Core Set Updates in Hearthstone

Hearthstone players, get ready to say goodbye to Forged in the Barrens, Unified in Stormwind, and Fractured in Alterac Valley. These three expansion sets will rotate out of Standard soon, making room for the revised Core Set and three new expansions, March of the Lich King, Murder at Castle Nathria, Journey to the Sunken City, and Festival of Legends. This year, the game will focus on improving Hearthstone and Battlegrounds by adding more new cards and Battlegrounds upgrades than ever before.

Revised Core Set

The Core Set is getting a major overhaul, with almost 70 cards being replaced with new ones. The developers are also adding new keywords to the Core Set and changing its philosophy. In addition, they plan to be more accommodating with the Core Set throughout the year by allowing for both planned and unforeseen balancing changes.

Keyword Update: Tradeable

The “Tradeable” keyword was introduced in Unified in Stormwind and gained a lot of popularity due to its simplicity and ability to smooth out draws. The keyword will become an evergreen keyword this year and will be used in most expansions for the foreseeable future. The Core Set will include some of the more well-liked Tradeable cards from Unified in Stormwind and Fractured in Alterac Valley, with more Tradeable cards to come throughout the Year of the Wolf and beyond.

Returning Keyword: Magnetic

The “Magnetic” keyword, which allows specific mechs to fuse with each other, will make a comeback in this year’s Core Set. While it is not evolving into an evergreen keyword, the developers plan to keep creating amusing mechs and other cards that appeal to these resurfacing Magnetic cards.

Priest Tune Up and New Keyword: Overheal

The developers have decided to give Priest a little tune-up before the debut of Festival of Legends. The team looked at the class’s fundamental mechanics, modified them to encourage play patterns that players like, eliminated support for play patterns that don’t work, and then realigned themes and mechanics moving forward.

Healing is the core identity of Priest, but typically, the primary ideas of other classes, such as damage or even armor, are stronger and more adaptable than healing. The developers had to decide whether to reject Priest’s healing identity or embrace it and improve it. They ultimately decided to improve it by introducing a new evergreen class mechanic called “Overheal,” which activates when a card’s maximum health is restored.

Festival of Legends

Festival of Legends is the first expansion for Hearthstone in 2023, debuting concurrently with the Year of the Wolf in April 2023. The expansion introduces 135 new cards, including new legendary minions and spells, as well as new keywords and mechanics.

New Keyword: Encore

The new keyword “Encore” allows players to cast a spell or use a hero power again immediately after the first use, without having to wait for the next turn. Encore cards include a mix of spells and minions, which offer new and interesting ways to play.

New Legendary Minions

Festival of Legends introduces several new legendary minions, each with unique abilities and effects. Among them are:

• Kaldorei Chieftain: A 5-cost minion with 6/6 stats and the ability to summon a 2/2 Kaldorei Totem for each friendly totem that died this game.
• Sargeras, the Fallen Titan: A 10-cost minion with 10/10 stats and the ability to destroy all other minions and summon a 10/10 Avatar of Sargeras.
• Prince Arthas: A 7-cost minion with 6/6 stats and the

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