield are marked by a bubbling vial of poison at the bottom of their portraits. Poisonous is a type of triggered destroy effect.
Prior to Patch 7.1.0.17720, the Poisonous ability was represented by the text "Destroy any minion damaged by this minion".
Contents
Notes[edit | edit source]
Granting Poisonous to minions with triggered effects that deal damage to minions will cause those effects to become Poisonous themselves.
- Example: A Wild Pyromancer is adapted with Poison Spit. When its triggered effect activates, all minions dealt damage by the effect are destroyed, including itself.[1]
- Example: An Abomination is adapted with Poison Spit. When its deathrattle effect triggers, all minions dealt damage by the effect are destroyed.
- Example: A Knife Juggler is given Poisonous by Plague Scientist. Minions damaged by the Knife Juggler's knives will be destroyed.
- Example: An Imp Master is given Poisonous by Plague Scientist. At the end of the turn, the Imp Master will be destroyed.
Betrayal can be especially effective when used on a Poisonous minion; any adjacent minion without Divine Shield will be killed by the Poisonous effect.
Minions which deal damage as a Deathrattle which are adapted to be Poisonous will destroy every minion the Deathrattle damages. (Prior to Patch 9.0.0.20457, this did not happen if the minion died, but it did happen when the minion's Deathrattle was triggered by certain effects while it is still alive, such as Feign Death, Terrorscale Stalker, or Princess Huhuran.)
- Example: A Fiery Bat gets the Poison Spit adaptation from Crackling Razormaw. Its deathrattle is triggered by Feign Death, and instantly destroys the minion it damages. Later the Fiery Bat dies and the deathrattle triggers again, again instantly killing the damaged minion.
Note: Before Patch 9.0.0.20457, a bug caused this interaction to work when triggering a Deathrattle without killing the minion, but not when the minion was actually killed.[2]
Similar to poisonous minions, a Death's Bite that has been enchanted with Envenom Weapon will destroy all minions on the board, except those protected by a Divine Shield.[3]
Strategy[edit | edit source]
While the stats of Poisonous minions are not always especially powerful, they offer a unique tactical advantage. Poisonous minions can destroy any opponent in a single strike, and can be used to single-handedly dispose of giants such as Ysera or Deathwing.
Poisonous minions are generally disposable, intended for a single swift strike. However, abilities such as Divine Shield can allow you to make more extended use of them.
Poisonous minions only destroy minions to whom they have caused damage. Minions shielded with Divine Shield will not actually take damage, and will not therefore be destroyed. Reducing a Poisonous minion's Attack to 0 through means such as Shrinkmeister will likewise prevent the Poisonous effect from occurring.[4]
Opponents will generally want to destroy Poisonous minions as quickly as possible, especially if they already have a powerful minion on the battlefield. The presence of a Poisonous minion, especially a Stealthed one, is a great deterrent to summoning any valuable minions, since they will likely be immediately removed from play by the Poisonous minion.
Adapt[edit | edit source]
Any card with the Adapt ability may become (or grant) the Poisonous ability with this choice:
See Adapt for full listings.
Cards with Poisonous[edit | edit source]
This section lists minions which are Poisonous or have the ability to become Poisonous when played.
Collectible[edit | edit source]
Name / Desc | Rarity | Type | Subtype | Class | Cost | Atk | HP | Description | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Evasive Chimaera | Common | Minion | Beast | Any | 2 | 2 | 1 | Poisonous Can't be targeted by spells or Hero Powers. One head only tells the truth, while the other head only tells lies. But they both spit poison. | |||||||||||
Primordial Explorer | Common | Minion | Dragon | Hunter | 3 | 2 | 3 | Poisonous Battlecry: Discover a Dragon. "We're letting the poisonous dude carry the bags?" | |||||||||||
Wasteland Scorpid | Common | Minion | Beast | Any | 7 | 3 | 9 | Poisonous After they get to a certain size, it doesn't matter if they're poisonous or not. | |||||||||||
Emperor Cobra | Rare | Minion | Beast | Any | 3 | 2 | 3 | Poisonous The Sholazar Basin is home to a lot of really horrible things. If you're going to visit, wear bug spray. And plate armor. | |||||||||||
Patient Assassin | Epic | Minion | General | Rogue | 2 | 1 | 1 | Stealth Poisonous He’s not really that patient. It just takes a while for someone to walk by that he can actually reach. | |||||||||||
Darkmoon Rabbit | Epic | Minion | Beast | Any | 10 | 1 | 1 | Rush, Poisonous Also damages the minions next to whomever this attacks. That's no ordinary rabbit! That's the most foul, cruel, and bad-tempered rodent you ever set eyes on! | |||||||||||
Showing all 6 cards |
Wild format
This section contains information exclusive to Wild format.
