Secret

Secret
Hidden until a specific action occurs on your opponent's turn.

A shaman with mage and paladin Secrets.

A Secret is a spell card that is cast normally but has a delayed, hidden effect, which only takes place when a specific event occurs. When a Secret is played, a Secret icon appears on the caster's portrait, but the name and details of the Secret are not revealed to the opponent until the card is activated by its hidden condition.

Secrets can only be activated on the opponent's turn, preventing the player from triggering them themselves. There are a handful of exceptions, such as Competitive Spirit, Open the Cages, and Rigged Faire Game, which activate on your turn. However, these trigger at the start of the turn and have effects that opponents can still play around, following the general rules.

Secret is also the name of the ability all Secret cards have.

Originally, secret cards were limited to mages, paladins, and hunters. In the Kobolds and Catacombs expansion, rogues became the fourth secret class.

Notes

• Secrets triggered by a minion being played will take place after any Battlecry. For example, Mirror Entity will copy a Twilight Drake after its additional Health has been applied.
• All Secrets available to a class have the same mana cost. This prevents opponents from guessing the Secret based upon its cost, which is the only information revealed when a player plays a Secret from their own class.
• Each class' Secrets are a different colour: pink for mages, yellow for paladins, green for hunters, gray for rogues. If a player plays a secret belonging to another class, it will retain its original class colour.
• Secrets created by Lorewalker Cho are revealed publicly when played, and can be revealed after play by hovering over the Secret icon.
• In some cases a Secret's triggering event may occur, but the Secret's effect cannot activate. This can happen with Mirror Entity and Noble Sacrifice if there is no room remaining on the hero's board, with Avenge if there are no friendly minions left on the board, and with multiple Secrets when a Secret's specific target is removed by another effect, such as a previous Secret (see below). In such cases, the Secret will simply remain in place without taking effect, revealing itself, or giving any indication that its trigger condition was met.
• The limited choice of Secrets available to each class allows experienced players to logically determine the identity of unrevealed Secrets. Since each Secret has a specific trigger, players can intentionally test the Secret to attempt to determine its effect, attempt to draw the Secret out with weak cards and actions, or simply hedge their bets in order to minimise its negative consequences. For example, a player facing a mage with a single active Secret may choose to summon a weaker minion before summoning a stronger one, in case their opponent has Mirror Entity, and then attack with the weaker minion first, in case that Secret is a Vaporize.
• While they have special trigger conditions, Secrets are spells, and will activate all spell-related effects. Likewise, Secrets that deal damage can be improved by Spell Damage.
• When Secrets and triggered effects are activated from the same trigger, the effects will activate in the order in which they were played.
• Quest cards are like Secrets in that they take up a Secret slot, but they cannot be affected by Secret-interacting cards like Eater of Secrets, Kezan Mystic, or Flare.
• If a hero is destroyed by the activation of an enemy Secret, the game will end there, without allowing any triggering actions to complete. Example: Both players are at 2 Health. One player sends a Stormwind Knight to attack the enemy hero, thus activating the opponent's Explosive Trap. The Trap deals 2 damage to the first player, defeating them. The game then ends with the Stormwind Knight frozen mid-attack, with the second player still at 2 Health, resulting in a win for the second player. On the other hand, Secrets always resolve before the game can end, allowing Secrets such as Eye for an Eye to result in a draw, with both heroes destroyed as a result of the same action. For further details, see Advanced rulebook#Secrets.

Multiple Secrets

• Players cannot have more than one copy of the same Secret active at any one time. Players are unable to play Secret cards which match one of their active Secrets.

• When played directly from the hand, players can have up to 5 different Secrets active at a time. Once this limit is reached, the player will be unable to play further Secret cards. Kezan Mystic also does not allow the player to exceed 5 Secrets. Mysterious Challenger will not play more than 5 Secrets from your deck.

• As of January 2015, a bug allows Mad Scientist to place additional different Secrets into play through its Deathrattle, even if this causes the number of Secrets to exceed 5. Secrets beyond the 5 limit will activate and take effect normally, and in the correct order.

• Multiple Secrets can trigger from a single event, for example a minion attacking the hero will activate all Explosive Trap, Misdirection and Freezing Trap secrets active on that hero at the time.

