Good news, everyone! Or well, bad new if you don’t like the current Dual-Class Arena. Unlike last time, when it lasted only during the Hallow’s End event, this time the Dual-Class Arena will last all the way until next expansion releases, shares the new Community Manager Alkali Layke.
I honestly thought that the event which started on November 2nd will only last for 2 weeks or so this time around, since its normally tied to the Hallow’s End. But it looks like because they released Hallow’s End later this year (delay was caused by Mercenaries game mode), they pushed the end date further too.
Now, when exactly is “launch of next expansion” – we don’t know. But we can safely assume that if they follow the regular schedule, that will be early December (Darkmoon Faire was the only exception, releasing a few weeks earlier last year, but that certainly won’t happen). If I had to guess, I’d say that December 7th is the most likely date, but we’ll have to wait and see.
One of the biggest ❓ in my dms this week:
Q:How long will arena be Dual Class?
A: Until the launch of the next expansion.Just the messenger…
????Protective Shields Up????— Alkali (@alkali_layke) November 8, 2021
Alterac valley from memory is a big map in a snowy land with lots of mini quests/tasks to complete which gave you more allies, like wolf riders or an ice elemental.
You also had to take down npcs defending certain strategic points like towers and bunkers so maybe more buildings. I’d be surprised if quests or subquests didn’t appear again. I think legendarys in the form of the captains and the ice elemental and tree guy are a shoe in.
Would be interesting to do an alliance and horde creature tag but I think that would be too difficult in terms of card space.
I think there will also be some sort of reinforcement mechanic as that’s what the battle is about depleting the reinforcements.
Yep, Dec 7th seems right, considering the Battleground Perks ends on 6th.
Probably seeing the teaser/trailer (announcement of announcement) this week, my bet is tuesday (today).
Card reveal and giveaway period should start at the last week of November.
Alterac Valley is the leaked Expansion, but I really don’t know how the theme gonna be. We had bunch of Horde and Alliance cards. Probably a lot of Duel cards (like summoning minion to fights).
Alterac Valley is what many people have though ever since the first teaser for Year of the Gryphon was posted (including me and Tharid, who wrote this article https://www.hearthstonetopdecks.com/deciphering-the-year-of-the-gryphon-expansion-teasers-what-we-know-so-far-about-upcoming-expansions/)
So I wouldn’t be surprised at all. But we don’t cover leaks so we’ll wait until the official announcement 🙂 Like you’ve said, it shouldn’t be long. I would also guess teaser this week (but I think Thursday) and then announcement next week (Tuesday?).
Yeah, the last expansion will thematically 100% be about Alliance and Horde having a huge fight, but I wonder what mechanics they will use to showcase it. I think that “dueling” would make sense, but I’m not a big fan of more ways of cheating out minions from your deck.
Likewise. It doesn’t have to be from the deck. eg. “Battlecry: Summon a # cost minion for both players, they fight”. But a bunker mechanic seems like a good idea too, since we had Tower mechanic already. Or maybe a tug of war solo adventure. Anyway, can’t wait to see if I can’t make a rant or something later.
Also, it doesn’t hurt to see more gryphons in the Year of Gryphon, but I must admit, I don’t really see any Mammoth or Kraken in their Year. So I must’ve got it wrong about the theme.