Heroes of the Storm

Heroes of the Storm, often shortened to Heroes or HotS (even though "HotS" can also refer to a StarCraft II expansion), is a Blizzard Entertainment "hero brawler" game which was initially inspired by the Defense of the Ancients custom map for Warcraft III. The game features characters from across the Warcraft, StarCraft, The Lost Vikings, Diablo and Overwatch franchises, who are seized by an unknown force and brought together in a mysterious location known as the Nexus to do battle.
On 13 December 2018, Blizzard decided to pull some developers to other projects and announce that the Heroes Global Championship and Heroes of the Dorm will not return in 2019. New content for the game came to a halt in July 2022 but would still receive support in the form of client sustainability and bug fixing along with balance updates as needed.
==Gameplay==
Heroes of the Storm is a team-based competitive game in which each player controls a powerful hero with unique abilities, and works with his or her team to invade and destroy the enemy team's base. However, it has a number of features which set it apart from other DOTA-style games. Experience is shared between all players on a team (so there is no benefit to last-hitting). There are no purchasable items (but characters can be customized by learning talents as they level up). All skills are unlocked at the beginning of a match. Games are intended to last for about 20 minutes each, and each map has unique objectives.
==Heroes==
89 hero characters that are playable are:
*2 Original heroes: , 
*1 Blizzard Classic franchise hero: The Lost Vikings
*18 Diablo franchise heroes: Auriel, Azmodan, Cassia, Deckard, Diablo, Imperius, Johanna, Kharazim, Leoric, Li-Ming, Malthael, Mephisto, Nazeebo, Sonya, The Butcher, Tyrael, Valla, Xul
*9 Overwatch franchise heroes: Ana, D.Va, Genji, Hanzo, Junkrat, Lúcio, Mei, Tracer, Zarya
*17 StarCraft franchise heroes: Abathur, Alarak, Artanis, Blaze, Dehaka, Fenix, Kerrigan, Lt. Morales, Nova, Probius, Raynor, Sgt. Hammer, Stukov, Tassadar, Tychus, Zagara, Zeratul
*43 Warcraft franchise heroes: Alexstrasza, Anduin, Anub'arak, Arthas, Brightwing, Chen, Cho'gall (in-game as 2 heroes Cho and Gall), Chromie, Deathwing, E.T.C., Falstad, Garrosh, Gazlowe, Greymane, Gul'dan, Hogger, Illidan, Jaina, Kael'thas, Kel'Thuzad, Li Li, Lunara, Maiev, Mal'Ganis, Malfurion, Medivh, Muradin, Murky, Ragnaros, Rehgar, Rexxar, Samuro, Stitches, Sylvanas, Thrall, Tyrande, Uther, Valeera, Varian, Whitemane, Yrel, Zul'jin
One of the game's features is the ability to purchase or earn skins for each hero, with each skin often available in different color schemes alongside the 'traditional' colors. Some skins represent characters from the past, a different timeline, or even a parallel universe such as:
*The Stormrage twins had their roles switched and Tyrande became a Warden.
*A version of Tyrande who is a blood elf descendant of her namesake, Tyrande Windrunner.
*Thrall embraced the power of the Aspect of Earth, becoming consumed by living rock and permanently changed.
*Uther survived his last battle with Arthas and later lead the Alliance forces in Northrend during WotLK.
*Uther was Arthur Light, humble lumberjack from British Columbia.
*In a world made from confections, Muradin was king of Kandy Mountain.
*A version of Rexxar from the StarCraft universe who is a mutated human called military ursine-handler Cpl. Rex Arkk.
*A version of Jaina that is a Dreadlord.
A model for Gelbin Mekkatorque has been shown been shown at past BlizzCons but he was never added to the game. Other characters Blizzard have considered from the Warcraft universe include Aggra, Azshara, Brann, Cenarius, Dagg'um Ty'gor, Dr. Boom, Gallywix, Grom, Harth, Kil'jaeden, Moira, Varimathras, Vashj, Velen, and Vol'jin.List of unconfirmed heroes - Warcraft, accessed on 2016-05-05
==Battlegrounds==
Battlegrounds or maps are the battlefields upon which the heroes do battle and matches are fought. Each battleground has a different layout as well as unique features that set it apart from the others.
