When it comes to online card-deck-building games, Hearthstone is up there with the very best. Many would say it is because of its usage of Warcraft characters that made it so attractive. True enough, Jaina and Uther make really awesome cast but we would like to give credit to its gameplay.
For us, Hearthstone is a game that is easy to learn yet difficult to master. It’s not a walk in the park but it is also very welcoming for beginners of the genre. Either way, it would do any newcomers wonders if there’s someone to hold their hands in their first couple of matches.
So today, we would like to share a 2023 beginner’s guide on Hearthstone and how newer players can get better at the game with some handy tips and tricks.
Let’s start!
Avoid the Arena
If you are completely new to the game, we would highly recommend you stray away from the Arena mode of Hearthstone. This mode requires you to have in-depth knowledge of the many types of cards and how they synergise with one another. This is a nuanced mechanic that you will naturally gain with experience.
That said, if you do really want to try your hand at the Arena, we suggest looking up a tier list of the current Arena meta. It is ever-changing and some cards might just be more powerful than others. After that, have a game plan in your mind—figuring out your win conditions and whatnot—and you might actually score some wins in your first few rounds!
Understand The Classes
One thing that is admirable about Hearthstone is how multidimensional it is. There’s no one specific way to approach this game and that is propelled by the many different classes. Each of them is unique in its own way and has vastly separate gameplays. We urge new players to give each of them a try and see which one of them is to their liking. Once you’ve made that decision, only then you should invest in building that class deck.
Just to throw in some suggestions, in case you don’t know which to pick, Mage and Hunter’s classes are generally safe choices. Their playstyles are commonly direct and easy to understand. They usually play aggressively and they are great classes to get your hair wet into the game’s mechanics.
Resource Management
Unfortunately, while Hearthstone might on paper be a free-to-play game, there are still microtransactions and if you don’t want to spend any money, you need to be resourceful. Managing your resources will steadily improve your decks and in the long run, you’ll benefit.
As a beginner, we recommend players to not hastily spend all their gold on anything first. Work with the cards/decks that are free—those that are given to you at the start of the game. Once you’ve gained a firm grasp on the game, only then you should consider spending your gold.
The safe approach would be to open packs with them because if you do open the newer packs, you will gain new cards that might let you keep up with the game’s meta. And if you are confident in your ability, you can take your chances in the Arena (it requires an entry fee paid with Gold) to gain the rewards there.
Gaining Tempo
Those that are familiar with turn-based games will know what tempo means. In layman’s terms, the tempo is where you are ahead of the opponent and you are the one dictating the play. Usually—at least at lower ranks—players that can capitalise on tempo will win.
As we’ve suggested earlier, the best beginner classes to do this are Mage and Hunter. They have very strong burst cards that can end the game quickly, not giving the chance of a comeback. Don’t get us wrong, this is not to say that the other classes do not have high-tempo plays, in fact, classes like Druid and Warlock at a higher level can easily command tempo.
All in all, ensure that every time it is your turn, you have something valuable to do. A skipped turn means you are giving an extra turn to your opponent. Wisely spend your Mana Crystals and if you are staying active on the board, this means you are still in tempo.
Trade Efficiently
Hearthstone did us all a favour by making sure the health and damage numbers are super low. This means you won’t have to be an expert mathematician to calculate whether you are gaining or losing when you trade blows with a unit on board.
One thing about trading is also to know how valuable your unit on board is. If it has an ongoing effect that will benefit you at every turn, you might want to protect it and not attack with it. On the other hand, for units that have the passives like Deathrattle or a Card Draw mechanic in them, attacking with them is generally a good idea.
Being able to efficiently trade with your opponent will result in them losing valuable cards quickly while you get to retain yours. And as the game progresses, you’ll see yourself slowly gaining the advantage, making your late-game much easier to play.
Watch Replays and Livestreams
As much as we hate to say it, it is almost impossible for us to put everything on paper about Hearthstone. It’s a game that thrives on game experience and one way to gain that is either by playing or watching others play.
Places like Twitch have a respectable amount of Hearthstone streamers you can follow. Many of them are class loyalists and they will know the class inside and out. Look for streamers that play on constructed decks as they usually have strategies of their own which you can pick up. Sure, they might have some really powerful cards that you don’t but try absorbing their habits and look at their dos and don’ts.
Once you fully understand how the classes and their constructed decks of your favourite work, you can now move on to building them. This will take some time though as you will need to play a lot and craft a lot. Trust us, the process is arduous but once you’ve managed to successfully forge a complete deck, you will see yourself rise up the ranks.
Final Note
That’s it! And that concludes our 2023 beginner’s guide to Hearthstone. Remember, Hearthstone is a game that is always changing and evolving where the meta shifts back and forth. Not to worry though, with enough game time and practice, you’ll learn to adapt to the changes.
Also, if you are looking to bolster your Hearthstone progress, you can do so with the Battle.net Balance Card from OffGamers here!