Hearthstone raises the stakes with Cataclysm and a 2026 full of changes

Hearthstone is about to make a big move. It’s not something revolutionary, but rather taking the name of one of World of Warcraft’s most important expansions and introducing it into the card game. While the narrative of the Warcraft-inspired title has always been ambivalent between a serious tone and a more lighthearted one, this time everything is elevated with Cataclysm and what was announced during Hearthstone Spotlight.

A multidimensional narrative comes to Hearthstone

Following the events of Across the Timeways, Chromie and the Warcraft heroes from different timelines will face one of their most difficult challenges yet, after a new portal to another reality opens following the death of Murozond. In this timeline, the imposing Deathwing managed to cause the cataclysm and now appears in the world of Hearthstone in his most powerful form. In this expansion, our heroes must join forces with the Dragonflight to travel across Azeroth and defeat Deathwing’s forces before it’s too late.

Among the new features brought by Cataclysm is the return of Colossals, giant minions that are summoned as multiple units when played. Each class will have access to its own Colossal. Among the new keywords is Herald, where the more times you Herald, the stronger they become. On the other hand, Shatter allows a card with this keyword to be split when drawn, allowing it to be used separately or to double its power when used together. Each class will also have the help of the Hero of Time through the Triumphs and Last Stands cards.

Access to cards and events

Since this will be one of the most challenging battles Hearthstone has ever presented, pitting players against the most powerful Deathwing yet, there is a surprise in store for all players. On March 10, one week before the release of Cataclysm, players will receive all cards from Into the Emerald Dream and The Lost City of Un’Goro for the duration of this expansion. With this, along with the Starter Kit, players will have access to two-thirds of all standard cards for free. Those who already have these cards will gain access to Ysera, Emerald Aspect, and Endbringer Umbra in their signature versions.

Before the launch of Cataclysm, changes will also be coming to the tavern, with new graphic designs, music, and a revamped board. In addition, the Dragon’s Hoard event will be activated, featuring a variety of rewards.

What can we expect in 2026?

2026 marks a change of year in Hearthstone’s rotation, leaving behind the Year of the Raptor and ushering in the Year of the Scarab. The goal for this new cycle is to have a more fluid meta, as well as more defined class identities. With this, cards such as Brawl and Shadowstep will be leaving the rotation, making room for new additions. Likewise, a more coherent narrative is expected throughout the year, as well as a more attractive reward system for players.

Those who reach Legend rank during the 2026 competitive season will receive a new card back. Those who achieve it for the first time in the year will get both the classic and the new card back.

As for this year’s expansions, the team plans to add content in a different way, delivering sets focused on specific classes rather than distributing a few cards among the 11 classes. For now, the future looks set to bring us Vanessa VanCleef and her attempt at a jailbreak during the summer, while the third expansion of the year will be revealed at BlizzCon 2026 this September.

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