14 battlegrounds that are currently playable are:
*8 battlegrounds unique to Heroes of the Storm: Blackheart's Bay, Cursed Hollow, Dragon Shire, Garden of Terror, Haunted Mines, Sky Temple, Tomb of the Spider Queen, Towers of Doom.
*2 Diablo franchise battlegrounds: Battlefield of Eternity, Infernal Shrines.
*2 Overwatch franchise battlegrounds: Hanamura Temple, Volskaya Foundry.
*2 Starcraft franchise battlegrounds: Braxis Holdout, Warhead Junction.
*1 Warcraft franchise battleground: Alterac Pass.
==Notes and trivia==
*The original name - Blizzard DOTA - was at the heart of a legal battle between Valve, who wanted to trademark "DOTA" for their own use, and Blizzard, who wanted to prevent the trademark so that it could be freely used by the gaming community. Ultimately, they decided that DOTA could be freely used non-commercially, while Valve retained exclusive rights to its commercial usage. As a result, Blizzard DOTA was renamed Blizzard All-Stars. Rob Pardo commented that the new title "ultimately better reflects the design of our game."Valve and Blizzard settle over use of DOTA On October 17, 2013, the game was renamed yet again to Heroes of the Storm.Battle.Net: Heroes of the Storm
*Blizzard does not use the terms "ARTS" or "MOBA", feeling that the game is more accurately described as a "hero brawler".GameSpot: Blizzard explains why it doesn't call Heroes of the Storm a MOBA However with the 2022 redesign of the Blizzard.com website, they now list the game as a "MOBA".
*Carbot Animations drawn characters in Heroes of the Storm as collectable portraits and sprays.
==Gallery==
===Hero models===
Alexstrasza HotS.jpg|Alexstrasza
Alexstrasza Dragonqueen HotS.jpg|Alexstrasza in Dragonqueen form.
Anduin HotS.jpg|Anduin
Anub'arak HotS.jpg|Anub'arak
Arthas HotS.jpg|Arthas
Brightwing HotS.jpg|Brightwing
Chen HotS.jpg|Chen
Chen Storm, Earth, and Fire HotS.jpg|Chen split into elemental spirits using :Storm, Earth, and Fire.
Cho'gall HotS.jpg|Cho'gall
Chromie HotS.jpg|Chromie
Deathwing HotS.jpg|Deathwing
ETC HotS.jpg|E.T.C.
Falstad HotS.jpg|Falstad
Garrosh HotS.jpg|Garrosh
Gazlowe HotS.jpg|Gazlowe
Greymane HotS.jpg|Greymane
Gul'dan HotS.jpg|Gul'dan
Hogger HotS.jpg|Hogger
Illidan HotS.jpg|Illidan
Illidan Metamorphosis form HotS.jpg|Illidan in :Metamorphosis form.
Jaina HotS.jpg|Jaina
Kael'thas HotS.jpg|Kael'thas
Kel'Thuzad HotS.jpg|Kel'Thuzad
Li Li HotS.jpg|Li Li
Lunara HotS.jpg|Lunara
Maiev HotS.jpg|Maiev
Mal'Ganis HotS.jpg|Mal'Ganis
Malfurion HotS.jpg|Malfurion
Medivh HotS.jpg|Medivh
Medivh Raven Form HotS.jpg|Medivh in Raven Form.
Muradin HotS.jpg|Muradin
Muradin Avatar HotS.jpg|Muradin in :Avatar form.
Muradin HotS Magni.jpg|Magni Muradin skin.
Muradin Avatar HotS Magni.jpg|Magni Muradin in Avatar form.
Murky HotS.jpg|Murky
Ragnaros HotS.jpg|Ragnaros
Rehgar HotS.jpg|Rehgar
Rehgar Ghost Wolf HotS.jpg|Rehgar in :Ghost Wolf form.
