Difference between revisions of "Hearthstone"
From PCGamingWiki, the wiki about fixing PC games
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| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{State|state=postdev}} | {{State|state=postdev}} | ||
| + | {{cleanup|([[User:Dandelion Sprout|Dandelion Sprout]]:) Someone with knowledge about cards and modes should figure out how to compress the long notes below Availability, or whether to remove them entirely}} | ||
{{Infobox game | {{Infobox game | ||
|cover = Hearthstone cover.png | |cover = Hearthstone cover.png | ||
| Line 7: | Line 8: | ||
|engines = | |engines = | ||
{{Infobox game/row/engine|Unity|name=Unity 5|Former|ref=<ref>{{Refurl|url=https://unity3d.com/showcase/case-stories/hearthstone|title=Card Life - Unity|date=2018-05-18}}</ref><ref name="former engineversion">{{Refcheck|user=Baronsmoki|date=2019-09-15}}</ref>|build=5.6.5p4}} | {{Infobox game/row/engine|Unity|name=Unity 5|Former|ref=<ref>{{Refurl|url=https://unity3d.com/showcase/case-stories/hearthstone|title=Card Life - Unity|date=2018-05-18}}</ref><ref name="former engineversion">{{Refcheck|user=Baronsmoki|date=2019-09-15}}</ref>|build=5.6.5p4}} | ||
| − | {{Infobox game/row/engine|Unity|name=Unity 2018|ref=<ref name="engineversion">{{Refcheck|user=Baronsmoki|date=2019-10-29}}</ref>|build=2018.4.0f1}} | + | {{Infobox game/row/engine|Unity|name=Unity 2018|Former|ref=<ref name="former2 engineversion">{{Refcheck|user=Baronsmoki|date=2019-10-29}}</ref>|build=2018.4.0f1}} |
| + | {{Infobox game/row/engine|Unity|name=Unity 2019|Former|ref=<ref name="former3 engineversion">{{Refcheck|user=Baronsmoki|date=2023-01-14}}</ref>|build=2019.4.37f1}} | ||
| + | {{Infobox game/row/engine|Unity|name=Unity 2021|ref=<ref name="engineversion">{{Refcheck|user=Gamer1905|date=2023-05-13}}</ref>|build=2021.3.19}} | ||
| + | |||
|release dates= | |release dates= | ||
{{Infobox game/row/date|Windows|March 11, 2014}} | {{Infobox game/row/date|Windows|March 11, 2014}} | ||
| Line 15: | Line 19: | ||
{{Infobox game/row/reception|OpenCritic|1298/hearthstone-heroes-of-warcraft|87}} | {{Infobox game/row/reception|OpenCritic|1298/hearthstone-heroes-of-warcraft|87}} | ||
{{Infobox game/row/reception|IGDB|hearthstone|88}} | {{Infobox game/row/reception|IGDB|hearthstone|88}} | ||
| − | |taxonomy = | + | |taxonomy = |
| − | {{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/monetization| | + | {{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/monetization | Free-to-play }} |
| − | {{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/microtransactions| | + | {{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/microtransactions | Cosmetic, Free-to-grind, Infinite Spend, Loot box, Unlock }} |
| − | {{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/pacing|Turn-based}} | + | {{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/modes | Singleplayer, Multiplayer }} |
| − | {{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/perspectives|Top-down view}} | + | {{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/pacing | Turn-based }} |
| − | {{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/controls|Point and select}} | + | {{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/perspectives | Top-down view }} |
| − | {{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/genres|CCG}} | + | {{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/controls | Point and select }} |
| − | {{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/themes|Fantasy}} | + | {{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/genres | CCG }} |
| − | {{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/series|Warcraft}} | + | {{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/sports | }} |
| + | {{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/vehicles | }} | ||
| + | {{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/art styles | }} | ||
| + | {{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/themes | Fantasy }} | ||
| + | {{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/series | Warcraft }} | ||
