Core
Core is the primarycard set ofHearthstone. It was first made available on March 30, 2021, along with theForged in the Barrens launch.
The purpose of the Core is to provide a moderncollection of starting cards to players of all types and makeHearthstone even more approachable for newcomers. Some of the Core cards are returning from previous sets, some are reimagined favorites, some are completely new. Regardless, all Core cards can be obtained for free after finishing theApprentice Track, while their golden cards can be obtained by winning inRanked orArena games.
UnlikeBasic andClassic, which were the main card sets ofHearthstone, the Core set is refreshed each year. At the start of everyHearthstone year, a new Core Set will take the place of the previous, comprised of new and existing cards. When that happens, Core cards that are rotating will be swapped with new ones in the player's Collection automatically. The original versions of these cards can still be crafted and disenchanted, but the player will be unable to keep their Core versions.[1][2]
Core cards can be used at any time inStandard andWild format, as well asTwist format provided the set is in the current available card sets, although you may still only have the normal number of copies of any given card in your deck (two for mostrarities, one for legendaries).
Notes[edit |edit source]
- All old cards in the Core set have two versions that exist in parallel: One from the original set, and one from the Core set.
- The original version can becrafted or disenchanted forArcane Dust, while the Core version isuncraftable.
- The Core set version is temporary and can be removed depending on the announcement of the next year's Core set.
- InWild format, both the original and Core versions are associated; therefore you can only bring either 2 copies of either of them. For example, you can only play:
- 2
Annoy-o-Tron - 2
Annoy-o-Tron - or 1Annoy-o-Tron and 1Annoy-o-Tron.
- 2
- Both versions are treated as the same cards for theHighlander cards' conditions.
- InCollection manager, when you filter cards by format (Standard Cards or Wild Cards), the collection manager will prioritize the Core version over the original one if you have any copies of the Core version to display.
- The Core set version functions like howWild Event did.
How to get[edit |edit source]
Core cards are free to obtain without using gold or real money to purchase them.
- Regular Core cards can be obtained by completing or skipping theApprentice Track.
- Golden Core cards can be obtained through the Progressionachievements, which involve in winningRanked orArena games.
Cards[edit |edit source]
Year of the Raptor's Core set consists of 287collectible butuncraftable cards. They can be recognized with the year's watermark behind the card text, not found on other cards.
Neutral
Related cards
Choice cards
Death Knight
Related cards
Demon Hunter
Druid
Related cards
Choice cards
Hunter
Related cards
Mage
Related cards
Paladin
Related cards
Priest
Rogue
Related cards
Shaman
Related cards
Warlock
Related cards
Warrior
Design[edit |edit source]
At the time of the Core set's introduction, the Classic set comprised 240 cards while the Basic set had another 143, for a total of 383 evergreen cards. With less cards each year, the dev team can focus on making each set of evergreen cards more consistently impactful and relevant to the current meta.[3]
History[edit |edit source]
- Year of the Gryphon Core set
- On February 9, 2021, Core set was first announced, giving the players a brief description of how the Core set and the rotation works.[4]
- On February 19, 2021, along with announcement ofForged in the Barrens andYear of the Gryphon, some of the core cards had been revealed.[5]
- On February 25, 2021, the full details of Year of the Gryphon's Core set were revealed onPlayHearthstone Library website.
- Between February 25 and early March 2021,Stonetusk Boar andBluegill Warrior were originally part of the first Core set, but both were changed fromCharge toRush in exchange for 1 more attack. Due to player feedback, the two minions were left unchanged for the Legacy set, while the new minions
Emerald Skytalon andRedgill Razorjaw took their place with the intended changes.[6] - On March 30, 2021, Year of the Gryphon's Core set was released.
- Year of the Hydra Core set
- On April 5, 2022, the full details ofYear of the Hydra's Core set were revealed, with 57 cards leaving the Core set and 72 cards entering, increasing the total number of Core set cards from 235 to 250.[7]
- On April 12, 2022, the Year of the Hydra Core set was released.
- During theKnights of Hallow's End event, all Core versions ofKnights of the Frozen Throne cards, excluding ones which were already available like
Drain Soul, were created to make them available in Standard untilMarch of the Lich King release.A list of those versions can be seen here. - OnPatch 25.0.0.158725, 32Death Knight cards were added, but unavailable untilMarch of the Lich King launched.
- This patch was also the first time new Core cards were introduced into the set outside of the regularset rotation.
