Hearthstone is a free-to-play digital card game from Blizzard Entertainment for PC, Mac and mobile. Two players take turns spending mana to play minions, spells and weapons from their decks. You win a duel by bringing the opposing hero's health down to zero, while Battlegrounds is won by outlasting seven rivals.
What is Hearthstone?
Hearthstone is a turn-based collectible card game set in the Warcraft universe. Blizzard Entertainment develops and publishes it; it launched on Windows and macOS on March 11, 2014, and reached iOS and Android in April 2015, with cross-play across all of them. It is free to play: you earn gold and card packs by playing, and you can also buy packs and cosmetics with money.
Blizzard releases three expansions a year. As of October 2026 the newest released set is Escape from Violet Hold, which arrived on July 7, 2026. The next one, Reign of the Black Empire, is scheduled for October 20, 2026, with 135 new collectible cards and a new keyword called Assemble. Blizzard has also announced the Monk, the first new class in years, for 2027.
| Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Developer and publisher | Blizzard Entertainment |
| First release | March 11, 2014 (PC and Mac) |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, iOS and Android, with cross-play |
| Price | Free to play, card packs and cosmetics are paid |
| Genre | Digital collectible card game |
| Latest released expansion | Escape from Violet Hold (July 7, 2026) |
| Next expansion | Reign of the Black Empire (October 20, 2026) |
If you are comparing card and strategy games, our page with every game explained shows how Hearthstone fits in.
What is the objective of Hearthstone?
Over time, the goal is to build a collection, master a few decks and climb the monthly ranked ladder, or push your Battlegrounds rating. In one match of the main modes, the goal is to defeat the opposing hero.
Each player picks a class hero, which comes with a unique Hero Power, and plays from a 30-card deck. You start each turn with one more mana crystal than the last, up to a maximum of ten, and spend mana to play cards. Minions stay on the board and can attack, spells create one-off effects and weapons let your hero attack directly. The art of the game is trading cards efficiently, so that you keep control of the board while pushing damage at the enemy hero.
Battlegrounds works differently. Eight players recruit minions from a shared tavern over several rounds, and the fights between boards play out automatically. It feels closer to an auto battler than a classic card duel.
How do you win a match in Hearthstone?
In the one-versus-one modes you win by reducing the enemy hero's health to zero. In Battlegrounds you win by being the last player alive, and placing in the top four still counts as a good game. Here is how the main modes compare as of October 2026.
| Mode | Team size | How you win |
|---|---|---|
| Standard (ranked or casual) | 1 vs 1 | Bring the enemy hero to zero health using recent sets and the Core set |
| Wild | 1 vs 1 | Same goal, with every card ever released allowed |
| Twist | 1 vs 1 | Same goal, with a rotating card pool and special rules |
| Arena | 1 vs 1 with a drafted deck | Win as many games as you can before your losses end the run |
| Battlegrounds | 8 players | Be the last hero standing; a top 4 finish earns rating |
| Tavern Brawl | Varies | Win under that week's special rules |
Arena comes in two versions: a shorter run that ends at five wins or two losses, and Underground, which runs to twelve wins or three losses. Either way you pay one ticket and draft a 30-card deck by picking one card from three choices at a time.
How does ranked work in Hearthstone?
Ranked play has five leagues, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum and Diamond, each with ranks 10 down to 1, and Legend above them. Each rank holds three stars, wins add stars and losses remove one, and ranks 10 and 5 of every league are floors you cannot drop below. Standard and Wild each have their own ladder, and both reset every month.
Battlegrounds and Arena are separate from that ladder. Our Hearthstone ranks explained guide covers stars, floors, the star bonus and Legend, and every article on the game is on our Hearthstone guides hub.
Beginner tips to win more
- Play one proven deck. Stick with a strong list from the current meta and learn it well before switching.
- Use your mana every turn. Spending all of it efficiently usually beats saving cards for a perfect moment.
