They tried to make a new ressource (Wrath) when they prototyped various ideas for a DH class, but again came to the conclusion that it's just not worth it. So I don't think that Idea will come up again anytime soon.

Realistically this most likely references Preastores staff, but it's worth noting that they ingame announcement mentioned new merc content, and that this also looks like the staff from High Inquisitor Whitemane, which was datamined when the mode launched. But there is no way they are going to introduce her to the story now...right?

Technically yes, after all everything is slowly dying the moment its born. Though that day is still far away as far as I can tell. The playerbase is still huge (HS has like 6 pvp modes and you can reliably find games in either of them and on each of the 3 servers. That's pretty impressive if you ask me) and the content release schedule is incredible with major content updates every 4 months and monthly minor content updates inbetween. On top of that there are also reworks, QoL features and things no one even thought about (did anyone seriously thought they would ever add a 10. class? )

Now there certainly is some "spaghetti" code in HS, but that's unavoidable in any life-service game with such frequent updates. I also don't get why so many people blame a game engine for anything at all. A game engine is nothing but a tool that handles basic features (like drawing objects on the screen or calculating physics) that can also be enhanced at will. After all no one blames the hammer if the house falls apart.

Controversies also come and go. Yes, some players will leave because of that, some will stop giving Blizzard money, some will just ignore it, but I can guarantee you that most Casual players, which usually represent >95% of any games population, won't even notice them. I'm talking about the guy who comes back from his boring office job, has an family and just wants to relax for half an hour a day by playing any game, like Hearthstone. Those players don't care about the game outside of playing it, so they would only ever notice any of these controversies if it's in the local newspaper or TV news. And even then most casual players aren't engaged enough in the game to change his/her behaviour.

I guess it's also worth mentioning that I used to watch HS Mathematics, because I thought some number games could be cool. But I noticed that he's very much biased against the game by focusing on the negative aspects. Like coming too the conclusion that HS is imposible to play as a f2p because it takes too much grind to get a full set (who even needs a full set?)

Now that you mention it, yes I think it did. I thought that he meant that the 6 free packs (including the golden one) were the bare minimum for a free event, which made it look really entitled considering that those are the best free event rewards yet.

I think I did the normal bounties with orcs or something like that, mostly because they have a strong fighter lineup. I would also recommend to not destroy the side-switching taunt, because then the boss will only spam his "gain +50 attack and attack a random enemy" ability.

A couple years ago you used to be able to trick the system by changing a config file, but I just tried it and it seems like it's not working anymore. Though you should still be able to get the Cardback with an Emulator.

I personally think that the Year of the Dragon Story was more engaging, meanwhile this years Story was better implemented gameplay wise.

Only the new mercs have the new unlock requirement. They also tell you the exact heroic bounty you have to complete.

The Story is mostly explained through the book of Mercenaries, some of the cards (the questlines are a great example) and also very lightly through the Mercenaries mode Story tasks. Though the devs seem to have put a major focus on each mercs individual backstory instead of the overarching plot which, again, is nothing but a long build up so far.

I really hope that the mini-set will finally bring a great payoff to this years story. So far the Story felt like a single big build up, unlike the Dragon Story which had multiple payoffs (assembling Villains -> founding evil | stealing Dalaran -> unleashing plaque lords | Escaping with the Plaque of Undead -> ressurecting Galakrond). Meanwhile this years story so far can basically be summarized with Kazakus/Prestor collecting Naaru shards to hopefully do something interesting with them.

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Could that be the next expansion?

Nah, the description would mention that it's part of a pre-order bundle if that was the case. Instead it seems like this years lunar new year festival will also be pandaren themed. The Shaman and Mage skin also mention that they are both part of a "Crane and Snake" bundle, meanwhile the Guldan one seems like it's going to be free.

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I really expected to only see new mercenaries and new zones when the Standard card pool was expanded (in other words, during major expansions and mini-sets only).

I mean, they did make it very clear that they see mercs on a equal level as BGs. This also includes monthly content updates and (hopefully) 1 big Merc focused update per Expansion.

That's pretty much what this feature sounds like. You select some or all of your portraits and will be assigned a random one of them whenever you start a match.

Does this mean that you can completely avoid class cards by not picking any of these special treasures?

This surely isn't everything for Duels if Regis is going to do a reveal Video.

Accoarding to Kripp you level your buddy bar by:

• Dealing Damage
• popping Divine Shields
• entering combat
• Winning a combat
• Tieing a combat

Really excited for these mercs. Especially for Lokholar since it punishes fast mercs like Valeera. Wrathion and Sinestra might also make Dragons viable and Belinda should fit niceley into a fire comp and maybe also a frost one (I doubt that she's better than Jaina there). The only one that doesn't seem to a have a place is Galvangar. Well, outside of being the best tech option against healing heavy comps.

I have said it before, but this patch is building up to be the biggest non-expansion patch do this date. Especially with multiple new features on top of the huge ammount of content BGs, Mercs and Duels will receive.

It seems like the new pve Zone will be about Altarac...kinda makes sense if you think about it.

Wild Changes

Sorcerer's Apprentice + 2 Mana

Rapid Fire + 1 Mana | +1 damage

Standard Changes

Incanter's Flow + 1 Mana

Cloak of Shadows + 1 Mana

Raid the Docks unknown changes to later parts of the questline

Rokara, the Valorous + 5 Armor

Shadowcrafter Scabbs + 1 Mana

Wildpaw Gnoll now a 6 Mana 3/5

Mercs Content and changes:

Portraits now have their own frame when opening them

Training Grounds:

• passively levels your mercs
• level 1: 1 Mercenary at the same time | 100 gold
• level 2: 2 Mercenaries at the same time | 200 gold

New Mercenaries:

• Sinestra (Dragon) | rare | fighter
• Lokholar (Elemental) | rare | protector
• Wrathion (Human) | epic | fighter
• Galvangar (probably Orc) | epic | unknown
• Belinda (human) | legendary | fighter

New PvE Zone:

• Altarac