Everything You Need to Know About Hearthstone's Year of the Hydra & New 250 Card Core Set (72 Returning Cards)

Published 3 years, 11 months ago by Fluxflashor

Blizzard has unveiled Hearthstone's new Core Set arriving for 2022 and we've also got details on the Year of the Hydra.

Year of the Hydra Recap

There will be no new game modes this year.
The focus is on improving existing systems which will include in-game reporting of players and random hero skins.
Client performance is also a priority this year.
There's a new feature in this patch that shows you your recently completed achievements.
Multiple favourite card backs is coming soon.

Core Set 2022 Recap

The new Core Set will have 250 cards, which is 15 more cards than in Year of the Gryphon.
57 Cards are rotating out of the Core Set.
72 Cards are rotating in to the Core Set.
The original League of Explorers cards are making a return in the Core Set.
None of the cards in the new Core Set are brand new - everything is old.

Year of the Hydra Announce Video

Cards Being Removed From Hearthstone's Core Set

Quote From Blizzard

Demon Hunter: Ashtongue Battlelord, Warglaives of Azzinoth

Druid: Enchanted Raven, Landscaping, Menagerie Warden, Nordrassil Druid, Ancient of War

Hunter: Scavenging Hyena, Webspinner, Bearshark, Headhunter’s Hatchet, Lock and Load

Mage: Water Elemental, Mirror Entity, Fallen Hero, Coldarra Drake

Paladin: Holy Light, Pursuit of Justice, Guardian of Kings

Priest: Crimson Clergy, Shadowform, Lightspawn, Temple Enforcer, Natalie Seline

Rogue: Bladed Cultist, Patient Assassin

Shaman: Windfury, Unbound Elemental, Draenei Totemcarver, Earth Elemental

Warlock: Dread Infernal, Possessed Villager, Enslaved Fel Lord, Ritual of Doom

Warrior: Warsong Commander, War Cache, Warsong Outrider

Neutral: Arcane Anomaly, Argent Squire, Cogmaster, Young Priestess, Mini-Mage, River Crocolisk, Toxicologist, Brightwing, Earthen Ring Farseer, Flesheating Ghoul, Ice Rager, Injured Blademaster, King Mukla, Spider Tank, Stoneskin Basilisk, Baron Rivendare, Gurubashi Berserker, High Inquisitor Whitemane, Barrens Stablehand, Clockwork Giant

Any of the above cards that currently only exist as Core cards will enter the Legacy set when they rotate out of Core and will be craftable and playable in Wild.

Year of the Hydra Core Set Cards

Here are all 72 cards that have been added to the Core Set for Year of the Hydra, organized by class, in addition to the cards that are staying.

Demon Hunter

Druid

Hunter

Mage

Paladin

Priest

Rogue

Shaman

Warlock

Warrior

Neutral

More From Year of the Hydra

Blizzard has plenty of new information to share about Year of the Hydra including the remaining cards for Voyage to the Sunken City.

Similar Content

Voyage to the Sunken City Year of the Hydra

Hey, your ad blocker is on!
Ads keep this small gaming site running. Mind whitelisting us? Go Premium

Remove Ads - Go Premium

GreatTichu Lv.7
Posted 3 years, 11 months ago

Reno? Oh no this means highlander will be a thing?
Where are Goblin Blastmage and Snowchugger ? I was sure those were coming in standard...
Big miss for me are Brightwing and War Cache for generating cards i don't have in my collection...
davidwizard Lv.7
Posted 3 years, 11 months ago

Does anyone know where one can see ONLY the "new" additions to the Core Set? I keep seeing the full list, but I'd really like to see just what's new. Thanks!
Caro Lv.16
Posted 3 years, 11 months ago

For some reason I expected at least 80% of the core set to change but alas no. Also some choices like Fiery War Axe don't make sense when there's Azsharan Trident that's much better.

bondiolorg Lv.6
Posted 3 years, 11 months ago

Probably related to RNG pool that one.

