It’s surprising it took this long, but Hearthstone is finally doing a crossover with StarCraft. Hearthstone: Heroes of StarCraft is a mini-set featuring 49 new cards across three distinct factions: Zerg, Protoss, and Terran. It’s the largest mini-set the game has introduced, and it will be available sometime in January 2025. Blizzard provided a sneak preview of the mini-set, noting that each faction includes cards usable across multiple classes, including a Hero card.
Joining the Zerg faction are Death Knight, Demon Hunter, Hunter, and Warlock. Naturally, Sarah Kerrigan leads this faction, bringing aggro cards that play to the theme of swarming the board. Fighting for the Protoss are Druid, Mage, Priest, and Rogue. Led by High Templar Artanis, the Protoss bring high-cost, powerful cards that can become cheaper as the game progresses. Finally, the Terran forces will be available on Paladin, Shaman, and Warrior. The iconic Jim Raynor leads the Terran faction, which commands Battlecruisers. This is a special take on the Starship mechanic introduced in The Great Dark Beyond expansion.
In addition to Hearthstone: Heroes of StarCraft, the team announced major Arena updates for the first time in 10 years. Once live, players will have access to two types of Arena: Normal Arena, a shorter form, and Underground Arena, a more competitive mode. The Underground Arena will feature higher stakes, longer runs, and Re-Draft on Loss, a mechanic that lets players re-draft cards after a loss, adjusting their deck in hopes of continuing their run. Both Arena modes will have ratings, but there’s a catch. Standard skill-based matchmaking will be used for Normal Arena, while Underground Arena allows players to face opponents of all skill levels. Look for the Arena changes to go live in the first half of 2025.
