Does Duskwood Play a Role in the Next Hearthstone Expansion?
Earlier today, the Hearthstone LATAM Twitter account posted a peculiar image which features characters from all the sets released during Year of the Mammoth. In this image, seen below, they're sleuthing about looking for something in the Warcraft zone of Duskwood. Are they there looking for clues that will lead them to their next friend (the new expansion)?
It may seem like a bit of a stretch, but Blizzard has been known to run teaser content in the past. What do you think?
References in the Image
All non-evergreen sets present in the Standard Rotation of Year of the Mammoth are showcased in the image.
- Raven - Year of the Raven (Leading everyone else!)
- Kobolds - Kobolds & Catacombs
- T-Rex - Journey to Un'Goro
- Unidentified Human - Possibly Karazhan
- Yeti - It's a stretch, but Knights of the Frozen Throne.
- Right-side Tree w/ Eye and Tentacles - Whispers of the Old Gods
- Jade at bottom of right-side Tree - Mean Streets of Gadgetzan, Jade Lotus
- Potion on left-side Tree - Mean Streets of Gadgetzan, The Kabal
- Spiked Baseball Bat at left-side Tree - Mean Streets of Gadgetzan, Grimy Goons
- Far Background Tower - Karazhan itself!
The Year of the Raven Teaser
In Blizzard's Year of the Raven announcement, all three of this year's sets were teased just like what happened during Year of the Mammoth.
The dark tree branches and overall palette for expansion 1 certainly give this old World of Warcraft player a huge Duskwood vibe. The interior "portal" certainly could be referring to the Dream Portal that exists within the Twilight Grove area of Duskwood which allows for travel into the Emerald Dream via the Emerald Dreamway.
Tell me More About Duskwood?
Sure! The Wowpedia article for Duskwood is great though so you should check that out; We're just going to go over some interesting quick bits of info!
- Duskwood is located in the Eastern Kingdoms.
- Surrounding Duskwood is Elwynn Forest, Westfall, Stranglethorn Vale, and Deadwind Pass (Karazhan!)
- It's always dark in Duskwood - it's cursed!
- Creatures that inhabit the land include Humans, Worgen, Undead, Ogres, Spiders, Wolves, Ghosts, and Abominations.
- One of the sub-zones of Duskwood is Raven Hill - Caw Caw!
Here are some screenshots of Duskwood in the World of Warcraft. It's a level 20 zone so if you're interested, start a WoW Trial Account and make an Alliance character. I recommend the Bleeding Hollow PVP realm, you won't be killed, I swear.
I'm going with Outland expansions -
1. Terokkar Forest
2. Nagrand (maybe Netherstorm)
3. Zangarmarsh
I think the second one may be a Dalaran-themed or Arcane-themed expansion
I think it would be interesting to see this!
I'm thinking that all of these sets could be related to Outland.
Set 1: Terrokar Forest is a zone in WoW with the same kind of faded green/white color palette as depicted in the picture. We could easily see more Arrakoa in this set, and perhaps some demons, maybe some kind of Auchenai Crypts series of cards that are all ghosts?
Set 2: The bright pink, purple, and gold looks like a dead giveaway for a Tempest Keep or Netherstorm themed expansion, probably the former, as there are lots of raid bosses Bliz could make legendaries around. A Kael'Thas card would be awesome to see.
Set 3: This is the most unlikely one, but part of me sees the similarities to the Naga machinery in Serpentshrine Caverns. It could easily be any other nautically-themed set, though.
Some pictures for those unfamiliar.
That definitely makes sense.
Expansion 2 looks like either Netherstorm (Tempest Keep) or Dalaran.
Definitely Duskwood.
That is the Karazhan silhouette in the background, which would be visible from Duskwood.
Is it confirmed that the new expansions will be expansions and not adventures like Karazhan?
Yeah they said that like half a year ago or something. Blizzard also gets way more money with regular expansions so for them it's an obvious choice
What if the woods don't stand for Duskwood but for the Wild Format? Whenever you play wild it has roots all over the place... I believe these woods stand for wild as the sets leaving standard are left behind in the woods as the sets that remain is standard follow the raven while searching for clues.
The teaser picture looks like the Raven leading the standard expansions into the new year. Kobold = KaC, Dinosaur = Un'goro, Human = random knight for KotFT? (only one I'm having issues deciphering) and Chillwind Yeti = the Basic/Classic set.
As for the expansion teasers, I'm currently thinking :
Emerald Dream for #1 Very similar vines and color palette.
Ethereal Portal for #2 Looks identical.
Darkspear Trolls for #3 Card back with very similar color palette.
Would love it if we got another Tribe for ethereals much like we got the Elemental tribe that made some old cards playable again.
awesome types man! those predictions looks very solid!
The T-Rex is from when Blizzard did the obstacle course in dinosaur costumes with streamers. See the Stitches?
Hmm Duskwood is really one of my best memories from leveling back in Vanilla Wow. Looking forward to this expansion!
I think that's a bit unfair to say. Icecrown was full of lore characters for example. And in koblods a lot of the legendary weapons are heavy on lore. And eventhough the named characters in kobolds are new the whole theme of the expansion is very flavorful I think. Then there is Un'goro which was very flavorful in term of wow.
He follows the clues...and then he eats 'em ^_^
They are telling us to look at the clues with a magnifying glass. Can you see the faces in each portal?