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Hearthstone patch 28.6 celebrates 10-year anniversary with free cards and more

Amy Chen

Amy Chen

· 4 min read

It's gifts and updates galore!

The latest Hearthstone patch has arrived with in-game freebies that celebrate the game’s 10-year anniversary. Patch 28.6 also brings back Battlegrounds Quests.

Hearthstone anniversary grants 13 free cards

Players who log in to the game can now get 13 cards for free. The majority of these cards are spells and have the Discover keyword. Each of the 11 Hearthstone classes gets one of these cards. The other two cards are Harth Stonebrew and Colifero the Artist. These are legendary minions!

Harth Stonebrew and Colifero the Artist in Hearthstone
Harth Stonebrew and Colifero the Artist in Hearthstone (Images via Blizzard Entertainment)

Below is a gallery of the Discover cards, as provided by Blizzard Entertainment.

Hearthstone welcomes back Battlegrounds Quests

Battlegrounds Quests are back in Hearthstone patch 28.6. These are tasks that can guide your gameplay. When turn four hits, you can select from three Quest-Reward pairs. Below are a couple of tables featuring the new and returning Battlegrounds Quests and Rewards.

Battlegrounds QuestObjective
Fill the CauldronCast 9 spells.
Unlikely DuoPlay 5 <minion type> or <minion type>. 
Invite the GuestsBuy 6 minions.
Dust for PrintsAdd 20 cards to your hand.
Cry for HelpPlay 4 Battlecry minions.
Exhume the BonesTrigger 7 friendly Deathrattles.
Assemble a LineupSummon 17 minions.
Find the Murder WeaponIncrease a friendly minion’s stats 14 times.
Reenact the MurderHave 19 friendly minions die.
Sort it All OutOrder your minions from lowest to highest attack for 4 combats.
Follow the MoneySpend 33 Gold.
Hire an InvestigatorEnd your turn with unspent Gold 3 times.
Crack the CaseHave friendly minions attack 12 times.
Pressure the AuthoritiesGet your warband to 35 total attack.
Round Up the SuspectsDestroy 18 enemy minions.
Round Up the Suspects artwork
Round Up the Suspects artwork (Image via Blizzard Entertainment)
Battlegrounds RewardDescription
Untamed SorceryAt the start of each turn, cast 5 random Tavern spells.
Beyond the MirageTavern spells cost (1) less.
Temporal TamperingYour Tavern spells cast twice.
Splitting ScrollWhenever you buy a Tavern spell that costs (3) or more, get an extra copy of it.
Cycle of EnergyAvenge (4): Get a random Tavern spell.
Tumbling DisasterWhenever you summon a minion in combat, give it +1/+1. Avenge (4): Upgrade this permanently.
Double-Headed RewardThe first time you buy a card each turn, get an extra copy of it.
Gift of the Golden KoboldAfter you Refresh 5 times, make the highest Tier minion in the Tavern Golden.
Secret CulpritGet <a particular Tier 7 minion>. 
Open AuditionsAt the start of your turn, Discover a Buddy.
Stash of the ScribeAt the start of each turn, get 3 random Tavern spells.
Stable AmalgamationAvenge (7): When you have space, summon a 50/50 Amalgam.
Snicker SnacksAt the end of your turn, 2 friendly minions trigger their Battlecries.
Stolen GoldStart of Combat: Make your left and right-most minions Golden.
Evil TwinStart of Combat: Summon a copy of your highest-Health minion.
Ritual DaggerAfter a friendly Deathrattle minion dies, give it +4/+4 permanently.
Anima BribeAfter you sell a minion, give its stats to a minion in the Tavern.
Devils in the DetailsAt the end of your turn, your left and right-most minions consume a minion in the Tavern to gain its stats.
