Hearthstone Patch 31.6 Notes and Year of the Raptor: All You Need to Know

Hearthstone's Year of the Raptor kicks off with a BANG as Patch 31.6 introduces the new expansion "Into the Emerald Dream". Set to launch on March 25, 2025, the latest expansion brings 145 new collectible cards to the game.

The Emerald Dream, a magical realm from which all Nature flows, is under attack by the corrupting influence of the Old Gods. Players will have the opportunity to align themselves with the power of the World Tree or discover the Old Gods' Dark Gifts, rallying dragons, druids, and Wild Gods to their side.

Pre-purchase bundles for "Into the Emerald Dream" are now available, offering players a chance to get ahead of the curve. As an added incentive, players who log in to Hearthstone will receive the Legendary card "Ysera, Emerald Aspect" for free, allowing them to dream bigger and potentially turn those dreams into reality in the game.

Battlegrounds Updates

Patch 31.6 of Hearthstone brings a massive mid-season shakeup to Battlegrounds, introducing several new features and adjustments.

New Heroes

Jim Raynor (12 Armor)

• Lift Off [Passive]: Start with a 2/2 Battlecruiser that adds an Upgrade to the Tavern whenever it is Refreshed.
• Battlecruiser: 2/2 Mech. The Tavern offers an extra Battlecruiser Upgrade each time it is refreshed.

Jim Raynor's hero power revolves around upgrading a Battlecruiser with special Upgrades that can be purchased from the Tavern.

Artanis (15 Armor)

• Warp Gate: At the start of the game, choose from 2 Protoss minions to get after you buy 16 cards.

Artanis introduces several new Protoss minions to Battlegrounds:

• Colossus [Tier 5, Mech]: 6/12. Attacks deal 1 damage to adjacent minions. Upgrades with Gold spent.
• Carrier [Tier 5, Mech]: 12/4. Avenge (4): Summon a 3/3 Interceptor that attacks immediately. Improves permanently.
• Immortal [Tier 5, Mech]: 8/8. Start of Combat: Gain adjacent minions' stats.
• Void Ray [Tier 5, Mech]: 7/1. Divine Shield. Friendly minion attacks grant it and this minion +5 Attack permanently.
• Mothership [Tier 5, Mech]: 6/8. Avenge (5): Get a random Protoss minion.

For the first two weeks following Patch 31.6, these new heroes will be included in the initial hero offerings for every game.

Anomalies and Tavern Changes

The patch introduces several new Anomalies and Tavern changes as well, including all of the following:

• Factory Line: Get a plain copy of your left-most minion every 2 turns.
• Magic Shop: Spell Tickets are introduced in the Tavern.
• Light the Way: Gain 1 Gold next turn after refreshing twice.
• Emergency Landing: Remove all copies of a minion in the Tavern from your pool twice per turn.
• Scout's Honor: Start with a Patient Scout in play.
• Cosmic Duality: Discover a second Hero Power at the start of the game.
• Golden Arrow: Get a 'Golden Arrow' every 3 turns to make a Tavern minion Golden.

Spell Pool Changes

The patch also brings changes to the Spell Pool:

• Removed: Unmasked Identity and Boundless Potential.
• Returned: Sacred Gift (at Tier 7).

New spells added include Forest's Bounty, Sharing is Caring, Blade of Ambition, and Hallowed Ritual.

Arena Update

With the launch of Patch 31.6 to Hearthstone, all current Arena runs will end, and a new Arena season will begin. The Arena pool will be adjusted to include the following sets:

• Festival of Legends
• TITANS
• Showdown in the Badlands
• Whizbang's Workshop
• Perils in Paradise
• The Great Dark Beyond
• Wayward Probe, Raptor Herald, and Creature of Madness

Year of the Raptor Overview

The Year of the Raptor promises to be an exciting time for Hearthstone players, with three major expansions planned for 2025:

1. Into the Emerald Dream (First expansion)
2. The Shrouded City (Second expansion)
3. The Heroes of Time (Third expansion)

Each expansion will be accompanied by a Mini-Set:

1. Druids of the Flame (for Into the Emerald Dream)
2. Festival of the Devilsaur (for The Shrouded City)
3. The End of Time (for The Heroes of Time)

Core Set Update and New Features

The Year of the Raptor brings a significant update to the Core Set, introducing a mix of returning favorites, balance changes, and brand-new cards. Some standout cards from the previous year, including those with burst damage and frustrating effects, have been removed to refine the gameplay experience.

New features to look forward to include:

• Evolving Game Board: A new Year of the Raptor board comes to the game, featuring unique lighting, music, and elements that change with each expansion.
• Pets: A new cosmetic feature will come with Patch 32.4.
• Arena Revamp: A major update to the Arena mode is scheduled for Patch 32.2, promising to refine the drafting experience.

Ready for Dreaming Emeralds?

The Year of the Raptor is shaping up to be an exciting time for Hearthstone players. With new expansions, features, and a revitalized esports scene, there's plenty to look forward to in 2025. As the game continues to evolve, players can expect fresh challenges, new strategies, and an ever-expanding universe to explore within the world of Hearthstone.

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Feature image credits: Blizzard

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