Hearthstone has just announced the launch of its next exciting expansion — Rise of Shadows. As the Year of the Mammoth comes to a close, Hearthstone’s Rise of Shadows expansion will be launching with a set of 135 new cards, new mechanics, as well as Arena changes.
Familiar faces such as Rafaam, Hagatha, Madame Lazul, and even King Togwaggle himself were part of the reveal trailer, where they all banded together to form the League of E.V.I.L. Their target will be the city of Dalaran. As for their objective, Blizzard game designer Dave Kosak said it will be unraveled in the upcoming months.
In the Hearthstone announcement video, Dave Kosak also revealed that the expansion will feature a trilogy, which would take players from flying cities to ancient depths. The first chapter, as Kosak put it, will “explore deep, philosophical questions” that are the “enigmas of the human condition.” One such question is, of course, “Is it any good against Hunter?”
Along with these hints, Arch-Villain Rafaam was revealed as a new legendary card. He will be a seven-mana Taunt minion with a Battlecry that will replace the player’s hand with Legendary minions.
Going along with the theme of scheming, the EVIL Miscreant card was also introduced as a three-mana minion that has the Combo of adding two random Lackeys to the player’s hand. These Lackeys were revealed as one-mana 1/1 minions with deadly Battlecries. More Lackeys beyond what was showcased will be added throughout the Year of the Dragon.
To fight against the League of E.V.I.L., there will be new Scheme spell cards that increase in power the longer they stay in a player’s hand, as well as cards reminiscent of previous expansions.
A new spell card, The Forest’s Aid, for example, will feature a mechanic called Twinspell. Once cast, this new Hearthstone card will summon five 2/2 Treants. A copy of the card will then be available in the player’s hand to be cast whenever they wish.
Other defenders of Dalaran revealed include Spellward Jeweler, another new Legendary called Chef Nomi, and a former blue dragonflight Aspect — Kalecgos.
As for Arena, players will get to choose cards from themed expansions such as Naxxramas, Whispers of the Old Gods, Goblins vs. Gnomes, The Witchwood, and the new Rise of Shadows.
Other exciting changes coming to Hearthstone will be random card backs and a new single-player experience.
Hearthstone’s Rise of Shadows expansion is scheduled to launch worldwide on April 9.
