Hearthstone Patch 36.6 launches today, beginning the lead-up to Reign of the Black Empire. The update introduces the Black Market, upcoming Battlegrounds content, limited-time rewards, shop offers, and bug fixes.
Reign of the Black Empire Pre-Purchase
Reign of the Black Empire launches on October 20 with 135 collectible cards. Its features include the new Assemble keyword, an Old Gods mechanic, and custom minion creation.
The Pre-Purchase Bundle and Pre-Purchase Mega Bundle are available now. Purchasing both grants a free Random Golden Legendary Card from Reign of the Black Empire and unlocks the option to buy the Pre-Purchase Sequence Bundle, which includes the exclusive Diamond Isiset.
Players who obtain all three pre-purchase bundles also receive the Way of the Monk Coin. Monk is scheduled to arrive in 2027.
The Reign of the Black Empire Mega Bundle contains:
- 90 Reign of the Black Empire packs.
- Golden Legendary C'Thun, Eye of the Empire.
- Signature Legendary Drest'agath.
- Additional cosmetics.
Drest'agath draws an Old God from your deck. If no Old God remains there, it grants a random one instead.
Free M.O.T.H.E.R. Legendary
Log in now to receive the Legendary card M.O.T.H.E.R. for free, limited to one per account.
After Patch 37.6, M.O.T.H.E.R. will instead be granted when the player owns a Reign of the Black Empire pack.
Black Market Event
The Black Market runs from September 15 through October 13. Ranked Hearthstone games award the limited-time currency Bloodstones, which can be exchanged for packs and cosmetics. Item prices may change during the event.
Bloodstones can no longer be earned during the final week, October 6-13, but the market remains available for spending. Saved currency does not carry over to future Black Market events and disappears when this event ends. During that final week, players can haggle for a chance to reduce an item's price.
Black Market Inventory
- 1x Reign of the Black Empire Pack, with a stock of 4.
- Taelan Fordring Signature Legendary Card.
- Broxigar Hero Skin and Card Back for Demon Hunter.
- Yogg-Ramen Hero Skin for Mage.
- Champion Tyrande Hero Skin for Priest.
- Fireside Card Back.
If an item is already owned, its reward slot is replaced by Golden Standard Packs of equivalent value.
The War of Old & New Event
The War of Old & New runs from October 6 through October 20. Event quests award three cards that can be added to decks before Reign of the Black Empire launches on October 20.
- 2x Arrival of the Old Gods, in regular and Golden versions.
- 2x Arrival of the Titans, in regular and Golden versions.
- 2x Dark Terraforming, in regular and Golden versions.
- 2x Tavern Tickets.
- Zek’voz Hero Skin for Priest.
Legendary Quest Chain
A Ranked-focused Legendary Quest Chain is available from September 29 through October 20.
- Step 1: 1x Reign of the Black Empire Pack.
- Step 2: 1x Golden Reign of the Black Empire Pack.
Arena Update
- The appearance rates of Azeroth's Most Wanted Class Set cards have returned to normal.
Battlegrounds Update in Patch 36.6.1
The listed Battlegrounds changes go live with Patch 36.6.1 on September 22.
New Minion Type: Aberrations
Aberrations are a new Battlegrounds minion type built around discard synergies and awakening a Deity.
- Every friendly Aberration that dies advances the Deity's progress.
- The possible Deities are C'Thun and Y'Shaarj.
- One of the two is selected randomly at the beginning of each game.
- After three sacrifices, the selected Deity joins that combat and applies its effect.
Aberrations will be present in every lobby for the first two weeks after their September 22 debut.
Naga will be temporarily removed from the minion pool when Aberrations arrive. Naga-specific cards and heroes will also be unavailable during that rotation.
Battle.net Shop Rewards and Offers
From September 15 through October 13, players can claim a free Escape from Violet Hold gift from the Battle.net Shop each week. A new reward becomes available every Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. PDT.
