Hearthstone is an online digital collectible card game (CCG), centering around the themed classes popular in World of Warcraft. Developed by Blizzard Entertainment, a huge community has been cultivated with support from casual players and the competitive scene, making it one of the fastest growing esports titles in current times.

Hearthstone’s popularity saw many sportsbooks and esportsbooks starting to offer betting markets and has now become a popular title amongst punters. Want to board the hype train? We got you! This guide will take you through Hearthstone’s esports tournaments, the betting markets available for you, tips on how to maximise your real money betting wagers, and the fundamentals of Hearthstone gameplay.   

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The top Hearthstone tournaments to bet on

Hearthstone tournaments are commonly categorised by local, regional, and international events for players to participate in. With the rise in Hearthstone’s popularity, the esports scene has exploded and the top tournaments offer massive prize pools and a range of esports markets for punters to bet Hearthstone on.

The Masters tour, the Grandmasters, and the Hearthstone World Championship are the biggest Hearthstone tournaments running annually for the esports title. We will explain the format of each of these events and some key players to keep your eye on this season.

Hearthstone Masters Qualifiers

The Masters Qualifiers are online tournaments hosted on the Battlefy platform, open to all players whether just competing for fun or aspiring to go pro. During the Masters Qualifier season, there will be roughly 30 tournaments hosted across the APAC, European and American servers. Players can participate in any of the three regional tournaments, regardless of where they actually reside, as long as they hold decks in that server.

The Masters Qualifiers follow the Specialist Hearthstone competitive format. The Specialist format states that players must select three 30 card decks for each tournament, with all three decks coming from the same class. Players will assign one deck as a primary deck, with the other two positioned as either secondary and tertiary decks. The secondary and tertiary decks must mirror the primary deck, with only up to five cards swapped out. This format is strictly regulated and must be abided to secure a player’s place in the qualifiers.

Winners of one of the three Masters Qualifiers will be granted an invite to the Masters Tour tournament where they can compete in their region for a $250,000 prize pool.

Hearthstone Masters Tours

The Masters Tours is one of the biggest Hearthstone esports tournaments of the year and is an invitation-only Hearthstone tournament where players get the opportunity to compete for a share of a $250,000 prize pool. Currently, the Masters Tour will start on January 31st, and run until October 26th, with events running for Arlington, Los Angeles, Jönköping, APAC, Montreal, and Madrid.

The top players in this event will qualify for the Hearthstone Grandmasters, an even higher tier in the Hearthstone esports system that we will discuss below.

Players can qualify for the Masters Tour event in a number of ways: By winning one of the regional (APAC, EU, NA) Masters Qualifiers, by performing well in-game and ranking up to be amongst the top 200 legends on the leaderboard, and by performing well in the China Gold Series.

To qualify via ranked play, players will need to end the month in the Top 200 to be invited to a ranked ladder qualifier tournament. The four finishers will be awarded with a Masters Tour invite. To earn a spot in the Masters Tour through the China Gold Series, players must show their skills and prove their excellence. With roughly 300 players qualifying for the event, there will be a lot of new faces and players for you to keep your eye on as the tour progresses.

Hearthstone Grandmasters

The Grandmasters event is the apex of Hearthstone esports. This Hearthstone tournament is divided into three regions (APAC, North America, and Europe) and invites the top 48 Hearthstone players from the Hearthstone World Championship standings to compete. A total of 16 pros will be invited from each region to compete in two eight-week seasons which will be broadcasted on their Twitch channel.

Players will be eligible and picked specifically by Blizzard based on their lifetime earnings, Hearthstone competitive points earned, and their contribution to the community. The event will run for two seasons and will end in a global final at the end of the year. The top two players from each region and two Gold Series Champions from China compete for a $500,000 prize.

Hearthstone World Championship

The Hearthstone World Championship concludes the Grandmasters event each year. The eight top players from the Grandmasters go head to head in two groups of four players and compete in a dual-tournament format.
The  Hearthstone World Championship dual-tournament format.
The Hearthstone World Championship dual-tournament format. Credit: Hearthstone Website.

