Patch 21.2 was just released, and it came with a big update to the in-game shop. Probably most importantly – the new game mode, Mercenaries, was officially announced. It launches October 12, and you can already pre-purchase some bundles.
There are three different Mercenaries bundles available:
- Diablo Bundle – Diamond Diablo Mercenary + 50 Mercenaries Packs for $49.99 / €49.99
- Lich King Bundle – Diamond Lich King Mercenary + 50 Mercenaries Packs for $49.99 / €49.99
- Sylvanas Bundle – Golden Sylvanas Mercenary + 30 Mercenaries Packs for $29.99 / €29.99
Are they worth it? Well, to be perfectly honest, I have absolutely no idea. Since the new mode is now out yet, it’s hard to say how good the packs are and how valuable they will be. They are priced exactly the same as regular Hearthstone packs, though – we get a bundle with $1 per pack + something extra (in this case, Diamond or Golden version of Legendary Mercenaries). I would assume that will be the standard pricing for bundles going forward, and it will certainly give you a solid boost once the new game mode launches. However, it’s kind of like buying a cat in the bag – while Mercenaries game mode looks really promising, no one can tell if they will actually enjoy playing the mode. So spend money at your own risk.
Update: Apparently, all three will also be obtainable from packs and craftable – but we still don’t know drop rates for Legendary Mercenaries etc.
I don’t know how long those bundles will last, but I would assume until the mode’s launch.
On top of that, we have two new Battlegrounds cosmetic bundles:
- Mega Bob Bartender – Alternative Battlegrounds Bartender for $9.99 / €9.99
- Champions of Light – A bundle of eight Hero skins based on superheroes for $14.99 / €14.99
Since those are purely cosmetic, it’s really up to you whether you think they are worth it or not. I have to say that paying $10 for bartender alone seems a bit excessive, but both him and the new skins look really cool. Again, we don’t know how long those skins will be purchasable, but if the previous ones are anything to go by, I would assume a few weeks.
I always (well, at least most of the time) look on the positive aspects of something.
In case of Mercenaries, my dissappointment is beyond imagination.
Besides the fact that the ‘showcase’ was so badly executed that it confused more than it explained, this game ‘mode’ is the worst thing that came out of HS’s Dev Team since… well… forever!?
It looks like a janky mobile game and a lot like RAID: Shadow Legends but without good graphics.
Then it REALLY looks like pay 2 win and this is terrible.
Why isn’t this a standalone btw? My only guess is that it would’ve caused a huge sh**tstorm like they got back when they announced Diablo Mobile and to avoid that they wanted to cloak it as a game mode of HS.
I keep repeating myself but: Terrible.
Oh and: 130 freakin’ bucks … IN PRESALE? Are they totally insane?
Jeez I have to calm down. But I can’t because this is so terrible I’m still thinking this is some kind of joke.
If this thing will become anything near popular, I’ll lose my mind, that’s for sure. 😉
Don’t worry, my premonition suggest it won’t. ROFL.
In the end, they will improvise this fail mode as always.
Firstly, by making giveaway codes to streamers.
Secondly, by creating quite a big event to push players into it.
and if all steps still fails,
Thirdly, improvise by reducing the cost, apologizing etc, and free bundles or coins for everyone. Sure;y everyone loves free stuff, but ironically it was the free things that makes players want to play it. Like BG.
Yet somehow, I highly doubt everyone would spent anything in this mode in a long way. They already kill the hype the moment they shove those bundles. (and even worse with the expensive mechanic inside it).
I will completely ignore this mode. I just hope that they don’t make some crossover bull***t like ‘you can only get this stuff in HS if you complete that Mercenaries Quest’. :/
Uh oh. a Pay 2 Win game mode.
Remember Duels mode never got as popular because player can’t play them unless they have a majority cards coming from Wild? Unlike BG that became so popular because player literally can play it from the start?
Why won’t they learn that making a game behind a wall of purchasable contents won’t make it popular?
They already made a good step making purchasable cosmetics for BG while the game stays free, but I guess greed taking their place again. They knew they wanna milk BG but unable to do so unless they risked losing the base players.
That’s it. I can already see the Mercenary as a fail mode when they started selling purchasable content. Ridiculous expensive at that one too, $50 for something that can’t be used in constructed mode. Really Blizzard? Really?
I get that they have to earn their keep somehow, but I’ll never understand prices for free to play stuff being as high as AAA buy once play forever games.