Heroes of the Storm Bringing Back Popular Game Mode News - Latest Updates and Information

Heroes of the Storm Bringing Back Popular Game Mode

Summary

Heroes Brawl returns as Brawl Mode, bringing back beloved, discontinued maps and unique challenges. This bi-weekly rotating mode offers a special chest as a reward. Currently, the Snow Brawl is available for testing on the PTR.

Heroes of the Storm is resurrecting the popular Heroes Brawl game mode, rebranded as Brawl Mode. This exciting update unlocks dozens of previously unavailable maps for the first time in nearly five years. Available now on the Public Test Realm (PTR), the official launch is expected within a month.

The original Heroes Brawl, initially launched as Arena Mode in 2016, featured weekly rotating challenges with wildly inventive twists on gameplay. Inspired by Hearthstone's Tavern Brawls, these challenges included unique map layouts, altered objectives, and unusual rulesets—from all-Nova sniper duels to action-packed Arena versions of existing battlefields, and even the PvE mission, Escape from Braxis. Its discontinuation in 2020, due to the popularity of single-lane maps and maintenance challenges, left many players disappointed.

Now, almost five years later, this beloved mode makes its triumphant return. A recent PTR update, including hero balance adjustments and bug fixes, prominently features the addition of Brawl Mode.

According to patch notes, Brawl Mode will rotate bi-weekly, on the 1st and 15th of each month, offering a special chest reward after completing three matches during its active period. Whether this reward is earned once per Brawl or weekly remains to be seen. With over two dozen past Heroes Brawls, players can anticipate the return of many favorites and potentially some exciting new additions.

The inaugural Brawl Mode, the festive Snow Brawl, is currently playable on the Heroes of the Storm PTR. The three-week PTR testing period, coupled with the expected one-month time frame until the main patch release, suggests a potential February launch for Brawl Mode.

The return of Heroes Brawl is particularly fitting, coinciding with Heroes of the Storm's 10th anniversary on June 2nd, 2025. This highly anticipated update is a significant win for fans, sparking hope for a potential full-scale revival of the game.

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

Our latest Heroes of the Storm patch is live on the Public Test Realm (PTR) and ready for testing. Please report any bugs encountered on the PTR Bug Report forum.

General

Updated Homescreen and Startup Music.
NEW: Brawl Mode added! Brawls will rotate on the 1st and 15th of each month.

Balance Update

Heroes

Auriel:
- Talents:
  - Level 1: Searing Light now only damages 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 no longer consumes Energy and increases Slowing Sands cast range by 50%.
Johanna:
- Base: Shield Glare mana cost increased from 45 to 55.
- Talents:
  - Level 1: Divine Fortress health bonus 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 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 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? Basic Attack damage increased from 94 to 118, quest completion bonus reduced from 1 to 0.25.
- Talents:
  - Level 1: Recklessness Basic Attack damage bonus reduced from 15% to 10%.
  - Level 10: Guillotine cooldown reduced from 40 to 30 seconds, mana cost reduced from 70 to 60; Taz'dingo! cooldown increased from 90 to 100 seconds, mana cost increased from 75 to 80.
  - Level 16: Let the Killing Begin kill window reduced from 1.5 to 0.5 seconds.
  - Level 20: Buzzsaw kill window reduced from 1.5 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.