Hearthstone to add Monk class and new expansion in 2026-2027

Blizzard Entertainment has announced major updates for Hearthstone during BlizzCon 2026, including the introduction of the Monk class in March 2027. This marks the first new playable class for the game in four years. The Monk class will be represented by the character Chen Stormstout.

Prior to the new class, the game will launch the expansion ‘Reign of the Black Empire’ on October 20, 2026. This expansion revisits the ancient history of Azeroth, focusing on the era of the Old Gods and their conflict with the Titans. Key features include the ‘Assemble’ keyword, which allows players to merge the text effects of two minions, and the introduction of ‘Apparitions’ as a new minion type in the Battlegrounds mode.

Additionally, Blizzard is introducing ‘The Journey,’ a free journal system designed to centralize story progression, events, and achievements. The studio is also exploring new gameplay formats, such as a potential 2v2 Tavern Brawl mode, to enhance the game's live service longevity.