YourPrivateNightmare Lv.19
Posted 3 years, 11 months ago

Gonna be honest, I'm somewhat disappoint with this Core set. Not that there aren't some neat changes, but it feels like a lot of stuff just wasn't thought out at all while other stuff got removed prematurely without reason.
Take DH for instance. We keep Metamorphosis around but it's still the nerfed version and it hasn't even seen play in Fel DH, so....what's the point? Then we get Flamereaper, which also has never seen play and barely even has synergy at all. Meanwhile you keep Felscreamer around, when the only purpose of that thing is too cheese with big demons...out of which only 2 remain.
Then you get to Druid where they massively overcompensate for the rotation of Lunar Eclipse and Overgrowth by adding both Wrath and Living Roots, just to make sure that Druid no longer loses to turn 1 Trogg. Oh and Nourish is back at 5 so if you run Florist it's like Overgrowth never left.
Meanwhile Mage doesn't even get Snowchugger while the neutral section is desperately lacking in useful mechs. Is Piloted Shredder still so broken that you wouldn't put it in Core? Also Pyroblast to replace Mask of C'Thun except it doesn't work with Clumsy Courier, Iceblood Tower or Magister Dawngrasp. Great. Could have had Power of Creation at the very least, but no, let's just make sure Big Spell Mage remains a jumbled mess. But hey, at least Kalecgos is here and now it costs 1-mana less to not actually run him in any deck.
Other stuff is puzzling as well but at least there's indication for future themes this year. Would love to see Discard decks make a return now that Jeklik is back and buffed.
Also no Living Dragonbreath, so have fun getting molested by Freeze Shaman

Friendly

Zyella Lv.8
Posted 3 years, 11 months ago

Quote From YourPrivateNightmare
Gonna be honest, I'm somewhat disappoint with this Core set. Not that there aren't some neat changes, but it feels like a lot of stuff just wasn't thought out at all while other stuff got removed prematurely without reason.
Take DH for instance. We keep Metamorphosis around but it's still the nerfed version and it hasn't even seen play in Fel DH, so....what's the point? Then we get Flamereaper, which also has never seen play and barely even has synergy at all. Meanwhile you keep Felscreamer around, when the only purpose of that thing is too cheese with big demons...out of which only 2 remain.
Then you get to Druid where they massively overcompensate for the rotation of Lunar Eclipse and Overgrowth by adding both Wrath and Living Roots, just to make sure that Druid no longer loses to turn 1 Trogg. Oh and Nourish is back at 5 so if you run Florist it's like Overgrowth never left.
Meanwhile Mage doesn't even get Snowchugger while the neutral section is desperately lacking in useful mechs. Is Piloted Shredder still so broken that you wouldn't put it in Core? Also Pyroblast to replace Mask of C'Thun except it doesn't work with Clumsy Courier, Iceblood Tower or Magister Dawngrasp. Great. Could have had Power of Creation at the very least, but no, let's just make sure Big Spell Mage remains a jumbled mess. But hey, at least Kalecgos is here and now it costs 1-mana less to not actually run him in any deck.
Other stuff is puzzling as well but at least there's indication for future themes this year. Would love to see Discard decks make a return now that Jeklik is back and buffed.
Also no Living Dragonbreath, so have fun getting molested by Freeze Shaman

Most puzzling thing is, War axe its useless who is still in core. Like atleast replace it with kings defender or the axe from Withwood that buffs a rush minion

Maurice Lv.7
Posted 3 years, 11 months ago

Reno in Standard again? No, oh please, Godot, please no! :(
Standard was allready bad for me, this will kill this mode for me for one full year completely.
Please enjoy your 6 mana 4/6 heal for 29 - but I get PTSD, when I imagine hearing in about every second game "We gonna be rich!".
In Wild Reno became a niche card and I am fine with that - but in the past the card was "everywhere". x_X
Danny Lv.6
Posted 3 years, 11 months ago

