Heroes of the Storm

Heroes of the Storm
Heroes of the Storm 2.0 (2017) logo
Developer(s)	Blizzard Entertainment   Team 1
Publisher(s)	Blizzard Entertainment
Platforms	Microsoft Windows,macOS
Release	June 2, 2015
Genre(s)	Team Brawler, MOBA

Heroes of the Storm, often shortened toHeroes orHotS (even though "HotS" can also refer to aStarCraft II expansion), is aBlizzard Entertainment "hero brawler" game which was initially inspired by theDefense of the Ancients custom map forWarcraft III. The game features characters from across theWarcraft,StarCraft,The Lost Vikings,Diablo andOverwatch franchises, who are seized by an unknown force and brought together in a mysterious location known as the Nexus to do battle.

On 13 December 2018, Blizzard decided to pull some developers to other projects and announce that the Heroes Global Championship and Heroes of the Dorm will not return in 2019.^[1] New content for the game came to a halt in July 2022 but would still receive support in the form of client sustainability and bug fixing along with balance updates as needed.^[2]

Gameplay[]

Heroes of the Storm is a team-based competitive game in which each player controls a powerful hero with unique abilities, and works with his or her team to invade and destroy the enemy team's base. However, it has a number of features which set it apart from other DOTA-style games. Experience is shared between all players on a team (so there is no benefit to last-hitting). There are no purchasable items (but characters can be customized by learning talents as they level up). All skills are unlocked at the beginning of a match. Games are intended to last for about 20 minutes each, and each map has unique objectives.^[3]

Heroes[]

89 hero characters that are playable are:

• 2 Original heroes:Orphea,Qhira
• 1Blizzard Classic franchise hero: The Lost Vikings
• 18Diablo franchise heroes: Auriel, Azmodan, Cassia, Deckard, Diablo, Imperius, Johanna, Kharazim, Leoric, Li-Ming, Malthael, Mephisto, Nazeebo, Sonya, The Butcher, Tyrael, Valla, Xul
• 9Overwatch franchise heroes: Ana, D.Va, Genji, Hanzo, Junkrat, Lúcio, Mei, Tracer, Zarya
• 17StarCraft franchise heroes: Abathur, Alarak, Artanis, Blaze, Dehaka, Fenix, Kerrigan, Lt. Morales, Nova, Probius, Raynor, Sgt. Hammer, Stukov, Tassadar, Tychus, Zagara, Zeratul
• 43Warcraft franchise heroes:Alexstrasza,Anduin,Anub'arak,Arthas,Brightwing,Chen,Cho'gall (in-game as 2 heroes Cho and Gall),Chromie,Deathwing,E.T.C.,Falstad,Garrosh,Gazlowe,Greymane,Gul'dan,Hogger,Illidan,Jaina,Kael'thas,Kel'Thuzad,Li Li,Lunara,Maiev,Mal'Ganis,Malfurion,Medivh,Muradin,Murky,Ragnaros,Rehgar,Rexxar,Samuro,Stitches,Sylvanas,Thrall,Tyrande,Uther,Valeera,Varian,Whitemane,Yrel,Zul'jin

One of the game's features is the ability to purchase or earn skins for each hero, with each skin often available in different color schemes alongside the 'traditional' colors. Some skins represent characters from the past, a different timeline, or even a parallel universe such as:

• The Stormrage twins had theirrolesswitched and Tyrandebecame a Warden.
• A version of Tyrande who is a blood elf descendant of her namesake,Tyrande Windrunner.
• Thrall embraced the power of the Aspect of Earth,becoming consumed by living rock and permanently changed.
• Uther survived his last battle with Arthas andlater lead the Alliance forces in Northrend during WotLK.
• Uther was Arthur Light,humble lumberjack from British Columbia.
• In a worldmade from confections, Muradin was king of Kandy Mountain.
• A version of Rexxar from theStarCraft universewho is a mutated human called military ursine-handler Cpl. Rex Arkk.
• A version of Jainathat is a Dreadlord.

A model forGelbin Mekkatorque has been shown been shown at pastBlizzCons but he was never added to the game. Other charactersBlizzard have considered from theWarcraft universe includeAggra,Azshara,Brann,Cenarius,Dagg'um Ty'gor,Dr. Boom,Gallywix,Grom,Harth,Kil'jaeden,Moira,Varimathras,Vashj,Velen, andVol'jin.^[4]

Battlegrounds[]

Battlegrounds or maps are the battlefields upon which the heroes do battle and matches are fought. Each battleground has a different layout as well as unique features that set it apart from the others.

14 battlegrounds that are currently playable are:

• 8 battlegrounds unique toHeroes of the Storm: Blackheart's Bay, Cursed Hollow, Dragon Shire, Garden of Terror, Haunted Mines, Sky Temple, Tomb of the Spider Queen, Towers of Doom.
• 2Diablo franchise battlegrounds: Battlefield of Eternity, Infernal Shrines.
• 2Overwatch franchise battlegrounds: Hanamura Temple, Volskaya Foundry.
• 2Starcraft franchise battlegrounds: Braxis Holdout, Warhead Junction.
• 1Warcraft franchise battleground:Alterac Pass.