• Only one Secret can take effect at a time, and multiple activated Secrets will always take effect in the order in which they were played. For example, a minion attacking a hunter who has played Misdirection followed by Freezing Trap will be Misdirected before then being returned to the controlling player's hand. This can make the order in which Secrets are played extremely significant.

• If a Secret removes the specific target for another Secret which was already triggered, the second Secret will not take effect, since it now lacks a target. For example, if Freezing Trap removes the minion which would have been the target of Misdirection, the Misdirection will not trigger, since it no longer has a target.
  • Note that this rule only applies for Secrets which require specific targets; Secrets such as Explosive Trap and Snake Trap do not require targets, and will always take effect once triggered, even if the original trigger minion has been removed from play.

Secrets

This section lists all collectible Secrets.

Hunter

Name / Desc	Rarity	Type	Subtype	Class	Cost	Atk	HP	Description
Explosive Trap	Common	Spell		Hunter	2			Secret: When your hero is attacked, deal 2 damage to all enemies.
Freezing Trap	Common	Spell		Hunter	2			Secret: When an enemy minion attacks, return it to its owner's hand and it costs (2) more.
Misdirection	Rare	Spell		Hunter	2			Secret: When a character attacks your hero, instead he attacks another random character.
Open the Cages	Common	Spell		Hunter	2			Secret: When your turn starts, if you control two minions, summon an Animal Companion.
Pack Tactics	Rare	Spell		Hunter	2			Secret: When a friendly minion is attacked, summon a 3/3 copy.
Pressure Plate	Common	Spell		Hunter	2			Secret: After your opponent casts a spell, destroy a random enemy minion.
Snake Trap	Epic	Spell		Hunter	2			Secret: When one of your minions is attacked, summon three 1/1 Snakes.
Snipe	Common	Spell		Hunter	2			Secret: After your opponent plays a minion, deal 4 damage to it.
Showing all 8 cards

Wild format

 This section contains information exclusive to Wild format.

Name / Desc	Rarity	Type	Subtype	Class	Cost	Atk	HP	Description
Bear Trap	Common	Spell		Hunter	2			Secret: After your hero is attacked, summon a 3/3 Bear with Taunt.
Cat Trick	Rare	Spell		Hunter	2			Secret: After your opponent casts a spell, summon a 4/2 Panther with Stealth.
Dart Trap	Common	Spell		Hunter	2			Secret: After an opposing Hero Power is used, deal 5 damage to a random enemy.
Hidden Cache	Rare	Spell		Hunter	2			Secret: After your opponent plays a minion, give a random minion in your hand +2/+2.
Rat Trap	Epic	Spell		Hunter	2			Secret: After your opponent plays three cards in a turn, summon a 6/6 Rat.
Venomstrike Trap	Rare	Spell		Hunter	2			Secret: When one of your minions is attacked, summon a 2/3 Poisonous Cobra.
Wandering Monster	Rare	Spell		Hunter	2			Secret: When an enemy attacks your hero, summon a 3-Cost minion as the new target.
Showing all 7 cards

Mage

Name / Desc	Rarity	Type	Subtype	Class	Cost	Atk	HP	Description
Counterspell	Rare	Spell		Mage	3			Secret: When your opponent casts a spell, Counter it.
Flame Ward	Common	Spell		Mage	3			Secret: After a minion attacks your hero, deal 3 damage to all enemy minions.
Ice Barrier	Common	Spell		Mage	3			Secret: When your hero is attacked, gain 8 Armor.
Mirror Entity	Common	Spell		Mage	3			Secret: After your opponent plays a minion, summon a copy of it.
Netherwind Portal	Common	Spell		Mage	3			Secret: After your opponent casts a spell, summon a random 4-Cost minion.
Rigged Faire Game	Epic	Spell		Mage	3			Secret: If you didn't take any damage during your opponent's turn, draw 3 cards.
Spellbender	Epic	Spell		Mage	3			Secret: When an enemy casts a spell on a minion, summon a 1/3 as the new target.
Vaporize	Rare	Spell		Mage	3			Secret: When a minion attacks your hero, destroy it.
Showing all 8 cards

Wild format

 This section contains information exclusive to Wild format.

