Heroes of the Storm Bringing Back Popular Game Mode

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Summary

  • Heroes Brawl is returning as Brawl Mode, reviving discontinued maps with unique challenges.
  • Brawl Mode rotates biweekly and awards a special chest.
  • The PTR features Snow Brawl now.

The popular game “Heroes of the Storm” has reintroduced the Heroes Brawl as the Brawl Mode, offering players access to over 50 previously closed maps for the first time in nearly five years. The revamped Heroes Brawl mode is now available on the “Heroes of the Storm” Public Test Realm and is expected to become permanent when the upcoming patch becomes live approximately a month from now.

Originally launched as Arena Mode, Heroes Brawl, similar to Hearthstone’s Tavern Brawls, was a game mode for Heroes of the Storm introduced in 2016. It offered weekly challenges with significant alterations to the game. Each week brought new unique map layouts, alternative objectives, and unconventional rulesets such as a sniper duel featuring only Nova Ghost Protocol characters, various Arena adaptations of battlefields, and the cooperative PvE mission titled Escape from Braxis. However, due to the rise in popularity of single-lane maps and the maintenance challenges associated with the mode, Heroes Brawl was ultimately replaced by ARAM (All Random, All Mid) in 2020.

After approximately five years, it appears that Heroes Brawls are making their comeback in Blizzard’s MOBA, but under a slightly altered moniker. In the latest update on the Public Test Realm for Heroes of the Storm, some hero balance adjustments and bug fixes have been implemented. However, what truly piques interest is Brawl Mode, a revamped version of the Heroes Brawl which will be reintroduced in the upcoming update.

Instead of every week, as was previously the case, Brawl Mode will change every two weeks on the 1st and 15th of each month, according to the updates. As with before, you can get a special chest by playing three games of Brawl while it’s active. It’s not yet clear whether players can earn this reward once per Brawl or weekly during its active period. Given that there have been over two dozen Heroes Brawls in the past, it’s likely that many popular characters will come back, and perhaps even some new ones could appear in the future.

The initial Brawl Mode, known as Snow Brawl due to its holiday theme, is now accessible for testing on the Heroes of the Storm PTR (Public Test Realm). Once the patch is live, this game mode will officially debut in Heroes of the Storm, which is expected to be around a month from now. Given that the in-game interface indicates the PTR version will last for three weeks, it’s speculated that Brawl Mode could start in Heroes of the Storm at the beginning of February.

2025-06-02 marks the 10-year milestone for the release of Heroes of the Storm. In celebration, Heroes Brawl has made a comeback for this significant year in the MOBA’s history. This is fantastic news for fans of Blizzard’s MOBA, and many are optimistic that it could signal another step towards a potential resurgence of Heroes of the Storm itself.

Heroes of the Storm PTR Patch Notes (January 6, 2025)

General

  • Updated Homescreen and Startup Music.
  • NEW: Brawl Mode added! Brawls will rotate on the 1st and 15th of every month.

Balance Update

Heroes

  • Auriel
    • Talents
      • Level 1
        • Searing Light
          • Now only deals damage to enemy Heroes.
      • Level 7
        • Energized Cord
          • Now increases Basic Attack range by 1.1.
      • Level 16
        • Reservoir of Hope
          • Quest bonus reduced from 75 to 55.
        • Wrath of Heaven
          • Armor reduction increased from 10 to 20.
          • Spell Power increased from 10% to 15%.
  • Chromie
    • Talents
      • Level 1
        • Timewalker’s Pursuit
          • Spell Power increased from 10% to 15%.
      • Level 7
        • Mobius Loop
          • Slow reduced from 60% to 40%.
      • Level 20
        • Unravelling
          • Lingering Slowing Sands no longer consume Energy.
          • Now also increases Slowing Sands cast range by 50%.
  • Johanna
    • Base
      • Shield Glare [E]
        • Mana cost increased from 45 to 55.
    • Talents
      • Level 1
        • Divine Fortress
          • Health bonus starting value increased from 20% to 25%.
        • Zealous Glare
          • Damage bonus reduced from 75% to 70%.
      • Level 7
        • Steed Charge
          • Duration increased from 3 to 4 seconds.
      • Level 13
        • Blessed Hammer
          • Damage reduced from 74 to 65.
      • Level 16
        • Holy Renewal
          • Cooldown reduction reduced from 1.5 seconds to 1 second.
        • Shrinking Vacuum
          • Damage reduction increased from 25% to 30%.
          • Duration increased from 2 to 3 seconds.
          • Slow increased from 25% to 30%.
  • Tracer
    • Talents
      • Level 4
        • Is That a Health Pack?!
          • Healing from Regen Globes increased from 10% to 15% of maximum Health.
        • Pulse Generator
          • Healing reduced from 18% to 12%.
    • Level 13
      • Jumper
        • Cooldown refresh reduced from 150% to 100%.
        • Shield reduced from 6.5% to 6%.
  • Zul’jin
    • Base
      • You Want Axe? [Trait]
        • Basic Attack damage increased from 94 to 118.
        • Bonus from quest completion reduced from 1 to .25.
    • Talents
      • Level 1
        • Recklessness
          • Basic Attack damage bonus reduced from 15% to 10%.
      • Level 10
        • Guillotine
          • Cooldown reduced from 40 seconds to 30 seconds.
          • Mana cost reduced from 70 to 60.
        • Taz’dingo!
          • Cooldown increased from 90 seconds to 100 seconds.
          • Mana cost increased from 75 to 80.
      • Level 16
        • Let the Killing Begin
          • Kill window reduced from 1.5 seconds to 0.5 seconds.
      • Level 20
        • Buzzsaw
          • Kill window reduced from 1.5 seconds to 0.5 seconds.

