The League of Explorers

This page is about the Adventure. For the characters called the "League of Explorers", see League of Explorers (organization).

"We've traversed the tombs of Naxxramas; we've climbed every cliff on Blackrock. Now, the world cries out for heroes, as a new evil rises. There will be danger! There will be doom! There will be ancient temples, filled with relics, treasures and traps! Who will answer the call?"

Wild format
With the arrival of the Year of the Mammoth, The League of Explorers is now a Wild format card set, which means cards from the The League of Explorers will no longer be playable in Standard format matches. For more information, see Game format.

The League of Explorers (LoE) is the third adventure for Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft, released November 12/13, 2015. An assortment of boss battles and Class Challenges with both Normal and Heroic modes, the adventure features 45 new collectible cards.^[1] With a strong theme of exploration, the adventure brought 2 new battlefields, and also a new keyword - Discover. In addition to the usual boss battles, the adventure also debuted a new kind of encounter - where the player must survive through several rounds of traps, ambushes and environmental events to escape to safety.

The adventure sees the player following four famed adventurers from the Explorers' League–Elise Starseeker, Reno Jackson, Sir Finley Mrrgglton, and Brann Bronzebeard–on a journey through some of Azeroth's most exotic and dangerous locations, on a quest to recover an ancient Titan artifact called the Staff of Origination. As each wing is completed, players gather pieces of the Staff, and put them on display in the museum. However, the League of Explorers are not the only ones searching for the artifact, and danger waits within the shadows.

The adventure went live on November 12 in the Americas region, and on November 13 in all other regions.^[2] The data for the adventure was added on November 10, 2015, with Patch 4.0.0.10833.

Structure[edit | edit source]

For general information on adventures, see Adventure.

The League of Explorers comprises 4 wings and 13 boss encounters
- Defeating each encounter for the first time will award copies of one or more new cards, which may be neutral or class-specific
- Completing each wing for the first time will award copies of at least one new card, including a legendary card corresponding to that wing
The adventure features 9 Class Challenges, one for each class
- Completing a Class Challenge will award 2 copies of a new class card
- Class Challenges can be unlocked through completing wings
The adventure has both Normal and Heroic modes, with the latter featuring "immensely difficult" versions of the same bosses
- Defeating all Heroic bosses will award a special card back

Summary[edit | edit source]

The below table summarises the structure of the adventure, with bosses matched with their corresponding rewards. The placement of the Class Challenge sections indicate which boss features in each Challenge, as well as which wing must be completed in order to unlock it. The "Dust value" column shows the amount of Arcane Dust the cards in that wing will produce if disenchanted. For deck listings and strategy for Class Challenges, see The League of Explorers Class Challenges.

Wing	Boss	Boss reward	Wing reward	Class Challenge	Challenge reward	Dust value
Purchasing the adventure (#0)	Explorer's Hat and Forgotten Torch					Total: 3170
Temple of Orsis (#1, November 12)	Zinaar	Djinni of Zephyrs Jeweled Scarab	Reno Jackson Ancient Shade	Warrior	Obsidian Destroyer	740
	Sun Raider Phaerix	Anubisath Sentinel Summoning Stone		Warlock	Dark Peddler
	Temple Escape	Rumbling Elemental Sacred Trial
Uldaman (#2, November 19)	Chieftain Scarvash	Tunnel Trogg Ethereal Conjurer	Brann Bronzebeard Excavated Evil	Druid	Mounted Raptor	580
	Mine Shaft	Tomb Spider Unearthed Raptor
	Archaedas	Fierce Monkey Reliquary Seeker		Paladin	Keeper of Uldaman
The Ruined City (#3, December 3)	Lord Slitherspear	Huge Toad Gorillabot A-3	Sir Finley Mrrgglton Jungle Moonkin	Hunter	Dart Trap	780
	Giantfin	Anyfin Can Happen Murloc Tinyfin		Shaman	Everyfin is Awesome
	Lady Naz'jar	Pit Snake Naga Sea Witch		Priest	Entomb
Hall of Explorers (#4, December 10)	Skelesaurus Hex	Fossilized Devilsaur Raven Idol	Elise Starseeker Arch-Thief Rafaam	Rogue	Tomb Pillager	1020
	The Steel Sentinel	Cursed Blade Museum Curator		Mage	Animated Armor
	Arch-Thief Rafaam	Curse of Rafaam Wobbling Runts
	Rafaam	Desert Camel Eerie Statue

