Introduction
In this article I’d review Gwent: The Witcher Card Game Community Patch March 2026 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 21st 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. There is also an analysis of how Balance Council works in practice: What Gwent Balance Council Does? Successes, Failures and Democracy Analogies
Before Patch
This time I played only ~120 Pro Rank games late into the season, 95% on stream. Therefore I got little personal experience of high ladder meta, but more view on late season ladder state for average player.
The late season experience was pretty good, I had pleasure playing offmeta decks. There was no problems like autoplay strategies overwhelming these builds. I’ve also done okay with low control decks like Firesworn or Arachas Quadruple Lara – the amount of all-in greedy builds on ladder was low.
The variety of faced decks was decent, mainly established archetypes. I was suprised to queue decent amount of Syndicate opponents, higher % than when I used to be at highest fMMRs.
Decks I’ve mainly met at 2400-2500 fMMR range:
MO | Fruits of Ysgith Midrange, Ogroids, Vampires non-GN, Deathwish, Koshchey
NR | Shieldwall Nekker, Inspired Zeal Temple, NR Witchers, Mobilization Reaver Scouts
NG | Enslave 6, Double Cross Henry, Formation Soldiers, Nekker Clog, Aristocrats, Golden Nekker Hyperthin
SK | Onslaught Pirates, Reckless Flurry Lippy
ST | Guerilla Harmony, non-Devo Symbiosis, Elves, Dwarves, Call of Harmony, Devo Symbiosis, Elves Ragh-naar-Rog
SY | Lined Pockets Crimes, OtB Midrange, Jackpot Yago
Balance Council Results
(++) great change
(+) good
(/) acceptable
(-) bad
(–) very bad
Nerf Brackets
-1 Power Decreased
Svalblod (7 -> 6)
(-) Just like in the case of The Heist, I haven’t really met Svalblod Sigvald on ladder, so a power nerf to Svalblod seems a bit excessive to me. The most important though is the political reality here: Svalblod is doomed to get reverted by the CN community no matter what. On top of that random overbuffs to the same archetype may happen. At the end of the day nothing happens but slots get wasted. For nerfs maybe it is sometimes hard to find reasonable stuff, but for buffs that’s just pure waste.
Lippy Gudmund (4 -> 3)
(++) For Lippy decks literally nothing changed: same decks but even more pointslam. Good nerf.
Queen Meve (7 -> 6)
(-) Queen Meve is indeed a card with a formidable ceiling, but taking into account the floor value scenarios and the fact that she almost defines the whole archetype (Inspired Swarm), I’m not sure about this change. Probably the impact would be players swapping Meve to deploy value cards, which I don’t like.
Brehen (5 -> 4)
(-) This change probably looks plausible to a great deal of the community, because of Brehen being run in Guerilla Harmony or Devotion Guerilla. To me though it is moving backwards, again making Brehen no longer a real payoff card in Movement archetype, at least against opponents who take care to play around him.
Brehen requires at least 1 leader charge; it already gives -3 points upper bound to real Brehen value. Usually on top of 3 raw points, Guerilla charge brings at least another +3 (Forest Whisperer; Willow, Gezras or engine protection is even more) due to cards effects. So 5-power Brehen when used with a single leader is like -1 power Geralt.
Miruna (6 -> 5)
(-) I don’t think that Miruna has seen enough play after buff to warrant immediate nerf. The card is very conditional.
Renfri’s Gang (6 -> 5)
(++) Explanations
Messenger of the Sea (4 -> 3)
(-) Messenger of the Sea has already been instantly reverted by CN community after nerf from Danny (25th and 24th BC). There is a big chance it happens again.
Personally I’m not convinced about Messenger to 3 power either: this card is crucial to Rain archetype, which suffers even more than Renfri Beasts, while being less played. I’d prefer the Rain to get soft nerfed by increasing Kraken power to 4, so that at least small damage is needed to trigger deathwish. Moreover after power buff Kraken tempo would be lower and deck would be easier to bleed.
Giant Toad (4 -> 3)
(-) Giant Toad already has been nerfed to 3-power and reverted twice. It is clear that this card is too efficient carryover play in decks running Deathwish cards; used to be played by Myamon even in Tatterwing.
Out of the two ways of nerfing I’d prefer +1 cost though rather than effective -2 power.
Ard Feainn Crossbowman (4 -> 3)
(/) It is clear to me that Soldiers engines are a bit too efficient, which results in very strong R1 and often won long R3 against many decks. There is little player’s agenda, just jamming one +2 per turn engine after another; whenever one is removed, another replaces it with flanking.
That’s a substantial nerf. Not sure yet how to feel about it. The alternative to nerf more universal Soldiers engine: Ard Feainn Light Cavalry has own drawbacks: at 2 power AFLC is very prone to removal and to avoid Seize:3 double leader charge is needed.
Dimun Pirate Captain (4 -> 3)
(++) Explanations
+1 Provision Increased
Mysteries of Loc Feainn (14 -> 15)
(++) Good change given Guerilla Harmony was still very popular and successful on ladder, and Call of Harmony also met quite frequently. Personally I don’t think the deck was THAT strong, but amongst nerf possibilities definitely a clean decision.
