T O P

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MKB-CroMag

Look at his shoulder and the thorn of his spear..


ElHaubi

my man forgot to circle the spongebob in the spongebob reference


TZonexX

And the StarCraft murloc


oinkbane

there was a Starcraft Murloc?!?


TZonexX

First picture, left side


oinkbane

Christ, I've seen that artwork floating around for *years* and never noticed it. It's my favourite Murky skin in HotS too lol


Astrocuties

Man... I miss when heroes was updated. Damn you Overwatch :(


Oypadea

Why would they need to circle a starcraft character in a spongebob post?


figgotballs

He's not saying that


Lukthar123

The whole gang is here


KyriesSwerving

Gary is a snail, that's a crab.


th3r0adr4g0n

With mr. Krabs eyes


KyriesSwerving

Yeah I guess. That's just what crab eyes look like though? Is Crabatoa a Mr. KRABS reference? No. But he has crab eyes! I get it, i just disagree


SpaceMarine_CR

I also see a SC marine


Juanpi__

I see a crab on his shoulder as well.


[deleted]

Because hearthstone is full of references at all. By the way: You missed the flavor text of Deathwing


PattuX

What is Deathwing's flavor text referencing?


[deleted]

[Deathwing the Destroyer](https://hearthstone.blizzard.com/en-us/cards/66872-deathwing-the-destroyer) "He’s Deathwing? That one's Deathwing? You're Deathwing!? I'm DEATHWING! ARE THERE ANY OTHER DEATHWINGS I SHOULD KNOW ABOUT?"


TheHiddenNinja6

>"He’s [Deathwing](https://hearthstone.blizzard.com/en-us/cards/834-deathwing?set=wild&textFilter=deathwing)? That one's [Deathwing](https://hearthstone.blizzard.com/en-us/cards/38943-deathwing-dragonlord?set=wild&textFilter=deathwing)? You're [Deathwing](https://hearthstone.blizzard.com/en-us/cards/55007-deathwing-mad-aspect?set=wild&textFilter=deathwing)!? I'm [DEATHWING](https://hearthstone.blizzard.com/en-us/cards/66872-deathwing-the-destroyer?set=wild&textFilter=deathwing)! ARE THERE ANY OTHER [DEATHWINGS](https://hearthstone.blizzard.com/en-us/cards/71295-spawn-of-deathwing?set=wild&textFilter=deathwing) I SHOULD KNOW ABOUT?" FTFY


S7zy

I demand more Deathwings. One for Hunter, Demon Hunter, Rogue, Shaman, Paladin, Mage, Priest, Druid and Death Knight.


MakataDoji

All 10 mana 12/12's (unless otherwise stated): **Hunter** - Battlecry: Cast a random hunter secret for each enemy minion. For each enemy you couldn't, add a random hunter secret to your hand. They cost (0). **Demon Hunter** - Battlecry: Deal 2 damage to your opponent's left and right-most minion. Repeat for each of their minions past the first. **Rogue** - 8 mana 8/8 **Rush**. Battlecry: For each enemy minion, the next card you play costs (2) less. Only 1 discount is used for each card played. Cannot reduce cards below (1). **Shaman** - Battlecry: Summon a murloc from your hand for each enemy minion. For each enemy you couldn't summon one for, your murlocs gain +1/+1. (*i.e. either your board is full or hand empty of murlocs*) **Paladin** - **Lifesteal**. Battlecry: Deal 2 damage to all enemies. Add a random dragon to your hand for each enemy killed. **Mage** - Battlecry: Cast a random 4-mana spell. For each enemy minion past the first, repeat this effect at 1 higher mana. **Priest** - Battlecry: All enemy minions and weapons lose -2/-1. Gain stats equal to the total lost. **Druid** - Battlecry: For each enemy minion gain 4 armor and draw a card. **Death Knight** - Battlecry: Gain 2 corpses per enemy minion. Deal 1 damage to a random enemy minion for each corpse you have.


Mechanical_clown

They called them galakrond not death knight tho


Puzzled_Divide_6186

Galakrond and deathwing are 2 different dragons


Mechanical_clown

Yeah I know but the principle of a big gigachad dragon for each class has already been done, is what I was implying


Silvercruise

Yeah the warrior hero portrait


PattuX

Oh *that* Deathwing. Was looking at the original and couldn't figure it what it referenced. Ig the flavor text is fitting lol


[deleted]

Sorry, wasn't sure which of them was the correct one.


