Vanilla
Minion with no special abilities
Example
Should I add this new minion to my deck? It’s got decent stats but no abilities
Sounds like a vanilla minion. If it’s got good value for the mana cost, it might still be worth it
True, sometimes simple is best!
How well do you know your Fantasy Football slang?
In Hearthstone, "vanilla" refers to a minion with no special abilities—meaning it lacks effects like Battlecry, Deathrattle, or Passive abilities. These minions rely purely on their attack and health stats without any extra effects when played or destroyed. While they might seem simple, vanilla minions can still be valuable in certain decks, especially when they offer strong stats for their mana cost.
The term vanilla comes from broader gaming slang, where it often means something "basic" or "unmodified." In Hearthstone, vanilla minions are often used as a benchmark for balancing other cards. Players may compare new minions to classic vanilla ones, like the Chillwind Yeti, to judge their power level. While flashy abilities are more attractive to gamers, a well-statted vanilla minion can still be formidable.