Mini-sets are supplemental card set additions to the game of Hearthstone. Similar to Adventures, Mini-sets introduce a small number of cards into the game, with initial mini-sets before the release of death knight including 35 cards, and later ones after its release including 38 cards.
These cards are considered to be part of the expansion released previously, and combine themes and mechanics from various expansions throughout the year. They are used primarily to create and build decks to play in Casual or Ranked mode, in either the Standard or Wild game format modes. These cards are obtained chiefly through purchasing and opening card packs, through crafting, or through earning Arena rewards, but can also be purchased in bulk as part of a limited-time bundle.
Hearthstone's first mini-set was Darkmoon Races, released January 21st, 2021.
List[]
As of Patch 27.2.2.184727, there are currently 8 mini-sets in Hearthstone.
| Format | Mini-set | Card set | Release date | Year | Collectible | By rarity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | Audiopocalypse |  Festival of Legends | May 31, 2023 | Wolf | 38 | 16  /17  /1  /4  |
| Standard | Return to Naxxramas |  March of the Lich King | February 14, 2023 | Hydra | 38 | 16 /17 /1 /4 |
| Standard | Maw and Disorder |  Murder at Castle Nathria | September 27, 2022 | Hydra | 35 | 16 /14 /1 /4 |
| Standard | Throne of the Tides |  Voyage to the Sunken City | June 1, 2022 | Hydra | 35 | 16 /14 /1 /4 |
| Wild | Onyxia's Lair |  Fractured in Alterac Valley | February 15, 2022 | Gryphon | 35 | 16 /14 /1 /4 |
| Wild | Deadmines |  United in Stormwind | November 2, 2021 | Gryphon | 35 | 16 /14 /1 /4 |
| Wild | Wailing Caverns |  Forged in the Barrens | June 3, 2021 | Gryphon | 35 | 16 /14 /1 /4 |
| Wild | Darkmoon Races |  Madness at the Darkmoon Faire | January 21, 2021 | Phoenix | 35 | 16 /14 /1 /4 |
Standard format mini-sets[]
Throne of the Tides[]
- Main article: Throne of the Tides
Throne of the Tides is Hearthstone's fifth mini-set, featuring 35 new collectible cards added to the Voyage to the Sunken City set. It was released on June 1, 2022.
This mini-set takes place in the Throne of the Tides, where two powerful forces - 
Neptulon the Tidehunter and Ozumat - fight for supremacy under the sea.
Throne of the Tides is considered part of the Voyage to the Sunken City expansion.
Maw and Disorder[]
- Main article: Maw and Disorder
Maw and Disorder is Hearthstone's sixth mini-set, featuring 35 new collectible cards added to the Murder at Castle Nathria set. It was released on September 27, 2022. This mini-set takes place in the Maw, where Sylvanas has been brought before 
The Jailer to answer for her crimes in a trial.
Maw and Disorder is considered part of the Murder at Castle Nathria expansion.
Return to Naxxramas[]
- Main article: Return to Naxxramas
Return to Naxxramas is Hearthstone's seventh mini-set, featuring 38 new collectible cards added to the March of the Lich King set. It was released on February 14, 2023. This mini-set returns players to Naxxramas once more, which was featured in Hearthstone's very first card set, Curse of Naxxramas. The story of March of the Lich King continues as the floating necropolis approaches the blood elf city of Silvermoon.
Return to Naxxramas is considered part of the March of the Lich King expansion.
Audiopocalypse[]
- Main article: Audiopocalypse
Audiopocalypse is Hearthstone's eighth mini-set, featuring 38 new collectible cards added to the Festival of Legends set. It was released on May 31, 2023. This mini-set follows the events of the Festival of Legends, as the Grimtotem Tauren have had enough of the constant blasting of music. Now, they want to destroy all music to make sure this never happens again. This could be the end of music on Azeroth!
Audiopocalypse is considered part of the Festival of Legends expansion.
Wild format mini-sets[]
Darkmoon Races[]
- Main article: Darkmoon Races
Darkmoon Races is Hearthstone's first mini-set, featuring 35 new collectible cards. It was released on January 21st, 2021. Expanding upon the setting at Madness at the Darkmoon Faire as well as Ashes of Outland and Scholomance Academy, this set takes place at the breakneck trails at the fairgrounds, as racers from Outland, Scholomance, and Darkmoon all compete for glory.
Darkmoon Races is considered part of the Madness at the Darkmoon Faire expansion.