Name / Desc | Rarity | Type | Subtype | Class | Cost | Atk | HP | Description | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pit Snake | Common | Minion | Beast | Rogue | 1 | 2 | 1 | Poisonous It could be worse. It could be a Snake Pit. | |||||||||||
Stubborn Gastropod | Common | Minion | Beast | Any | 2 | 1 | 2 | Taunt Poisonous Stubbornly pursuing its dream to become Azeroth's fastest animal! | |||||||||||
Venomizer | Common | Minion | Mech | Hunter | 2 | 2 | 2 | Magnetic Poisonous Keeps getting banned for toxic behavior. | |||||||||||
Giant Wasp | Common | Minion | Beast | Any | 3 | 2 | 2 | Stealth Poisonous Float like a butterfly, sting like a giant wasp! | |||||||||||
Stoneskin Basilisk | Common | Minion | Beast | Any | 3 | 1 | 1 | Divine Shield Poisonous He got that way from looking into a mirror. | |||||||||||
Trogg Gloomeater | Common | Minion | General | Any | 5 | 1 | 5 | Taunt Poisonous His breath smells like agony and despair, which is still better than most troggs. | |||||||||||
Venomancer | Common | Minion | General | Any | 5 | 2 | 5 | Poisonous Eight times the death of regular-mancers. | |||||||||||
Vilebrood Skitterer | Common | Minion | Beast | Hunter | 5 | 1 | 3 | Poisonous Rush It aspires to be a Vilebrood Dancer, but it has eight left feet. | |||||||||||
Maexxna | Legendary | Minion | Beast | Any | 6 | 2 | 8 | Poisonous Maexxna gets super mad when people introduce her as "Maxina" or "Maxxy". | |||||||||||
Showing all 9 cards |
Uncollectible[edit | edit source]
Name / Desc | Rarity | Type | Subtype | Class | Cost | Atk | HP | Description | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Plagued Knife | None | Weapon | Rogue | 1 | 2 | 2 | Poisonous | ||||||||||||
Broken Ambusher | None | Minion | General | Rogue | 2 | 2 | 3 | Poisonous | |||||||||||
Dancing Cobra | Common | Minion | Beast | Hunter | 2 | 1 | 5 | Corrupted Poisonous | |||||||||||
Transfer Student | Epic | Minion | General | Any | 2 | 2 | 2 | Stealth Poisonous | |||||||||||
Showing all 4 cards |
Wild format
This section contains information exclusive to Wild format.
Name / Desc | Rarity | Type | Subtype | Class | Cost | Atk | HP | Description | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Drakeslayer | None | Minion | General | Any | 1 | 2 | 1 | Poisonous | |||||||||||
Frost Widow | None | Minion | Beast | Druid | 1 | 1 | 2 | Poisonous | |||||||||||
Radioactive Ooze | None | Minion | General | Rogue | 1 | 1 | 1 | Poisonous Rush | |||||||||||
Druid of the Swarm | Rare | Minion | Beast | Druid | 2 | 1 | 5 | Taunt Poisonous | |||||||||||
Druid of the Swarm | Rare | Minion | Beast | Druid | 2 | 1 | 2 | Poisonous | |||||||||||
Wardruid Loti | Legendary | Minion | Beast | Druid | 3 | 4 | 6 | Taunt, Rush, Poisonous, Stealth, Spell Damage +1 | |||||||||||
Wardruid Loti | Legendary | Minion | Beast | Druid | 3 | 1 | 2 | Poisonous, Stealth | |||||||||||
Showing all 7 cards |
Sources of Poisonous[edit | edit source]
Poisonous-generating cards[edit | edit source]
This section lists cards which generate Poisonous minions or weapons.