Notes and trivia[]

• The original name -Blizzard DOTA - was at the heart of a legal battle between Valve, who wanted to trademark "DOTA" for their own use, and Blizzard, who wanted to prevent the trademark so that it could be freely used by the gaming community. Ultimately, they decided that DOTA could be freely used non-commercially, while Valve retained exclusive rights to its commercial usage. As a result,Blizzard DOTA was renamedBlizzard All-Stars.Rob Pardo commented that the new title "ultimately better reflects the design of our game."^[5] On October 17, 2013, the game was renamed yet again toHeroes of the Storm.^[6]
• Blizzard does not use the terms "ARTS" or "MOBA", feeling that the game is more accurately described as a "hero brawler".^[3] However with the 2022 redesign of the Blizzard.com website, they now list the game as a "MOBA".^[7]
• Carbot Animations drawn charactersare shown inHeroes of the Storm as collectable portraits and sprays.

Gallery[]

Hero models[]

• 
  Alexstrasza
• 
  Alexstrasza in Dragonqueen form.
• 
  Anduin
• 
  Anub'arak
• 
  Arthas
• 
  Brightwing
• 
  Chen
• 
  Chen split into elemental spirits usingStorm, Earth, and Fire.
• 
  Cho'gall
• 
  Chromie
• 
  Deathwing
• 
  E.T.C.
• 
  Falstad
• 
  Garrosh
• 
  Gazlowe
• 
  Greymane
• 
  Gul'dan
• 
  Hogger
• 
  Illidan
• 
  Illidan inMetamorphosis form.
• 
  Jaina
• 
  Kael'thas
• 
  Kel'Thuzad
• 
  Li Li
• 
  Lunara
• 
  Maiev
• 
  Mal'Ganis
• 
  Malfurion
• 
  Medivh
• 
  Medivh in Raven Form.
• 
  Muradin
• 
  Muradin inAvatar form.
• 
  Magni Muradin skin.
• 
  Magni Muradin in Avatar form.
• 
  Murky
• 
  Ragnaros
• 
  Rehgar
• 
  Rehgar inGhost Wolf form.
• 
  Rexxar andMisha
• 
  Samuro
• 
  Stitches
• 
  Sylvanas
• 
  Thrall
• 
  Tyrande
• 
  Uther
• 
  Valeera
• 
  Varian
• 
  Whitemane
• 
  Yrel
• 
  Zul'jin

Skins from other franchises heroes merging into Warcraft

• 
  Apothecary Morales
• 
  AzGul'dan
• 
  Crypt Queen Zagara
• 
  Death Knight Sonya
• 
  Deathbringer Sonya
• 
  Draenei Executor Artanis
• 
  D.Va the Destroyer
• 
  Farstrider Hanzo
• 
  Fel Reaver Blaze
• 
  God-King Leoric
• 
  Herald of N'zoth Alarak
• 
  Knight-Lieutenant Morales
• 
  Legion Mistress Kerrigan
• 
  Legion's Wrath Sonya
• 
  Lurkablo
• 
  Necrotopologist Mei
• 
  Sapper Junkrat
• 
  Sgt. Doomhammer
• 
  Spellbreaker Johanna
• 
  Spirit Healer Auriel
• 
  Succubus Kerrigan
• 
  Vrykul Leoric
• 
  Warsong Johanna
• 
  Wrath Sonya
• 
  Ajungle troll head is carried byNazeebo aDiablo franchise hero.

Hero artwork[]

• 
  Alexstrasza
• 
  Anduin Wrynn
• 
  Anub'arak
• 
  Arthas Menethil
• 
  Brightwing
• 
  Chen Stormstout
• 
  Cho'gall
• 
  Chromie
• 
  Deathwing
• 
  E.T.C.
• 
  Falstad Wildhammer
• 
  Garrosh Hellscream
• 
  Gazlowe
• 
  Genn Greymane
• 
  Gul'dan
• 
  Hogger
• 
  Illidan Stormrage
• 
  Jaina Proudmoore
• 
  Kael'thas Sunstrider
• 
  Kel'Thuzad
• 
  Li Li Stormstout
• 
  Lunara
• 
  Maiev Shadowsong
• 
  Mal'Ganis
• 
  Malfurion Stormrage
• 
  Medivh
• 
  Muradin Bronzebeard
• 
  Murky
• 
  Ragnaros
• 
  Rehgar Earthfury
• 
  Rexxar andMisha
• 
  Sally Whitemane
• 
  Samuro
• 
  Stitches
• 
  Sylvanas Windrunner
• 
  Thrall
• 
  Tyrande Whisperwind
• 
  Uther the Lightbringer
• 
  Valeera Sanguinar
• 
  Varian Wrynn
• 
  Yrel
• 
  Zul'jin

Creatures summoned by heroes[]

