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Hearthstone Reveals Big Changes for the Year of the Raptor

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hearthstone year of the raptor changes expansions board pets core set esports


Summary

  • Three expansions have been announced for 2025, with new cards and cosmetics like evolving game boards and Pets.
  • Esports is making a comeback with 2 Seasonal Championships and a World Championship planned.
  • Players can expect an Arena overhaul, an in-game event, and a new Core set refresh in the Year of the Raptor.

Hearthstone just revealed some massive plans for the Year of the Raptor, the standard year for 2025, including three exciting expansions, new types of cosmetics including evolving game boards and Pets, and a revival of its esports program. The Year of the Raptor officially kicks off in Hearthstone starting with the launch of Into the Emerald Dream, the first new card set of 2025.

During the recent Warcraft Direct, Hearthstone revealed some exciting new information, including the Heroes of StarCraft Mini-Set for The Great Dark Beyond, plus the three expansions coming in 2025: Into the Emerald Dream, The Shrouded City, and The Heroes of Time. Though the StarCraft Mini-Set for Hearthstone has since been released, Blizzard had not shared much else about what was in store for the CCG in 2025 since then.

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Now, Hearthstone has broken its silence in a big way. Blizzard recently shared a bunch of details about the Year of the Raptor – the Hearthstone standard year for 2025 – including a cinematic trailer music video teasing all three new expansions. In addition to many cards being added and removed from the Hearthstone Core set this year, three brand-new cards are coming as well: Falric and Poison Breath for Death Knight, and Babbling Bookcase for Mage. These cards will be added to the game shortly before those from Into the Emerald Dream, which fans will start seeing over the course of the next several weeks leading up to the expansion’s release.

Hearthstone 2025 Year of the Raptor Highlights

  • Three expansions
    • Into the Emerald Dream & Druids of the Flame Mini-Set
    • The Shrouded City & Festival of the Devilsaur Mini-Set
    • The Heroes of Time & The End of Time Mini-Set
  • New Core set refresh, including three new cards:
    • Falric (Legendary Death Knight minion)
    • Poison Breath (Rare Death Knight spell)
    • Babbling Bookcase (Rare Mage minion)
  • Evolving game board that gets different lighting, music, and elements each expansion
  • Unleash the Raptor in-game event (leading up to Into the Emerald Dream)
  • Arena revamp (first patch of Into the Emerald Dream)
  • Pets (last patch of Into the Emerald Dream)
  • Esports revitalization

The Year of the Raptor also adds a twist to how certain cosmetics work. Though Hearthstone recently stopped adding new boards for every expansion pack, it is now introducing evolving boards with the Year of the Raptor. This single board is inspired by all three of the card sets coming in 2025 and will feature unique lighting, music, and other components that will change for each expansion. What’s more, the mysterious Pets collectible cosmetics are expected to arrive in Hearthstone with the final update of Into the Emerald Dream, right when The Shrouded City card reveals begin.

After being dialed back in Hearthstone for the last couple of years, esports is also returning in a big way, with two Seasonal Championships and the World Championship currently planned as the core of the competitive year. Fans can look forward to hearing dates, prize pools, and other information about Hearthstone esports soon.

There are plenty of other things for players to look forward to in the Year of the Raptor as well, including a major Arena overhaul in Hearthstone planned for the first major update after Into the Emerald Dream launches, the Unleash the Raptor in-game event leading up to the new Core set rotation, and Mini-Sets and events during all three expansions. While the excitement doesn’t have an exact release date yet, fans can expect to learn when Into the Emerald Dream and the Year of the Raptor Core set refresh will arrive when card reveal season begins the week of February 18.


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