Hearthstone® Heats Up in the Year of the Phoenix

GameMasters March 17, 2020 Game News 0

The new Hearthstone year kicks off with the debut of the Demon Hunter, the first entirely new class added since the game’s launch
Available for pre-purchase now with special bonuses, the upcoming Ashes of Outland^™ expansion explores one of Azeroth’s most storied locales and introduces 135 fel-infused new cards
The Year of the Phoenix will bring monumental changes to Hearthstone, including a thorough overhaul of ranked play, updates for Battlegrounds, and more

IRVINE, Calif.—March 17, 2020—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.”

Introducing: The Demon Hunter

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.

For more information on the Demon Hunter, visit the official blog.

Ashes of Outland Expansion Set

Ashes of Outland takes Hearthstone beyond the Dark Portal into the shattered, war-torn realm that was the setting for 2007’s World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade. Illidan Stormrage, the original Demon Hunter, has proclaimed himself Lord of Outland. Along with the Illidari—Illidan’s elite cabal of fellow Demon Hunters and their motley thralls and allies—he serves as the last bastion of hope against the dreaded Rusted Legion.

Coming April 7, Ashes of Outland introduces 135 collectible cards that aim to shake up Hearthstone with novel mechanics. Starting March 17, players can pre-purchase the Ashes of Outland Mega Bundle for $79.99. The Mega Bundle includes 90 Ashes of Outland card packs, one random Ashes of Outland Golden Legendary card, the Lady Vashj Shaman Hero, the Serpentine card back, four Arena tickets, and Descent of Dragons bonuses for the Battlegrounds game mode, which upgrade to the Tavern Pass ^* at the launch of Ashes of Outland. For $49.99, players can get the Pre-Purchase Bundle, which includes 55 Ashes of Outland card packs, one random Ashes of Outland Golden Legendary card, and the Serpentine card back. One of each bundle can be purchased per account.

Visit the official blog for more details on Ashes of Outland.

Year of the Phoenix Updates

The Year of the Phoenix will be an explosive one for Hearthstone, with a vast roadmap of expansions, features, updates, and in-game events in the works. Here’s a peek at what players can expect:

Ranked Mode Overhaul—The ranked ladder is seeing substantial improvements in the new year, including reworked matchmaking and a fun progression system loaded with meaningful rewards.
New and Returning Player Experience—New players who ascend through the beginner ranks—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—Hearthstone: Battlegrounds continues to evolve in the Year of the Phoenix, starting with the addition of Illidan to the roster, ahead of Ashes of Outland.
. . . 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!