Blizzard revealed Hearthstone's next expansion, Reign of the Black Empire, and the game's first new class in four years during the BlizzCon 2026 opening ceremony on September 12. The class is the Monk, which Polygon, PC Gamer and GameSpot all reported is arriving in March 2027.
Polygon, GameSpot and MassivelyOP reported an October 20 release for Reign of the Black Empire, while PC Gamer's report gave October 10. The expansion returns to the Old Gods. Polygon said it is set tens of thousands of years in the past, when Warcraft's Old Gods were at the height of their power, while GameSpot described a setting 10,000 years ago focused on the Black Empire and a struggle between the Old Gods and the Titans.
The expansion introduces a keyword called Assemble. Polygon and MassivelyOP said it combines the text of two minions into a single new text box, and GameSpot likened the effect to the existing Magnetize mechanic. It also adds a new minion type, Aberrations. Polygon said Blizzard teased that each Aberration that dies could awaken the gods, and MassivelyOP reported that the cards summon one of two randomly selected deities once three of them have been sacrificed. According to MassivelyOP, Aberration cards arrive early with Hearthstone's September 22 update, alongside hero changes and other card updates. GameSpot's report differed on where the new content lives, saying Aberrations will be specific to Battlegrounds and that Battlegrounds is getting a 2v2 main ranked mode.
A story-driven Journal and a 2v2 mode
Blizzard is also rebuilding the Journal around the game's story. Polygon said it will become the home of Hearthstone's narrative vignettes and some limited-time events, including a 2v2 mode, which MassivelyOP described as a new 2v2 Tavern Brawl mode. GameSpot reported that the feature is being transformed into The Journey, which will tie the story together across expansions, modes and limited-time events and grow as players progress through Reign of the Black Empire.
The Monk will be Hearthstone's third class added after launch, following Demon Hunter and Death Knight, the latter of which arrived in 2022, according to GameSpot and PC Gamer. PC Gamer said the class is represented by Chen Stormstout and will get a full reveal in 2027, and GameSpot said Blizzard showed only a short teaser. Both outlets noted that the Evoker will then be the only World of Warcraft class without a Hearthstone counterpart. Hearthstone remains free-to-play on Android, iOS and Windows PC, Polygon reported.