• 
  Banshees created by Sylvanas's basic ability Haunting Wave.
• 
  Bats created by Mal'Ganis's Heroic ability Carrion Swarm, also created by his Plague Bats talent.
• 
  Anub'arak's basic ability Scarab Host spawns aBeetle. Anub'arak's Heroic ability Locust Swarm creates locusts.
• 
  Boars created by Rexxar's Heroic ability Unleash the Boars.
• 
  Li Li's basic abilityCloud Serpent.
• 
  Eye of Kilrogg Gall's ability.
• 
  Ghoul created by Arthas's Heroic abilityArmy of the Dead.
• 
  Thrall's basic abilityFeral Spirit.
• 
  Murky's Heroic ability March of the Murlocs.
• 
  Mr. Bigglesworth appears as part of Kel'Thuzad's dance animation.
• 
  Murky's Heroic abilityOcto-Grab.
• 
  Phoenix created by Kael'thas's Heroic ability Phoenix.
• 
  Murky's basic abilityPufferfish.
• 
  Tyrande's basic ability Sentinel (aowl).
• 
  Gazlowe's basic abilityRock-It! Turret creates a independent turret.
• 
  Shade created by Kel'Thuzad's Talent ability The Damned Return.
• 
  Sindragosa created by Arthas's Heroic ability Summon Sindragosa.
• 
  Rexxar's basic ability Spirit Swoop (ahawk).
• 
  Treant created by Malfurion's abilityEntangling Roots after taking the Talent Vengeful Roots.
• 
  Water elemental created by Jaina's Heroic abilitySummon Water Elemental.
• 
  Lunara's basic abilityWisp.

Creatures summoned by Warcraft heroes unique to Heroes of the Storm

• 
  Retchling created by Stitches's ability Devour after taking the Talent Indigestion.
• 
  Li Li's Heroic ability Water Dragon.

Battleground NPCs[]

• 
  Harrison Jones escaping the Sky Temple.
• 
  Harrison Jones in the Tomb of the Spider Queen.
• 
  Headless Horseman Towers of Doom boss mercenary.
• 
  Spirit Healers can be seen in the Towers of Doom and Alterac Pass battlegrounds.
• 
  Alterac PassGeneralVanndar Stormpike.
• 
  Alterac Pass GeneralDrek'Thar.
• 
  Alterac Pass humanfootman model used for melee minions and prisonguards.
• 
  Alterac Pass orc melee minion, model also used for prisonguards.
• 
  Alterac Pass dwarfrifleman ranged minion model.
• 
  Alterac Passjungle troll ranged minion.
• 
  Alterac Pass night elf leader minion.
• 
  Alterac Pass blood elf leader minion.
• 
  Alterac Pass Alliance cavalry.
• 
  Alterac Pass Horde cavalry.
• 
  Alterac Passgnoll model reaver minion (left) and mercenary (right).
• 
  Alterac Passice giant boss mercenary.
• 
  Alterac Pass sleeping orcpeon.

Mounts[]

• 
  Amani War Bear.
• 
  Arcadian War Turtle.
• 
  Dire wolf
• 
  Direhorn
• 
  Felsaber
• 
  Felstalker
• 
  Frost wolf
• 
  Meat wagon
• 
  Primal Flamesaber.
• 
  Ram
• 
  Ravasaur
• 
  Reverence
• 
  Seeker

Other[]

• 
  Heroes of the Storm.
• 
  Heroes of the Storm.
• 
  The Eternal Conflict, aDiablo event.
• 
  Welcome to the Arena.
• 
  Machines of War, aStarCraft event.
• 
  Echoes of Alterac, aWarcraft event.
• 
  Echoes of Alterac logo,Warcraft-themed
• 
  Echoes of Alterac, aWarcraft event (Alliance skins).
• 
  Echoes of Alterac, aWarcraft event (Horde skins).
• 
  Alterac Pass loading screen.
• 
  Alterac Passcatapult prop.
• 
  Alterac Passballista prop.
• 
  CraftWars event art.
• 
  CraftWars logo,StarCraft andWarcraft-themed
• 
  Legends of the Past event art.

As Blizzard DOTA

• 
  Muradin
• 
  Stitches
• 
  Arthas
• 
  Illidan Stormrage

Unreleased content that was shown by Blizzard

• 
  Blizzard DOTA.
• 
  Grunty Hero for Blizzard DOTA.
• 
  Ogre mercenary concept art as shown at BlizzCon 2011.
• 
  Ogre mercenary models as shown at BlizzCon 2011.
• 
  Goblin shop in Blizzard All-Stars.
• 
  Unused Gazlowe version.
• 
  Gelbin Mekkatorque model shown at BlizzCons still unused in-game.
• 
  Neo-Stormwind (concept for a Realm within the Nexus)

Videos[]

Trailers[]

Other[]

• Developer Interview
• Gameplay Sneak Peak
• Hero Skin: Azmodunk
• Hero Skin: Space Lord Leoric
• World Event: Gift of Winter Veil
• World Event: Love is in the Air
• World Event: Lunar Festival
• Forged by Fire: Heroes of the Storm BlizzCon 2016 Hero Trailer
• World Event: The Twelve Days of Winter Veil
• Cinematic: Hanamura Showdown
• World Event: Sun's Out, Gun's Out
• Gamescom 2017: Obey the Call

References[]

External links[]

• Heroes of the Storm Official Game Site 
• Heroes of the Storm Wiki