New Year of the Mammoth in Hearthstone. Plans for the Year of the Mammoth Waiting for change

new standard

The Standard format will allow players to fight in Play Mode using only the latest Hearthstone cards. You can create decks in this format only from the basic and classic sets of cards (you will always have them), as well as from those that appeared in the game in the current and previous calendar years. For the duel, we will select opponents for you who have decks built according to the same standard format.

The standard format will allow Hearthstone to sparkle with new colors.

It will make the metagame more dynamic and balanced.
The set limit will make each card more meaningful!
Developers will have more freedom when creating new maps.
It will be easier for beginners to join the game as they won't have to collect a lot of cards.

The Standard format is only for Friendly Duels, Ranked Play, and Casual, not Arena, Solo, and Adventure.

Free - will!

Wild is just a new name for the version of the game you're used to and where anything can happen. While in the standard format, the emphasis is on newly released cards and striving to balance the latest game process, the free format allows you to have fun from the heart in the conditions already familiar to you. Of course, over time and as new cards are added, it will become more and more unpredictable!

The gameplay itself in this format will not undergo any changes: you, as always, will be able to complete tasks, earn gold, fight for a rating, win card backs, strive for the Legend rank and build wild decks from your entire collection of cards. If you decide to use a wild deck in a ranked or regular game, then your opponent will also be a player with a wild format deck.

Forward to the legend!

With the introduction of the standard format, you will be able to choose which of the two formats to participate in ranked games. In each you will have a different rank, and therefore you may well get the "Legend" in both wild and standard formats. However, you will receive a reward at the end of the season for reaching the highest rank in one of the modes. So choose which one you like best!

Time for a change

The upcoming introduction of formats to the game is a great opportunity to weigh and evaluate what Hearthstone is at this stage. While we're usually quite reticent about changing cards to improve balance (and will continue to do so in the future), next year presents us with a golden opportunity to re-evaluate a number of cards from the Core and Classic sets (including class cards) and introduce a number of long-awaited amendments into their description.

We'll share more information about which cards will be changed and why closer to Standard's release.

More deck space!

Yes, you finally have more deck space! We have prepared a small gift that you will receive shortly before the introduction of the standard format into the game: if you unlock all nine heroes, then your collection will be replenished with nine additional deck slots, which means you will have eighteen of them in total!

Release the Kraken!

Standard is coming to Hearthstone this spring! When that big day arrives, you'll be able to build standard decks from the following sets:

Base
Classical
Black Mountain
big tournament
League of Explorers
New addition (Spring 2016)

Curse of Naxxramas and Goblins & Gnomes Packs will not be able to use in standard format. Every year after the release of the first expansion, card sets released before the previous year will be excluded from the standard format.

The standard format will have an annual cycle. The symbol of each new year in Hearthstone will be one of the zodiac constellations shining in the night sky of Azeroth. The appearance of a new constellation above the horizon heralds the beginning of the year and is accompanied by noisy fun and jubilation wherever Hearthstone is played!

The first standard year will be named the year of the Kraken so get ready for a sea of events!

For free bread

This year will see the removal of adventures and expansion packs that are not in the standard format, namely Curse of Naxxramas and Goblins and Gnomes. If you still need cards from these sets (for Wild or Collection), you can craft them with Arcane Dust - even adventure cards that weren't possible before. Speaking of adventures, if you purchased at least the first wing from an adventure before it went out of rotation, you can still buy the rest of the wings and complete the walkthrough.

Not long left!

The developers have worked hard on the standard format and are eager to see how Hearthstone will be transformed with it, the gameplay will come to life, and add-ons will begin to play a more significant role. In addition, this innovation will not be slow to affect the competitive element of the game, because it is in the standard format that the Hearthstone Championship Tour will be held! All in all, we believe that the standard format will be the quintessence of all that Hearthstone has to offer.

We hope you share our enthusiasm and look forward to your feedback.

Without a doubt, you have questions, and therefore the developers offer you a section "Questions and Answers". If something is still unclear to you, they are always ready to help!

The tavern is about to face a life-changing change! We are proud to announce the introduction of different game formats to Hearthstone! We hope they will appeal to both beginners and veterans. Thanks to standard format Hearthstone will remain exciting and accessible for years to come, while in freestyle everything you already know about the game and what you love about it will be preserved.
new standard
The Standard format will allow players to fight in Play Mode using only the latest Hearthstone cards. You can create decks in this format only from the basic and classic sets of cards (you will always have them), as well as from those that appeared in the game in the current and previous calendar years. For the duel, we will select opponents for you who have decks built according to the same standard format.

The standard format will allow Hearthstone to sparkle with new colors.

It will make the metagame more dynamic and balanced.
The set limit will make each card more meaningful!
Developers will have more freedom when creating new maps.
It will be easier for beginners to join the game as they won't have to collect a lot of cards.

The Standard format is only for Friendly Duels, Ranked Play, and Casual, not Arena, Solo, and Adventure.

