Whetstone
Heroes of the Storm

Patch 2.57 Updated

PTR Patch 2.55

Heroes of the Storm PTR Patch Notes, 14 Jan 2026

· 10 heroes changed · 27 buffs, 24 nerfs, 32 other changes

Read Blizzard's full notes Each change is our own structured summary (numbers, buff or nerf, kind of change); the full notes are on Blizzard's site.

PTR. These changes are on the Public Test Realm and may change before they go live.

General

  • Collection and rewards: 1 change
  • Interface and audio: 2 changes
  • Maps and structures: 3 changes
  • Gameplay: 2 changes

Maps

Heroes

  • Azmodan Mixed 1 buff, 4 nerfs, 8 other changes
    • ChangeGlobe of Annihilation: Effect changed (see Blizzard's notes)Base
    • ChangeGlobe of Annihilation: Effect removed (see Blizzard's notes)Base
    • BuffSummon Demon Warrior: Demon Warriors damage 32 → 83Base
    • ChangeSummon Demon Warrior: 2 effect changes (see Blizzard's notes)Base
    • ChangeSummon Demon Warrior: 2 effects removed (see Blizzard's notes)Base
    • ChangeWrath: Effect changed (see Blizzard's notes)Level 1
    • ChangeBrutish Vanguard: Effect changed (see Blizzard's notes)Level 4
    • NerfArt of Chaos: Extra Annihilation amount 4 → 2Level 7
    • NerfBombardment: Value 4 s → 3 sLevel 7
    • NerfMaster of Destruction: Amount of Annihilation granted 2 → 1Level 7
    • NerfHell Rift: Damage bonus 75% → 35%Level 16
    • ChangeInescapable Annihilation: New effect (see Blizzard's notes)Level 20
    • ChangePride: Effect changed (see Blizzard's notes)Level 20
  • Deathwing Mixed 14 buffs, 8 nerfs, 3 other changes
    • NerfAttack Damage 155 → 110Base
    • ChangeForm Switch: Effect removed (see Blizzard's notes)Base
    • ChangeCataclysm: New effect (see Blizzard's notes)Base
    • BuffOnslaught: Bonus damage 72 → 120Base
    • BuffOnslaught: Damage 38 → 60Base
    • BuffEarth Shatter: Projectile speed +30%Base
    • NerfMolten Flame: Base Damage per Second 21 → 19Base
    • NerfIncinerate: Cooldown 4 s → 6 sBase
    • NerfIncinerate: Energy cost 20 → 30Base
    • BuffIncinerate: Effect changed (see Blizzard's notes)Base
    • BuffLava Burst: Cast time 1 s → 0.75 sBase
    • NerfLava Burst: Cooldown 6 s → 9 sBase
    • NerfLava Burst: Energy cost 15 → 25Base
    • BuffLava Burst: Explosion Damage 30 → 35Base
    • BuffLava Burst: Explosion Damage over Time 6 → 7Base
    • BuffLava Burst: Slow 35% → 45%Base
    • NerfDragonflight: Cooldown 4 s → 6 sBase
    • BuffDragonflight: Cooldown 45 s → 15 sBase
    • BuffDragon Soul: Healing 75% → 100%Level 1
    • BuffHeat Wave: Damage over Time 6 → 9Level 4
    • NerfHeat Wave: Damage over Time stacks 4 → 3Level 4
    • BuffHeat Wave: Initial damage bonus 125% → 150%Level 4
    • BuffFirestorm: Damage 70 → 77Level 7
    • ChangeFirestorm: Effect removed (see Blizzard's notes)Level 7
    • BuffFire and Fury: Damage bonus 30% → 40%Level 13
  • Falstad Mixed 1 buff, 1 nerf
    • NerfLightning Rod: Range −0.5Base
    • BuffLightning Rod: Time between strikes 0.8 s → 0.9 sBase
  • Jaina Mixed 2 buffs, 2 nerfs
    • BuffFrostbite: Effect changed (see Blizzard's notes)Base
    • BuffIce Lance: Cooldown reduction 1.5 s → 2 sLevel 7
    • NerfNumbing Blast: Root duration 1 s → 0.75 sLevel 16
    • NerfWintermute: Range 50% → 40%Level 20
  • Kael'thas Buffed 1 buff
    • BuffConvection: Reward damage and health 150 → 200Level 1
  • Muradin Mixed 1 buff, 3 nerfs, 4 other changes
    • ChangeStorm Bolt: Effect removed (see Blizzard's notes)Base
    • NerfStorm Bolt: New effect (see Blizzard's notes)Base
    • NerfDwarf Block: Block charges 4 → 3Level 1
    • ChangeGive 'em the Axe!: Effect changed (see Blizzard's notes)Level 1
    • ChangeSledgehammer: Effect removed (see Blizzard's notes)Level 4
    • BuffSledgehammer: Effect changed (see Blizzard's notes)Level 4
    • ChangePerfect Storm: New effect (see Blizzard's notes)Level 7
    • NerfDwarf Launch: Range bonus 40% → 30%Level 16
  • Murky Mixed 4 buffs, 4 nerfs, 8 other changes
    • ChangeEffect changed (see Blizzard's notes)Base
    • ChangeSpawn Egg: Effect changed (see Blizzard's notes)Base
    • ChangeSlime: 2 effect changes (see Blizzard's notes)Base
    • NerfPufferfish: Damage −20%Base
    • NerfPufferfish: Detonation time 3 s → 2.75 sBase
    • BuffPufferfish: New effect (see Blizzard's notes)Base
    • ChangeEgg Hunt: Effect removed (see Blizzard's notes)Level 1
    • BuffShell Game: New effect (see Blizzard's notes)Level 1
    • BuffMarch of the Murlocs: Damage +4%Level 10
    • ChangeEgg Shell: Effect changed (see Blizzard's notes)Level 13
    • NerfFish Tank: Healing 25% → 20%Level 13
    • ChangeWrath of Cod: Effect changed (see Blizzard's notes)Level 16
    • ChangeBig Tuna Kahuna: Effect removed (see Blizzard's notes)Level 20
    • BuffFaster Fish: New effect (see Blizzard's notes)Level 20
    • NerfMaking Inky: Cooldown reduction 2 s → 1.5 sLevel 20
    • ChangeNever-Ending Murlocs: Effect removed (see Blizzard's notes)Level 20
  • Sylvanas Changed 1 other change
    • ChangeMercenary Queen: New effect (see Blizzard's notes)Level 4
  • Thrall Mixed 1 buff, 1 nerf, 1 other change
    • NerfBasic Attack damage 173 → 167Base
    • BuffCrash Lightning: Mythic Reward Damage bonus 270 → 325Level 1
    • ChangeEcho of the Elements: Effect changed (see Blizzard's notes)Level 1
  • Tyrande Mixed 2 buffs, 1 nerf, 7 other changes
    • BuffMana 500 → 450Base
    • BuffLunar Flare: New effect (see Blizzard's notes)Base
    • ChangeLunar Flare: Effect changed (see Blizzard's notes)Base
    • ChangeRanger: Effect removed (see Blizzard's notes)Level 1
    • NerfMoonlit Arrows: Cooldown reduction 0.75 s → 0.5 sLevel 1
    • ChangeMoonlit Arrows: Effect changed (see Blizzard's notes)Level 1
    • ChangeTrueshot Aura: Effect removed (see Blizzard's notes)Level 1
    • ChangeTrueshot Aura: New effect (see Blizzard's notes)Level 1
    • ChangeElune's Gift: New effect (see Blizzard's notes)Level 7
    • ChangeCommander of Sentinels: New effect (see Blizzard's notes)Level 20