Are you ready to be the baddest that you can be?! I hope so, because Blizzard has just announced Hearthstone’s newest expansion, Hearthstone Rise of Shadows. Arriving on 9 April 2019, it will let players carry out conniving plots with “135 diabolical new cards”.

There is certainly not a lack of expansions and downloadable content for Blizzard’s hit digital card game. Hearthstone Rise of Shadows, however, is looking to mix things up by turning the tide and playing with morals. As such, Rise of Shadows sees a new coalition of villains rising to power. The results are a new world where the players get to be the bad guys!

As with previous expansions, prospective players can pre-purchase a 50-pack bundle. This will automatically unlock the Jewel of Lazul card back and a random Legendary from the new expansion. Players can also get the 80-pack bundle with the Jewel of Lazul card back, a random Golem Legendary, and the Madam Lazul Priest Hero card. If players purchase both, they will get three legendaries along with the Madam Lazul Hero card.

The expansion officially releases on 9 April 2019, and will allow players to join a league of miscreants as they embark on a franchise first: the first-ever yearlong storyline. Rise of Shadows’ 135 brand-new and unique cards are only the beginning of a year of villainy and mischief for the digital card game. It certainly sounds very promising.

The Hearthstone Rise of Shadows expansion follows partly from the League of Explorers expansion. As such, the story follows Arch-Thief Rafaam as he realises his designs on Azeroth will require more roguery than he alone can muster. This is surely how the League of Explorers defeated him, right? Since then, he has dwelled in the shadows, recruiting the greatest antagonists Hearthstone has ever seen. The result? An absolutely villainous bunch called the League of E.V.I.L. – a self-proclaimed supergroup of villains from previous Hearthstone sets. Players can expect to see King Togwaggle, Madam Lazul, Dr Boom, and Hagatha the Witch. These villains will once more cause chaos, only this time, they will be aided directly by players.

All leagues have lackeys! As such, the League of E.V.I.L. will introduce new 1/1 minions with a “variety of diabolical Battlecries”. They may be low-level cards, but they will be a crucial part of any deck. Hearthstone Rise of Shadows also introduces Schemes, new spells that grow in power each turn they are in a player’s hand. There are also callback cards that pay homage to previous sets that the League of E.V.I.L. hails from.

Hearthstone Rise of Shadows

Everything is not fun and games either in the Hearthstone Rise of Shadows expansion. Players who join the League must watch their backs. A mysterious new crime-fighting group known as the Defenders of Dalaran will also be making an appearance. These guardians wield Twinspells – potent magic spells that, once cast, generate copies of themselves that can be cast later on.

Blizzard says that all cards can be earned in-game and that no purchase is necessary, unless players want to play through the expansion missions. As with previous expansions, each mission will have its own unique card reward. However, it is not necessary to complete the missions in order to create decks. You simply need to put in a few hours into the game and you can earn them all without spending a single cent. Hearthstone Rise of Shadows card packs will also cost the same price as all other packs.

Hearthstone Rise of Shadows

Hearthstone Rise of Shadows releases on 9 April on Microsoft Windows, MacOS, iOS, and Android – practically all platforms the game is available on. Players who pre-purchase the 50- or 80-card pack bundles will get instant access to the Hero card, and card back as part of a pre-order incentive. The two packs are available to purchase through the game for $50 USD, and $80 USD respectively.

[Sources: Blizzard, Hearthstone (official site), RiseofShadows (official site)]

View Author Profile

Junior Editor at Vamers. From Superman to Ironman; Bill Rizer to Sam Fisher and everything in-between, Edward loves it all. He is a Bachelor of Arts student and English Major specialising in Language and Literature. He is an avid writer and casual social networker with a flare for all things tech related.