|steam appid = | |steam appid = | ||
|gogcom id = | |gogcom id = | ||
|official site= https://playhearthstone.com/ | |official site= https://playhearthstone.com/ | ||
|hltb = 14121 | |hltb = 14121 | ||
| − | | | + | |lutris = hearthstone |
| − | |mobygames = | + | |mobygames = 65001 |
| + | |strategywiki = Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft | ||
|wikipedia = Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft | |wikipedia = Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft | ||
|winehq = 15454 | |winehq = 15454 | ||
| Line 35: | Line 44: | ||
}} | }} | ||
| − | + | {{Introduction | |
| − | {{ | + | |introduction = |
| + | |||
| + | |release history = | ||
| + | |||
| + | |current state = | ||
| + | }} | ||
'''General information''' | '''General information''' | ||
{{mm}} [http://us.battle.net/hearthstone/en/forum/ Official forums] | {{mm}} [http://us.battle.net/hearthstone/en/forum/ Official forums] | ||
{{mm}} [http://eu.battle.net/hearthstone/en/forum/8881489/ Official technical support forum (EU)] | {{mm}} [http://eu.battle.net/hearthstone/en/forum/8881489/ Official technical support forum (EU)] | ||
| + | {{mm}} [http://www.hsreplay.net/ HSReplay] - an invaluable source of statistical data about what cards are being played and how they are performing, made possible by the deck tracker software available from the same site which provides various helpful features on an overlay (Windows only) and automatically collects match data as you play to add to HSReplay's databases. Optional paid subscription unlocks more detailed data and more granular options to sort through it all, but the freely available stuff is more than enough to help you figure out what cards and decks are dominating the ladder meta. It even scans your collection so you can search for decks you have all or most of the cards for already, a huge help to anyone who doesn't drop a lot of money to maintain a full collection. | ||
{{mm}} [http://wow.gamepedia.com/Portal:Main Wowpedia] - A huge wiki mainly for [[World of Warcraft]], but also handles anything Warcraft universe related | {{mm}} [http://wow.gamepedia.com/Portal:Main Wowpedia] - A huge wiki mainly for [[World of Warcraft]], but also handles anything Warcraft universe related | ||
{{mm}} [https://www.reddit.com/r/hearthstone/wiki/resources#wiki_sticky_threads /r/hearthstone's Resources page] - A compilation of links to various websites, guides, and community databases | {{mm}} [https://www.reddit.com/r/hearthstone/wiki/resources#wiki_sticky_threads /r/hearthstone's Resources page] - A compilation of links to various websites, guides, and community databases | ||
| Line 48: | Line 63: | ||
==Availability== | ==Availability== | ||
{{Availability| | {{Availability| | ||
| − | {{Availability/row| Battle.net | hearthstone-heroes-of-warcraft | Battle.net | | | Windows, OS X }} | + | {{Availability/row| Battle.net | hearthstone-heroes-of-warcraft | Battle.net, online | | | Windows, OS X }} |
}} | }} | ||
| − | {{ii}} All versions require {{DRM|Battle.net|offline=no}}, as well as a free [[Battle.net]] account. | + | {{ii}} All versions require {{DRM|Battle.net|offline=no}}, as well as a free [[Battle.net]] account. Accounts are specific to regional servers. |
| + | {{ii}} For a complete and up-to-date list of expansions, see [https://hearthstone.fandom.com/wiki/Expansion the Hearthstone community wiki page]. See also: [https://hearthstone.fandom.com/wiki/Adventure#Wild_format_adventures this list of Adventures] from the now defunct adventure pack system (the existing content is still available but more recent sets make the single player content free (but you don't get all the new cards, just a couple free packs typically), and the idea of a "mini expansion" has stuck around but they have been reworked so the new cards are added into the most recent full expansion's card pool and obtainable through packs of that set from then on (or as a one time purchase for a limited time after launch). | ||