Free - will!
Wild is just a new name for the version of the game you're used to and where anything can happen. While Standard focuses on newly released maps and strives to balance the latest gameplay, Wild format allows you to have a lot of fun in the conditions you are already familiar with. Of course, over time and as new cards are added, it will become more and more unpredictable!

Forward to the legend!
With the introduction of the standard format, you will be able to choose which of the two formats to participate in ranked games. In each you will have a different rank, and therefore you may well get the "Legend" in both wild and standard formats. However, you will receive a reward at the end of the season for reaching the highest rank in one of the modes. So choose which one you like best!

Time for a change
The upcoming introduction of formats to the game is a great opportunity to weigh and evaluate what Hearthstone is at this stage. While we're usually quite reticent about changing cards to improve balance (and will continue to do so in the future), next year is a great opportunity for us to re-evaluate a number of core and classic cards (including class cards) and add to them description of a number of long-awaited amendments.

We'll share more information about which cards will be changed and why closer to Standard's release.

Release the Kraken!
Standard is coming to Hearthstone this spring! When that big day arrives, you'll be able to build standard decks from the following sets:

Base
Classical
Black Mountain
big tournament
League of Explorers
New addition (Spring 2016)

The first standard year will be named the year of the Kraken so get ready for a sea of events!

For free bread
This year will see the removal of adventures and expansion packs that are not in the standard format, namely Curse of Naxxramas and Goblins and Gnomes. If you still need cards from these sets (for Wild or Collection), you can craft them with Arcane Dust - even adventure cards that weren't possible before. Speaking of adventures, if you purchased at least the first wing from an adventure before it went out of rotation, you can still buy the rest of the wings and complete the walkthrough.

Not long left!
We've done a great job with Standard, and we're excited to see it transform Hearthstone, bring gameplay to life, and add-ons play a bigger role. In addition, this innovation will not be slow to affect the competitive element of the game, because it is in the standard format that the Hearthstone Championship Tour will be held! All in all, we believe that the standard format will be the quintessence of all that Hearthstone has to offer.

Hello dear readers!

Hearthstone has a lot of cool things coming in 2017 like new materials, modes joint game with friends, improvements and more!

Plans for the Year of the Mammoth in Hearthstone

In 2017, the year of the Kraken will end and the New Year according to Hearthstone reckoning - year of the mammoth. With the beginning of each new year in Hearthstone, standard format update. Officially year of the mammoth will start with the release of the first major addition 2017 while cards The Grand Tournament and Blackrock Mountain and Explorers League DLCs will go to freeform.

Card Set Rotation Coming Soon!

Last year we introduced two new ways to play Hearthstone: standard and free.

AT standard format players can only use basic and classic cards, as well as those that have been added to the game recently. This keeps the game fun and accessible as new card packs are released. The main task standard format- keep the interest in Hearthstone and make it easier for beginners to learn the basics of the game. Thanks to him, you do not need a lot of cards to create an effective deck. standard format also gives developers more freedom in terms of creating new maps.

However, during year of the kraken it happened that some classic cards did not fit well with our concept. When cards are added too often to decks and considered "must have", it limits the variety of options available to players. Decks become monotonous, potentially interesting ideas for using certain cards fade into the background, and gameplay feels less dynamic. Cards in Hearthstone should be used for their intended purpose, depending on what type of deck the player is trying to build.

Therefore, in order to achieve our goal, we will add a new element to Hearthstone - "Hall of Fame". AT "Hall of Fame" will include cards from basic and classic sets, removed from the standard format . They can still be used in freeform . The cards we place in the Hall of Fame will also include reward cards..

Below is information about which cards will be in the Hall of Fame during year of the mammoth.

Neutral cards

Developer Comment: The first three of the six cards that will soon be available only in Wild are neutral cards that are found in a large number of decks and do not allow new cards to reach their full potential. This is more true for cards with a cost of 5 units. mana or more, since usually players add only a few of these cards to the deck.

Azure Dragon - a powerful neutral card that turned out to be too versatile and became one of the most popular cards in the game. We want players to choose from multiple useful minions for the same price, rather than adding Azure Drake automatically to their decks.

Like the Azure Dragon Sylvanas Windrunner is one of best cards for 6 units mana. In addition, she has the most powerful death rattle in the game - the priest card "Mind Control", for example, costs 10 units. mana. In the future, we are going to add powerful new combos based on effects like Deathrattle to the game, and in combination with Sylvanas, they will be too powerful.

Ragnaros often used in decks designed for both control and a combination of aggression and control. In some cases, when decks are designed for an aggressive playstyle, this card can be seen even at the end of the match. This card is for 8 units. mana is very powerful and immediately brings significant benefits, as a result of which it was added to decks without much thought. When evaluating other cards of the same value, players only tried to understand how they were inferior or superior to Ragnaros, without thinking about what is best for this or that type of deck. Dozens of cards worth from seven to nine units. mana was almost not used, since the choice was simple for the players - they took Ragnaros, while some decks require only one expensive card.

class cards

Overwhelming Power allows you to extremely effectively trade creatures or deal high damage, spending only 1 unit. mana. We decided to move this card to Wild, as otherwise players would be able to deal huge damage and use too powerful combos. Many classic cards are included in Warlock decks that aren't affected as much by new additions. The changes we have prepared will allow us to increase the variety of cards in Warlock decks over time.

