Hearthstone is heading back to one of its classic locations with the upcoming expansion, The Lost City of Un’Goro. Launching on July 8, this set brings players back to the prehistoric Un’Goro Crater, a setting first introduced in 2017’s Journey to Un’Goro. This time, the adventure explores new mysteries in the crater, adding a host of fresh gameplay elements and card mechanics to Blizzard’s long-running digital card game.
The expansion will introduce 145 new cards, along with new gameplay features and updates to Arena mode. For players who remember Hearthstone’s early years or are looking for new strategic twists, The Lost City of Un’Goro aims to mix nostalgia with fresh content.
- New Keyword: Kindred – Cards with Kindred gain a bonus effect if you played a card of the same minion type or spell school on your last turn, rewarding careful planning and synergy.
- Returning Keyword: Quest – Each class gets a new Legendary Quest card. Quests are 1-cost spells that start in your opening hand and give a powerful reward for completing their requirements during the match.
- Story and Map Cards – Seven new Story cards and six Map cards will be added. Story cards provide lore and context about previous adventurers in Un’Goro, while Map cards let you Discover a card and, if you play your chosen card that turn, claim another one of the options as well.
- Familiar Characters Return – Key figures like Elise Starseeker and Umbra are back, joining the expedition as part of the narrative focus for the set.
- Pre-purchase Bundles – Multiple pre-purchase options are available, including the standard Pre-Purchase Bundle, a Mega Bundle with extra perks, and the Sequence Bundle, which unlocks after buying both other bundles.
The Arena mode is also getting a significant overhaul. Players will now find two versions: The Arena and The Underground. The Arena is aimed at beginners, offering a refined draft experience and skill-based matchmaking. The Underground is designed for more experienced players, featuring longer runs and bigger rewards. To access The Underground, players need to win seven games in The Arena first.
Hearthstone has continued to evolve since its 2014 debut, with regular expansions and updates keeping the game’s meta fresh. Un’Goro Crater’s return taps into both the game’s history and its ongoing trend of revisiting and expanding on classic settings. The expansion’s arrival comes at a time when digital card games face increasing competition, so new mechanics and Arena changes are likely aimed at keeping both new and longtime players engaged.
Further reading: Official announcement (with new cards)
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