Hearthstone, the popular digital collectible card game developed by Blizzard Entertainment, is introducing a new and exciting game mode called “Twist.” Twist is a ladder mode that features regularly rotating seasons, each with a unique twist on the rules. These twists can include curated card pools and special rulesets, offering players a fresh and innovative gameplay experience.
The Twist game mode aims to bring back some of the favorite Hearthstone formats in a new setting with a refreshed meta to explore. It offers a nostalgic trip down memory lane while challenging players to adapt to the new twists and strategies introduced in each season.
To ensure players have a voice in shaping the Twist game mode, Blizzard Entertainment welcomes suggestions from the community. Players can share their ideas for Twist formats they would like to see or express their desire to see a particular format return. While Twist formats are planned to change regularly, it’s important to note that not every season will feature a new twist. Additionally, there may be periods where Twist is temporarily deactivated as the team prepares for upcoming seasons.
Players can access Twist within the Hearthstone menu, where the Classic mode used to be located. From the deck selection screen, players can check the current Twist season’s rules and eligible card pools, ensuring they are well-informed before diving into the action.
Twist Timing
With the release of Patch 26.6, Twist will be launched in its Beta phase. Players will start their Twist journey from the beginning, at Bronze 10, in the first season, which will be a short season lasting until July 1st. Similar to the Standard and Wild modes, players will have the opportunity to earn ranked rewards based on their highest ladder rank achieved across Standard, Wild, Classic, or Twist.
Starting with the Twist Beta, the official Leaderboards will switch from Classic to Twist, reflecting the competitive nature of this new game mode. The Twist Beta is planned to run throughout June and July. Following the Beta, Twist will be temporarily deactivated for a brief period while the developers prepare for the official launch of Twist, which is coming soon.
Beta Format: New Age
During the June and July Beta seasons of Twist, there will be a single format called “New Age.” New Age is an evergreen format that encompasses the Core Set and all sets released from Ashes of Outland onwards.
The New Age format for the Beta period will include the following expansions:
- Core
- Ashes of Outland
- Scholomance Academy
- Madness at the Darkmoon Faire
- Forged in the Barrens
- United in Stormwind
- Fractured in Alterac Valley
- Voyage to the Sunken City
- Murder at Castle Nathria
- March of the Lich King
- Path of Arthas
- Festival of Legends
As new sets are introduced to the game, they will be added to the New Age pool. This means that the New Age format may make a return in the future, potentially with the same rules variant, a different one, or no rules variant at all.
For the Beta seasons, the New Age format will have a special rules variant: no neutrals allowed. This unique twist offers players a chance to re-experience the New Age format in a fresh and exciting way. It encourages players to explore new strategies and deck compositions without relying on the neutral cards commonly used in Hearthstone.
Twist Preview Event with Twitch Drops!
To celebrate the upcoming Twist Beta, Hearthstone will host a special preview event with Twitch Drops. On June 22 and June 23, players can join their favorite content creators as they test decks and strive to climb the Twist ladder on a private version of the game.
The event will feature competitors from different regions, including North America, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), and the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. The participants will be playing on various dates and times to accommodate players from different time zones.
North America, Latin America, and EMEA participants will play on June 22nd, with streaming sessions scheduled from 9:00 a.m. PST to 9:00 p.m. PST. APAC players will have their turn on June 23, with streaming sessions running from 2:00 a.m. PST to 8:00 a.m. PST. To catch the action, players are encouraged to follow their favorite content creators and stay tuned for their live streaming schedules.
What makes this preview event even more exciting is the inclusion of Twitch drops. Throughout the 24-hour event, category-wide Twitch drops will be enabled, allowing players to earn up to nine free packs just by watching the streams. The drops are divided into three sets, each covering an 8-hour window. To receive the packs, players need to watch for at least one hour within the designated drop window.
Here are the drop windows and the corresponding packs:
- June 22nd, 9:00 a.m. (PST) – June 22nd, 4:59 p.m. (PST): 1 Ashes of Outland pack, 1 Scholomance Academy pack, and 1 Darkmoon Faire pack
- June 22nd, 5:00 p.m. (PST) – June 23rd, 12:59 a.m. (PST): 1 Forged in the Barrens pack, 1 United in Stormwind pack, and 1 Fractured in Alterac Valley pack
- June 23rd, 1:00 a.m. (PST) – June 23rd, 8:59 a.m. (PST): 1 Voyage to the Sunken City pack, 1 Murder at Castle Nathria pack, and 1 March of the Lich King pack
These packs correspond to the last few years of Hearthstone expansions, allowing players to utilize the cards they receive when they jump into the Twist Beta and explore the New Age format.
The Twist Preview Event with Twitch Drops promises to be an exciting opportunity for players to get a glimpse of the upcoming Twist game mode while earning free packs to enhance their collection. Whether you’re a seasoned Hearthstone player or new to the game, this event is a must-watch to witness the engaging gameplay and strategies that await in Twist.
Join your favorite content creators on June 22nd and June 23rd for an unforgettable preview of Classic Hearthstone, With a Twist!
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, iOS, Andriod, MacOS
