Hearthstone 'Whispers of the Old Gods' expansion drops August 26
Hearthstone's Year of the Horse continues with the Whispers of the Old Gods expansion, adding 145 new cards, a new Twist mode, and the long-awaited return of the Old Gods in 2026 cosmetics.
Hearthstone's next expansion, Whispers of the Old Gods, launches August 26 and is the second expansion in the Year of the Horse. The expansion adds 145 new cards, a new Twist mode, and the long-awaited return of the Old Gods in 2026 cosmetics.
What's in the expansion
- 145 new cards across 11 classes
- 1 new keyword: Corruption — cards gain
power when in your hand for multiple turns
- 4 new legendary cards (one per major class)
- Old Gods in Cosmetics: C'Thun, Yogg-Saron,
N'Zoth, and Y'Shaarj return as purchasable card backs and heroes
- Twist mode (new): a rotating format that
mixes expansions from different years
The new keyword: Corruption
Corruption is the headline new mechanic. Cards with Corruption gain +1/+1 (or better) for each turn they've been in your hand. The longer you hold them, the more powerful they become. This rewards slow, control-oriented gameplay and creates a tension between "play this now" and "wait for it to be huge."
Notable Corruption cards:
- Corrupted Yogg-Saron (10 mana, neutral legendary)
— 8 random spells, but gains +1/+1 and 1 extra spell per turn in hand. At turn 10 with 6 turns of hold, casts 14 random spells.
- Cultist Acolyte (3 mana, priest) — 2/3 with
Battlecry: draw a card. Gains +1/+1 per turn in hand. At turn 8, it's a 7/8 with draw.
The 4 new legendaries
- C'Thun, the Shattered (10 mana, neutral) —
resurrects the Old Gods theme. Battlecry: deal 10 damage split among enemies. Deathrattle: deal 3 more.
- Y'Shaarj, the Awoken (10 mana, druid) —
Battlecry: summon a 7/7 from your deck. At end of turn, draw a card.
- N'Zoth, the Corruptor (7 mana, neutral) —
Battlecry: summon your Deathrattle minions that died this game. Deathrattle: shuffle N'Zoth into your deck.
- Yogg-Saron, the Unbound (10 mana, mage) —
7/7, Battlecry: cast a random spell for each spell you've cast this game. The "Yogg-Saron box" returns.
Twist mode
Twist is a new format that uses a rotating card pool from different years of Hearthstone. The first Twist season (August 26 - October 14) is called "Old Gods Rising" and uses:
- Whispers of the Old Gods (the new expansion)
- The League of Explorers (2015 adventure)
- One Night in Karazhan (2016 adventure)
Twist rewards the same as ranked (gold + packs). The format is best-of-5 (first to 3 wins) and has its own ranked ladder.
Why it matters
Whispers of the Old Gods is the first Hearthstone expansion to bring back a classic theme in 6 years. The Old Gods cards were the most-beloved set from 2016, and the Corruption keyword is a meaningful new mechanic that creates new archetypes. Combined with Twist mode, this is the most-ambitious Hearthstone content drop of 2026.
What's next
The third expansion of the Year of the Horse is "Shadows of the Past" (November 10). It will add a new class (Demon Hunter was added in 2020, this will be a 12th class) and a new game mode (rumored to be a 2v2 ladder).
FAQ
When does Whispers of the Old Gods launch?
August 26, 2026. Pre-orders open August 12 with 60 packs + 2 random legendaries for $50.
How many cards are in the new set?
145 cards. 11 classes each get 10-12 cards, plus 25 neutral cards.
What's the new keyword?
Corruption — cards gain power for each turn they're in your hand. The longer you wait, the bigger they get.
Is Twist mode permanent?
Yes, Twist is a permanent format with rotating seasons. The first season is "Old Gods Rising" using Whispers + 2 adventure sets.
Should I pre-order the bundle?
The $50 bundle gives 60 packs + 2 random legendaries. Worth it if you play 5+ hours per week. The $80 mega bundle adds a card back and a hero, but the value isn't there for most players.
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