Blizzard hasn’t wasted any time revealing the nature of that Hearthstone teaser post they put out yesterday; in a move that’s not entirely unexpected, variant heroes for the virtual card game will be made available “soon”.
The first of these alternate heroes is indeed dwarf king Magni Bronzebeard, who’s so manly that he actually fights with two warhammers. As you’ve probably guessed he’s the first variant Warrior hero, but Blizzard’s presumably going to be adding options for other classes.
While they don’t technically affect gameplay in any way, and don’t add their own unique cards and abilities, variant heroes bring a number of visual flourishes to your Hearthstone interface. As well as animated hero portraits, you’ll find new power animations, voices and emotes, and card backs.
Magni and his fellow heroes will be available for $9.99 from the in-game shop. It’s not clear exactly when you’ll be able to get your hands on the new options, but Blizzard’s community manager did confirm that their release will be staggered, rather than simultaneous.