NEW HERO
Jaina Proudmoore has been added to Heroes of the Storm and is now available for play! Read on for a brief overview of her Abilities, and then check out Jaina’s Hero Week blog for more information on this absolutely chilling Assassin.
 
Abilities:
Frost Bolt (Q)
Fires a bolt that deals damage and Chills the target.
Blizzard (W)
Creates a storm of ice at target location, damaging and Chilling enemies.
Cone of Cold (E)
Deals damage in a cone and Chills targets.
Trait:
Frost Bite
Your Abilities Chill targets, slowing them and causing them to take increased damage.
Heroic Abilities
Summon Water Elemental (R)
Summons a powerful Water Elemental.
Ring of Frost (R)
Creates a freezing ring that roots and damages enemies.
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ART
General
 
A number of in-game environments have received visual polish.
Heroes, Mounts, and Skins
 
Dance, victory, and taunt animations have been added to a number of Heroes.
The following Heroes, Skins, and Skin Variations have received visual improvements:
Countess Kerrigan will now transform into a bat while Mounted
E.T.C., Glam Metal E.T.C., Pure Country E.T.C., and all Skin variations
Malfurion, Storm Mantle Malfurion, and all Skin variations
Sgt. Hammer, War World Sgt. Hammer, and all Skin variations
Several Abilities have received visual effect improvements:
Nova’s Basic Attack after selecting the Anti-Armor Shells Talent
Rehgar’s Ghost Wolf attack
A new overlay will be displayed for Heroes affected by Stitches’ Gorge Heroic Ability.
A new overlay will be displayed for Heroes affected by Anub’arak’s Web Blast Heroic Ability.?
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INFRASTRUCTURE
Mac Support
 
64-bit support has been added for Mac users, and 32-bit support has been removed.
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SHOP
Stimpacks
 
Stimpacks will soon be coming to the Nexus, and once they arrive, will be purchasable to earn bonus Gold and experience points from Heroes matches.
Each game completed while a Stimpack is active will award an additional 100% XP and 150% Gold.
To purchase a Stimpack, simply head to the in-game Shop and click on the new Stimpacks tab to view all available durations.
A Stimpack’s effects will begin immediately after purchasing, and will last for a set amount of time depending on the duration purchased.
A Stimpack’s XP bonus will only affect out-of-game Hero and Player Level progression and has no effect on actual gameplay during a Heroes match.
Check out our recent blog for more information on the upcoming addition of Stimpacks to Heroes of the Storm.
Winter Veil
 
The Feast of Winter Veil has come to the Nexus! Spread the holiday cheer with the festive new Mount, Bundles, and Hero Skins listed below!
Reign-deer Mount
Great-father Winter Rehgar Skin
Winter Veil Jaina Skin
Winter Veil Jaina Bundle
Winter Veil Complete Bundle
Head here for complete details on the items added to the Shop with today’s patch.
Bundle Packs
 
The Hallows End Costume Bundle has been removed from the Shop.
However, please note that the Countess Kerrigan and Skelethur Abathur Skins are still available for purchase individually.
Heroes
 
Jaina Proudmoore has been added to the Heroes of the Storm Shop.
Skins
 
Master Skins
Master Skins have been added for the following Heroes:
E.T.C.
Jaina
Malfurion?
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SOUND
Skins
 
The Crown Prince Arthas Skin has been updated with a complete voiceover rework, featuring brand new lines of dialogue.
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USER INTERFACE
Custom Games
 
Custom Game Lobbies have been reworked and are now split into two phases: Lobby Setup and Hero Select.
Lobby Setup: After selecting a Battleground, all players will be placed on a new Lobby Screen which will allow the Lobby Host to add and remove human or A.I. players, and organize observers and teams much more easily. Once the teams have been set up, the Host can then hit the Start Game button to enter Hero Select.
Hero Select: Functions much as it did in the previous version of Custom Games, but no longer allows the Lobby Host to manage teams or observers. In order to do so, the Host will need to hit the Back to Lobby button.
Friends List
 