Rexxar HotS.jpg|Rexxar and Misha
Samuro HotS.jpg|Samuro
Stitches HotS.jpg|Stitches
Sylvanas HotS.jpg|Sylvanas
Thrall HotS.jpg|Thrall
Tyrande HotS.jpg|Tyrande
Uther HotS.jpg|Uther
Valeera HotS.jpg|Valeera
Varian HotS.jpg|Varian
Whitemane HotS.jpg|Whitemane
Yrel HotS.jpg|Yrel
Zul'jin HotS.jpg|Zul'jin
:Skins from other franchises heroes merging into Warcraft
Lt. Morales HotS Apothecary.jpg|Apothecary Morales
Azmodan HotS AzGul'dan.jpg|AzGul'dan
Zagara HotS Crypt Queen.jpg|Crypt Queen Zagara
Sonya HotS Death Knight.jpg|Death Knight Sonya
Sonya HotS Deathbringer.jpg|Deathbringer Sonya
Draenei Executor Artanis HotS.jpg|Draenei Executor Artanis
D.Va HotS The Destroyer.jpg|D.Va the Destroyer
Hanzo HotS Farstrider.jpg|Farstrider Hanzo
Blaze HotS Fel Reaver.jpg|Fel Reaver Blaze
Leoric HotS God-King.jpg|God-King Leoric
Alarak HotS Herald of N'zoth.jpg|Herald of N'zoth Alarak
Lt. Morales HotS 2.jpg|Knight-Lieutenant Morales
Kerrigan HotS Legion Mistress.jpg|Legion Mistress Kerrigan
Sonya HotS Legion's Wrath.jpg|Legion's Wrath Sonya
Diablo HotS Lurkablo.jpg|Lurkablo
Necrotopologist Mei HotS.jpg|Necrotopologist Mei
Sapper Junkrat.png|Sapper Junkrat
Sgt. Hammer HotS Sgt. Doomhammer.jpg|Sgt. Doomhammer
Johanna HotS Spellbreaker.jpg|Spellbreaker Johanna
Auriel HotS Spirit Healer Skin.png|Spirit Healer Auriel
Kerrigan HotS Succubus.jpg|Succubus Kerrigan
Leoric HotS Vrykul.jpg|Vrykul Leoric
Warsong Johanna.png|Warsong Johanna
Sonya HotS Wrath.jpg|Wrath Sonya
Nazeebo HotS jungle troll head.jpg|A jungle troll head is carried by a Diablo franchise hero.
===Hero artwork===
Alexstrasza HotS Art.jpg|Alexstrasza
AnduinHeroes.png|Anduin Wrynn
Anubarak HotS Art.jpg|Anub'arak
Arthas HotS Art.jpg|Arthas Menethil
Brightwing HotS Art.jpg|Brightwing
Chen HotS Art.jpg|Chen Stormstout
Cho'gall HotS Art.jpg|Cho'gall
Chromie HotS Art.jpg|Chromie
Deathwing HotS Art.jpg|Deathwing
ETC HotS Art.jpg|E.T.C.
Falstad HotS Art.jpg|Falstad Wildhammer
Garrosh HotS Art.jpg|Garrosh Hellscream
Gazlowe HotS Art.jpg|Gazlowe
Greymane HotS Art.jpg|Genn Greymane
Gul'dan HotS art.jpg|Gul'dan
Hogger HotS key art.jpg|Hogger
Illidan HotS Art.jpg|Illidan Stormrage
Jaina HotS Art.jpg|Jaina Proudmoore
Kael'thas HotS Art.jpg|Kael'thas Sunstrider
Kel'Thuzad HotS Art.jpg|Kel'Thuzad
LiLi HotS Art.jpg|Li Li Stormstout
Lunara HotS Art.jpg|Lunara
Maiev HotS Art.jpg|Maiev Shadowsong
Mal'Ganis HotS Art.jpg|Mal'Ganis
Malfurion HotS Art.jpg|Malfurion Stormrage
Medivh HotS Art.jpg|Medivh
Muradin HotS Art.jpg|Muradin Bronzebeard
Murky HotS Art.jpg|Murky
Ragnaros HotS Art.jpg|Ragnaros
Rehgar HotS Art.jpg|Rehgar Earthfury
Rexxar HotS Art.jpg|Rexxar and Misha
Whitemane HotS Art.jpg|Sally Whitemane
Samuro HotS Art.jpg|Samuro
Stitches HotS Art.jpg|Stitches
Sylvanas HotS Art.jpg|Sylvanas Windrunner
Thrall HotS Art.jpg|Thrall
Tyrande HotS Art.jpg|Tyrande Whisperwind
Uther HotS Art.jpg|Uther the Lightbringer
Valeera HotS Art.jpg|Valeera Sanguinar
Varian HotS Art.jpg|Varian Wrynn
Yrel HotS Art.jpg|Yrel
Zul'jin HotS Art.jpg|Zul'jin
===Creatures summoned by heroes===
Sylvanas Haunting Wave HOTS.jpg|Banshees created by Sylvanas's basic ability Haunting Wave.