{{++}} All expansions and Adventure packs (excluding Heroes) can be purchased with in-game gold, making them effectively "free" (700 gold per Adventure pack "wing", with each Adventure pack containing 4-5 wings) | {{++}} All expansions and Adventure packs (excluding Heroes) can be purchased with in-game gold, making them effectively "free" (700 gold per Adventure pack "wing", with each Adventure pack containing 4-5 wings) | ||
| − | {{++}} Individual cards from all released decks can be made via the in-game crafting system ( | + | {{++}} Individual cards from all released decks can be made via the in-game crafting system (including cards from Wild-only expansions and Adventure cards). |
| − | {{--}} | + | {{++}} With the release of Forged in the Barrens on March 30, 2021, the old Basic and Classic sets were rotated out of Standard and the Core set was added to replace them. Core is a rotating set that changes with the annual Standard rotation upon the launch of each year's first new set, and contains a mix of older existing cards and newly designed ones. It is about a third smaller than Basic and Classic, but with a much higher power level than the latter sets which had become largely filler due to power creep over the years of expansions. |
| − | {{--}} | + | {{++}} The entire Core set is obtained for free by leveling each class to 10 (the same requirement as Basic card unlocks previously). Golden copies can be earned through gameplay as well. There are fewer total cards than Basic+Classic combined but due to much higher average card quality the number of cards that actually see competitive play is higher. The number of free cards to get new players started in constructed has nearly doubled, and the quality of those cards has increased dramatically. |
| + | {{++}} Some of the most popular formats, such as Battlegrounds and Arena, do not depend on the player's collection at all. The only disadvantage new players are at is due to their lack of game knowledge and skill/practice. Arena costs gold to enter but rewards gold, gems, and at least one guaranteed pack per run; Battlegrounds is entirely free to play but offers fewer rewards (just exp for reward track progress, and the ability to complete some daily and weekly quests for more reward track progress). Battlegrounds is inspired by titles such as Dota Underlords and AutoChess, and despite being aimed initially at more casual play has fostered a very active competitive scene (in part due to its distinction as the only Hearthstone format that both uses MMR-based matchmaking and shows your MMR to you directly). | ||
| + | {{--}} Wild format, and to a lesser extent the Duels game mode, is extremely expensive for new players to get into due to the large number of older sets that the top decks draw from. It's not quite to the level of trying to assemble a Power Nine set for M:tG's evergreen format but if you expect to be competitive in the format as a newcomer you'd better have some very deep pockets. | ||
| + | {{--}} Battlegrounds has a paid Perks option, which confers gameplay advantages (mainly the increase from 2 random hero choices at the start of each match to 4, significantly reducing your odds of getting stuck with all bad/underpowered options; but also the 2 week exclusivity for newly added heroes who historically are far more likely to be overtuned than under) and unlike every other paid feature in the game offers no permanent bonuses; the perks expire with a new expansion's release and you're left with nothing to show for it. BG is very much playable without them, and you can obtain the perks with gold earned through in-game activities instead of real money - but that gold could have been spent on card packs instead, so it's effectively slowing your permanent progression in exchange for a mix of gameplay and cosmetic bonuses in Battlegrounds. To be clear, the only gameplay-affecting bonuses are the extra hero choices at the start of each match and new heroes being unlocked early. Once the match proper starts the only benefit that actively applies is the ability to emote to other players which is purely a social/cosmetic feature. | ||