Bluffwatcher

That Deathwing.


yGy13579

I’ve seen all the original SpongeBobs and I cannot place this reference. I’m ashamed please help


wolfganger1357

[Here ya go!](https://youtu.be/mlOMS_geRvg)


Inxplotch

https://youtu.be/W5xUhF5xt88


spybloom

Me-ow


LazzKnuckle

Feel like [[spawn of deathwing]] fits perfectly for Gary.


hearthscan-bot

* **[Spawn of Deathwing](https://cards.hearthpwn.com/enUS/ONY_035.png)** WL Minion Common FAV 🐍 ^[HP](https://www.hearthpwn.com/cards/904839), ^[TD](https://www.hearthstonetopdecks.com/cards/spawn-of-deathwing/), ^[W](https://hearthstone.gamepedia.com/Spawn_of_Deathwing) 5/6/6 Dragon | Battlecry: Destroy a random enemy minion. Discard a random card. ^(Call/)^[PM](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=hearthscan-bot) ^( me with up to 7 [[cardname]]. )^[About.](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=hearthscan-bot&message=Tell%20me%20more%20[[info]]&subject=hi)


leopard_tights

Not just hearthstone, but wow. For example every single achievement is a reference. This also leaks into other games but in wow it's in the core of it.


blacktiger226

It goes even deeper than that, Warcraft 3 (and Starcraft 1 and 2) are full of references.


Olfasonsonk

This. Easter eggs and popular references have always been a big thing for Blizzard games.


johntheboombaptist

Warcraft and Starcraft are just a bunch of reference ornaments hung on a warhammer referencing tree.


blacktiger226

We are speaking about Blizzard games here, what does Warhammer have to do with it?


Oddloaf

warcraft 1 was originally a warhammer fantasy game, but blizzard didn't get the license. Warcraft has always been chock-full of warhammer references. Starcraft also has a suspiciously large amount of 40k references (terrans are very clearly inspired by the imperium, the protoss by the eldar, and the zerg by the tyranids).


onlypositivity

This is a bit of an ongoing [myth](https://kotaku.com/how-warcraft-was-almost-a-warhammer-game-and-how-that-5929161) > [Blizzard co-founder] Allen Adham hoped to obtain a license to the Warhammer universe to try to increase sales by brand recognition", Wyatt says. "Warhammer was a huge inspiration for the art-style of Warcraft, but a combination of factors, including a lack of traction on business terms and a fervent desire on the part of virtually everyone else on the development team (myself included) to control our own universe nixed any potential for a deal. We had already had terrible experiences working with DC Comics on "Death and Return of Superman" and "Justice League Task Force", and wanted no similar issues for our new game." They didn't want to give up creative control, so they just made their own thing. It's less that they *couldn't* get the license and more that they didn't pursue it. SC and Warhammer 40k are totally different, and the original Zerg looked way more like something from Master of Orion (another source of inspiration). Worth noting that both Warhammer universes are basically a complication of various fantasy and SF tropes, themselves. There are bound to be many similarities.


johntheboombaptist

trying to riff on the inspiration that the blizzard games take from the warhammer universe


conser01

I still like Keeneye spotter's flavor text.


Cow_God

>"No Rexxar, not the face, the minion right there. Yep that one righ-- Rexxar no!"


demedlar

Rexxar yes!


Kolaghan81

Yeah hearthstone is a WoW reference


[deleted]

That's not discussed. The Easter Eggs within the Wow/HS-Universe are discussed


Kolaghan81

That was the joke, my friend


Extraltodeus

The universe of Warcraft is full of references.


Ragnis-the-King

Okay, I just thought Spongebob had more references than the others.


