Once a year Blizzard changes things up with our beloved Hearthstone, rotating old card sets to become wild-only, severely limiting the standard card pool and making drastic changes to the meta. This can all be a bit confusing, so here's the definitive answer to how set rotations work. Below you will also find historical information on each of the rotations we've seen.

Set Rotation Basics

  • Once per year with the release of the first expansion, usually in April, the rotation takes place.
  • Basic and Classic will always be a part of the core game set which does not rotate.
  • Standard format upon rotation is restricted to sets released in two calendar years. (2019 = sets from 2018 and 2019).
  • Some additional cards are sent to wild, being moved from the expansions they were originally from to the Hall of Fame.
  • The first set of a year also marks the new name of a "Hearthstone Zodiac" year. (Kraken, Mammoth, Raven, Dragon).

List of Standard Rotations

Standard arrived with the launch off Whispers of the Old Gods, the first expansion of the Year of the Kraken.

Curse of Naxxramas, and Goblins vs Gnomes cards became Wild only.

Additionally, promotional and reward cards were moved to the new set dubbed the Hall of Fame:

Captain's Parrot Card ImageElite Tauren Chieftain Card ImageGelbin Mekkatorque Card ImageOld Murk-Eye Card Image

This year started with the release of Journey to Un'Goro. Blackrock Mountain, The Grand Tournament, and League of Explorers became Wild only.

Additionally, these cards were moved to Hall of Fame:

 Conceal Card ImageIce Lance Card ImagePower Overwhelming Card Image

Azure Drake Card ImageRagnaros the Firelord Card ImageSylvanas Windrunner Card Image

This year started with the release of The Witchwood. Whispers of the Old Gods, One Night in Karazhan, and Mean Streets of Gadgetzan became Wild only.

Additionally, these cards were moved to the Hall of Fame:

Ice Block Card ImageColdlight Oracle Card ImageMolten Giant Card Image

This year started with the release of Rise of Shadows. Journey to Un'Goro, Knights of the Frozen Throne, and Kobolds and Catacombs will become Wild only.

Additionally, these Classic cards were moved to the Hall of Fame:

Naturalize Card ImageDoomguard Card ImageDivine Favor Card Image

For the first time ever, some cards from a newer set were also removed from Standard:

Baku the Mooneater Card ImageGenn Greymane Card ImageBlack Cat Card Image

Murkspark Eel Card ImageGloom Stag Card ImageGlitter Moth Card Image

For another first, two Basic cards were sent to the Hall of Fame and replaced as well:

Mind Blast Card ImageVanish Card Image

They were replaced with these cards, which will always remain in Standard:

Plaguebringer Card ImageRadiance Card Image