The format switches to a single-elimination bracket with the remaining four players competing in a conquest format with a ban to fight it out and become the world champion.

 

The Hearthstone World single-elimination bracket.
The Hearthstone World single-elimination bracket. Credit: Hearthstone Website.

This event is the place for the top pros to battle it out and is one of the most anticipated Hearthstone tournaments of the year. Most betting sites offering Hearthstone will provide markets for this event and you will be able to place wagers on tournament winner, tournament finalist, and match winner options.

 Hearthstone pros

Last year, the Hearthstone players that performed exceptionally well in the Grandmasters and proceeded to the Hearthstone World Championship were bloodyface, XiaoT, glory, Jarla, Bankyugi, Monsanto, SilverName, and iG.Syf. SilverName, Jarla, glory, and Monsanto made it to the Semifinal, with glory and Jarla fighting it out in an epic finale and glory coming out as the Hearthstone World Championship winner!

Now that we have broken down how each of these events are formatted and some of the players that participated last year, you’re probably wondering “how will I be able to keep up with the top players and know who will be competing in 2021?” We’re here to give you some tips on how to find out and stay updated on all things Hearthstone esports.

For starters, all updates including schedules and who will be competing in the Hearthstone Masters Qualifiers, Masters Tour, Grandmasters, and World Championship can be found on Hearthstone’s Twitter. More so, you can check out the Leaderboard for the top 200 players in each region on Hearthstone’s website. This will give you an indicator of which players will be invited to the various events this year.

As the various events start, it is worth keeping an eye on match results. This will be so useful for you when the Masters Tour, Grandmasters, and Hearthstone World Championship kicks off as you will be able to know how each event is progressing. This will help you tremendously when deciding who you think will be the tournament finalist and tournament winner when placing your own bets.

Types of Hearthstone esports betting

Because Hearthstone is not the biggest esports title in the scene you will not be able to find them offered on every single betting site. But, many esportsbooks and big traditional sportsbooks do offer bets on Hearthstone because they recognise the big community on board with betting on Hearthstone.

Blizzard are committed to giving opportunities for more players than ever to participate in their new esports format and this is great for the Hearthstone esports betting scene as it will allow for a bigger market and a wider variety of bets down the line.

Here are the main markets you are likely to see and will be able to play around with.

Match winner

This betting market is spectacular for beginners and is a way safer bet than other betting options. It is arguably one of the simplest betting markets available for most people due to the sheer fact that the odds presented will display the underdog and the favourite and all you need to consider is who you think will win that particular match rather than the entire Hearthstone tournament.

Betting on the favourite in this instance would be great as the chances of them winning is higher than their opponent. It can be trickier to win with this betting market if you wish to bet on the underdog as there is less of a chance of them winning.

However, each match is different and the specific odds displayed will indicate how likely each player has a chance of winning, according to the bookmaker. Doing your own research and taking a look at both players' previous Hearthstone matches to figure out their strengths and weaknesses will prove very advantageous for you and help you place the best wager possible.

Tournament finalist

The tournament finalist betting market asks you to predict which player you think will make it to the final of the Hearthstone tournament you are betting on. This betting market is trickier than the match winner option as you will have to consider all the players competing and figure out who will make it to the final. This can be difficult for beginners and if the players competing are new to the pro scene as you will be unable to see how they have previously performed in a competitive HS environment.

However, if you are familiar with the Hearthstone esports betting scene and are comfortable with this betting market then go for it! You can get a great payout from this option if you have done your due diligence. To make it easier, you can also predict on which region you think the finalist will be competing from, giving you a wide pool of players to choose from.

Tournament winner

Tournament winner betting markets, also known as futures markets, can only be placed on before your chosen Hearthstone event begins. As the name suggests, you will need to predict who you think will win the entire competition.

