Hearthstone just got its first new class in four years: Warcraft's fire-breathing panda Monk
Hearthstone will introduce its first new class since 2022 with the Monk, revealed at Blizzcon and playable as Chen Stormstout, arriving in March 2027 alongside the Reign of the Black Empire expansion on October 10.
Blizzard announced at Blizzcon that *Hearthstone* will add the Monk class, its first new class since the Death Knight in 2022, with a full reveal planned for next year. The class draws from *Warcraft III*’s pandaren brewmaster lore and will be represented by the playable character Chen Stormstout. While not a top-tier class in *World of Warcraft*, its whimsical nature aligns with *Hearthstone*’s lighthearted tone. The expansion *Reign of the Black Empire*, themed around old gods, will precede the Monk’s arrival.
The *Reign of the Black Empire* expansion launches on October 10, featuring a new keyword called "assemble" that lets players merge cards for powerful combos. The expansion’s trailer includes energetic electronic music but omits the previous expansion’s humorous lyrics. This marks another installment in *Hearthstone*’s tradition of playful, combo-driven gameplay. The expansion’s arrival sets the stage for the Monk class to debut in March 2027.
The Monk class will be the third post-launch addition to *Hearthstone*, following the Death Knight in 2022. It will be the only *World of Warcraft* class not yet represented in *Hearthstone*, aside from the Night Elf Mohawk cosmetic. The class’s inclusion reflects *Hearthstone*’s ongoing expansion of its roster to include more *Warcraft* lore and variety. Players can expect new cards and mechanics tailored to the Monk’s unique playstyle when it arrives.
The announcement was made during the Blizzcon opening ceremony, with further details to follow in 2026. The expansion and class addition highlight *Hearthstone*’s commitment to evolving its gameplay while staying true to its *Warcraft* roots. Fans can track additional Blizzcon updates via the liveblog. The Monk’s debut in March 2027 will mark a significant milestone for the game’s class diversity.