Name / Desc	Rarity	Type	Subtype	Class	Cost	Atk	HP	Description
Duplicate	Common	Spell		Mage	3			Secret: When a friendly minion dies, put 2 copies of it into your hand.
Effigy	Rare	Spell		Mage	3			Secret: When a friendly minion dies, summon a random minion with the same Cost.
Explosive Runes	Rare	Spell		Mage	3			Secret: After your opponent plays a minion, deal 6 damage to it and any excess to their hero.
Frozen Clone	Common	Spell		Mage	3			Secret: After your opponent plays a minion, put 2 copies of it into your hand.
Ice Block	Epic	Spell		Mage	3			Secret: When your hero takes fatal damage, prevent it and become Immune this turn.
Mana Bind	Rare	Spell		Mage	3			Secret: When your opponent cast a spell, add a copy to your hand that costs (0).
Potion of Polymorph	Rare	Spell		Mage	3			Secret: After your opponent plays a minion, transform it into a 1/1 Sheep.
Splitting Image	Epic	Spell		Mage	3			Secret: When one of your minions is attacked, summon a copy of it.
Showing all 8 cards

Paladin

Name / Desc	Rarity	Type	Subtype	Class	Cost	Atk	HP	Description
Eye for an Eye	Common	Spell		Paladin	1			Secret: When your hero takes damage, deal that much damage to the enemy hero.
Never Surrender!	Common	Spell		Paladin	1			Secret: When your opponent casts a spell, give your minions +2 Health.
Noble Sacrifice	Common	Spell		Paladin	1			Secret: When an enemy attacks, summon a 2/1 Defender as the new target.
Oh My Yogg!	Epic	Spell		Paladin	1			Secret: When your opponent casts a spell, they instead cast a random one of the same Cost.
Redemption	Common	Spell		Paladin	1			Secret: When a friendly minion dies, return it to life with 1 Health.
Repentance	Common	Spell		Paladin	1			Secret: After your opponent plays a minion, reduce its Health to 1.
Showing all 6 cards

Wild format

 This section contains information exclusive to Wild format.

Name / Desc	Rarity	Type	Subtype	Class	Cost	Atk	HP	Description
Autodefense Matrix	Common	Spell		Paladin	1			Secret: When one of your minions is attacked, give it Divine Shield.
Avenge	Common	Spell		Paladin	1			Secret: When one of your minions dies, give a random friendly minion +3/+2.
Competitive Spirit	Rare	Spell		Paladin	1			Secret: When your turn starts, give your minions +1/+1.
Getaway Kodo	Rare	Spell		Paladin	1			Secret: When a friendly minion dies, return it to your hand.
Hidden Wisdom	Epic	Spell		Paladin	1			Secret: After your opponent plays three cards in a turn, draw 2 cards.
Sacred Trial	Common	Spell		Paladin	1			Secret: After your opponent has at least 3 minions and plays another, destroy it.
Showing all 6 cards

Rogue

Name / Desc	Rarity	Type	Subtype	Class	Cost	Atk	HP	Description
Ambush	Rare	Spell		Rogue	2			Secret: After your opponent plays a minion, summon a 2/3 Ambusher with Poisonous.
Bamboozle	Epic	Spell		Rogue	2			Secret: When one of your minions is attacked, transform it into a random one that costs (3) more.
Dirty Tricks	Common	Spell		Rogue	2			Secret: After your opponent casts a spell, draw 2 cards.
Plagiarize	Common	Spell		Rogue	2			Secret: At the end of your opponent's turn, add copies of the cards they played to your hand.
Shadow Clone	Rare	Spell		Rogue	2			Secret: After a minion attacks your hero, summon a copy of it with Stealth.
Shenanigans	Rare	Spell		Rogue	2			Secret: When your opponent draws their second card in a turn, they draw a Banana instead.
Showing all 6 cards

Wild format

 This section contains information exclusive to Wild format.

Name / Desc	Rarity	Type	Subtype	Class	Cost	Atk	HP	Description
Cheat Death	Common	Spell		Rogue	2			Secret: When a friendly minion dies, return it to your hand. It costs (2) less.
Evasion	Epic	Spell		Rogue	2			Secret: After your hero takes damage, become Immune this turn.
Sudden Betrayal	Common	Spell		Rogue	2			Secret: When a minion attacks your hero, instead it attacks one of its neighbours.
Showing all 3 cards

Forged in the Barrens

The below cards are planned for release with Forged in the Barrens, coming March 22nd, 2021.