Because Hearthstone is a 1v1 game and there can only be one player that wins, rather than a whole team, it is an even more specific betting market than generally considered. This betting market is not recommended for beginners as it can be a very risky move if you are unfamiliar with the Hearthstone esports scene and players involved. But, if you have been betting on Hearthstone for a while and have followed the scene for continuous seasons, then this opens the door of opportunity for you to bet Hearthstone more comfortably.

Turn bets

These types of wagers allow you to predict how many turns it will take in a match before someone wins. This is another Hearthstone betting market that we would not recommend for beginners as it is very particular and you will need to know a lot about Hearthstone to make a successful bet.

To comfortably bet Hearthstone on this market, you will need to know not only the fundamentals of Hearthstone, as well as the intricacies involved. For example, you will need to consider the different deck types that are played in any given match, from aggro, to midrange, and control, to be able to accurately predict the total number of turns that will be played. More so, you will need to understand the current meta very well and how the deck types used can be countered to be able to calculate how long the game could possibly go. Not to mention, you will need to factor in the individual players competing and how they perform against certain deck types to give you more of an insight into how the match will play out.

This betting market can be very exciting and give you a huge payout, but of course that comes with a lot of risk.

Special bets

Special bets are the most specific wager you can place in Hearthstone betting. This betting market gives you the option to bet on various sceneries that can happen in a match. For example, you can bet on Hearthstone’s specific cards appearing during the match, which player will complete an in-match task first, and many other instances that may occur.

Again, these wagers can be fun to bet on HS if you enjoy the game and can understand what is happening during the match to a high degree. But, due to the specificity of this betting market, make sure you are experienced in Hearthstone betting and are comfortable with what is happening during matches before setting up a wager.

Hearthstone odds

Hearthstone betting is similar to traditional sports betting in the most fundamental of ways. You select a wager you want to place, predict the outcome depending on the betting market you are choosing when deciding to bet on HS, and wait for the end results before cashing in your winnings.

You, of course, need to be able to read the Hearthstone odds displayed accurately as even the smallest of errors can cost you. Not only will reading Hearthstone odds correctly make your life so much easier and save you time having to research what they mean, but it can also aid you in your predictions.

Let’s take a look at how each of these odds are presented, calculations you can use to work out your potential winnings, and ways you can use the odds presented to your advantage.

Hearthstone fractional odds

Fractional odds are the way Hearthstone odds are presented in the UK, displaying the likelihood of your prediction in fraction form. This is easy to read and you can quickly convert into a percentage.

A foolproof way of understanding fractional odds is by figuring out which player is the favourite by looking at the numbers presented. If the number on the right of the fraction is higher than the number of the left, it means the bookmaker has estimated the team you want to bet on is the favourite in the matchup. If the number on the right is smaller, that means the player you want to bet on is the underdog.

Let’s look at an example of Hearthstone World Championship 2020 odds. A fractional odd between glory and Jarla would look something like this:

Wager for glory to win: 1/4 = 80% chance of winning

Wager for Jarla to win: 4/1 = 20% chance of winning

The calculations used are as followers:

glory: 1/4 = 4/(1+4)* 100% = 20%

Jarla: 4/1 = 1/(4+1)* 100% = 80%

As you can see, glory has a way higher chance of winning this matchup according to the bookmaker. This positions Jarla as the underdog and glory as the favourite. To calculate the payout here, you would simply need to once again look at the numbers presented. The number on the left indicates the amount you’ll receive if the player you have betted on wins and the number on the right shows how much you will need to wager to receive profit. So for example, for every £4 you wager on glory, you will receive £1. But, for every £1 you wager on Jarla, you will get £4 in profit.

Depending on the betting market you are placing your wager on, betting on the underdog and the favourite both have their advantages. While the favourite is a safer bet as the bookmaker believes they are likely to win, betting on the underdog can give you surprise winnings, better odds, and high profits. Of course, bookmakers can and do get it wrong when it comes to predicting the favourite and underdog, so if you notice something is off with the odds presented, this could be your chance to capitalise on it.