Starting September 15, the shop also offers the Explore with Diamond Explorer Liadrin Bundle one week early at a discounted price. The returning Disruptor's Delight Signature Bundle is available exclusively through the Battle.net Shop.
Mr. Bigglesworth in Darkmoon Faire Treasures
Mr. Bigglesworth joins Darkmoon Faire Treasures from September 18 through October 13. The Pet is one of 10 available prizes, and the first pull is free.
Mr. Bigglesworth reacts to matches with unique animations, interactions, and victory and defeat screens. Players can give him a fish or yarn ball and see different responses.
When Mr. Bigglesworth and the Lich Lord Kel'Thuzad Mythic Hero Skin are equipped together, the Pet replaces Kel'Thuzad's phylactery as the Hero Power source for both Mage and Death Knight.
Leveling the Pet with XP unlocks Bandage Bigglesworth, Comfy Kitty Bigglesworth, and Mr. Jigglesworth.
Mr. Bigglesworth XP Actions
- Deal damage to the enemy hero.
- Deal 10 or more damage in one attack.
- Fill your board.
- Play Kel'Thuzad.
- Play a cat.
- Play an Undead minion that costs 3 or less.
- Play a Shadow spell.
- Summon a Deathrattle minion.
- Have 3 minions die in one turn.
- Have a friendly character attack and destroy a minion.
- In Battlegrounds, reach Tavern Tier 6.
- In Battlegrounds, win a combat round.
- In Battlegrounds, sell 3 minions.
- In Battlegrounds, Triple an Undead.
- In Battlegrounds, eliminate an enemy hero.
Darkmoon Faire Treasures is a random-pull system containing Pets, Mythic Skins, Signature cards, Hero Skins, and other rewards. The first pull is free, while later pulls cost Runestones. Prices change with the value of each rotating prize collection.
Bug Fixes
Hearthstone
- Flames of Infinity no longer always triggers first at the end of an opponent's turn.
- Medivh's Triumph no longer receives an incorrect Cost after Soul Immolation is played.
- Resolved hand-size limit issues involving Arcane Flow and The Forbidden Sequence.
- Minions that target cards in hand can now be played when no valid target is available.
- Kazakus Potions generated by Aya, Lotus Kingpin are now copied correctly by Shadow of Demise.
- Resolved an issue involving Harsh Sentence attempting to insert minions into a full deck.
- Fixed an interaction between The Origin Stone and Sands of Time that could leave the game stuck.
- Gorgonzormu's Delicious Cheese can no longer be played while the board is full.
- Bone Flurry now displays and deals consistent damage when modified by Prophet Velen.
Battlegrounds
- Neutral minions changed into All-type minions now correctly receive Elemental scaling bonuses.
- Rot Hide Gnoll no longer gains Attack when a teammate's minions die.
- Power of the Storm now interacts correctly with Cosmic Duality.
- Timewarped Sea Glass now applies its full effect instead of only doubling Attack.
- Unforeseen Portal can no longer activate multiple times in one game.
- Sire Denathrius' Kidnap Sack now awards one Spellcraft spell instead of two.
- Valithria Dreamwalker now receives buffs when Dragons are summoned during combat.
- Pyramad's Hero Power can no longer be used when no minions remain in the Tavern.
- Buying a Spell no longer counts incorrectly as a Discover while using Magicfin Sticker.
- Arch-Villain Rafaam's Hero Power no longer triggers during the Shop Phase.
- Reclaimed Souls can no longer be used after Aureate Laureate dies in combat without providing the expected copy.
Cosmetics
- Several Signature cards no longer briefly display their normal versions during animations.
- The missing in-combat voice line for the Dino Cloner Zerek Hero Skin has been restored.
- Opponent minions no longer retain a transparent Taunt effect after certain Mister Clocksworth and Kayn Sunfury interactions.
- Cards no longer appear on the wrong visual layer after canceling a play while Underfel Rift is active.