Introduction
In this article I’d review Gwent: The Witcher Card Game Community Patch June 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 24th 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
In the May Season 2026 I played 800+ Pro Rank games, great majority on stream, reached 2.6k+ on all factions and won the season with my first 10.7k+ score (10.706). This gave me perfect view on high ladder meta.
While the May 2026 patch was shaped mainly by Redanian Knight, Viraxas and Cat Witcher overbuffs, the gameplay experience wasn’t actually that bad. Each faction was playable, the difference in winrates between factions weren’t that high. Nevertheless clear NR lead is visible in %wr and a good deal of the community got fed up with Viraxas Zeal netdecks. They were too successful for too little effort – I had a couple of encounters against opponents with NR as the only high MMR faction, going for blind 2:0 every time and making many misplays.
In spite of huge overbuff, I didn’t meet that many Knights and those were mostly non-Devo variants, while I took NR Devotion Knights to 2.7k myself. Devo Knights are strong, fun and thematic and I have no idea why they were so seldom at high ladder even after the biggest overbuff since Knight Errant at 3 power.
May Season 2026 leaderboard includes a good deal of old legends (one is incognito), last season winner (lavk945) and one remarkably dangerous guy (Sanvanter). Not a bad look for Gwentfinity, but still climbing to highest mmrs was mostly about patience and constant wins against mid-level players.
What I’ve mainly met on ladder in the 2nd half of season (most relevant decks in bold):
MO | Arachas Mammuna, Fruits Midrange
NR | Inspired Zeal Viraxas (a.k.a Homelander deck) – Erland + Dijsktra was the main variant in the 2nd half of the season, non-Devo Knights, Melitele, Temple decks
NG | Tactical Decision Constructs, Enslave 6 Assimilate and other, Enemy Boost, Aristocrats
SK | Blaze of Glory Eist Warriors, Patricidal Fury Warriors, Renfri Blaze of Glory, Lippy decks, Crowmandos and Otkell decks (1st half of season)
ST | Nature’s Gift Midrange, Golden Nekker Movement, Guerilla Schirru
SY | Jackpot Yago, Pockets Crimes (very late season), OtB Midrange, Cache Scenario
Balance Council Results
(++) great change
(+) good
(/) acceptable
(-) bad
(–) very bad
Nerf Brackets
-1 Power Decreased
Kraken (4 -> 3)
(–) Humankind’s greatest possible achievements, like colonizing Mars, finding cure for cancer or winning US elections as a third party all require overcoming tremendous obstacles. But these obstacles are nothing compared with the hardship of killing 1 power Kraken to get deathwish value.
Because Rain Renfri Beasts were too strong, Messenger of the Sea was nerfed by power twice in the past and instantly reverted. Now the same coalition which nerfed Messenger suggested Kraken revert. Surprise value Kraken is cool, Compass into Kraken is cool, Rain with Fulmar and Rioghan isn’t cool.
Yaga (3 -> 2)
(/) Explanations (change is fine, but something more impactful for the meta could have been picked)
Eist Tuirseach (4 -> 3)
(++) Explanations
Falibor (6 -> 5)
(/) Two-step change, -1 cost to follow up. Okay move overall, but not sure if essential.
Seltkirk of Gulet (6 -> 5)
(+) Explanations
Hjalmar an Craite (3 -> 2)
(-) Hjalmar went a long way in Balance Council:
- barely played at 3/9
- buffed to 4/9 by K&D coalition
- became distinctively powerful in Renfri BoG and even included in Eist BoG
- nerfed to 3 last month
- still played at 3, feels good enough
That shows how popularity and balance are interlinked. I think 2-power Hjalmar is a step too far and Renfri BoG could have been addressed different way if necessary. I didn’t see that much of these at highest mmrs, but guess it was still quite popular in tournament meta and mid ladder.
Lady of the Lake (2 -> 1)
(/) 2-step change to 1/7. Not sure about benefits, but seems harmless overall.
Cat Witcher (5 -> 4)
(++) Sure, one guy got 2714 fMMR with Movement GN, but was it even strong? One season movement is SOMEWHAT playable and it is instantly getting hammered. BC things I guess. (/s)
Kikimore Worker (5 -> 4)
(+) Explanations
Redanian Knight (3 -> 2)
(++) Nobody even played Knights, but Zeal with Viraxas. Viraxas was the problem and now there would be even less Knights players on ladder. Guess Balance Council is just about killing all playable archetypes (/s)
+1 Provision Increased
Imperial Formation (16 -> 17)
(–) Nilfgaard Soldiers, be it Shupe, Allgod or Battle Stations versions were in my opinion the most solid option to climb the ladder already with NG, even if not top popular on ladder. This buff would only add power to already established strong lists.