Mal'Ganis Carrion Swarm HOTS.jpg|Bats created by Mal'Ganis's Heroic ability Carrion Swarm, also created by his Plague Bats talent.
Anub'arak Locust Swarm and Scarab Host HOTS.jpg|Anub'arak's basic ability Scarab Host spawns a Beetle. Anub'arak's Heroic ability Locust Swarm creates locusts.
Unleash the Boars HOTS.jpg|Boars created by Rexxar's Heroic ability Unleash the Boars.
Cloud Serpent HOTS.jpg|Li Li's basic ability Cloud Serpent.
Gall Eye of Kilrogg HOTS.jpg|:Eye of Kilrogg Gall's ability.
Ghoul HOTS.jpg|Ghoul created by Arthas's Heroic ability :Army of the Dead.
Feral Spirit Thrall HOTS.jpg|Thrall's basic ability :Feral Spirit.
Murky March of the Murlocs HOTS.jpg|Murky's Heroic ability March of the Murlocs.
Mr. Bigglesworth HOTS.png|Mr. Bigglesworth appears as part of Kel'Thuzad's dance animation.
Murky Octo-Grab HOTS.jpg|Murky's Heroic ability Octo-Grab.
Phoenix HOTS.jpg|Phoenix created by Kael'thas's Heroic ability Phoenix.
Murky Pufferfish HOTS.jpg|Murky's basic ability Pufferfish.
Tyrande Sentinel HOTS.jpg|Tyrande's basic ability Sentinel (a owl).
Gazlowe Rock-It! Turrets HOTS.jpg|Gazlowe's basic ability Rock-It! Turret creates a independent turret.
Shade HOTS.jpg|Shade created by Kel'Thuzad's Talent ability The Damned Return.
Sindragosa HOTS.jpg|Sindragosa created by Arthas's Heroic ability Summon Sindragosa.
Spirit Swoop Rexxar HOTS.jpg|Rexxar's basic ability Spirit Swoop (a hawk).
Malfurion's Treant HOTS.jpg|Treant created by Malfurion's ability :Entangling Roots after taking the Talent Vengeful Roots.
Summon Water Elemental HOTS.jpg|Water elemental created by Jaina's Heroic ability :Summon Water Elemental.
Wisp Lunara HOTS.jpg|Lunara's basic ability Wisp.
:Creatures summoned by Warcraft heroes unique to Heroes of the Storm
Stitches Retchling HOTS.jpg|Retchling created by Stitches's ability Devour after taking the Talent Indigestion.
Water Dragon Li Li HOTS.jpg|Li Li's Heroic ability Water Dragon.
===Battleground NPCs===
Harrison Jones Sky Temple.jpg|Harrison Jones escaping the Sky Temple.
Harrison Jones Tomb of the Spider Queen.jpg|Harrison Jones in the Tomb of the Spider Queen.
Headless Horseman Towers of Doom.jpg|Headless Horseman Towers of Doom boss mercenary.
Spirit Healer Heroes.jpg|Spirit Healers can be seen in the Towers of Doom and Alterac Pass battlegrounds. 
Alterac Pass Vanndar Stormpike HotS.jpg|Alterac Pass Vanndar Stormpike.
