Hearthstone Wiki
Hearthstone Wiki
Explosive Runes
Explosive Runes
Golden Explosive Runes
Set:Kobolds & CatacombsKobolds & Catacombs
Spell school:Fire
Cost:3 Mana icon.png
Abilities:Deal damage, Secret
Wiki tags:Summoning-related, Triggered effect
Artist:Matt Dixon
Secret: After your opponent plays a minion, deal 6 damage to it and any excess to their hero.
Flavor text

Sometimes it's safer NOT to read the warning signs.

External links

Data pageHearthpwn

For the Tavern Brawl spell, see Explosive Runes (Nefarian Rises! spell).

Explosive Runes is a rare mage spell card, from the Kobolds and Catacombs set.

How to get[]

Explosive Runes can be obtained through Kobolds & Catacombs card packs, or through crafting.

Card Crafting cost Disenchanting
Explosive Runes 100 20
Golden Explosive Runes 800 100


  • If this Secret triggers on a Divine Shield minion, the Divine Shield will pop and absorb damage equal to the minion's health. Any leftover damage is then dealt to the enemy hero.
    • Example: Playing Silvermoon Guardian (with 3 health) into Explosive Runes will pop the minion's Divine Shield and deal 3 damage to the controlling player's hero.
    • Example: Playing Tirion Fordring (with 6 health) into Explosive Runes will pop the minion's Divine Shield but won't deal damage to the controlling player's hero.


This card is a powerful tempo-generating secret that packs removal and direct damage into one. The amount of damage it deals is enough to remove most minions that are played on curve while dealing substantial damage to the opponent, which helps soften the enemy hero for other burst damage cards like Pyroblast. Unlike other Secrets that interact with minion plays like Mirror Entity or Potion of Polymorph, its power does not scale with the minion it was activated off of. While it won't be as effective when the opponent plays a big minion, it's harder to check for with small minions especially if conserving Health is a major concern.

One case where Explosive Runes may be problematic is if the opponent plays a Deathrattle minion that they want to kill off, such as Devilsaur Egg.



Explosive Runes, full art

Patch changes[]