Free Hearthstone ‘Core Set’ and New ‘Classic’ Format Announced

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Blizzard Entertainment has announced the new Hearthstone Core Set, a free package of cards for all players. Additionally, it has also revealed the new Hearthstone Classic Format.

Hearthstone has been around for quite some time now. This digital collectible card game has launched quite a few expansions over the years, each of which introduces dozens of new cards, new mechanics, and new challenges for players. Entering into the game can be a challenge for a new player, though — and that’s exactly why Blizzard created the Core Set.

All About the Hearthstone Core Set

The Hearthstone Core Set will give you a mix of cards from a variety of different sets, ultimately providing you with a good balance of playable cards if you’re a new player. While this set will be free, you’ll have to unlock many of these cards by leveling up the game’s classes.

Here’s what will be available in the Hearthstone Core Set according to today’s announcement:

    88 cards returning from Classic (54 class cards, 34 neutral cards).
    54 cards returning from Basic (41 class cards, 13 neutral cards).
    55 cards returning from Wild (36 class cards, 19 neutral cards).
    4 cards returning from Ashes of Outland (4 Demon Hunter Class cards).
    4 cards returning from Demon Hunter Initiate.
    1 card returning from Hall of Fame (Shadowform).
    29 new cards (20 Class cards, 9 Neutral cards).

This is just the first Core Set, mind; Blizzard is departing from how Basic and Classic have worked in the past. Instead, a new Core Set will arrive every year, automatically swapping out the Core Set cards you have in your collection.

Blizzard is also retiring the Hall of Fame. Basic and Classic sets will move to the Wild format as the “Legacy Set,” the new home for most of the Hall of Fame cards.

How Does the Hearthstone Classic Format Work?

The Hearthstone Classic Format is today’s other major announcement. This throwback game mode will let you play the game as it was when it launched all the way back in 2014.

All of the original 240 cards will be available in this new format. As this is a digital card game, balancing is a concern; you should know that the Classic Format will be based on June 2014’s 1.0.0.5832 Patch. That’s after some “important changes” went through, but many of these cards won’t have the same balancing as they do in the current game.

The Classic Format can be unlocked as soon as you unlock the Wilf Format. Its rewards systems will function exactly the same as Standard and Wild. Naturally, it will also have its own matchmaking pool. There’s also one last neat bonus to hit: Blizzard is finally increasing the number of deck slots from 18 to 27.

All of these new features will be arriving in the time surrounding the launch of the next expansion. You can read more about the Hearthstone Core Set and its new Classic Format in today’s announcement. If you haven’t yet tried this great digital CCG, you can play Hearthstone for free via its official website.