Blizzard made some exciting announcements for Hearthstone’s autobattler, Battlegrounds, at this year’s BlizzCon. The highlight was the introduction of a new game mode called Duos, which will be available in 2024.
What is Battlegrounds Duos?
Battlegrounds Duos is a team-based mode where players compete in pairs, similar to TFT’s Double Up. In this mode, both players share a life total and participate in sequential combat. The first player’s warband fights until it defeats both opponents or gets defeated itself. If the first player loses, the second player’s warband takes over. However, if the first player wins, the second player’s warband joins in to deal additional damage to the opposing team.
To enhance teamwork, players can use a portal to view their teammate’s hand and board. They can also share cards with each other through the portal by spending one gold. Although the game lacks a chat function, Blizzard has implemented a simple emote system to facilitate communication.
During BlizzCon, Blizzard provided a preview of the new mode, showcasing some of the cards and mechanics. For instance, there is a tier six minion named Sandy that transforms into a copy of your teammate’s highest Health minion at the start of combat. This is just one example of the many cards designed to take advantage of the unique dynamics of Duos games.
If you want to see the gameplay in action, you can watch over 35 minutes of live play sessions from BlizzCon, featuring content creator Rarran:
More Hearthstone Updates: Catch-Up Packs and Showdown in the Badlands
In addition to the Battlegrounds Duos announcement, Hearthstone also revealed new content for its regular card game. The upcoming expansion, Showdown in the Badlands, will be released on November 14th and will introduce 145 new cards with a Wild West theme.
The expansion focuses on the highlander archetype, which was previously popular among players. It introduces two new keywords: Quickdraw, which grants additional abilities or modifiers to cards drawn on the same turn, and Excavate, which rewards players with non-collectible Treasures that become more powerful with each excavation. Synergy cards in the expansion also trigger effects based on the number of times players have excavated during the game.
Blizzard also introduced a new type of pack called Catch-Up Packs. These packs contain a variable number of cards, up to 50, instead of the usual five. The purpose of these packs is to help players catch up with their collection. The number of cards in each Catch-Up Pack is determined by the percentage of the player’s existing Standard expansion collection.
With these exciting updates, Hearthstone continues to provide new content and experiences for its players. Despite some challenges, the game remains committed to delivering engaging gameplay and expanding its card collection.
Source: DOTESPORTS
