Hearthstone: Scholomance Academy
Overview:|
This is a substantial expansion for the core Hearthstone digital card game, requiring the base game to play. Set at the Scholomance Academy under Headmaster Kel'Thuzad, it adds 135 new collectible cards. The primary new mechanics are the Spellburst keyword, which triggers when you cast a spell after playing a minion, and dual-class cards that blend mechanics from two classes. This content integrates directly into the existing strategy and card pool, offering significant new deck-building depth.
This content represents a substantial expansion for the core digital collectible card game, offering a significant refresh to the established strategic experience. Released in August 2020, this addition transports players to the prestigious, yet foreboding, Scholomance Academy. The setting focuses on a time before the notorious Lich Kel'Thuzad became the undead menace, depicting him instead as the headmaster overseeing aspiring young champions from every class. Players delve into the academic life of these students while hinting at darker machinations brewing beneath the surface with the presence of the Cult of the Damned. This expansion requires the base game to access and play, integrating seamlessly into the existing card pool and competitive structure. It introduces 135 new collectible cards, providing ample new strategic depth for veteran players and fresh avenues for newcomers to explore.
New Gameplay Mechanics Introduced
This update fundamentally alters strategic possibilities through the introduction of two key card types that encourage dynamic in-match decision-making.
The Spellburst Keyword
The most significant mechanical addition is the Spellburst keyword. Cards featuring this effect trigger a specific bonus the very first time a player casts any spell while that minion is present on the board. This mechanic rewards careful sequencing, forcing players to decide the optimal moment to play a minion and subsequently cast a spell to maximize its immediate impact.
Dual-Class Cards
The expansion also features dual-class cards, referred to as "double majors." These cards are designed to be usable by two specific classes, blending thematic elements and mechanical synergies from both associated classes into a single card. This significantly broadens deck-building possibilities by allowing for hybrid strategies that were previously unavailable.
Setting and Atmosphere
The atmosphere centers around a magical boarding school environment. Players experience the halls of Scholomance Academy, a place dedicated to rigorous magical and martial training under Headmaster Kel'Thuzad's watchful eye. While the surface level is dedicated to academic pursuits—training fire flingers, axe swingers, and doom bringers—the underlying narrative hints at the sinister activities of the Cult of the Damned operating secretly within the academy grounds.
What platforms is this content available on?
As an expansion to the main title, this content is available across all platforms that support the base game, including iOS, PC (Microsoft Windows), Android, and Mac.
What is the scope of this content update?
This is a full-scale expansion, adding 135 new collectible cards to the overall game ecosystem. Its scope is substantial, designed to shift the competitive meta and offer deep new strategic avenues, comparable in quality and impact to previous major content releases for the core game. There are no additional standalone DLCs or subsequent expansions released specifically for this content package.
Game Details
Primary Name: Hearthstone: Scholomance Academy
Type: Expansion
Part of: Hearthstone
Series: Hearthstone
Developer: Blizzard Entertainment
Publisher: Blizzard Entertainment
Engine: Unity
Release Information
Release Date: Aug 6, 2020
Genres & Themes
Genres: Strategy, Turn-based strategy (TBS), Card & Board Game
Themes: Fantasy
Platforms
iOSPC (Microsoft Windows)AndroidMac
Game Modes
Perspective: Bird view / Isometric
Player Modes: Single-player
Game Modes: Single player, Multiplayer
Age Ratings
ESRB:T (Teen)
PEGI:7+
Synopsis: Advice for consumers Game contains images which might be scary or frightening to younger children Brief outline of the game Strategy board game which utilises themed playing cards to defeat the opponents cards. Content specific issues Game features the use of themed playing cards that contain images of characters drawn from the World of Warcraft. The images depicted might be scary or frightening to younger children. Other issues The game features online playing capability which may involve real-time interaction with other players.
Soren