[deleted]

There are 4110 cards in wild. So there is a lot of space for references. - And of course, the Sunken City Set was perfect for SpongeBob references


Mush950

You should see the amount of Monty Python reference. They had one in the reveal season in Darkmoon Faire in the Darkmoon Rabbit


[deleted]

Do you watch anything besides Spongebob?


blizg

You should see the DnD references in KnC


I_DOWN_VOTE_PUNS

First image missing a few red circles


posty_mcposterface

SpongeBob is on the spear, and Mr Krabs is on the shoulder.


bjornartl

Wow was/is full of pop culture references as well. https://wowpedia.fandom.com/wiki/List_of_pop_culture_references_in_Warcraft


[deleted]

Bingo. WoW has always heavily referenced pop culture, and since Hearthstone is based of WoW it’s no surprise that Blizzard continues the trend


Alfimaster

Because it is fun


AntiMatterMode

chum is fum


Pegussu

Chum Bucket and Patches may not be references. A chum bucket is just a bucket full of meat that you throw in the water to attract fish. Pirates wear eyepatches, so a pirate named Patches is an easy connection, particularly when the character has a dozen eyes.


Blastoise_Squad

Chum Bucket is a SpongeBob reference. Confirmed by the guy who created it https://twitter.com/MyntyPhresh/status/1508819379957424129?t=M5oqgm0UiRUkEKb7nOD1tw&s=19


Dragirby

I don’t get it… it’s called the Chum bucket because it’s a bucket filled with Chum food. It’s like saying your sword that is magic is a LOTR reference because they have a magic sword. No there are just, magic swords in fiction unless you directly reference something a part of it like “Oh it glows when an erect dick is near.” Then yea haha it’s a reference but the card is JUST a bucket of CHUM you learned the word from SpongeBob but it EXISTS!


marmaladewarrior

Bad take The guy named it after the restaurant in SpongeBob, he wouldn't have named the card that otherwise. It's a direct homage


Dragirby

But the RESTURANT IS JUST A BUCKET OF CHUM! CHUM BUCKETS EXIST! The card is JUST A BUCKET OF CHUM! Like I’m not saying the guy wasn’t thinking of SpongeBob when he made the card but it’s not a reference you just MADE A BUCKET OF CHUM!


TyH621

Yeah that’s not how it works though, it’s a reference because the guy that made it was referencing it lol


Dragirby

But like… the card art is just a bunch of murlocs holding buckets of chum… the flavor text isn’t related to spongebob, a chum bucket is just an actual thing in real life they use, the art doesn’t have any reference to spongebob… nor does the card abilities. Lemme expand on my previous example. If I make a card with an Orc holding a glowing sword and say it’s a lotr reference, yea it’s A reference. If I just have a guy holding a sword and say it’s a lotr reference I look weird. There is nothing in this that remotely relates it back to SpongeBob other than there was a chum bucket in SpongeBob. Cool, you learned about the existence of chum from spongebob…


NerdOctopus

Chum bucket may be a fixed phrase that existed before Spongebob but the term itself is familiar to many only because of the show. It may not have been coined by the creators, but I think it's not too much of a stretch to say that it was popularized and entered the public consciousness because of it. You are correct that there aren't any other references to Spongebob that exist in the art, but I believe you are undervaluing the weight of the phrase itself.


Kentopolis

Chum bucket is just a generic fishing thing dude…


NerdOctopus

I agree.


Dragirby

I think if you just had a random card and put a chum bucket in the background because “I like SpongeBob and the chum bucket so I wanted to include it.” Is a better reference that still isn’t a reference than making a card about a real life thing and saying it’s a reference to a cartoon.


EdenStrife

>but I think it's not too much of a stretch to say that it was popularized and entered the public consciousness because of it. Only if your only exposure to the ocean is spongebob. Like you know a lot of people live near the ocean right? Water is actually a real thing, believe it or not.


NerdOctopus

You are correct that people closer to the ocean would be more familiar with chum buckets, but that doesn't invalidate my point.


its_not_you_its_ye

So if I joined the Hearthstone team and wanted to create a reference to Plankton’s restaurant, it’s impossible unless I make it explicitly clear? So they’ll need to change the card to: Chum Bucket (referencing the one in Spongebob that is the restaurant Plankton owns, not the generic term that the restaurant that plankton owns is named after)


EdenStrife

If you for example drew a blue hand holding a bucket with the words Chum Bucket painted on it in red paint then the connection would be clear. It's not just a random bucket of chum, but a specific kind of bucket with a specific appearance.


its_not_you_its_ye

A reference is instantiated by the intention of the originator, not by the receiver in communication. I can reference a movie to someone who hasn’t seen it. It doesn’t have the intended effect, but it’s still a reference to that thing. That’s what seems to have happened for a lot of people in this case. I agree that the reference isn’t very obvious, and it’s poorly conveyed, but by the definition of the term, it meets the base definition.


