As revealed during the BlizzCon 2026 opening ceremony, a dark and corrupted new minion type is invading Battlegrounds: Aberrations! With attendees able to get hands-on with Aberrations at BlizzCon, we’re unveiling the full details of the next major Battlegrounds update ahead of its release. The following changes will go live with Patch 36.6.1 on September 22.

New Minion Type: Aberrations

Meet Aberrations, the newest Battlegrounds minion type. Built around discard synergies, Aberrations grow stronger as they work toward awakening their Deity. Different Aberration cards support this strategy in different ways, giving you multiple paths to unlock the power of the Old Gods.

How summoning a Deity works:

• Each time a friendly Aberration dies, it advances your Deity’s progress.
• There are two Deities, C’Thun and Y’Shaarj, but only one will answer your call.
• Which Deity answers is chosen at random at the start of each game.
• Once three sacrifices have been made, your Deity joins the fight with a game-changing effect.

Aberrations will appear in every lobby during the first two weeks following their debut, starting September 22.

With Aberrations joining Battlegrounds as the newest minion type, Naga will be rotated out of the minion pool. Naga-specific heroes and cards will be unavailable while Naga are out of the pool.

Hero Updates

New Heroes

New Heroes are guaranteed in every game for two weeks, starting September 22. ‌

Drest’agath – Incubate

• [1 Cost] Discard a card to get a random Aberration.

Kith’ix – Dark Ritual

• [2 Cost] Get 2 random minions. When you play one, discard the other.

Hero Changes

Rat King – A Tale of Kings

• Now includes Aberrations

The following Heroes have been banned from Aberrations:

• Morchie
• Murozond, Unbounded
• Sylvanas Windrunner
• The Curator (Y’Shaarj only)
• The Lich King (Y’Shaarj only)
• Teron Gorefiend (Y’Shaarj only)
• N’Zoth (Y’Shaarj only)

Minion and Tavern Spell Updates

New Minions

C’Thun

• [Tier 3] 1/1. Deity. After this awakens, give this minion’s stats split amongst your other minions.

Y’Shaarj

• [Tier 3] 1/1. Deity. Deathrattle: Summon your first 2 Aberrations that died this combat with their maximum stats (except Deities).

Dark Paradox

• Dev Comment: Dark Paradox comes in five different versions, each associated with a unique Dark Gift. One version is selected at random at the start of every game.

[Tier ?] ?/?. This has a different Dark Gift, stats, and Tier each game!

[Tier 2] 2/4. Whenever you play a card, gain +2 Attack.

[Tier 3] 2/2. Has +2/+2 for each Battlecry you’ve triggered this game (wherever this is).

[Tier 4] 2/6. Rally: Get a random minion of your most common type.

[Tier 5] 8/4. Divine Shield. This minion’s Divine Shield takes 3 hits to break.

• Dev Comment: Cannot appear in lobbies with Undead.

[Tier 6] 10/2. Deathrattle: Summon a Golem with this minion’s stats.

Joyous

• [Tier 1] 2/3. Battlecry: Give your Deity +2/+2.

Zoatroid

• [Tier 1] 3/2. When you sell this, get a 0/2 Tentacle with Taunt.

Brain Rotter

• [Tier 2] 3/4. Activate (0): Discard a card to give your Deity +2/+2.

Underrot Spawn

• [Tier 2] 2/2. Deathrattle: Summon a 0/2 Tentacle with Taunt. Give your minions +1 Attack.

Unwilling Slacker

• [Tier 2] 1/1. Deathrattle: Get a random 1-Cost Tavern spell.

Abyssal Envoy

• [Tier 3] 3/4. Activate (0): Discard a card to get a random Tavern spell.

Drifting Sacrifice

• [Tier 3] 2/1. Reborn. Deathrattle: Give your Deity +2/+1.

Fetid Corroder

• [Tier 3] 3/3. Battlecry: Get a Sludge Corrosion.

Vicious Mindslasher

• [Tier 3] 3/1. Whenever you cast a Tavern spell, give this and your Deity +1/+3.

Wandering Willbreaker

• [Tier 3] 1/3. When you sell this, get 2 random Tavern spells. When you play one, discard the other.

Cutthroat K’Thir

• [Tier 4] 4/4. Whenever you discard a card, give this and your Deity +4/+4.

Faceless Operative

• [Tier 4] 4/2. When you sell this, get 2 random Aberrations. When you play one, discard the other.

Mindbending Recruiter

• [Tier 4] 6/2. Activate (0): Discard a card to get a random Aberration.

Nightmare Corroder

• [Tier 4] 7/4. Deathrattle: Get a Sludge Corrosion.

Parasitic Fleshling

• [Tier 4] 4/6. At the end of your turn, give your left-most minion +2/+2. (Improved by each card you’ve discarded this game!)

De-volition-ist

• [Tier 5] 4/8. After this attacks, deal damage equal to this minion’s Attack to the highest-Health enemy minion.

