Hearthstone Expansion Freebies Complete Guide To Legendary Cards Packs And Exclusive Rewards

Hearthstone, Blizzard's digital card game, frequently offers players various freebies with each new expansion. These promotional rewards can significantly enhance a player's collection without requiring financial investment. This comprehensive guide details the types of freebies available across different Hearthstone expansions, including legendary cards, card packs, exclusive card backs, and other rewards, along with information on how players can access them.

Expansion-Specific Freebies

Each Hearthstone expansion typically introduces its own set of promotional rewards available to players. These freebies often serve as incentives for both new and returning players to engage with the latest content.

The Witchwood Expansion

The Witchwood, Hearthstone's eighth expansion which launched on April 12th, 2018, offered several notable freebies to players:

• A legendary class card for simply logging in on release day
• Three free card packs for logging in during the launch period
• A card back rewarded upon completion of the Monster Hunt game mode
• Up to four additional card packs for completing daily quests in the weeks leading up to the expansion release

The expansion also introduced the Monster Hunt game mode, a single-player experience similar to Dungeon Run where players progress through a series of boss battles using unique characters. The mode featured four distinct heroes: Cannoneer, Houndmaster, Time Tinkerer, and Tracker, with each having a different final boss encounter.

Kobolds & Catacombs Expansion

With the launch of the Kobolds & Catacombs expansion, Blizzard offered players the following incentives:

• A random Legendary weapon card for logging into the game. Each class had one available Legendary weapon, though these functioned differently from traditional weapons as they didn't necessarily deal direct damage.
• Three free Kobolds & Catacombs card packs available immediately upon login.

This expansion also introduced several new card types, including Unidentified Items (cards with base effects and additional possibilities revealed upon play) and Spellstones (spells that level up during matches). The solo content included the Dungeon Run mode, a roguelike-inspired game mode that didn't require players to own any cards to participate.

United in Stormwind Expansion

The United in Stormwind expansion provided players with multiple ways to earn free rewards:

• Login reward: Flightmaster Dungar legendary card
• Lady Prestor legendary card available through the rewards track
• Three United in Stormwind packs unlocked upon reaching level 9

The expansion also introduced new card mechanics including Questlines (three-part legendary quests), Mounts (buff spells that summon minions when the buffed minion dies), and Professions (0-Attack weapons with special effects).

Free Decks for New and Returning Players

Hearthstone has implemented systems to provide free decks to different player segments, helping them build competitive collections without significant investment.

Current Free Deck Options

As of recent updates, Hearthstone offers six class-specific deck options for players to choose from:

• Death Knight
• Paladin
• Rogue
• Shaman
• Warlock
• Warrior

These decks are designed using popular archetypes and provide players with a solid foundation to begin playing competitively. Importantly, if a player already owns cards that are part of their chosen free deck, they still receive additional copies as Arcane Dust, which can be used to craft other cards.

Deck Recommendations for Different Player Types

For returning players: - Warlock and Warrior decks are recommended as they provide strong core components for competitive play - The Warrior deck contains no cards from previous expansions, making it ideal for players who may have missed recent content - The Death Knight deck, while being the most expensive of the options, offers maximum dust value - Rogue, Shaman, and Warlock decks contain the most cards from previous expansions, providing excellent value for returning players

For new players: - Aggressive decks are generally recommended as they tend to be more budget-friendly and effective for newcomers

Eligibility Requirements

Free decks are subject to specific eligibility rules. According to official sources, free decks are typically available only to players who have not logged into Hearthstone in the past 4 months. This limitation is designed to reward returning players who may have been away from the game for an extended period.

Players who believe they should have received a free deck but didn't may be experiencing a bug, in which case they are advised to report the issue through official Blizzard bug reporting channels.

Card Backs and Collectible Rewards

Card backs serve as cosmetic rewards in Hearthstone, allowing players to customize the appearance of their gameplay experience. Various methods exist for obtaining these collectible items.

Basic Card Backs

Basic card backs remain accessible to all players through straightforward methods:

• Visiting a Fireside Gathering
• Playing against someone who already has the card back
• Enabling the option to play with a Random Card Back

Mystery Card Backs

Several card backs are obtained by completing secret achievements within the game:

• Forged in the Barrens
• United in Stormwind
• Alterac Valley
• Castle Nathria

These card backs are typically awarded without prior announcement, encouraging exploration and experimentation within the game.