How to get[edit | edit source]

Each wing of the adventure must be purchased before it can be played.
The fourth and final wing can only be purchased once the bosses in each of the other wings have been defeated (in any mode).
In order to access the adventure, the player must have unlocked all 10 classes.^[3]
Each wing was originally unlocked one per week following the initial release on November 12, with a one week break in the middle to accommodate the American Thanksgiving.^[4]^[1]
Each wing of the adventure must be purchased with Runestones in order to unlock it for play. Once a player has unlocked a wing, that wing stays unlocked, and can be replayed as frequently and as many times as desired.
Players who have already purchased at least one wing can purchase the remaining wings through the adventure itself.
Can only be purchased from the in-game shop using Runestones.

Pricing[edit | edit source]

Players can purchase wings using Gold or Runestones. "Bundle" discounts are offered if purchasing all remaining locked wings at one time using Runestones.

Note while players can purchase a variable number of wings, all options above a single wing involve buying all remaining wings. For example, it is not possible to use Runestones to purchase the first 3 wings, and then buy the final wing later; in order to buy multiple wings using Runestones, the player must buy all remaining wings. It is however possible to buy individual wings, and later buy all remaining wings at once.

Package	Runestones	Gold
All 4 wings	2000	2300
Remaining 3	1500	-
Remaining 2	1000	-
Individual wings	700	700

Previous availability[edit | edit source]

Prior to Patch 24.2.0.148211 and the introduction of Runestones, The League of Explorers could also be bought with the following real money prices:

Some of these prices changed on March 22, 2017.^[5]

Package	USD	EUR	GBP	AUD	BRL	RUR	MXN
All 4 wings	$19.99	€17.99	£16.99	$24.99	R$44,90	R999	$259
Remaining 3	$14.99	€13.99	£10.49	$18.99	R$33,90	R749	$189
Remaining 2	$9.99	€8.99	£6.99	$12.99	R$22,90	R499	$129
Individual wings	$6.99	€5.99	£4.99	$8.99	R$15,90	R329	$89

Encounters[edit | edit source]

Making decisions as you attempt to escape a crumbling temple

The League of Explorers features numerous boss encounters, mostly of the kind familiar from earlier adventures - see Boss for details.

However, League also features some more unusual encounters, which do not involve a boss, but rather a situation from which the player must escape, such as a crumbling temple which is falling down around their ears. Instead of an enemy hero, these encounters feature a timer, counting down the player's attempt to escape their predicament. Each turn, events will take place, which may include being ambushed by new attackers, Choose One-like decisions on how to proceed through the area's traps or which treasure to grab, and environmental events such as crushing boulders.

These encounters still feature a game board as usual, with the player's minions mostly serving to defend against attack from the nefarious denizens of the zone. However, with no enemy hero, the only goal of the encounter is to survive for the stated number of turns, as the conditions grow increasingly dangerous.

Cards[edit | edit source]

The League of Explorers adds 45 new collectible cards to the game, including 27 collectible class cards (3 for each) and 18 collectible neutral cards. League of Explorers cards can be recognised by a special watermark (an explorer's hat) behind the card text, not found on other cards.

Customize this list

Neutral

Related cards

Druid

Choice cards

Hunter

Mage

Related cards

Paladin

Priest

Rogue

Related cards

Shaman

Warlock

Related cards

Warrior

Related cards

Boss cards and Hero Powers[edit | edit source]

Main article: The League of Explorers boss cards

In addition to the playable cards listed above, The League of Explorers brings unique cards and Hero Powers available only during the adventure's boss encounters.

Themes[edit | edit source]

Discover[edit | edit source]

Discover in action

Main article: Discover

The adventure brings a new keyword: Discover. This ability presents the player with three possible cards, which are usable by the player's current class, but which are generated, not drawn from the deck. The player can choose one of these to add to their hand. The keyword involves strong elements of both RNG and strategy, with players having to predict their needs and what will best suit their deck.

Murlocs[edit | edit source]

From the gentleman and scholar Sir Finley Mrrgglton to the fearsome boss Giantfin, this adventure features an array of murlocs. Most importantly, players are able to obtain the following Murloc minions and related spells:

Shuffle into deck[edit | edit source]

With its overarching theme of discovery, it's perhaps unsurprising that this adventure doubles the amount of shuffle into deck effects previously in the game, rewarding players for digging through their decks - or punishing them for digging a little too deep.

