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.
Does it mean the next couple tournaments will be easier, because people try to obtain the card back?
It will probably only be high ranking tournaments and for visitors. If you live in a country where no tournaments take place (I for example would love to enter some but my country is not on blizzard approved list) you are prety much screwed.
Pretty nice, tbh.
To bad ill never have it.......
Nioce, maybe it can be nabbed at Pax Prime next Weekend.
It looks like a bayblade, awesome.
The best card back yet no question about it. Spectacular.
Gimme Gimme!
Awesome card back! Hope it'll be possible to get it through ESL tournaments!
WTF? Give us release date plllls :(
That looks dope as fuck o.o
GIEF!!!