The Friends List now properly sorts friends who are logged into Heroes of the Storm above friends in other games or the Battle.net desktop app.
Shop
 
The following will apply once Stimpacks are added to Heroes:
Stimpack XP and Gold bonuses awarded after completing a Heroes match will be displayed on endgame Score Screens.
An active Stimpack’s remaining duration will be displayed on endgame Score Screens, in the Chat box upon login, and when mousing over the currently selected Hero in the Party Panel.
A notification will also be displayed in the lower left corner of menus when an active Stimpack becomes expired, or is nearing expiration, and the “Extend” button can be used to purchase an additional Stimpack.
Tutorial
 
All Tutorial and Training Battlegrounds can be launched individually from the Main Menu (ESC)
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DESIGN AND GAMEPLAY
General
 
Line skillshots can no longer be self-cast using the Alt key.
Hearthstone
 
A flat amount of Health and Mana are now restored after using Hearthstone to return to the Hall of Storms.
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BATTLEGROUNDS
General
 
Town Halls no longer contain all of a town’s experience points.  While Town Halls retain a majority of the experience, the surrounding towers protecting the town now yield experience as well.
Cursed Hollow
 
Tribute channeling time reduced from 7 to 6 seconds
Dragon Shire
 
The Dragon Knight is no longer targetable by allied Abilities or Talents
Garden of Terror
 
Garden Terror (Summoned)
Spore Queen’s Curse (Q)
Radius decreased by 10%
Haunted Mines
 
Underground Minions
Starting Health and Health scaling increased by 20%
Underground Grave Golem
Starting Health and Health scaling increased by 20%
Grave Golem (Summoned)
Damage scaling decreased by 20%
Health scaling decreased by 20%
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TALENTS
Conjurer's Pursuit
 
Now also increases Mana regeneration by 0.5 per second in addition to its other effects
Imposing Presence
 
Attack speed slow amount increased from 30% to 50%
Promote
 
Now heals the target to full Health
Now has a 15 second duration
Charge cooldowns have been reduced from 60 to 30 seconds
Resurgence of the Storm
 
Cooldown increased from 120 to 180 seconds
Rewind
 
Now refreshes all Basic Ability cooldowns rather than reducing them by 10 seconds
Cooldown increased from 60 to 90 seconds
Searing Attacks
 
While active, Basic Attacks will now display “Crit!” floating text on impact
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HEROES
            Assassin Specialist Support Warrior
             Illidan Abathur Li Li Anub'arak
             Nova Azmodan Tassadar Arthas
              Nazeebo Tyrande Chen  
             
Zagara
 
Uther Muradin
                Sonya
                Stitches
                Tyrael     Return to Top
 
 
 
 ABATHUR
Divider_Hero_Abathur_Crop.png
 
Toxic Nest (W)
Vile Nest (Talent)
Slow duration increased from 2 to 4 seconds
Slow amount reduced from 50% to 40%
Ultimate Evolution (R)
Cooldown no longer starts immediately after casting, and instead begins once the cloned Hero expires or is killed.
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 ANUB'ARAK
Divider_Hero_AnubArak_Crop.png
 
Imposing Presence (Talent) has been added to Anub’arak.
Rewind (Talent) has been removed from Anub’arak.
Harden Carapace (W)
Shield amount reduced from 120 (+30 per level) to 90 (+22 per level)
Locust Swarm (R)
Heal per tick reduced from 10 (+2 per level) to 10 (+1.5 per level)
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ARTHAS
Divider_Hero_Arthas_Crop.png
 
Frozen Tempest (E)
Mana cost increased from 10 per second to 12 per second
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AZMODAN
Divider_Hero_Azmodan_Crop.png
 
Bound Minion (Talent)
Now heals the target to full Health
Now has a 15 second duration
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CHEN
Divider_Hero_Chen_Crop.png
 
