Hearthstone Mercenaries is an upcoming game mode that focuses on elements from Roguelike and Tactical RPGs. Here is everything we know about the mode so far.
- Hearthstone Mercenaries releases during Phase 1 of the Year of the Gryphon.
- You will not use your collection for this mode, just like Hearthstone Battlegrounds.
- According to Ben Lee, it is Hearthstone's take on Slay the Spire.
- There is no deckbuilding in Hearthstone Mercenaries.
- Progression is permanent.
Due to the in-dev nature of Mercenaries, the information here is subject to change!
What Are Mercenaries?
Mercenaries are the lifeblood of the mode. You will assemble your chosen characters into a three-person squad to progress through levels.
- Each mercenary has access to different abilities, giving you a wide range of strategies to try.
- Mercenaries have levels.
- When you level a mercenary they get stronger and will obtain new abilities.
- Your abilities can also earn experience to level up.
- The maximum level of each mercenary is at least 30.
- Your mercenaries can equip gear that they find in runs. This gear makes them stronger and you may want to find certain pieces of each merc.
- You find more mercenaries by playing the game.
The Mercenaries Map
- Each run gives you a randomly generated map.
- You will find different types of events and branching paths as you go through the map.
- Fights, Elite Encounters, and Non-Combat Events are all possible.
- If you fail to complete a level, you can try again.
- At the end of the map, you'll fight a boss.
Here is an example map in Mercenaries as seen from BlizzConline.
PVP in Mercenaries
Although Hearthstone Mercenaries is largely a PVE game mode, there are also PVP aspects. You can fight other players in strategic combat with your squad.
- You and your opponent will both queue up moves at the same time; You won't know what they're going to do!
No details other details on PVP are available yet.
Who Are Hearthstone's Mercenaries?
We don't have a full list of them yet, but there will be "around 40" mercenaries to collect. Here's who is on the list so far!
- Tirion Fordring
- Sylvanas Windrunner
- Ragnaros the Firelord
- Gruul
- Valeera Sanguinar
Although not confirmed yet, these characters were present on the key art.
- Illidan Stormrage
- Rexxar
- Eudora
Who Are the Mercenaries Bosses?
We don't have an exhaustive list yet, but these characters have been confirmed as bosses.
- King Krush
- King Mukla
- Jaina Proudmoore
- The Lich King
Hearthstone Mercenaries Key Art
Comments
which mercenary would be the most promising?
Can't wait for the new game mode!!!
King Mukla looks really badass. Also, I spy Giantfin! What does that angel mean? (One of the second to last boss options before Mukla)
They seem like a different kind of encounter (like the shops or the '?' in slay the spire). Kinda looks like the spirit healers from wow
I was watching Lifecoach (one-time Hearthstone player and general over-achiever) on a 100-game StS grind and thinking there must be something to the game that would hold his interest for so long, and maybe I should try it? Welp looks like Blizzard doesn’t want me leaving their warm embrace
About the book of mercenaries... I've noticed that the image for Rokara has a warrior pack in it, so... I supose the book of mercenaries will have purchasable skins just like book of heroes?
I don't think so as they would need to animated each one (for clarification: only new heroes get new animations, skins of existing ones won't), the pack is probably just the reward for completing her story.
When Ben Lee mentioned playing with 3 heroes, each with their cards and abilities, in a rogue-like game, it sounded sooo much like Arcanium: Rise of Akhan... I wonder if any side was "inspired" by the other somehow...
Pretty sure I see Eudora in the key art (bottom right).
You're right!
Pls, will be free and no payment shit. Or like duels. Free and other is with payment.
I don t want rewards, i want good rogue-like mode like dungeon run was.
Also, if it will cost something it will be another bullet for economy. In announce of year of the gryffin there are 3 mini sets. 6k gold+ min. And new bp system now not so good. You actually again in the same spot as was...
It would be wise of Blizzard to inform us soon about what the for-pay option(s) will be. (You are dreaming if you think it's going to be totally free.)
The longer they wait, the more butt-hurt the community whiners are going to act when we find out the new mode is more fun if you pay.
That said, Slay the Spire itself is probably the worst iteration of the genre it created. Most of its copycats are a lot better than Slay the Spire. And since we all know Blizzard's greatest talent lies in "borrowing" good ideas and making them better, I suspect Mercenaries will be decent.
It's bound to be a bigger hit than Duels since it seems far less prone to balance errors (one of Team 5's biggest weaknesses).
I think it’s only reasonable that the mode will be monetized in some sort. But since it‘s PvE, I don’t really see how they are gonna do it.
P2W is just silly in a PvE encounter. Cosmetics are much less desirable since a huge (maybe unconscious) part of them is the „showing of“ factor.
I guess I would be fine with stuff like extended content tied into the battle pass or some sort. Not that easy to find the right spot there....
They confirmed during the reveal that there will be a PvP aspect to Mercenaries even though its primary focus is PvE.
Im quite looking forward to this. Havent played Slay the Spire, but i know the game, just never got around to it. Having a similar one with Warcraft lore could be pretty cool.
Really hyped about this, love almost every type of roguelike/lite there is, and I always felt that pve adventures like Dalaran Heist were as close as HS would get to the genre.
Now I've been proved wrong.
Still, I'm really concerned about the PVP aspects if they are going to be run defining, it's bs, but if they are like an extra "room" or path to follow, then it's more than ok.
PVP + Roguelike means that it won't be fun/balanced for one of the 2 players, period.
Prove me wrong again Blizz, please do.
I wonder what's up with the gems over the map icons.
It's probably indicative of a special event of some kind, kinda like how in games like Slay the Spire or Monster Train, you can see which level is a shop, an upgrade, a random event or something like that. Maybe a blue gem indicates that you'll get an active treasure for beating it, maybe the red gem indicates you'll be transported to a form of Bob's Tavern, and maybe the spikes on top of some of the icons indicate they're a mini-boss.
It's a poor explanation on my part, but I don't know how exactly to say this. Hopefully you understood what I meant.
Stil no news on the new game mode in phase 3 Year of the Phoenix :(
Was Duels not the new game mode for this year?