- Year of the Wolf Core set
- On March 23, 2023, the full details ofYear of the Wolf's Core set were revealed, with 70 cards both leaving and entering the Core set.[8]
- On April 11, 2023, the Year of the Wolf Core set was released.
- Year of the Wolf's Core set introducedTradeable as a new evergreenkeyword, as well asMagnetic returning for just this year.Priests also received a new class-exclusive keyword,Overheal, which was proactively added to older cards.
- This year's Core set was designed to be "more flexible" than usual by allowing for both planned adjustments and unplanned balance changes. Cards could be rotated from Core early or new cards could be added in the middle of the year as needed.
- InPatch 27.0.0.181554, two new cards were added to the Core set, available to be used right away:Resistance Aura andCrusader Aura. Auras were added in this patch forPaladin to be used as a core design space for the class going forward.[9]
- Year of the Pegasus Core set
- On February 12, 2024, the full details ofYear of the Pegasus's Core set were revealed, with 84 cards leaving the Core set and 88 cards entering, increasing the total number of Core set cards from 286 to 290.[10]
- On March 11, 2024, the Year the Pegasus Core set was released.
- This was the first time new cards were made for the Core set since its introduction, with
Footman,Warsong Grunt,Night Elf Huntress, andGnomelia, S.A.F.E. Pilot being added. - The "Can't be targeted by spells or Hero Powers" ability was formally made into a keyword,Elusive.
- This year's Core set saw notable experimentation from the developers to bring back cards from the previousHall of Fame set back into Standard. Developers tried out almost every card from the Hall of Fame exceptIce Block.[11] Year of the Pegasus' Core set includes 8 cards that were previously sent to the Hall of Fame, the highest amount out of any Core set so far.
- ManyRune requirements fordeath knight cards were reduced due to developers feeling the system was too restrictive.[12]
- Wrath of Air Totem was brought back to replaceStrength Totem. Developers felt that Wrath of Air Totem was a part of Hearthstone's history worth celebrating, with plans to rotate or keep it according to player sentiments.[13]
- InPatch 29.6.0.201108,Genn Greymane andBaku the Mooneater were added to the Core set untilPatch 30.0.0.203120.
- InPatch 30.0.0.203120,Demolition Renovator was added to the Core set as a counter tolocation strategies introduced inPerils in Paradise.
- InPatch 30.6.0.208591,Prince Renathal was added to the Core set untilPatch 31.0.0.210009.
- Year of the Raptor Core set
- On February 13, 2025, the full details ofYear of the Raptor's Core set were revealed, with 79 cards leaving the Core set and 76 cards entering, reducing the total number of Core set cards from 290 to 287.[14]
- On March 25, 2025, the Year of the Raptor Core set was released.
- More new cards were added into the Core set, withPoison Breath,Falric, andBabbling Bookcase.
- This year's focus was to remove stand-out cards from the Year of the Pegasus, includingburst damage and neutralgiants.
Patch changes[edit |edit source]
Patch 28.2.0.190416 (2023-12-05): Leveling requirements removed for Core cards. Now all cards are unlocked immediately after finishing theApprentice Track.
Patch 20.0.0.77662 (2021-03-25): Added.
References[edit |edit source]
- ↑Blizzard Entertainment (2021-02-09). Introducing the Core Set and Classic Format.
- ↑Celestalon on Twitter (X). (2021-02-09).
- ↑Celestalon on Twitter (X). (2021-02-09).
- ↑Introducing the Core Set and Classic Format. (2021-02-09). Retrieved on 2022-04-16.
- ↑Welcome to the Year of the Gryphon. (2021-02-19). Retrieved on 2022-04-16.
- ↑Patch 20.0.0.77662
- ↑Blizzard Entertainment (2022-04-05). Welcome to the Year of the Hydra. PlayHearthstone. Retrieved on 2022-04-16.
- ↑Blizzard Entertainment (2023-23-03). Year of the Wolf Core Set Update!. PlayHearthstone. Retrieved on 2023-04-11.
- ↑Aleco Pors (2023-07-31). Developer Insight: Paladin and Core Set Changes. Blizzard Forums. Retrieved on 2023-08-12.
- ↑Blizzard Entertainment (2024-12-02). Year of the Pegasus Core Set Update. PlayHearthstone. Retrieved on 2024-04-11.
- ↑AlecoGereco on Twitter (X). (2024-02-14).
- ↑AlecoGereco on Twitter (X). (2024-02-12).
- ↑AlecoGereco on Twitter (X). (2024-02-12).
- ↑Blizzard Entertainment (2025-03-12). Welcome to the Year of the Raptor. PlayHearthstone.
