Activision-Blizzard’s digital collectible card game Hearthstone is entering its fifth year this month. Like previous years, the new year is given a Chinese Zodiac designation and a slew of updates and changes.
This year is the Year of the Dragon, and three major expansions will follow. For the first time, all three expansions will follow an overarching, continuous storyline. Watch Creative Director Ben Thompson and new Executive Producer Chris Sigaty introduce new elements coming to Hearthstone’s Year of the Dragon.
In transitioning to the new year, 2017’s sets will be moved from Standard to Wild: Journey to Un’Goro, Knights of the Frozen Throne, and Kobolds & Catacombs. Standard mode includes only the current and previous year’s sets, to cut down on card variety and balance.
As a sendoff to these three sets, logging in between March 25 and April 2 will reward a card pack from each 2017 set. A special Tavern Brawl will run between those dates, featuring only cards from those sets.
The following nine cards are being ushered into the Hall of Fame – which means they’re being kicked out of Standard mode for balance reasons.
- Naturalize
- Doomguard
- Divine Favor
- Baku the Mooneater
- Genn Greymane
- Gloom Stag
- Black Cat
- Glitter Moth
- Murkspark Eel
You’ll still keep these cards if you own them, as well as receive their Arcane Dust value.
Year of the Dragon promises a more robust, highly replayable single player adventure. The first solo adventure will begin about a month after the first expansion launches. It will include a free chapter starring a new mage character. Additional chapters will cost 700 gold each. All five chapters can be purchased for $19.99. Each chapter includes two new characters and four starting decks. Completing a chapter will net three card packs.
Other new features include the ability to reroll legendary quests, and use a random card back for each match.
For more on the new year of content, the Hearthstone team is hosting a Reddit AMA this Thurdsay, May 7, at 1 pm Pacific/4 pm Eastern.
