Hearthstone's new solo adventure Galakrond's Awakening is live

(Image credit: Blizzard)

The first chapter of Galakrond's Awakening, the new solo adventure in in the Year of the Dragon-concluding Hearthstone: Descent of Dragons, is now live. The adventure features two separate story campaigns, one for the League of Explorers and the other for the League of E.V.I.L., and the first chapter of the E.V.I.L. campaign, with four card rewards to earn, is free for all players.

The adventure begins with the League of E.V.I.L. in Northrend, where Rafaam intends to complete his plan of arch-villainy by resurrecting the proto-dragon Galakrond. Taking control of nefarious characters including Kriziki and Madame Lazul, players must battle through three encounters to complete the chapter, including a showdown with Sir Finley. Here's what you'll get for getting the job done:

(Image credit: Blizzard)

(Image credit: Blizzard)

On the League of Explorers side of chapter one, players will step into the boots of Brann Bronzebeard as they land on the heavily fortified shores of Northrend to battle E.V.I.L. baddies beginning with the notorious Dr. Boom. A total of seven card rewards are unlockable through the League of Explorers chapter:

(Image credit: Blizzard)

(Image credit: Blizzard)

(Image credit: Blizzard)

Chapter one of the League of Explorers campaign, and both sides of all subsequent chapters, can be purchased for $7 or 700 gold, or you can snap the whole thing up for $20. A total of 35 cards will be added to Hearthstone during the course of the campaign, along with two unique card backs for players who complete the campaigns on Heroic Mode. To get a good start on the action, don't miss our guide to conquering the first chapter of Galakrond's Awakening—for good and evil.

Andy Chalk

Andy has been gaming on PCs from the very beginning, starting as a youngster with text adventures and primitive action games on a cassette-based TRS80. From there he graduated to the glory days of Sierra Online adventures and Microprose sims, ran a local BBS, learned how to build PCs, and developed a longstanding love of RPGs, immersive sims, and shooters. He began writing videogame news in 2007 for The Escapist and somehow managed to avoid getting fired until 2014, when he joined the storied ranks of PC Gamer. He covers all aspects of the industry, from new game announcements and patch notes to legal disputes, Twitch beefs, esports, and Henry Cavill. Lots of Henry Cavill.