Faceless Converter

• [Tier 5] 5/5. Deathrattle: Give your Deity +1/+1. (Improved by each Tavern spell you’ve cast this game!)

Mindbender Ghur’sha

• [Tier 5] 3/9. Whenever you discard a card, give your other minions +3/+3.

Mysterious K’Thir

• [Tier 5] 8/8. At the end of your turn, discard your 3 left-most Tavern spells. Gain +8/+8 for each discarded.

N’raqi Frostcaller

• [Tier 5] 6/3. Activate (0): Discard a card for your Tavern spells to give an extra +1/+1 this game.

N’raqi Sapper

• [Tier 5] 6/3. Battlecry and Deathrattle: Get an Energizing Chamber.

Harbinger Aph’lass

• [Tier 6] 3/6. Whenever you discard a card, give your Deity +1/+1 and improve this.

Dark Puppeteer

• [Tier 6] 8/4. Deathrattle: Your Tavern spells give an extra +4 Health this game.

The Shadow of Doubt

• [Tier 6] 6/8. Whenever a card is added to your hand, give your Deity +3/+4.

Sha of Fear

• [Tier 7] 9/12. Whenever you cast a Tavern spell, give your minions and Deity +4/+3.

Greedy Conniver

• [Tier 3] 7/7. If this is Golden when you sell it, Discover a Tier 7 minion.

Sacrificial Wrathguard

• [Tier 4] 5/3. Deathrattle: Give minions in the Tavern +2/+2 this game. Activate (1): Improve this.

Holy Vanguard

• [Tier 4] 5/5. Divine Shield. Has +15/+15 while you have 15 or less Health.

Sewer Escapee

• [Tier 4] 4/5. Activate (1): Give another Murloc +7/+7 and a random Bonus Keyword.

Hopebringer

• [Tier 5] 3/3. Start of Combat: Give your minions +3/+3. (Permanently improves after a friendly minion loses Divine Shield!)

Lichling Hoarder

• [Tier 5] 5/10. Avenge (4): Get a plain copy of a different minion that started in your warband this combat.

Resourceful Robot

• [Tier 5] 4/8. At the end of your turn, Magnetize a random Volumizer to this. Get a copy of it.

Auto Reveille

• [Tier 6] 6/6. After you buy 3 cards, get a random Magnetic Volumizer. (3 left!)

Heroic Broodmother

• [Tier 6] 7/7. Rally: Gain Divine Shield. Start of Combat: Attack immediately.

Victorious Geomant

• [Tier 6] 10/10. Activate (2): Get 6 Blood Gems. Cast any that can’t fit on your left-most minion.

Changed Minions

The following minions are now Aberrations:

• Oozeling Gladiator
• Faceless Manipulator
• Faceless Taverngoer
• Orgozoa, the Tender

Iron Groundskeeper

• Redesign: [Tier 3] 2/2. Battlecry: Get 2 copies of Fortify.

Ghastcoiler

• Old: [Tier 6]
• New: [Tier 5]

Bronze Warden

• Old: [Tier 3]
• New: [Tier 2]

Dune Dweller

• Old: 3/2.
• New: 3/3.

Drone Duplicator

• Old: Divine Shield Activate (1): The next Magnetization to this minion this turn is doubled.
• New: Divine Shield. Activate (1): The next Magnzetization to this minion this turn happens an extra time.

Hackerfin

• Old: Battlecry: Give your other minions +1/+2. (Improved by each different Bonus Keyword in your warband!)
• New: Battlecry: Give your other minions +3/+2. (Improved by each different Bonus Keyword in your warband!)

Mangled Bandit

• Redesign: Activate (0): Discard a card to get 3 Blood Gems.

Removed Minions

• Ancestral Automaton
• Auto Assembler
• Breakout Mastermind
• Captain Cookie
• Clunker Junker
• Cousin Errgl
• Dancing Barnstormer
• Deepwater Chieftain
• Deflect-o-Bot
• Dual-Wield Corsair
• Dustbone Devastator
• Fire-forged Evoker
• Glowing Cinder
• Ignition Specialist
• Kangor’s Apprentice
• Mama Mrrglton
• Metallic Hunter
• Meteorite Crasher
• Moat Custodian
• Molten Rock
• Motley Phalanx
• Nomi, Kitchen Nightmare
• Oozeling Gladiator
• Papa Mrrglton
• Primitive Painter
• Private Investigator
• River Skipper
• Sand Swirler
• Scrap Scraper
• Sly Raptor
• Thousandth Paper Drake
• Unleashed Mana Surge
• Vigilant Bristlemane
• Void Pup Trainer
• Warpwing

Returning Minions

• Auto Accelerator
• Blue Volumizer
• Bronze Warden
• Bubble Gunner
• Conveyor Construct
• Dune Dweller
• Elite Navigator
• Firelands Fugitive
• Geomagus Roogug
• Ghastcoiler
• Gormling Gourmet
• Green Volumizer
• Hackerfin
• Hot-Air Surveyor
• Ichoron the Protector
• Iron Groundskeeper
• Leyline Surfacer
• Living Azerite
• Mangled Bandit
• Nadina the Red
• Red Volumizer
• Relentless Deflector
• Shoalfin Mystic
• Ultraviolet Ascendant
• Young Murk-Eye

New Tavern Spells

Sludge Corrosion

• [1 Cost] Give your minions +1/+1. If you discard this, cast it twice.