Name / Desc	Rarity	Type	Subtype	Class	Cost	Atk	HP	Description
Reckoning	Epic	Spell	Holy	Paladin	1			Secret: After an enemy minion deals 3 or more damage, destroy it.
Showing the only card

Related cards

The following cards have specific synergy with Secrets, such as providing additional effects when Secrets are cast, or destroying Secrets already in play.

For cards which have synergy with spells in general, but not specifically with Secrets, see Spell-related.

Name / Desc	Rarity	Type	Subtype	Class	Cost	Atk	HP	Description
Blackjack Stunner	Rare	Minion	General	Rogue	1	1	2	Battlecry: If you control a Secret, return a minion to its owner's hand. It costs (1) more.
Desperate Measures	Rare	Spell		Paladin	1			Twinspell Cast a random Paladin Secret.
Desperate Measures	Rare	Spell		Paladin	1			Cast a random Paladin Secret.
Mystery Winner	Common	Minion	General	Hunter	1	1	1	Battlecry: Discover a Secret.
Secretkeeper	Rare	Minion	General	Any	1	1	2	Whenever a Secret is played, gain +1/+1.
Ancient Mysteries	Common	Spell		Mage	2			Draw a Secret from your deck. It costs (0).
Apexis Smuggler	Epic	Minion	General	Mage	2	2	3	After you play a Secret, Discover a spell.
Arcane Flakmage	Rare	Minion	General	Mage	2	3	2	After you play a Secret, deal 2 damage to all enemy minions.
Flare	Rare	Spell		Hunter	2			All minions lose Stealth. Destroy all enemy Secrets. Draw a card.
Game Master	Common	Minion	General	Mage	2	2	3	The first Secret you play each turn costs (1).
Mysterious Blade	Rare	Weapon		Paladin	2	2	2	Battlecry: If you control a Secret, gain +1 Attack.
Phase Stalker	Rare	Minion	Beast	Hunter	2	2	3	After you use your Hero Power, cast a Secret from your deck.
Shadowjeweler Hanar	Legendary	Minion	General	Rogue	2	1	4	After you play a Secret, Discover a Secret from a different class.
Sunreaver Spy	Common	Minion	General	Any	2	2	3	Battlecry: If you control a Secret, gain +1/+1.
Commander Rhyssa	Legendary	Minion	General	Paladin	3	4	3	Your Secrets trigger twice.
Eaglehorn Bow	Rare	Weapon		Hunter	3	3	2	Whenever a friendly Secret is revealed, gain +1 Durability.
Hunter's Pack	Common	Spell		Hunter	3			Add a random Hunter Beast, Secret, and weapon to your hand.
Inconspicuous Rider	Common	Minion	General	Any	3	2	2	Battlecry: Cast a Secret from your deck.
Kirin Tor Mage	Rare	Minion	General	Mage	3	4	3	Battlecry: The next Secret you play this turn costs (0).
Petting Zoo	Rare	Spell		Hunter	3			Summon a 3/3 Strider. Repeat for each Secret you control.
Sparkjoy Cheat	Rare	Minion	General	Rogue	3	3	3	Battlecry: If you're holding a Secret, cast it and draw a card.
Ethereal Arcanist	Rare	Minion	General	Mage	4	3	3	If you control a Secret at the end of your turn, gain +2/+2.
Hyena Alpha	Rare	Minion	Beast	Hunter	4	3	3	Battlecry: If you control a Secret, summon two 2/2 Hyenas.
Occult Conjurer	Epic	Minion	General	Mage	4	4	4	Battlecry: If you control a Secret, summon a copy of this.
Ring Toss	Rare	Spell		Mage	4			Discover a Secret and cast it. Corrupt: Discover 2 instead.
Ring Toss	Rare	Spell		Mage	4			Corrupted Discover 2 Secrets and cast them.
Rinling's Rifle	Legendary	Weapon		Hunter	4	2	2	After your hero attacks, Discover a Secret and cast it.
SI:7 Infiltrator	Rare	Minion	General	Any	4	5	4	Battlecry: Destroy a random enemy Secret.
Cloud Prince	Common	Minion	Elemental	Mage	5	4	4	Battlecry: If you control a Secret, deal 6 damage.
Sayge, Seer of Darkmoon	Legendary	Minion	General	Mage	6	5	5	Battlecry: Draw 1 card. (Upgraded for each friendly Secret that has triggered this game!)
Showing all 30 cards

Wild format

 This section contains information exclusive to Wild format.

