Hearthstone - Heroes of Warcraft news » Be Ready to Brave The Witchwood

The city of Gilneas once lived in uneasy peace with the sprawling, ancient forest that looms beyond its walls. Though the wilderness was grim and forbidding, the citizens of Gilneas—being no ordinary folks—roved and hunted there without fear.

That was before a darkness began to fester in the heart of the forest. . . . Before the curse of The Witchwood!

A sunless gloom now cloaks winding trails, and gnarled branches claw hungrily at passersby. Terrified travelers speak of misshapen shadows flickering in an unearthly mist. In the witching hours, eerie figures have even been seen to stalk the narrow alleys and foggy, cobble-stoned streets of the city itself.

Foolhardy travelers who dare venture beyond the city walls after nightfall disappear into the wilderness, never to return. The Witchwood is safe for none to tread!

Into the Wood!

Join the city’s bravest heroes as they embark on a hunt for the source of a dreadful curse! Whatever lurks in the heart of the Witchwood will soon discover that it has bitten off more than it can chew, for the people of Gilneas bite back.

The Witchwood is a hair-raising expansion for Hearthstone that includes 135 all-new cards!

For a limited time after The Witchwood arrives, log in to claim three card packs and a random Class legendary card—both from the expansion—for free!

Odd Occurrences

The Witchwood’s growing influence drives even the redoubtable citizens of Gilneas to fearful flights of fancy. Uneasy townsfolk share bizarre stories of black cats with knowing eyes, and giant moths that peer into windows during the dead of night. Stranger still, they all seem to share the same horrid dream, night after night: a feeling of unspeakable dread as they watch huge, spectral fangs devour the moon.

Embrace the oddness of the Witchwood! Include Baku the Mooneater in a deck containing only cards with odd mana costs to gain an upgraded Hero Power at the start of the game.

Getting Even

Striking back against the fear that grips the city requires iron discipline and sacrifice. Superstition must be cast aside in favor of strict order. Those with the will to banish this evil must find it in them to do what must be done—even when close to the limits of their strength.

Under King Greymane’s leadership, you’ll need to stay firm and forsake odd-cost cards, but a 1 mana Hero Power may be just the thing to make the most of every turn you get.

Eerie Echoes

Shifting shapes and ephemeral phantasms manifest out of the fog—the curse on the Witchwood has unsettling effects on both material beings and spells alike. Some will Echo, reproducing themselves.

The wily can channel this spectral side effect to their advantage: cards with Echo can be played again and again on the same turn—as long as you have the mana to pay the price.

The Beast Within

The cursed denizens of the Witchwood will not find the people of Gilneas to be easy prey. Even the city’s humblest citizen hides a beastly secret: they are Worgen, capable of assuming the form of a hulking, ferocious wolf-beast when threatened.

Each turn they are in your hand, these cards swap their attack and health. Spring them on an opponent when their form best matches your desired function.

Unearthly Rage

The power emanating from the Witchwood imbues feral vigor into those who are in tune with their predatory instincts, urging them to unnatural aggression and startling speed.

Minions with the new Rush keyword can attack opposing minions—but not Heroes—on the same turn they are played. Rush offers the immediate gratification of Charge without its game-ending potential, so you’ll encounter more minions that hit the ground running with this new keyword.

Power Calls to Power

The forest’s depths always harbored dangerous inhabitants, but now, the curse calls them forth with a dirge only they can hear. There are tales of weeping, ghostly maidens that drift at the edge of vision, and shifting elementals who steal the faces of men. Even the Emerald Dragonflight is not immune to the curse’s influence.

The truly unlucky report encounters with a vengeful spirit who seems to know their thoughts, and who speaks lies in the voices of friends and allies.

The Thrill of the Hunt

In The Witchwood’s challenging single-player mode, Monster Hunt, Gilneas’ veteran monster hunters are called to cleanse the forest of its darkness. Similar to the Dungeon Run from Kobolds & Catacombs, players will defeat bosses and collect their bounties to build a deck that will keep them alive as they stalk their quarry deeper and deeper into The Witchwood.

Monster Hunt will begin two weeks after The Witchwood launches. More details will be revealed as the start of the hunt draws near.

Pre-Purchase The Witchwood

Pre-purchase The Witchwood to receive a special 50 card pack bundle, as well as the In a Dark Wood card back and 20 more The Witchwood card packs as a bonus!

You will receive the In a Dark Wood card back and your packs as soon as your purchase is processed, and you can tear into your card packs once the expansion is live in your region.

Arm Yourself with Knowledge

The path ahead leads into the depthless gloom of The Witchwood, but the wise learn everything they can about their quarry before they begin a hunt. Follow the trail to TheWitchwood.com and the official Facebook gallery to see all the cards that have been revealed thus far. You can also continue to unravel the mysteries of The Witchwood as more information appears on Twitter and YouTube.

Press and members of the community will begin revealing The Witchwood cards starting March 26 PDT!

Sound the horns, marshal your forces, and prepare to the hunt the evil at the heart of The Witchwood!