‘Fractured in Alterac Valley’ Hearthstone Set Pays Homage to World of Warcraft’s Most Iconic Battleground

I haven’t played World of Warcraft in a long time, and it’s been even longer since I’ve waltzed into the tavern for some Hearthstone.

I’m a sucker for Warcraft lore, though, so when I saw that Hearthstone’s newest set – Fractured in Alterac Valley – introduces 135 new cards themed after one of the most iconic PvP battlegrounds in the history of the game… Needless to say, I was sold.

If you fire up Hearthstone during the launch window (right now), you’ll be prompted to choose a faction – Horde or Alliance – and will get yourself a free Golden Legendary card based on your choice. Both choices are the iconic faction leaders that players have been tasked with killing for the last 15+ years of World of Warcraft PvP. Elder Shaman Drek’Thar for the Horde, or the Mountain King Vanndar Stormpike for the Alliance. What’s more, those legendary cards have a chance to be upgraded to a Diamond Legendary version based on the ongoing “Honor Points” conflict between Horde and Alliance players in the game.

All of this makes up for some pretty awesome competition between the two storied factions, and has been building over Hearthstone’s Year of the Gryphon in 2021 as each new set has been Horde and/or Alliance themed. Now the two square off again, but in the snowy cliffs of Alterac Valley. It wouldn’t be a new Hearthstone set without a new keyword, and this time we’ve got Honorable Kill. This new keyword grants a bonus effect whenever a card marked with it deals the exact amount of damage to another minion in order to kill it.

Fractured in Alterac Valley is one of the most beautiful sets I’ve seen in Hearthstone in a LONG time. Every card is more exciting than the last, and all of them bring back crazy memories of Alterac Valley PvP over the years.

I’m not sure if this set will be enough to get me back into Hearthstone full-time, or if I’ll get stomped out by some unattainable meta decks within the first two weeks and uninstall the game for another year… But only time will tell.

For the Alliance!