| + | {{--}} There is no casual/free-to-play version of Arena, the game's booster draft-esque limited format. The rewards are generally well worth the entry price in gold, but until you learn the ropes you will likely have to either spend real money or play other game modes as you wait to earn enough gold for your next Arena run if that's the mode you're most interested in. | ||
| + | {{--}} Card releases come out at a pretty good and consistent pace, and due to its popularity Battlegrounds has gotten pretty regular content updates and balance patches, but some secondary formats have much more sporadic updates. Arena stands out in particular as feeling so neglected it's easy to forget it exists. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Monetization== | ||
| + | {{Monetization | ||
| + | |expansion pack = The game offers many expansions packs which introduce new cards and no mechanics and change the metagame significantly. | ||
| + | |free-to-play = Basic game is free-to-play. | ||
| + | }} | ||
| − | {{ | + | ===Microtransactions=== |
| − | + | {{Microtransactions | |
| − | + | |cosmetic = Different purchasable hero avatars and voices are available. | |
| − | + | |currency = In game currency is purchasable for via real money transactions. | |
| − | + | |finite spend = | |
| − | + | |infinite spend = There is no limit on the amount of money you can spend on packs, and some formats ban and retire certain cards, eroding the value of what you've already bought. | |
| − | + | |free-to-grind = In game currency can be obtained by playing the game. | |
| − | + | |loot box = Trading card packs are the original lootboxes. | |
| − | + | |none = | |
| − | + | |player trading = | |
| + | |time-limited = Certain formats have cards which are usable for only a limited amount of time. | ||
| + | |unlock = Some cards are used by other players against you and locked until you obtain them either by buying enough packs, or via other means, depending on the format. | ||
}} | }} | ||
| Line 72: | Line 101: | ||
{{Game data| | {{Game data| | ||
{{Game data/config|Windows|{{p|localappdata}}\Blizzard\Hearthstone\options.txt}} | {{Game data/config|Windows|{{p|localappdata}}\Blizzard\Hearthstone\options.txt}} | ||
| − | {{Game data/config|OS X| | + | {{Game data/config|OS X|{{p|osxhome}}/Applications/Hearthstone/client.config}} |
}} | }} | ||
| Line 91: | Line 120: | ||
|4k ultra hd = true | |4k ultra hd = true | ||
|4k ultra hd notes = | |4k ultra hd notes = | ||
| − | |fov = | + | |fov = false |
|fov notes = | |fov notes = | ||
|windowed = true | |windowed = true | ||
| Line 101: | Line 130: | ||
|antialiasing = n/a | |antialiasing = n/a | ||
|antialiasing notes = | |antialiasing notes = | ||
| + | |upscaling = false | ||
| + | |upscaling tech = | ||
| + | |upscaling notes = | ||
|vsync = hackable | |vsync = hackable | ||
|vsync notes = Add "vsync=1" or "vsync=0" to the configuration file to turn it ON or OFF. | |vsync notes = Add "vsync=1" or "vsync=0" to the configuration file to turn it ON or OFF. | ||
| Line 106: | Line 138: | ||
|60 fps notes = | |60 fps notes = | ||
|120 fps = true | |120 fps = true | ||
| − | |120 fps notes = Set | + | |120 fps notes = Set "Frame Rate" to High.<ref>{{Refurl|url=https://outof.games/hearthstone/guides/197-how-to-play-hearthstone-with-60-or-144-fps-frames-per-second/|title=outof.games|date=May 2023}}</ref> |
|hdr = unknown | |hdr = unknown | ||
|hdr notes = | |hdr notes = | ||
| Line 168: | Line 200: | ||
|mute on focus lost notes = Labeled as "Sound In Background". | |mute on focus lost notes = Labeled as "Sound In Background". | ||
|eax support = | |eax support = | ||
| − | |eax support notes = | + | |eax support notes = |
| + | |royalty free audio = unknown | ||
| + | |royalty free audio notes = | ||
}} | }} | ||
| Line 182: | Line 216: | ||
{{L10n/switch | {{L10n/switch | ||
|language = Simplified Chinese | |language = Simplified Chinese | ||
| + | |interface = true | ||
| + | |audio = true | ||
| + | |subtitles = false | ||
| + | |notes = | ||
| + | |fan = | ||
| + | }} | ||