Alterac Pass Drek'Thar HotS.jpg|Alterac Pass General Drek'Thar.
Alterac Pass Alliance Footman.jpg|Alterac Pass human footman model used for melee minions and prison s.
Alterac Pass orc melee minion.jpg|Alterac Pass orc melee minion, model also used for prison s.
Alterac Pass Rifleman.jpg|Alterac Pass dwarf rifleman ranged minion model.
Alterac Pass Troll.jpg|Alterac Pass jungle troll ranged minion.
Alterac Pass night elf leader minion.jpg|Alterac Pass night elf leader minion.
Alterac Pass blood elf leader minion.jpg|Alterac Pass blood elf leader minion.
Alterac Pass Alliance cavalry.jpg|Alterac Pass Alliance cavalry.
Alterac Pass Horde cavalry.jpg|Alterac Pass Horde cavalry.
Alterac Pass Gnoll.jpg|Alterac Pass gnoll model reaver minion (left) and mercenary (right).
Alterac Pass 3.jpg|Alterac Pass ice giant boss mercenary.
Alterac Pass peon.jpg|Alterac Pass sleeping orc peon.
===Mounts===
Amani War Bear Crimson HotS.jpg|:Amani War Bear.
Arcadian War Turtle HotS.jpg|:Arcadian War Turtle.
Dire Wolf HotS.jpg|Dire wolf
Primal Direhorn HotS.jpg|Direhorn
Felsaber HotS.jpg|Felsaber
Felstalker HotS.jpg|Felstalker
Swift Frostwolf HotS.jpg|Frost wolf
Meat Wagon HotS.jpg|Meat wagon
Battle for Azeroth Heroes.jpg|:Primal Flamesaber.
Stormpike Ram HotS.jpg|Ram
Tamed Ravasaur HotS.jpg|Ravasaur
Reverence HotS.jpg|Reverence
Seeker HotS.jpg|Seeker
===Other===
Heroes of the Storm.jpg|Heroes of the Storm.
Heroes of the Storm 2.jpg|Heroes of the Storm.
Eternal Conflict.jpg|The Eternal Conflict, a Diablo event.
HotS Arena.jpg|Welcome to the Arena.
Machines of War.jpg|Machines of War, a StarCraft event.
Echoes of Alterac.jpg|Echoes of Alterac, a Warcraft event.
Echoes of Alterac logo.png|Echoes of Alterac logo, Warcraft-themed
Echoes of Alterac - Alliance.jpg|Echoes of Alterac, a Warcraft event (Alliance skins).
Echoes of Alterac - Horde.jpg|Echoes of Alterac, a Warcraft event (Horde skins).
Alterac Pass Loading Screen.jpg|Alterac Pass loading screen.
Alterac Pass Catapult.jpg|Alterac Pass catapult prop.
Alterac Pass Ballista.jpg|Alterac Pass ballista prop.
CraftWars art.png| event art.
CraftWars logo.png|CraftWars logo, StarCraft and Warcraft-themed
Legends of the Past event HotS Rehgar art.jpg|Legends of the Past event art.
;As Blizzard DOTA
Muradin Dota.jpg|Muradin
Stitches Dota.jpg|Stitches
Arthas Dota.jpg|Arthas
Illidan Dota.jpg|Illidan Stormrage
;Unreleased content that was shown by Blizzard
All-Stars.jpg|Blizzard DOTA.
Grunty Blizzard DOTA.jpg| Hero for Blizzard DOTA.
Ogre mercenary concept.jpg|Ogre mercenary concept art as shown at BlizzCon 2011.
Ogre mercenary models Blizzard DOTA.jpg|Ogre mercenary models as shown at BlizzCon 2011.
Goblin shop Blizzard All-Stars.jpg|Goblin shop in Blizzard All-Stars.
BAS Tinker 02 copy.jpg|Unused Gazlowe version.
Mekkatorque HotS.jpg|Gelbin Mekkatorque model shown at BlizzCons still unused in-game.
Neo-Stormwind.jpg| (concept for a Realm within the Nexus)
==Videos==
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==References==
==External links==
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Category:Games
es:Heroes of the Storm