Hearthstone’s new expansion Ashes of Outland announced

Blizzard has announced Hearthstone’s newest expansion, Ashes of Outland, the first expansion of the new Hearthstone year–the Year of the Phoenix. Following the Rusted Legion’s hostile takeover players will venture into the twisted and broken realm of Illidan Stormrage himself, Outland! After a journey through the Dark Portal players will to help Illidan and his army of Demon Hunters within the Black Temple fight to retake their shattered world from the Rusted Legion.

Ashes of Outland introduces Hearthstone’s first-ever new class, the Demon Hunter. The Demon Hunter’s unique Hero Power — Demon Claws — is a one mana-cost ability that grants 1+ Attack to the player’s current turn. Players who choose this class will gain unique access to cards with the Outcast keyword, an ability which makes then become more powerful when played from the left or right-most position of your hand, including the turn they’re drawn.

The newest Hearthstone hero class is permanent and not just available for the upcoming expansion. All players can enjoy playing Demon Hunters for free once they’ve completed the Demon Hunter Prologue missions that become available on April 2.

Upon completion of the prologue, players will receive, for free, all 10 Demon Hunter Basic cards as well as a 20-card Demon Hunter Initiate set*. Starting with Ashes of Outland, 15 new Demon Hunter cards will be released with each future expansion in the Year of the Phoenix. *The Initiate set will belong to the Year of the Dragon for rotation purposes.

Blizzard

There’s a new kind of Legendary minion — Primes — fallen heroes that the Rusted Legion has repurposed for their own twisted designs.

Primes start off as strong early- or mid-game Legendary minions that hit the board and do their duty, bravely falling in battle to fight for control of the board. When their Deathrattle is triggered, a vastly-upgraded (some may even say completely overpowered) version of themselves is shuffled into your deck. All nine original classes have a unique Prime, like the Legendary Warrior minion Kargath Bladefist. An aggressive 4 mana 4/4 with Rush in his starting form, Kargath upgrades into Kargath Prime, an 8 mana 10/10 with Rush, who grants you 10 Armor whenever he kills an enemy minion.

Blizzard

Imprisoned Demons are monstrous fel entities that are Dormant for two turns which makes them untouchable by either player until they’re activated after the Dormant period has elapsed. Once unleashed these creates wreak havoc and have the potential to quickly change the momentum of a match.

A total of 135 new cards will be introduced in Ashes of Outland, introducing new mechanics such as the aforementioned Dormant ability. Players can pre-purchase the new expansion now in either the standard bundle format, mega-bundle, or upgrade to a Tavern Pass — a new way to access Perks for Battlegrounds.

Don’t forget to log-in starting today to claim your free Kael’thas Sunstrider Legendary card. A neutral minion who provides a nice bonus in which every third spell you cast each turn is free.

Ashes of Outland arrives April 7.