| + | {{L10n/switch | ||
| + | |language = Traditional Chinese | ||
|interface = true | |interface = true | ||
|audio = true | |audio = true | ||
| Line 206: | Line 248: | ||
{{L10n/switch | {{L10n/switch | ||
|language = Italian | |language = Italian | ||
| + | |interface = true | ||
| + | |audio = true | ||
| + | |subtitles = false | ||
| + | |notes = | ||
| + | |fan = | ||
| + | }} | ||
| + | {{L10n/switch | ||
| + | |language = Japanese | ||
|interface = true | |interface = true | ||
|audio = true | |audio = true | ||
| Line 229: | Line 279: | ||
}} | }} | ||
{{L10n/switch | {{L10n/switch | ||
| − | |language = Portuguese | + | |language = Brazilian Portuguese |
|interface = true | |interface = true | ||
|audio = true | |audio = true | ||
| Line 283: | Line 333: | ||
|online play players = 2 | |online play players = 2 | ||
|online play modes = Versus | |online play modes = Versus | ||
| − | |online play notes = Supports crossplay with iOS and Android | + | |online play notes = Supports crossplay with iOS and Android.<ref>{{Refurl|url=https://eu.battle.net/support/en/article/70345?ref=https://eu.battle.net/support/en/help/games/diablo4|title=Blizzard Support - Can I Play Cross Platform|date=2023-06-06|snippet=Cross-Play is currently available in Call of Duty, Hearthstone, Diablo Immortal, Diablo IV, and Overwatch 2.}}</ref> |
|asynchronous = | |asynchronous = | ||
|asynchronous notes = | |asynchronous notes = | ||
| Line 310: | Line 360: | ||
===API=== | ===API=== | ||
{{API | {{API | ||
| − | |direct3d versions = 9, 11 | + | |direct3d versions = 9.0c, 11 |
|direct3d notes = | |direct3d notes = | ||
|directdraw versions = | |directdraw versions = | ||
| Line 330: | Line 380: | ||
|windows 32-bit exe = true | |windows 32-bit exe = true | ||
|windows 64-bit exe = false | |windows 64-bit exe = false | ||
| + | |windows arm app = unknown | ||
|windows exe notes = | |windows exe notes = | ||
| − | |mac os x powerpc app = | + | |mac os x powerpc app = unknown |
|macos intel 32-bit app = unknown | |macos intel 32-bit app = unknown | ||
| − | |macos intel 64-bit app = unknown | + | |macos intel 64-bit app = true |
| + | |macos arm app = unknown | ||
|macos app notes = | |macos app notes = | ||
|linux 32-bit executable= unknown | |linux 32-bit executable= unknown | ||
|linux 64-bit executable= unknown | |linux 64-bit executable= unknown | ||
| + | |linux arm app = unknown | ||
|linux executable notes = | |linux executable notes = | ||
}} | }} | ||
| Line 360: | Line 413: | ||
|OSfamily = Windows | |OSfamily = Windows | ||
| − | |minOS = 7, 8 | + | |minOS = 7, 8<ref>{{Refurl|url=https://us.battle.net/support/en/article/28991|title=|date=2023-05-13}}</ref> |
|minCPU = Intel Pentium D | |minCPU = Intel Pentium D | ||
|minCPU2 = AMD Athlon 64 X2 | |minCPU2 = AMD Athlon 64 X2 | ||
| Line 376: | Line 429: | ||
|recGPU = Nvidia GeForce GT 240 | |recGPU = Nvidia GeForce GT 240 | ||
|recGPU2 = ATI Radeon HD 4850 | |recGPU2 = ATI Radeon HD 4850 | ||
| − | |notes = {{ii}} A 64-bit system is recommended. | + | |notes = {{ii}} A 64-bit operating system is recommended. |
}} | }} | ||
| Line 382: | Line 435: | ||
|OSfamily = OS X | |OSfamily = OS X | ||
| − | |minOS = 10. | + | |minOS = 10.14 |
|minCPU = Intel Core 2 Duo | |minCPU = Intel Core 2 Duo | ||
|minRAM = 2 GB | |minRAM = 2 GB | ||
| Line 390: | Line 443: | ||
|minother = 1024x768 resolution | |minother = 1024x768 resolution | ||
| − | |recOS = | + | |recOS = |
|recCPU = Intel Core i3 | |recCPU = Intel Core i3 | ||
|recRAM = 4 GB | |recRAM = 4 GB | ||
| Line 396: | Line 449: | ||
|recGPU = Nvidia GeForce GT 650M | |recGPU = Nvidia GeForce GT 650M | ||
|recGPU2 = ATI Radeon HD 5670 | |recGPU2 = ATI Radeon HD 5670 | ||
| + | |notes = {{ii}} FileVault options and case-sensitive formatted volumes are not supported for installation of Blizzard games. | ||
}} | }} | ||
{{References}} | {{References}} | ||
Latest revision as of 12:31, 6 June 2023
Although this product has been released, it remains under active development - information may change frequently and could be outdated or irrelevant.
