At the same time as the announcement of the new Descent of Dragons expansion, a new game mode was unveiled by Blizzard. This is the Battlegrounds game mode that will be available on Hearthstone very soon (in beta on November 5th). Here is all the information we have at the moment.
This new chaotic game mode will allow 8 players to compete in automatic fights. Each player will be able to play as one of 24 unique heroes and recruit servants who will have to be strategically placed before observing the battle.
This free game mode is designed as a full-fledged experience in the game. It incorporates the basics of Hearthstone card game, but does not require any card collection to play.
It will be accessible through a new button called "mode" which will allow you to access the game.
Basic Gameplay
Welcome to the Battlegrounds, an 8-player game mode where battles are automatic for a whole new strategic experience. You will play as one of the 24 heroes in Hearthstone's history. Each hero will have a different power that will affect your gaming experience.
You will have to arrange your board by recruiting servants to face your opponents in a duel until there is only one winner left. You will find the cards you already know, but there will also be new cards, developed specifically for this game mode!
A tutorial commented by Bob will be present in game, but in the meantime discover all the information below!
Step 1: Choose your hero
24 heroes will be available upon release — each with a unique power that will change the way you play and prepare your strategies for the game. You will be able to choose between 2 heroes (3 if you already bought 20 boosters of the last expansion) who will be chosen at random among the 24.
With Millificent Manastorm for example, you will have +1/+1 to all the mechs of Bob's tavern. With Arthas, you can confer Reborn on your most right-wing servant. The arrangement of the board will be even more important with it!
Bob's Tavern
In this game mode, no deck, but a board full of minions that will always be changing. Recruit new ones at Bob's at the beginning of the game and between two fights. As the game progresses, you will receive more and more coins that can be spent to improve and modify your board. Most of the tavern's actions cost parts that can't be saved for the next rounds!
Several options are available:
Recruit a minion
A new selection of minions will be proposed by Bob at each entrance to the tavern. Each minion costs 3 pieces to be recruited.
Renew the selection
Aren't you tempted? Are you looking for a particular minion? For 1 piece you can renew the selection of available minions.
Send a minion back
If you need space on the set, or if you are no longer interested in a minion, 1 piece will be enough to send it back!
Freeze selection
You are short of parts but you absolutely want this minion? You can freeze the current selection for free! Bob will then offer the same minions on the next visit.
Upgrade your tavern
The level of the tavern affects several very important aspects of the game.
- The number and power of minions proposed by Bob
- The basic amount of damage inflicted on your opponents during the combat phases
- The cost of the upgrade is increasing with each additional level, but if you do not improve it during a round, the cost will be reduced by 1 piece for the next visit.
Form a triple
Recruit 3 identical minions and combine them to create a more powerful golden version! The triples thus formed retain all bonuses received before their merger. You will also receive a reward card allowing you to discover a free minion from the upper tavern level.
Arrange your minions
Once recruited, you will have to choose how to arrange them on the set. Between two combat phases you can place minions of your hand on the board or exchange their positions by moving them.
In battle, the left-most minions attack a random enemy first, unless there is a minion with Taunt in front who will be attacked first. Arrange your minions strategically to take maximum advantage of effects such as Toxicity, Deathrattle, and Divine Shield.
Combat phase
The preparations are finished, the fight begins! An opponent will be randomly chosen and your minions will fight until a winner is chosen. Minions take turns attacking, starting with the left-most servant of each player. Hearthstone's keywords work normally. Minions with Taunt are therefore attacked first.
On the left, you can still see the status of all your opponents, but you will have to wait until the battle begins to discover its minions and their layout. After each fight, back to the tavern; and after each tavern, a fight until you are the last living hero or you are eliminated from the battlefield!
Rankings
The ranking system is simple. Your current ranking is visible before the game starts and is revised up or down depending on your results at the end of the game.
Finishing in the Top 4 will usually get you up in the ranking. Be careful, however, to face opponents of a much higher or lower rank than yours will lead to variations!
The ranking will be available on https://www.PlayHearthstone.com shortly after the release of the game mode.
A new game mode called Battlegrounds will soon be available on Hearthstone. It was unveiled on November 1 at BlizzCon 2019 and will be available on November 5 in early access!
