Hearthstone is a digital collectible card game developed and published by Blizzard Entertainment in 2014. Set in the Warcraft universe, a vast fantasy world full of different characters and locations, Hearthstone features iconic characters, spells, and abilities from Blizzard’s long-running franchise. The game has gained and maintained significant popularity since its release years ago, with an estimated 314,894 active players as of February 2025. The game’s presence on streaming platforms like Twitch has also been notable, with Hearthstone events on Twitch averaging around 15,000 viewers in October 2024.

Blizzard Entertainment revealed the game’s newest expansion pack, Into the Emerald Dream, in a six-minute YouTube video posted just a few days ago on February 18. The video joins the game’s developers as they take an inside look at the Emerald Dream realm, full of “ethereal entities and the source of all Nature magic on Azeroth.” Alex Smith, game designer on Hearthstone welcomes players Into The Emerald Dream, showcasing beautiful concept art of the realm, including images of the green Dragon Aspect, Ysera, who watches over the land. Players can log in to Hearthstone to earn Legendary minion Ysera for themselves.

The video continues on to explain that the Emerald Dream realm serves as home to the World Tree, which “preserves the balance of nature on Azeroth.” The tree grants druids, including Naralex, Herald of the Flights, use the Emerald Dream’s essence for power.

Senior VFX Artist, Luke Mason, discusses how in the upcoming expansion the forces of the Old Gods are invading the Emerald Dream realm and corrupting its lush, natural beauty. If these evil forces succeed, they will turn the Emerald Dream into the “Emerald Nightmare” and destroy the World Tree from within. Druid, Paladin, Hunter, Priest, and Mage, or the classes that have allied with the World Tree, seeking to defend it from all ill will. The World Tree has provided these classes new powers through the expansion’s new keyword: Imbue.

The video introduces the Shaman’s new Legendary minion, Merithra.

Death Knight, Demon Hunter, Rogue, Warlock, and Warrior, are all classes that succumb to the Old God’s will in the upcoming expansion. They too have received powers, with the Old Gods granting then their own new keyword: Dark Gifts.

Players who imbue enough times will be rewarded with cards representing the Wild Gods, who protect the Emerald Dream with great power.

But some of the Wild Gods have been corrupted by evil magic, which allows each class to have their own specific Legendary Wild God.

Ursok is a corrupted Wild God aligned with the Death Knight class.

Cenarius is a Dream-aligned Wild God in support of Druids, Ohn’ahra is a Dream-aligned Wild God in support of Shamans, Ursol is a Dream-aligned Wild God in support of Paladins, and Goldrinn is a Dream-aligned Wild God in support of Hunters. When it comes to the opposing classes, Agamaggan is a Nightmare-aligned Wild God in support of Warlocks, Ashamane is a Nightmare-aligned Wild God in support of Rogues, Ursoc is a Nightmare-aligned Wild God in support of Death Knights.

For the first time ever, every class will gain the traditionally Druid-exclusive ability to use their own Choose One card while in the Emerald Dream realm.

The “Wild Gods enter the Tavern in Into the Emerald Dream on March 25th,” according to a post describing Wild God Ashamane on Hearthstone’s official X (formerly Twitter) account.

Burgle Rogue enjoyers rejoice! Ashamane refills your hand with discounted cards from the opponent’s deck.

Wild Gods enter the Tavern in Into the Emerald Dream on March 25th. pic.twitter.com/dYC1cms3T4

— Hearthstone (@PlayHearthstone) February 21, 2025

Anyone who is especially interested in the upcoming expansion can pre-purchase Into the Emerald Dream now. The Into the Emerald Dream Mega Bundle includes “80 Into the Emerald Dream packs, 10 Golden Into the Emerald Dream packs, 1 Signature Malorne the Waywatcher Legendary minion, 1 random Golden Into the Emerald Dream Legendary card, 4 Tavern Tickets, and the Ysera Card Back and Druid Hero Skin.” The Into the Emerald Dream Bundle provides 60 Into the Emerald Dream packs, 2 random Into the Emerald Dream Legendary cards, and the Ysera Card. Pre-purchased cards, packs, and Tavern Tickets can be used in the Pre-Release Tavern Brawl on March 18, in advance to the March 25 release.

Hearthstone is a free-to-play game currently available on both iOS and Android devices.

Boost the attack power of your beasts with Goldrinn!

Our Emerald Dream explorers give their takes on Hunter’s Legendary Wild God 🐺 pic.twitter.com/YHp1iavzsN

— Hearthstone (@PlayHearthstone) February 20, 2025