Mammuna (12 -> 13)
(++) Explanations
Viraxas: Prince (10 -> 11)
(++) Deserved revert. Viraxas got slightly overbuffed and was a staple card in Devo Zeal Midrange which dominated the ladder for the most part of May Season.
Covenant of Steel (10 -> 11)
(++) This defender absolutely deserved to go in line with Donimir and Cave Troll. Covenant is used in Armor Exploit deck as well as to protect binary Sigvald + Knut combo in some variants of Selfwound.
Imperial Golem (6 -> 7)
(+) Explanations
Sandstorm (5 -> 6)
(-) Placeholder nerf. I’m not a fan of using Sandstorm, because after -1 provision buff the card would have been still niche, but considerable as a tech in specific metas or as support to some decks. For example Sandstorm is one of very few cards which would have traded up with Endrega Larva.
Tainted Ale and Caravan Guard are already established placeholders; I like jimgbr idea to use Cleaver’s Muscle as possible placeholder as it can’t be buffed by power (Cleaver…); for some rare uses in SY decks as 4-cost filler for Justice, Crownsplitter Thug should simply be buffed. Also Kikimore Worker can be prov nerfs sponge when optimal power is reached.
Rot Tosser (5 -> 6)
(–) I much prefer the direction of provision nerf to Combat Engineer, because Rot Tosser is a rich effect card, which doesn’t feel troublesome at all till included in Combat Engineer spam decks. Misattributed nerf, would further close the path to include Rot Tosser in other decks.
Caravan Guard (5 -> 6)
(+) Already established placeholder.
Sly Seductress (4 -> 5)
(++) Explanations
Brokvar Warrior (4 -> 5)
(++) Explanations
Buff Brackets
+1 Power Increased
Ivar Evil-Eye (2 -> 3)
(++) Explanations
Dandelion: Poet (5 -> 6)
(++) Explanations
Geralt: Yrden (2 -> 3)
(/) Welcomed buff, but why power? Yrden requires more substantial buffs.
Mad Kiyan (6 -> 7)
(+) I played a bit with Mad Kiyan in the May Season and the card was already a bit underrated as a proactive play in NR Witchers. Now would be a consideration in every deck which includes boosts and preferably, but not necessarily, damage pings.
Fringilla Vigo (5 -> 6)
(/) Fringilla is one of the community favorite buffs given the results of our monthly poll and surely this card didn’t see much play. That being said, Fringilla is for the most part a pure value card – she would support midrange decks running Constructs or Mages with 12 for 7 value. Can’t hold my excitement for Tactical Decision with Nauzicca Brigade + Sunset Wanderers/Renfri + Rience decks running Fringilla now (/s).
Peter Saar Gwynleve (3 -> 4)
(/) Peter sees very little play, but wasn’t a bad card; a couple of seasons ago I took Enslave 6 with Peter to the highest NG mmr on ladder (vod). 4 power Peter is just a strong card of green control type – compare it with Baron in NR – here you have 2 or 3 points less for -3 provisions. I’m tired of buffs to deploy value Nilfgaard cards, especially if these are as unreliant on synergies as Peter.
Giant Toad (3 -> 4)
(-) Here we go again: 3rd revert to this card. 3-power Giant Toad was indeed an awkward card, hardly playable in many situations unless tempo shielded with Brewess: Ritual or played from red coin or on drypass. Now we are back to overpowered Giant Toad state, abused for carryover not only by classic Deathwish.
I hope for 4/6 Giant Toad from the start, which idea for some reason is less liked than 3/5 as old poll results say. 4/6 Toad is more playable and carryover possibility is mitigated by provisions taken from the deck. Maybe the fourth time would be the charm to try this direction. The downside still can be huge possible polarization for short rounds with GT carryover.
Cintrian Knight (3 -> 4)
(–) Knights got double buffed in the last patch and I reached 2714 mmr with Devotion Knights. Before buffs I had 2676 with them and 2.6k+ in the preceding season as well. Compensating buff for Redanian Knight revert wasn’t needed at all.
Recruit (4 -> 5)
(+) Recruit is an interesting and underplayed card. Power buff would probably make it temporarily too strong – it can tutor 5-cost soldier (or even Sergeant) without any real downside – but can always be followed up by provision nerf.
