Hearthstone announces Reign of the Black Empire expansion

Blizzard Entertainment has announced the upcoming Hearthstone expansion, ‘Reign of the Black Empire’, scheduled for release on October 20, 2026. The expansion focuses on the ancient conflict between the Old Gods and the Titan-forged armies, featuring prominent figures such as C’Thun, Y’Shaarj, N’Zoth, and Yogg-Saron.

Key gameplay features include the ‘Assemble’ keyword, which allows players to combine text from existing cards to create custom minions. Additionally, the expansion introduces specific mechanics for the Old Gods, where players can use cultist cards to activate powers before the deities are fully summoned.

A notable new card revealed is the Legendary Mage spell ‘Discs of Norgannon’. This spell moves all spells to the top of the player's deck, allowing them to choose whether to draw from the top or the bottom of the deck each turn to effectively select between drawing a spell or a minion.

Looking further ahead, the Monk class is expected to join Hearthstone in March 2027, featuring Stormrage Chen as its iconic hero.