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Hearthstone

Platform(s): PC
Genre: Online Multiplayer
Publisher: Blizzard
Developer: Blizzard
Release Date: 2014

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PC gamer, WorthPlaying EIC, globe-trotting couch potato, patriot, '80s headbanger, movie watcher, music lover, foodie and man in black -- squirrel!

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'Hearthstone' Battlegrounds Season 5 Kicks Off Next Week, Adds New Anomalies System, Hero, Tier 7-minions And More

by Rainier on Aug. 16, 2023 @ 3:00 p.m. PDT

Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft is a free-to-play strategy card game where players build card decks centered around one of nine iconic Warcraft character classes and duel each other for fun, glory, and the chance to win awesome new cards.

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.

Battlegrounds is a game mode where eight players face off in 1v1 rounds, with the goal to be the last player standing. Each round consists of two phases. The Recruit Phase lets players purchase and sell minions, upgrade the tavern, use their hero power, and rearrange their minions' attack order. Combat Phase has minions automatically attacking the opponents' until one player (or both) has no minions remaining, at which point the victor attacks the loser.

Battlegrounds Season 5 is almost here and the champions of Azeroth are gathering for a massive gladiatorial contest over who can win favor with the Titans and their Keepers on Azeroth.

Starting with Patch 27.2, Battlegrounds is becoming a battle arena fit for the gods... but it seems a bit of chaos has somehow made it into the competition with the all-new Anomalies system! Is this just another test for Azeroth’s greatest champions, or is something more sinister brewing under the surface?

New Gameplay System-Anomalies

Anomalies are new custom game rules that affect your entire lobby throughout the game.* There will be over 20 Anomalies at launch. After the initial launch, more anomalies will be added each week (with increased appearance rates for that week) until there are over 50!

These powerful rules adjustments shape the course of the game from the outset, making each game play out completely differently. The weekly Anomalies updates will keep the meta fresh all season long! All Patch 27.2 Anomalies, plus more details, will be revealed soon, but we have three to share with you today:

Wait... Tier 7?!

Anomalies are determined at the start of the game, before the hero select. The same Anomaly applies to all players in that lobby. The chosen Anomaly is public while hero selections are being made. Certain minions, minion types, and heroes are banned with certain Anomalies, to avoid unwanted interactions.

New Tier 7 Minions

This Season we’ve unlocked another level of Battlegrounds combat! Tier 7 will be accessible to all players in games when the Secrets of Norgannon Anomaly is active. In those games when Tier 7 is active, it is accessed just like any other tier (upgrading the Tavern, getting triples, Patient Scout, etc.). Tier 7 minions are even more powerful than the powerful Tier 6 minions we’re used to. Some of them are familiar faces and some are all-new!

In total, there will be 14 different Tier 7 minions, the rest of which will be revealed in the 27.2 Patch Notes. The Secrets of Norgannon Anomaly appears 5x more frequently than average, so you’ll have plenty of chances to explore this new Tier!

New Hero - Thorim, Stormlord

Golganneth’s Keeper loves a good contest, so he’s entering the fray himself and giving his chosen champion a little extra help. At the start of the game, choose a promising Tier 7 minion as your champion. After a few rounds, the chosen champion is given the honor of joining your warband. Imagine what you can accomplish with an ally who’s a tier above the competition!

If the Secrets of Norgannon Anomaly is not active, then Tier 7 is not accessible—it can’t be tripled into or otherwise generated—except for specifically Thorim, who gets the one Tier 7 minion from his Hero Power.

Major Minion Mix-Up

Aside from adding the new Tier 7 minions, we’re also making big changes to Tiers 1-6. 49 Minions have been removed from the minion pool, 32 new minions have been added to the minion pool, and 11 older minions will be returning to the minion pool! These new minions will be revealed over the next few days.

* Corrected from prior version, which said 12.