Hearthstone decimal odds

Decimal Hearthstone  odds are slowly taking over fractional Hearthstone odds in the UK so it is imperative you know how to read these too if you are betting in the UK market. When you calculate your decimal odds, it combines your stake and winnings rather than highlighting profits as commonly displayed with fractional odds.

Decimal odds are simpler and far easier to read than fractional odds so it will be super easy for you to use. To figure out the favourite and underdog with decimal odds, all you need to do is divide 100% by the value displayed. Or, to quickly see what the decimal odds represent, look at the number displayed. The lower the decimal the more chance the bookmaker things that the player will win.

Taking a look at our glory and Jarla example, the decimal odds could look like any of these depending on the probability of winning:

3.5: 100% / 3.5 = 28.6%

1.5: 100% / 1.5 = 66.7%

2.8: 100% / 2.8 = 35.7%

These examples demonstrate the probability calculated by the bookmaker so pay close attention to them when placing your wagers. To calculate the payout, just multiply your wager amount by the decimal odd and then minus your wager amount from that total.

Hearthstone moneyline odds

Moneyline odds are the way odds are displayed in the US. Although moneyline odds are not common in other parts of the world, you may stumble over them during your Hearthstone betting journey so it is worth knowing how to read them.

These odds consist of a number in respect to -100. The number displayed differs based on whether or not the bet you are placing has a high or low chance of happening. The plus sign (+) demonstrates who the bookmaker considers the underdog, while the minus sign (-) shows the favourite. The two kinds of moneyline odds are positive and negative, with the positive (+) highlighting your winnings if you were to bet $100 and the negative (-) signaling how much you need to bet to win $100.

An example of how these odds would be presented for a matchup between Jarla and glory would look something like this:

glory – 120

Vs

Jarla + 175

To calculate any moneyline wager, do this:

Positive moneyline odds: Stake * (Odds /100) = Your winnings

Negative moneyline odds: Stake / (Odds / 100) = Your winnings

Jarla has a plus sign attached to his wager option, meaning they are the underdog in this matchup and for every $100 wager you place, you would net $175. glory has a minus sign attached to them, meaning that the bookmaker believes they are the favourite in this instance. Because the odds are in their favour, you would need to place a $120 wager to net a profit of $100.

Hearthstone betting tips

Now that you know all about Hearthstone esports, the most common esports markets, and the ways odds are presented depending on where you reside, here are some Hearthstone betting tips for getting the best out of your bets.

Learn Hearthstone to a decent level

To bet on Hearthstone, apply the same principle that you would for traditional sports betting. Specifically, you need to do your research on both Hearthstone betting and traditional sports to maximise your chances of winning and dabble in different markets. You would not bet on a sport you are unfamiliar with, and the same applies here.

Using resources available online will aid you in your understanding of Hearthstone so you can follow what is happening accurately while betting and also utilise the more intricate betting markets, such as turn bets and special bets. Hearthstone’s subreddit has a thriving community of Hearthstone players that discuss meta, decks, and the esports scene. More so, you can keep up with Hearthstone streamers on Twitch and familiarise yourself with different play styles as well as get to know the rising stars within the community.

If you can, give it a go yourself and play Hearthstone. Hearthstone is free-to-play and does not require an insane PC setup to run, so if you have a standard PC or laptop you can jump right in. The MMR system matches you with players that have a similar skill level to you, so you can slowly learn the ins and outs without feeling overwhelmed. Playing the game yourself will teach you a tremendous amount about the game and will translate into a more well rounded understanding when you are watching the pros perform.

Understand the Hearthstone tournament format

Hearthstone’s esports scene is divided by region and offers plenty of events throughout the year. Because of the variety of tournaments that Blizzard hosts for this esports title, it is important to know which ones are the most popular and hottest events happening. We have a section above explaining all you need to know about Blizzard’s reconstruction of the Hearthstone tournament structure so make sure to check it out so you are up to date.

Monitoring how the various tournaments are going is a sure way of building your knowledge on the esports scene. Hearthstone Gamepedia is a great tool to keep up with updates each week. This is a sure way of predicting match winner betting markets and can be used to analyse and research on potential winners and finalists at the end of each season.