- Think about the board before the face. Clearing threats keeps you alive and protects your own minions.
- Count damage before you attack. Check whether you, or your opponent, can finish the game this turn.
- Complete daily and weekly quests. They fill the Rewards Track, which gives gold, packs and cosmetics.
- Craft carefully. Spend dust on cards for a deck you will play, not on single cards that look exciting.
- Try Battlegrounds for a change. It needs no card collection, so it is a fair place to learn tactics.
How can Boosting Games help with Hearthstone?
Boosting Games offers fixed-price Hearthstone services. The prices below are starting prices as of October 2026, and the exact price for the option you choose shows before checkout. Every option is in our Hearthstone services collection.
| Service | What you get | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Hearthstone Arena Run | An experienced Arena player drafts and plays one full run on your account. | From $9 |
| Hearthstone Battlegrounds Rating Boost | We raise your Battlegrounds rating by 500 points per unit. | From $19 |
| Hearthstone Rewards Track Levels | We earn Rewards Track levels by completing quests and playing games. | From $10 |
Honest risk note: Hearthstone is played on a Battle.net account, and Blizzard's terms forbid sharing your account or letting someone else play it. Every service above is piloted, which carries the most risk, including suspension or a ban. Self-play and coaching would carry less or none. Please read our account safety notice before you order. We never sell accounts, card packs, gold, dust, cards, cheats or mods.
Get help with Hearthstone
Choose a service, see the exact price before you pay, and follow each session on your private order page. Our how it works page explains the steps.
See Hearthstone servicesAsk Boost Up AIAll Hearthstone options, including ladder help, are on our Hearthstone boosting page.
Related reading: Hearthstone Ranks Explained: Leagues, Stars, Floors and Legend (2026), our beginner guide What Is Teamfight Tactics and how do you win, and What Is Dota 2 and how do you win.
Hearthstone FAQ
Is Hearthstone free to play?
Yes. Hearthstone is free to download and play on PC, Mac and mobile. You earn gold, packs and cards from quests and the Rewards Track, and you can craft specific cards with dust. Paying for packs or bundles speeds up building a collection, but Battlegrounds needs no cards at all, so it is a good way to play without spending anything.
How do you win a game of Hearthstone?
In Standard, Wild, Twist and Arena, you win by bringing the opposing hero's health to zero. Usually you do that by building a board of minions, removing the enemy's threats and pushing damage with spells or weapons. In Battlegrounds, eight players fight and the last one alive wins, though any top four finish counts as a good result.
What is the difference between Standard and Wild?
Standard only allows the Core set plus the expansions from roughly the last two years, which keeps the card pool smaller and fresher. Wild allows every card ever released, so older combos and powerful decks show up there. Each format has its own ranked ladder, and both reset at the start of every month.
How does Arena work in Hearthstone?
You pay one ticket, bought with gold or real money, and draft a 30-card deck by choosing one card from three options at a time. You then play until your run ends. A normal run stops at five wins or two losses, while Underground Arena goes to twelve wins or three losses. Better runs earn better rewards, such as packs, dust and gold.
What is the best Hearthstone mode for beginners?
Start with the tutorial and the free starter decks in casual Standard, where losses do not matter. Battlegrounds is also friendly because everyone draws from the same shared pool of minions, so your collection does not hold you back. Once you know a deck well, try ranked Standard, where floors stop you from dropping too far.
When does the next Hearthstone expansion come out?
The next expansion, Reign of the Black Empire, is scheduled for October 20, 2026, with 135 new collectible cards and a new Assemble keyword that merges two cards into one. The most recent released set before it is Escape from Violet Hold, from July 2026. Blizzard has also announced the Monk as a new class for 2027.
Sources: Hearthstone 36.6 patch notes (Blizzard), Hearthstone Wiki: Expansion sets, Massively OP: BlizzCon 2026 Hearthstone reveals, Playnews: Hearthstone Arena guide 2026, Wikipedia: Hearthstone.