Heroes of the Storm Bringing Back Popular Game Mode

Heroes of the Storm Revives Brawl Mode: A Celebration of Classic Maps and Challenges

Heroes of the Storm is bringing back its beloved Heroes Brawl game mode, rebranded as "Brawl Mode," offering players a chance to revisit dozens of discontinued maps and unique challenges. Initially available on the Public Test Realm (PTR), this exciting update is slated for official release within a month.

The original Heroes Brawl, launched in 2016 and inspired by Hearthstone's Tavern Brawls, featured weekly rotating game modes with unpredictable twists. These included altered map layouts, modified objectives, and unusual rulesets – from all-Nova sniper duels to action-packed Arena variations of existing battlegrounds and the memorable PvE Escape from Braxis. However, due to the rising popularity of single-lane maps and the maintenance challenges involved, the mode was ultimately replaced by ARAM in 2020.

Brawl Mode's return marks a significant event for Heroes of the Storm, nearly five years after its predecessor's retirement. The new iteration, currently in PTR testing, introduces a bi-weekly rotation (1st and 15th of each month), offering players a special chest for completing three matches within the active Brawl period. The exact reward structure (single reward per Brawl or multiple per week) remains to be confirmed. With a vast library of over two dozen past Brawls, players can anticipate the return of many favorites, and potentially even some brand-new challenges.

The initial Brawl Mode on the PTR is a holiday-themed "Snow Brawl." Given the three-week PTR testing period indicated in-game, the official launch of Brawl Mode in the live game is likely set for early February.

This resurgence of Heroes Brawl is particularly timely, coinciding with the 10-year anniversary of Heroes of the Storm on June 2nd, 2025. It's a welcome surprise for fans, and many are hopeful that this could signal a broader revitalization of the game.

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

The latest Heroes of the Storm patch is now available on the Public Test Realm for community testing. Please report any bugs encountered on the PTR Bug Report forum.

General Changes

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

Balance Updates

This section details balance adjustments for various heroes, including changes to talents and base stats for Auriel, Chromie, Johanna, Tracer, and Zul'jin. (Specific changes are omitted for brevity but are available in the original patch notes).

Bug Fixes

This section lists numerous bug fixes across various aspects of the game, including general gameplay issues, pathfinding improvements, and specific fixes for individual heroes (Alexstrasza, Azmodan, Brightwing, Chen, Cho'Gall, Dehaka, E.T.C., Falstad, Fenix, Johanna, Kharazim, Lúcio, Lunara, Maiev, Mei, Muradin, Probius, Rehgar, Samuro, Sgt. Hammer, Stukov, Sylvanas, The Butcher, The Lost Vikings, and Zagara). (Specific bug fixes are omitted for brevity but are available in the original patch notes).