Watch out for Blizzard’s Hearthstone updates

With any esports title, the developers release updates to maintain the competitive nature of the game and fix any imbalances. Hearthstone receives the same treatment and Blizzard will often release patches and expansions, fixing certain aspects of the game to improve any balancing issues as well as releasing new cards.

Keeping up to date with this as these changes and additions will help you tremendously in your Hearthstone betting journey as these releases impact the way players compete in the events during the year. You can find detailed explanations of expansions on Hearthstone’s website.

Understand how important psychology is when playing Hearthstone

Hearthstone is all about psychology: One misplay can cost a player a game and one loss can throw that player off completely and cost them the whole series. For that reason, it is particularly important to not underestimate the importance of psychology when two players are competing at the highest level.

Knowing the different deck styles that can be played and countered will give you insight into each players’ next moves in the singular match as well as the series. Also, anticipating how the players are controlling the board will give you the opportunity to mess around with more intricate bets and dabble in turn bets and special bets. Keeping an eye on these aspects will grow your knowledge of the esports title and will level up your winning if done successfully.

Don’t be fooled by big streamers, some of the best players are lowkey

We have mentioned that watching Hearthstone streamer is a good way of getting a feel of the up and coming stars but just because they are popular does not necessarily mean they are your best bet.

In previous competitive HS seasons, the most popular streamers have fallen off when competing because they have not put 100% into practicing and honing their craft. Watch these streamers by all means, but watch them specifically to learn their playstyles, strengths, and weaknesses and make educated betting decisions from there. Noting the top streamers in the community and finding the underdogs looking for their big break will be extremely rewarding for you as a punter.

Do the math when placing your Hearthstone bets

In a series, there are a set amount of Hearthstone matches that can be possibly played and the probability of a player having a 75%+ rate of winning is impossible. If you do the math, you will rarely get any offers above 3-to-1 or over +200. Use this knowledge to your advantage when seeking out the best odds. It’s always good to scout around and find out what the general odds are so you can capitalise on higher or lower odds respectively. If you see any Hearthstone betting site offering edges higher 3-to-1 or +200 though, you should consider placing a wager on it. Because of its unlikelihood, these types of bets are almost always profitable.

Choosing the best Hearthstone betting site for you

Great, you are almost ready to start your Hearthstone betting journey! Just a couple more things you should know. Picking a betting site is easy enough, but picking one that is great is a different story. Here are our must haves for any betting to make your experience the best it can possibly be.

The Hearthstone betting site has good reviews

When you shop online with a site you are unfamiliar with you always have a quick browse through its review to make sure everything is legit, right? Well, you should be! The same applies for choosing a Hearthstone betting site. After all, you are spending your hard earned money and it is only right you make sure the site you are choosing to do business with is not misleading you or worse, scamming you.

Having a search through the site’s reviews and seeing what people have to say about the general service and how any issues have been handled is a sure enough way of knowing if the esportsbook or sportsbook values its customers and performs its duties legitimately.

Any repetitive good reviews could be a sign that the reviews are fake so be careful when seeing a plethora of positive commendations that are written similarly. On that same note, detailed and lengthy negative reviews stick out like a sore thumb so make sure to keep them in mind.

The Hearthstone odds on offer

Odds differ from site to site as it is up to the discretion of the bookmaker. A good way of figuring out if the odds are competitive with a betting site you are choosing is by comparing them with other bookies and seeing how they stand. However, bookies offering significantly higher odds than their competitors is not actually a good sign, and you should probably stay clear of them unless they are extremely reputable.

The betting site offers promotions

Many betting sites want to attract new customers and do this by providing promotions and welcome bonuses. These welcome bonuses vary but can include free bets, risk free bets, and no deposit free bets. Note that these bonuses often come with terms and conditions so make sure you are clear on what they are before using them.

