Showdown in the Badlands

In the beginnin', I was all alone, trying my best to do some good out there.

But it didn't take long to realize that, with the right friends, everything would change.

They knew the townsfolk were up to something... sinister.

And it was like a powder keg waiting to explode.

As it turned out, I had the right backup waiting for me just when I needed it.

Showdown in the Badlands is Hearthstone's 25th expansion, featuring new 145 collectible cards released on November 14, 2023.^[1] The expansion takes place in the past in Hearthstone lore, when the Badlands was a rugged and lawless region. The Bloodrock Mining Company has found powerful Azerite in the Badlands seeking profit and power, while the noble outlaws try to stop them.

Showdown in the Badlands introduces 2 new keywords: Quickdraw and Excavate. Cards with Quickdraw gain bonus effects if they're played the same turn they're drawn. Cards with Excavate generate an assortment of treasures, increasing in rarity each time.

How to get[edit | edit source]

Showdown in the Badlands craftable cards can be obtained by one of the following methods:

Opening card packs with the usual prices and purchasing options
Crafting for the usual amounts of Arcane Dust depending on the cards' rarity
As a Standard expansion, the Highest Rank Bonus chest, Arena and Heroic Duels rewards have chance to contain Showdown in the Badlands cards.

Uncraftable cards

These specific cards can be obtained through other means. For more information, see their respective articles.

Pre-order

Prior to the expansion's release and for one week after its release, players could purchase one or both of the following bundles:
- Showdown in the Badlands Bundle costs $49.99 USD; it comes with 60 Showdown in the Badlands card packs, two random Legendary cards, and the Ulfar card back.
- Showdown in the Badlands Mega Bundle costs $79.99 USD; it comes with 80 Showdown in the Badlands card packs, 10 Golden Showdown in the Badlands card packs, 1 random golden and signature Legendary card from Showdown in the Badlands, the unique Ulfar card back, the alternate druid hero Ulfar.

Pre-purchase Mega Bundle
Pre-purchase Bundle

Cards[edit | edit source]

The Showdown in the Badlands card set features 145 collectible cards, which can be recognized with a special watermark (a sheriff star) behind the card text, not found on other cards.

The Mini-set, Delve into Deepholm, is also considered to be part of the Showdown in the Badlands set, and all 38 cards were categorized as "New Cards" in Collection manager until the next major patch.

Customize this list

Neutral

Related cards

Tier-1 Excavate treasures

Tier-2 Excavate treasures

Tier-3 Excavate treasures

Tier-4 Excavate treasures

Death Knight

Related cards

Demon Hunter

Related cards

Druid

Related cards

Choice cards

Hunter

Related cards

Mage

Paladin

Related cards

Priest

Related cards

Rogue

Related cards

Shaman

Related cards

Warlock

Related cards

Warrior

Related cards

Themes[edit | edit source]

A Crooked Lawman Faces Noble Outlaws[edit | edit source]

The Bloodrock Mining Company’s operation is run by none other than the corrupt Sheriff Barrelbrim! Sheriff Barrelbrim is as greedy as his hat is tall, so he’s not halting the mining for something as silly as health and safety. He’s coerced, cajoled, and conscripted the townsfolk into working the mines; and he has a special spot in the Badlands Jail for anyone who stands in his way.

But an unexpected band of noble outlaws has come together to take him on! Each of these gunslingers is used to working on their lonesome, so they have special effects if your deck has no duplicates. Demon Hunter, Druid, Hunter, Paladin, Priest, and Shaman each have one of these Legendary Outlaws, and they’re led by Elise, Badlands Savior!

This here story takes place before Elise joined the League of Explorers, so they won’t be joining her in this rodeo, but who knows who she might meet on this adventure.

New Keyword: Quickdraw[edit | edit source]

To win a Wild West Showdown, you’ve got to be quick on the draw! Cards with the new Quickdraw keyword get a special bonus if they’re played the turn they enter your hand. Fire your cards off as soon as you draw them for maximum effect!

New Keyword: Excavate[edit | edit source]

What’s the Bloodrock Mining Company after, anyway? Why, Treasures, of course! Cards with the new Excavate keyword give you a Treasure when played. Each time you Excavate, you get a Treasure from the tier you’re on, and then you progress to the next tier, so the further you dig into the mine, the bigger and rarer your treasure gets. Talk about paydirt!

So, the first time you Excavate, you get one of five 1-mana Common Treasures. The next time you Excavate, you get one of five 2-mana Rare Treasures. Then one of five 3-mana Epic Treasures. Once you tap out your mine, you start your excavation over at Common in a new vein! In total, there are 15 Neutral Excavation Treasures that all classes can dig up: five at each rarity.

Five classes are working with the Bloodrock Mining Company: Death Knight, Mage, Rogue, Warlock, and Warrior. These expert miners are able to get even deeper in their Excavations. Each of these classes has a class-specific 4-mana Legendary Excavate Treasure that they get when they Excavate for the fourth time. Eureka!

