Prepare for Reign

Pre-Purchase

Reign of the Black Empire

Before the Titans came. Before the Old Gods were imprisoned. Before the world of Azeroth as we know it existed. Welcome to the Black Empire. At the height of their power, the Old Gods ruled a corrupted world and waged war against the Titan-forged armies sent to stop them. Now it's your turn to step into that conflict. Command the most horrifying Old Gods Hearthstone has ever created and wield the power of creation to Assemble your own custom minions.

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Expansion Features

Wield Ancient Power

Reign of the Black Empire features the four Old Gods as Legendary Neutral cards:

C'Thun, Eye of the Empire
N'Zoth, Dream's End
Mastermind Yogg-Saron
Y'Shaarj, Titan Bane

This is the age of the Black Empire, when these nightmarish rulers stood at the height of their power and their influence shaped all of Azeroth. Their strength is so immense that you may include only one Old God in your deck. Each Old God possesses four unique abilities and, instead of attacking, can invoke two of those powers each turn. These abilities are among the most impactful effects in the set, so each can only be used once per game. Once all four abilities have been exhausted, the Old God is free to attack and join the battle directly.

Whether you crave endless corruption, maddening chaos, overwhelming force, or relentless hunger, the Old Gods are ready to answer your call.

New Keyword: Assemble

As the Old Gods and Titan-forged build their armies for war, you'll do the same with Assemble. Add a minion to your hand, then replace part of its card text with the text of another minion from a curated pool. Assemble creates unique combinations and lets you tailor your forces to fit your strategy.

FAQ

When will Reign of the Black Empire release?

October 20, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. PT.

What is the Black Empire?

The Black Empire was the darkest era in Azeroth's history, a time when the Old Gods ruled the world unchallenged. Long before kingdoms rose and heroes walked the land, C'Thun, N'Zoth, Yogg-Saron, and Y'Shaarj spread their influence across the world, shaping it through terror, corruption, madness, and brute force. Reign of the Black Empire takes players back to this ancient age, where the Old Gods are at the height of their power and the fate of Azeroth hangs in the balance.

Who are the Old Gods?

The Old Gods are ancient, unfathomably powerful beings that once ruled Azeroth during the age of the Black Empire. In Reign of the Black Empire, they appear in their prime as massive Legendary threats with powers beyond mortal comprehension. Only one Old God may be included in your deck, and each offers four unique abilities. Instead of attacking, an Old God can invoke two of those abilities each turn. C'Thun is the all-seeing Old God of madness and chaos. A colossal eye surrounded by writhing tentacles, it watches, judges, and brings ruin on a catastrophic scale. C'Thun grows stronger through the actions of its followers, rewarding you for completing objectives throughout the game. N'Zoth is the Deep One, master of corruption and secrets. From the depths, it tempts mortals, twists loyalties, and patiently weaves its endless schemes. N'Zoth is built around Deathrattles, rewarding careful setup and long-term planning with powerful payoffs. Yogg-Saron is the Lucid Dreamer and Fiend of a Thousand Faces. It lurks in dreams and nightmares alike, blurring the line between reality and illusion. Yogg-Saron is a cunning manipulator with effects that can dramatically alter the course of a game, including taking control and playing an entire extra turn for you. Y'Shaarj is the Beast with Seven Heads, an Old God of domination and fury. It feeds on fear, doubt, rage, and despair, turning the darkest emotions into overwhelming power. Y'Shaarj rewards decks built around large minions, offering powerful benefits to players who can survive long enough to unleash them.

What are the Reign of the Black Empire free promotional cards?

There are four FREE cards leading up to the launch of Reign of the Black Empire! M.O.T.H.E.R. is the free Legendary card available now just for logging in. Three more cards, Arrival of the Old Gods, Arrival of the Titans, and Dark Terraforming, will be available for free as rewards for in-game events in Patch 36.6. See more details in the 36.6 Patch Notes.

How will Catch-Up Packs work in Reign of the Black Empire?

For players eligible to receive Catch-Up Packs, new Catch-Up Packs will be available with Reign of the Black Empire. These packs feature cards from the sets that will remain in Standard when the expansion launches: Into the Emerald Dream, The Lost City of Un'Goro, Across the Timeways, CATACLYSM, and Escape from Violet Hold.

These Catch-Up Packs will include 5-50 cards per pack, with 1-13 cards per set per pack. Previous Catch-Up Pack logic will remain unchanged no matter when you open them.

In-game Catch-Up Pack grants will swap over to the new Catch-Up Packs with Patch 37.0. You can tell which Catch-Up Pack you are opening by looking at the set symbols on the pack. See the Disclosure Page for more details.

What’s the best Reign of the Black Empire pre-purchase bundle?

We’re offering three pre-purchase bundles: the Pre-Purchase Bundle and Mega Bundle, plus the Sequence Bundle (unlocked after getting the other two pre-purchase bundles).

The Sequence Bundle offers the best value for players who want the most packs possible at launch. Purchase all three pre-purchase bundles to unlock an exclusive bonus reward: the Way of the Monk Coin. For players who plan to choose just one Pre-Purchase bundle, the Mega Bundle is the better value option for Hearthstone Mode.

When can I open my pre-purchased packs?

Pre-purchase packs (as well as any other Reign of the Black Empire Packs accumulated at that time) will initially be able to be opened during the Pre-Release Tavern Brawl, from October 13 - 20. Outside of that, Reign of the Black Empire Packs will be able to be opened when the expansion launches on October 20.

What is the Pre-Release Tavern Brawl?

The Pre-Release Tavern Brawl will return for Reign of the Black Empire, running from the launch of Patch 37.0 on October 13 until the launch of the expansion on October 20.
In the Pre-Release Tavern Brawl, you will be able to open your Reign of the Black Empire Packs, build decks, and play with them in a mini-competition. Prizing will match the prizing structure from last Pre-Release Tavern Brawl based on how well you do, but will award cards and packs from Reign of the Black Empire, so you can take your winnings and go again! Everyone will get one free entry; each subsequent entry will cost 2 Tavern Tickets, 300 Gold, or 400 Runestones.
The Reign of the Black Empire Pre-Release Tavern Brawl features a brand-new format. Build decks using only Reign of the Black Empire cards, with all Common and Rare cards available as free Trial Cards* during the event. Choose from predefined multi-class combinations before constructing your deck. Most options combine three classes, while one special two-class combination offers enhanced C'Thun synergies. Check out the 36.6 Patch Notes for more details.
* Reign of the Black Empire free trial Common and Rare cards can only be used in the Pre-Release Tavern Brawl and will be available until expansion unlock on October 20 at 10:00 a.m. PT.

Where can I find card reveals?

Head over to the official Hearthstone Card Library to see all the cards that have already been revealed, as well as a schedule for future reveals!

Where can I plan my decks with the new cards?

The official Hearthstone Deck Builder is a great place to scope out Reign of the Black Empire before the expansion goes live. Stay tuned for more details on upcoming theorycrafting streams, where your favorite content creators will dive into the timestream to explore new strategies!