Esports and Event Card Backs

Blizzard frequently releases card backs to promote competitive play and special events:

• Esports card backs are awarded to players who perform well in official competitive events
• Event card backs can be obtained by reaching Level 12 in Heroes of the Storm
• Special login events often commemorate milestones, such as Hearthstone's 6th and 10th birthdays

Tavern Brawl Card Backs

Winning or participating in Tavern Brawls can award players with exclusive card backs, such as "The Dark Wanderer" from 2023.

Pre-Order Card Backs

Several expansions have included promotional card backs as incentives for players who pre-order packs from the set. These card backs typically feature unique designs themed around the expansion's content.

Login Events and Seasonal Promotions

Hearthstone frequently offers time-sensitive rewards during special login events and seasonal promotions.

Launch Day Freebies

New expansions typically launch with immediate login rewards, often including:

• Legendary cards
• Free packs from the new expansion
• Special card backs or other cosmetics

These rewards are designed to give players a boost as they begin exploring new content.

Quest-Based Rewards

Some promotions include special quests that offer pack rewards as completion incentives. For example, players might be given specific quests to complete on the day of expansion launch, with each quest offering two packs as a reward.

Level-Based Rewards

Certain expansions implement reward tracks that unlock as players progress through the game. For instance, reaching level 9 in United in Stormwind granted players three packs from the expansion. Players with access to their weekly quests often reach these milestones more quickly.

The Tavern Pass System

Hearthstone's Tavern Pass system offers players both free and premium reward tracks for each expansion.

Free Track

The free Tavern Pass track provides all players with access to rewards including gold, packs, and cards. This free option ensures that even players who choose not to spend money can still earn valuable resources.

Premium Track

The premium Tavern Pass costs $20 and lasts for one entire expansion. It includes:

• A Diamond Legendary Card
• Cosmetic items such as skins and card backs
• Special Battlegrounds items

The premium track also offers an XP boost that reportedly earns paying players an additional 2000 gold over free-to-play players, which is enough to cover the cost of each expansion's mini-set.

Mini-Sets and Additional Content

Recent Hearthstone expansions have introduced additional content that provides more opportunities for players to expand their collections.

Mini-Sets

Each expansion now includes a Mini-set, which is a $15 (or 1500 Runestone) collection of cards released mid-expansion. These Mini-sets provide additional content for players who wish to further enhance their collections.

New Content Types

Blizzard has diversified Hearthstone's content beyond traditional card play, including:

• Battlegrounds mode
• Mercenaries mode
• Duels mode

These alternative game modes offer different experiences and reward structures, providing players with additional ways to earn free content and enjoy the game.

Maximizing Freebies in Hearthstone

Players can employ several strategies to maximize the free content they receive in Hearthstone:

1. Log in regularly to claim all available login rewards
2. Complete daily and weekly quests to earn gold for additional packs
3. Participate in special events and limited-time game modes
4. Take advantage of the free track in the Tavern Pass system
5. Focus on building decks using the free options available to new and returning players
6. Save gold for the start of new expansions when pack values are highest
7. Complete all available solo content, which often provides free packs and cards

Conclusion

Hearthstone offers numerous freebies and promotional rewards across its various expansions and game modes. From legendary cards and free packs to exclusive card backs and cosmetic items, these incentives provide players with multiple ways to enhance their collections without requiring financial investment. By understanding the different types of freebies available, their eligibility requirements, and strategies for maximizing rewards, players can build competitive decks and enjoy all aspects of the game regardless of their budget. The combination of regular login rewards, free decks, seasonal promotions, and the Tavern Pass system ensures that both new and returning players have ample opportunities to expand their Hearthstone experience.

Sources

1. The Witchwood Expansion Guide
2. Kobolds & Catacombs Freebies
3. Free Decks for New and Returning Players
4. Hearthstone Monetization Overview
5. Free Deck Eligibility Information
6. United in Stormwind Freebies
7. Hearthstone Card Backs