Corrupted Coin

• [2 Cost] Gain 2 Gold. If you discard this, increase your maximum Gold by 2.

Energizing Chamber

• [1 Cost] Give your Deity +7/+7. If you discard this, cast it twice.

Removed Tavern Spells

• Mounting Avalanche
• Deepwater Clan

Returning Tavern Spells

• Seafood Stew

Duos Updates

New Minions

Voidpriest Cloner

• [Tier 3] 4/5. Whenever you discard a card, Pass a copy of it. (2 times per turn.)

C’Thrax Wrecker

• [Tier 5] 8/8. Battlecry, Deathrattle, and Rally: Give your team’s Deities +4/+4.

Changed Minions

Man’ari Messenger

• Old: Battlecry: Minions in your team’s Taverns have +1/+1 this game.
• New: Battlecry: Minions in your team’s Taverns have +3/+2 this game.

Transport Reactor

• Old: 1/1. Magnetic Has +1/+1 for each time your team has Passed this game (wherever this is).
• New: 3/3. Magnetic Has +3/+3 for each time your team has Passed this game (wherever this is).

Trinket Updates

New Lesser Trinkets

Corrupted Coin Portrait

• [0 Cost] Get 2 Corrupted Coins.

Mindslasher Portrait

• [5 Cost] Get a Vicious Mindslasher. Your Vicious Mindslashers also give stats to adjacent minions.

Hammer of Twilight

• [1 Cost] Your minions have +1 Attack. (Improved by each card you’ve discarded this game!)

Corrupted Baton

• [1 Cost] After you cast a Tavern spell, give your Deity +4/+4.

Willbreaker Sticker

• [1 Cost] Get 2 random Tavern spells. When you play one, discard the other. At the start of your turn, repeat this.

Dragonhead Staff

• [0 Cost] After 13 friendly minions attack, replace this with a random Greater Dragon Trinket. (13 left!)

Quartermaster’s Hook

• [0 Cost] After you spend 50 Gold, replace this with a random Greater Pirate Trinket. (50 Gold left!)

Rascal Sticker

• [0 Cost] Gain 1 Gold for each friendly Golden minion. At the start of your turn, repeat this.

Ruby Tusk

• [0 Cost] After you play 10 Blood Gems from hand, replace this with a random Greater Quilboar Trinket. (10 left!)

Soul Battery

• [0 Cost] After you summon 25 minions, replace this with a random Greater Undead Trinket. (25 left!)

Volumizer Portrait

• [3 Cost] Get a random Magnetic Volumizer. At the start of each turn, get another.

Reinvigorating Light

• [0 Cost] Discover a second Hero Power. Gain 3 Gold.

Kiri’s Double Eclipse

• [4 Cost] Choose a Lesser Trinket that costs (4) or less to buy. Transform this and your Hero Power into a copy of it.

Trickster’s Sleeve

• [1 Cost] After you buy a minion, gain 1 Gold. (Then swap to Tavern spell!)

Weighted Gauntlet

• [3 Cost] At the end of your turn, give your minions +1/+1. (Doubles at the start of each turn!)

Removed Lesser Trinkets

• Amplifying Essence
• Avalanche Sticker
• Assembler Portrait
• Kaleidoscope

Returning Lesser Trinkets

• Vibrant Bubble

New Greater Trinkets

Sludge Portrait

• [2 Cost] Get a Sludge Corrosion. After you discard a card, get a Sludge Corrosion.

Shath’Yar Shrine

• [4 Cost] After you discard a spell, get a random Aberration.

Converter Portrait

• [4 Cost] Get a Faceless Converter. Start of Combat: Give your Faceless Converters Reborn.

Mask of Ancient Ones

• [3 Cost] Make your Deity Golden this game.

Corrupted Baton

• [1 Cost] After you cast a Tavern spell, give your Deity +10/+10.

Hammer of Twilight

• [1 Cost] Your minions have +2/+1. (Improved by each card you’ve discarded this game!)

Writhing Tentacles

• [1 Cost] After you discard your first minion each turn, get a copy of it with double stats. (1 left!)

Evil Experiment

• [0 Cost] After your Deity awakens, give it Reborn.

Makeshift Master

• [0 Cost] Spellcraft: Choose a minion. After it gains stats outside combat this turn, your Deity also gains them.

Tome of the Ancients

• [0 Cost] After you discard 3 cards, your Tavern spells give an extra +1/+1 this game. (3 left!)

Snarky Portrait

• [2 Cost] Get 2 Snarky Sharks. Whenever a Fishbait dies, give your Beasts +4/+4 and improve this.

Volumizer Portra