Bug Fixes

General

  • Experience Globes can now path through gates.
  • Fixed issues related to root visual effects.
  • Updated decaying and ramping Slows to scale their speed with CC reduction effects.

Heroes

  • Alexstrasza
    • Base
      • Flame Buffet [E]
        • Fixed an issue that caused Flame Buffet’s Slow to be instantly removed on targets with reduced duration on being Slowed.
  • Azmodan
    • Level 13
      • Chain of Command
        • Fixed an issue that caused Chain of Command to not apply to Demonic Invasion’s on-death explosion.
  • Brightwing
    • Base
      • Phase Shift [Z]
        • Fixed an issue with Phase Shift’s Store Icon.
  • Chen
    • Level 10
      • Storm, Earth, Fire
        • Fixed an issue that caused Storm, Earth, Fire Spirits to not contest Capture Points.
  • Cho’Gall
    • General
      • Fixed an issue that caused Cho’Gall to contest points while Cho is in Stasis.
  • Dehaka
    • Base
      • Brushstalker [Z]
        • Fixed an issue with Brushstalker’s Store Icon.
        • Will now clamp the minimum cast range to Dehaka’s radius.
  • E.T.C.
    • Level 7
      • Pinball Wizard
        • Bonus damage updated to be additive.
    • Level 13
      • Face Smelt
        • Fixed an issue that caused Face Smelt’s Slow to be instantly removed on targets with reduced duration on being Slowed.
  • Falstad
    • Base
      • Flight [Z]
        • Fixed an issue with Flight’s Store Icon.
    • Level 10
      • Mighty Gust
        • Fixed an issue that caused Mighty Gust’s Slow to be instantly removed on targets with reduced duration on being Slowed.
  • Fenix
    • Level 1
      • Arsenal Synergy
        • Fixed an issue that caused Arsenal Synergy to not grant cooldown reduction for the primary target hit by Phase Bomb.
    • Level 4
      • Inhibiting Energy
        • Fixed an issue that caused Inhibiting Energy to be instantly removed on targets with reduced duration on being Slowed.
  • Johanna
    • Base
      • Punish [Q]
        • Fixed an issue that caused Punish to be instantly removed on targets with reduced duration on being Slowed.
  • Kharazim
    • Level 4
      • Spirit Ally
        • Fixed an issue that caused Spirit Ally’s heal FX to be visible in Fog of War.
  • Lúcio
    • Base
      • Wall Ride [Z]
        • Fixed an issue with Wall Ride’s Store Icon.
  • Lunara
    • Base
      • Crippling Spores [W]
        • Fixed an issue that caused Crippling Spores to be instantly removed on targets with reduced duration on being Slowed.
  • Maiev
    • Level 16
      • Armored Assault
        • Fixed an issue that caused Armored Assault to not grant the full bonus to Umbral Bind’s Cleave.
  • Mei
    • Base
      • Icing [E]
        • Fixed an issue that caused Icing’s Slow to be instantly removed on targets with reduced duration on being Slowed.
    • Level 10
      • Ice Wall
        • Fixed an issue that caused Ice Wall to not apply Stopped to D.Va’s Self Destruct.
  • Muradin
    • Level 4
      • Thunder Burn
        • Tooltip has been updated to show Thunder Burn is a multiplicative reduction.
    • Level 13
      • Thunder Strike
        • Damage increase is now additive.
  • Probius
    • Base
      • Worker Rush [Z]
        • Fixed an issue with Work Rush’s Store Icon.
  • Rehgar
    • Base
      • Purge [Trait]
        • Fixed an issue that caused Purge to be instantly removed on targets with reduced duration on being Slowed.
  • Samuro
    • Base
      • Critical Strike [W]
        • Fixed an issue that caused Critical Strike FX to persist if Samuro is killed while he has maximum Critical Strike stacks.
    • Level 13
      • Kawarimi
        • Fixed an issue that caused Kawarimi to create a Mirror Image with the incorrect starting Health.
  • Sgt. Hammer
    • Base
      • Thrusters [Z]
        • Fixed an issue with Thrusters’ Store Icon.
  • Stukov
    • Base
      • Weighted Pustule [W]
        • Fixed an issue that caused Weighted Pustule’s increasing Slow to be instantly removed on targets with reduced duration on being Slowed.
  • Sylvanas
    • Level 1
      • Unfurling Shadows
        • Fixed an issue that caused Unfurling Shadows to not grant quest progress for the impact damage of Shadow Dagger created by spread.
  • The Butcher
    • Base
      • Hamstring [Q]
        • Fixed an issue that caused Hamstring to be instantly removed on targets with reduced duration on being Slowed.
  • The Lost Vikings
    • Base
      • Go Go Go! [Z]
        • Fixed an issue with Go Go Go’s Store Icon.
  • Zagara
    • Level 20
      • Pack Instinct
        • Fixed an issue that caused Devouring Maw to gain more bonuses than intended from Pack Instinct.

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2025-01-07 04:08