Latest Hearthstone patch adds deck slots, introduces ‘deck recipes’

Hearthstone patch 4.20 today brought several additions to Blizzard’s fireball of a CCG, chief among them those long-awaited extra deck slots.

Indeed, by unlocking all nine in-game heroes Hearthstone players can now access up to 18 deck slots, double the original nine. Additionally, the infamously hokey “suggest a card” deck-building feature has been updated to make smarter recommendations.

Arguably more significant are the game’s new “deck recipes,” samples designed to introduce new players to classes and archetypes and give experienced players a frame of reference. Three deck recipes are available for each class: one classic recipe built from classic and basic cards, and two themed recipes which showcase more advanced builds.

“Newer players will find that the classic recipe is a great tool to get familiar with the deck-building process,” Blizzard said, “but they can also serve as a handy shortcut for veteran players looking to get a new deck started.”

The card collection manager has also been updated with an in-depth display for card backs, no doubt in preparation for the new cards contained in Hearthstone’s next expansion, Whispers of the Old Gods. What’s more, searching for specific cards is now more intuitive thanks to new criteria such as attack value and mana cost.

Next up, alternate artwork for the Paladin hero has been added in the form of Liadrin, a female warrior and staple of World of Warcraft lore. For now, the Liadrin portrait can only be obtained via an upcoming WoW promotion, not unlike the new Overwatch card back unlocked by purchasing Overwatch: Origins Edition.

Finally, patch 4.20 rings in Hearthstone’s Thailand release, giving the game a 14-language international roster. Thailand players will play on the same servers as the rest of Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand.

Source: Battlenet