During this year’s BlizzCon,Hearthstonegame director Ben Lee revealed several new features Blizzard had planned to make the game feel fresh in 2021. One of these additions is Mercenaries Mode, a brand new way to playHearthstoneduring theYear of the Gryphonthat will have players focus on recruiting famous Blizzard characters to pit against an opponent in a rock, paper, scissors-style battle format. Blizzard has now revealed that iconic characters from theDiablofranchise will be part of Mercenaries Mode when it launches next month.
ThoughHearthstone’s Mercenaries Modemay initially look like a simple concept, players diving into the mode must be able understand concepts from otherHearthstonemodes like spell school synergies and mechanics specific to certain tribes in the game. Each mercenary on a player’s team will have specific abilities that may do extra damage to certain opponents or buff/heal their teammates. All of this strategy will be packed into an overall system mimicking rogue-like missions that provide loot and experience.
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This mode may feel even more like a strategy RPG withHearthstoneadding The Lord of Terror and others fromDiablo, Blizzard’s dungeon looter. A trailer showcasing some abilities of theseDiablocharacters has dropped that also includes new cards coming such as Kill Command, Doom Charge, and Fire Stomp. ForHearthstoneplayers also anticipating the launch ofDiablo 2: Resurrectedlater this month, they can pre-order aHearthstonebundle that will guarantee them a Diamond Legendary Diablo Mercenary Card in the game.
TheHearthstonebundles revealed also have Mercenary Packs, which players can open for a chance to get new mercenaries to use in Mercenaries Mode. Packs have combinations of Rare, Epic, and Legendary cards. Cards aren’t locked behind paywalls and can also be earned through competing in the mode. The primary way to earn Mercenary cards is by purchasing them with Mercenary Coins, which are obtained through bounties and other methods in the PvE version of Mercenaries Mode.
Players starting out in Mercenaries Mode when it launches on October 12 will need to complete a few tutorial missions before being given a pre-determined roster of eight mercenaries to use. The mode has its own hub withinHearthstone, and players will be able to enter the Travel Point for PvE and the Fighting Pit for PvP among several other options. Trying out a bounty for the first time will also unlock a specialmount inWorld of Warcraft, Sarge, the pet mouse of Harth Stonebrew.
Hearthstoneis available now on PC and mobile devices.
