GWENT is launching its 9.1 update on July 7, so here’s everything that’s being changed and added with this update. This update acts as patch to fit between the first and second drops of the Price of Power expansion. As such, it focuses on bringing plenty of balance changes to various units and cards, and helps to prepare for the first WitcherCon! You shouldn’t expect anything crazy, but numerous balance changes are (mostly) not a bad thing. Either way, here’s everything being changed in GWENT update 9.1, organized in neat patch notes.

GWENT Update 9.1 Patch Notes

Neutral

Monsters

  • White Frost: Added a new part of ability: Whenever you play a Wild Hunt unit, boost it by 1 if there’s Frost in the opposite row.
  • Ice Giant: Provisions changed from 6 to 5.
  • Hideous Feast: Provisions changed from 5 to 4.
  • Griffin: Power changed from 8 to 9.
  • Kikimore Worker: Provisions changed from 5 to 4.
  • Red Riders: Provisions changed from 6 to 5.
  • Ard Gaeth: Provisions changed from 9 to 8.
  • Maerolorn: Power changed from 3 to 4.
  • Witch Apprentice: Provisions changed from 4 to 5.

Skellige

  • Rage of the Sea: Provisions changed from 14 to 15.
  • Tuirseach Veteran: Berserk requirement changed from 2 to 3.
  • Dimun Pirate: Power changed from 7 to 8.
  • Raging Bear: Power changed from 7 to 8.
  • Disgraced Brawler: Provisions changed from 5 to 4.
  • Boatbuilders: Added Cooldown: 1
  • An Craite Warcrier: Power changed from 3 to 4.
  • Morkvarg: Added the Pirate category. Provisions changed from 8 to 7.
  • Svalblod Cultist: Provisions changed from 5 to 4.

Northern Realms

  • Pincer Maneuver: Provisions changed from 16 to 15.
  • Immortal Cavalry: Provisions changed from 6 to 5.
  • Cursed Knight: Provisions changed from 5 to 4.
  • Redanian Elite: Provisions changed from 5 to 4. Armor changed from 4 to 3.
  • War Chariot: Added Cooldown: 3
  • Reinforced Balista: Power changed from 4 to 3. Armor changed from 0 to 1.

Scoia’tael

  • Half-Elf Hunter: Provisions changed from 6 to 5.
  • Waylay: Provisions changed from 5 to 4.
  • Dwarven Mercenary: Provisions changed from 5 to 4.
  • Mahakam Defender: Provisions changed from 5 to 4.
  • Dol Blathanna Archer: Power changed from 4 to 5.
  • Forest Whisperer: Order (Ranged) changed to. Give an allied unit Vitality for 3 turns.
  • Cat Witcher Saboteur: Power changed from 4 to 5.

Nilfgaard

  • Imperial Formation: Part of ability changed to: Once all Charges have been exhausted, move a unit from your deck to the top.
  • Imprisonment: Provisions changed from 16 to 15.
  • Double Cross: Provisions changed from 17 to 16.
  • Imperial Diplomacy: Provisions changed from 5 to 4.
  • Nilfgaardian Knight: Power changed from 7 to 8.
  • Ard Feainn Tortoise: Provisions changed from 5 to 4.
  • Mage Torturer: Power changed from 4 to 5.
  • Albrich: Provisions changed from 7 to 6.
  • Viper Witcher: Adrenaline 6 effect changed to: If it’s not a Token, Spawn a base copy of that unit at the top of opponent’s deck.
  • Coated Weapons: Deathblow effect changed to: If it wasn’t a Token, Banish it and Spawn a base copy of it on top of opponents’ deck.
  • Affan Hillergrand: Provisions changed from 8 to 7.
  • Imperial Golem: Power changed from 11 to 12. Provisions changed from 7 to 6.
  • Blightmaker: Provisions changed from 5 to 6.
  • The Guardian: Tier changed from gold to bronze. Rarity changed from epic to common.

Syndicate

  • Pirate’s Cove: Provisions changed from 15 to 14.
  • Jackpot: Provisions changed from 16 to 15.
  • Smuggle: Provisions changed from 5 to 4.
  • Arena Ghoul: Provisions changed from 5 to 4.
  • Arena Endraga: Power changed from 5 to 6.
  • Cleaver’s Muscle: Provisions changed from 5 to 4.
  • Bloody Good Friends: Power changed from 5 to 6.
  • Adriano the Mink: Added a new part of ability: Increase the Profit by 1 for each allied Sly Seductress.
  • Whoreson Junior: Power changed from 5 to 4.

New Features

  • Automatic milling settings are now stored on the account, rather than on the device.
  • WitcherCon Festival – starting 2 days after 9.1 release

Game Fixes

  • Dead Man’s Tongue will no longer show the deck in order.
  • Cards such as Dire Bear, Cahir Dyffryn and Black Blood no longer count base power increases as boosting.
  • Mage Assassin can no longer be Summoned from the top of the deck during the opponent’s turn.
  • Ethereal will now properly transform Demons.
  • Cintrian Envoy will now show all card types as intended, not only units.
  • Reinforced Ballista’s Cooldown will now correctly refresh at the beginning of the turn, not the end of the turn.
  • Megascope and Dol Blathanna Whisperer will now reset their Counter correctly when leaving the board.
  • Shader issue affecting visuals of Adrenaline and Shield is fixed.

As you expected, the GWENT update 9.1 notes are near exclusively balance changes across many aspects of the game. We’ve only known about the update for a short while, yet much of the game’s subreddit is divided on how to feel about it. Some feel that these changes were unnecessary, and others feel that’s it’s good to finally see balance changes come through. With most games, I find myself on the latter side of the fence. Even if some things are arguably broken, switching up the most effective strategies keeps games fresh. Regardless, many can agree this took way longer than it should. Better late than never though, right?

GWENT is available on PC, Android, and iOS. If you’d like to see more details regarding this update, check out the official blog post.