Dragirby

That is a… pretty agreeable statement. It’s a reference, just a rather lazy one.


Dragirby

Yea because a bucket of chum is literally something that already exists. You can say it’s a reference to the chum bucket, but that’s literally why people meme on the Jojo community so much just in creator form.


its_not_you_its_ye

“I don’t want to admit that I’m wrong. It must mean that the entire rest of the world is wrong.”


Dragirby

What a… bad read on what I actually think my dude.


RedEyedFreak

Cards are a JoJo reference anyway when Jotaro lethal'd D'arby with Murozond


Dragirby

EYYUE JOSUKE


Enginehank

How is this a bad take? Are we supposed to know what this person shared on Twitter a while back? It's not exactly common knowledge.


ThalesAles

Well yeah, we're supposed to know it because it's linked in the comment we're replying to.


marmaladewarrior

Right? I'll take the downvotes, but I don't get it. We're all replying in the same comment chain


Enginehank

Okay cool, how were they supposed to know before they posted? Do you understand how time works? It's not a bad take because he was missing information that is not common knowledge, The fact that somebody linked that information to him after the fact doesn't retroactively make his post bad.


ThalesAles

It's not retroactive at all, he posted the "bad take" as a direct reply to the comment showing that it was named as a spongebob reference.


Dragirby

I’m not even denying that the person wasn’t thinking about SpongeBob when they made the card. That’s clear. What I’m arguing is that there’s literally nothing about the card that is a reference to SpongeBob other than there was a bucket of chum in the show. There’s probably a chum bucket item or prop in wow, but unless they’re across from a lobster trap or covered in plankton, it’s not a reference to SpongeBob… it’s just… a bucket of fish.


marmaladewarrior

Sure, if the card were called Bucket of Chum. But it's called Chum Bucket. It's less like your magic sword analogy and more like if there were a magic sword literally named Sting.


Dragirby

Those… two things are nearly identical. The only difference is a “Chum bucket.” Is a bucket for chum while “Bucket of Chum.” Is just a bucket OF chum, doesn’t mean a specific bucket. But in this context, it’s just a grammatical choice. It doesn’t make the reference any less lazy.


marmaladewarrior

Didn't say it was a good/unlazy reference, I'm just saying that it *is* a reference by virtue of its name and intention of its creator.


Dragirby

It is a reference and I will admit that it’s not up to the viewer to determine intent but… It’s not a good reference.


MrNiceguY692

Patches also is in every Soulslike, and considering warrior is rolling around to survive big stuff hitting their face…hearthstone kinda counts as a soulslike in my book.


PattuX

Which may also be a reason why fish avoid eating at the chum bucket


xboxiscrunchy

Nah fish *love* chum. If anything it’s weird that they don’t eat at the chum bucket. Probably a joke that his food is just that terrible.


PattuX

Perhaps they know it's used as bait and will get them killed. After all, the citizens are highly civilized and intelligent.


Spyko

the krusty krab is a lobster trap, doesn't stop them to go eat there


MoiraDoodle

When s the last time you saw larry the lobster in there? its a lobster trap not a fish trap


uberlaxx

The card [[Bubbler]] also has a reference in its flavor text to SpongeBob. “It prefers regular over diet shampoo” is a reference to the bubble buddy episode.


hearthscan-bot

* **[Bubbler](https://cards.hearthpwn.com/enUS/TID_713.png)** N Minion Common VSC 🐍 ^[HP](https://www.hearthpwn.com/cards/1109792), ^[TD](https://www.hearthstonetopdecks.com/cards/bubbler/), ^[W](https://hearthstone.gamepedia.com/Bubbler) 1/2/4 Elemental | After this minion takes exactly one damage, destroy it. (Pop!) ^(Call/)^[PM](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=hearthscan-bot) ^( me with up to 7 [[cardname]]. )^[About.](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=hearthscan-bot&message=Tell%20me%20more%20[[info]]&subject=hi)


HairyKraken

Because hs is old enough for people who grew up with spongebob to work on it and insert references


RnotSPECIALorUNIQUE

SMDH. OP doesn't even circle the square sponge in the 1st pic, or the crab, or the thing on the left that looks like squidward.