Name / Desc | Rarity | Type | Subtype | Class | Cost | Atk | HP | Description | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dancing Cobra | Common | Minion | Beast | Hunter | 2 | 1 | 5 | Corrupt: Gain Poisonous. Snakes are just tentacles with fangs. | |||||||||||
Plague of Madness | Rare | Spell | Rogue | 1 | Each player equips a 2/2 Knife with Poisonous. Don't bring a candle to a knife fight. | ||||||||||||||
Ambush | Rare | Spell | Rogue | 2 | Secret: After your opponent plays a minion, summon a 2/3 Ambusher with Poisonous. Clip-clop clip-clop CLIP-CLOP STAB! | ||||||||||||||
Transfer Student | Epic | Minion | General | Any | 2 | 2 | 2 | This has different effects based on which game board you're on. Oh, the places you'll go! There is so much to fight! There are boards to be explored. There are dreams to take flight. | |||||||||||
Assassin's Contract | Epic | Spell | Rogue | 6 | Destroy a minion. Summon a 1/1 Patient Assassin. | ||||||||||||||
Showing all 5 cards |
Wild format
This section contains information exclusive to Wild format.
Name / Desc | Rarity | Type | Subtype | Class | Cost | Atk | HP | Description | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Marsh Drake | Common | Minion | Dragon | Any | 3 | 5 | 4 | Battlecry: Summon a 2/1 Poisonous Drakeslayer for your opponent. She would have gotten away with it, if it weren't for that meddling Drakeslayer. | |||||||||||
Webweave | Common | Spell | Druid | 5 | Summon two 1/2 Poisonous Spiders. O, what a tangled web we weave, hoping spiders dodge the cleave. | ||||||||||||||
Druid of the Swarm | Rare | Minion | General | Druid | 2 | 1 | 2 | Choose One - Transform into a 1/2 with Poisonous; or a 1/5 with Taunt. The Druid awoke from troubling dreams to find herself transformed into a giant spider. | |||||||||||
Venomstrike Trap | Rare | Spell | Hunter | 2 | Secret: When one of your minions is attacked, summon a 2/3 Poisonous Cobra. Snakes on a frozen plain. | ||||||||||||||
Blightnozzle Crawler | Rare | Minion | Mech | Rogue | 4 | 2 | 4 | Deathrattle: Summon a 1/1 Ooze with Poisonous and Rush. "Well we HAD it contained. Then you went and gave it legs!" | |||||||||||
Wardruid Loti | Legendary | Minion | General | Druid | 3 | 1 | 2 | Choose One - Transform into one of Loti's four dinosaur forms. “Ravasaur!” “Pretty scary” “…Blammodax!” “Is that a thing?” “SMAXODON!” “….now you’re just making those up.” | |||||||||||
Malfurion the Pestilent | Legendary | Hero card | Druid | 7 | Choose One - Summon 2 Poisonous Spiders; or 2 Scarabs with Taunt. "Cenarius once taught me about the precarious balance between life and death. I have come to understand: there IS no balance. Death always wins." | ||||||||||||||
Showing all 7 cards |
Poisonous-granting cards[edit | edit source]
This section lists cards which grant the Poisonous ability to other minions or to itself.
Name / Desc | Rarity | Type | Subtype | Class | Cost | Atk | HP | Description | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Plaguebringer | Free | Minion | General | Rogue | 4 | 3 | 3 | Battlecry: Give a friendly minion Poisonous. One sip and you've got the grippe. | |||||||||||
Toxfin | Common | Minion | Murloc | Any | 1 | 1 | 2 | Battlecry: Give a friendly Murloc Poisonous. I'm addicted to him, but I know that he's Toxfin. | |||||||||||
Professor Slate | Legendary | Minion | General | Hunter | 3 | 3 | 4 | Your spells are Poisonous. "Don’t worry, this will be over in a second. It might FEEL like an eternity, but I assure you, it’s quite quick!" | |||||||||||
Showing all 3 cards |
Wild format
This section contains information exclusive to Wild format.