Name / Desc	Rarity	Type	Subtype	Class	Cost	Atk	HP	Description
Kabal Lackey	Common	Minion	General	Mage	1	2	1	Battlecry: The next Secret you play this turn costs (0).
Secret Plan	Common	Spell		Hunter	1			Discover a Secret.
Arcanologist	Common	Minion	General	Mage	2	2	3	Battlecry: Draw a Secret from your deck.
Hydrologist	Common	Minion	Murloc	Paladin	2	2	2	Battlecry: Discover a Secret.
Mad Scientist	Common	Minion	General	Any	2	2	2	Deathrattle: Put a Secret from your deck into the battlefield.
Medivh's Valet	Common	Minion	General	Mage	2	2	3	Battlecry: If you control a Secret, deal 3 damage.
Cloaked Huntress	Common	Minion	General	Hunter	3	3	4	Your Secrets cost (0).
Illuminator	Rare	Minion	General	Any	3	2	4	If you control a Secret at the end of your turn, restore 4 Health to your hero.
Masked Contender	Epic	Minion	General	Any	3	2	4	Battlecry: If you control a Secret, cast a Secret from your deck.
Arcane Keysmith	Epic	Minion	General	Mage	4	2	2	Battlecry: Discover a Secret. Put it into the battlefield.
Bellringer Sentry	Rare	Minion	General	Paladin	4	3	4	Battlecry and Deathrattle: Put a Secret from your deck into the battlefield.
Eater of Secrets	Rare	Minion	General	Any	4	2	4	Battlecry: Destroy all enemy Secrets. Gain +1/+1 for each.
Kezan Mystic	Rare	Minion	General	Any	4	4	3	Battlecry: Take control of a random enemy Secret.
Professor Putricide	Legendary	Minion	General	Hunter	4	5	4	After you play a Secret, put another random Hunter Secret into the battlefield.
Avian Watcher	Rare	Minion	General	Any	5	3	6	Battlecry: If you control a Secret, gain +1/+1 and Taunt.
Chief Inspector	Rare	Minion	General	Any	5	4	6	Battlecry: Destroy all enemy Secrets.
Emerald Spellstone	Rare	Spell		Hunter	5			Summon three 3/3 Wolves. (Play a Secret to upgrade.)
Lesser Emerald Spellstone	Rare	Spell		Hunter	5			Summon two 3/3 Wolves. (Play a Secret to upgrade.)
Subject 9	Legendary	Minion	Beast	Any	5	4	4	Battlecry: Draw 5 different Secrets from your deck.
Kabal Crystal Runner	Rare	Minion	General	Mage	6	5	5	Costs (2) less for each Secret you've played this game.
Mysterious Challenger	Epic	Minion	General	Paladin	6	6	6	Battlecry: Put one of each Secret from your deck into the battlefield.
Glacial Mysteries	Epic	Spell		Mage	8			Put one of each Secret from your deck into the battlefield.
Showing all 22 cards

Arena rotation

The following secrets are offered in the current Arena rotation, updated for January 21st, 2021:

Hunter

Name / Desc	Rarity	Type	Subtype	Class	Cost	Atk	HP	Description
Cat Trick	Rare	Spell		Hunter	2			Secret: After your opponent casts a spell, summon a 4/2 Panther with Stealth.
Explosive Trap	Common	Spell		Hunter	2			Secret: When your hero is attacked, deal 2 damage to all enemies.
Freezing Trap	Common	Spell		Hunter	2			Secret: When an enemy minion attacks, return it to its owner's hand and it costs (2) more.
Misdirection	Rare	Spell		Hunter	2			Secret: When a character attacks your hero, instead he attacks another random character.
Open the Cages	Common	Spell		Hunter	2			Secret: When your turn starts, if you control two minions, summon an Animal Companion.
Pack Tactics	Rare	Spell		Hunter	2			Secret: When a friendly minion is attacked, summon a 3/3 copy.
Snake Trap	Epic	Spell		Hunter	2			Secret: When one of your minions is attacked, summon three 1/1 Snakes.
Snipe	Common	Spell		Hunter	2			Secret: After your opponent plays a minion, deal 4 damage to it.
Showing all 8 cards