  • August 15, 12:00 p.m. PTRDU reveals Neutrals, Beasts, Mechs, and Elementals
  • August 15, 3:00 p.m. PTSlysssa reveals Dragons, Undead, Naga, Quilboar, and Murlocs
  • August 16, 10:00 a.m. PTHearthstone reveals Dual Type minions
  • August 16, 11:00 a.m. PTHearthstone reveals Tier 7 minions
  • August 17—27.2 Patch Notes go live
  • August 22—27.2 Patch goes live

Battlegrounds Track Refresh

On August 22, Battlegrounds Season 4 will end and Season 5 will begin. At that point, players will switch over to begin earning awards on the new Battlegrounds Season 5 Rewards Track. Any rewards that were already earned on the Season 4 Rewards Track, but not yet claimed, will be automatically claimed for you.

The Season 5 Battlegrounds Track includes gladiatorial cosmetics. Pick up the Season Pass to instantly get +2 Hero options at the start of each game. Then progress through the track to earn the Clash of Thunder Legendary Strike, 18 additional Hero Skins, a new Bartender, and more!

LevelXP To LevelCumulative XPFree RewardWith Season Pass
100 2 Hero Slots
22020 Trapper Maiev (Epic Hero Skin)
32040Noble Faelin (Rare Emote) 
42060 Gladiator Saurfang (Rare Hero Skin))
53090 Gladi-o-Mechano (Rare Hero Skin)
630120 Gorgon Vashj (Epic Emote)
730150Bookie Barov (Rare Hero Skin) 
830180 Custodian Mutanus (Legendary Hero Skin)
940220 Spectator A.F.Kay (Rare Hero Skin)
1040260 Gladiator Saurfang (Rare Emote)
1140300Liontamer Brann (Rare Hero Skin) 
1250350 Ferryman Teron (Legendary Hero Skin)
1350400 Challenger Drek'Thar (Rare Hero Skin)
1450450 Spectator A. F. Kay (Rare Emote)
1550500Ferryman Teron (Rare Emote) 
1660560 Ini Stormsuit (Epic Hero Skin)
1760620 Bookie Barov (Rare Emote)
1860680 Scalper Tickatus (Epic Hero Skin)
1960740Naval Battle Ozumat (Rare Emote) 
2060800 Announcer Gimblo (Epic Bartender)
2160860 Sneed, Chariot Racer (Epic Hero Skin)
2260920 Night Warrior Tyrande (Rare Emote)
2360980Val'kyr Varden (Epic Hero Skin) 
24601040 Arena Champion Rokara (Epic Hero Skin)
25601100 Scalper Tickatus (Epic Emote)
26601160 Hydra Shudderwock (Epic Hero Skin)
27601220Sideshow Deryl (Epic Emote) 
28601280 Noble Faelin (Legendary Hero Skin)
29601340 Philosopher Holmes (Epic Hero Skin)
30601400 Gladi-O-Mechano (Epic Emote)
31601460Sneed Chariot Racer (Rare Emote) 
32601520 Sideshow Deryl (Epic Hero Skin)
33601580 Naval Battle Ozumat (Epic Hero Skin)
34601640 Custodian Mutanus (Epic Emote)
35601700Yogg-Saron, Imprisoned (Epic Hero Skin) 
36601760 Gorgon Vashj (Legendary Hero Skin)
37601820 Arena Lord Thorim (Epic Emote)
38601880 Chariot Driver Denathrius (Epic Hero Skin)
39601940Emperor Thorim (Legendary Hero Skin) 
40602000 Thorim's Thunder (Legendary Strike)
Battlegrounds Preview Event

On August 21, the day before the patch goes live, players from around the world will be participating in a special preview stream event, playing the new Battlegrounds Season 5 content. Participating players will be streaming to their own channels and will have Season Pass giveaways for their viewers, so make sure you check it out! The participating players are:

NA (9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. (PT))

LATAM (9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. (PT))

EU (9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. (PT))

KR (2:00 a.m. - 8:00 a.m. (PT))

JP (2:00 a.m. - 8:00 a.m. (PT))


That’s all for now, but stay tuned for reveals and full patch notes this week. We can’t wait to see you in the Tavern!

Hearthstone is available for Android, iOS and PC.


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