Blizzard has announced that a new expansion is coming in Hearthstone next month. Villains are taking over in the new Rise Of Shadows expansion, which will launch on 9 April 2019. It will also mark the beginning of the digital card game’s very first year-long storyline, along with 135 new cards and several new mechanics to boot.

In the Rise Of Shadows expansion, Arch-Thief Rafaam is licking his wounds after his defeat at the hands of the League of Explorers when he realizes that he can’t achieve anything alone. He then sets out to recruit some of the greatest villains in all of Hearthstone to join the League of E.V.I.L., including King Togwaggle, Madam Lazul, Dr. Boom, and Hagatha the Witch.

That’s not all, as each villain will also have access to Lackeys, 1/1 minions with a variety of diabolical Battlecries. These Lackeys can then unleash Schemes, new spells that grow more powerful with each turn.

Blizzard Entertainment president J. Allen Brack said:

“Hearthstone has a cast of fan-favorite villains, and it’s a thrill to see them take center stage in Rise of Shadows. We can’t wait for players to get in on the mayhem in this expansion, with a bunch of sinister new cards at their disposal.”

In response to these new villains, a mysterious crime-fighting organization has popped up; the Defenders of Dalaran. These heroes can wield Twinspells, new spells that can generate a copy of themselves that can be cast again on a later turn.

Those who pre-purchase the Rise Of Shadows pack will receive different incentives. The 50-pack bundle includes a random Legendary and the Jewel of Lazul card back, while the 80-pack Mega Bundle includes a random golden Legendary and Jewel of Lazul card back, as well as a new playable Priest Hero, the mysterious Madam Lazul. They’re priced at $49.99 and $79.99, respectively.

In the meantime, check out the Hearthstone Rise Of Shadows cinematic trailer below.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRV4nooto6A&w=560&h=315]