Mage

Name / Desc	Rarity	Type	Subtype	Class	Cost	Atk	HP	Description
Counterspell	Rare	Spell		Mage	3			Secret: When your opponent casts a spell, Counter it.
Ice Barrier	Common	Spell		Mage	3			Secret: When your hero is attacked, gain 8 Armor.
Mana Bind	Rare	Spell		Mage	3			Secret: When your opponent cast a spell, add a copy to your hand that costs (0).
Mirror Entity	Common	Spell		Mage	3			Secret: After your opponent plays a minion, summon a copy of it.
Netherwind Portal	Common	Spell		Mage	3			Secret: After your opponent casts a spell, summon a random 4-Cost minion.
Rigged Faire Game	Epic	Spell		Mage	3			Secret: If you didn't take any damage during your opponent's turn, draw 3 cards.
Spellbender	Epic	Spell		Mage	3			Secret: When an enemy casts a spell on a minion, summon a 1/3 as the new target.
Vaporize	Rare	Spell		Mage	3			Secret: When a minion attacks your hero, destroy it.
Showing all 8 cards

Paladin

Name / Desc	Rarity	Type	Subtype	Class	Cost	Atk	HP	Description
Autodefense Matrix	Common	Spell		Paladin	1			Secret: When one of your minions is attacked, give it Divine Shield.
Eye for an Eye	Common	Spell		Paladin	1			Secret: When your hero takes damage, deal that much damage to the enemy hero.
Noble Sacrifice	Common	Spell		Paladin	1			Secret: When an enemy attacks, summon a 2/1 Defender as the new target.
Oh My Yogg!	Epic	Spell		Paladin	1			Secret: When your opponent casts a spell, they instead cast a random one of the same Cost.
Redemption	Common	Spell		Paladin	1			Secret: When a friendly minion dies, return it to life with 1 Health.
Repentance	Common	Spell		Paladin	1			Secret: After your opponent plays a minion, reduce its Health to 1.
Showing all 6 cards

Rogue

Name / Desc	Rarity	Type	Subtype	Class	Cost	Atk	HP	Description
Ambush	Rare	Spell		Rogue	2			Secret: After your opponent plays a minion, summon a 2/3 Ambusher with Poisonous.
Bamboozle	Epic	Spell		Rogue	2			Secret: When one of your minions is attacked, transform it into a random one that costs (3) more.
Dirty Tricks	Common	Spell		Rogue	2			Secret: After your opponent casts a spell, draw 2 cards.
Plagiarize	Common	Spell		Rogue	2			Secret: At the end of your opponent's turn, add copies of the cards they played to your hand.
Shadow Clone	Rare	Spell		Rogue	2			Secret: After a minion attacks your hero, summon a copy of it with Stealth.
Shenanigans	Rare	Spell		Rogue	2			Secret: When your opponent draws their second card in a turn, they draw a Banana instead.
Showing all 6 cards

Achievements

Name	Requirements	Rewards
Dear Diary... (1/5)	Play 15 Secrets.	10
Dear Diary... (2/5)	Play 50 Secrets.	10
Dear Diary... (3/5)	Play 150 Secrets.	10
Dear Diary... (4/5)	Play 500 Secrets.	10
Dear Diary... (5/5)	Play 1500 Secrets.	20

History

Secrets likely evolved from the cancelled "Combat Tricks" feature, removed early in the game's development. Similar to Secrets, these allowed players with active Combat Tricks who attacked their opponent to play a card on their opponent's turn, disrupting their play. Ultimately it was found that removing Combat Tricks actually made the game more fun, as well as further improving its speed. It seems the idea was not wholly abandoned though, since Secrets appear to represent a weaker form of the same mechanic.

Rogues originally had Secrets, but this was moved to Paladins during the game's alpha. The designers were struggling to give the Paladins a class identity while Rogues already had "a ton a sneaky things" with Backstab, Stealth and Combo effects. The change served to refocus each class' strategic focus, helping to give Paladins "something that was their own thing" and giving Rogues a clearer picture of what the class wanted to do. Over 3 years later, Secrets were re-introduced to Rogues in the Kobolds and Catacombs expansion. According to Game Designer Peter Whalen, the developers wanted to capture the fantasy of each specific class in the expansion, with Secrets making a lot of thematical sense for the "sneaky and tricky" Rogues, and "now lots of classes have different stuff going on", allowing for the re-introduction of Rogue Secrets.

