Becoming a Legend in Hearthstone seems particularly easy at the moment. At least, the number of Legend players is currently exploding.
In the ranked mode of Hearthstone, the rank “Legend” is the highest accolade that players can earn. Whether in the Standard or Wild format, the rank Legend awaits at the very top for the best players. Depending on the region, there are usually only a few thousand players in that tier.
However, this appears to have changed. Because in April, the number of players who reached the rank Legend has literally exploded.
What happened? Various analysis sites show how players in Hearthstone are distributed across the ranks. Europe will serve as an example here. In March, there were 6,515 players who achieved the rank Legend in the “Standard” format. In April, that number jumped to a staggering 60,336 players – the value has thus increased almost tenfold.
Where are all the Legend players coming from? The reason for the surge in the number of players at the rank “Legend” likely has three contributing factors working together. These are:
- More players are playing Hearthstone as many must stay at home
- A new ranking system was introduced with the current expansion
- The new class Demon Hunter is extremely strong
What is the new ranking system? Hearthstone has discarded its old ranking system and instead has implemented a fresh one. There are 10 ranks in each category: “Bronze”, “Silver”, “Gold”, “Platinum”, and “Diamond”. Those who reach beyond Diamond 1 will be promoted to the rank “Legend”.
Is the new ranking system easier? In a way, yes. On one hand, there is a security level every 5 ranks. When you reach rank 1 or rank 5 of the respective category, you cannot fall below that point except during the monthly reset. This makes losing streaks less frustrating since you can never drop too far down. At the same time, reaching a new security level increases the reward that players receive at the end of the month. This motivates and further encourages players.
Lastly, there is a star multiplier at the start of a new season. Those who reached “Platinum 5” in the previous month start the new season like everyone else at “Bronze 10”, but receive 6 stars per win instead of just one. This bonus decreases with increasing rank but ensures everyone can quickly pick up from their successes from the previous month.
Demon Hunter creates a boost: Another factor could be the introduction of the new class Demon Hunter. It is enjoying great popularity and is currently regarded by many players as overpowered – despite initial major nerfs. The class is relatively simple to play, has a high win rate, and matches are very quick. Typically, the winner of a fight against a Demon Hunter is already determined after 6 to 7 minutes. This is currently being mocked by many players.
All this leads to the current scenario where particularly many players are attaining the rank “Legend”. Anyone looking to achieve this success and secure the exclusive card back should do so now. It likely won’t be as easy in the future. Especially since many hope for another nerf of the Demon Hunter.
Have you already reached the rank Legend or are you currently working towards it?
