Welcome back to a tradition I like to write about after every new set. That being, looking at the concept art. We have a lot to unpack here because we're looking at the concept art for the new Basic and Classic Priest cards that just got added, the new Demon Hunter's Basic and Initiate set, as well as the entire Ashes of Outlands expansion. Obviously, a lot of artwork had to be developed for making a new class and in a way unlike what we've seen in Hearthstone so far. As such, it should be an interesting process how they landed on several of their pieces.

Every image in this article is courtesy of ArtStation, and links to every artist's ArtStation page is provided. With that said, let's get started.

Psychic Conjurer by Jim Nelson

Our first one coming at you is the new Basic card for Priest, Psychic Conjurer, coming at you from none other than Jim Nelson.

I think I can here Crystalline Oracle crying all the way from Wild.

Chaos Nova by Rafael Zanchetin

Rafael Zanchetin comes at us with the Basic Aoe for Demon Hunter, Chaos Nova, with several stages of the art evolution shown (which when looked at in order, gives the effect of a dramatic entrance).

Feast of Souls by Mike Mishkin

Mike Mishkin provided the artwork for one of the Demon Hunter's initiate cards, Feast of Souls. The character notably appeared to be female at one point, but ended up male in the final artwork.

The feast of souls begins now. Come, little ones.

Scarlet Subjugator by Adam Byrne

Here is a preliminary sketch, and a full art process video from Adam Byrne of one of the new Classic Priest cards, Scarlet Subjugator.

One can only assume he had to kill Auchenai Soulpriest to make it this far.

Mo'arg Artificer by Jim Nelson

Jim Nelson comes back at us with Mo'arg Artificer, with both a monochromatic sketch and a short art process gif.

Does anyone remember Fel Cannon? There's one in the background.

Imprisoned Antaen by Rafael Zanchetin

Here's another one of Rafael's art evolutions for the Demon Hunter's Imprisoned Antaen.

I'm not sure how you imprison something that huge and strong.

Apexis Smuggler by Ivan Fomin

Ivan Fomin provided us a very different type of concept art for Apexis Smuggler. Instead of giving us an early version of the artwork, he gave us a design of the Elf depicted to be carrying the crystals.

Sethekk Veilweaver by Jim Nelson

Here's another one of Jim Nelson's pieces, Sethekk Veilweaver, which looks like he has a bunch of tentacles and Ripto's scepter.

Ironbark by Jim Nelson

And here's yet another piece of concept art from Jim Nelson, for Ironbark.

Does iron bark grow on iron trees?

Nethrandamus by Rafael Zanchetin

Not only did Rafael provide us with concept art for Nethrandamus, the new Legendary Dragon for Demon Hunter's Initiate set. He also happened to give us an explanation on a few details on his character traits. You may just have to move your head closer to your computer to read them.

Hand of A'dal by Mike Mishkin

Mike provided us with how the artwork for Hand of A'dal happened, which will be the new 2-cost spell ubiquitously played in every Paladin deck.

Why do we get to see A'dal's hand, but not the rest of his body?

Rocket Augmerchant by Dmitry Bolotov

Dmitry Bolotov provided us some preliminary sketches depicting early iterations of the artwork for one of the new "augmerchant" cards, the Rocket Augmerchant. He also provided a piece of the final artwork with less of the fine-tuned details. In the end, Dmitry appears to have used picture 1 and mirrored it for the final artwork.

Kanrethad Ebonlocke and Kanrethad Prime by Rafael Zanchetin

Rafael went quite a ways here, showing us all the details for one of the new "prime" Legendaries, Kanrethad Ebonlocke.

Broken Ambusher by Vladimir Kafanov

Vladimir Kafanov provided a a piece of early designs for the Broken Ambusher token created by Ambush.

Cursed Vagrant by Jim Nelson

Jim Nelson provided his classic monochromatic design of the artwork for Cursed Vagrant and its token, Cursed Shadow. He also made a gif of the process of Cursed Vagrant's art.

Bamboozle by Adam Byrne

Adam made the art for Bamboozle and posted a preliminary design and a timelapse video of the art's design process.

Rustsworn Initiate by Yare Yue

Yare Yue had done something interesting here and posted both monochromatic and colored versions of two very different pieces of concept art for Rustsworn Initiate.

Infectious Sporeling by Jim Nelson

Here is a sketch of the artwork for Infectious Sporeling from Jim Nelson.

Twin Slice and Second Slice by Maria Trepalina

Maria Trepalina showed off how significant the development of the artwork for Twin Slice and Second Slice, where the Illidari depicted seems to have originally been purple before settling for a more traditional human skin color.

Totally not Twinspell...

Bloodboil Brute, Frozen Shadoweaver and Ashtongue Battlelord by Ivan Fomin

Ivan Fomin gave us a triple whammy showing the art process of Bloodboil Brute, Frozen Shadoweaver, and Ashtongue Battlelord.

Libram of Wisdom by Adam Byrne

Adam also posted an early stage and art process video of Libram of Wisdom, which internally uses the name "Libram of Resilience". This may have been an early name for the card during development.

Kayn Sunfury by ???

The following are sketches of a few select Demon Hunter cards that surfaced on IGN, although no official source of the artist is given.

At one point during Kayn's development, his effect to ignore Taunts was a Battlecry and also a permanent effect!

Pit Commander by ???

Priestess of Fury by ???

Sightless Watcher by ???