The apparent original line-up of Rogues, Hunters and Mages may reflect a connection between Secrets and the Stealth/Camouflage/Invisibility mechanics in World of Warcraft, with these the only classes (except Druids in cat form) capable of employing such mechanics to ambush their opponents, similar to the function of Secrets in Hearthstone. In this respect Secrets are more similar to World of Warcraft Stealth than the Hearthstone Stealth ability itself, allowing the player to genuinely surprise the opponent.

Patch 1.0.0.4944

With Patch 1.0.0.4944, secrets were made to only be triggered on the opponent's turn. Prior to this, players could intentionally trigger their own secrets, allowing them to make use of them as additional spell effects, rather than counter-abilities.

While most secrets were unaffected, some interesting play options were intentionally removed by this change. The developers stated that the ability to trigger your own secrets was preventing them from creating new and powerful secrets, due to being easily triggered by the controlling player prior to this change. While removing certain strategic possibilities, this change was therefore intended to allow for the creation of a diverse range of new secrets. The subsequently announced Curse of Naxxramas mage secret Duplicate was confirmed as an example of a card that the earlier design would have prevented from being implemented.

This rule was accepted as standard for all Secrets, until nearly 18 months later when The Grand Tournament added a specific exception, in the form of Competitive Spirit.

Future of Secrets

Adding Secrets to a new class is unlikely to happen again. Secrets require build-around cards to support them, since players rarely play Secrets by themselves. In order to set up an expansion, the class needs at least three Secrets (otherwise the effect isn't really a "Secret") as well as good support cards for them. That leaves very little room for other cards in that class that set. The devs realized this while designing Rogue's Secrets after having explored the concept. Since then, the idea of another Secret class hasn't been seriously considered. Having four Secret classes is already a lot, and possibly even too much.

However, if a new class were to get Secrets, it would probably coincide with a new Core set where all Secrets are removed from one or two classes, so that the new class' Secrets can still feel special. Warlock is a good thematic fit for another Secret class.

Trivia

• Having 5 secrets active can partially hide a hero's armor total, if playing on the desktop game client.

Patch changes

• Patch 10.0.0.22611 (2017-12-06): The first Rogue Secrets are added.
• Patch 3.0.0.9786 (2015-08-18): Competitive Spirit is added, the first Secret to specifically break the rule that Secrets can only activate on the opponent's turn.
• Patch 1.0.0.4944 (2014-03-11): Secrets can now only activate on your opponent’s turn.

References

	Cards
By type	Hero card Minion (Permanent) Spell Weapon
By class	Demon Hunter Druid Hunter Mage Paladin Priest Rogue Shaman Warlock Warrior
By minion type	All Beast Demon Dragon Elemental Mech Murloc Pirate Totem General
By spell school	Arcane Fel Fire Frost Holy Nature Shadow General
By ability	Evergreen keywords	Battlecry Choose One Combo Deathrattle Discover Divine Shield Freeze Lifesteal Outcast Overload Poisonous Rush Secret Silence Spell Damage Stealth Taunt Windfury
	Other keywords	Adapt Casts When Drawn Charge Choose Twice Corrupt Dormant Echo Frenzy Immune Inspire Invoke Jade Golem Lackey Magnetic Mega-Windfury Overkill Passive Quest Reborn Recruit Sidequest Spare Part Spellburst Start of Game Twinspell
	Other abilities	Can't attack Cast spell Copy Deal damage Destroy Discard Draw cards Elusive Enrage Equip Force attack Forgetful Gain Armor Generate Highlander Joust Modify cost Put into battlefield Put into hand Recurring Refresh Mana Remove from deck Replace Restore Health Return to hand Shuffle into deck Spend mana Steal Summon Take control Transform Unlimited attacks Upgradable
	Non-Constructed	Auto-Attack Auto-cast Shrine Start of Combat
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	Standard	Basic Classic Rise of Shadows Saviors of Uldum Descent of Dragons Galakrond's Awakening Demon Hunter Initiate Ashes of Outland Scholomance Academy Madness at the Darkmoon Faire
	Wild	Hall of Fame Curse of Naxxramas Goblins vs Gnomes Blackrock Mountain Grand Tournament The League of Explorers Whispers of the Old Gods One Night in Karazhan Mean Streets of Gadgetzan Journey to Un'Goro Knights of the Frozen Throne Kobolds & Catacombs The Witchwood The Boomsday Project Rastakhan's Rumble
By rarity	Free Common Rare Epic Legendary