When Is the Next Hearthstone Expansion? (Full 2025 Schedule)

If you’re asking yourself “When is the next Hearthstone expansion?” you’re in the right place! This article is updated regularly with the latest release dates and reveals, so you’ll always be one step ahead in the tavern!

When Is the Next Hearthstone Expansion?

Technically, the next Hearthstone set, entitled Heroes of Starcraft, will be released in January 2025. This release will be the largest mini-set to date, featuring 49 cards, introducing three new card factions, and expanding the Starship mechanic.

However, the first fully-fledged Hearthstone expansion of 2025, Into the Emerald Dream, is expected to launch as the first set of the Year of the Raptor in February. While the exact release date and number of collectible cards remain unconfirmed, we’ll update this article as soon as new information is available.

What we do know is that the Into the Emerald Dream expansion theme will revolve around a battle between the Druids of the Emerald Dream and the Old Gods, ultimately deciding the fate of the World Tree. During Warcraft 30th Anniversary Direct, Blizzard teased that it will be beautiful nature side by side with dark, twisted corruption from Whispers of the Old Gods.

For those unfamiliar with Warcraft lore, the Emerald Dream is a primal garden and a perpetual cycle of life, safeguarded by the green dragonflight and nature-aligned factions such as druids, wild gods, and dragons. The Old Gods, however, see the Emerald Dream as a prime target for their corruptive influence. So yeah, expect a lot of:

• Dragon Legendary cards (e.g., Ysera, Merihra)
• Corrupted minions (like we’ve seen in Madness at the Darkmoon Faire)
• Potential new version of Xavius, the Nightmare lord
• Nightmare Dragons like Emeriss, Lethon, Taerar
• New Location cards related to green dragonflights

Hearthstone 2025 Full Expansion Schedule

In 2025, Hearthstone will introduce seven new card sets — four mini-sets and three expansions. 

However, note that the first mini-set of 2025, Heroes of Starcraft, does not fall under the Year of the Raptor, meaning it will rotate out of Standard in early 2026. But still, all the other expansions and mini-sets released in 2025 will remain in Standard for two full years.

Below is the full schedule, detailing the name, type, estimated release date, and patch for each set.

Note: The sets marked with an asterisk (*) are placeholder names and have not been officially confirmed. We’ll update this schedule once Blizzard reveals the final titles.

Hearthstone 2025 Standard Rotation: Year of the Raptor

The Standard rotation for 2025 (known as the Year of the Raptor) will remove six sets from the format:

• Festival of Legends and Audiopocalypse mini-set
• TITANS and Fall of Ulduar mini-set
• Showdown in the Badlands and Delve Into Deepholm mini-set

Meanwhile, Whizbang’s Workshop, Perils in Paradise, and The Great Dark Beyond will stay in Standard throughout 2025, making it their final year before rotating out.

All expansions and mini-sets released in 2025 (except for Heroes of Starcraft) will remain in Standard for two full years. As a result, they won’t rotate out immediately after the Year of the Raptor but rather during the following rotation cycle.

Hearthstone 2025 Core Set

As always, a new Core set will arrive with the Year of the Raptor. According to Hearthstone Patch 30.6 notes, all the Gift cards and Harth Stonebrew will leave the game alongside the Year of the Raptor Standard rotation. However, certain freebie cards, such as Avatar of Hearthstone, will stay in Standard one year longer, rotating with the 2026 Core Set update instead.

Still, Blizzard has yet to reveal details or the overarching theme of the 2025 Core set. So yeah, stay tuned for future announcements.

And to do just that, you might want to follow CardGamer on X to topdeck the latest updates for Hearthstone and other card games! Moreover, be sure to check out Jason’s Balatro review and learn why so many Hearthstone players are hyping it (and why you should too).