If you are okay with the terms and conditions set out, you should definitely be using these offers as they will help you get to grips with Hearthstone betting and give you the chance to try out different markets, hopefully increasing your earnings and making you comfortable as you try something new out.

The site has a solid customer support service

A customer support service will be your guardian angel if things go wrong during a bet. Often, betting sites will give you the opportunity to speak to someone via website, email, or even over the phone to discuss your issue and get it resolved. Knowing a site you are putting your money with has taken the time out to develop a team that will come to the rescue if things go wrong is one that we will always recommend to you.

Extra perks: Live streaming and payment options

We’ve covered what is essential when picking a good betting site, but there are some other things that can help you sway toward one bookie over the other. This includes a site offering live streaming services because having everything happening in one place can help calm your nerves and keep you focused on placing the bet at hand. More so, having a site offer different payment options is great as it gives you control on how you want to deposit and withdraw your funds. These perks are great add ons to any betting site and make the experience a lot more comfortable.

How to play Hearthstone

Developed by Blizzard Entertainment (the creators of World of Warcraft), Hearthstone is a free-to-play digital collectible card game (CCG) that develops on the lore and unique characteristics of WoW. It was released in 2014 and is still thriving in popularity, reaching a milestone of 100 million players in November 2018.

Hearthstone is quite unique in its design, despite it being a turn-based card game, with many different factors needing to be considered during each match. It looks simple at first glance, but be warned it does require a lot of knowledge about the different cards, decks, hero abilities, and much more that is under your control.

We will take you through the history of Hearthstone, how to play, the different classes and themes you can use, expansions so far, the current meta, and some popular decks so you have a solid understanding of what this popular game is all about.

The history of Hearthstone

Hearthstone was first designed as something more experimental than Blizzard’s other projects. The team were able to utilise concepts and art from World of Warcraft Trading Card Game and designed the game to be played purely online and to mimic the notion of playing a physical card game. The development of Hearthstone was successful and the reception to the beta was impressive, consequently launching on March 11th 2014.

Blizzard have since then offered continuous support, by issuing bug fixes, providing constant updates, and releasing expansions to keep Hearthstone balanced and exciting. It is now considered one of the largest card-based competitive online experiences and also one of the most popular online card games on the market.

Hearthstone classes and themes

Before you even begin your Hearthstone journey, let's start off by explaining the classes available for you to use.

There are 9 classes to choose from: Shaman, Warrior, Hunter, Rogue, Paladin, Druid, Warlock, Mage, and Priest. All classes have access to a Hero Art Spell, costing 2 Mana you can perform powerful abilities that impact the whole board. More so, each class performs differently, from more aggressive plays to more board control playstyles, and impacts your card game strategy. The types of cards you can get can do an array of things, from summon cards, to spell cards, equippable weapons, and hero cards. Most decks have a mix of minions and spells.

The basics of Hearthstone

In each Hearthstone match, you will be pitted against one other player. The nature of the game is turn-based, with each player taking turns to play cards from their hand. Mana limits your card use, as well as your ability to cast spells, equip weapons, and summon minions.

At the start of a match, you and your opponent both have 30 health points and you and your opponent will draw cards from your chosen deck of 30 cards. You will have the option at the start of the game to mulligan any of the cards in their starting hand. The second player receives a card called “The Coin”, which gives them the option to receive a mana crystal at any point during the match.

The Hearthstone board in action
The Hearthstone board in action. Credit: Hearthstone Website.

You and your opponent then proceed to alternate turns and at the start of each turn and each card used will use up your mana crystals: all missing mana crystals are refilled when your round resumes to the maximum of ten. You and your opponent continue to draw cards until one or both players have reached zero health. Other ways the match can end includes a player conceding or when the maximum number of turns (45) is reached by both players.

This is a very simplified explanation of how to play Hearthstone and we advise you to watch youtube videos and read up on how to play for a more detailed understanding of the game’s intricacies. Solem and Hearthstone Tips by Kris O Five have great videos on the basics of Hearthstone, top tips, and more.

