EDIT: All non-English sites have now been updated to correctly display the Year of the Dragon icon.
Thanks to an update on the official Hearthstone site that has been taken down, we've seen an icon that may be representative of the next year!
In a post on reddit, use25 discovered that the official site had a new icon in place of the Year of the Dragon icon on the "Ways to Play" page. As of posting, although it was removed on the English site, it is still available on the Russian site and other locales.
Us, and many others, believe this represents a Phoenix. You can make out the head and body in the middle of the icon with it surrounded by flames.
Year of the Phoenix Speculation
Speculating from a lore standpoint about possible themes for the year, it’s reasonable to say that at least one of the card sets will involve something related to Warcraft phoenix imagery, if this leak is in fact genuine—which I will personally take with a grain of salt until the official announcement confirms or denies it. All four previous Hearthstone years have had one expansion at least loosely connected to their animal. Year of the Kraken had the tentaclely Old Gods, Year of the Mammoth started with the prehistoric Un’goro Crater, Year of the Raven started with the spooky Witchwood, and Year of the Dragon needs no explanation.
Going off this assumption, the most likely theme related to a phoenix is the blood elves. Ruling in the north of the Eastern Kingdoms from their capital city of Quel'Thalas, the story of the blood elves is one of symbolic rebirth after they were exiled from the night elves centuries ago for refusing to stop practicing arcane magic. Known then as high elves, they took the name of blood elves after their city was destroyed by the undead Scourge under the command of The Lich King. With their city in ruins and most of their people dead, the survivors rallied together and took on the name of “blood elves” to honor their fallen kin. The phoenix is their primary symbol—seriously, it’s everywhere—and a set about blood elves could very well be possible after the sets we’ve got focusing on worgen and troll cultures.
Even their magic staffs are designed in a phoenix shape: the open mouth in the center of outstretched wings.
Another less likely possibility is an elemental-focus set, as phoenixes are fire elementals. However, seeing as fire elementals have already had a center stage position in Blackrock Mountain, and elementals themselves were already a big part of Un’goro, it’s unlikely they will be the focus again so soon where there are many other topics to cover and places from Warcraft lore to explore.
Comments
Damn, Priest still sucks by the sound of it
Swan was the first thing I thought of as well.
Judging by how the expansions story line are tied into one, and the fact that we saw no dragons for the first two expansions, I'm guessing that the year of the phoenix will likely not feature any actual relation with the subject until year end as well.
We had a somewhat cartoony good vs evil theme in the year of the dragon, perhaps they will mix it up a little and have a more darker, serious theme this year.
They specifically said a little while ago that they were gonna wait awhile before doing another set of connected expansions.
Must have missed that one. Would be such a shame though. I like the connected expansions idea, so much potential.
From what I remember it was a side comment they had made during a Q&A or something similar a few weeks ago.
I’d assume they might go back to it after a year or two, maybe three at the most, given how much people enjoyed it (was probably pretty good for sales).
Either way though, I’m still holding out for a Legion/Titan/Old God expansion set. Could be pretty cool to see a 3 way conflict in one of these stories again, especially since it’d give them another chance to do tri-class cards.
I’m thinking Warrior and Priest for Gods, Warlock for Legion, and Paladin and Druid for Titans. Not entirely sure on the other classes though.
on the flipside, lots of reused characters every expansion (if you don't like Rafaam, he's gonna get o your nerves pretty quickly)
The only time I get rattled by the characters is when they insist on speaking their overly long lines even after I've restarted the match for the tenth time in a roll.
Other than that, Ive always like new spins on old characters. Maybe someday they will drag up the MsoG characters back.
Took the words right out of my motth.
Kael'thas turn...
By fire be purged!
On a second thought, this and the mage pack are related.... Tinfoil hat mode activated
Yo if we are getting a Quel'Thalas themed year it makes sense, what with the MAGE BUNDLE and Khadgar returning as a purchasable hero.
And you know who would be a great hero as a pre-order bonus for this Year of the Mage?
Kael'thas Sunstrider. and that means we can finally have special dialogue when we cast Pyroblast to face.
This coming year will be merely a setback.
Thanks for the info about the lore! Are there blood elves already in the game?
More than you think my friend.
Wow, thanks a lot!
How did Gral, the Shark get on that list?
obviously he has Blood Elven heritage, you can tell by the teeth
I was wondering the same thing.
Hearthstone wiki is thorough!