Introduction
In this article I’d review Gwent: The Witcher Card Game Community Patch July 2025 generated by democratic voting via Balance Council tool. I’d sketch the situation before the patch, analyze the changes one-by-one and then provide summary and a general review.
Check out the discussion of balance changes on Reddit.
It was the 13th council we formed Coalition with Shinmiri and published our suggestions on Reddit. I also welcome you to check out ‘Balance Council‘ page on leriohub if you haven’t yet – there is a lot of practical information and my Council philosophy. I also analyzed how Gwent Balance Council works so far in “What Gwent Balance Council Does?” article, what are successes and failures on the system level.
Before Patch
June Season 2025 was enjoyable to play for me, yet the usage of new cards and concepts at high fMMRs was rather low in my experience. Last days I’ve queued mostly against Renfri Blaze Of Glory decks, Ulula or Runemage versions.
MO | Tatterwing, Ruehin Deathwish, sometimes White Frost, in 2500 fMMR region / middle of the season lots of Koshcheys
NG | Enslave 6 Assimilate, Formation Shupe Soldiers, Renfri Tactical Decision, Aristocrats
NR | Zeal Temple, Shieldwall Nekker, Shieldwall Devo (2500 region/middle of the season)
SK | Renfri BoG, SK Witchers (2500 region/middle of the season), sometimes PF Warriors, Alchemy, Crows, Multisoup piles.
ST | Non-devo Gift, Elves, Guerilla Schirru decks, Spella’tael Nekker, sometimes Dwarves and other decks
SY | Off The Books Midrange Sesames, Pockets Crimes with Fallen Knights
Not much really stood out in terms of power; perhaps the games against Ruehin felt most unfair, but I also had very bad matchups against it with my peak decks. It is also sad that after many experiments the most successful Ruehin lists closely resembles old Deathwish Succubus netdecks, but with extra, high floor win condition. The decks I used to reach my peak scores in majority weren’t popular:
MO | Carapace Ogroids (deck, vod)
SK | BoG Eist Raids Warriors (deck)
ST | Guerilla Artifacts Orbs Schirru (deck)
SY | Classical Bounty (deck)
With GwentData currently not working for me, I can only mention few staple fMMR scores:
- fulltiltgwent 2702 fMMR/98 games/SK Renfri Rain
- kerpeten96 2699/139/NG Enslave 6
- peefech 2673/122/MO Deathwish Ruehin
This season was the last which mattered for BaDaM Cup qualifiers, with some players competing for slots. Sadly the rivalry had little impact on the very top of the ladder.
Balance Council Results
Nerf Brackets
-1 Power Decreased
Renfri (3 -> 2)
(++) Explanation
Ihuarraquax (3 -> 2)
(/) Okay change, Quax is not a healthy card for the game.
Geralt: Quen (2 -> 1)
(++) Explanation
Roach (4 -> 3)
(+) Okay change, aims at reducing tempo abuse, especially from red coin in Golden Nekker decks.
Lady of the Lake (3 -> 2)
(++) Explanation
Lydia van Bredevoort (5 -> 4)
(++) Lydia was a strong card, considerable in every NG deck, not only Assimilate. With this change Lydia wouldn’t be that prevalent and wouldn’t limit some strategies like Otkell so harshly.
Ermion (2 -> 1)
(+) Going in line with similar nerfs to 7-cost tutors like Vabjorn or Fauve. Harmless nerf.
Udalryk an Brokvar (7 -> 6)
(–) Not sure about this change, which is meant to tweak Udalryk who is barely played right now .This change lowers the floor in case of no good target and worsens synergy with Knut. In my opinion it makes Udalryk even less considerable.
Nauzicaa Sergeant (4 -> 3)
(-) This time Sergeant was 8-th most voted change, so maybe in two month the cycle will stop…
Giant Toad (4 -> 3)
(/) Okay change, especially given that otherwise Deathwish with Ruehin would have taken zero nerfs. Giant Toad was by far the best carryover bronze in Monsters, borderline justified running a small package of Deathwish units outside the real archetype; GT was even played in Tatterwing by Myamon. Personally I’d prefer +1 provision over -1 power, because a 3 tempo unit can feel very awkward at times, especially when not shielded by Brewess: Ritual tempo. Effectively -2 power nerf.
+1 Provision Increased
Temple of Melitele: Congregation (16 -> 17)
(++) Temple Zeal was still the main and most successful pick for Northern Realms on ladder – deserved nerf to this stellar ceiling card.
