Blizzard are getting ready for a new year of the Hearthstone Championship Tour! We had an incredible 2017—with more events globally and bigger prize pools than ever before—and we’re working on making things even better in 2018. Read on for all the details on some of the key changes we’ve got lined up.
Hearthstone Masters System
We’re introducing the new Hearthstone Masters system, which will recognize top players based on the consistency of their performance. There will be three tiers, with rewards for eligible players increasing at each level. These 1-, 2-, and 3-Star Master tiers offer tournament appearance bonuses, invitations to HCT Playoffs and online Blizzard-run tournaments with cash prizes, and special commemorative memorabilia.
Qualification Improvements
Each HCT season will now have a point target, which will be announced before that season begins. All players who earn the required total will qualify to play in the seasonal Playoff. Players can earn points from events in all regions, and then compete in Playoffs based on their country of residence.
Hearthstone Competitive Points
In 2018, we’ll be changing up the amount of Hearthstone Competitive Points awarded for ladder finishes and tournaments. Starting in January 2018, a player’s three best ladder finishes per HCT season (each consisting of up to four in-game seasons) will count towards their point total. This should help to avoid players being at a disadvantage if competing in an event that occurs toward the end of a month, while rival players are trying to reach the highest possible ladder rank.
HCT seasons in 2018 will be:
- Season 1 – January, February, March
- Season 2 – April, May, June, July
- Season 3 – August, September, October, November
HCT Tour Stops
We’re increasing the number of international tournaments in 2018 with HCT Tour Stops, which will put the “Tour” in the Hearthstone Championship Tour! These events will take high-level Hearthstone across the globe, with increased Competitive Points, prizing, and the opportunity to experience new sights and cities.
Team Standings
Teams and organisations are a vital component of Hearthstone’s esports ecosystem. Starting in Season 2 of 2018, we’ll be awarding cash incentives to players from the top 10 Hearthstone teams per HCT season. Teams will be able to choose three players to represent them, with the choices being set for a full HCT season. At the end of each season, the top 10 teams on our Pro Team Standings Leaderboard will receive a cash prize based on the combined seasonal point total of their three team members.
For all the details, check out our Hearthstone esports update blog.
