Introduction
In this article I’d review Gwent: The Witcher Card Game Community Patch August 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 14th council we formed Coalition with Shinmiri and published our balance 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.
Before Patch
Second season in a row I played over 600 Gwent games and got a good recognition of decks played on high ladder. I also noted that most of my opponents by far were Chinese. Indeed, we can see interesting effect in GwentData map:
Comparing two main countries, China is twice as represented as Russia in Top100: 35 vs 17, but 351 vs 523 on whole Pro Ladder. The overall ladder by countries picture then didn’t change that much, but higher % of CN than RU plays Gwent competitively. Let’s move to factions:
Ladder experience was a bit worse than in the last season for me, but not terrible yet. Cleaver decks and Spellweavers were forced into high ladder meta with overbuffs, both with polarized matchup table. Especially Spellweavers were annoying because they stomp pretty much every deck not excelling at efficient control and are highly variant to Runeword rolls. In the case of Syndicate it was about decks having too many too efficient control tools (Philippa, Professor…), which (just like in the Spellweaver case) again made playing cute engine decks inconceivable. Higher reach of Novigradian Justice (7 power Muscle) sometimes made SY suddenly win on even cards when guided by engines like Casimir or Eveline. Cleaver himself was most disgusting when combined with Sesames; many Chinese players abandoned thematic Lined Pockets leader in favor of Off The Books just to spawn a Muscle one extra time in one turn. Sometimes also due to unlucky draws Cleaver sticked on the board and then singlehandedly won games thanks to even higher ceiling than before. What I’ve met on ladder:
MO | Ogroids Scenario in the 2nd half of season, Fruits Midrange, sometimes Koshchey, Tatterwing, Deathwish Ruehin, Fruits Tome, White Frost
NR | Spellweavers Shieldwall, Priestess Mutagenerator
NG | Formation Shupe Soldiers, different Enslave 6 decks, sometimes Aristocrats, Renfri Tactical Decision, Clog, Constructs, Enemy Boost.
SK | Blaze Of Glory Renfri, Patricidal Fury and BoG Warriors
ST | Guerilla Schirru decks, Elves Traps, Nature’s Gift, PS Dwarves Swarm, sometimes Dwarves
SY | OtB and LP Cleaver
My peak decks:
– ST Guerilla Devo Schirru Braenn
– SK Flurry Renfri Dagur
– NR Shieldwall Roegner Temerians
– MO Ogroids Scenario
Balance Council Results
Nerf Brackets
-1 Power Decreased
Renfri (2 -> 1)
(++) With BoG Renfri being one of most popular and successful decks this change makes perfect sense. 1 power Renfri would make it harder to win on even cards after using leader in R1.
Riordain (4 -> 3)
(++) Explanation
Ivar Evil-Eye (4 -> 3)
(-) Ivar is already played in strong enough enemy boost decks and along with False Ciri + Sangreal combo is the part which can most easily be fit in normal decks for a great surprise value. At the same time the floor of Ivar played below Adernaline threshold becomes lower. I dislike this change.
Olaf (11 -> 10)
(++) Explanation
Alzur (6 -> 5)
(-) Many players like this change as a mild nerf to Spella’tael, but not me. It is clear Alzur isn’t the crucial piece in Golden Nekker Spella’tael netdeck (Whisperers and Francesa are), while this nerf also weakens all Alzur decks from other factions, like for example NG Alzur Hyperthin GN.
Ruehin (5 -> 4)
(++) Explanation
Lord Riptide (10 -> 9)
(++) At 10/9 statline Lord Riptide is too strong and universal, good both as a control tool which at least forces opponent to waste some value by playing around, but also solid as a pointslam play when proper targets aren’t found.
Dire Bear (8 -> 7)
(–) Just like Udalryk nerf from the previous patch, this change lowers the floor and is only worse for Dire Bear playability, also from Compass. I regard the upside of instant berserk as very low.
Cintrian Spellweaver (5 -> 4)
(++) NR Mages enjoyers would no longer have to take a shower after each won game. 5 power was clearly too much for an engine scaling so well and capable of removing stuff from the opponent’s board.
Cleaver’s Muscle (7 -> 6)
(++) Explanation
+1 Provision Increased
👑 Rage of the Sea (15 -> 16)
(-) Rage of the Sea was decent enough leader ability at 15, with Renfri Beasts being the main deck met on ladder from time to time. Two seasons ago fulltiltgwent climbed to 2700 mmr with Renfri Rain. While one can see such a buff along with some nerfs to the main netdeck, such nerfs haven’t happened yet and that’s too early.
King Chrum (14 -> 15)
(++) Explanation
Tainted Ale (12 -> 13)
(++) Good scapegoat nerf to Armor Exploit Pirates – Tainted Ale is either too weak to be played or joins Golden Nekker range, where Armor Exploit gains extra possibilities.
Morvudd (12 -> 13)
(+) Morvudd as an unconditional pointslam often feels too good for too little effort. Also the last say combo with Renfri’s Curse of Gluttony feels a bit abusive. The card didn’t feel very problematic in terms of power level, but for gameplay experience especially amongst new players the nerf feels deserved.