Tatterwing (13 -> 14)
(++) Explanation
Lara Dorren (12 -> 13)
(++) As probably Lara Dorren would have been infinitely power reverted to 4 by the community (just like Kraken to 3), instead she gets provision nerfed in order to balance Tatterwing decks which with Lara at 4 power got effectively +3 free provisions by cutting Ard Gaeth.
Tainted Ale (11 -> 12)
(++) This card is unplayed outside the Armor exploit Onslaught deck which brings many players to write their first Reddit post. Tainted Ale becomes a scapegoat, but it’s deserved – to be playable TA would have to have Golden Nekker range provision cost which enables some variants of Armor Exploit even more. An alternative popular in a part of the community was to bring Protectors power down to 2, but I really dislike this idea: Heymaey Protector is an interesting bronze with unique mechanics and many synergies, for example with Otkell. Killing this card is not worth it.
Mahakam Pass (10 -> 11)
(+) Mahakam Pass is one of few ST cards which can be fitted in pretty much any ST deck with okay results, ranging from Harmony, through Spella’tael, Devotion Gift, Dwarves, up to Schirru and Artifact abuse. Nerf would impact almost the whole faction and alternative variants of decks, but most notably Armor Dwarfs, where this card is a part of genuine archetype. Deserved sooner or later.
Coup de Grâce (9 -> 10)
(+) Balancewise justified change, Coup is very high ceiling. For game experience not necessarily, GN Coup decks will be no more.
Sir Scratch-a-Lot (8 -> 9)
(++) Explanation
Dwimveandra (5 -> 6)
(++) Dwimveandra resets or artifacts like Mushy Truffle in Ale of Ancestors decks or on Kaer Trolde in Dracoturtle/Sigvald decks made this card play for a ceiling value much higher than its provision cost. At 6-cost the strategy of artifact abuse will be more discouraged.
Traveling Priestess (4 -> 5)
(/) The idea is not really to nerf Priestess, but to check out her in decks with 5p Mutagenerator and Musicians. Science.
Oxenfurt Guard (4 -> 5)
(++) With OtB leader this card played as ~13 for 4 not including Open Sesames. Deserved nerf, which will also narrow the pool of 4-cost spenders and reduce Eventide Plunder RNG: 7=>6 targets.
Buff Brackets
+1 Power Increased
Olaf (10 -> 11)
(/) A bit of a powercreep change to me, but also I haven’t met a fellow Olaf player in June season iirc (with exception of one stream viewer). This +1 power is effectively +2 power to the ceiling and a better removal reach on Knut.
Ewald Borsodi (5 -> 6)
(+) Deserved buff. Borsodi brothers may become considerable for some midrange SY decks which have enough free provisions and would like to use one of brothers as R1 spender to not lose on even cards.
Braenn (4 -> 5)
(++) Explanation
Nekurat (4 -> 5)
(–) The intelligence of humankind developed by overcoming obstacles. Nekurats are not humans, so need no obstacles. Just trade up or even against any removal while having 2 points per turn potential.
Raging Bear (8 -> 9)
(/) The damage effect is a buff to Drummond Queensguard decks, but… Raging Bear just becomes a universal proactive play in SK, possibly combined with Hjalmar in any deck. Can also go well with Triss: Meteor Shower.
Nauzicaa Brigade (1 -> 2)
(++) Explanation
Cintrian Spellweaver (4 -> 5)
(–) Why does the best scaling NR bronze, possibly copied with Chapter of Wizards, resurrected with Shani or created from Runeword, which not so long ago proven troublesome in one of top meta decks need a power buff? The answer is obvious. They zap.
Cleaver’s Muscle (6 -> 7)
(–) Buff to Novigradian Justice and especially Cleaver, who starts to spend coins in 7 for 4 ratio. With Cleaver on the board a crime like Smuggle in Lined Pockets deck would play as immediate value + 3 + 7 > 11. With 4 coins in the pouch, Cleaver enters the board as >19 points after double spend, 15 points effectively. Completely unjustified with both Cleaver and Justice already being played.
Knight Challenger (5 -> 6)
(++) Explanation
Cockatrice (2 -> 3)
(++) LOL, could have buffed Selfeater, Fleder, Kikimore Stalker or Kikimore Warrior by power instead. So useless.
On a serious note, a good buff, which however would go completely unnoticed when accompanied by broken stuff in the patch notes. Can combine this card with Alpha Werewolf, Allgod + Offerings or even Francis Bedlam to improve Predator threshold.