Name / Desc | Rarity | Type | Subtype | Class | Cost | Atk | HP | Description | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Venomizer | Common | Minion | Mech | Hunter | 2 | 2 | 2 | Magnetic Poisonous Keeps getting banned for toxic behavior. | |||||||||||
Plague Scientist | Common | Minion | General | Rogue | 3 | 2 | 3 | Combo: Give a friendly minion Poisonous. The excruciating pain means it's working! | |||||||||||
Envenom Weapon | Rare | Spell | Rogue | 3 | Give your weapon Poisonous. Like Deadly Poison, but deadlier. | ||||||||||||||
Carrion Drake | Rare | Minion | Dragon | Hunter | 5 | 3 | 7 | Battlecry: If a minion died this turn, gain Poisonous. Fits easily into overhead luggage bins. | |||||||||||
Toxic Arrow | Epic | Spell | Hunter | 2 | Deal 2 damage to a minion. If it survives, give it Poisonous. What doesn't kill you makes you toxic. | ||||||||||||||
Toxmonger | Epic | Minion | General | Hunter | 4 | 2 | 4 | Whenever you play a minion that costs (1), give it Poisonous. Not all spiders are born poisonous. That's where he comes in. | |||||||||||
Showing all 6 cards |
Trivia[edit | edit source]
Keyword[edit | edit source]
Poisonous is actually a triggered effect, but does not display the lightning-bolt icon found on all other triggered effects. However, when the Poisonous minion deals damage, the lightning bolt icon is revealed.
Before Patch 7.1, 'Poisonous' was not a keyword, but was represented by the text "Destroy any minion damaged by this minion", as well as a unique animated icon depicting a green bubbling flask. The case of the Poisonous ability was cited in 2014 by Ben Brode as an example where the developers could have added a keyword, but chose instead to simply describe the ability in full, since it was only found on 4 cards.[5] This was changed in Patch 7.1.0.17720 during the lead up to Journey to Un'Goro, with the addition of the Poisonous keyword. The change was purely cosmetic, but appears to have been due to the introduction of a number of new Poisonous cards with Un'Goro, therefore justifying the creation of a keyword for the long-standing effect.
Poison vs Venom[edit | edit source]
At the time of its introduction, the keyword itself, Poisonous, was arguably technically incorrect for all four of the playable cards involved. This is because 'poisonous' animals such as snakes and spiders are in fact venomous, rather than poisonous; venom is injected whereas poison must be absorbed or ingested.[6] For example, a venomous spider injects its prey with venom, while a poisonous frog is dangerous if eaten.
However, Ben Brode explains that the term "Poison" is inherited from World of Warcraft,[7] where the term has long been used by the rogue class for a range of abilities and items used to deal additional effects when applied to their weapons. Hearthstone itself already contained a few such cards at the time, with more planned for the then-upcoming Journey to Un'Goro.
Patch changes[edit | edit source]
Patch 18.0.0.54613 (2020-07-30): Poisonous has a new damage icon.
Patch 9.0.0.20457 (2017-08-08): Poisonous will work with Deathrattles.
Patch 7.1.0.17720 (2017-02-28): Poison effect is now named as Poisonous.
- Patch 1.0.0.3890 (2013-10-02): Poison icon and triggering flash added. Prior to this, cards with Poison had no icon, and did not flash when triggering their ability.[8][9]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 6 AWESOME Combos from Journey to Un'Goro (Time Warp, Galvadon, and more!). (2017-03-31).
- ↑ Mike Donais on reddit. (2017-07-22). Retrieved on 2017-07-26.
- ↑ Disguised Toast: Testing New Interactions + Planning for Frozen Throne + Random Stuff. (2017-08-08).
- ↑ Ben Brode on Twitter. (2014-11-24).
- ↑ ChanManV (2014-04-24). Value Town #27 w/ ChanManV, Trump, Gnimsh, and Ben Brode Pt. 1.
- ↑ Diffen.com - Poison vs. Venom. Retrieved on 2017-03-02.
- ↑ Ben Brode on Twitter. (2017-03-01).
- ↑ Shaman Hearthstone Arena #2. (2013-09-22).
- ↑ Hearthstone Arena: Northernlion's Den! [Episode 45]. (2013-11-15).
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