Hearthstone expansions

Hearthstone expansions add more card sets into the game and are very important to be aware of when playing and betting on the esports title. Each expansion adds between 130-145 new cards to the game and these cards are used to create and build decks to use in casual or ranked play.

The most recent expansion for Hearthstone was Madness at the Darkmoon Faire which included 135 new collectible cards. Because of the variety of new cards and the calculations through a random number generator (RNG), it is imperative that you are aware of the new collectable cards that could feature in competitive HS play so you can follow the match without being confused. Knowing about Hearthstone’s expansions will also aid you in knowing the meta and also common deck picks.

For a more detailed look at all the expansions and the newest cards added to Hearthstone, check out Hearthstone Gamepedia.

Hearthstone meta and decks

The Hearthstone meta changes when updates and expansions are released by Blizzard. It is very useful to know what the metaplay is at the moment so you can familiarise yourself with the most popular cards and the most common play styles in action.

Currently, the most used decks with the highest winrates are as follows:

Whirlkick Rogue – 58.2% winrate

Highlander Hunter – 61.7% winrate

Pure Paladin – 60.9% winrate

Evolve Shaman – 54.8% winrate

Stealth Rogue – 59.0% winrate

Checkout HSRelay.net for more details on these decks.

More so, there are an array of ways you can play each Hearthstone deck and this all depends on how comfortable you are with the different playstyles. The play styles you can adopt are aggro, midrange, and control.

Here is how each one plays out:

Control: A control deck is a type of deck that holds the board by using taunts (defensive minions) and using AOE and spell cards to get through opponents’ minions. This deck typically finishes the game through late game minions and threats.

Aggro: An abbreviated term for “aggression”. Decks labeled in this way are played through low cost creatures that attempt to damage the opponent quickly.

Midrange: A way to refer to Aggro-Control styled decks. Typically, this type of deck has the majority of its minions between 4-8 mana and looks to control Aggro decks while beating down Control decks.

Familiarising yourself with these aspects of the game will teach you a lot about to play, watch others play, and place more unique bets.

Hearthstone terms explained

AOE: Short for Area of Affect, a term used to refer to cards that do damage to the opponent or both sides of the board.

Bomb: A card with a large effect on the board. This type of card can end the game quickly if not dealt with. An example of this card would be Deathwing.

Bounce: A type of card that returns creatures to the owner. These types of cards include Sap and Kidnapper.

Burn: Direct damage spells can be referred to as “burn”, but also referring to a card that is burnt from your deck.

Cantrip: A type of card that has a “draw a card” ability alongside its main ability. Flare is an example of this type of card.

Combo: Combo decks are decks that attempt to initiate big interactions with multiple cards and eventually lead to victory.

Cycle: The act of using a card that draws and replaces itself with another. Shiv and Cult Master are both cards that simulate this action.

Direct damage: A card that deals direct damage to the opponent’s heath pool. Lightning Bolt and Soulfire cards can do this.

Face: “Going for the face” is a term describing the act of directly attacking your opponent by hitting their hero portrait.

Face Tank: The act of using your Hero (the face, also known as your hero portrait) to deal damage to a minion instead of trading with one of your own minions. Commonly used by weapon classes like Rogue, Shaman, and Warrior.

Meta: The most popular mix of decks at the given time. Knowing the meta helps you refine your deck to make it as strong as possible to simulate the meta or go against it.

Mulligan: The cards you are shown at the beginning of your hand.

Nerf: When a card is reduced in power as it had generally been seen as overpowered. Blizzard, the developers, control this to balance the game.

OTK: Also known as One Turn Kill, is referred to a deck that can do huge burst damage and can kill the opponent in a singular turn.

OP: Short for overpowered, a term used to describe a card that is too strong compared to the other cards operating in Hearthstone.

Ramp: A card that increases the mana pool either permanently or temporarily. Druid classes are typically known for this due to its Innervate and Wild Growth cards.

RNG: An abbreviation for random number generator, the generator used to pick cards at random.

Roping: The action of a player continuously extending their turn for the full amount of time they have to play their turn.

