Heroes of the Storm’s 2018 Gameplay Update arrives with today’s rotation

Today, Heroes of the Storm is receiving one heck of a patch. The 2018 Gameplay Update, which has been on the PTR for the last three weeks, will finally arrive on live realms. The patch includes all of the major gameplay changes discussed at BlizzCon early last month, including:

• Fundamental changes to the Stealth mechanic and Stealth heroes
• Performance-based matchmaking
• Dramatic laning and early-game changes
• The Winter Veil in-game event
• Oh, and that archer guy… Blanzo? Schmonzo? Oh! Right. Hanzo.

In addition to the largest patch of the year, we do, of course, have a new free hero rotation this week as usual.

Free Hero Rotation

• Li Li
• ETC
• Zagara
• Butcher
• Kael’thas
• Artanis
• Li-Ming
• Brightwing
• Varian
• Malthael
• Stitches (Slot unlocked at Player Level 5)
• Gul’dan (Slot unlocked at Player Level 10)
• Stukov (Slot unlocked at Player Level 15)
• Sgt. Hammer (Slot unlocked at Player Level 20)

If you haven’t played Sgt. Hammer in awhile, she received a rework in a recent patch, so it’s worth giving her a shot. In addition to a bunch of new talents and damage tuning, she has a brand new ability which gives her oodles of armor and Unstoppable on the button that used to activate Siege Mode. Now, Siege Mode is on the trait hotkey. She’s less of a sitting duck in Siege Mode now, though it comes at the cost of reduced effectiveness in Tank Mode.

Weekly Brawl

• Garden Arena

Have fun in the nexus, everyone!