Tar Creeper is back in Standard! This brings back memories!
Mae Lv.6
Posted 3 years, 11 months ago

no fucking way they reprinted reno
TriMay Lv.7
Posted 3 years, 11 months ago

I'm looking at Reno Jackson and Zola the Gorgon and thinking about bad meme decks that I am going to enjoy :)
Sinascendant Lv.5
Posted 3 years, 11 months ago

Is there a list of what cards got buffed? I noticed Crowley and Azure Drake both got +1 health but it's been a while since I've seen a lot of these and I've forgotten
Ticomon Lv.7
Posted 3 years, 11 months ago

Nice
Brann + Rokara
LETS GO 2 JUGGERNAUTS
Gobas Lv.7
Posted 3 years, 11 months ago

Oh Hello Mr. Reno.
I love to create Reno decks.

Kaptaintrips Lv.7
Posted 3 years, 11 months ago

Very exciting to make decks to counter Reno as well...

DarkMoose Lv.5
Posted 3 years, 11 months ago

Wow... Awesome choice of cards... Lots of cards I enjoyed a lot back in their days... Excited for this rotation for sure!
bondiolorg Lv.6
Posted 3 years, 11 months ago
Congrats guys! You're the first ones to put this given that Blizz had most of the day the site off.
Now talking about core set, in general I really like the changes done overall. But they missed the mark again with Mage cards. Although some are a pretty much BIG success, there are some that are there with not that much of a purpose. If I were on charge, I'd done the following:
- Snap Freeze -> Ray of Frost: WAY more useful in most of the scenarios. Snap Freeze is just a bad card.
- Shooting Star -> Magic Trick: More useful for giving support to nagas or in general as a card. Shooting Star without good spell damage and Firebrand is useless.
- Ethereal Conjurer -> Goblin Blastmage: It's just a very bad card. The only use it had was when an RNG Font of Power gave you REALLY bad cards. Goblin Blastmage is an OK card and very good support to mech mage.
- Pyromaniac -> Snowchugger: Very slow and without Tour Guide don't think it's worth the slot. Snowchugger is direct support to mech mage and a good card in general that could fit the 2 mana slot, tempo wise.
It seems they REALLY want us to play nothing but Big Spell Mage only, because it's the only archetype which had support (and by support I mean A LOT of it). Secret Mage got also some love, but it has anything to do with the current expansion, probably will be something for the upcoming ones.
As I said, overall very good changes, but they don't seem to know what to do with Mage...

Zyella Lv.8
Posted 3 years, 11 months ago
Quote From bondiolorg
Congrats guys! You're the first ones to put this given that Blizz had most of the day the site off.
Now talking about core set, in general I really like the changes done overall. But they missed the mark again with Mage cards. Although some are a pretty much BIG success, there are some that are there with not that much of a purpose. If I were on charge, I'd done the following:
Snap Freeze -> Ray of Frost: WAY more useful in most of the scenarios. Snap Freeze is just a bad card.
Shooting Star -> Magic Trick: More useful for giving support to nagas or in general as a card. Shooting Star without good spell damage and Firebrand is useless.
Ethereal Conjurer -> Goblin Blastmage: It's just a very bad card. The only use it had was when an RNG Font of Power gave you REALLY bad cards. Goblin Blastmage is an OK card and very good support to mech mage.
Pyromaniac -> Snowchugger: Very slow and without Tour Guide don't think it's worth the slot. Snowchugger is direct support to mech mage and a good card in general that could fit the 2 mana slot, tempo wise.
It seems they REALLY want us to play nothing but Big Spell Mage only, because it's the only archetype which had support (and by support I mean A LOT of it). Secret Mage got also some love, but it has anything to do with the current expansion, probably will be something for the upcoming ones.
As I said, overall very good changes, but they don't seem to know what to do with Mage...
Youd keep War axe then?