The frost mage deck has been around for over three years now and is pretty fun to play with. However, we would like to see Mages using more various decks. Transfer ice spear to Wild will increase the variety of decks in Standard Mode, while in Wild Mode the Ice Mage will still be very effective. ice spear also limited the scope of our designers' imagination, as it prevented us from adding powerful spells to the game that deal damage or allow you to create copies of cards. Also, Ice Lance has a lot of damage, and therefore this card is often included in many combos that deal 30 damage. damage per turn.

The stealth mechanic is a very powerful weapon, and it can be very difficult to counter it at times (this is especially noticeable when playing for certain classes). In Hearthstone, for every action there must be a reaction, but disguise with each turn makes it more difficult to deal with the creatures of the rogue. We considered going Wild to Auctioneer Goblin, but ended up choosing a map disguise, since the successful use of the "Auctioneer" requires extremely high level skill. We believe that as a result of the proposed change, the efficiency Goblin Auctioneer decrease, and games that use this map, will become more saturated.

Our plan was to give players a temporary opportunity to disenchant classic cards that fell into Hall of Fame, at full price. But we don't want you to rush to spray all the great cards just because they got into the Hall of Fame, because it could undermine the foundations of the wild format, which we also do not forget.

Therefore, we decided: we will give you dust just like that, but let the cards remain!

It will be like this: we will refund you the full cost for the maximum number of standard Hall of Fame cards that you could use in your deck (assuming that you can have regular and gold versions of cards). That is, if you have at least one Golden Ragnaros, you will receive 3200 Arcane Dust! Your Arcane Dust will be replenished automatically when the Year of the Mammoth begins when you log into the game.

Adventures in additions

Remembering the past, I would like to say that we have learned a lot during the year of the Kraken. One of the areas that we are going to focus on Special attention in the Year of the Mammoth, expanding the possibilities for creating new decks and increasing the variety of decks in Hearthstone. In order to achieve this goal and provide players with a greater experience, we will change the schedule for the release of expansions.

Previously, additions and adventures alternated. At the beginning of the Year of the Mammoth, we released a major expansion containing approximately 130 new cards, then added 45 more cards in the middle of the year, and finally, at the end of the year, we released another full-fledged expansion.

At the beginning year of the mammoth we are planning to release an expansion containing approximately 130 new cards. In the middle and at the end of the year we will also release two more expansions, each of which will include approximately 130 cards.

Why change something?

At its core, adventures are colorful and thematically rich stories dedicated to the Hearthstone universe. Imagine that you have the opportunity to learn about the history of each of the card sets in the same way. For example, the story of the Jade Lotus gang can be framed in the form of several skirmishes of gangs of Gadgetzan. This would be an excellent addition to the main storyline"The Evil City of Gadgetzan". It is this idea that we would like to develop in the future. Imagine what would happen if you combined the cool missions from the adventures and the massive card sets from the expansions!

You will be able to expand your collection by purchasing expansion card packs in the same way as before. Additionally, in addition to expansions, we will be releasing free single player themed side missions that will not only provide interesting challenges, but will also expand the story of the game.

We would like to continue to be flexible and optimize the release of new content so that players can enjoy the game as much as possible. The first step in this direction will be the second expansion of 2017, and we plan to gradually develop this idea. Details about the new form of release of materials for the game we will publish later.

Oh, this unpredictable free format!

Wild will be even more fun to play with cards from The Grand Tournament, Blackrock Mountain and League of Explorers adventures! Players who prefer to play Wild will definitely find out that we plan to further develop it in 2017.

Sometime after the release of the next expansion, we plan to host a Heroic Brawl using Wild. There will be a lot of cards at your disposal, so that even the most enthusiastic and experienced players and deck makers will have to work hard.

We also plan to increase the number of official Hearthstone Wild tournaments hosted by third parties and fans of the game with the support of Blizzard. Whether you're playing Hearthstone matches in Wild or Standard, we want all of the different formats and game modes to be truly fun for our community. We hope that we will be able to achieve our goal by supporting tournaments in both formats.

We're thrilled that Hearthstone matches using Wild are growing at such a fast pace. We will try to think of other ways we can support them in the future.

Gather at the Hearthstone Café

For those of you who don't know, Hearthstone Café (aka Fireside Gathering) is a great way to meet other people who are into Hearthstone as much as you are. These events are very important to us, and so during the Year of the Mammoth we are going to expand the support program for Hearthstone Café and add new features to the game designed specifically for use in these types of formats. We'll be posting fresh details on Hearthstone Café and Fireside Gatherings shortly before the release of the first major expansion of the year. You still have time to become a tavern owner!

