Heroes of the Storm Bringing Back Popular Game Mode

Heroes of the Storm is bringing back the Heroes Brawl as Brawl Mode, opening up dozens of discontinued maps for the first time in almost five years. This new version of the classic Heroes Brawl game mode is available to play on the Heroes of the Storm Public Test Realm now and will ostensibly officially return when the patch goes live in about a month.

Heroes Brawl, initially introduced as Arena Mode, was a Heroes of the Storm game mode introduced in 2016 that featured weekly rotating challenges with drastic changes to the game. Inspired by Hearthstone’s Tavern Brawls, Heroes Brawls introduced unique map layouts, alternative objectives, and zany rulesets, such as an all-Nova Ghost Protocol sniper duel, action-packed Arena versions of several battlefields, and the Escape from Braxis PvE mission. Unfortunately, due to the popularity of single-lane maps, and the difficulty of maintaining the mode, Heroes Brawl was permanently replaced by ARAM – All Random, All Mid – in 2020.

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Now, nearly five years later, it seems Heroes Brawls are finally returning to the Blizzard MOBA, albeit under a slightly different name. Heroes of the Storm recently implemented a new update on the Public Test Realm featuring some hero balance and bug fixes. However, the most interesting part of the update is Brawl Mode, a new version of the Heroes Brawl that will be added back to the game in the next update.

According to the patch notes, Brawl Mode will rotate every two weeks, on the 1st and 15th of each month, rather than every week as its predecessor did. As before, players can earn a special chest by playing three games of the Brawl while it is active. It currently remains to be seen if fans can earn this reward a single time each Brawl, or once a week while it is live. Considering there were over two dozen Heroes Brawls in the past, players will likely see most of their favorites return in time – and maybe even some new Brawls in the future.

The first Brawl Mode, the holiday-themed Snow Brawl, is currently available for testing on the Heroes of the Storm PTR. The game mode will officially come to Heroes of the Storm when the patch goes live, likely in about a month. Considering the in-game interface says the PTR version will last for three weeks, Heroes of the Storm could be planning to start Brawl Mode at the beginning of February.

June 2, 2025, is the 10-year anniversary of Heroes of the Storm, so it is fitting that Heroes Brawl has returned for the MOBA’s big year. This is a huge win for fans of the Blizzard MOBA – and many players are hoping it might be yet another prelude to an official revival of Heroes of the Storm.

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

Our next Heroes of the Storm patch has just hit the Public Test Realm and will be available for playtesting. As always, if you encounter any bugs during your PTR play sessions, please stop by the PTR Bug Report forum to let us know about your experiences.

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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Heroes of the Storm

This free-to-play online team brawler assembles a diverse cast of characters from Blizzard’s far-flung realms of science fiction and fantasy, including the Warcraft, StarCraft, and Diablo universes, and challenges them to compete in epic, adrenaline-charged battles. 

Thrall, Kerrigan, Diablo, Arthas, Zeratul, Tyrael—they’re all here and ready to test their might in the forge of eternal combat. Who will stand with you in battle? Build and customize heroes from across every Blizzard universe to suit your play style. Team up with your friends and engage in fast-paced mayhem across battlegrounds that impact strategy and change the way you play the game.

Good players win. Great ones win while dressed to kill. Distinguish yourself in battle with dozens of unique heroes, skins, and mounts, then customize your hero’s talents and choose heroic abilities. 

The game features an array of gameplay modes for players of every skill level, including Cooperative, in which players team up against computer-controlled opponents, and Quick Match, an accessible way to jump in and play versus others. Experienced players can also join forces against other teams of players in highly competitive, draft-style ranked play.

Systems

Released

June 2, 2015

Developer(s)

Blizzard Entertainment

Publisher(s)

Blizzard Entertainment

Multiplayer

Online Multiplayer

Engine

Proprietary Engine

ESRB

t

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

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