Cleaver (12 -> 13)
(–) Cleaver takes a hit from the independent community as a result of Muscle buff to 7-power. Muscle was pretty much sure to get reverted (in spite of the Seagull Coalition trying to stop it), but not every voter takes time to study the history and predictions for the balance councils. Sad result, 100% to get reverted by independents in the next patch.
Hanmarvyn’s Blue Dream (10 -> 11)
(–) This change affirms Blue Dream as Vernon Roche combo exquisite and tries to balance them together while keeping Vernon in Golden Nekker range. As a result Travelling Priestess decks which were already very successful in the July 2025 Gwent season would be even better, Blue Dream would be totally unplayable but for Roche combo and Golden Nekker Engine Overload decks will regain firepower. I much prefer Hanmaryn as a playable card (can be really spicy in GN range) and Vernon at 10 cost – he was strong enough, played in Priestess and playable in engine overload decks for example Mutagenerator with Kaedweni Revenants already.
Redanian Secret Service (6 -> 7)
(+) Explanation
Whisperer of Dol Blathanna (6 -> 7)
(+) Whisperer has very high ceiling for its cost and sees play in some of the top Scoia’tael decks, like Golden Nekker Spella’tael or Artifacts Schirru. Deserved nerf. That being said, my opinion about this card changes with time. Right now due to Bountiful Harvest high rolls into Whisperer my most preferred direction would be probably 3 power / 4 cost. But ok.
Open, Sesame! (5 -> 6)
(-) In terms of long term balancing a deserved change, in terms of real Gwentfinity politics, just a waste because of 100% revert in the next patch.
Seagull (5 -> 6)
(++) Seagull power buff got stopped or at least postponed. Big thanks to all who supported us and Pajabol!
Buff Brackets
+1 Power Increased
Eltibald (6 -> 7)
(++) Unique and unplayed engine, which is quite slow and board dependent. At 7 power would surely be tried in some decks, but probably not good enough to replace any core cards.
Dettlaff: Higher Vampire (6 -> 7)
(–) Taking the characteristic card of Deathwish netdeck and buffing it by 3 power. Potentially another +3 in combo with Arachas Queen. Also a buff to no-unit Deathiwish, where last say got net +2 points taking into account Giant Toad nerf. Uninteresting buff, making an established Tier 2 deck stronger perhaps as a compensation for Giant Toad nerf.
Roach (3 -> 4)
(-) Reverted again. Higher tempo for Golden Nekker and heavily thinning decks like Renfri Beasts or Koshchey Mourntart. Was that any necessary?
Reynard Odo (7 -> 8)
(++) Explanation
Vivienne de Tabris (4 -> 5)
(-) I’ve already seen Vivienne played from time to time in Renfri decks. Problem with this card is it is pretty much midrange and outside possible combo with Mysterious Puzzle Box supports mainly Renfri netdecks where Renfri and Triss are perfect boost targets. Vivienne doesn’t buff real archetypes and offers pure value on deploy, sometimes with high variance like against Overwhelming Hunger decks. Shilard is another card similar to Vivienne, which I wouldn’t buff right now for the same reasons and Lydia already got reverted because of being too universal. Catriona, Damien, Isbel, Vypper, Cadaverine or Doadrick are some examples of cards which I find less straightforward and deserving a buff.
Sweers (4 -> 5)
(+) Okay buff to unplayed card, which supports mainly Soldiers archetype with some damage tools. Sweers wasn’t on my buff shortlist because of the high ceiling – can autowin some matchups.
Nauzicaa Sergeant (3 -> 4)
(+) And now hold.
Selfeater (5 -> 6)
(–) In the Cockatrice comment last season i’ve written: “LOL, could have buffed Selfeater, Fleder, Stalker or Kiki Warrior by power instead. So useless.”. Guess the roadmap is known.
6 power is the Selfeater release state. Relicts at the time were so strong and meta defining that the meta consisted of exactly 3 decks: Relicts and two decks which had a chance to counter them: Imprisonment Assimilate and Pockets Drill (Drill at the time had no cooldown so could wipe the board in one turn if neighboured by Crownsplitters). It is 6 power engine, which gets +1 to scaling each turn. Especially now at 5-cost, any removal would trade down to Selfeater, while lack of removal would result in Selfeater playing for 30+ points in a long round.
Not the way to buff relicts – it wouldn’t even make unusual Relicts cards more playable (but for maybe Caretaker), but everything will be concentrated at abusing Selfeater.
Cursed Knight (6 -> 7)
(-) Cursed Knight was already considerable as a tech in any midrange NR deck. Now almost every NR deck would run CK because why not? Can perfectly counter False Ciri, Joachim, a poison or in the new context also transform Selfeater so that Incubus can’t summon a 5-cost unit. Also supports Cursed archetype.
I don’t think a buff to this card was essential – no big harm, but not necessary at all either.