Standard: A game mode that you can play in Hearthstone. This game mode only allows you to play card sets from the current or previous year.

Top Deck: The act of drawing a card off the top of the deck and it fitting the situation the player is in perfectly. This applies specifically to a player that is in an impossible spot within the match and can only win by drawing that specific card.

Wild: The second game mode in Hearthstone. In this game mode you are not restricted to card sets like in the Standard mode, but rather can play with any and all card sets.

Zoo: A deck type that has the best low cost creatures and aims to take out the opponent fast.

Not a fan of card games ? Try betting on other esports games like action packed Rocket League , FIFA  , Smite or League of Legends. For strategy lovers we have a guide to betting on Starcraft.

 And of course don't miss out on our Warcraft 3 betting guide!

Hearthstone FAQ:

We collected the most common questions about Hearthstone betting below.

Is Hearthstone an esport?

Yes, Hearthstone is an esport with a thriving community and many tournaments running throughout the year. It is considered an esports because of its competitive nature and skill ceiling.

How do Hearthstone tournaments work?

Hearthstone has a number of tournaments that run throughout the year. The Hearthstone Masters qualifiers are regionally based events allowing players to compete for a chance to be invited to the Masters event. The Masters event is also regional, and pits the best Hearthstone players from APAC, UK, and UE against each other for the Masters title and the $250,000 prize pool. The Grandmasters is the apex of the Hearthstone esports scene and is an invitation only event that sees the very best compete for a shot at the World Championship title and a $500,000 prize pool.

Where can I watch Hearthstone competitions?

You can watch Hearthstone competitions on the Hearthstone Esports YouTube channel.

Who is the best Hearthstone player in the world?

Thijs “Thijs” Molendijk is considered the best Hearthstone player in the world. He has made a living off competing in Hearthstone esports tournaments and has established himself as one of the most popular faces in the Hearthstone community and wider esports scene. Other notable names that are renowned for their amazing performances in Hearthstone esports are Hunterace, Rdu, Kolento, and Firebat.

What is the best Hearthstone site?

There are so many resources online for Hearthstone. Hearthstone Top Decks, Tempo Storm, and Hearthpwn are great sites for checking out decks, building decks, and more. To discuss Hearthstone esports, r/competitivehs is full of players willing to discuss and offer advice.

How long are Hearthstone seasons?

A Hearthstone season is one month. Each month, Blizzard provides players with a new seasonal card for you to add to your collection. To get this card, you must only win five ranked games.

How to get into Hearthstone tournaments?

There are several ways you can get your way into Hearthstone tournaments. If you are ranked in the top 200 leaderboard for your region, you may be invited by blizzard to the Masters or Grandmasters events. Or, you can compete in the Masters qualifiers and earn a spot to the Masters by doing well.

Is Hearthstone pay to win?

Generally speaking, Hearthstone is not pay to win. You can collect all playable cards by opening card packs with in game currency earned by playing Hearthstone matches. Also, deck-building and winning games revolve purely around your level of skill and those who know how to play the game better tend to win.

Is Hearthstone dying?

While there are complaints from the community surrounding the current meta, the game itself is considered to be in the best state that it has ever been. The expansions released every year help to spice up the game and make it enjoyable for new and experienced players.

How much money does Hearthstone make?

While no official numbers have been released this year, the Hearthstone has been estimated to make $414 million in revenue per year.

What is the best betting site for Hearthstone?

Without a shadow of a doubt, Bet365 is the best betting site for Hearthstone. Bet365 have done a great job at accommodating esports betting on its site, making it not only highly reputable but popular amongst esports betting Hearthstone fans. It offers a full selection of esports betting markets that will benefit both beginners and experienced punters. More so, Bet365 present one of the most favourable odds out there for Hearthstone and will give you up to £100 worth of free bets if you are a new customer. This is great for inexperienced Hearthstone bettors who want to try out a couple of betting markets before diving into real money betting and experience punters that can capitalise on the offers. Check out our thorough Bet365 esports review.

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