10 Most Powerful Cards From Hearthstone's The Great Dark Beyond Expansion

Summary

Triangulate, a powerful Shaman spell, shuffles copies of spells, boosting asteroid-based Shaman archetypes.
Moonstone Mauler, a key piece for Asteroid strategies, shuffles damaging Asteroids to control the board.
Kil’Jaeden, a late-game terror, transforms decks with powerful Demons each turn, ideal for control decks.

The last Hearthstone expansion of 2024 was titled The Great Dark Beyond. This expansion delved into the space travels of the Dranei race, following their exile from Argus. Although many Dranei cards seemed unremarkable, numerous potent cards were also introduced, ensuring they’ll remain a fixture in decks as Hearthstone transitions to the Year of the Raptor in 2025.

In 2025, Hearthstone introduced a mini-set based on Starcraft, a classic Blizzard real-time strategy game, which was incredibly well-received and popular. This Starcraft mini-set meshed well with the space exploration theme of The Great Dark Beyond, but the cards from this set were noticeably more powerful and had stronger internal synergies than the original cards. Consequently, Starcraft cards dominated the meta at the start of 2025. However, it’s important to remember that The Great Dark Beyond’s main set still boasted some top-tier cards.

10. Triangulate

A New All-Star Spell For Shaman

Original Description: 2 Mana Spell; Discover a different spell from your deck. Shuffle 3 copies of it into your deck.

In Magic: The Gathering’s Standard format, the Shaman two-mana spell called Triangulate quickly became a popular choice in The Great Dark Beyond expansion and is likely to remain so. For just two mana, Triangulate allows you to draw a distinct card from your deck, but be cautious as it won’t give you additional Triangulates. However, its power lies in the fact that when used, it also adds three new copies of the drawn spell back into your deck, making it a valuable asset for strategic play.

At the onset of The Great Dark Beyond’s gameplay, Asteroid Shaman was among the most powerful archetypes. It leveraged asteroids and Incindius’s explosions to persistently reduce the opponent’s health and clear their playing field. Triangulate serves as a convenient method for increasing the number of such cards in the deck, and it also aids in locating other spells that are more situationally effective.

9. Moonstone Mauler

A Key Piece Of Asteroid Strategies

Original Description: 2 Mana 2/2 Elemental; Battlecry: Shuffle 3 Asteroids into your deck that deal 2 damage to a random enemy when drawn.

In decks centered around asteroids, the Moonstone Mauler is an essential card that helps it function efficiently. This two-mana card has lower-than-usual stats at 2/2, but its Battlecry ability makes it valuable. When played, it randomly shuffles three Asteroid cards into your deck, and whenever these asteroids are subsequently drawn, they deal two damage to a random enemy.

Two instances of damage might not seem significant, and the unpredictability of its impact is a minor drawback. But accumulate these with Triangulate or activate Shudderblock to triple this card’s Battlecry, and you’ll find your deck brimming with Asteroids that will inevitably pelt your opponent repeatedly.

8. Kil’Jaeden

An Iconic Warcraft Villain Is A Late-Game Terror

Original Description: 7 Mana 7/7 Demon; Battlecry: Replace your deck with an endless portal of Demons. Each turn, they gain an additional +2/+2.

As a dedicated Hearthstone gamer, I can honestly say that the game shines brightest when it showcases legendary Warcraft characters, settings, and moments from its rich history. Among these icons, Kil’jaeden stands tall as one of the most formidable villains in Warcraft lore. This cunning leader of the Eredar people from Argus was twisted by Sargeras into a demon, becoming the ruthless commander of the Burning Legion. Now, he’s joining our ranks, offering players a taste of his immense power within their very own decks.

Kil’jaeden’s Battlecry prevents a player from losing due to fatigue, as their deck is replenished with a new set of random demons each turn, becoming increasingly potent with every draw. Ideal for control decks aiming for prolonged gameplay but lacking a powerful finishing move in their initial deck setup.

7. Hostile Invader

Another Excellent Board Control Minion

Original Description: 5 Mana 3/5 Demon; Battlecry, Spellburst, and Deathrattle: Deal 2 damage to all other minions.

In many parts of the vast, ominous expanse known as The Great Dark Beyond, the Warrior class had difficulty establishing themselves. However, towards the end, they solidified their position with a traditional Control Warrior approach to deck-building. The added strength of the Starship mechanic in the Starcraft mini-set was beneficial, but it was also the Hostile Invader card, which is relatively common, that played a significant role in bolstering their efforts.

In matchups with aggressive decks, this card has the potential to single-handedly win games. It inflicts two points of damage, which can swiftly clear many early offensive boards. Additionally, its Spellburst ability frequently causes it to deal another four points of damage on the same turn it’s played. The 3/5 physical form is also beneficial, as it can trade with larger entities without being instantly wiped out, and when your opponent regroups their forces, it will be there to inflict another two points of damage to everything, thereby diminishing their overall threat level.

6. Orbital Halo

A Satisfying Protection And Tempo Spell

Original Description: 2 Mana Spell; Give a minion +2/+1 and Divine Shield. Costs (0) if you played an adjacent card this turn.
Current Description: 2 Mana Spell; Give a minion +1/+1 and Divine Shield. Costs (0) if you played an adjacent card this turn.

During the time known as The Great Dark Beyond, the priest class took on a highly aggressive role, primarily due to the spell called Orbital Halo. Among a series of cards, Orbital Halo stood out because if a neighboring card was played, it could be obtained at no cost. However, its already minimal mana requirement made it the most effective among all the options available.

