36.0 Patch Notes

Patch 36.0 launches on June 30 and starts the final countdown to the Escape from Violet Hold expansion, kicks off a new Arena season, and more.

Escape from Violet Hold Launches on July 7

Escape from Violet Hold, Hearthstone's next expansion, launches on July 7! This 135-card expansion features bold new cards that defy the very rules of Hearthstone, including a Legendary Rulebreaker minion for each class, the sneaky new Prepare keyword, Disguised minions, Bribe cards, and more! See every new card in the Card Library today, and grab your Pre-Purchase bundles before the breakout begins!

New Bonus Added: Play with Signature Vanessa the Ringleader Now!

Vanessa VanCleef is orchestrating the breakout, and now her Signature version is part of the Pre-Purchase Mega Bundle! Vanessa the Ringleader is seeing tons of play, so we've added this special bonus to help you generate more fun Signature cards with her ability. Play with Signature Vanessa the Ringleader now as soon as you acquire the bundle.

• Signature Vanessa the Ringleader is added on top of the existing Pre-Purchase Mega Bundle at no extra cost.
• Cards Vanessa generates match her quality, creating Signature cards when available, and Golden cards otherwise.
• Already secured your bundle? Just log in to claim the card!
  • Anyone who purchased the Escape from Violet Hold Mega Bundle and logged into Hearthstone at least once between June 2 at 10:00 a.m. PT (Patch 35.6.0) and June 18 when Patch 35.6.3 releases will receive Signature Vanessa the Ringleader automatically within 24 hours.
  • Those who haven't logged in since purchasing the Escape from Violet Hold Mega Bundle must log in before Patch 36.0 on June 30 to receive the card.

Escape from Violet Hold Rewards Track Refresh

With the launch of Escape from Violet Hold comes a new Rewards Track, filled with all manner of rewards sure to help with the prison's deadly traps and obstacles, like card packs, Gold, an XP boost to unlock rewards even faster, and more!

Deck Recipe Updates

A new Deck Recipe is being added for each class featuring new cards from Escape from Violet Hold. The other two deck recipes are a ready-to-play deck using Core cards and a deck featuring cards from CATACLYSM.

Get Ready for Escape from Violet Hold with Pre-Release Tavern Brawl and Community Days

We've got some exciting updates for the Pre-Release Tavern Brawl, now with a new format. This is an event where you get to open your Escape from Violet Hold packs early, build a deck, and compete to earn rewards. The new rules are:

• Build decks using only cards from Escape from Violet Hold. No class or rune restrictions!
  • Card Generation Pool: Escape from Violet Hold, Standard
• Everyone starts with free trial copies of all Escape from Violet Hold Common cards*

* Access to the Escape from Violet Hold trial cards is temporary and limited to the Pre-Release Tavern Brawl, which starts June 30 at 10:00 a.m. PDT when Patch 36.0 goes live and ends on July 7 at 10:00 a.m. PDT when the expansion launches, after which they are removed.

New Pre-Release Tavern Brawl Achievements

If you're looking for a challenge, we've got two achievements for you to take a crack at, including a brand-new one that awards a new Violet Hold-themed card back for going undefeated!

• Escape from Violet Hold Pre-Release Champion: Finish a Pre-Release Tavern Brawl run with 6 wins for the Escape from Violet Hold expansion.
  • Rewards: 2x Tavern Tickets, 1x Escape from Violet Hold Pack
• Escape from Violet Hold Pre-Release Pro: Finish a Pre-Release Tavern Brawl run without losing a game for the Escape from Violet Hold expansion.
  • Rewards: Jailbreak Brawler Card Back, 2x Tavern Tickets

How to Play in the Escape from Violet Hold Pre-Release Tavern Brawl

All players will get one entry into the Pre-Release Tavern Brawl for free. After that, each entry will cost 2 Tavern Tickets, 300 Gold, or 400 Runestones. On each run, lock in a deck and play until you get either 6 wins or 3 losses and earn more new cards based on how well you do!

