Update 3:43 PM EDT: It looks like if you haven't logged in since last season and were at least rank 20, you'll get a ranked chest for July.
Update 2:38 PM EDT: Official patch notes are now live. check them out below.
Update 2:00 PM EDT: The latest patch can be be downloaded on the Battle.net launcher.
Official Patch Notes
The official patch notes are now live. Read below.
Quote from BlizzardThis patch prepares the grounds for the arrival of Hearthstone’s second exciting expansion: The Grand Tournament!When The Grand Tournament goes live later this month, you’ll be able to arm yourself with 132 all-new cards, recruit chivalrous knights of all shapes and sizes, and have a whole lot of festive fun! This patch also begins tracking your highest earned rank in Ranked Play mode, and you’ll be rewarded with a Highest Rank Bonus at the end of the season. Remember, The Grand Tournament pre-purchase bundle remains available until the expansion goes live.
We’re also adding a new card back and fixing some bugs. The full patch notes are below!
General
- The following card back has been added:
- Tournament Grounds – Acquired by reaching Rank 20 or higher in Ranked Play mode during the month of August.
- New quests added, including one to win games in Tavern Brawl mode!
- Tavern Brawl victories now count towards earning the Heroes of the Storm mount award.
- A bonus chest will be granted at the end of each season based on the highest ranked reached in Ranked Play mode.
- Various audio, graphical, and UI issues have been resolved.
New Card Back: Power Core
We first heard about this card back on the OGN HS Masters livestream on August 11th. The Power Core card back is a new card back coming soon for participating in and watching Hearthstone tournaments. More details will follow at a future date.
Quote from BlizzardIf participating in or watching Hearthstone tournaments really spark your interests, then we have an electrifying new card back for you—introducing the super-charged Power Core card back!
Bursting with the energy of competitive Hearthstone play, the Power Core card back will be available to players who participate in or attend select Hearthstone eSports tournaments around the world. Keep an eye out for upcoming Hearthstone blogs and announcements that feature officially sanctioned Hearthstone eSports events—you never know when the opportunity to get your hands on the Power Core card back may strike. How you acquire this card back may change from event to event, so don’t stay static!
Stay tuned for more details on how you can add this flashy new card back to your collection!
The Grand Tournament Datamined
Last night, The Grand Tournament patch hit Blizzard's CDN and we documented all the changes. Animated cards, gameboard, new sounds, new dailies, and card flavor text are just some of the things that were included in last night's patch. Check it out!
July Ranked Chests
If you haven't logged in to the game since last season, and were at least rank 20, you should go ahead and login for a nice surprise. Below is a screenshot from /u/32JC showcasing a July ranked rewards chest - Shieldbearer's Footlocker (Rank 16 through 20). Rewards will vary.
For the power core card back would it require you to spectate on someone playing on the event? watch a live stream? or physically attend it?
You can view all the new cards in game on the PC version right now. Go to your Collection and hit the Crafting Tab. All the cards will appear but of course you can't actually make them.
My Rank 15 chest appeared for August. Naturally can't open it yet but I too did not get one for July.
Looks like the new field is playable now, just played a game on it.
I had bad moments in ranked mode, I ended up on Rank 18, but I did reach Rank 15 this month, which kept me calm. It pissed me off when I saw that chest saved my progress FROM THE HOUR OF UPDATE, NOT FROM THE MONTH.
So, if you've been logging in and playing regularly, you get no random chest? But, don't log in for a month and get rewards. Seems legit.
Yea that pissed me off, wtf kinda garbage is this.
Yes. I'm 99% that it is just a bug that caused this. They didn't have anyone around the office that didn't log for a month to test it with.
What is it talking about regarding a reward chest for July?
Logged in. no chest to open
Same here.
Same. Hope it's just a bug and we will still get them.
Didnt show it for me either.
God I want that cardback... Really hope you don't have to eSport a million dollars just to get it.
There's a new animation when you move from one ranked chest to the next. Wasn't expecting it so didn't get a pic.
I've been waiting months for the perfect opportunity to use this one that I made- its a little outdated but whatever.
That sounds like a bug more than anything.
Oh my, so that means until this patch arrived the game WASN'T keeping track of your highest Rank during the month? Whoops.
Damn, was expecting huge patch notes for 3.0...
IMO this could've been 2.9
*EU players twiddling their thumbs in the distance*