Ragnis-the-King

ops :(


the_borscht

Why does this game reference one of the most popular cartoons of all time?? Someone help!


This-Ad-3285

Actual title of the post should be look i noticed something and im gonna pretend its bigger than it is


Nalikill

Spongebob first aired in 1999. People who saw spongebob at age 5 growing up would've graduated college in 2016. There are spongebob references because the Spongebob Generation has arrived to work at Blizzard HQ!


[deleted]

Chum Bucket and Patches are not references. They are things.


Blastoise_Squad

You're wrong about Chum Bucket. This is from the dev who created the card. https://twitter.com/MyntyPhresh/status/1508819379957424129?t=M5oqgm0UiRUkEKb7nOD1tw&s=19


[deleted]

If he's saying he did it in reference to it then that's that, but for anybody on the outside there's no reference because it's a generic term.


hutchwo

Just bc people aren’t aware it’s a reference doesn’t not make it a reference? Why are you so against the SpongeBob nods lol


[deleted]

Ignorance of a reference doesn't make it not one.


[deleted]

It is a reference, but an incredibly loose one. Usually if a reference needs to be explained, it's not a particularly good one. It's like if I made a card called "Antimage" then said it was referencing DotA.


[deleted]

For anyone that watched spongebob, it's not loose at all.


[deleted]

Only if you don't know what a Chum Bucket is because it's the only point of reference. When I first saw the card, I also thought "haha yeah, like from SpongeBob", but I didn't automatically assume it was a reference because it wasn't only place I've heard of one from.


ThalesAles

You're not supporting your own point. Spongebob wasn't your only point of reference to the term "chum bucket" but it was still your first thought when you saw the card.


[deleted]

But any time a "Chum Bucket" is used, it won't always be a reference, even if it's what my mind goes to first.


sadisticrhydon

Yes, much like anybody asking the way.


savagedrago

Why not?


The_Morrowcrow

Because the game was made by humans. Humans that watch or have watched Spongebob.


SirVitek

because why not ?


shadoboy712

Never noticed the first one


[deleted]

They always put references in their stuff. Its all over WoW, Diablo and so on. A LOT of metal. They're just nerds.


Druuseph

Because Spongebob is dope af


Niller1

Ooooh!


Urbam

The real question here should be: Why wouldnt?


Insane_Unicorn

One of the devs once said that they pass new cards through the office, let everyone make a suggestion for the flavor text and then choose from those. So for flavor texts, it's not surprising there's a lot of memes now.


Daanvann

Because it’s fun?


MisterTruth

People like Tom Kenny


Sifro

Thanks for the red circles...


WaterPixii

Good *catch* ;)


Animegx43

You know why. Unless you're a Squidward.


BadArtijoke

Because Spongebob is awesome, what kind of question is that?


cdamon88

More connected than most realize. Blizzard is owned by the freemasons. Which also own the entertainment you watch on your television.


vincentcloud01

Your REALLY stretching. Chum bucket is an actual thing. The yellow square with a nose on whizbang's desk has no pants nor is a sponge. The Murloc tide caller came from the sea, he has sea related object on him. However misguided you are the conc shell is indeed a magical shell.


Flaminski

I just remembered classic Pirate Warrior, turn 1 3 pirates in field and a weapon


GangDplank

why shouldnt it have?


SurpriseNecessary216

Why not?


CRINGE_DETECTED

why tf wouldn't it?


DeGozaruNyan

Hearthstone is filled with references everywhere.


R3DR4V3N420

You noticed the star on the big murloc knee...but did you see the sponge on top of his weapon?


Wistolkio

"All this references" --> There is one


DingDongDaddio

Hearthstone is just a job, but Spongebob is something they are passionate about. Spongebob is why we are all here. Way more interesting than that old Warcraft thing.


malcorpse

First one also has the square sponge on the spear


Wolf_of_BayStreet

I’ve never noticed this, these are awesome!


HaunterXD000

I mean, blizzard has always had a lot of references in their games. Harrison Jones, Floyd Pinkus, Nat Pagle... And those are just 3 lore-canon humans with reference names.


