Heroes of the Storm's Brawl Mode Returns: A Nostalgic Throwback with New Twists
Heroes of the Storm is resurrecting its popular Heroes Brawl mode, rebranded as Brawl Mode, bringing back a treasure trove of discontinued maps and unique gameplay challenges. This revamped mode, currently available on the Public Test Realm (PTR), is slated for official release within a month.
The original Heroes Brawl, initially launched as Arena Mode in 2016, offered weekly rotating gameplay variations. Inspired by Hearthstone's Tavern Brawls, it featured unique map layouts, altered objectives, and unconventional rulesets. Examples included all-Nova sniper duels, Arena-style battlefields, and the PvE mission, Escape from Braxis. However, due to the rising popularity of single-lane maps and maintenance complexities, it was discontinued in 2020, replaced by ARAM.
Now, Brawl Mode makes a triumphant return. The PTR update includes this exciting addition alongside hero balancing and bug fixes. Key differences from the original include a bi-weekly rotation (1st and 15th of each month) instead of the weekly rotation of the previous iteration. Players earn a special chest after completing three Brawl matches during its active period. The exact reward frequency (per Brawl or per week) remains to be confirmed. With over two dozen past Brawls, players can anticipate many returning favorites and potentially new Brawls in the future.
The inaugural Brawl Mode, the festive Snow Brawl, is currently playable on the PTR. The three-week PTR testing phase suggests a February launch for Brawl Mode, coinciding nicely with the game's 10th anniversary on June 2nd, 2025. This comeback is a significant win for the Heroes of the Storm community, sparking hopes for a broader game revival.
Heroes of the Storm PTR Patch Notes (January 6, 2025)
This PTR update includes extensive testing for the upcoming patch. Please report any bugs encountered on the PTR Bug Report forum.
General:
- Updated Homescreen and Startup Music.
- NEW: Brawl Mode added! Brawls rotate on the 1st and 15th of each month.
Balance Updates: (Detailed hero balance changes for Auriel, Chromie, Johanna, Tracer, and Zul'jin are omitted for brevity but were included in the original text.)
Bug Fixes: (A comprehensive list of bug fixes across various heroes and general gameplay is omitted for brevity but was included in the original text.)
