Hearthstone is making ready to launch its twelfth yr with a brand new Core Set and new enlargement, this time based mostly on one in every of World of Warcraft’s most iconic occasions. The enlargement known as Cataclysm, named after the WoW enlargement of the identical identify, however as standard Hearthstone is delivering a twist on what we have come to count on from the Warcraft lore. This time, the apocalyptic dragon side Deathwing wins. It can launch on March 17.
On this story, Murozond pulled the victorious Deathwing into the Hearthstone universe, leaving its heroes to defeat the dragon. That effort will likely be led by Chromie and her Dragonflights, the dragon related to defending the timeline, who will pull heroes from throughout historical past to defeat this new model of Deathwing.
Appropriately, this enlargement will convey Colossal minions again to Hearthstone. First launched in 2022’s Voyage to the Sunken Metropolis, these minions unfold out their results throughout a number of our bodies with big results. Every class will get its personal Colossal minion, and 6 of them are designated as Deathwing’s lieutenants. In the meantime, two new key phrases will likely be launched: Herald utilized by these allied with Deathwing with results that stack the extra Herald playing cards you play; and Shatter for the Dragonflights, which break up into two halves to provide you flexibility or the power to mix them. There will even be highly effective class-based Triumph and Final Stand spells related to every class’s hero.
Gamers can begin finishing milestones to earn group rewards now, like a signature Cataclysm legendary card. Then on March 10, gamers will get entry to trial playing cards for the entire Emerald Dream and Misplaced Metropolis of Un’Goro playing cards, to be used in the course of the Cataclysm enlargement interval. If you have already got most of these playing cards, you will get a signature Ysera, Emerald Side from Emerald Dream and a signature Endbringer Umbra from Un’Goro, respectively.
Since that is the primary enlargement of the brand new yr, it’s going to additionally accompany a brand new Core Set rotation for Commonplace play. The brand new yr has been dubbed the Year of the Scarab. Some staple playing cards like Brawl and Shadowstep are rotating out of the Core Set, whereas new ones will likely be added. As at all times, the Core Set is free for all gamers. Blizzard notes that between the free Core Set playing cards and the free trial playing cards, gamers could have entry to 2/3 of the usual card pool totally free. Blizzard says it’s aiming this yr to have stronger class identities and a extra fluid meta.
The brand new yr will even convey visible updates, music, and a brand new recreation board. And in an enormous change for long-time followers, gamers who hit Legend standing in 2026 will get a brand new Legend beauty card again. The basic Legend card again has remained unchanged for the reason that recreation’s launch, so this may encourage top-tier gamers to purpose for gathering the brand new yearly card again as nicely. If it is your first time hitting Legend, you will get each the 2026 model and the basic model.