Let's celebrate the beginning of the Year of the Mammoth together!

But that's not all we wanted to tell you about the Year of the Mammoth! For the release of the new expansion, we have prepared a lot of interesting things, including daily login rewards. Promotion time is limited! You can get Arcane Dust, Gold, and Card Packs from the expansion. In addition, a number of surprises await you in the weeks leading up to the expansion's release. .

Guardian Reward

Login rewards aren't everything! The players will have and other reasons to celebrate the coming of the Year of the Mammoth: a new hero will appear in the Hearthstone Tavern!

New rogue hero Maiev Shadowsong, left the veil of dusk to replenish your collection. For over 10,000 years, she had to endure Illidan's taunting that she was "not ready". Let the Burning Legion tremble! Adding Maiev to the collection will be much easier than biting your elbow. To add Maiev to your collection, you only need to complete ten normal or standard ranked matches after the release of the expansion.

Conclusion

Hearthstone has a lot of amazing things coming in 2017! We hope you enjoy our small review. See you at the tavern!

Editorial Manacost

It looks like you still have some questions about the Hall of Fame and getting Dust. Let's try to clear everything up.

● First, the 6 cards that go to the Hall of Fame can be disenchanted if you don't need them. Blizzard is giving dust because they want you to just get it without getting rid of the cards. Cares about your collectible feelings. See 1st screenshot.
● Secondly, if you have a regular Ragnaros and a gold Ragnaros, then when the Year of the Mammoth comes, you will receive dust ONLY for gold. See 2nd screenshot.
● Thirdly, you will only get dust for the number of cards that can be placed in the deck. That is, it makes no sense to craft 10 Azure Dragons or 5 Ragnaros. You will only receive dust for ONE copy of the legendary card and for TWO copies of non-legendary cards. In this case, gold cards are in priority (see the previous paragraph).
● Fourth, when these cards become available only in Wild Mode, you can still craft them.

In theory, these are all the main points that relate to obtaining dust for cards from the Hall of Fame. If you have any other questions about this, ask in this thread Vkontakte vk.com/manacost?w=wall-66834402_986561

new standard

The standard format will allow Hearthstone to sparkle with new colors.

It will make the metagame more dynamic and balanced.

The set limit will make each card more meaningful!

Developers will have more freedom when creating new maps.

It will be easier for beginners to join the game as they won't have to collect a lot of cards.

The Standard format is only for Friendly Duels, Ranked Play, and Casual, not Arena, Solo, and Adventure.

Free - will!

Wild is just a new name for the version of the game you're used to and where anything can happen. While Standard focuses on newly released maps and strives to balance the latest gameplay, Wild format allows you to have a lot of fun in the conditions you are already familiar with. Of course, over time and as new cards are added, it will become more and more unpredictable!

Forward to the legend!

Time for a change

The upcoming introduction of formats to the game is a great opportunity to weigh and evaluate what Hearthstone is at this stage. While we're usually quite reticent about changing cards to improve balance (and will continue to do so in the future), next year is a great opportunity for us to re-evaluate a number of core and classic cards (including class cards) and add to them description of a number of long-awaited amendments.

We'll share more information about which cards will be changed and why closer to Standard's release.

More deck space!

Release the Kraken!

Standard is coming to Hearthstone this spring! When that big day arrives, you'll be able to build standard decks from the following sets:

Base

Classical

Black Mountain

big tournament

League of Explorers

New addition (Spring 2016)

The first standard year will be named the year of the Kraken so get ready for a sea of events!

For free bread

Not long left!

We've done a great job with Standard, and we're excited to see it transform Hearthstone, bring gameplay to life, and add-ons play a bigger role. In addition, this innovation will not be slow to affect the competitive element of the game, because it is in the standard format that the Hearthstone Championship Tour will be held! All in all, we believe that the standard format will be the quintessence of all that Hearthstone has to offer.

We hope you share our enthusiasm and look forward to your feedback.

Without a doubt, you have questions, and therefore we bring to your attention the "Questions and Answers" section. If something is still unclear to you, we are always ready to help!

General issues

I have not yet been able to read .So what's going on with Hearthstone?

We add formats to the rating and normal modes games in Hearthstone. Standard decks will only accept decks made up of cards released in the current and previous calendar years, as well as base and classic sets. Wild is already familiar to all Hearthstone players. It does not imply any restrictions, it can use any cards, including all those that are valid in the standard format.

What is a "format"?

In card games, format refers to the rules and restrictions governing the set of cards allowed in a deck.

Why are you adding formats?

With formats, we can achieve some important goals for Hearthstone. The standard format will make the gameplay more dynamic and exciting, give developers a free hand when creating new maps, and also help beginners quickly get used to it. Wild, on the other hand, will give players a stunning and unpredictable experience with all the cards that have ever been released - just like the version of the game you already know.

How often do you plan to update the standard format?

The standard format will be updated every year with the release of the first expansion. At this time, card sets released in the current and previous calendar years will be added to it. The base and classic map sets will be in this format on a permanent basis.