Cards with Excavate

Excavation Treasures

Lore[edit | edit source]

Dustbowl in the Badlands

This section uses content from the Warcraft Wiki.

The Badlands is an arid and desolate region in Khaz Modan accessed via the Searing Gorge to the west and Loch Modan to the north. Only the hardiest of creatures can survive in the arid wastes, such as feral coyotes, cougars and buzzards. The black dragonflight have a pronounced presence in the area, mainly in the Lethlor Ravine and, later, in the Dustbowl. Scattered across the Badlands are camps of the Dustbelcher ogres.

The region is often mistaken for being an Alliance territory. It is an extreme environment, it is imperative to have an excellent map of the ruins and surroundings to survive, the sandstorms sweeping the region can confuse the landmarks. It is advisable to travel at night, to sleep during the day, to protect your face from sand and winds, and to provide plenty of water, or a mage.

Despite its position between Stormwind and Dun Morogh, the Badlands have traditionally been Horde territory, though the Alliance have recently established the encampment of Dragon's Mouth in the western part of the region. To the north of Dragon's Mouth lies the Horde stronghold of New Kargath, built after its predecessor was buried by an avalanche during the Cataclysm. In the east is the goblin town of Fuselight and its sister port town, Fuselight-by-the-Sea, both controlled by the neutral Steamwheedle Cartel. In the west, a massive, charred ravine called the Scar of the Worldbreaker was formed when Deathwing passed through the area.

In the northeast, near the border with Loch Modan, lie the ruins of a titan-forged fortress known as Uldaman, home to titan-forged earthen, savage troggs, and much information about the origins of the dwarven race, while the smaller Tomb of the Watchers has recently been unearthed in the center of the region. As a result, the Alliance-affiliated Explorers' League, the dwarven Dark Iron clan and the blood elven Reliquary are fighting for control over the ruins and any titan artifacts that may lie within.

In Hearthstone[edit | edit source]

Hearthstone's iteration of the Badlands is quite different to how it appears in World of Warcraft. Where in WoW it is an arid region without much going on, Hearthstone turns it into a classic wild west-style area with saloons, mining, and cowboys. In Hearthstone, the Bloodrock Mining Company has found an Azerite vein in the Badlands, and their operation is run by the corrupt Sheriff Barrelbrim. And it's the job of the unexpected band of noble outlaws to take him on.

Showdown in the Badlands tells the origin story of Reno Jackson and Elise Starseeker.

Long before Reno joined the League of Explorers, he was just a lone wanderer in search of profit. He heard through the great vine that Bloodrock was the place to get rich (or die trying, with a name like that). After wandering to town in search of a bountry, Reno was hired by Sheriff Eustace Barrlebrim to bring a group of outlaws to justice. In the sheriff's own words, these outlaws were the vilest, sickest scum on this side of Azeroth. But after signing the mayor's contract and pursuing the bounty, Reno found the truth: The outlaw boss was none other than the noble Elise Starseeker. Turns out the real villain was the sheriff himself, and the Azerite strip mine outside of the town was destabilizing the entirety of the Badlands. The townsfolk were digging up anything to get to those Azerite treasures. And the bad news was, if they kept this excavation up, the Badlands would be destroyed.^[2]

Expansion overview[edit | edit source]

The Bloodrock Mining Company found powerful Azerite in the Badlands. They’re digging deep and bleeding the land dry, disrupting the Badlands and awakening slumbering elementals! Now mysterious outlaws are riding into town to set things right. Tumbleweeds roll by and high noon looms. Grab your horse and your hat, it’s nearly time for a Showdown in the Badlands—launching November 14th!

Blog description[edit | edit source]

The Bloodrock Mining Company found powerful Azerite in the Badlands. They’re digging deep and bleeding the land dry, disrupting the Badlands and awakening slumbering elementals! Now mysterious outlaws are riding into town to set things right. Tumbleweeds roll by and high noon looms. Grab your horse and your hat, it’s nearly time for a Showdown in the Badlands!

Map of the Badlands in World of Warcraft: Classic
Map of the Badlands in World of Warcraft: Cataclysm

History[edit | edit source]

Teasers and announcement[edit | edit source]

On October 16, 2023, the official Hearthstone Twitter posted a teaser image containing darkened-out cowboy boots.^[3]

On October 17, the expansion was announced and new cards were revealed.

Trivia[edit | edit source]

Game designer Edward Goodwin is the set lead for Showdown in the Badlands.
Similarly to Mean Streets of Gadgetzan, Showdown in the Badlands takes an area in World of Warcraft and expands it with a new story.
The trailer is narrated by Travis Willingham and Amy Walker, Reno Jackson's and Elise Starseeker's voice actors.