This page may require cleanup to meet basic quality standards. The specific problem is: (Dandelion Sprout:) Someone with knowledge about cards and modes should figure out how to compress the long notes below Availability, or whether to remove them entirely. You can help by modifying
the article. The discussion page may contain useful suggestions.
 |
|
| Developers | |
|---|---|
| Blizzard Entertainment | |
| Engines | |
| Former | Unity 5[Note 1] |
| Former | Unity 2018[Note 2] |
| Former | Unity 2019[Note 3] |
| Unity 2021[Note 4] | |
| Release dates | |
| Windows | March 11, 2014 |
| macOS (OS X) | March 11, 2014 |
| Reception | |
| Metacritic | 88 |
| OpenCritic | 87 |
| IGDB | 88 |
| Taxonomy | |
| Monetization | Free-to-play |
| Microtransactions | Cosmetic, Free-to-grind, Infinite spend, Loot box, Unlock |
| Modes | Singleplayer, Multiplayer |
| Pacing | Turn-based |
| Perspectives | Top-down view |
| Controls | Point and select |
| Genres | CCG |
| Themes | Fantasy |
| Series | Warcraft |
 |
|
| Warcraft | |
|---|---|
| Warcraft: Orcs & Humans | 1994 |
| Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness | 1995 |
| Warcraft Adventures: Lord of the Clans | Cancelled |
| Warcraft II: Battle.net Edition | 1999 |
| Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos | 2002 |
| World of Warcraft | 2004 |
| Hearthstone | 2014 |
| Warcraft III: Reforged | 2020 |
Warnings
- This game requires a constant internet connection for all game modes.
Hearthstone is a singleplayer and multiplayer top-down view CCG game in the Warcraft series.
General information
- Official forums
- Official technical support forum (EU)
- HSReplay - an invaluable source of statistical data about what cards are being played and how they are performing, made possible by the deck tracker software available from the same site which provides various helpful features on an overlay (Windows only) and automatically collects match data as you play to add to HSReplay's databases. Optional paid subscription unlocks more detailed data and more granular options to sort through it all, but the freely available stuff is more than enough to help you figure out what cards and decks are dominating the ladder meta. It even scans your collection so you can search for decks you have all or most of the cards for already, a huge help to anyone who doesn't drop a lot of money to maintain a full collection.
- Wowpedia - A huge wiki mainly for World of Warcraft, but also handles anything Warcraft universe related
- /r/hearthstone's Resources page - A compilation of links to various websites, guides, and community databases
- Hearthstone Players - A community resource site for the game
- HearthPwn - Another community resource site for the game
Availability
| Source | DRM | Notes | Keys | OS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battle.net | |
|
- All versions require Battle.net DRM and a constant internet connection for all game modes, as well as a free Battle.net account. Accounts are specific to regional servers.
- For a complete and up-to-date list of expansions, see the Hearthstone community wiki page. See also: this list of Adventures from the now defunct adventure pack system (the existing content is still available but more recent sets make the single player content free (but you don't get all the new cards, just a couple free packs typically), and the idea of a "mini expansion" has stuck around but they have been reworked so the new cards are added into the most recent full expansion's card pool and obtainable through packs of that set from then on (or as a one time purchase for a limited time after launch).
- All expansions and Adventure packs (excluding Heroes) can be purchased with in-game gold, making them effectively "free" (700 gold per Adventure pack "wing", with each Adventure pack containing 4-5 wings)
- Individual cards from all released decks can be made via the in-game crafting system (including cards from Wild-only expansions and Adventure cards).
- With the release of Forged in the Barrens on March 30, 2021, the old Basic and Classic sets were rotated out of Standard and the Core set was added to replace them. Core is a rotating set that changes with the annual Standard rotation upon the launch of each year's first new set, and contains a mix of older existing cards and newly designed ones. It is about a third smaller than Basic and Classic, but with a much higher power level than the latter sets which had become largely filler due to power creep over the years of expansions.
- The entire Core set is obtained for free by leveling each class to 10 (the same requirement as Basic card unlocks previously). Golden copies can be earned through gameplay as well. There are fewer total cards than Basic+Classic combined but due to much higher average card quality the number of cards that actually see competitive play is higher. The number of free cards to get new players started in constructed has nearly doubled, and the quality of those cards has increased dramatically.