-1 Provsion Decreased
Novigrad (14 -> 13)
(–) I explained many times where Novigrad points come from and why this card deserves a nerf – last time here.
Sunset Wanderers (13 -> 12)
(/) Sunset Wanderers are a pointslam type of card which works best in decks having strong bronzes. Instead of playing a gold high-end card with strong effect we pick Sunset Wanderers which will effectively add more points to a lower cost card played usually in R2 or R3. Characteristic game mechanic feature of SW is that it inhibits R1 contest. Therefore normal decks running SW would be fine with R1 loss and use Wanderers in R2 to get a card up and last say or in R3 for full value.
While not played much, I don’t think Sunset Wanderers needed a buff and rather should have raised to more meaning with other cards getting nerfed. I think playing Sergeant or Dorregaray with +10 extra points is not very innovative.
Yennefer: Illusionist (12 -> 11)
(++) Many factions can build decks based on spawn, and Yennefer: Illusionist can be a backbone for those. Good change!
Necromancer’s Tome (10 -> 9)
(++) Unplayed at 10-cost outside cheese decks. Back to Golden Nekker.
Lord Riptide (10 -> 9)
(–) Monsters archetypes too weak to compete in top meta? Let them still be weak, but make sure each one plays Lord Riptide.
Also Monsters are in its best spot right now in 2025 after Ruehin/Conqueror buffs.
Melusine (10 -> 9)
(/) I would definitely prefer a buff to other card, but well… Melusine joins Golden Nekker as an alternative win condition. Play her with Sigdrifa’s Rite in any deck which has at least one more target. The interesting part can be synergy with the Rain archetype and Bride of the Sea.
The Flying Redanian (9 -> 8)
(+) Good buff. Redanian type of card would have been played in many other factions at 9-cost, but in Syndicate provision weighs more; if unable to include crucial spenders / threats, decks start to malfunction.
Hym (7 -> 6)
(+) Hym can be played in combo with Olaf, who also got buffed in this patch by power. 10 + 21 = 31 points for 15-cost = 15.5 for 7.5, but heavily plays into tall punish.
Outside Olaf combo Hym has little use due to low floor; may be a meta call in decks having access to single damage pings like Pirates.
Inspirational Ballad (5 -> 4)
(++) Explanation
Halfling Safecracker (5 -> 4)
(++) Safecracker is a Crownsplitter and can be tutored with Novigradian Justice, which finally gets a 4-cost target other than Cleaver’s Muscle. Good change, incentivizes playing more crime cards.
Summary
All changes ordered by number of votes and attributed to factions and voting coalitions could be found in the BALANCE COUNCIL RESULTS SHEET.
July 2025 patch is overshadowed by impactful Seagull Coalition changes, especially Spellweaver +1p and Cleaver’s Muscle +1p. Respective archetypes are supposed to play key role in the meta.
I’m not a fan of these changes; while supposed to bring more variety, such absurd overbuffs cut out a good deal of decks from the meta, while the ones which can adapt are the usual suspects. For example there is absolutely no reason to play any NR engine deck other than Spellweavers right now. Imposter and Enslave leader abilities do best against engine overload and are already very popular.
In general a great deal of modern Gwent meta is about deploying and removing direct threats. Power buffs to engines only deepens this state. Also there are strong pointslam decks with good tempo thinners (Precision Strike, Renfri BoG for example) and 1:1 control against main threats. What is mainly missing are payoff cards, like Wild Boar of the Sea or Glustyworp. Impact drive would never take care of these – in fact it works against payoff cards.
Small thing to note is that Highland Warlord didn’t get reverted to 6-cost this time. Also Slave Driver sticked at 3-power.
What New To Try?
MO | Plague Maiden Sabbath with Cockatrices, GN Vampires with Necro Tome and 5-power Nekkurats
NG | Illusionists Swarm with Yen:Illu and Sunset Wanderers, Enemy Boost with Nauzicca Brigade and Knight Challenger (not a great meta call though)
NR | Spellweavers with and without Students, Priestess w/Musicians and Mutagenerator.
SK | Self-wound with Olaf and Melusine, Rain GN with Melusine,
ST | Inspirational Ballad decks with Frog Mating Season.
SY | Lined Pockets Crimes with Cleaver and Safecrackers
Closure
July 2025 Gwent Community Patch surely would see some cards played a lot more often than in June and probably highest Syndicate popularity in a while. I’m not very excited, because I predict the meta to be rather narrow with little space for wholesome decks, which don’t make use of broken stuff or doesn’t counter these. Hopefully my predictions are wrong.
See you on ladder!