Hearthstone is a free-to-play online card collecting game developed by Blizzard and based on the World of Warcraft in-game universe. Initially released in 2014, Hearthstone has seen serious growth and only continued to gain new players during the course of the pandemic. Near the end of April 2021, Blizzard made a news post on the Hearthstone website containing the details of the latest content update. Hearthstone’s most recent content release is titled Quilboar, which is the main theme of the new cards being released.
Quilboar minion types will be available in the Battlegrounds mode, with no plans to expand synergy of the Quilboar type into any other mode at this time. As is routine when new minion types are added into Hearthstone’s Battlegrounds, only five minion types will be available at a time, with Quilboar being present in every match. This means that three minion types will be excluded from each Battlegrounds match until Hearthstone‘s next major content update releases. Several minions are also being changed to the Quilboar typing from Hearthstone’s Forged in the Barrens and other past Hearthstone expansions.
Hearthstone’s Quilboar update brings seventeen new minion cards, three new heroes, and a new mechanic called Blood Gems into the Hearthstone Battlegrounds mode. Each of the Quilboar cards will utilize the Blood Gem mechanic in different ways. Some Quilboar will supply players with additional Blood Gems, while others gain special effects after having them used or buff the gems themselves. The new minions included in the update are; Razorfen Geomancer, Sun-Bacon Relaxer, Roadboar, Tough Tusk, Prophet of the Boar, Bristleback Brute, Bannerboar, Thorncaller, Necrolyte, Dynamic Duo, Bonker, Groundshaker, Bristleback Knight, Aggem Thorncurse, Agamaggan The Great Boar, Charlga, and Captain Flat Tusk.
Hearthstone’s Quilboar Update Introduces Game-Changing Mechanics
In addition to new minions in Hearthstone, three new heroes are being added into the Battlegrounds mode. The new heroes are Death Speaker Blackthorn, Vol’jin, and Xyrella. Death Speaker Blackthorn has a Passive Hero Power called Bloodbound, which rewards players with two Blood Gems after upgrading Bob’s Tavern. Vol’jin has a Spirit Swap Hero Power, which allows him to swap the stats of two minions. Xyrella has the most expensive Hero Power, See The Light, costing two gold and allowing players to choose a minion from Bob’s Tavern, though its stats are immediately set to two. The Rat King’s ability also received a change in Hearthstone’s Quilboar update, enabling players with the Passive Hero Power, King of the Quilboar. This Power enables players to give their purchased Quilboar +2/+2 and swaps types each turn.
With Quilboar being a guaranteed minion in Battlegrounds games, the mechanic of Blood Gems is sure to shake up the current meta. Blood Gems give a friendly minion +1/+1 naturally, although some Quilboar minions have unique abilities gained from the usage of Blood Gens. For example, Tough Tusk minions gain Divine Shield should a Blood Gem be played on them, while Prophet of the Boar’s ability gifts players two Blood Gems after a Quilboar minion is played each turn. Learning how to use Hearthstone’s new Blood Gems effectively in Battlegrounds decks will be vital to claiming victory.
In addition to these new cards, Quilboar is offering a series of new packs; Demon-Hunter, Druid, Hunter, Mage, Paladin, Priest, Rogue, Shaman, Warlock, and Warrior. These packs are redeemable through codes listed in the news update. Players are also able to purchase Hearthstone’s Battle-Ready Decks, which are decks of cards that have been optimized for the Quilboar update specifically. These decks will be purchasable for $19.99 through the Hearthstone website or in-game store. Hearthstone’s Quilboar update has introduced many new mechanics to the game, refreshing players and changing the current meta of gameplay.
Source: Hearthstone