Brokvar Hunter (4 -> 5)
(++) Explanations
-1 Provsion Decreased
Off the Books (16 -> 15)
(+) Explanations
Radeyah (10 -> 9)
(++) The multistep of double power nerf followed by provision decrease is completed and Radeyah becomes playable in Golden Nekker decks. I think these decks wouldn’t go beyond the level of curious ladder variety. One copy restriction is meaningful for these decks and for example Monsters can’t include both Radeyah and Necromancer’s Tome in GN Deathwish.
Dragon’s Dream (9 -> 8)
(++) Offensive movement strategies and row punish are underutilized; Gwentfinity and late Homecoming in general is about deploying and instantly destroying engines or going the pure pointslam route. Very welcomed direction!
Frightener: Dormant (9 -> 8)
(+) Deserved buff, but sadly this card at this point would be 99% used in no-unit Deathwish with buffed Giant Toad. These are quite cancerous, rely on tempo abuse with Brewess: Ritual from blue coin and surprise value otherwise. More interesting stuff like Midrange / no-Unit Glustyworp probably wouldn’t be tried.
Imke (9 -> 8)
(+) Imke at 9-cost was already a bit underrated card and an important piece for a couple decks which combine coin generation with engine play, like for example Cache Kiki Warrior list I played. Okay change overall, if Eveline Gallo can exist at 6/7 without row restriction, Imke probably can be 6/8 for now. Also note that compared for example with Pavko Gale, Imke would generate one turn of engine value even if moved immediately. Unanswered Imke is a beast, providing full flexibility in R1/R2 circumstances of when to cash coins into points. Including coins to points conversion of cards like Sea Jackal, Imke is close to 3 points per turn engine value.
Kayran (8 -> 7)
(++) Kayran was an overcosted consume card, which can sometimes be used to play around tall punish or poisons. Good change.
Mahakam Horn (7 -> 6)
(++) There are mines in Mahakam, and the only Mahakam trap is a gold mine of Gwent content. Mahakam Horn didn’t see much play, often ignored even in decks playing multiple traps. Now mind games would flourish and maybe you can catch opponent offguard even in lists other than pure traps!
Abordage (6 -> 5)
(–) If Gwent Balance Council were parenthood it would look like:
– Mom, where is my toy car? – said kid
– Its in the secret garage, you played with it for 3 hours already and you’re 25 years old
– DAAAD!!! Mom stolen my toy car!!!!
– Don’t cry, I brought it back from the secret garage, your Mom is idiot – said Dad
Coodcoodak (6 -> 5)
(+) Explanations
Brokilon Sentinel (5 -> 4)
(++) Explanations
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 June 2026 Gwent Balance Patch doesn’t include impact driven changes of Redanian Knight or Cat Witcher power buffs magnitude, but nevertheless all bad things which I was afraid of in Balance Council post happened: Giant Toad +1 power, Formation + Recruit + Radeyah simultanous buff, Abordage revert. It is just intellectually hurtful to see how the community walks in circles by buffing same stuff so that essentially nothing changes in the long term. These buffs to already established and rock solid stuff overshadow all changes which are actually interesting this month. Why would you play with Dragon’s Dream, Radeyah Nekkers or Dandelion Poet Bonded decks when you can go back to GN Fruits Deathwish, Shupe Soldiers, PF Warriors or Renfri Beasts and completely obliterate opponents who actually try “new” cards.
Brokvar Hunter buffed to 5-power as most likely the first step toward 5/5 would be a major buff for many SK decks, outweighing Brokvar Warrior +1 cost in my opinion. Especially PFury decks with Abordage, Hunter and Seagull look strong on paper.
What New To Try?
MO | Fruits Bonded with Dandelion: Poet, Fruits Thrive with Dandelion Poet, GN with Radeyah into Urn of Shadows, No-unit Glustyworp with Frightener Dormant, Deathwish no-unit with buffed Toads and Frightener (neither new nor cool, but well…)
NG | Cultists with buffed Recruits and Poet, Big Ivo with buffed Recruits, (some other stuff I actively ignore as not really new, like Constructs with Fringilla or Soldiers)
NR | Golden Nekker with Griffin Witchers and Coodcoodak, Witchers with Mad Kiyan, GN Radeyah with Seltkirk and Mad Kiyan, Knights with Coodcoodak
SK | Ulula + Brokvar Hunter decks, Patricidal Fury Regis with Brok Hunter.
ST | Traps with Mahakam Horn, Offensive Movement with Dragon’s Dream.
SY | Cache and Jackpot with Imke
Closure
June 2026 Patch is good enough for another round of Gwent. Sadly not much innovation is encouraged but for abuse of clearly strong cards (Brokvar Hunter, Recruit, reverts).
See you on ladder!