Hearthstone Reign of the Black Empire Release Date Is October 20, and the Monk Class Arrives in March 2027
The Hearthstone Reign of the Black Empire release date is October 20, Blizzard confirmed during the BlizzCon 2026 opening ceremony on September 12. It is the next Standard expansion, and it lands on every version of the game at once: Windows, macOS, iOS and Android.
The same presentation settled a question Hearthstone players have been asking for years. A twelfth class, the Monk, is coming in March 2027, the game's first new playable class in six years. It will not be part of Reign of the Black Empire.
What Blizzard has confirmed about Reign of the Black Empire
The expansion goes back tens of thousands of years in Warcraft history, to the war between the Old Gods and the Titans. C'Thun, N'Zoth, Y'Shaarj and Yogg-Saron, the four Old Gods last seen at the centre of 2016's Whispers of the Old Gods, are back as the set's headline villains.
Blizzard's official summary names one new mechanic:
- Assemble, a keyword that merges two cards into a single new one. In published descriptions of the reveal, the combined card takes on the text of both minions, so the result depends on which two you pair.
- Release date: October 20, on all platforms. The exact unlock hour usually varies by region, and some Asian-market reports list the launch as October 21 local time.
- Battlegrounds tie-in: a new Old God minion type, Aberrations, arrives earlier, on September 22.
Blizzard has not yet published a card count or a full card list. Reveals normally run over the weeks before launch, so expect individual cards to surface from now until mid-October.
What is in the pre-purchase bundles
Pre-purchase offers went up alongside the announcement. According to published reports from the reveal, there are two tiers:
- Mega Bundle: 80 Reign of the Black Empire packs, 10 Golden packs, a Signature Legendary Drest'agath, a Golden Legendary C'Thun, Eye of the Empire, four Tavern Tickets for the pre-release Tavern Brawl or Arena, the Eonar Druid hero skin and a card back.
- Standard bundle: 60 packs, two random Legendary cards and the Eonar card back.
We could not confirm the USD prices of either bundle from Blizzard's own store, which requires signing in, so they are not listed here. Check the in-game shop before buying. Prices there are shown in your local currency, and the bundle contents above may differ slightly from the final store listing.
When the Hearthstone Monk class comes out
The Monk arrives in March 2027, which lines up with the start of Hearthstone's next Standard year, when older sets rotate out. Blizzard has shared no cards, hero power or pricing for the class yet, and said more would be discussed during BlizzCon panels.
The last class added was Demon Hunter in 2020. That class came with a free starter set of cards, but Blizzard has not said whether the Monk will work the same way. Until it does, treat any claim about how you unlock the Monk as unconfirmed.
The Journey and Battlegrounds changes
Published reports also describe a new narrative hub called The Journey, which gathers story events and new game modes in one place and is free for all players at launch. Blizzard's official recap did not detail it, so the specifics may still change.
Battlegrounds players get their changes first. Patch 36.6.1 on September 22 adds Aberrations and removes Naga from the pool. We broke down every hero, minion and trinket change in our Hearthstone Battlegrounds Aberrations patch guide, and the balance context going into this expansion is in our Hearthstone patch 36.2.2 balance changes report.
How to get ready on your phone
Hearthstone is free to play, and the October 20 update will download through the App Store, Google Play or the Battle.net app. Clear some storage before launch day, since expansion updates add new card art and sound files on top of the existing install.
Gold and dust you save between now and then can go straight into packs or crafting once the set is live. If you want something to play in the meantime, our list of the best card games for Android has alternatives, and the full BlizzCon schedule is in our BlizzCon 2026 opening ceremony guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Hearthstone Reign of the Black Empire come out?
Blizzard has set the Reign of the Black Empire release date for October 20, 2026. It launches on Windows, macOS, iOS and Android at the same time. The exact unlock hour varies by region, so players in Asia may see it on October 21 local time.
Is the Monk class in Reign of the Black Empire?
No. The Monk is a separate addition coming in March 2027, around the start of Hearthstone's next Standard year. Blizzard has not yet revealed its cards, hero power or how players will unlock it.
What does the Assemble keyword do in Hearthstone?
Assemble is the new keyword in Reign of the Black Empire. It merges two cards into a single new card, combining the effects of both. Blizzard has not published the full list of Assemble cards yet.
What comes in the Reign of the Black Empire Mega Bundle?
Reported contents are 80 expansion packs, 10 Golden packs, a Signature Legendary Drest'agath, a Golden Legendary C'Thun, Eye of the Empire, four Tavern Tickets, the Eonar Druid hero skin and a card back. Check the in-game shop for the price in your currency and the final listing before buying.
When do Aberrations come to Hearthstone Battlegrounds?
Aberrations arrive in Battlegrounds on September 22 with Patch 36.6.1, almost a month before the expansion. Naga leave the minion pool at the same time, and Aberrations are guaranteed in every lobby for the first two weeks.
