Heroes of the Storm Revives Fan-Favorite Mode

Heroes of the Storm is set to revitalize its gameplay with the return of the beloved Heroes Brawl, now rebranded as Brawl Mode. This exciting update brings back dozens of discontinued maps that haven't been seen in nearly five years, offering players a chance to relive some classic challenges. The Brawl Mode is currently available for testing on the Heroes of the Storm Public Test Realm (PTR) and is expected to officially launch with the next patch in about a month.

Originally introduced as Arena Mode in 2016, Heroes Brawl was inspired by Hearthstone's Tavern Brawls and brought unique map layouts, alternative objectives, and quirky rulesets to the game. Notable Brawls included the all-Nova Ghost Protocol sniper duel, action-packed Arena versions of various battlefields, and the PvE mission Escape from Braxis. Despite its popularity, Heroes Brawl was replaced by ARAM in 2020 due to the challenges of maintaining the mode and the preference for single-lane maps.

The new Brawl Mode will rotate every two weeks, on the 1st and 15th of each month, differing from the weekly rotation of its predecessor. Players can earn a special chest by participating in three games of the active Brawl. It's unclear whether this reward can be earned once per Brawl or weekly during its availability. With over two dozen past Brawls, fans can look forward to seeing many favorites return, along with potential new additions.

The first Brawl Mode to hit the PTR is the holiday-themed Snow Brawl, which players can test now. The official launch of Brawl Mode is anticipated to coincide with the beginning of February, following the three-week duration of the PTR version.

The timing of this update is particularly significant as June 2, 2025, marks the 10-year anniversary of Heroes of the Storm. The return of Brawl Mode is a major win for fans and could signal further developments or even a revival of the game.

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

The latest patch for Heroes of the Storm is now available on the Public Test Realm for playtesting. Players are encouraged to report any bugs encountered during their sessions 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 every month.

Balance Update

Heroes

• Auriel
  • Talents
    • Level 1
      • Searing Light - Now only deals damage to 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 - Lingering Slowing Sands no longer consume Energy. Now also increases Slowing Sands cast range by 50%.
• Johanna
  • Base
    • Shield Glare [E] - Mana cost increased from 45 to 55.
  • Talents
    • Level 1
      • Divine Fortress - Health bonus starting value 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 seconds 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 from Regen Globes 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? [Trait] - Basic Attack damage increased from 94 to 118. Bonus from quest completion reduced from 1 to .25.
  • Talents
    • Level 1
      • Recklessness - Basic Attack damage bonus reduced from 15% to 10%.
    • Level 10
      • Guillotine - Cooldown reduced from 40 seconds to 30 seconds. Mana cost reduced from 70 to 60.
      • Taz'dingo! - Cooldown increased from 90 seconds to 100 seconds. Mana cost increased from 75 to 80.
    • Level 16
      • Let the Killing Begin - Kill window reduced from 1.5 seconds to 0.5 seconds.
    • Level 20
      • Buzzsaw - Kill window reduced from 1.5 seconds 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.

Heroes

• Alexstrasza
  • Base
    • Flame Buffet [E] - Fixed an issue that caused Flame Buffet's Slow to be instantly removed on targets with reduced duration on being Slowed.
• Azmodan
  • Level 13
    • Chain of Command - Fixed an issue that caused Chain of Command to not apply to Demonic Invasion's on-death explosion.
• Brightwing
  • Base
    • Phase Shift [Z] - Fixed an issue with Phase Shift's Store Icon.
• Chen
  • Level 10
    • Storm, Earth, Fire - Fixed an issue that caused Storm, Earth, Fire Spirits to not contest Capture Points.
• Cho'Gall
  • General
    • Fixed an issue that caused Cho'Gall to contest points while Cho is in Stasis.
• Dehaka
  • Base
    • Brushstalker [Z] - Fixed an issue with Brushstalker's Store Icon. Will now clamp the minimum cast range to Dehaka's radius.
• E.T.C.
  • Level 7
    • Pinball Wizard - Bonus damage updated to be additive.
  • Level 13
    • Face Smelt - Fixed an issue that caused Face Smelt's Slow to be instantly removed on targets with reduced duration on being Slowed.
• Falstad
  • Base
    • Flight [Z] - Fixed an issue with Flight's Store Icon.
  • Level 10
    • Mighty Gust - Fixed an issue that caused Mighty Gust's Slow to be instantly removed on targets with reduced duration on being Slowed.
• Fenix
  • Level 1
    • Arsenal Synergy - Fixed an issue that caused Arsenal Synergy to not grant cooldown reduction for the primary target hit by Phase Bomb.
  • Level 4
    • Inhibiting Energy - Fixed an issue that caused Inhibiting Energy to be instantly removed on targets with reduced duration on being Slowed.
• Johanna
  • Base
    • Punish [Q] - Fixed an issue that caused Punish to be instantly removed on targets with reduced duration on being Slowed.
• Kharazim
  • Level 4
    • Spirit Ally - Fixed an issue that caused Spirit Ally's heal FX to be visible in Fog of War.
• Lúcio
  • Base
    • Wall Ride [Z] - Fixed an issue with Wall Ride's Store Icon.
• Lunara
  • Base
    • Crippling Spores [W] - Fixed an issue that caused Crippling Spores to be instantly removed on targets with reduced duration on being Slowed.
• Maiev
  • Level 16
    • Armored Assault - Fixed an issue that caused Armored Assault to not grant the full bonus to Umbral Bind's Cleave.
• Mei
  • Base
    • Icing [E] - Fixed an issue that caused Icing's Slow to be instantly removed on targets with reduced duration on being Slowed.
  • Level 10
    • Ice Wall - Fixed an issue that caused Ice Wall to not apply Stopped to D.Va's Self Destruct.
• Muradin
  • Level 4
    • Thunder Burn - Tooltip has been updated to show Thunder Burn is a multiplicative reduction.
  • Level 13
    • Thunder Strike - Damage increase is now additive.
• Probius
  • Base
    • Worker Rush [Z] - Fixed an issue with Work Rush's Store Icon.
• Rehgar
  • Base
    • Purge [Trait] - Fixed an issue that caused Purge to be instantly removed on targets with reduced duration on being Slowed.
• Samuro
  • Base
    • Critical Strike [W] - Fixed an issue that caused Critical Strike FX to persist if Samuro is killed while he has maximum Critical Strike stacks.
  • Level 13
    • Kawarimi - Fixed an issue that caused Kawarimi to create a Mirror Image with the incorrect starting Health.
• Sgt. Hammer
  • Base
    • Thrusters [Z] - Fixed an issue with Thrusters' Store Icon.
• Stukov
  • Base
    • Weighted Pustule [W] - Fixed an issue that caused Weighted Pustule's increasing Slow to be instantly removed on targets with reduced duration on being Slowed.
• Sylvanas
  • Level 1
    • Unfurling Shadows - Fixed an issue that caused Unfurling Shadows to not grant quest progress for the impact damage of Shadow Dagger created by spread.
• The Butcher
  • Base
    • Hamstring [Q] - Fixed an issue that caused Hamstring to be instantly removed on targets with reduced duration on being Slowed.
• The Lost Vikings
  • Base
    • Go Go Go! [Z] - Fixed an issue with Go Go Go's Store Icon.
• Zagara
  • Level 20
    • Pack Instinct - Fixed an issue that caused Devouring Maw to gain more bonuses than intended from Pack Instinct.