And why will basic and classic cards always be included in the standard format?

These cards serve as the backbone of Hearthstone. They add uniqueness to the game, they're easy to understand for newcomers, and returning players can be sure they'll always find something they're familiar with.

What is the Year of the Kraken?

"Year of the Kraken" is the special name for the first year of the standard format. With the release of the first new expansion next year, a new year will also begin in Hearthstone: the standard format will be updated, and a different mythical creature will become the symbol of the year.

Deck Management

What will happen to my decks when the standard format is introduced?

Decks that consist entirely of only cards allowed in the standard format will become standard decks. Any decks containing Wild cards will automatically be converted to Wild decks. They can be made standard by highlighting the deck name (or hovering over it with the mouse) and selecting the standard format. After that, the game will mark all wild cards in this deck so that they can be replaced.

Will they mark standard cards in my collection?

Although each individual card is not marked with its format, there will be hints in your collection that will help you know if you are building a standard or wild deck. You can also use the filter to select only standard cards.

Will the new deck slots only be used for standard decks?

Additional deck slots are suitable for both standard and wild decks. You will be given nine additional places after unlocking all nine heroes.

Create, spray and collect cards

How will the card collecting process work?

Standard adventures and expansions can be purchased with gold or real money. Sets that don't fit the Standard format will no longer be available for purchase in the in-game store, but you can craft any of these cards with Arcane Dust, even ones that weren't previously craftable or disenchantable.

How will the adventure purchase system work?

For adventures that are part of the standard format, everything will remain the same. Adventures that are not included in the standard format will no longer be available for purchase. If you have managed to buy at least one wing of a particular adventure, you can unlock all the others with the help of in-game currency.

Can I still create and spray cards that are not in the standard format?

Yes, you can craft and disenchant these cards - including those that were previously uncraftable or disenchantable - for their normal cost in Arcane Dust. The only exception is base maps, which in principle cannot be created or sprayed.

Note that you can also craft and disenchant cards from standard format adventures. The main thing is that you have already received them!

Game process

How will random effects work in standard format?

Random effects (including summoning random creatures or cards, the dig mechanic, polymorph, or any other similar effect) will summon cards that are allowed in the current format. This means that only cards of the same format can be summoned in a standard format. Any cards can be used in Wild, so these effects will work as usual.

Can I receive rewards in both formats?

You can earn gold, complete quests, level up heroes, and earn victory points towards a golden portrait in both formats without any difference. However, the monthly Ranked Top Rank reward and card back will only be awarded based on the best score among the two modes. Only those cards that can be used in the standard format can be received as a reward for the season and duels in the arena.

Will the standard format be used in the arena?

Default for Arena and other Hearthstone game modes such as Single player game, adventures, etc., the free format is used. Some events in the Brawl mode can be played in the standard format, but in general it only works in ranked and regular play.

Will the format system be used in brawls?

Each new brawl follows different rules, and therefore some of them will be held in a free format, while others will be in a standard one. In any case, they will remain just as crazy!

Will formats have any effect on my adventure decks?

Adventures are played in the Wild format, so you can create appropriate decks without any restrictions.

How will the matchmaking system work?

By queuing you in a standard format, the system will automatically match opponents with decks of the same type. The Wild queue will include players with both Wild decks and Standard decks, as Wild has the ability to use Standard decks.

Can I play a standard deck in Wild?

Yes! Wild format contains the entire collection, regardless of the release date, including those cards used in the standard format. Therefore, you can queue up in Wild with a standard deck.

Can I play friendly duels in standard format?

Yes! In the case of duels, you will be able to choose the format, and your opponent will be able to choose only the deck that suits him.

With the advent of the format system, your current rating will be "split" into wild and standard. For example, if you are Rank 5, after the changes are made, you will be Rank 5 in both Standard and Wild.

Since the ranking system will be split, you will be able to move forward in the leaderboard and aim for the legend in everyone from formats separately. At the end of the season, the reward will be given based on the highest rank among the two formats, but not for both. Regardless of the format in which you received the reward, it will only contain standard cards.

Please also note that in normal play, the matchmaking rating will be the same for both formats.

Which rank will my Battle.net friends see?

Your Battle.net friends will only see the standard format rank.

Will you announce lists of 100 the best players season for both formats?

On the this moment we plan to publish only the list of 100 best players in the standard format.

Can I earn Hearthstone Championship Tour points in ranked play in both formats?

No. Earning Hearthstone Championship Tour points in 2016 will only be possible in Standard Ranked Play.

So will all official Blizzard esports events be standard?

Yes. The official format for the Hearthstone Championship Tour and Hearthstone World Championship in 2016 will be standard.

Other

Can I use different shirts and special heroes in any format?

Yes, all shirts and heroes you collect can be used in both formats.

Will it be possible to disenchant at full cost those base and classic cards that you upgrade for the Year of the Kraken?

