author: GRG
Hearthstone - Mercenary Mode in Extensive Gameplay
We've learned the details of the new Mercenaries mode in Hearthstone and seen an extensive gameplay footage.
Blizzard has released a gameplay video from Hearthstone with details of the new Mercenaries mode. Announced at the beginning of 2021, this game variant resembles the rules of Battlegrounds, in which we choose a hero and complete the deck by buying cards for gold. The gameplay is based on the rock-paper-scissors rules - the player determines where the cards are placed on the table, which attack the enemy in the right turn and in the right order.
The same will be true for Mercenaries, but with more emphasis on RPG and roguelite elements. It's also meant to be a nod to players who don't want to invest money or time into creating collections that can compete in Standard or Wild formats.
On the extensive gameplay developers discuss the new mode in great detail. As the inn was a home in Battlegrounds, so here our actions will be concentrated in the village. This is the place where the player will recruit new characters, accept orders, complete achievements and configure mercenaries (skills, items, skins).
We'll be able to choose from a large group of mercenaries, which at the start will be 50 characters known from the World of Warcraft universe, although there will be guests from other Blizzard titles, such as Diablo, The Lord of Terror. The mercenaries will be divided into three classes: Protector, Fighter, Caster. Protector is a typical "tank" standing on the first line of battle, the Fighter is a warrior who deals the most damage, and the Caster supports the others from the second line, using powerful spells. Hearthstone developers have used the critical damage pattern shown in the screenshot below, e.g. the defender deals double damage to the fighter.
The appropriate selection of classes and their place on the battlefield is to be one of the key aspects of the game, as well as synergies between the skills of individual mercenaries. Each character will have three abilities, some of which will need cooldown after use, which is a new feature in Hearthstone mechanics. This mainly applies to the most powerful abilities, so that a good balance is maintained in the game.
Along with game progress, mercenaries will receive rewards - experience, items and coins to create new cards. Just like in the case of skills, each character will be able to hold up to three items, but each will only be able to use one of them in battle. They affect the stats of the mercenary, the whole team, or individual abilities.
For completing the introduction to the new mode, each player will receive a nice mount in World of Warcraft as a reward.
Mercenaries and portraits will be available in Mercenary packs. Blizzard also unveiled three starter packs available for pre-order:
- Set with Diablo Includes the Diamond Legendary Mercenary Diablo card and 50 Mercenaries Packs;
- Set with Lich King includes the Diamond Legendary Mercenary Lich King card and 50 Mercenaries Packs;
- Set with Sylvanas includes the Gold Legendary Mercenary Sylvanas card and 30 Mercenaries Packs.
Diablo, the Lich King and Sylvanas will also be available in regular Mercenary packs. The new mode will debut in Hearthstone on October 12.
