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Hearthstone: Descent of Dragons guide

Everything you need to know about Descent of Dragons.

Hearthstone’s latest expansions, Descent of Dragons, brings with it a host of winged beasts who are sure to shake up the meta. Of particular note is Galakrond, the father of all dragonkind (quite a title), who has awoken and is pretty hungry for some destruction.

It’s up to the League of Explorers to take on the villainous League of E.V.I.L in the skies, and it’s up to us to build some great decks, climb the ladder and drop some emotes.

Below we’ve put together a complete overview of everything that’s arrived with Descent of Dragons.

Hearthstone Descent of Dragons Guide

At BlizzCon, the Hearthstone team revealed their latest expansion, Descent of Dragons. Here’s everything you need to know.

What’s the release date?

Descent of Dragons is slated for release on December 10th, a similar time to previous years. We'll be getting card reveals periodically until then, and we'll keep you updated here.

What’s the release time?

Blizzard rolled out Saviors of Uldum with a simultaneous global launch, and it’s highly likely they’ll follow suit for Descent of Dragons. Our release time page has you covered if you’re wondering when it’ll launch in your region.

What new cards are there?

There’s a total of 140 new cards being introduced with Descent of Dragons. Hearthstone’s official expansion page has a handy card viewer with loads of filters so you can see what’s arrived. We had the pleasure of unveiling Nithogg, a legendary dragon card, so make sure you have a glance at our reveal page if you’re interested!

Is there are new Keyword?

The new Keyword is called “Invoke”. Any minions and spells with the Invoke keyword will trigger Galakrond’s hero power and empower Galakrond himself.

Here’s a quick list of all the Invoke cards in the card set:

  • Ritual Chopper
  • Awaken!
  • Disciple of Galakrond
  • Dragon's Pack
  • Invocation of Frost
  • Corrupt Elementalist
  • Scion of Ruin
  • Fate Weaver
  • Time Rip
  • Devoted Maniac
  • Veiled Worshipper
  • Fiendish Rites
  • Dragonblight Cultist
  • Umbral Skulker
  • Praise Galakrond!
  • Seal Fate
  • Shield of Galakrond

What new decks are there?

Galakrond is the big card for Descent of Dragons and we’ve put together a number of decks built around this menacing shapeshifter. Of course, there are plenty of other strong dragons, minions and the like so be sure to visit our best decks tier list and our best budget decks page to get you up and running!

Is there a trailer?

Along with the announcement of the expansion at Blizzcon, we got to see a cinematic trailer featuring yet another banging tune accompanying it. Here it is for your convenience:

Cover image for YouTube videoDescent of Dragons Cinematic Trailer | Hearthstone

We’ve also previously seen a teaser, which indicated that the outcome of the trilogy is uncertain.

Cover image for YouTube videoChoose Wisely… | Hearthstone

What’s the theme?

This time around, we get to see the final episode of the League of EVIL’s trilogy. Dragons are the order of the day, and each class gets their very own Legendary Dragon, as well as a special 'dragon breath' spell, which will get more powerful if you have a Dragon in hand.

We're also seeing a new mechanic: Sidequests. They're pretty similar to Quest cards from Saviors of Uldum, but are generally easier to complete, with weaker rewards and without starting the game in your hand. One example is Toxic Reinforcements, which requires you to use your Hero Power 3 times, and as a reward summons you 3 Leper Gnomes. Each class will receive one of these, and since they're not Legendary cards, you can put more than one in your deck.

What’s the story so far?

This year, for the first time, all three expansions focused on bringing a whole story together. It’s a lighthearted and silly romp following a team of villains from Hearthstone’s past and their plans for world domination. In Rise of Shadows, they took over the magical floating city of Dalaran, and in Saviors of Uldum, the League of Explorers saved the day by rallying together in the desert.

That’s all we have for now, but stay tuned for any updates as the meta develops!

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James Law avatar

James Law

Former Guides Writer

James was part of Rock Paper Shotgun's guides team from 2020-2021, bringing his expert knowledge about FPS games, Hearthstone, Path Of Exile and more from his time at Metabomb. He's also a dab hand at Hitman 3, and making his own jam - things which may or may not be related to one another.

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