Basemaps are not disenchantable and cannot be crafted under any circumstances. The classic cards we're redesigning, however, will be disenchantable at their full cost for a limited time.

Will the introduction of formats increase the matchmaking time?

We do not think that the introduction of the format system will significantly increase matchmaking time.

Will I still be able to participate in those adventures that will not be available for purchase?

You can only go through the adventures that you already have. If you have purchased at least one wing of an adventure removed from the store, then you will be able to open all the others, but only for in-game gold, and not for real money.

I'm new and don't have access to Wild in Play Mode. What can I do to unlock this format for normal or ranked mode?

To access a Wild format and create a corresponding deck, you only need to create one card that is not included in the standard format. If you already have similar cards, Wild will open automatically.

Are there any plans to return to the standard format of the old sets?

We currently have no plans to bring back old Wild card sets to Standard.

Tell us about the new addition for 2016.

It is very, very cool. We think you will definitely like it. We'll be talking about it very soon™.

There are rumors among Hearthstone players about a dangerous place that exists somewhere outside of their standard world - a forgotten dark dimension into which the recalcitrant cards of the past were banished by the Creators, at the time of their creation of the world we know. Some have heard of this place, some have not, but few have dared to set foot in it. The Forerunners, who were banished to this dark dimension, passed on from time to time, convey chilling legends about terrible mechanisms piloted by their servants. They whisper of hideous slime-spitting undead and a mysterious rider with a Christmas tree. But none of these stories are as scary as the tales of the evil doctor who carries the number of evil 7/7/7. In them, he always appears accompanied by two explosive devices and waits for those who dare to appear in the dark dimension. Sit down, our dear readers, make yourself comfortable and listen to the story of this place known to mere mortals as… free mode!

Hello dear readers! As you can easily guess from the title of the article and a short introduction, this article will focus on Wild Mode games. Since not much time is devoted to the format, there is a lot to discuss. Let's get on with it without too much delay. Forward, to free bread!

Wild Mode Basics

First of all, you need to clarify the very basics free regime , because few people paid attention to him over the past year. Let's start by debunking some misconceptions about the format, and then try to help new players and those who have blown all their old cards transition to it. After revealing the basics, it will be possible to move on to more subtle matters.

"Eternal" format

So what is Wild Mode ? Otherwise, it can be called "eternal". The "eternal" format is in any card game that has existed for a long time and therefore overgrown a large number additions. This is a format in which you can use all or almost all of the issued cards, which become more and more with each new set, and they are not threatened with any rotation. Wild Mode Hearthstone fits that description perfectly. At this point in time, there are only two sets of cards exclusive to Free mode : Curse of Naxxramas and Goblins and Dwarves. But three more expansions are set to join them in April, namely Blackrock Mountain, The Grand Tournament, and the League of Explorers. Over time, other additions to the format will be added, but none of them will be overboard. If a this mode playing Hearthstone will not be indifferent to you, then the cards will never lose their value for you at the time of their departure from standard mode.

Three common misconceptions

When the introduction of Standard Mode was first announced, the game was not in the best shape. At that time, the meta was in a situation familiar to everyone from the current Standard mode: several decks that are considered the strongest have flooded the entire ladder. Another significant contribution to the treasury of dissatisfaction with the game was the absence of any rotation at that time: if a certain card turned out to be powerful and caused a lot of problems (but not so powerful as to deserve its weakening), then all that remained was to accept the fact that you were up to the end centuries will have to win back around it. Dr. Boom served as a prime example of this. With that said, it's not surprising that almost all of the players have migrated from Free mode to Standard as soon as it appeared last April. Players' memories of that terrible time are the main reason for all these "horror stories" that are heard about Wild Mode and scare new players away from it. Players who have remained loyal to Wild Mode can assure you that much of what you've heard about it is just common misconceptions. Maybe it's time to debunk them?

Free mode is insignificant and unimportant. Only Standard Mode is "official"!

This is probably the phrase you hear the most. If one format is an official competition format, then the second format does not exist because it is not an official competition format. There are two ways to dispel this misconception: by paying attention to who distributes it, and by clarifying the definition of the official format. It looks like some generalization, but, as a rule, about what Wild Mode dead is declared first of all by those who immediately pulverized their entire collection of cards of this format with the release of the Standard. People who cannot return to this game mode due to their own actions are now trying to find a suitable excuse for them. There's nothing wrong with spraying cards from your own collection, but there's no point in slandering a format just because you can't play it anymore.

The second aspect is somewhat more delicate, since it involves the concept of "official". It would be insane to deny that Standard Mode is official for Hearthstone competition. Here everything is clear as daylight. As a rule, in most card games, this format is preferable for official tournaments: the constant rotation of sets is vital for any similar game. The problem lies in the phrase itself: "I do not play Wild as it is not an official competition format and therefore practically does not exist." Be honest with yourself and admit that "official tournament format" shouldn't mean anything to you unless you're in less than 1% of the players who play in major Blizzard tournaments or regularly finish in the top 100 at the end of seasons to score points. HCT and become one. There is nothing wrong with trying to participate in tournaments, but the competitive scene is designed in such a way that the concept of "official tournament format" does not matter to 99% of all players. If you are one of those who strive to get into this one percentage and participate in official tournaments, then you can certainly keep your fingers crossed. Otherwise, the argument that the format is unplayable because "it is not an official competition format" is simply stupid.