Battlefields[edit | edit source]

The League of Explorers includes two new battlefields. Matches in the first and second wings are played exclusively upon the first battlefield, while matches in the fourth wing are played exclusively on the second battlefield. The third wing reuses the Stranglethorn battlefield, though it uses music from the prior wings.

"Excavation" - The battlefield used for the adventure's first two wings. It was designed to look like a perilous archaeological site^[6]

"The Hall of Explorers" - The battlefield used for the adventure's fourth wing. It was designed to look like the League of Explorer's headquarters^[7]

Card backs[edit | edit source]

A special card back is awarded to players for defeating all bosses in Heroic mode. The card back for Ranked play Season 20 (during which the adventure was launched) also matches the adventure.

Staff of Origination

Explorer's Map

Notes[edit | edit source]

This is the first content addition not to feature any Demons (or related cards).
The League of Explorers sold over 20% more units in the first 6 weeks post-launch than its predecessor Blackrock Mountain.^[8]^[9]
There was no pre-purchase option for this adventure, in part because of its release shortly after BlizzCon 2015.^[10] This is because adding an in-game pre-purchase option would have required a patch, which would have required "significant lead time"; something that was unavailable due to the short time window between revealing the set and its release. The patch could not have been made until after the reveal since this would have spoiled the adventure.^[10]

Storyline[edit | edit source]

For background information on the main characters, see Lore, below.

The League of Explorers are seeking a brave adventurer to assist them in finding the Staff of Origination - an ancient Titan artifact that will fit perfectly as a centrepiece in their museum. Elise Starseeker has a lead on where the three pieces of the Staff are, and the first one lies in the Temple of Orsis.

The Staff of Origination

Temple of Orsis[edit | edit source]

Assisting the player in their investigation of the Temple of Orsis is the impulsive treasure hunter Reno Jackson, who claims to have already cleared most of the traps from the Temple. However, when the two venture together into the Temple, Jackson can't resist grabbing an ancient lamp, unwittingly unleashing a certain djinni - Zinaar. Eventually the two reach the temple's treasure room, and find the first piece of the Staff - the Rod of the Sun. Unfortunately, the adventurers find it in the hands of the massive guardian Sun Raider Phaerix. Worse still, while it is only one piece of the Staff, the Rod is incredibly powerful, and grants the holder total immunity to damage.

After wresting control of the Staff from Phaerix, the adventurers find the Temple of Orsis crumbling around them, discovering too late that the Rod was the only thing keeping the Temple standing. Racing out of the collapsing structure, the two treasure hunters must avoid traps, navigate obstacles and make critical decisions as they attempt to escape, all the while contending with the ambushes of the Temple's deadly denizens.

Uldaman[edit | edit source]

With the first piece safely on display in the Hall of Explorers, Elise sends the player to the digsite Uldaman, once a mighty Titan city. With the dwarves having already partially excavated the site, Brann Bronzebeard is quick to volunteer his assistance in searching for the second piece. However, things have changed since the dwarves were at the digsite. While always plagued by troggs, one trogg has recently risen to dominance - Chieftain Scarvash - and is unwilling to allow outsiders passage within Uldaman.

While the adventurers eventually succeed in dethroning Scarvash, the Chieftain's loyal trogg followers are not too pleased with this, and the two must take flight. Luckily, Brann is familiar with some mine tracks laid by the dwarves during their earlier excavations of the site, and the two are able ride this to the centre of Uldaman, dodging attacks from the raging troggs all the while. However, waiting for them at the centre of the city is Archaedas, Titanic watcher, guardian of the vault containing the city's treasures, and holder of the second piece of the Staff.

The Temple of Orsis

The Ruined City[edit | edit source]

The third and final piece is believed to be deep within The Ruined City, a previously lost ruin deep in the jungles of Stranglethorn. With Sir Finley Mrrgglton already stationed in the area doing research on the local primates, the murloc gentleman is the perfect candidate to assist the player in hunting down the city, and the third piece of the Staff. However, it is Sir Finley himself who is first in need of the player's assistance, finding himself on the dinner menu of the local naga. To prevent Finley from being turned into murloc soup, the player must defeat Lord Slitherspear, with the naga hordes all the while growing hungrier and hungrier.