Wandering Keg (R)
No longer grants a Shield
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ILLIDAN
Divider_Hero_Illidan_Crop.png
 
Sweeping Strike (W)
Basic Attack damage bonus increased from 25% to 35%
Immolation (Talent)
Duration increased from 3 to 4 seconds
Damage reduced from 17 (+3 per level) to 13 (+2.5 per level)
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LI LI
Divider_Hero_LiLi_Crop.png
 
Healing Brew (Q)
Initial heal decreased from 100 to 70
Heal scaling increased from 13 to 20
Jug of 1,000 Cups (R)
Cooldown decreased from 70 to 60 seconds
Heal scaling increased from 3 to 4
Initial heal increased from 25 to 35
Search range increased to 10
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MURADIN
Divider_Hero_Muradin_Crop.png
 
Second Wind (Trait)
Threshold for improved Health regeneration increased from 30% to 40% Health
Third Wind (Talent)
Threshold for improved Health regeneration increased from 40% to 50% Health
Stoneform (Talent)
Heal amount increased from 40% to 50% of Muradin’s Health
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NAZEEBO
Divider_Hero_Nazeebo_Crop.png
 
Voodoo Ritual (Trait)
Death Ritual (Talent)
Units other than lane Minions no longer grant permanent Health/Mana when killed while under the effects of Voodoo Ritual.
Permanent Health/Mana gains increased from 4/2 to 5/3
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NOVA
Divider_Hero_Nova_Crop.png
 
Booster Shot has been renamed to Perfect Shot
Hot Shots (Talent)
Has been renamed to Anti-Armor Shells
Damage bonus reduced from 330% to 300%
Rewind (Talent) has been removed from Nova
Snipe (Q)
Damage reduced from 120 (+34 per level) to 115 (+31 per level)
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SONYA
Divider_Hero_Sonya_Crop.png
 
Whirlwind (E)
Lifesteal amount increased from 30% to 40%
Leap (R)
Cooldown increased from 50 to 70 seconds
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STITCHES
Divider_Hero_Stitches_Crop.png
 
Vile Gas (Trait)
Damage per second decreased from 14 (+2 per level) to 10 (+2 per level)
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TASSADAR
Divider_Hero_Tassadar_Crop.png
 
Basic Attack
Distortion Beam (Talent)
Slow amount reduced from 25% to 20%
Oracle (Trait)
Duration reduced from 7 to 5 seconds
Mental Acuity (Talent)
Now reduces cooldown by 15 seconds, up from 10
Scryer (Talent)
Movement Speed bonus increased from 15% to 20%
Psionic Storm (W)
Cast range reduced from 10 to 9
Overload (Talent)
No longer increases Psionic Storm damage
Now increases Psionic Storm cast range by 33%
Psi-Infusion (Talent)
Mana restored increased from 5 to 7 per target struck by Psionic Storm
Static Charge (Talent)
Critical Strike damage reduced from 100% to 75% of Tassadar’s Basic Attack damage
Second Strike (Talent)
Time between casts reduced from 3 to 2 seconds
Void Shift (E)
Deep Shift (Talent)
Duration increased from 0.75 to 1.5 seconds
Prescience (Talent)
Effect cooldown reduced from 60 to 45 seconds
Archon (R)
Duration reduced from 15 to 12 seconds
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TYRAEL
Divider_Hero_Tyrael_Crop.png
 
Judgment (R)
Damage reduced from 125 (+10 per level) to 60 (+8 per level)
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TYRANDE
Divider_Hero_Tyrande_Crop.png
 
Empower (Talent)
Now instantly reduces cooldowns by 2 seconds, rather than cooling down by 4 seconds over a 2 second period
Shadowstalk (R)
Cooldown increased from 50 to 70 seconds
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UTHER
Divider_Hero_Uther_Crop.png
 