Wild mode is too similar to Standard!

At the moment, we can fully agree with this statement. It is objectively correct. Recent statistics indicate a significant similarity between both formats. However, there is an explanation for this, and it lies in the presence of Pirate Eyes and Petty Buccaneer in combination with the Ship Cannon. Reno Jackson was the only card that gave a chance to survive this frenzied onslaught. Before the release of Mean City Gadgetzan, the situation was different, and once the promised Pirate Decline occurs this month, you'll once again see a lot of diversity in Wild Mode . Unlike Standard, there are many different strong decks in Wild, and usually the meta is quite different. In addition, Standard will soon lose Renault Jackson, and the formats will be completely different.

Wild Mode consists of nothing but Secret Paladins!

Wild Mode varied. At least much more diverse than the standard. Later in this article competitive mode archetypes will be listed and you will see for yourself. So do they meet here Paladin's Secret? Of course, there are, but not in such numbers as you might think. There were really a lot of them at the time of the separation of the formats, but then the popularity of the archetype was decreasing and decreasing. Secret of the Paladins you can not meet at all until rank 5. There will always be strong decks that someone is constantly playing, and Secret Paladin– just one of those, but this does not mean that he will flood the ladder in his former numbers. In terms of diversity Wild Mode lays the Standard on both shoulder blades.

Transition to Wild Mode

The main problem with "eternal" modes in card games is their inaccessibility. If you have not played such a game for a very long time, then you just have to turn to its standard mode with rotations, and there is nothing to catch in the "eternal" format: you need too much money to purchase desired cards for a decent deck, especially if they were part of ten-year-old sets. For example, a newcomer to Magic the Gathering can take years to build a deck for "eternal" formats.

Hearthstone doesn't have that problem. Unlike other card games with "eternal" formats, although you cannot buy old adventures or card sets, you can create any missing cards through magic dust. One does it Wild Mode in Hearthstone the most accessible "eternal" format of all existing card games.

The price for creating cards is the same for both formats and, as you well know, is:

40 magic dust for ordinary cards

100 magic dust for rare kart

400 magic dust for epic kart

1600 magic dust for legendary kart

After you found out that Wild Mode in Hearthstone - the cheapest in comparison with the rest card games, you need to emphasize how accessible it really is. Beginners have probably heard stories about insanely expensive decks, like Warrior control and Renolock with a bunch of legendary creatures that are significantly more expensive than similar builds from Standard mode. Without a doubt, mentions of powerful legendary creatures, which cannot be dispensed with, have not gone past your ears: Dr. Boom and Loatheb.

To be honest, after hearing that, anyone might think that the format is too inaccessible, but the reality is not as scary as it might seem. There are only 35 cards available exclusively in Wild Mode that are played in decks: Bifurcation, Vengeance, Dark Cultist, Voidcaller, Death's Bite, Tasty Zombie, Possessed Creeper, Master of Death, Mad Scientist, Nerubian Egg, Slime Belcher, Loatheb, Fire Cannon, Snowgut, Unstable Portal, Goblin Explosive Mage, Shielded Mini-Bot, Call to Battle, Barb, Quartermaster, Velen's Chosen, Light of the Naaru, Flashbomb, Zap, Shadow Bomb, Merciless Blast, Protector, Clockwork Gnome, Gearmaster, Annoyer, Gnome Technician, Piloted Shredder, Ancient Healer, Mystic of Kezana, Doctor Boom.

In this exhaustive list of the most powerful cards Free mode you can count 20 common, 10 rare, 3 epic and 2 legendary cards. If you create every card except the legendary in two copies, all together it will cost you 9200 magic dust. This is certainly not a small number, but in most decks you will only need a few of these cards.

Converting Standard decks to Wild

As an example, three decks will be considered: Zoolok, N'Zoth Priest and Control Warrior. Zoolok is one of the cheapest archetypes for this purpose, as you only need four rare cards (2 copies of Merciless Blast and 2 copies of Nerubian Egg) and two common cards (both copies of Possessed Crawler) to transition, after which the deck will be ready for fights in Wild Mode . All other cards are taken from the Standard game mode. Transfer from Priest N'Zoth from Standard to Wild will require four Common (two copies of Dark Cultist and Piloted Shredder), two Rare (both Slime Belchers), and two Epic cards (two Lightbombs). For Warrior control need to create two regular cards(both Death Bite), two rare (still the same Slime Belchers) and one legendary (Doctor Boom).

Of course, transferring a deck to another format like this isn't for everyone, as beginners may not even have Standard decks themselves, let alone extra magic dust. Luckily, there is a great low-cost solution for them to try out Wild Mode, and that is Mech cards. The mechanisms are perfectly combined with each other and unusually cheap. In fact, they're so cheap that you don't even have to craft a single neutral card over 40 dust to build your deck.