After freeing Finley from the cauldron, the two escape into The Ruined City. However, Finley is not the only murloc around, and the two soon run into trouble in the form of the gigantic Giantfin. After defeating the monstrous murloc, the two at last find the third piece of the Staff, the Pearl of the Tides - but it is already in the grasp of the naga sea witch, Lady Naz'jar. The adventurers will have to snatch the Pearl from the sea witch and turn it against her in order to escape.

Hall of Explorers[edit | edit source]

With all three pieces in their possession, the two return to the Hall of Explorers, to assemble the pieces of the Staff. However, they soon discover that they are not the only ones seeking the ancient artifact. A shadowy figure has been watching their every move in eager anticipation of their victorious return, and has no intention of letting them keep the Staff for the museum.

By assembling the Staff, the adventurers unwittingly trigger a curse laid upon it by the Supreme Archaeologist Arch-Thief Rafaam. The curse allows the ethereal to break through the wards surrounding the Hall of Explorers and teleport into the museum, where he uses magic from his many stolen artifacts to bring the exhibits to life, attacking the explorers.

With armies of exhibits springing to life around them, the five adventurers must band together in a fight unlike anything they've faced before, as the Arch-Thief Rafaam seizes the Staff of Origination and turns its powers to his own nefarious ends.

Dialogue[edit | edit source]

Most dialogue within the adventure takes place inside specific encounters, comprising threats, celebrations, and banter between the bosses and the player's companions. See individual boss pages for full listings, e.g., Zinaar#Dialogue.

However, some dialogue takes place within the menu screens of the adventure itself. This dialogue is listed below.

Launch blog[edit | edit source]

The following dialogue was featured in the launch blog.

Elise Starseeker: The Staff of Origination has been divided into three pieces, and they’ve been scattered across the face of Azeroth. If our translations are correct, now we know where the pieces are.
Brann Bronzebeard: Aye, we’re close! An ancient Titan artifact! Imagine what it’ll teach us!
Sir Finley Mrrgglton: Right-o, chap! Imagine how absolutely smashing it will look in the collection!
Reno Jackson: I imagine that it’s worth a fortune. . . Why are you all looking at me like that?

Adventure screen[edit | edit source]

Elise Starseeker: Good timing, adventurer; welcome to the Hall of Explorers!; We’ve got a lead on the three pieces of the Staff of Origination! Can you help us recover them?

Introduction[edit | edit source]

Elise Starseeker: I am Elise Starseeker, the Cartographer. We’ve got a lead on the three pieces of the Staff of Origination and could use your help!; I'll stay here and direct, but the other explorers are already in the field. Could you assist them?

Sir Finley Mrrgglton: We were just embarking on a mrrrgle of discovery. AHEM. A voyage of discovery, I should say!

Wing 1[edit | edit source]

Introduction

Elise Starseeker: The first piece of the Staff lies in the ancient Temple of Orsis. Reno's inside already and he needs your help!

Completion

Arch-Thief Rafaam: So they’re looking for the Staff. Heh heh heh.

Wing 2[edit | edit source]

Introduction

Brann Bronzebeard: Hail, fellow explorer! I'm Brann Bronzebeard, the League's founder. I’ve got a lead on the headpiece of the staff! It’s somewhere here in Uldaman.

Blog

Elise Starseeker: The Staff of Origination’s headpiece is located in Uldaman. I should caution you, Brann. It won’t be easy to get there, the excavation site is found deep within the forbidding wastes of the badlands.
Brann Bronzebeard: True!
Elise Starseeker: If you survive the journey to the site, the caverns are potentially unstable, and likely filled with venomous vermin of the most deadly sort.
Brann Bronzebeard: Yep!
Elise Starseeker: Also, we have reason to believe that the excavation is home to an entire tribe’s worth of savage, primitive, ill-tempered, and violent Troggs.
Brann Bronzebeard: Aye, that sounds like the place! I can’t wait to get started!^[11]

Completion

Arch-Thief Rafaam: They’ve found the second piece. My plan is nearly complete.

Wing 3[edit | edit source]

The Staff of Origination

Opening

Elise Starseeker: The third piece of the Staff, the Pearl of the Tides, is in Stranglethorn Jungle. Sir Finley's there, but I've lost contact with him.

Blog

Reno Jackson: Hey there little buddy! Are you all packed up for your expedition to Stranglethorn?

Sir Finley Mrrgglton: Indeed I am, Reno! I find the tropical climate quite agreeable, and I’m even fluent in the dialect of the local murloc tribes. I’m quite confident I can recover the Pearl of the Tides for the League!

