Hearthstone patch 33.6 proves that true strength comes from friendship

We are fast approaching the November 4th drop date for Hearthstone's newest expansion, Across the Timeways, and Blizzard is doing its best to get in shape. Patch 33.6, making me feel old, has been released and is chock-full of updates and the return of some old friends.

Let’s start with the fun part: free stuff!

Logging in will get everyone the Mister Clockworth Mech, who packs a triple Rewind power. Very useful if your strategy starts to go awry, but it does really slow down the game’s pace, which is a little dull for my liking. If you're into time-manipulation through, pop to the Store and you can also grab two Portal Vanguards with the Rewind skill for free.

The biggest boon Blizzard is bestowing on us, however, is a free Ladder-ready Deck. You can pick between a Death Knight, Hunter, Mage, Paladin, Priest, or Warlock set, and they all contain cards from as recent as The Lost City of Un’Goro. Pretty great time to start if you never played, or to return after a break.

Now, for the gameplay headline. Buddies are returning, which is both good and bad news. Some of them can be a bit unbalanced, although this patch has changed a few of them, so hopefully that helps. All around, though, I quite like this mechanic, and we have a few new ones popping up.

Marin the Manager is getting a really handy helper in the form of the Fantastic Bellhop. At the end of each turn, you get a “helpful card”, in which the game considers the board state and gives you a relevant minion or spell. Buttons’ buddy, Zippers, gets this ability too, but only as a Deathrattle, which is much less helpful, I am sure you will agree. 

If you want to check out the fine print of the slate of card changes, then do check out the patch notes. Or simply download Hearthstone from the App Store and Google Play and experience it yourself. The best way to learn is by doing, so they say.