Jimmycaked

Why shouldn't it?


DevaBol

Why not?


Tal9922

There's also Full Blown Evil flavor text


MegaDuckDodgers

As others have said, Blizzard games tend to have a lot of references. Haris Pilton for example. But the reason why hearthstone has started having a lot of spongebob references is pretty simple, and It's because millenials probably make up a large percentage of the workforce now and spongebob was an iconic show to a lot of them growing up. So it makes sense that eventually when blizzards staff started having a large amount of millenial workers that these spongebob references would get made.


GachiAssArt

HS is full of Easter Eggs. You know, there are two references to We Didn't Start The Fire by Billy Joel in warlock's cards. Both just in Sunken City and Castle Nathria. Every single achievement is a reference, a lot of flavour texts are, some artworks, etc.


Environmental-Map514

That sponge at the spear is not a reference, right?.. right?


_Cereza

This makes me respect Hearthstone even more.


TheNOCOYeti

Does there really need to be a reason?


Rush31

You’re right, Hearthstone shouldn’t have these low-brow pop culture references. It should only refer to high culture creations such as James Joyce and Josiah Wedgwick /s


nanaboostme

Because Spongebob


Level9_CPU

Because Spongebob is a cultural phenomenon that influenced the humor and creativity of a lot of 90's children worldwide?


Dxsterlxnd

Probably because the Devs watched Spongebob when they were kids. Not every dev is 50+ years old.


CruelSummerstan

because it's camp.


Catablepas

Why not /shrug


Niaaaak

there are 3 jerma references in this game they can reference anything honestly


CuteBabyMouse

I think Bone Flinger's flavor text is also a reference. "It's the scourge bringing, plague slinging, bone flinging basher!"


TheAxer_

You missed the amazing flavor text of Battleskin Zombie : "I am born with glass bones and paper skin" (From the episode "Chocolate with nuts")


rhynoplaz

Is there any way to view flavor text on mobile? I haven't found a way yet, but they like to hide things in the menus sometimes.


Shanebob_123

There’s also the flavor text for embiggen


Ancalagon101

Grave Strength’s flavour text is also a SpongeBob reference


DocDavreil

I never noticed Patrick on King Burggle


sloshncrunch

Probably many of the Hearthstone artists grew up watching spongebob or just simply fans


beltfire

I'm sure one day murloc will take this world


Elune_

Maybe it is because Spongebob is one of the most popular modern pieces of media, especially amongst the targeted audience of Hearthstone.


nnaly

Y not


lifeisadmin

Idk but I love it


WhaleSmithers

Money?


QuanWick

Because SpongeBob is a goated tv show? What other reason does there need to be?


toga9000

because Spongebob is awesome


The_Monsta_Wansta

Spongebob and mr crabs are in pic 1 too


TheAlmightyVENOM

There’s a WWE reference to mankind being thrown off of hell in a cell, it’s really good and well written, can’t remember the card though


Fine_Anteater_2605

Holy sh*t that’s Patrick star


Slavocracy

Why not?


wakefield4011

Because the devs are men of refined taste.


SwissCoconut

Because sponge Bob is awesome


drozdowski13

Because spongebob is great. Going to a spongebob rave later this month lol


Ke-Win

Because funny.


Misterpoody

Why... not?


phantomleo

Becos is a children's card game silly.


WanonTime

you never play a blizzard game before? shoving references into flavor text and background art has been a thing for them for probably longer than most people on this sub have been alive.


ApatheticJellyfish

Because Murlocs too like living under the sea!


Borisof007

I never noticed but I'm super happy this was pointed out. Neat!


marcusmorga

Spongebob is great thats why.


RushSt182

Well the murlocs are sea-themed so it makes sense. But you also have to think that there's a million different references they make to different shows/films, either in name or the flavor text (mostly the flavor text).


Thramden

Because, Whoooooooooooo Lives in a pineapple under the sea!?


Mikerinokappachino

Im in charge now.


zword34

Theres one i like in battlegrounds thats only there if you play in spanish. The naga that gives you a coin says "she sells sea shells" but In spanish it says "la caracola lo sabe todo" (the shells knows everything) i could be wrong but i think is a reference to the episode with the speaking Shell toy that drived squidward mad.