- Some of the most popular formats, such as Battlegrounds and Arena, do not depend on the player's collection at all. The only disadvantage new players are at is due to their lack of game knowledge and skill/practice. Arena costs gold to enter but rewards gold, gems, and at least one guaranteed pack per run; Battlegrounds is entirely free to play but offers fewer rewards (just exp for reward track progress, and the ability to complete some daily and weekly quests for more reward track progress). Battlegrounds is inspired by titles such as Dota Underlords and AutoChess, and despite being aimed initially at more casual play has fostered a very active competitive scene (in part due to its distinction as the only Hearthstone format that both uses MMR-based matchmaking and shows your MMR to you directly).
- Wild format, and to a lesser extent the Duels game mode, is extremely expensive for new players to get into due to the large number of older sets that the top decks draw from. It's not quite to the level of trying to assemble a Power Nine set for M:tG's evergreen format but if you expect to be competitive in the format as a newcomer you'd better have some very deep pockets.
- Battlegrounds has a paid Perks option, which confers gameplay advantages (mainly the increase from 2 random hero choices at the start of each match to 4, significantly reducing your odds of getting stuck with all bad/underpowered options; but also the 2 week exclusivity for newly added heroes who historically are far more likely to be overtuned than under) and unlike every other paid feature in the game offers no permanent bonuses; the perks expire with a new expansion's release and you're left with nothing to show for it. BG is very much playable without them, and you can obtain the perks with gold earned through in-game activities instead of real money - but that gold could have been spent on card packs instead, so it's effectively slowing your permanent progression in exchange for a mix of gameplay and cosmetic bonuses in Battlegrounds. To be clear, the only gameplay-affecting bonuses are the extra hero choices at the start of each match and new heroes being unlocked early. Once the match proper starts the only benefit that actively applies is the ability to emote to other players which is purely a social/cosmetic feature.
- There is no casual/free-to-play version of Arena, the game's booster draft-esque limited format. The rewards are generally well worth the entry price in gold, but until you learn the ropes you will likely have to either spend real money or play other game modes as you wait to earn enough gold for your next Arena run if that's the mode you're most interested in.
- Card releases come out at a pretty good and consistent pace, and due to its popularity Battlegrounds has gotten pretty regular content updates and balance patches, but some secondary formats have much more sporadic updates. Arena stands out in particular as feeling so neglected it's easy to forget it exists.
Monetization
| Type | Notes |
|---|---|
| Expansion pack | The game offers many expansions packs which introduce new cards and no mechanics and change the metagame significantly. |
| Free-to-play | Basic game is free-to-play. |
Microtransactions
| Type | Notes |
|---|---|
| Cosmetic | Different purchasable hero avatars and voices are available. |
| Currency | In game currency is purchasable for via real money transactions. |
| Free-to-grind | In game currency can be obtained by playing the game. |
| Infinite spend | There is no limit on the amount of money you can spend on packs, and some formats ban and retire certain cards, eroding the value of what you've already bought. |
| Loot box | Trading card packs are the original lootboxes. |
| Time-limited | Certain formats have cards which are usable for only a limited amount of time. |
| Unlock | Some cards are used by other players against you and locked until you obtain them either by buying enough packs, or via other means, depending on the format. |
Game data
Configuration file(s) location
| System | Location |
|---|---|
| Windows | %LOCALAPPDATA%\Blizzard\Hearthstone\options.txt |
| macOS (OS X) | $HOME/Applications/Hearthstone/client.config |
Video
In-game options menu.
| Graphics feature | State | WSGF | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Widescreen resolution | |||
| Multi-monitor | |||
| Ultra-widescreen | No 21:9 resolutions available.[citation needed] | ||
| 4K Ultra HD | |||
| Field of view (FOV) | |||
| Windowed | |||
| Borderless fullscreen windowed | The "full screen" option in-game is borderless by default. There is no normal full screen. | ||
| Anisotropic filtering (AF) | |||
| Anti-aliasing (AA) | |||
| High-fidelity upscaling | See the glossary page for potential workarounds. | ||
| Vertical sync (Vsync) | Add "vsync=1" or "vsync=0" to the configuration file to turn it ON or OFF. | ||
| 60 FPS and 120+ FPS | Set "Frame Rate" to High.[6] | ||
| High dynamic range display (HDR) | See the glossary page for potential alternatives. | ||
- The game engine may allow for manual configuration of the game via its variables. See the Unity page for more details.