The Smoking GunYour minions have +4 Attack.
Cooked BookAfter you buy a minion, give it +1/+1 and upgrade this.
Mirror ShieldAfter each Refresh, give a minion in the Tavern +4/+4 and Divine Shield.
Secret SinstoneAfter you Discover a card, get an extra copy of it.
Ghastly MaskAdd <a particular “end of turn” minion> to your hand. Your end of turn effects trigger an extra time. 
Theotar’s ParasolAt the end of your turn, give your right-most minion Stealth until next turn and +8 Health.
Red HandAt the start of your turn, give a minion in your hand +12/+12.
Victim’s SpecterAfter each combat, get a copy of the last friendly minion that died.
Another Hidden BodyDiscover a minion of your Tier. (Can be earned endlessly!)
Alter EgoEven Tier minions in the Tavern have +7/+7. (Swaps to Odd next turn!)
The Friends Along the WayAt the start of your turn, get two random <particular minion type>. 
Menagerie MayhemAt the end of your turn, give your minions +1/+1 for each different friendly minion type.
Pilfered LampsYou only need 2 copies of a minion to make it Golden.
Yogg-tastic TastiesAt the start of your turn, spin the Wheel of Yogg-Saron.
Wondrous WisdomballOccasionally gives helpful Refreshes.
Essence of ZerusAt the end of your turn, get a ‘Shifter Zerus’ which transforms into random minions.
Hidden Treasure VaultAt the start of your turn, gain 1 Gold. (Upgrades each turn!)
Ethereal EvidenceAt the start of every turn, choose from 2 new Rewards.
The Golden HammerSpellcraft: Make a friendly minion Golden until next turn.
Sinfall MedallionAfter you play a minion, give 2 other friendly minions of its Tier +2/+2.
Kidnap SackSpellcraft: Choose a non-Golden card. Move it to your hand.
Enhance-a-maticAt the start of your turn, get an Enhanced Part that gives +5/+5 and a random bonus. <Taunt, Windfury, Divine Shield, or Reborn> 
Partner in CrimeGet your Golden Buddy.
Ice SickleAvenge (1): Give a minion in your hand +4 Attack.
Soul PactAfter you play a minion, give other minions of the same type +1/+1.
Sturdy ShardAt the end of your turn, give your minions without Taunt +1/+2 for each Taunt minion you control.
Doppelganger’s LocketAfter each combat, Discover a non-Golden minion from your last opponent’s warband. It keeps enchantments.
Timeline AccelerationAt the start of your turn, get two Accelerators that transform a minion into one from a Tier higher.
Invigorating ConchWhen you buy a minion, give its stats to a random friendly minion.
Boom SquadAvenge (3): Deal 10 damage to the highest Health enemy minion.
Divine ArmorAt the end of your turn, give the left-most minion in your hand +6/+6 and Divine Shield.
Map of the UnknownAfter you play a minion of a type you don’t control, give a friendly minion of each type +2/+2.
Bloodsoaked TomeMinions in the Tavern cost 2 Gold.
Scepter of GuidanceThe Tavern always offers 2 <a particular minion type> when Refreshed. 
Endless Blood MoonYour Blood Gems give an extra +1/+1. At the start of your turn, add two to your hand.
Turbulent TombsAdd <a particular Deathrattle minion> to your hand. Your Deathrattles trigger an extra time. 
Gilnean War HornAdd <a particular Battlecry minion> to your hand. Your Battlecries trigger an extra time. 
Gilnean War Horn artwork
Gilnean War Horn artwork (Image via Blizzard Entertainment)

Hearthstone Battlegrounds patch 28.6 card pool

Patch 28.6 for the Battlegrounds game mode features a slew of updates to the pool minions and spells as well. The tables below showcase all of these updates.

