Deceptively simple in design but epically engaging, Hearthstone will be instantly accessible to players regardless of their familiarity with Warcraft or collectible card games. Whether players prefer to wield magic or arms in battle, strike from the shadows or head on—or have never given any of that much thought—they’ll be able to jump right in, create a deck, and get in on the card-slinging action.

In addition to honing their skills in practice matches against the computer and taking on their buddies via their Battle.net friends list, players can challenge each other in two competitive game modes. “Play Mode” features traditional head-to-head battles, with players facing off for a chance to increase their medal ranking and earn card packs along the way. And for a different type of challenge, players can enter “The Forge,” where they start each match by building a deck from a new set of cards, and then use that deck to duel other Forge participants. Aside from winning new cards, players will be able to round out their collections by purchasing new card packs or disenchanting some of their existing cards to craft the ones they’re missing.

With hundreds of cards to choose from, featuring a wide range of colorful Warcraft spells, weapons, and characters, players will have limitless possibilities for developing and fine-tuning their deck-building strategies.

World-renowned troll gladiators and fans of fierce competition from across Azeroth will soon crowd the fabled Gurubashi Arena for Rastakhan’s Rumble, the next expansion for Hearthstone.

Starting December 4, players will vie for glory with 135 new cards and a mojo-fueled arsenal of new mechanics.

Once per generation, the troll tribes of Azeroth make a pilgrimage at King Rastakhan’s behest to participate in a no-holds-barred smackdown for the ages. This year, nine teams have formed around their mightiest combatants—Legendary Troll Champions who each represent a Hearthstone class. The teams enjoy the blessings of the Loa, the ancient spirits worshipped by the trolls, who have manifested themselves in the form of powerful Legendary minions. Players can also seek the aid of Spirits—a new kind of class-specific minion, each with impressive effects that synergize with the Loa. 

It won’t just be King Rastakhan’s favor that players will compete for—the raucous crowd must also be entertained! Players looking to exhibit their gladiatorial prowess with flashy, over-the-top finishes can do so with Overkill—a new gameplay mechanic that rewards players for dealing excess damage to enemy minions.

Players thirsty for glory should keep their axes sharp, for soon after the launch of Rastakhan’s Rumble they’ll be able to test their might against Azeroth’s strongest troll champions in Rumble Run, the exhilarating new single-player Hearthstone experience coming with the expansion. Gurubashi event organizers will be sharing more details with all of the potential gladiators out there in the weeks ahead.

Coming December 4 to PC, Mac , iOS, and Android tablets; and mobile phones, Rastakhan’s Rumble card packs will be winnable in Hearthstone’s Arena mode, and players can purchase them with in-game gold or real money at the same prices as Hearthstone’s other card packs.

Starting today and up until the expansion is released, aspiring combatants can pre-purchase Rastakhan’s Rumble card packs in two different bundle options: the 17-pack Challenger’s Bundle includes the Ready to Rumble! card back, while the 50-pack Rumble Bundle also includes a new playable Shaman Hero—King Rastakhan. These bundles are available on any platform for $19.99 and $49.99, respectively—one of each can be purchased per account.