Wailing Caverns[]
- Main article: Wailing Caverns
Wailing Caverns is Hearthstone's second mini-set, featuring 35 new collectible cards. It was released on June 3rd, 2021. Expanding on the story of Forged in the Barrens, this set follows Rokara and her party as they venture into the Wailing Caverns. This is no ordinary adventure however, as the Wailing Caverns have been twisted by the nightmares of Archdruid Naralex and are home to sinister Druids of the Fang.
Wailing Caverns is considered part of the Forged in the Barrens expansion.
Deadmines[]
- Main article: Deadmines
Deadmines is Hearthstone's third mini-set, featuring 35 new collectible cards. It was released on November 2, 2021. This mini-set takes places in Deadmines, featuring 
Edwin VanCleef and the Defias Brotherhood as pirates.
Deadmines is considered part of the United in Stormwind expansion.
Onyxia's Lair[]
- Main article: Onyxia's Lair
Onyxia's Lair is Hearthstone's fourth mini-set, featuring 35 new collectible cards added to the Fractured in Alterac Valley set. It was released on February 15th, 2022. This mini-set takes places in Onyxia's Lair, where the Mercenaries have tracked down 
Lady Katrana Prestor - really Onyxia. Like the Darkmoon Races, Onyxia's Lair brings back keywords and mechanics from the Year of the Gryphon, such as Frenzy, Tradeable, Rank Spells, Mount Spells and more.
Onyxia's Lair is considered part of the Fractured in Alterac Valley expansion.
Mini-set cards[]
Mini-set cards are cards added to the game through mini-sets. These small sets are available a few months after its parent expansion, and are included in card packs from the previous set.
How to get[]
- Main article: Expansion
All Standard format expansion cards are obtainable through card packs, through crafting, or as Arena rewards. Standard expansion cards may also be found in the Highest Rank Bonus chest at the end of each Ranked season.
Wild format expansion cards are obtainable through crafting or card packs.
Mini-sets have two types: Regular and golden. Regular mini-sets include the entire mini-set with normal cards. Golden mini-sets, usually available at the same time as regular mini-sets, include the entire mini-set with golden cards.
Regular and golden mini-sets can be purchased in their entirety in a limited-time bundle after their release. The pricings for regular and golden mini-sets are as follows:
| Type | Runestones | Gold | USD | EUR | GBP | AUD | RUB | BRL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regular | 1500  |
2000  |
||||||
| Golden | 7000 |
10,000 * |
$14.99 | €14.99 | £12.99 | $19.95 | 899₽ | R$28.00 |
* Not guaranteed. First use of a golden mini-set being available with gold was seen with Return to Naxxramas.
Previous availability[]
Prior to Patch 24.2.0.148211 and the introduction of Runestones, regular mini-sets could be purchased directly with real money, for the following prices:
| USD | EUR | GBP | AUD | RUB | BRL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $14.99 | €14.99 | £12.99 | $19.95 | 899₽ | R$28.00 |
Design[]
Mini-sets were introduced because the development team felt that the four months between major content patches was too long. They tried other content before, like Rise of the Mech and Doom in the Tomb, but they weren't the big shake-ups they wanted.[1]
The challenges with mini-sets are the increased cost of the game, as well as the increased production cost for the developers.[2] The team hopes to combat the first issue with the improved rewards system and the price scheme for the mini-sets, which has been received positively.[3] As for the dev cost, Dean Ayala noted that "[they] have a good pipeline for it, but [it's] still challenging."[4]
To tackle the increased number of things players need to memorize, mini-sets are designed to be fairly simple. They're very unlikely to introduce a new keyword, and if they do they'll make sure to peel back the complexity of the expansions before and after it.[5]
Trivia[]
- Galakrond's Awakening can be considered the prototype for mini-sets, since it features 35 new cards that continue the theme of Descent of Dragons, was released outside of the traditional expansion cycle, and brings back keywords and mechanics from the Year of the Dragon. However, it differs in that it still featured an adventure which had to be completed to earn cards, and the cards themselves are not officially part of Descent of Dragons.
Patch changes[]
Patch 24.2.0.148211 (2022-08-30): Regular and golden mini-sets can now be bought using Runestones. Regular mini-sets can no longer be bought with real money.
References[]
- ↑ Dean Ayala on Twitter. (2021-01-20).
- ↑ Dean Ayala on Twitter. (2021-01-20).
- ↑ Dean Ayala on Twitter. (2021-01-20).
- ↑ Dean Ayala on Twitter. (2021-01-20).
- ↑ Dean Ayala on Twitter. (2021-01-20).
