Hearthstone has released a new delicious teaser hinting at our first set of the new Hearthstone year taking us deep under the oceans of Azeroth. This tease has been confirmed by the leak of a mega bundle titled “Voyage to the Sunken City” featuring the powerful night elf-turned Naga, Queen Azshara. What kinds of cards could we see in a set like this? Let’s take a brief look at the lore of the area and make some educated guesses.
What is the Sunken City?
It’s most likely that the Sunken City of the title refers to the naga’s underwater capital city of Nazjatar. This great city, the hub of the naga empire, was constructed after Queen Azshara struck a deal with the old god N'Zoth to transform her and many of her highborn elf subjects into naga after the Night Elf empire sank beneath the ocean in an event known as the Sundering.
Queen Azshara's Eternal Palace in Nazjatar.
There are two other possible locations this title could reference. One of these is the underwater WoW zone of Vashj'ir. These underwater ruins were the home of Lady Vashj before the Sundering. The zone contains three sub-sections that could be connected to images seen in the video: the lush Kelp'thar Forest, the open water of the Shimmering Expanse, and the dark Abyssal Depths.
The Underwater zone of Vashj'ir.
A third, though less likely, reference from the title alone is Ny'alotha, the realm of the old god N'Zoth himself. Evidence for any connection to this comes purely form N'Zoth’s connection to the naga, the red eyes of some dark deep creature in the last frame of the teaser, and the fact that Ny’alotha is sometimes refered to as the Sunken City, as well as the additional titles of The Sleeping City, Dreaming City, and Waking City.
N'Zoth grans Azshara a vision of Ny'alothia.
Which Creatures Could Make an Appearance in Voyage to the Sunken City?
The oceans of Azeroth are filled with many dangers and wonders in existing lore, and it’s likely Hearthstone will show us additional ones for the first time as they’ve done with many other areas of Azeroth. However, there are a few significant characters that could pop up, as well as some general concepts we’re likely to see in the card art and tribes.
Naga
We’re going to see naga with any of these theme concepts, no doubt. These snake-like creatures are cursed night elves who serve the old gods and are eternally devoted to their queen, Azshara. This mighty queen of the naga is for sure going to be a legendary and centerpiece of a set of this theme, even if we didn’t already know about her hero skin included in the mega-bundle. Prominent naga we’ve seen in Hearthstone before include Lady Vashj and Lady Naz'jar. Perhaps they will return for a second appearance, or perhaps we’ll see other generals and magic users brought to the cards as well.
Sea Creatures
It’s a pretty safe bet that we’re going to get some sea creatures for the beast tribe, but there are many other sentient creatures that are allies or enemies to the naga that could make an appearance as well. These include Sea Giants, crab-like Makrura, goblin-like Gilblin or Gilgoblin, and the fishy Ankoan.
Could we see more of these guys?
Murlocs
Many murlocs serve the naga, especially deep sea murlocs, and support for this tribe of fish/frog creatures is very likely in a set like this.
Of all murlocs, the ones who dwell in the deepest waters are most likely to serve the naga and other sinister creatures of the deep.
Water Elementals
The naga may dominate much of the seas of Azeroth, but they are not its true rulers. Neptulon, elemental Lord of Water, and his servants lay claim to that title. In fact, it was through the naga that the old gods attempted to unsuccessfully seize the seas from the water elementals in the elemental plane of the Abyssal Maw. The kraken used by the naga in this plane, Ozumat, could very well be a legendary card as well. Expect appearances from some of the lords of water, and perhaps even a new card for the Elemental Lord himself? Who knows?
For more information on water elementals, check out my lore guide here.
Water Elementals are somewhat underrepresented in Hearthstone compared to their fire, air and stone cousins. Perhaps this set could set that right.
Beware the Krakens of the deep. Could they come to Hearthstone?
What do you expect to be revealed about the set after the official announcement? Anything you’d like to put on a wishlist for this theme? Perhaps it’s already checked some things off your wishlist that have been there a long time. Let us know in the comments.
(Bonus) Warbringers: Azshara
Blizzard put out an excellent video on Azshara and how she bargained to save her people.
Learn More About Hearthstone's Voyage to the Sunken City Expansion
We've got our official guide up for the Voyage to the Sunken City Expansion so go check it out and see all the latest information including card reveals!
Comments
Those red eyes at the end are most likely N'zoth's little fishie, so there's a hope!
Is there a sub-zone of Nazjatar in WoW where there's lava? I didn't play that expansion myself. Could possibly be part of the maelstrom, but otherwise I can't remember any underwater zones with lava like they showed in the preview.
I hope the new keyword makes a big 'splash' ... I'll show myself out now.
Ozumat! One of my favorite boss fights from Cataclysm. Just a giant squid that kidnaps and elemental lord! That's so cool.
Also hyped for what this could mean for a year. I'm thinking either Elemental planes (AbysallMaw -> Deepholm -> Firelands) or perhaps a Titan prison tour (Nazjatar* -> City of Ahn'Quiraj -> Ulduar).
*The Eternal Palace shown above was build on top of N'zoths Prison.
They've already said that the 3 expansions of this year (contrary to the Mercenaries theme of last year) would have no connections. So that's not happening, the next 2 expansions will likely have nothing to do with Elemental planes.
What if…we met the monk class on this voyage and a later expansion this year has us landing in Panderia?
I expect Mechs as well, as we are in a submarine of sorts for the "voyage".
Maybe even an entire subset of various crew members.
You know what bothers me? This leak. Everthing was secret until now, this usually does happen. But this time it didnt.
Then, Blizzard decide to move the announcement 2 days and here we are, a leak. This was eventually going to happen, Google Play or Localistion teams.
Anyway, Hyped for the expansion
Ahah yeah this time there was almost no leak, but consider that we didn't got leaks on monday simply 'cause all those were not ready
They are ready, it is just a matter of translating most of the time. But nobody knows what hickup caused this delay.
On-top: I think Azshara is one of the strongest WoW-characters when she joins the game (as a card). Looking forward how she works in HS
As long as the new expansion doesnt include a lot of cheap pirates, Im all for it.
I agree with you but I am afraid it's likely gonna happen to complement some of what we got in the Deadmines mini set. My theory is that Rogue is going to get some Pirate support, the rest of the classes should be spared however.
All locations you focused on are likely since there will also be a mini set
Exelent point. I was thinking something similar myself. Perhaps we start out in one of the first zones and "go deeper" into the next most intense one. Either Vasj'ir to Nazjatar or Nazjatar to Ny'lothia.
there is something with mini-sets and going deeper, this year all miniset where underground! wailing caverns, dead mines and onyxias lair, all caves!