Blizzard Entertainment's Hearthstone, a virtual card game based on the World of Warcraft universe, has been updated with major expansions throughout 2020 as part of its "Year of the Phoenix." After teasing Hearthstone's big fall reveal in October, developers unveiled the year's final expansion Madness at the Darkmoon Faire, which officially launched worldwide today.
Madness at the Darkmoon Faire includes 135 new cards, with a prominent focus not just on carnival-themed characters and spells, but also on the return of the "Old Gods" C'thun, N'Zoth, and Y'Shaarj, according to the expansion's announcement post from October 22. Each of these entities has an associated archetype of Hearthstone cards and artefacts that help to update their presence in the game.
A new game mode called Duels is available now, as are overhauled achievements, progression systems, and rewards. There is also a new type of card "keyword" that players can encounter, essentially detailing a mechanic that every included card shares. In the case of "Corrupt" cards, they receive an upgraded effect if players use another card with a higher cost first.
One detail that makes Corrupt cards special is that their art changes when activated, which reflects the World of Warcraft Darkmoon Faire's twisted underbelly. With the new expansion available now, fans will no doubt be diving in to see what kind of decks they can build, and Blizzard said details on even more additions; such as another game mode and a mini-set; will be outlined starting in 2021.
Hearthstone is available now for Android, iOS, and PC.
Source: Hearthstone