Check out our Pre-Release Tavern Brawl Disclosure Page for more on specific rules.

Community Days

See what sneaky new decks your favorite creators are making and earn more packs to use in the Pre-Release Tavern Brawl during our Community Days event! See the dedicated Community Events blog for more information about the Pre-Release Tavern Brawl and Community Days.

New Legend Reward Added

The existing "Myth of the Scarab" achievement now rewards the Eternal Scarab card back. Complete the achievement by reaching Legend rank six unique times in total during Year of the Scarab! If you've already completed the achievement, claim your reward by visiting the achievement page.

Arena Updates

On June 30, with Patch 36.0, all ongoing Arena runs will end, and a new Arena season will begin. This season will use cards from the following sets:

• Escape from Violet Hold
• Across the Timeways
• Whizbang's Workshop
• Festival of Legends
• Murder at Castle Nathria
• Core Set
• Event Set

Cards from Escape from Violet Hold will be incorporated into the card pool on June 30, a week before the new expansion releases on July 7.

Arena Rewards

With the new season comes a fresh reward for achieving 12 wins in Underground: the Nefarious Nemsy Hero Skin. Starting on June 30, it will replace the previous reward Hero Skin. After unlocking it, any subsequent 12-win runs will earn you an alternate prize of 2 Golden Escape from Violet Hold packs.

When Escape from Violet Hold releases on July 7, all Arena and Underground pack rewards will update from CATACLYSM packs to Escape from Violet Hold packs.

New Arena Achievements

Five new Arena achievements have been added for Escape from Violet Hold. For each achievement, Part 1 must first be completed to do Part 2.

• Jailbreak Combatant
  • Part 1: Open 5 Escape from Violet Hold packs.
  • Part 2: Finish an Underground run with 6+ wins.
  • Reward: 2x Tavern Tickets
• Jailbreak Challenger
  • Part 1: Open 10 Escape from Violet Hold packs.
  • Part 2: Finish an Underground run with 6+ wins.
  • Reward: 2x Tavern Tickets
• Jailbreak Rival
  • Part 1: Open 20 Escape from Violet Hold packs.
  • Part 2: Finish an Underground run with 6+ wins.
  • Reward: 2x Tavern Tickets
• Jailbreak Duelist
  • Part 1: Open 35 Escape from Violet Hold packs.
  • Part 2: Finish an Underground run with 6+ wins.
  • Reward: 2x Tavern Tickets
• Jailbreak Gladiator
  • Part 1: Open 50 Escape from Violet Hold packs.
  • Part 2: Finish an Underground run with 6+ wins.
  • Reward: 2x Tavern Tickets

New Arena Feature: Sideboards

Cards that use sideboards can now be drafted in Arena! Sideboard contents are fixed and cannot be changed during a run. Try out sideboards in Arena with the new Escape from Violet Hold Legendaries, King of the Underbelly and Commander Beatrix.

Unlock Rewards from In-Game Events

Violet Hold

From July 7 - 28, help Vanessa and her crew make their way out of the Violet Hold! Warden Maiev has activated the "Labyrinth Protocol," turning the Hold into a shifting arcane maze, so you'll have to pick one of three escaping inmates to follow in an attempt to find a way out: Beatrix, Godfrey, or Azalina. Succeed and claim these rewards:

• 6x Escape from Violet Hold Card Packs
• 2x CATACLYSM Card Packs
• 3x Across the Timeways Card Packs
• 1x The Lost City of Un'Goro Card pack
• 1x Catch-Up Pack
• 1x Standard Card Pack
• 1x Hero Skin of the character you chose to follow*
  • Runebound Beatrix
  • Gaolbreaker Godfrey
  • Unfettered Azalina

* The unchosen Hero Skins will be available for purchase in the shop after this event ends on July 28.

