Buddy

Buddies are minions that are unique to each Hero. They are designed to synergize with the hero gameplan.

Buddies are a seasonal system that is only occasionally available in Battlegrounds (See Patch changes section for more details).

Functionality

Unlike Tavern minions, Buddies do not appear in Bob's Tavern. Instead, every hero has a Buddy Button that has initial cost and can be activated twice per game.

• Initial cost is determined by Tavern Tier of the Buddy. The full details can be seen as below:

Tavern Tier	First cost	Second cost
1	11	13
2	13	15
3	15	17
4	17	19
5	19	21
6	21	23

• Winning a battle or getting Tie reduces this cost by (3), while losing only reduces by (2).
• The player clicks or taps the button to get the Buddies, as long as they have enough gold to spend.
• The first button gives the player one copy of their hero's Buddy, while the second and last button gives two copies.

Notes

• Buddy minions cannot be randomly generated.

Buddies

This section includes all available Battlegrounds heroes with their buddy.

Name	Health	Armor	Buddy	Tier	Buddy description
A. F. Kay	30	Snack Vendor	4	At the end of your turn, give your Tier 3 minions +1/+2.
Al'Akir	30	Spirit of Air	3	Deathrattle: Give a random friendly minion Windfury, Divine Shield, and Taunt.
Alexstrasza	30	Vaelastrasz	3	Battlecry: Get a random Dragon of your Tier.
Ambassador Faelin	30	Submersible Chef	5	Battlecry: Get a random minion each from Tiers 1, 3, and 5.
Aranna Starseeker	30	[[{{{linkBuddy}}}|{{{nameBuddy}}}]]		{{{textBuddy}}}
Arch-Villain Rafaam	30	Loyal Henchman	3	After you kill a second minion each combat, get a plain copy of it.
Bru'kan	30	Spirit Raptor	3	After you call upon a new Element, this remembers it. Deathrattle: Call upon those Elements.
C'Thun	30	Tentacle of C'Thun	3	After a different friendly minion gains stats, gain +1/+1 until next turn.
Cap'n Hoggarr	30	[[{{{linkBuddy}}}|{{{nameBuddy}}}]]		{{{textBuddy}}}
Captain Eudora	30	Dagwik Stickytoe	3	At the end of your turn, give a random friendly Golden minion +5/+5.
Captain Hooktusk	30	Raging Contender	5	After you use 'Trash for Treasure', gain Gold equal to the removed minion's Tier.
Cariel Roame	30	Captain Fairmount	5	Choose One - For the rest of the game, 'Conviction' gives an additional +2 Attack; or +2 Health.
Chenvaala	30	Snow Elemental	3	The Tavern offers an extra Frozen Elemental whenever it is Refreshed.
Cookie the Cook	30	Sous Chef	2	You can use your Hero Power an extra time each turn.
Dancin' Deryl	30	Asher the Haberdasher	3	After you sell a minion, gain +1/+1.
Death Speaker Blackthorn	30	Death's Head Sage	4	After you get a Blood Gem, get an extra one.
Deathwing	30	Lady Sinestra	3	Your minions have +3 Attack.
Dinotamer Brann	30	Brann's Epic Egg	3	Taunt Deathrattle: Summon and get a random Battlecry minion.
Drek'Thar	30	Frostwolf Lieutenant	3	Avenge (2): Minions in the Tavern have +1 Attack for the rest of the game.
E.T.C., Band Manager	30	Talent Scout	5	Battlecry: Make a Buddy Golden.
Edwin VanCleef	30	SI:7 Scout	2	After you buy a minion, gain +1/+1.
Elise Starseeker	30	Jr. Navigator	2	Battlecry: Reduce the Cost of 'Lead Explorer' by (2).
Enhance-o Mechano	30	Enhance-o Medico	1	Minions in the Tavern with Taunt, Reborn, Windfury, or Divine Shield have +2/+2 for each.
Forest Warden Omu	30	Evergreen Botani	5	At the end of your turn, get a random minion of your Tier.
