Hearthstone: Kobolds & Catacombs – Dungeon-Crawling Card Sets Reviewed

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Introduction

Hearthstone’s Kobolds & Catacombs expansion, released in December 2017, brought a fresh dungeon-crawling theme to the game, introducing new mechanics, legendary weapons, and the revolutionary Dungeon Run mode. This expansion was a turning point for Hearthstone, blending roguelike elements with card battles, making it one of the most memorable sets in the game’s history.

In this review, we’ll break down the key features of Kobolds & Catacombs, analyze its most impactful cards, and evaluate how the expansion shaped the meta.

The Dungeon-Crawling Theme

Kobolds & Catacombs embraced a treasure-hunting adventure, where players explored dark tunnels filled with traps, loot, and dangerous foes. The expansion introduced:

Legendary Weapons: Every class received a unique weapon, shaking up gameplay.
New Keyword – Recruit: This mechanic summoned minions directly from the deck, enabling powerful synergies.
Spellstones: Class-specific spells that upgraded under certain conditions.

The expansion’s flavor was rich, with kobolds, dragons, and treasure chests dominating the artwork. The Dungeon Run mode further enhanced the theme, offering a single-player experience where players built decks on the fly against increasingly tough AI opponents.

Key Cards & Meta Impact

1. Legendary Weapons

Each class received a legendary weapon, some of which became meta-defining:

Aluneth (Mage): Drew three cards at the end of each turn, fueling aggressive Mage decks.
Twig of the World Tree (Druid): Enabled combo decks with its Deathrattle: Gain 10 Mana Crystals.
Skull of the Man’ari (Warlock): Cheated out powerful Demons, boosting Control Warlock.

While some weapons, like Woecleaver (Warrior), saw niche play, others became staple inclusions in competitive decks.

2. Recruit Mechanic

The Recruit keyword allowed players to summon minions directly from their deck, bypassing mana costs. Notable cards included:

Master Oakheart: Summoned a 1, 2, and 3-Attack minion, enabling powerful board swings.
Guild Recruiter: A budget-friendly option that saw play in Odd Paladin.

This mechanic enabled cheating out big minions early, influencing decks like Big Priest and Recruit Hunter.

3. Spellstones

Spellstones required specific conditions to upgrade, rewarding deck-building creativity:

Lesser Amethyst Spellstone (Warlock): Healed based on upgrades, crucial for survival.
Lesser Pearl Spellstone (Paladin): Summoned multiple minions, boosting midrange strategies.

These cards added depth to deck-building, as players had to consider how to activate them efficiently.

Dungeon Run – A Game-Changing Mode

The Dungeon Run was a standout feature, offering a roguelike experience where players:

Started with a basic deck.
Fought 8 progressively harder bosses.
Collected loot (cards and passive buffs) after each win.

This mode was highly replayable, with different class strategies and randomized encounters. It laid the foundation for future single-player content like Monster Hunt and Dalaran Heist.

Meta Shifts & Competitive Play

Kobolds & Catacombs significantly altered the meta:

Cubelock emerged as a dominant deck, using Carnivorous Cube and Skull of the Man’ari for massive value.
Aggro Paladin thrived with Call to Arms, a powerful spell that recruited low-cost minions.
Tempo Mage became stronger thanks to Aluneth and Explosive Runes.

While some cards (Corridor Creeper, Patches the Pirate) were later nerfed due to their overwhelming power, the expansion’s impact was undeniable.

Legacy & Final Thoughts

Kobolds & Catacombs remains one of Hearthstone’s most beloved expansions due to:

✅ Innovative mechanics (Recruit, Spellstones).
✅ Engaging single-player content (Dungeon Run).
✅ Strong thematic identity (treasure hunting, kobolds).

Though some cards were overpowered, the set’s creativity and replayability set a high bar for future expansions.

Conclusion

Hearthstone’s Kobolds & Catacombs was a masterpiece in blending dungeon-crawling adventure with strategic card play. From legendary weapons to the Dungeon Run mode, it delivered an unforgettable experience. Even years later, its influence can be seen in modern Hearthstone design.

What was your favorite card or moment from Kobolds & Catacombs? Let us know in the comments!