Obtaining an Orbital Halo in the opening hand along with a one-mana minion such as Snakeoil Salesman or Overzealous Healer gives a priest player the ability to place a 4/3 or 5/4 minion on the board with Divine Shield on turn one. This is a significant advantage that not many classes can easily counter. The Orbital Halo underwent a slight adjustment at the end of The Great Dark Beyond meta, but it remains an essential card for any aggressive or tempo-centric Priest decks in the Year of the Raptor.

5. Exarch Naielle

Changes An Entire Class Identity

Original Description: 3 Mana 3/4 Dranei; Replace your Hero Power with Tracking (Discover a card from your deck).

Tracking cards is among the top-tier choices for any Hunter in Hearthstone, and it becomes exceptionally powerful when players can reliably execute it each turn. The introduction of Naielle alters the fundamental strategy of the Hunter class, replacing the guaranteed 2 damage to the opponent with a more subtle yet intricate effect that unfolds over time.

In The Great Dark Beyond’s game meta, it was found that Deck Hunter was secretly among the top-performing decks, mainly due to the Alien Encounters spell which summoned two 5 mana 2/5 taunt minions, with the cost reducing every time a new card was discovered. Naielle made this discovery a simple task, and given the means to duplicate discovered cards, the Hunter class found itself reborn with a fresh identity.

4. The Exodar

A Crucial Card For Starship Decks

Original Description: 8 Mana 6/10; Battlecry: If you’re building a Starship, launch it and choose a Protocol!
Current Description: 6 Mana 6/8; Battlecry: If you’re building a Starship, launch it and choose a Protocol!

Strategies centered around starships faced challenges during the early phase of The Great Dark Beyond due to a couple of factors. Primarily, the potency and accessibility of single-target eliminations in Hearthstone are currently quite high, making it difficult for many classes to justify incorporating starship components into their decks because they weren’t powerful enough. However, with the Starcraft expansion, starships became significantly more formidable, particularly for Terran classes. Going forward, any starship-centric decks might consider including The Exodar for a game-changing turn.

Launching a Starship typically requires five mana, but with the Exodar, players receive an additional 6/8 minion and other perks at a discounted price of just two mana due to its enhancement. The protocols offer three options: gaining armor equivalent to the launched Starship’s health twice, distributing the Starship’s damage randomly among opponents, or returning all Starship components back into hand, each costing only one mana. With The Emerald Dream expansion on the horizon, expect more frequent Starship launches as strategies remain potent and popular.

3. Arkonite Defence Crystal

One Of The Most Popular Neutral Cards From The Set

Original Description: 4 Mana 3/4; Taunt, Starship Piece, Deathrattle: Gain 6 Armor.
Current Description: 4 Mana 3/4; Taunt, Starship Piece, Deathrattle: Gain 4 Armor.

Among all Starship cards, none was more frequently used than the Arkonite Defense Crystal, comparable to the Exodar. At first glance, a 4-mana card offering 6 armor may not seem thrilling, but considering it’s a Starship component that extends the player’s game life, it was destined for inclusion in Starship decks aiming for extended games so they could deploy a massive ship.

Introduce methods for Deathrattle minions to be reborn, starships to be relaunched with Taunt ability, and resummoned Starships – this will make it simple for players to accumulate 60 or more armor per game and inflict substantial damage when opponents run out of removal options. The Defense Crystal, due to its effectiveness, received a minor nerf by losing two points of armor, but it is expected to remain popular in games played in the year 2025.

2. Ethereal Oracle

So Powerful They Had To Nerf It To Irrelevance

Original Description: 3 Mana 2/3; Spell Damage +1, Spellburst: Draw 2 spells.
Current Description: 4 Mana 2/3; Spell Damage +1, Spellburst: Draw 2 spells.

In many Trading Card Games (TCGs), cards that are frequently overpowered are typically the common and uncommon ones that can easily fit into any deck, and Ethereal Oracle is one such card. Initially costing 3 mana with a power of 2 and toughness of 3, this Oracle had a Spellburst ability, allowing it to pull two spells from its deck. This was particularly potent in decks with limited spells, as it served either as a spell-finding tool or a draw mechanism for asteroids that were previously shuffled into the deck. The additional spell damage these asteroids received then amplified their strength, often initiating a chain of damage.

The interaction with asteroids was strong, but a low-cost spell that boosted damage and pulled cards from minions was excessively potent. Every deck incorporated this card at the outset, making it necessary for a balance adjustment. Now priced at 4 mana, it’s too expensive for use in most decks, which is unfortunate as its unique illustration is quite remarkable.

1. The Ceasless Expanse

One Of Hearthstone’s Most Expensive Cards

Original Description: 100 Mana 15/15; Costs (1) less for each time a card was drawn, played, or destroyed. Battlecry: Destroy all other minions.
Original Description: 100 Mana 10/10; Costs (1) less for each time a card was drawn, played, or destroyed. Battlecry: Destroy all other minions.

Initially, many viewed The Ceasless Expanse as more of a humorous card rather than something practical. With 100 mana, 15 health, and attack, it’s amusing to encounter such a creature in modern Hearthstone, but its practical use is debatable. However, given the frequency of drawing, playing, or discarding cards during a Hearthstone game, The Ceasless Expanse frequently drops to zero mana cost.

As a gamer, let me tell you, a card that deals damage equal to infinity and destroys all other minions without any mana cost initially sounds overpowered. However, the time it takes to reach zero mana does help balance things out. But with the powerful abilities of starships and charge minions, The Ceasless Expanse can be a handful. So, I think reducing its power level a bit would make it easier to manage after it’s been played. As it stands now, as a 10/10, this is still the best board wipe card that every Hearthstone class could potentially use for the next year.

2025-03-23 17:58

10 Most Powerful Cards From Hearthstone’s The Great Dark Beyond Expansion