King Cobra (2 -> 3)
(++) Explanation
-1 Provsion Decreased
Temple of Melitele: Congregation (17 -> 16)
(-) Last patch we finally reached the state where Temple Of Melitele wasn’t the most common NR high-end. I think Temple at high cost is necessary to get a chance for genuine NR high ends to see any play. Temple is also a very high variance card which often leads to unpleasant gameplay experience.
Erland of Larvik (12 -> 11)
(+) The main Erland deck, which is Shupe Mutagenerator Temple is arguably the single most nerfed deck in Gwentfinity (Temple 12=>17, Mutagenerator 6=>9, Iris combo…) and last nerfs to Temple weren’t made with this deck in mind, but Inspired Zeal Threat Overload. From this perspective, but also the fact of not being played even in NR Witchers decks, Erland deserves a small buff. Of course at the same time some decks viewed as toxic, like Ship Ballista spam get slightly improved, but nobody is perfect. Personally I’d prefer a buff to less played card from similar archetypes, like Archgriffin or Dijsktra, but Erland is also fine.
Svalblod Totem (10 -> 9)
(=) I’m definitely not a fan of this change balancewise, but maybe it will make Golden Nekker Self-wound deck smooth enough for more players to try them. The problem is with so much good stuff in GN range, Selfwound will start to win on pure points rather than synergies against many decks.
Avallac’h (10 -> 9)
(++) Not the highest impact change, but very deserved. Avallac’h at current stats can be used at least in different meme decks making use of weather, like GIGATEMPEST for example.
Hemdall (10 -> 9)
(+) I played Renfri Dagur with Hemdall to ~2650 fMMR in the preceding season, but honestly he didn’t feel that good and a buff doesn’t feel unfair. Hemdall supports Warrior decks with Ulula, which can also take the form of Golden Nekker.
Free Company (10 -> 9)
(++) Explanation
Vernon Roche (10 -> 9)
(–) [lookup also Hanmarvyn Blue Dream comment] Undeserved buff to a card which was already played in successful Mutagenerator Priestess decks. If we do the math, 1 power Roche plays like 8+8-1 = 15 points in a normal deck assuming 8 points topdeck value. That’s already decent. If we add engine overload possibility, synergy with Kaedweni Revenant and other possible setups it is clear to see the card is good enough and a buff pushes Tier 2 towards Tier 1. Roche also returns to Golden Nekker range, where it would shine in engine overload decks.
Sheldon Skaggs (8 -> 7)
(++) Explanation
Braenn (6 -> 5)
(++) Explanation
Sly Seductress (5 -> 4)
(=) Just as in the case of Totem, balancewise a bad change, but something to try once in a lifetime which wouldn’t completely destroy the game at the same time. Sly Seductress becomes zero cost and joins Eventide Plunder create pool. It is a huge buff to decks which can make use of Bonded Seductress effect, so mainly Passiflora and Madame Serenity builds.
Summary
All changes ordered by number of votes and attributed to factions and voting coalitions could be found in the BALANCE COUNCIL RESULTS SHEET.
The August 2025 Gwent patch is bad, but could have been worse. Main offenders in the meta got reverted, but sadly in the case of Syndicate it also led to unexpected Open, Sesame! and Cleaver nerf. Seagull buff got stopped.
Nevertheless there are many bad changes and the good one (King Cobra, Eltibald, Odo…) will likely get completely overshadowed by impact driven changes to decks which are in a good deal already figured out (Priestess, Relicts…).
Two of our suggested changes: Coodcoodak +1 power and Chironex +1 provision didn’t get through. Both are quite sad: Coodcoodak could have provided a purifier when RSS are in the nerfed state – without it likely there would be strong sentiment for a revert which we would have to combat with a power buff. Chironex not getting through means that Golden Nekker Relicts would be one of meta definers. Moreover Roach got power buffed and can support R1 power of such decks.
Including Sly Seductress swarm it seems like ladder meta would again be made of well figured decks excelling at answering engines in an efficient way.
What New To Try?
MO | Relicts with 6p Selfeater, Poison MO with 3p King Cobra, Deathwish, no-unit Dettlaff, Cursed MO with Eltibald
NG | Bandit Swarm with Free Company, Soldiers with Sweers, Renfri with Vivienne, Many-cards-per-turn Eltibald
NR | Priestess Mutagenerator (if you haven’t yet), Boost Swarm / Knights with Odo, Cursed NR with 7p Cursed Knights, Erland decks
SK | Selfwound Golden Nekker with Totem, Golden Nekker Warriors with Hemdall, Rage of the Sea decks.
ST | Guerilla Schirru with Braenn, Invigorate Handbuff with Sheldon Skaggs
SY | Sly Seductress Swarm Midrange and 2x Scenario Cache
Closure
August 2025 Gwent Balance Patch is quite bad, but could have been worse. Worth to give it a go for sure, especially if you don’t mind sitting at lower MMRs and meme with wholesome decks rather than cut your way through Relicts, Priestess and its counters. Some changes which would probably become annoying in the long run, may be exciting to cook with in the first days (Seductresses, Totem GN).
See you on ladder!