Blizzard announced that Journey to Un’Goro will be the next expansion forHearthstone.
The new 135 card expansion will launch in April and features the first new card type added to the game: Quests. In a press release, Blizzzard revealed that Quests will always start in a player’s opening hand. Each quest will have a requirement, such as summoning a certain number of minions. Players will be rewarded upon completion of their quest.
The expansion will also introduce the Adapt mechanic. Adapt allows players to upgrade minions with different traits such as Taunt or Divine Shield. Like the Discover mechanic, players will be presented with a pool of three options to choose from when playing an Adapt card.
Journey to Un’Goro will also mark the official beginning of the Year of the Mammoth. When the expansion releases in April, a Standard rotation will occur. Blackrock Mountain, The Grand Tournament, and the League of Explorers sets will leave the Standard format. Any decks with those cards will no longer be playable in Standard. These sets will still be available to players in the Wild format.
Journey to Un’Goro takes inspiration from the Un’Goro Crater zone in World of Warcraft. According to Blizzard ,this is a pre-historic region that has been preserved in time. Players can expect to see “ancient elementals, frightening flora, and mighty dinosaurs.” Much like previous expansions, Blizzard is offering a pre-order special for the new set. Players can purchase 50 Journey to Un’Goro card packs for $50. In addition to the discounted price, players who pre-order will also receive a unique card back themed around the new expansion.
Blizzard has recently been making several changes to Hearthstone in preparation for Year of the Mammoth. Blizzard recently outlined additional changes coming to the Standard format. An update coming at the end of February will address issues with the Arena mode. Journey to Un’Goro is the ninth set released for Hearthstone.