The Heist (13 -> 14)
(-) If I recall, I haven’t met a single Heist opponent amongst my 120 games. Angus power nerf was meant as a compromise to step ping-pong between 13- and 14- cost. While binary at times, I don’t think The Heist nerf would have a good impact when it comes to future balance councils.
Stefan Skellen (12 -> 13)
(++) Explanations
Affan Hillergrand (9 -> 10)
(/) Affan took a weird route of 3 buffs followed by 2 nerfs in the balance council. At 4/10 stats Affan still would be considerable to include as 4 points + order value coming from the deck. Nevertheless, probably there would be a major shift of NG Soldiers to old versions which didn’t run Affan.
Kolgrim (9 -> 10)
(++) We successfully suggested Kolgrim nerf by provision two months ago. Then Kolgrim got reverted to 9-cost again as “Clog is literally unplayable without Renew into Kolgrim”. After revert I climbed to 2666 with Nekker Clog, which spread through the playerbase and became popular on the ladder last month. Now rather than “weak, having ANY win condition only with Renew”, Clog is “obviously too strong, especially GN, which slams points”.
Good change, abusing Kolgrim in an all-in way is not healthy for ladder experience. Kolgrim still would be perfectly playable, but wouldn’t be another win condition in a very strong Golden Nekker deck. Check out for example Ballad Clog as a wholesome deck which doesn’t include GN or Renew.
Naval Supremacy (8 -> 9)
(-) Naval Supremacy is a kind of carryover raid card, so far used exclusively in Onslaught Pirates, but possibly playable also in other archetypes like Selfwound, Bear Witcher Mentors, no-unit with Highland Warlords (sic!). The context of the nerf is Abordage buff.
I think that nerf to Naval Supremacy wouldn’t have a good impact; good timing on this card is on the skillful side when playing Pirates, the card is annoying but not essential, at 9-cost would be inconsiderable for unusual homebrews and Pirates/Patricidal Fury decks already got the most important nerf in the Abordage context this month which is Dimun Pirate Captain.
Barclay Els (6 -> 7)
(/) Barclay Els is played in Mahakam Forge / Precision Strike Dwarves Swarm, which especially with Forge leader were quite popular on ladder last season in my experience. In this context nerf is plausible, but personally I don’t love it. Barclay may feel like a cheat when full board is developed, but in shorter rounds he can be a liability. Nerfs to payoff cards may result in more non-synergistic meta decks.
Onager (6 -> 7)
(/) Explanations (Shin was sure about this pick, to me it was so-so, but I also didn’t play that much last season)
Toxicologist (4 -> 5)
(/) Remember when Sandor 5=>4 power was called killing a card? I do. All cards from Sandor/Toxicologist/Abduction triangle have been considered for a nerf last month and finally we got Toxicologist.
I think this nerf may be a bit tunnel visioned on Golden Nekker decks, especially Clog. For Henry decks which want to get a stable Abduction as well as some other unusual builds, extra provision on Toxicologist may hurt. We will see, nerfing is never a cakewalk.
Dimun Smuggler (4 -> 5)
(-) Recommended by Zong community to compensate for Abordage buff and straight up reverting change suggested by our coalition last month.
Instead of playable bronze Pirates and strong Abordage (when bronze Pirates get better, 6-cost Abordage is much stronger than before Gwentfinity!), we go back to barely playable bronze Pirates and broken Abordage.
Buff Brackets
+1 Power Increased
Damien de la Tour (6 -> 7)
(++) Explanations
Phoenix (4 -> 5)
(+) Phoenix had been buffed to 5-power in Gwentfinity once already and it sticked for a while till Double Madoc proven troublesome.
At 4-power though outside the mentioned deck (which got relatively rare), Phoenix is pretty much unplayed. Revisiting 5-power would be interesting – in case of any troubles, provision nerf is an option to test a new state.
Dracoturtle (5 -> 6)
(–) This buff comes from the Chinese community, but wasn’t directly recommended by Zong coalition. Combo with Kaer Trolde gets stronger again. Nothing more creative than clashing opponent units with Dracoturtle. We all love this 12 points + control value of Location order, renewed with Dwimveandra and soloing opponents if they lack tall punish.
Heulyn (7 -> 8)
(+) Heulyn is the backbone for some interesting Otkell decks, like Protectors Alchemy. At 8-power Heulyn will be really strong also just for Human +1 boost effect. Would be experimented with.
Harald Houndsnout (4 -> 5)
(/) A buff meant mainly for Golden Nekker Selfwound, which in my opinion needs no buffs, but for variety of cards. Harald Hounstout is already played there for good points.
Síle de Tansarville (4 -> 5)
(++) Low impact, but I like low impact way more than powercreep buffs and reverts.
Kikimore Stalker (3 -> 4)
(+) The multistep change from 3/5 to 4/6 gets finished. Interesting to see how it would change the value of Kikimore Stalker played from hand. For Hive Mind it would mean even more broken value against decks which lack proper counters.