Holy Light (Q)
Heal amount reduced from 150 (+44 per level) to 135 (+40 per level)
Holy Radiance (W)
Gathering Radiance (Talent)
The damage and healing bonuses for each target hit are no longer separate.  
Now increases damage and healing by 5% for each target hit, retaining its previous 50% maximum.
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ZAGARA
Divider_Hero_Zagara_Crop.png
 
Infest (Talent)
Now heals the target to full Health
Now has a 15 second duration
Creep Tumor (Trait)
Zagara now regenerates a flat 1.5 Health per second while on Creep.
Reconstitution (Talent) still increases Health regeneration on Creep by 300% (4.5 Health per second.)
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BUG FIXES
General
 
Several typos and tooltip errors have been corrected across various aspects of the game.
Art
 
Corrected a texture issue with Tyrande’s hair.
Removed minor unintended graphic effects that could appear when casting Tyrael’s Sanctification within Line of Sight blockers.  
Battlegrounds
 
Corrected a minor area of unintentionally pathable terrain within the Haunted Mines.
The cooldown for Li Li’s Water Dragon now properly resets after clicking the Clear Cooldowns button in Try Me Mode.
Heroes can no longer be affected by enemy abilities while within the allied Hall of Storms.
Heroes with a permanent Cloak will now properly Decloak when exiting the Dragon Knight or Garden Terror.  
Heroes and Talents
 
Fixed an issue which caused Abathur's Toxic Nests to deal exponential damage if multiple units were present in the mine-triggering area.
Abathur's Ultimate Evolution now properly applies a 15 second cool-up, rather than 30 seconds, to Heroic Abilities learned after Ultimate Evolution is cast.
Graphic effects for Ultimate Evolution Anub'arak’s Locust Swarm will no longer also display at Abathur's original location.
Dealing damage with Azmodan's All Shall Burn will now correctly Decloak him if he is Cloaked during the channel.
Fixed an issue in which Brightwing's Emerald Wind could receive a reduced cooldown despite being cast successfully.
Brightwing can no longer use Phase Shift or Blink Heal to escape root effects.
Falstad can no longer use Fly to escape root effects.
Rooting Illidan just as he casts Dive will no longer drastically change his vertical position for the remainder of the match.
Kerrigan's Primal Grasp will no longer occasionally fail to pull Mercenaries.
The damage over time component of Murky’s March of the Murlocs is now properly paused, and the movement speed reduction effect of the Ability removed, when the target becomes invulnerable.
Murky's Octo-Grab now properly reveals the target throughout its duration.  
Nazeebo's Corpse Spiders now properly damage Zagara's Creep Tumors on impact.
Nazeebo’s Ravenous Spirit beam is now properly visible to enemy players.
Nova's Triple Tap will now be placed on reduced cooldown if the ability becomes cancelled before any shots are fired.
Casting Raynor’s Inspire while previous Inspire and Revolution Overdrive buffs are still active will now correctly refresh both buff durations.
When triggered by the Prescience Talent, Tassadar's Dimensional Shift will no longer disrupt Stitches’ Gorge.
Tassadar will no longer become revealed until his next death after using Dimensional Shift to clear Tyrande's Sentinel.
Tychus' stat panel no longer displays inappropriate numeric values while Overkill is active.
Corrected an issue which applied Tychus’ attack speed scaling to his Odin form.
Fixed an issue in which Zagara’s Creep Tumors could cause a tower to ignore enemy Heroes for the duration of the Tumor’s life in some cases.
Zeratul’s Void Prison now pauses, rather than cancels, channeled abilities.  
User Interface
 
Blocked players no longer appear in the Friends List.
Defeat and Victory screens now properly dismiss the Options menu.  
Corrected an issue which could cause party members to remain in a ready state after the party leader leaves the game lobby while queued for matchmaking.
Fixed an issue which could cause the game mode to visibly differ from the game mode selected by the party leader.