Reno Jackson: Sensational. Great. Say, speaking of murlocs—did I ever tell you about the time I made a murloc disguise to sneak into--

Sir Finley Mrrgglton: Oh, yes! Very droll story, that. Still funny the hundredth time you tell it, ha ha. Why, would you look at the time! I really must be going. Immediately. Good bye, Reno!^[12]

Rafaam stealing the Staff

Completion

Elise Starseeker: Explorers, we've done it! After so many years, the Staff of Origination is complete.
Arch-Thief Rafaam: The final piece falls into place.
Reno Jackson: Hey, what?!
Arch-Thief Rafaam: Hello explorers. I am Rafaam, the Supreme Archaeologist!; Thank you for finding my staff. Let me give you a demonstration of its power!

Wing 4[edit | edit source]

Opening

Elise Starseeker: Rafaam's stolen the Staff and taken over the museum. He's animating the exhibits and stealing everything!

Blog[edit | edit source]

Elise Starseeker: Gentlemen, we must act quickly! Arch-Thief Rafaam has stolen the Staff of Origination, and now he plans to use its power to plunder the museum’s collection!

Brann Bronzebeard: Let ‘im try! Not one artifact passes through those gates on our watch!

Sir Finley Mrrgglton: Stand fast and prepare yourselves, my compatriots! Who knows what sorceries the Staff will unleash?

Reno Jackson: Relaaaaax. We’re the good guys. We can’t lose! Hey, did that suit of armor just wink at me?

Assembling the Staff[edit | edit source]

Early

Elise Starseeker: We finally have a lead on the Staff of Origination. It would be a great centerpiece for the museum.

Completion

Elise Starseeker: The Staff of Origination! Thanks to your heroism, the reassembled staff now lies safely in the Hall of Explorers.

Lore[edit | edit source]

For lore on the League itself, see League of Explorers (organization).

Scattered across ancient sites of Azeroth are pieces of a powerful Titan artifact: the Staff of Origination.^[13]

The League of Explorers follows four adventurers—Elise Starseeker, Reno Jackson, Sir Finley Mrrgglton, and Brann Bronzebeard—on their journey through the deepest jungles and hidden temples of Azeroth to recover an ancient artifact. These brave explorers will face many perils as they navigate through the Temple of Orsis, Uldaman, The Ruined City, and the Hall of Explorers on their most daring quest yet!^[1]

Adventure awaits! Grab your hat and join the League of Explorers to reclaim an ancient artifact of immense power. Prepare to journey to remote and exotic locales, defy insidious traps in the depths of forgotten temples, and dodge unfathomable doom at every turn to discover ancient treasures.^[14]

Travel alongside famous treasure hunter Brann Bronzebeard and his merry band of intrepid action-archeologists on a race to uncover the pieces of the Staff of Origination, a priceless, ancient artifact. But beware, for you are not the only one who's hunting the artifact. Others have picked up the scent as well, so you'll have to play your cards right to stay one step ahead of the competition and keep the Staff of Origination from falling into the wrong hands!^[3]

Arch-Thief Rafaam[edit | edit source]

Little is known about the villainous Arch-Thief Rafaam. Known as "the supreme archaeologist", this ethereal travels across worlds seeking powerful artifacts, and most recently appears to have set his sights upon the League of Explorers and their expedition to find the Staff of Origination. Watching the adventurers' every move, the Arch-Thief has no intention of allowing the Staff to be put into the museum.^[15]

The Staff of Origination[edit | edit source]

"There is an artifact that is so ancient, so powerful, and so cool, that it would be the perfect addition to the museum. It's called the Staff of Origination, and one explorer has been working tirelessly to find it."^[15]

The Staff of Origination is the overall objective of the adventure, with the League seeking it to serve as the centrepiece in their museum.^[15] The Staff has been broken into three pieces, and Elise Starseeker thinks she knows where to find them. However, the League are not the only ones hunting the artifact.

This ancient artifact was once used by the Titans, perhaps in relation to the Halls of Origination.

Constructed by the great titans, the Halls of Origination are filled with ancient relics and the fearsome guardians that protect them. Rumors abound that the complex also contains a devastating weapon capable of reordering all life on Azeroth. Deathwing has moved to obtain this terrifying device through his agent, Al'Akir the Windlord. Thus far the facility's communication systems have been fully corrupted, but the weapon inside continues to elude Deathwing's grasp.^[16]