Hearthstone has introduced the next expansion at BlizzConline. We showcase the cool new cards from “Forged in the Barrens”.
Currently, the digital BlizzConline is underway, where a lot of info about current and upcoming Blizzard games is being released. Hearthstone is also represented there and presents the new expansion “Forged in the Barrens”. We reveal what the new expansion has to offer and present to you the first new cards!
What kind of expansion is this? “Forged in the Barrens” has a very classic reference to World of Warcraft, which has also become a meme over the years. In WoW, the Barrens was not only a very vast and challenging quest area, but the Barrens chat was also infamous. This is exactly what Blizzard is playing on with the latest expansion, essentially saying: Those who survived the Barrens can survive anything. Therefore, the label “Forged in the Barrens” is definitely a mark of recognition.
The first 17 cards from “Forged in the Barrens”
At BlizzConline, the first 16 cards of the new expansion were already presented. You can view them here:
More cards will be introduced over the coming days as usual, so that all cards will be known by the release.
New Features in Forged in the Barrens
Apart from the new cards, there are also several special features in the expansion. These include the following innovations.
New keyword “Bloodthirst”: In line with the creatures of the Barrens, there is the new keyword Bloodthirst on some cards. Bloodthirst causes a one-time effect to trigger when the minion survives damage for the first time. Accordingly, the effects are not triggered if no damage is done to the minion or if the minion is destroyed in one hit. This opens up many new possibilities to avoid these effects or use them strategically.
Spells get Schools: Similar to how minions in Hearthstone can belong to different tribes (Totems, Demons, Elementals, etc.), spell cards will also be classified into different spell schools in the future. These spell schools are:
- Arcane
- Fire
- Frost
- Holy
- Nature
- Shadow
- Fel
This classification allows the developers several new interaction possibilities. For example, there are cards that can increase spell damage from only one spell school.
The classification into spell schools also applies retroactively. All spells currently in the game will be classified into the seven spell schools afterwards.
Spells with Ranks: Also new are spells that come in different ranks. These cards will be upgraded multiple times throughout the game, depending on the player’s maximum mana. For example, the spell “Imp Swarm” can summon a 3/2 Imp for 2 mana at the start. However, once the player has over 5 mana, the spell already summons 2 Imps with 3/2. If the player has 10 mana, it even rises to 3 Imps with 3/2. However, the mana cost of the spell does not increase.
What do you think of the new expansion and the fresh cards? Cool and meaningful additions? Or doesn’t it impress you?
More info is available on the BlizzCon – you have the exact schedule here.