Fungalmancer Flurgl	30	Sparkfin Soothsayer	5	Battlecry: Transform minions in the Tavern into Murlocs of the same Tier.
Galakrond	30	Apostle of Galakrond	2	Battlecry: Replace minions in the Tavern with ones from a Tier higher.
Galewing	30	Flight Trainer	2	Your flightpaths trigger twice.
George the Fallen	30	Karl the Lost	4	After you use your Hero Power, give your Divine Shield minions +2 Attack.
Greybough	30	Wandering Treant	2	Whenever you summon a Taunt minion, give it +2/+2.
Guff Runetotem	30	Baby Kodo	5	Battlecry: Refresh the Tavern with a minion of each Tier.
Heistbaron Togwaggle	30	Waxadred, the Drippy	5	Battlecry: Refresh the Tavern with the highest Tier minion from each opponent's warband.
Illidan Stormrage	30	Eclipsion Illidari	2	Your first minion that attacks has "Immune while Attacking" for one attack only.
Infinite Toki	30	Clockwork Assistant	5	Battlecry: Discover a minion from a Tier higher than yours.
Inge, the Iron Hymn	30	[[{{{linkBuddy}}}|{{{nameBuddy}}}]]		{{{textBuddy}}}
Ini Stormcoil	30	Sub Scrubber	4	After you play a Mech, gain +2/+2.
Jandice Barov	30	Jandice's Apprentice	3	After you swap minions, give them stats equal to your Tier.
Kael'thas Sunstrider	30	Crimson Hand Centurion	5	After 'Verdant Spheres' triggers, give your hand and board +1/+1.
King Mukla	30	Crazy Monkey	2	After you feed a minion a Banana, give it +1/+1.
Kurtrus Ashfallen	30	Living Nightmare	3	After you buy a minion, minions in the Tavern have +2/+1 this turn.
Lady Vashj	30	Coilfang Elite	1	After a Spellcraft minion appears in the Tavern, get a copy of its spell.
Lich Baz'hial	30	Unearthed Underling	4	Whenever your hero takes damage, this minion gains +2/+2 instead. (2 left this turn.)
Lord Jaraxxus	30	Kil'rek	4	Taunt Deathrattle: Get a random Demon.
Maiev Shadowsong	30	Shadow Warden	2	Battlecry: Your next Hero Power makes the target Golden and awaken 1 turn faster.
Malygos	30	Nexus Lord	4	'Arcane Alteration' replaces with a minion one Tier higher.
Master Nguyen	30	Lei Flamepaw	1	'Power of the Storm' offers 3 options instead of 2.
Millhouse Manastorm	30	Magnus Manastorm	5	After you buy a minion, add one of the same Tier to the Tavern.
Millificent Manastorm	30	Elementium Squirrel Bomb	4	Deathrattle: Deal 2 damage to a random enemy minion for each of your Mechs that died this combat.
Mr. Bigglesworth	30	Lil' K.T.	3	At the start of your turn, get a plain minion from your lowest Health opponent's warband.
Murloc Holmes	30	Watfin	3	After you guess correctly with 'Detective for Hire', get a plain copy of the minion.
Mutanus the Devourer	30	Nightmare Ectoplasm	3	When you 'Devour' this, spit its stats onto 1 extra minion.
N'Zoth	30	Baby N'Zoth	4	Battlecry: Make a friendly Deathrattle minion Golden.
Nozdormu	30	Chromie	4	Minions in the Tavern have +1/+1 for each time it was Refreshed this turn.
Onyxia	30	Many Whelps	2	Whenever you summon a Whelp, gain +2/+2 permanently.
Overlord Saurfang	30	[[{{{linkBuddy}}}|{{{nameBuddy}}}]]		{{{textBuddy}}}
Ozumat	30	Tamuzo	2	Avenge (2): Upgrade 'Tentacular' by +1/+1.
Patches the Pirate	30	Tuskarr Raider	5	Battlecry: Give a minion +1/+1 for each Pirate you played this game.
Patchwerk	60	Weebomination	4	Battlecry: Give a minion +1 Health for each Health your hero is missing.
Professor Putricide	30	Festergut	3	Deathrattle: Summon a random Undead Creation.
Pyramad	30	Titanic Guardian	4	Whenever a different friendly minion gains Health, this gains it too.