San'layn Medicine

From July 28 to August 4, lay low in the infirmary until the coast is clear. Just keep an eye out for Prison Doctor Thal'ena. Her bite is worse than her bark. Complete quests to earn these rewards:

• 2x Random Common Cards from Escape from Violet Hold
• 2x Random Rare Cards from Escape from Violet Hold
• 2x Random Epic Cards from Escape from Violet Hold
• Prison Doctor Thal'ena Hero Skin

What's Next After Trial Cards

If you've been playing with the Dream City Trial Cards, we hope you've had a blast trying out new decks and discovering your favorite strategies. When the next Hearthstone expansion launches on July 7, these Trial Cards will be expiring. But don't worry, we've got you covered. We're making sure you have plenty of ways to build up your collection and stay ladder-ready without missing a beat.

To get started, be sure to claim these two free Catch-Up Packs. These oversized packs can grant up to 50 cards based on the size of your collection.

• Catch-Up Pack #1: Just log in any time after Escape from Violet Hold launches on July 7 to claim. Lasts until Patch 36.4.
• Catch-Up Pack #2: Participate in the Violet Hold in-game event detailed above, running from July 7 - 28. Complete event missions and check your progress to earn a Catch-Up Pack along with other rewards like free packs and cosmetics.

Check out our guide for more tips on how to grow your collection and keep playing!

Claim Free Mystery Rewards in the Battle.net Shop!

From June 30 - August 4, visit the Battle.net Shop to claim a new mystery gift from Escape from Violet Hold! Be sure to come back each week to see what new reward awaits.

Maiev, Q'onzu, and Violet Hold Villains Come to Darkmoon Faire Treasures

The Darkmoon Faire is rolling back into town with three dazzling new prize lineups.

Maiev, Hand of Vengeance

Villainy is breaking out! From July 14 - August 8, lock down the block as Maiev, Hand of Vengeance. This Mythic Hero Skin is really two in one, showcasing Maiev's time as priestess of the moon and her turn to legendary night elf warden. Maeiv looks different depending on your class, with a unique appearance and visual effects for each version.

As Priest, she appears in her priestess form, wearing her ceremonial feathered mantle and wielding the arcane magic of the moon:

As Rogue, she takes on her warden form, clad in her full green, silver, and gold armor and iconic helmet:

Q'onzu, Loa of Change

From July 28 - August 18, embrace the Emerald Dream and grow your menagerie of pets with Q'onzu, Loa of Change!

This majestic owl flutters in as a curious and unpredictable cosmetic companion, channeling powerful dream magic and watching you play with wide, curious eyes. As a flying pet,Q'onzu features expressive animations and shifting moods based on your gameplay, plus an interactive fruit treat and mouse play toy.

Earn XP to level up Q'onzu and unlock new skins, including Fire Q'onzu, Emerald Dream Q'onzu, and Warden Q'onzu.

Each Pet earns XP differently, rewarding you for the actions they like. Here's how to earn XP with Q'onzu:

• Feed Q'onzu a treat
• Cast a nature spell
• Restore health to your hero
• Discover a card
• Play a legendary minion
• Play a Q'onzu minion
• Reach 10 mana crystals
• Play Beast that costs 4 or more
• In Battlegrounds, reach Tier 6
• In Battlegrounds, win a combat
• In Battlegrounds, triple a Beast
• In Battlegrounds Duos, pass a card

Signature Violet Hold Villains

Oops, all Signatures! From July 7 - 28, Escape from Violet Hold in style with this gallery of the Hold's meanest prisoners, all in Signature form. Every prize in this lineup is a Signature card from Escape from Violet Hold. At the top is a three-in-one prize featuring Signature Legendaries for the treacherous trio of Azalina Soulsever, Mug'Zee, and Godfrey, the Betrayer.

Darkmoon Faire Treasures is our random pull system that rewards Pets, Mythic Skins, Signature cards, Hero Skins, and more. The first pull is free, and subsequent pulls require Runestones to purchase. Every pull guarantees a prize. As the prize collections in the Treasures booth rotate, prices adjust to match the value of the current items. Read more about the current value of Darkmoon Faire Treasures, as well as pull rates and odds.

Bug Fixes