Input
| Keyboard and mouse, touch | State | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Remapping | Mouse driven. | |
| Mouse acceleration | ||
| Mouse sensitivity | ||
| Mouse input in menus | ||
| Mouse Y-axis inversion | ||
| Touchscreen optimised | ||
| Controller | ||
| Controller support |
Audio
| Audio feature | State | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Separate volume controls | Master and music. | |
| Surround sound | ||
| Subtitles | ||
| Closed captions | ||
| Mute on focus lost | Labeled as "Sound In Background". | |
| Royalty free audio |
Localizations
| Language | UI | Audio | Sub | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English | Can switch between US and UK English. | |||
| Simplified Chinese | ||||
| Traditional Chinese | ||||
| French | ||||
| German | ||||
| Italian | ||||
| Japanese | ||||
| Korean | ||||
| Polish | ||||
| Brazilian Portuguese | ||||
| Russian | ||||
| Spanish | ||||
| Latin American Spanish | ||||
| Thai |
Network
Multiplayer types
| Type | Native | Players | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LAN play | ||||
| Online play | 2 | Versus Supports crossplay with iOS and Android.[7] |
||
Connection types
| Type | Native | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Matchmaking | ||
| Peer-to-peer | ||
| Dedicated | ||
| Self-hosting | ||
| Direct IP |
Ports
| Protocol | Port(s) and/or port range(s) |
|---|---|
| TCP | 1119, 3724 |
| UDP | 1119, 3724 |
- Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) support status is unknown.
Other information
API
| Technical specs | Supported | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Direct3D | 9.0c, 11 | |
| OpenGL | 2 | OS X only.[citation needed] |
| Shader Model support | 3 |
| Executable | 32-bit | 64-bit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Windows | |||
| macOS (OS X) |
Middleware
| Middleware | Notes | |
|---|---|---|
| Multiplayer | Battle.net |
System requirements
| Windows | ||
|---|---|---|
| Minimum | Recommended | |
| Operating system (OS) | 7, 8[8] | 10 |
| Processor (CPU) | Intel Pentium D AMD Athlon 64 X2 |
Intel Core 2 Duo 2.2 GHz AMD Athlon 64 X2 2.6 GHz |
| System memory (RAM) | 3 GB | 4 GB |
| Hard disk drive (HDD) | 3 GB | |
| Video card (GPU) | Nvidia GeForce 8600 GT ATI Radeon HD 2600 XT | Nvidia GeForce GT 240 ATI Radeon HD 4850 |
| Other | 1024x768 resolution | |
- A 64-bit operating system is recommended.
| macOS (OS X) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Minimum | Recommended | |
| Operating system (OS) | 10.14 | |
| Processor (CPU) | Intel Core 2 Duo | Intel Core i3 |
| System memory (RAM) | 2 GB | 4 GB |
| Hard disk drive (HDD) | 3 GB | |
| Video card (GPU) | Nvidia GeForce 8600M GT ATI Radeon HD 2600 Pro | Nvidia GeForce GT 650M ATI Radeon HD 5670 |
| Other | 1024x768 resolution | |
- FileVault options and case-sensitive formatted volumes are not supported for installation of Blizzard games.
Notes
References
- ↑ Card Life - Unity - last accessed on 2018-05-18
- ↑ Verified by User:Baronsmoki on 2019-09-15
- ↑ Verified by User:Baronsmoki on 2019-10-29
- ↑ Verified by User:Baronsmoki on 2023-01-14
- ↑ Verified by User:Gamer1905 on 2023-05-13
- ↑ outof.games - last accessed on May 2023
- ↑ Blizzard Support - Can I Play Cross Platform - last accessed on 2023-06-06
- "Cross-Play is currently available in Call of Duty, Hearthstone, Diablo Immortal, Diablo IV, and Overwatch 2."
- ↑ [1] - last accessed on 2023-05-13