Kaedweni Sergeant (4 -> 5)
(+) Sergeant moves up the provision curve, from 4/4 to 5/5. Would be played ranged as a starter to lead the way for greedy engines; also may support Boost NR especially with Coen.
Heymaey Spearmaiden (6 -> 7)
(++) Explanations
Ballista (3 -> 4)
(+) This change is meant to improve the value and coherence of cheap bronze siege engine fillers in the damage NR decks, like Zeal Siege etc. Okay change, but also improves already mainstream ways.
-1 Provsion Decreased
👑 Shieldwall (16 -> 15)
(++) Shieldwall invites binary strategies, where high ceiling threats are protected with the leader ability to win the game on the spot when unanswered. Such strategies shouldn’t be rewarded with extra +1 to provision cap.
Also Shieldwall Nekker was the most popular and probably successful for others ladder deck in my Februrary Season experience.
The Eternal Eclipse (16 -> 15)
(/) There is nothing wrong about love for poisonous spiders as long as they don’t leave the box. With this change they don’t, with power buffs to bronze cultists they do.
War Elephant (12 -> 11)
(++) Explanations
Old Speartip (11 -> 10)
(++) A buff both to Old Speartip + Asleep combo and to Old Speartip played from hand outside the combo (no reason to play but aesthetics still, but 12 for 10 is much better than 12 for 11). The total efficiency of combo ceiling would be now 18 points for 12 cost plus possible carryover on Ozzrel.
The Speartips combo didn’t see much play on ladder and outside obvious Ogroids can also support threat overload decks, going in line with previous buffs to cards like The Beast or Keltullis.
Crowmother (10 -> 9)
(+) Something to try sooner or later in Gwentfinity. May look like a small change, but enables very aggressive Golden Nekker decks, especially Crow Messenger spam. Such decks would try to win with a mix of Round 1 playable pointslam and carryover.
Carlo Varese (10 -> 9)
(++) Explanations
Ulrich (10 -> 9)
(++) Ulrich is one of cards which are amazing on paper (for example extra Fallen Knight + 5 points + Intimidate value), but in practice prove not very stable. This buff should place Ulrich in the spotlight for Syndicate decks in March.
Archgriffin (9 -> 8)
(++) Archgriffin is a card around which unique strategies are built. It is possible to buff Archgriffin on the board or in the deck. Use Erland to surely convert Archgriffin boost into points against tall punish in R3, or just fight for the last say. A good, interesting buff.
Yarpen Zigrin (9 -> 8)
(++) Explanations
Abordage (6 -> 5)
(–) Again, instead of playable bronze Pirates and strong Abordage (when bronze Pirates get better, 6-cost Abordage is much stronger than before Gwentfinity!), we go back to barely playable bronze Pirates and broken Abordage.
Note that Abordage is even stronger in Patricidal Fury decks where you can set up bloodthirst instantly, than in Onslaught Pirates. But for Dimun Pirate Captain power nerf, Patricidal Fury Warriors would be back to the state from January Season, where they were the most successful and popular SK option amongst my high ladder opponents.
Summary
All changes ordered by number of votes and attributed to factions and voting coalitions could be found in the BALANCE COUNCIL RESULTS SHEET.
I rated slight negatively most of power nerfs, but I’m not sure what I would have picked instead. Perhaps cards like Toxicologist or Barclay Els would have fit better to -1 Power rather than +1 Cost.
The impact of our coalition with Shinmiri was decent again, but lower than last months. 9/12 recommendations got through; Vaedermakar +1 power, Kikimore Worker -1 power and Brokvar Warrior +1 provision followed by +1 power missed the cut. Thanks for your support!
The Balance Council is in a bipolar moment now, with MetallicDanny and Zong coalitions getting through whatever they recommend. That looks kinda analogous to democratic systems evolving into two parties antagonized to each other. You can only watch who what gets on the lists and nothing you can do about it. Luckily Gwent Balance Council is not winner takes all, so there is also place for us and Ofir&Qcento coalition.
The patch is definietly interesting; whatever to say about nerfs, many popular decks got hit in a way, which should shake up the ladder meta. Buffs are also varied, with exception of Abordage revert and Dracoturtle +1 power, new deckbuilding is invited.
What New To Try?
MO | Engine Arachas Glusty with Stalkers, Threat Overload Carapace/Fruits with Speartips & Ozzrel
NG | Damien Threat Overload decks, Full Ballad Clog with Carlo Varese
NR | Stockpile with War Elephant & Priscilla, Archgriffin Erland & non-Erland
SK | Crowmandoes Golden Nekker, All-Human Heulyn, Otkell Heymaey Protectors Alchemy with Heulyn, Tuirseach Bearmasters with Phoenix
ST | Dwarves Armorer’s Workshop Simlas and GN Dwarves with Yarpen Zigrin.
SY | Congregate Firesworn and Lined Pockets Crimes Fallen Knights with Ulrich
Closure
March Balance Patch looks decent enough to have another round of Gwent. I predict the pro rank meta to stabilize around cards and archetypes which already seen a lot of play, but not exactly netdecks from February. Surely many players would be draged out of their zone of comfort to other decks which they have maybe never tried.
See you on ladder!