Mastering Hearthstone Keywords: A Comprehensive Guide

Hearthstone, with its multitude of cards, classes, and abilities, can be a daunting game to dive into. Keywords, often displayed in bold text on cards, play a crucial role in the game's mechanics. Yet, grasping the nuances of each keyword can be challenging for both newcomers and returning players. To help you master the game, here's an explanation of some core keywords in Hearthstone.

Battlecry: Triggered When Played

Battlecry minions offer a variety of effects, activating when the card hits the board. Remember, Battlecries are not considered spells and can target cards typically immune to spells.

Charge: Immediate Attack

Minions with Charge can attack on the turn they're played. However, they often have low Health, making them susceptible to swift defeat.

Choose One: Versatile Options

Frequently found in Druid cards, Choose One allows players to select from multiple effects when playing the card, including damage, minion summoning, or healing.

Combo:Double the Impact

Prominent in Rogue decks, combo cards feature two effects. The primary effect occurs with a standard play, while the secondary, more potent effect activates after playing another card.

Corpse: Death Knight Resource

Exclusive to the Death Knight class, Corpse accumulates each time a friendly minion dies and can be spent using cards with the Corpse keyword.

Deathrattle: A Last Act

Triggered upon a card's death, Deathrattle functions similarly to a Battlecry but activates when the card is eliminated. It does not activate if the card is removed from play differently.

Divine Shield: Protective Bubble

Divine Shield grants a protective barrier to a minion, absorbing the first instance of damage it receives.

Freeze: Temporary Immobilization

Freeze immobilizes a minion for the next turn, preventing it from attacking but allowing it to defend.

Lifesteal: Damage and Healing

Lifesteal allows a card's damage to heal the controlling hero for the same amount, identified by a broken heart symbol.

Poisonous: Lethal Touch

Minions with Poisonous destroy any other minion they damage, denoted by a vial of poison symbol.

Outcast: Demon Hunter Exclusive

Exclusive to Demon Hunter cards, Outcast effects activate when the card is played from either end of the hand.

Overload: Mana Limitation

Overload reduces the available Mana in the next turn by the specified amount, displayed as Overload(X) on cards.

Reborn: A Second Chance

Minions with Reborn are resummoned with 1 Health upon their first destruction, although enchantments do not carry over.

Rush:Immediate Minion Combat

Rush allows a minion to attack enemy minions immediately upon being summoned, excluding the enemy hero on its first turn.

Secret: Hidden Strategies

Secret spells remain concealed until their trigger condition activates, revealing and activating their effects.

Silence: Nullifying Effects

Silencing a minion removes all card effects, including buffs, Deathrattles and Taunts.

Spell Damage: Amplifying Spells

Spell Damage increases the damage of spells based on the number and effect of Spell Damage cards in play.

Stealth: Unseen and Untargetable

Stealth renders a minion immune to direct targeting by enemies until it attacks or takes damage.

Taunt: Protector of the Weak

Minions with Taunt force enemies to target them before others. Silencing a Taunt minion removes its protective status.

Windfury:Double Attack Opportunity

Windfury enables a minion to attack twice in a turn, potentially even three times with proper timing.

Understanding these keywords is essential for mastering Hearthstone, adding depth and strategy to your gameplay.