Queen Azshara	30	Imperial Defender	4	Whenever you cast a Spellcraft spell on a different minion, you also cast it on this.
Queen Wagtoggle	30	Elder Taggawag	2	Battlecry: Gain 1 Gold for each minion type you control.
Ragnaros the Firelord	30	Lucifron	5	Your end of turn effects trigger twice.
Rakanishu	30	Lantern Tender	4	At the end of your turn, give a random friendly minion stats equal to your Tier.
Reno Jackson	30	Sr. Tomb Diver	1	Taunt Deathrattle: Make your right-most minion Golden.
Rock Master Voone	30	[[{{{linkBuddy}}}|{{{nameBuddy}}}]]		{{{textBuddy}}}
Rokara	30	Icesnarl the Mighty	4	After a friendly minion kills an enemy, gain +1 Health permanently.
Scabbs Cutterbutter	30	Warden Thelwater	4	At the start of your turn, get your next opponent's Buddy.
Shudderwock	30	Muckslinger	3	After you play a minion, add a Battlecry minion to the Tavern. Give it +2/+2.
Silas Darkmoon	30	Burth	4	After you Discover a minion, give it +4/+4 and upgrade this by +1/+1.
Sindragosa	30	Thawed Champion	3	At the end of your turn, get a random Frozen minion from the Tavern.
Sir Finley Mrrgglton	30	Maxwell, Mighty Steed	4	Battlecry: Get the Buddy of your Hero Power.
Sire Denathrius	30	Shady Aristocrat	2	Battlecry: Discover a Quest. Complete it to get an 8-Gold Coin Pouch.
Skycap'n Kragg	30	Sharkbait	5	Battlecry: Refresh your Hero Power.
Sneed	30	Piloted Whirl-O-Tron	2	Battlecry: Copy a friendly minion's Deathrattles.
Sylvanas Windrunner	30	Nathanos Blightcaller	6	Battlecry: Remove a friendly minion. Give its stats to its neighbors.
Tamsin Roame	30	Monstrosity	4	After a friendly minion dies, gain its Attack.
Tavish Stormpike	30	Crabby	5	After your Hero Power deals damage, give adjacent minions stats equal to the damage dealt.
Teron Gorefiend	30	Shadowy Construct	3	After a friendly minion dies, give its neighbors +1/+1.
Tess Greymane	30	Hunter of Old	4	At the start of your turn, get your last opponent's Buddy.
The Curator	30	Mishmash	3	Whenever your Amalgam gains stats, this gains them too.
The Great Akazamzarak	30	Street Magician	3	Deathrattle: Put a random Secret into the battlefield.
The Jailer	30	Mawsworn Soulkeeper	2	Deathrattle: Summon 3 random Tier 1 minions.
The Lich King	30	Arfus	3	After a friendly minion is Reborn, give it this minion's Attack.
The Rat King	30	Pigeon Lord	1	Your Refreshes cost (0) while the Tavern doesn't have the minion type of your Hero Power.
Tickatus	30	Ticket Collector	5	When you sell this, Discover a Darkmoon Prize from the next prize turn.
Trade Prince Gallywix	30	Bilgewater Mogul	4	Choose One - Give a minion +1 Attack for each Gold you've spent this turn; or +1 Health.
Vanndar Stormpike	30	Stormpike Lieutenant	3	Avenge (2): Minions in the Tavern have +1 Health for the rest of the game.
Varden Dawngrasp	30	Varden's Aquarrior	4	'Twice as Nice' also gives both minions stats equal to your Tier.
Vol'jin	30	Master Gadrin	4	At the end of your turn, the minion to the left of this copies this minion's Attack.
Xyrella	30	Baby Elekk	3	After you play a minion with Attack equal to its Health, gain +2/+2.
Y'Shaarj	30	Baby Y'Shaarj	4	Whenever you summon a minion of your Tier, give it +4/+4.
Yogg-Saron, Hope's End	30	Acolyte of Yogg-Saron	4	When you sell this, spin the Wheel of Yogg-Saron.
Ysera	30	Valithria Dreamwalker	4	Dragons in the Tavern have +3/+3.
Zephrys, the Great	30	Phyresz	4	Battlecry: Discover a plain copy of a minion that you have exactly one of.

