Spellburst Explained (Hearthstone)

What is Spellburst?

Spelburst is a keyword ability in Hearthstone that was introduced with the Scholomance Academy expansion in 2020 (note: list of best decks for Scholomance Academy release). Spellburst cards are all minions that have a special one-time effect that occurs the first time a spell is cast after the spellburst minion is played.

List of Spellburst Cards

Card Name Expansion Class Card Text
Gibberling Scholomance Academy Druid Spellburst: Summon a Gibberling
Intrepid Initiate Scholomance Academy Neutral Spellburst: Gain +2 Attack
Pen Flinger Scholomance Academy Neutral Battlecry: Deal 1 damage
Spellburst: Return this to your hand.
Diligent Notetaker Scholomance Academy Shaman Spellburst: Return the spell to your hand
Ceremonial Maul Scholomance Academy Paladin/Warrior Spellburst: Summon a student with Taunt and stats equal to the spell’s cost
Enchanted Cauldron Scholomance Academy Neutral Spellburst: Cast a random spell of the same cost.
Firebrand Scholomance Academy Mage Spellburst: Deal 4 damage randomly split among all enemy minions.
Goody Two-Shields Scholomance Academy Paladin Divine Shield
Spellburst: Gain divine shield.
Speaker Gidra Scholomance Academy Druid Rush, Windfury
Spellburst: Gain attach and health equal to the spell’s cost
Cabal Acolyte Scholomance Academy Priest Taunt
Spellburst: Gain control of a random enemy minion with 2 or less attack.
Crimson Hothead Scholomance Academy Priest Spellburst: Gain +1 attack and taunt.
High Abbess Alura Scholomance Academy Paladin Spellburst: Cast a spell from your deck (targets this if possible).
Krolusk Barkstripper Scholomance Academy Hunter Spellburst: Destroy a random enemy minion.
Reaper’s Scythe Scholomance Academy Warrior Spellburst: Also damages adjacent minions this turn.
Shifty Sophomore Scholomance Academy Rogue Stealth
Spellburst: Add a combo card to your hand.
Wretched Tutor Scholomance Academy Neutral Spellburst: Deal 2 damage to all other minions.
Headmaster Kel’Thuzad Scholomance Academy Neutral Spellburst: If the spell destroys any minions, summon them.
Wyrm Weaver Scholomance Academy Mage Spellburst: Summon two 1/3 Mana Wyrms.
Forest Warden Omu Scholomance Academy Druid Spellburst: Refresh your mana crystals.
Onyx Magescribe Scholomance Academy Neutral Spellburst: Add 2 random spells from your class to your hand.

Common Questions about Spellburst

Does spellburst only work once?

Yes, spellburst only works once. That’s what makes Pen Flinger an interesting card. Due to the “return to hand” effect, you can use the ability repeatedly throughout the game as long as you have spells to play.

Which Spellburst cards are seeing early use in successful decks?

Here is a list of the ten most played spellburst cards right now (September 2020):

Card Name Most Played Class Common Decks Played
Intrepid Initiate Hunter Face Hunter, Aggro Demon Hunter, Gibberling Druid
Goody Two-Shields Paladin (class card) Libram Paladin
Pen Flinger Warlock Zoo Warlock, Rogue (aggro decks)
Firebrand Mage (class card) Small Spell Mage
High Abbess Alura Paladin (dual-class card) Libram Paladin
Cabal Acolyte Priest (class card) Galakrond Priest (any variety)
Speaker Gidra Druid (dual-class card) Guardian Druid, Spell Damage Shaman
Reaper’s Scythe Warrior (class card) Big Warrior, Pirate Warrior
Crimson Hothead Mage Highlander Mage, Galakrond Dragon Priest
Gibberling Druid (class card) Gibberling Druid

Highlights for Some Spellburst Cards

Gibberling

Gibberling has spawned its very own eponymous deck: Gibberling Druid. Like other Savage Roar decks before it, Gibberling Druid floods the board with little minions, and then uses Savage Roar or other buffs as a finisher.

The difference here is that Gibberling Druid is its own self-contained small minion generating machine. Check out the opening game from Alliestrasza’s video:

Pen Flinger

Kibler used a Quest Shaman deck, powered in part by the numerous battlecries from Pen Flinger (as well as other value-driven battlecry minions).

Goody Two-Shields / High Abbess Alura

I’m including these two together because they both fit so well with the Libram Paladin deck that is sporting a pretty high win rate in the current Scholomance meta. Along with other Scholomance cards (looking at you Blessing of Authority who combos so well with Alura), the Paladin deck can hold its own against most other decks.

26-minute gameplay video from Ecore 100:

Cabal Acolyte

The current priest combo that everyone loves to hate is Cabal Acolyte + Wave of Apathy. This is a good example of timing rules with spellburst cards. Wave of Apathy full resolves before triggering the spellburst effect on Cabal Acolyte, which means that you have the opportunity to steal any of your opponent’s minions since they will all have 1 attack.

Note: As of September 3, Cabal Acolyte has been nerfed to have only 4 toughness instead of 6 (2/6 instead of 2/4)

About Wesley Lyles 117 Articles
Wesley is a jack of all trades hobbyist. Though much of his spare time is spent playing board games (especially solo card games like Legendary), Hearthstone, Rocket League, and MLB The Show.e He also enjoys most sports, but pays way too much attention to baseball and football.