In total, all the required neutral mechs will cost you 640 dust, practically nothing. It's worth remembering that not all classes have viable mech archetypes: they are played by Warrior, Shaman, Rogue, Druid, and Mage, with Druid being the weakest of the five. For very new players looking to try their luck in Wild mode, I would recommend the Mech Mage or Mech Warrior decks, although the Pirate Warrior will do the job just fine (albeit a bit more expensive due to Pirate Eyes).

Wildmode Decks

Finally, we managed to get to the most anticipated part of the article, namely the decks used in Wild mode. The main competitive archetypes for each of the classes will be listed, and in conclusion, the three previously mentioned decks will be considered.

Competitive Wildmode Decks

Competitiveness here is not just a chance to beat someone sometimes. These decks are really good, though not necessarily top-notch. Of course, you can achieve some success in Wild mode with unmodified decks from Standard mode, but they will be relegated to the background in this article.

Druid:Ramp Druid, Malygos Druid, Egg Druid

Hunter:Face Hunter, Midrange Wheeze Hunter

Mage:Tempo Mag, Freeze Mag, Renault Mag

Paladin:Midrange Paladin, Face Paladin, Secret Paladin

Priest:Dragon Priest, N'Zoth Priest, Reno Priest

Rogue:Miracle Rogue, Rogue Rogue

Warlock:Zoolock, Renolock

Warrior:Control Warrior, Patron Warrior

In total, this is already 20 combat-ready decks, without taking into account most of the Standard archetypes and various exotic builds, such as Warlock with Doomsteeds. Basically Wild Mode very diverse, but for some reason indicated, you're likely to see a lot of archetypes from The Standard by looking into it right now. If you're craving some real variety, be patient and wait for the promised pirate nerf at the end of February.

Three Wildmode decks

Of the variety of formats in this article, for now, only three decks will be presented, which were discussed in the section on transferring decks from the Standard game mode. Other decks will be the subject of future articles.

Warrior Control Deck

Once this archetype was considered the strongest in the game and was the object of dreams of many players who collected magical dust for him. The deck has changed over time (so, instead of Whirlwind now plays Retaliation), but its game plan has remained the same.

The deck is somewhat slow and tends to outlive your opponent by constantly killing creatures and draining all of their resources. In the late stages of the duel, setting up Ysera may well be enough to win. The famous combination of Alexstrasza and Grommash Hellscream can be used to quickly end the fight. Until the sixth move Control Warrior very passive, and then begins to crush with his large creatures. If by that time the opponent does not manage to properly cling to the table, the victory will most likely remain with Garrosh.

In this version, Baron Geddon is used among other cards to clear the table - in a meta with a large number of small creatures, he becomes a real salvation. Ragnaros could replace Ysera as another major threat.

N'Zoth Priest Deck

Taking into account those cards that are available only in Wild Mode , you can even argue that N'Zoth is the most powerful creature in the entire game. This deck follows an extremely obvious strategy: you try to crush the enemy with creatures with death rattles, and if he fights back, then N’Zoth is put on the table and in 9 cases out of 10 the game will immediately end with your victory.

Deathrattle Priest has been one of the most powerful decks ever since N'Zoth was introduced to the game. Free mode . If your opponent doesn't play a strong aggro deck, clearing "balance" cards like Piloted Shredder and Slime Belcher will require too many resources. By the time the opponent can deal with this army, N'Zoth should arrive in time and bring victory.

The Lord of Death is used for survival in the early stage of the game, then two mass clears can come in handy: Nova of Light and Flashbomb. Mariel Trueheart also helps to survive N'Zoth's prank.

You can try Reno Priest with dragons and deathrattle creatures. In this case, keep one copy of the cards listed here and add the dragons as a second victory condition.

Zoo deck

Zoolock has performed well from the very moment it appeared in the game. AT recent times the archetype survives better times in both formats due to the inability to counteract the aggression of pirates, but with the upcoming weakening of them, one can hope for a new surge in Zoolock's popularity in Wild Mode .

Here is a very old build with a few changes. Those players who were in Hearthstone even before its “split” will easily recognize the basis of the then Zoolok. Added one copy of Possessed Peasant and both copies of Darkwood Councilman. At one time, even Standard mode players complained about this map, but in Wild Mode it gets completely out of control and becomes completely indispensable. Cards like Merciless Blast and Possessed Creeper can turn a Darkwood Councilman into a real monster in a matter of turns. In a deck with a lot of creatures with death rattles, the card works wonders.

Conclusion

This article has come to an end. We hope that she dispelled some misconceptions and made readers of the site think about trying their hand at Wild Mode . Perhaps in the future there will be a continuation of this article with a description of other interesting decks of the mode and the state of the meta. Share with us your impressions about the game in this game format!

Prepared Pafnutiy, edited Blaze, designed Burnquist