As the Year of the Dragon finishes off its last content, we must consider what Hearthstone will give us next. However, we don’t have to wait long! This afternoon, Hearthstone revealed the Year of the Phoenix, which is our next year of content. Will it shake up the game in some way that we’ve never seen?

Well, the first new class since launch, how’s that for starters? The Demon Hunter class is an in-your-face, aggressive class that will cut down its foes with weapons, claws, and perhaps tamed demons! They are represented by Illidan Stormrage, as the latest hero that comes to the game. So, what are the details?

Demon Hunter Class

The Demon Hunter will be playable for all players who complete the free Demon Hunter prologue campaign. That’s right, free! It consists of four story-focused missions that retell the origin story of everyone’s favorite Demon Hunter. It will be available on April 2 on all Hearthstone platforms.

If that’s not enough to get you going, players will receive, for free, all 10 Demon Hunter basic cards, a 20-card Demon Hunter Initiate set, and a pre-built Demon Hunter decklist (as long as you have an open deck slot). After that prologue, the Demon Hunter unlocks on April 7!

Here’s what we know:

Illidan Stormrage’s Ability: Demon Claws: This Hero Power gives you +1 attack this turn, and only costs 1 mana. It’s inexpensive and easy to use on a variety of turns. Even if you’ve played a weapon, 1 mana is probably not going to be hard to put together.

Fun Combos/Cards

A blog from Hearthstone teased a few cards that are going to be playable as a Demon Hunter. I want to talk about a few of those because frankly, I’m excited about the upcoming class.

Aldrachi Warblades (Equipment) + Satyr Overseer (Demon Minion): Now, Demon Hunters don’t have a lot of direct heals. Instead, they must rely on chip heal via Lifesteal, for the most part. So, we also need plenty of ways to keep creatures on the board. Aldrachi Warblades is a ⅔ weapon with Lifesteal. Add the Hero Power, and it’s 3 damage/life. Satyr Overseer summons a 2/2 Satyr anytime your Hero attacks, so it behooves well of you (Huh? Huh? Well I laughed) to be aggressive with your attacking.

Coordinated Strike (Spell) + Feat of Souls (Spell): Do you need some quick card draw? Opponents army of creatures that are weak getting you down. Cast Coordinated Strike to create 3 1/1 Illidari with Rush (so they can attack creatures immediately). Let them all die, and maybe more if you need, and then cast Feast of Souls! That lets you draw a card for each friendly minion that died this turn! Illidan turns his servants into fuel to continue his endless battle.

Raging Felscreamer (Minion) + Pit Commander (Demon Minion): The Demon Hunter deck is very aggressive, and sometimes we want our creatures to be just a bit easier to put out. Raging Felscreamer lets you play your next Demon for 2 Mana less. That leads us to Pit Commander! It’s a 9-cost (now 7), with Taunt. It’s a 7/9 that summons a Demon from your deck at the end of your turn. So yes, you want this played as soon as freakin’ possible.

Outcast Keyword: There’s a new keyword with Demon Hunters, as a class-specific one: Outcast! Outcast cards have greater bonuses when played from the left or right-most position in your hand. With planning and strategy, you can do some incredible things with these cards, if you hold them until the time is right.

Spectral Sight lets you draw a card, but if it’s Outcast, you draw a second card. Skull of Gul’dan lets you draw 3 cards, and if Outcast, you reduce their cost by 3 Mana! Need a little more? Of course, you do. Eye Beam has Lifesteal and deals 3 damage to a minion. If Outcast, it costs 0 mana! Now you’re talking my language.

Ashes of Outland Expansion

Ashes of Outland is our first Year of the Phoenix expansion in Hearthstone, and it takes us back to World of Warcraft’s first expansion. That’s right. We’re heading to The Burning Crusade! The setting has been razed by a destructive force known as the Rusted Legion and will arrive on April 7.

Coming April 7, Ashes of Outland introduces 135 new fel-infused collectible cards and exciting new mechanics—like Primes, minions reshuffled into players’ decks in more powerful forms after leaving the board and, Imprisoned Demons, which come into play dormant, but unleash match-shifting effects when they awaken!

It sounds like it’s going to be a very fun month of cards for us! That, of course, means we’re going to keep an eye on card reveals and bring you the very best in card games! There are a few other changes we can keep you appraised of too!

Demon Hunter and Ashes of Outland are kicking off the Hearthstone Year of the Phoenix, but here’s a peek at what other updates players can expect:

• Ranked Mode Overhaul: New improvements to ranked ladder are on the way, including reworked matchmaking and a fun progression system loaded with meaningful rewards.
• New and Returning Player Experience: New players (as well as those returning to Hearthstone after an absence) will receive a free competitive deck of the class of their choice. Also, they’ll get to play some all-new single-player missions to get back into the swing of things!
• Battlegrounds Updates: Battlegrounds continues to evolve in the Year of the Phoenix, starting with the addition of new playable Hero Illidan Stormrage!

There’s plenty to look forward to in the Hearthstone Year of the Phoenix, including new card additions to the Hall of Fame, substantial updates to the Priest class as well as a nonstop barrage of new content, such as in-game events, free Solo Adventures, and much more!