New MinionsDescription
Eagill[Tier 3, Murloc/Beast] 7/1. Battlecry: Give another random friendly minion and a minion in your hand +2/+3.
Vengeful Slitherer[Tier 3, Naga/Undead] 5/1. Spellcraft: Give your minions +1 Health until next turn. Any that die next combat gain it permanently!
Saloon Dancer[Tier 4] 4/5. Taunt. Whenever you cast a Tavern spell, give another friendly minion +3/+3.
Augmented Laborer[Tier 5, Mech/Demon] 1/6. Avenge (4): Get a random Mecha-Demon.
Felboar[Tier 6, Quilboar/Demon] 1/4. After you cast 3 spells, consume a minion in the Tavern to gain its stats.
Deadstomper[Tier 6, Undead/Beast] 2/6. After you summon a minion in combat, give your minions +3 attack.
Whirling Lass-o-Matic[Tier 6, Mech] 9/2. Divine Shield. Windfury. Whenever this attacks, get a random Tavern spell.
Whirling Lass-o-Matic artwork
Whirling Lass-o-Matic artwork (Image via Blizzard Entertainment)
Minion UpdatesDescription
Yrel[Tier 2] 1/4. After this attacks, give a friendly minion of each type +1/+2.
Rendle the Mistermind[Tier 4] 4/5. At the end of your turn, steal the highest Tier card from the Tavern.
Utility Drone[Tier 4, Mech] 3/4. At the end of your turn, give your minions +1/+1 for each Magnetization they have.
Scrap Scraper[Tier 5, Mech] 6/5. Deathrattle: Get a random Magnetic Mech.
Peckish FeldrakeRegular: [Tier 4, Demon/Dragon] 0/1. Battlecry: Consume 3 minions in the Tavern to gain their stats. Golden: [Tier 4, Demon/Dragon] 0/2. Battlecry: Consume 3 minions in the Tavern to gain double their stats.
Blazing Skyfin[Tier 2, Dragon/Murloc] 1/3. After you trigger a Battlecry, gain +1/+1.
Blazing Skyfin artwork
Blazing Skyfin artwork (Image via Blizzard Entertainment)
New Tavern SpellsDescription
Fluidity[Tier 3, 1 Gold] Swap a friendly non-Golden minion with a random one in the Tavern.
Toxic Tumbleweed[Tier 4, 2 Gold] Start of Combat: Summon a 1/1 Tumbling Assassin with Venomous. It attacks immediately.
Channel the Devourer[Tier 6, 4 Gold] Remove a minion. Give its stats to a random friendly minion.
Scavenge for Parts[Tier 4, 4 Gold] At the end of your turn, get a random Magnetic minion. Lasts 3 turns.
Cloning Conch[Tier 5, 5 Gold] Get a copy of a Murloc in your hand.
Guzzle the Goop[Tier 4, 4 Gold] At the end of your turn, give your Dragons +4 attack. Lasts 3 turns.
Boon of Beetles[Tier 4, 2 Gold] Start of Combat: Give your minions “Deathrattle: Summon a 2/2 Beetle.”
Butchering[Tier 4, 2 Gold] Destroy a friendly Undead. Your Undead have extra attack equal to its Tier this game.
Suspicious Stimulant[Tier 3, 2 Gold] Freeze a minion in the Tavern. If it’s Frozen at the end of this turn, double its stats.
Spitescale Special[Tier 3, 2 Gold] Get 3 random Spellcraft spells.
Corrupted Cupcakes[Tier 5, 3 Gold] Choose a friendly Demon. It consumes all minions in the Tavern to gain their stats.
Plunder Seeker[Tier 4, 6 Gold] Steal a random card from the Tavern. Repeat for each friendly Pirate.
Gem Confiscation[Tier 4, 1 Gold] Play 2 Blood Gems on a friendly minion. It steals all Blood Gems from its neighbors.
Fairy Tale Caroler artwork
Fairy Tale Caroler artwork (Image via Blizzard Entertainment)
Card Pool UpdatesCards
Removed MinionsFairy Tale Caroler, Transmuted Bramblewitch, Observer of Myths, Scourfin, Withered Spearhide, Relentless Mur’ghoul, Mecha-Jaraxxus, Imposing Percussionist, Octosari, Wrap God, Niuzao, Bejeweled Duelist, Trembling Trolley, Adaptable Barricade, and Necrolyte.
Returned MinionsThorncaller, Crackling Cyclone, Yrel, Rendle the Mistermind, Tortollan Blue Shell, and Mantid Queen.
Removed Tavern SpellsJaws of Fate and Buddy Up.

That’s all for now. Hearthstone’s 10-year anniversary patch also features some in-game activities such as a special rewards track that runs from Feb. 27 to March 19. Until then, jump into the game for some free cards and experience the updated Battlegrounds mode!

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