Hearthstone Violet Hold Launch Survival Guide - Here's Everything You Need to Know

Escape From Violet Hold is the second expansion of Hearthstone's Year of the Scarab! It launched on July 7, 2026 and we've brought you all the information you need to know in one dedicated space; Our Survival Guide to Violet Hold!

Violet Hold Fast Facts

• A total of 135 new cards have been added to the game.

• Get Vanessa the Ringleader for free by just logging in!

• Get Warden Maiev for free by visiting the Rewards Track!

• Get a catch-up pack simply for logging in!

Out of Games Updates

We've got a brand new Hearthstone deckbuilder (as of Cataclysm)! Please help contribute to our deck database by sharing your favourite decks with us.

We've added a new Collection Manager to track your Hearthstone collection. You can keep track of your cards and even create public-facing parts of your collection to showcase to the world how long you've been playing and collecting Hearthstone cards.

Optimal Pack Opening in Hearthstone for Violet Hold

Note that catch-up packs during Violet Hold will reward cards for Across the Timeways, The Lost City of Un'Goro, Into the Emerald Dream, and Cataclysm.

• If you want the most total cards (fewest duplicates):

  • Open Expansion Packs

  • Open Class Packs

  • Open Standard Packs

• If you want the most cards from Violet Hold (more dupes):

  • Open Standard Packs

  • Open Class Packs

  • Open Expansion Packs

Mechanics in Violet Hold

There are two new primary mechanics in Violet Hold.

Prepare

Prepare allows you to drag that card to your deck to spend your remaining mana to reduce its cost by that amount. You can then play that card at a reduced cost, or even free, on another turn.

Rulebreakers

These are legendary cards which break a rule in the game, a sacred rule that is foundational. This could be being allowed to have duplicate legendary cards in your deck, getting a second hero power, or always going second to get that sweet Coin.

Trial Cards

Trial Cards are no longer available. They were introduced in Cataclysm which allowed players to access Into the Emerald Dream and The Lost City of Un'Goro sets for free during the whole expansion.

You can however get a couple of catch-up packs which will help boost your collection (source: Blizzard).

• Login any-time until Patch 36.4 to receive 1 catch-up pack for free.

• Participate in the Violet Hold in-game event through July 28 to earn a catch-up pack.

Additionally you can visit the in-game store to purchase a bundle of 10 Catch-up Packs. There is certain criteria that must be met for the offer to open, Blizzard has not provided any details other than it is based on "your collection progress".

Best of luck with your card pack openings!