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.

The Year of the Phoenix will rise in Hearthstone on April 7, bringing monumental changes to Blizzard’s smash-hit digital card game.

This fiery new era will commence with the introduction of the Demon Hunter, the first all-new class to be added to Hearthstone since the game’s launch. All players will get the Demon Hunter class and corresponding Illidan Stormrage Hero free, as well as 30 of the class’s specially tailored cards—and even be able to dive right into the action with a pre-built decklist using those cards. Coinciding with this grand debut is Ashes of Outland, the first expansion in the Year of the Phoenix, which takes players beyond the Dark Portal and into the war-torn realm that was the setting for 2007’s World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade. Additionally, Hearthstone will see a staggering array of features, updates, and in-game events—including substantial additions to the Battlegrounds game mode.

“We’re excited to kick off the Year of the Phoenix by introducing Hearthstone’s first all-new class together with the epic Ashes of Outland expansion,” said J. Allen Brack, president of Blizzard Entertainment. “The Demon Hunter is iconic to Warcraft®, and the class is a natural fit for Hearthstone. When you look at everything coming to the game in April, and everything we have planned for 2020—this is going to be the best year yet for Hearthstone players.”

The fearsome Demon Hunter, Hearthstone’s first ever all-new class, is coming free for all players who complete the free Demon Hunter Prologue campaign, which retells the origin story of the iconic Warcraft hero (and original Demon Hunter) Illidan Stormrage. All Hearthstone players can embark on the prologue campaign starting April 2. By completing the prologue, players will also earn access to 30 Demon Hunter class cards, and a convenient pre-built starter Demon Hunter deck using those cards. 

The Demon Hunter and the new Demon Hunter class cards will enter Hearthstone on April 7 alongside the launch of Ashes of Outland, the first expansion of the year.

Demon Hunter and Ashes of Outland are kicking off the Year of the Phoenix, but here’s a peek at what other updates players can expect:

• Ranked Mode Overhaul—New improvements to ranked ladder are on the way, including reworked matchmaking and a fun progression system loaded with meaningful rewards.

• New and Returning Player Experience—New players (as well as those returning to Hearthstone after an absence) will receive a free competitive deck of the class of their choice. In addition, they’ll get to play some all-new single-player missions to get back into the swing of things!

• Battlegrounds Updates—Battlegrounds continues to evolve in the Year of the Phoenix, starting with the addition of new playable Hero Illidan Stormrage! 

• …And More! There’s plenty to look forward to in the Year of the Phoenix, including new card additions to the Hall of Fame, substantial updates to the Priest class as well as a nonstop barrage of new content, such as in-game events, free Solo Adventures, and much more!