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.

Starting April 9, players will be able to join a league of miscreants as they embark on Hearthstone’s first-ever yearlong story line, with 135 dastardly new cards and some wickedly devious new mechanics.

After suffering defeat at the hands of the League of Explorers, Arch-Thief Rafaam realized that his designs on Azeroth would require more roguery than he alone could muster. In the years since, he has dwelled in the shadows, recruiting the greatest antagonists Hearthstone has ever seen to join the League ofE.V.I.L.—a veritable supergroup of villains from previous Hearthstone sets, including King Togwaggle, Madam Lazul, the irrepressible Dr. Boom, and Hagatha the Witch. In Rise of Shadows, these ne’er-do-wells will once again act on their nefarious intentions, aided by Hearthstone players looking to get their hands dirty.

In addition to their promising player cohort, the League of E.V.I.L. also has Lackeys to boss around—1/1 minions with a variety of diabolicalBattlecries. These low-level operatives will be crucial in unleashing the League’s sinister Schemes: new Spells that grow in power each turn they’re in a player’s hand. As if brains and brawn weren’t enough,their bag of tricks also includes callback cards that feature effects that pay homage to the Hearthstone sets that the League of E.V.I.L.’s masterminds hail from, giving players access to crafty new strategies.

“Hearthstone has a cast of fan-favorite villains, and it’s a thrill to see them take center stage in Rise of Shadows,” said J. Allen Brack, president of Blizzard Entertainment. “We can’t wait for players to get in on the mayhem in this expansion, with a bunch of sinister new cards at their disposal.”

Players looking to join the League of E.V.I.L. should watch their backs, as they’ll likely be targeted by a mysterious crime-fighting group known as the Defenders of Dalaran. These formidable guardians are rumored to wield Twinspells—potent magic Spells that, once cast, generate a copy of themselves that can be cast again on a later turn. More intel on the Defenders of Dalaran will be shared with operatives at a later date.

NEW MECHANICS:

• EVERY HENCHMAN NEEDS A LACKEY – The League of E.V.I.L. needs all the help they can get!
• • Lackeys provide the muscle to get things done for the League of E.V.I.L.’s members.
  • • Heistbaron Togwaggle’s henchman is the Rogue minion EVIL Miscreant, which adds two random Lackeys to the player’s hand when Comboed.
  • There are five Lackeys in Rise of Shadows, 1/1 minions with helpful Battlecries.
  • • For example, Kobold Lackey’s Battlecry deals 2 damage to a target.
• PLAN FOR SUCCESS – Schemes are Spells that grow in power each turn they’re held in hand.
• • Hagatha's Scheme deals 1 damage to all minions to start, but gains damage every turn it’s held in hand. Wait until just the right moment to spring the trap!
• CALLBACK CARDS – Our villains have been around for a long time, so some of their cards may feel a bit . . . familiar. The Priest Spell Forbidden Words, which spends all the player’s mana to destroy a minion with that much attack or less, is a callback to Forbidden Shaping from Whispers of the Old Gods.
• TWICE THE TRICKERY – Cause double trouble for your opponent by using Spells with the new Twinspell keyword! When cast, Spells with Twinspell add a copy of themselves to the caster’s hand.
• • The Forest's Aid is a Druid Twinspell that summons five 2/2 Treants and adds a copy of the spell to the player’s hand, ready to summon a new army of Treants to defend the magical city.

Coming April 9 to PC/Mac, iOS, and Android tablets; and mobile phones, Rise of Shadows 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 April 9 you can pre-purchase Rise of Shadows card packs in two different bundle options: the 50-pack pre-purchase bundle includes a random Legendary and the Jewel of Lazul card back, while the 80-pack Mega Bundle includes a random golden Legendary and Jewel of Lazul card back, as well as a new playable Priest Hero—the mysterious Madam Lazul.

These bundles are available on any platform for $49.99 and $79.99, respectively—one of each can be purchased per account.