“A Storm Is Coming” – March 17 Announcements? New Expansion Set It Nagrand/Outland?

Update: It seems that the teaser was just posted too early – it’s back now! And this time with a gif instead of image! Also, the new Twitter/Facebook posts link to Hearthstone Twitch and YT channels, pretty much confirming that we’ll get some kind of announcement then. After seeing the whole gif I’m not sure about the Nagrand/Outland theory, but I’ll leave it out there since it’s also a possibility!

While our wait isn’t over yet, we’ve got some actual, semi-confirmed date! Blizzard has posted this interesting message on their Facebook page, although they have removed it pretty quickly (luckily for us, not quickly enough for some fans to not grab a picture). That’s why I’m talking about “semi-confirmed”. Remember that it’s the second “leak”, the first one suggested that the next Standard year might be a “Year of the Phoenix”. However, while Phoenix itself doesn’t tell us that much (of course it might, but the Standard year’s symbol doesn’t always have a deeper meaning behind it and even if it has, it might not be very straightforward), this new image absolutely might.


There are three things to look at here. First, the most obvious – date. It seems like we’ll get some announcements on March 17. It’s hard to say whether it will be an expansion announcement, Standard Year (with HoF etc.) announcement, or maybe both. But given that the next set should launch early-mid April, it’s about time to finally showcase it!

The second and third parts – image and “a storm is coming” teaser – seem to be connected. Through the blurry images, you can see some floating islands, ancient constructions and what seem to be waterfalls… a view well-known to more oldschool WoW players. Nagrand, Outland. And one specific place in particular comes to mind – Throne of the Elements, which would actually connect both clues together.

While the place didn’t play a huge gameplay role in WoW, it had a massive lore behind it. It was a residence of four Elemental Furies of Draenor, and Orcs (a race originally coming from Outland) used to have a big temple over there, where the first Shamans trained to harness the power of elements. This is also the place where Gul’dan turned to the dark side after being rejected by the elements (because they sensed darkness in him). All in all, it’s a pretty cool place with lots of lore behind it.

However, unless they come up with some alternative story (such as the one we had in Mean Streets of Gadgetzan), Nagrand alone doesn’t seem big enough to contain the entire expansion. Yes, the place is rich, but creating 135 cards around it might be too bland. That’s why I think that either Blizzard will come up with some “alternative universe” version of the location, or we might see other Outland zones as well. And that would easily give them enough content even for a few sets!

Or at least that’s what the picture reminded me of. If you have any other guesses (I’ve already seen someone people pointing out to Maraudon or Throne of Thunder), you should definitely share them in the comments!

Stonekeep

A Hearthstone player and writer from Poland, Stonekeep has been in a love-hate relationship with Hearthstone since Closed Beta. Over that time, he has achieved many high Legend climbs and infinite Arena runs. He's the current admin of Hearthstone Top Decks.

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Leave a Reply

22 Comments

  1. CD001
    March 13, 2020 at 6:17 am

    Forget Jade Idol … I, for one, welcome Jade Lunara, Jade Medivh and Jade Morgl … (*yeah*)

  2. Nickus89
    March 12, 2020 at 10:00 am

    To me, the gif has a vibe related to Lei Shen and/or pandaria. Another alternative is something related to mogu tribe. I can’t wait to find out, but damn they are taking so long for all the announcements this time around.

  3. Rickert von F
    March 11, 2020 at 3:36 pm

    There’s a small figure in the background behind the murloc’s hand. Looks pretty generic, though. Anyone think it’s recognizable?

    • Kethcup
      March 11, 2020 at 7:09 pm

      That is definitely a guardian’s cloak, so either Medivh or Khadgar.

      Medivh would make sense in Outland as well, so maybe him?

      • Nickus89
        March 12, 2020 at 10:02 am

        He probably ment the very small figure behind Morgls finger, visible once camera closes in. I wonder who it is.

        • Rickert von F
          March 12, 2020 at 5:48 pm

          Yeah, I was wondering about the tiny one in the distance. I agree, the one to the left looks like Medivh.

    • JoyDivision
      March 12, 2020 at 12:40 am

      Jace Beleren!

      Oh wait. That’s another game …

    • Gwenners
      March 12, 2020 at 2:52 pm

      The stance and shape of the clothing really looks like Thrall in his World Shaman garb, which would also fit with Nagrand.

      The scene honestly looks like the lake around the Throne of the Elements is being blown/drained away and becoming another Maelstrom, or Outland is further fragmenting.

  4. Fistouille
    March 11, 2020 at 12:38 pm

    Nagrand :3

  5. DemianHS
    March 11, 2020 at 10:58 am

    I never played Wow. :/ Anyone knows a character who can turn to stone others? o.o

  6. LegendaryBot
    March 11, 2020 at 10:54 am

    The same video is on battle net on the hearthstone page, so it’s official then, right?

    • Stonekeep - Site Admin
      March 11, 2020 at 11:37 am

      Yeah, it’s official now. At first they posted it too early and quickly deleted – now it’s up on their social media etc. 🙂

  7. Quester
    March 11, 2020 at 10:13 am

    Azshara here we come!

  8. LegendaryBot
    March 11, 2020 at 8:45 am

    Is it just me or is that a murloc on that image? Cause I would like to see some more murlocs!

    • Stonekeep - Site Admin
      March 11, 2020 at 8:49 am

      I think those are alternative Heroes – Medivh, Lunara and Morgl. Turned into stone for some statues?

  9. SilverWolf
    March 11, 2020 at 8:13 am

    Maybe Maiev is already pursuing Illidan?

    Because she is the only alternate free hero missing.

    • Stonekeep - Site Admin
      March 11, 2020 at 9:19 am

      That’s a really interesting take! It would be so cool if that was the case 🙂

  10. Banaani
    March 11, 2020 at 7:39 am

    What about the characters? Lunara, Medivh and Murgl the Oracle are all alternate heroes…
    What I’m hoping for is Monk hero cards (similar to the Death Knight cards) that feature other heroes than the basic Jaina etc. Other thing is they might be main characters in a new whole year story.

    • Stonekeep - Site Admin
      March 11, 2020 at 8:51 am

      This Standard year won’t have a “whole year” story like Dragon – they’ve already confirmed that. Still, those MIGHT be main characters in the upcoming expansion.

      It’s interesting that they’re turned into stone statues, though. I wonder what that means.

  11. Danjo5240
    March 11, 2020 at 6:00 am

    I am praying for a Shaman-themes expansion this go round, and this looks like it fits the bill perfectly.