In the July update, we’re going to be changing seven cards: Tove; Baphomet; Spawn of the Abyss; Goblin Leader; Grimnir, War Cyclone; Ouroboros; and Princess Snow White. This is an explanation of why we’re changing things and what specifically is changing.

Tove, Baphomet, Spawn of the Abyss, and Goblin Leader

After the release of Wonderland Dreams, Bloodcraft came to dominate ranked matches. The win rate and use rate were particularly high for “Neutral Blood” decks that combined Neutral followers with Alice, Wonderland Explorer early in the match, and then ended with Spawn of the Abyss. In an early July tally of high-ranking players’ match data, the use rate of Neutral Blood decks was high at 38.1%, and the win rate was 56.0%. These numbers made us decide to take action.

Also, Bloodcraft is currently alone in its issue of having win rates that are significantly higher when going first than when going second. Some classes and deck types inevitably have an advantage when playing first or second, but game balance is negatively affected if this tendency becomes too pronounced: the outcome of matches can more easily end up becoming a matter of luck.

We feel that there are two issues affecting the Bloodcraft class now:
1. The use rate of Neutral Blood decks is high.
2. There’s a significant gap between Bloodcraft’s win rate when playing first and playing second.

To resolve these issues, we’re going to change three types of cards:
1.Cards that typically occupy three slots in a Neutral Blood deck.
2.Cards that give a big advantage to the first player.
3.Cards that are strong for the cost of their abilities.

Details of the Changes:

• The Bloodcraft bronze follower Tove will have this attack, defense, and effect:
Attack: 2 (or 4 when evolved)
Defense: 2 (or 4 when evolved)
Effect: When an allied Neutral follower comes into play, this follower gains Rush.
(This effect is the same for the evolved and unevolved forms.)

Tove currently has this attack, defense, and effect:
Attack: 3 (or 5 when evolved)
Defense: 3 (or 5 when evolved)
Effect: Can’t attack.
When an allied Neutral follower comes into play, this follower gains Rush.
(This effect is the same for the evolved and unevolved forms.)

• The Bloodcraft silver follower Baphomet will have this effect in its unevolved form:
Fanfare: Put a random Bloodcraft follower from your deck into your hand.

Baphomet currently has this effect in its unevolved form:
Fanfare: Put a random Bloodcraft follower with at least 5 attack from your deck into your hand.
Enhance (5): Then subtract 3 from its cost.

• The Bloodcraft legendary follower Spawn of the Abyss will have this effect:
Ambush.
Whenever this follower attacks, deal 5 damage to the enemy leader if Ambush is active for this follower.
Last Words: Deal 5 damage to the enemy leader if Ambush is active for this follower.
(This effect is the same for the evolved and unevolved forms.)

Spawn of the Abyss currently has this effect:
(Unevolved)
Ambush.
Whenever this follower attacks, deal 6 damage to the enemy leader if Ambush is active for this follower.
Last Words: Deal 6 damage to the enemy leader if Ambush is active for this follower.

(Evolved)
Ambush.
Whenever this follower attacks, deal 8 damage to the enemy leader if Ambush is active for this follower.
Last Words: Deal 8 damage to the enemy leader if Ambush is active for this follower.

• The Neutral bronze follower Goblin Leader will have this cost, attack, and defense:
Cost: 4
Attack: 2 (or 4 when evolved)
Defense: 3 (or 5 when evolved)

Goblin Leader currently has this cost, attack, and defense:
Cost: 3
Attack: 1 (or 3 when evolved)
Defense: 2 (or 4 when evolved)

Grimnir, War Cyclone and Ouroboros

We believe that these changes should bring the win rate and use rate of Neutral Blood in line with where they should be. There is a risk, however, that classes currently being kept in check by Bloodcraft could become too strong as a result of this change. We’re specifically concerned about Ramp Dragon decks, Dragoncraft decks that increase a player’s play point orbs at the beginning of the match and then use high-cost cards from the middle of the match.

Grimnir, War Cyclone and Ouroboros were central parts of the Tier 1 Ramp Dragon decks when Wonderland Dreams was released. Grimnir, War Cyclone was one of the cards originally considered for the June 28 (PT) card change. It’s probable that when the Neutral Blood deck’s win rate and use rate are brought into line, the effect of Grimnir, War Cyclone would end up deciding matches again. For that reason, we’ve decided to remove the damage that this card deals to the enemy leader while leaving the damage to enemy followers and Ward intact.

Ouroboros was designed as a finisher card that could be played again and again; pitted against offense-heavy decks, however, it can also counteract the opponent’s offense with its powerful healing effect. For that reason we’ve decided to leave this card’s finisher effect while removing its ability to restore defense; we predict that this should help move the game environment in a better direction.

Details of the Changes:

• The Neutral gold follower Grimnir, War Cyclone will have this effect in its unevolved form:
Enhance (10): Deal 1 damage to all enemy followers 4 times.

Grimnir, War Cyclone currently has this effect in its unevolved form:
Enhance (10): Deal 1 damage to all enemies 4 times.

• The Dragoncraft legendary follower Ouroboros will have this effect:
(Unevolved)
Fanfare: Deal 3 damage to an enemy.
Last Words: Put an Ouroboros into your hand.

(Evolved)
Last Words: Put an Ouroboros into your hand.

Ouroboros currently has this effect:
(Unevolved)
Fanfare: Deal 3 damage to an enemy.
Last Words: Restore 3 defense to your leader. Then put an Ouroboros into your hand.

(Evolved)
Last Words: Restore 3 defense to your leader. Then put an Ouroboros into your hand.

Princess Snow White

Once Bloodcraft decks’ win rates and use rates have been adjusted, there is the risk that the next strongest decks—specifically, Havencraft decks that use Heavenly Aegis—will become too powerful in comparison. In the early July data mentioned above, the use rate of these Haven Aegis decks was second highest at 7.6%.

Princess Snow White has been one of the cards powering Haven Aegis decks since the release of Wonderland Dreams. It’s extremely strong for a 2-play point follower, and we believe that changing it along with Tove will be help create the right game environment.

Details of the Changes:

• The Havencraft legendary follower Princess Snow White will have this defense in its evolved form:
Defense: 2

Princess Snow White currently has this defense in its evolved form:
Defense: 3

Take Two Runs

These changes will be also applied to all Take Two decks after maintenance, even if the deck is being used in the middle of a five-match run.

Future Changes to Cards

We routinely review match data in the Shadowverse Team. When it’s necessary to create a great game environment, we change the card costs and effects and boost the number of vials that are available from liquefying cards. Any future changes to cards’ costs and abilities will be announced on a prespecified date, and then changes will generally be made the next day.

August 28 (Announcement) August 29 (Change)
September 26 (Announcement) September 27 (Change)

These dates are, however, subject to change. Even if there are no changes made to cards, we’ll still announce that things are staying the same.

Temporary Vial Bonus

From the July 30 update until the next major update, the changed cards will produce more vials when liquefied.

– Copies of Tove and Goblin Leader will produce 50 vials.
– Copies of Baphomet will produce 200 vials.
– Copies of Grimnir, War Cyclone will produce 800 vials.
– Copies of Spawn of the Abyss, Ouroboros, and Princess Snow White will produce 3500 vials.

Normal and animated copies of these cards will both produce the same number of vials while the bonus is in effect. Details of when this bonus ends will be announced at a later date.

Shadowverse Team