Huge changes are coming to Hearthstone once the new set rotation (and the new expansion) rolls along.
The Core Set
Out with the old, in with the new: the Basic and Classic sets will be moved to Wild and will be replaced by the all-new Core Set.
The Core Set will be entirely free and is intended to provide a modern collection of starting cards to players of all types and make Hearthstone even more approachable for newcomers. Here’s a breakdown of all the cards in the set:
- 88 cards returning from Classic (54 class cards, 34 neutral cards).
- 54 cards returning from Basic (41 class cards, 13 neutral cards).
- 55 cards returning from Wild (36 class cards, 19 neutral cards).
- 4 cards returning from Ashes of Outland (4 Demon Hunter Class cards).
- 4 cards returning from Demon Hunter Initiate.
- 1 card returning from Hall of Fame (Shadowform).
- 29 new cards (20 Class cards, 9 Neutral cards).
After set rotation, the Standard format will be comprised of sets from the Year of the Phoenix (Ashes of Outland, Scholomance Academy, Madness at the Darkmoon Faire, Darkmoon Races Mini-Set), the next expansion, and the new Core Set.
Similar to the Basic Set, cards from the Core Set will be unlocked by leveling up each class. If you’ve leveled up all the classes up to level 10 or higher, you’ll unlock the full Core Set at set rotation.
The Classic Format
You can now relive the early days of Hearthstone with the Classic Format (which will come with its dedicated matchmaking pool). Players will be able to duke it out with one another using the game’s original 240 cards from 2014, the year Hearthstone officially launched. Yes, back when Holy Smite could go face.
This will surely bring back the infuriating mechanics and strategies from six years ago, but Leeroy Jenkins only sucks when you’re at the receiving end, right?
Classic’s reward systems, rank systems, and seasons will function just like Standard and Wild. To accommodate this, Hearthstone will also increase the total number of deck slots from 18 to 27.
Full information on everything new coming to Hearthstone can be found here.