Battlegrounds heroes
Swipe left or right to see the cards.

History

Buddy meter

Buddy meter

From Patch 22.2.0.130051 to Patch 23.2.0.137922, every hero used to have a Buddy Meter that fills up during the combat phase whenever the player accomplished one of these objectives:

• • Enter combat
    • The player also gets a small bonus for how many minions they have before entering
  • Deal damage to enemies
  • Pop Battlegrounds/Divine Shields
  • Win or tie a combat phase
• Buddies were earned at three different rates.
  • The lower Tavern Tier is, the quicker the player can get that Buddy
  • There’s a limit to how much a Buddy Meter can be filled in a given round
• The Buddy Meter has two sections.
  • The player fills the first section to get 1 copy of their hero’s Buddy added to their hand, and the second section to get 2 more copies.
  • After both sections have been filled, the Buddy Meter breaks and is no longer available for the rest of the match (regardless of whether the player tripled their Buddy or sold any copies off along the way).
• The player can hover over heroes to see their buddy.
• The player can hover over the Buddy Meter to see the percentage.

• 

  As of Patch 22.2.0.130051

• 

  As of Patch 22.2.0.130051

• 

  As of Patch 22.2.0.130051

Average results

On average, the player could get the buddies on these turns, depending on their Tavern Tier:

• First section (1 copy)
  • Tier 2: Turn ~5
  • Tier 3: Turn ~6
  • Tier 4: Turn ~7
• Second section (2 copies)
  • Tier 2: Turn ~9
  • Tier 3: Turn ~11
  • Tier 4: Turn ~12

Speculations

This section includes speculation, observations or opinions possibly supported by data or by in-game experience. It should not be taken as representing official statement until Blizzard confirms it.

Buddy Meter details

As the Buddies were released along with Patch 22.2.0.130051, a number of players have conducted researches to figure out how exactly Buddy Meters work and the metric system involved. At 1AM UTC, January 28, 2022, an user named u/moocowfan (moocowalex on Twitch) has published a post to share what they have found so far. Their research is regarded by the community to be one of the most detailed explanations to the Buddy Meter system. The post can be summarized as followed:

• Different Buddy Meter tiers have a "pool" of about 75, 100, and 125 points to get the first buddy in the first section, for Tavern Tier 2, 3, and 4 respectively (the numbers are arbitrary).
• The second section seems to take twice as many points compared to the first section.
• The percentage displayed on Buddy Meter is rounded down. For example, the player may have achieved 4.8%, but the visual display will show it as 4%.
• Each turn, Buddy Meter can gain only around 30% on the first section; and 25% for Tavern Tier 2 and 20% for Tavern Tier 3/4 on the second section (regarding to the limiting factor)
• Objectives
  • Enter combat: The player gets percentage based on Tavern Tier of their Buddy and the turn.
  • Deal damage to enemies:
    • This includes the amount of damage Battlegrounds/Hero Powers or the player's minions deal to enemy minions.
    • Tavern Tier of enemy minions, number of attacks, destroyed minions are not related.
    • Dealing 1 damage 5 times and dealing 5 damage 1 time gives the same percentage.
    • The amount of percentage the player gets from the damage decays turn after turn.
    • The formula for calculating percentage seems to be $P = {1.25}^{3-t}\,$, with $P$ as percentage per damage, and $t$ as turn.
  • Pop Divine Shields: Popping Divine Shields consistently gives 0-2% of the meter depending on Buddy's Tavern Tier.
  • Win or tie a combat phase:
    • Tying gives roughly 1-3%
    • Winning may give as high as 10% early game.
    • Winning percentage may be increased based on the damage the player deals to enemy hero.
    • Despite the existence of limit to how much percentage Buddy Meter can gain per turn, winning or tying will still give roughly 1-2%.
  • Number of minions at start of combat:
    • This bonus is very small and much less impactful than damage.
    • If the scaling for damage is ~2.2% per damage for Tavern Tier 2 on turn 1, the percent per minion is something like 0.1-0.3%.

Patch changes

• Patch 26.2.0.174258 (2023-05-09): Retired.
• Patch 25.6.0.168788 (2023-03-14): Added.
• Patch 23.2.0.137922 (2022-05-10): Retired.
• Patch 22.2.0.130051 (2022-01-25): Added.