bondiolorg Lv.6
Posted 3 years, 11 months ago

Missed the mark with that one. Seems clunky. But it may be due to RNG pool. Does warrior still has some way of generating weapons in standard other than War Cache?
Anyways, it's bad, but I don't think it's that much of an issue. Warrior has lots of stuff. Mage case is different. Only one archetype received support. That's bad from a design perspective. Most of the other classes received support for many archetypes. Do the exercise and review all cards and you'll notice that they gave support for 2 or 3 archetypes on each class.
Warrior had support for Quest previously. Now they added support for Control as well. Mage only has Big Spell Mage. That's it. They gave support somewhat to Hero Power... But with only 1 bad card. That's not support. Mage needed some extra tools for Mech and Naga mage. Don't think it's viable as it's right now.

jagu Lv.7
Posted 3 years, 11 months ago

Tar Creeper That really brings me back.
dapperdog Lv.20
Posted 3 years, 11 months ago

Demon Hunter - Probably the best thing to happen for this class in core is that Illidari Inquisitor is staying. The rest is not really impactful
Druid - Best cards are Wrath, and Living Roots for some much needed Irondeep Trogg counters. Nourish being 5 mana now to make up for overgrowth having rotated, and curving right after a Wild Growth on 3. But with no lightning bloom, no turn 1 guffs or overgrowth, let's hope we've seen the last of bs ramp until the following year.
Fandral being back is nice. But the game might have moved beyond what this card can offer now. We'll see.
Hunter - Cloaked Huntress inclusion for an obvious face-secret hunter, with Furious Howl reload. No more Trampling Rhino means there's no longer any need to run expensive cards in face hunter, so its full on hyper aggro.
Houndmaster Shaw is nice for big hunter though it clashes with vanndar, so that's mixed at best whether you'll slot him in.
Mage - Got better cards from this core set. And they'll need it since mozaki and cram session are gone, thank god. Anyone's guess if big spell mage would be good in the next expansion.
Paladin - Only card worth mentioning would be Flash of Light. Lightlord is too slow in most games
Priest - Definitely won the lottery this time round. Both good legendaries, plus Drakonid Operative, Northshire Cleric, wild pyro + Acolyte of Pain. Its as though team5 just given up on designing for priest and just brought back all the cards that worked in the past, hoping that priest would actually be in the top half of the meta for more than 2 months in a year.
And they certainly need it. Having lost Renew, Palm Reading, and Raise Dead, you might be tempted to say that without strong support that april fools joke might have just foreshadowed its future. Im not exactly sure if silence priest would be a thing, but the tools certainly are there.
Rogue - The only important thing here is that Shadowstep is still in core. Rogue's sunken city cards looks so good that team5 brought back Tess Greymane knowing full well that she'll only be in meme decks.
Warlock - Brought back Jeklik but with so few discard cards to go with. Nice. Voidwalker and Imp Gang Boss to bring back aggro warlock decks, because its been combo and control for an entirety of 2021 and there's got to be something else other than murlocs.
Warrior - Shield Block is the only card we needed here. With acolyte of pain and pyro back, there's not much else we could ask for, except perhaps Arcanite Reaper.

A slew of good neutrals to boot. No magnetic, or many mechs at all, which is dismaying. But we've got some real good cards here;
Plated Beetle, Tar Creeper, Faerie Dragon, Beaming Sidekick, Escaped Manasaber, Sir Finley Mrrgglton
Best ones: Wild Pyromancer, Acolyte of Pain, Zola the Gorgon, Doomsayer, and of course, Brann Bronzebeard, ensuring that all cards would now need to be balance around a possible brann. Pretty sure there's already some sick combo available somewhere with this card.

Friendly

Year of the Hydra Recap

Core Set 2022 Recap

Year of the Hydra Announce Video

Cards Being Removed From Hearthstone's Core Set

Year of the Hydra Core Set Cards

Demon Hunter

Druid

Hunter

Mage

Paladin

Priest

Rogue

Shaman

Warlock

Warrior

Neutral

More From Year of the Hydra

Similar Content

Related Articles

Get Your Free Weekly Cataclysm Rewards in Hearthstone

Blizzard Announces Known Issues with Hearthstone's Cataclysm: Galaxy S26, Missing Cards, & More

Introducing Pokedle and Hearthdle to Out of Games

Join the conversation

Leave a Comment

Comments