Blizzard's free-to-play MOBA Heroes of the Storm sets itself apart in a number of ways. From shared experience points to a complete lack of items, the game is much different from other genre titles like League of Legends and Dota 2.
One of the biggest differences is maps — specifically, the fact that most MOBAs are really only played on one. That's not the case with Heroes of the Storm. The game currently has eight different battlegrounds, and now, Heroes of the Storm is getting yet another in the form of the Diablo-themed "Infernal Shrines."
The map takes cues from shrines in Diablo and combines it with elements from another Heroes of the Storm map, Sky Temple. Infernal Shrines is a three-lane map featuring three shrines that gain power over the course of the match. Players can activate these shrines by defeating the shrine guardians. Doing so will summon a massive creature called a Punisher that will help push toward the enemy base and damage the enemy team.
Blizzard is kicking a few of the older maps out of the rotation for the next week, so your chances of playing the new map will be greater. Log on between August 26 and September 2 and you'll be playing on Infernal Shrines, Battlefield of Eternity, Cursed Hollow, Dragon Shire, Sky Temple and Tomb of the Spider Queen. Garden of Terrors, Haunted Mines and Blackheart's Bay will be sitting the week out, but they will be back soon enough.
Heroes of the Storm recently received its first Diablo support character in the form of Kharazim, also known as the Monk from Diablo 3. He is a potent melee fighter or healer who can adapt to his team's needs with a variety of different traits and abilities.
Next up for Heroes of the Storm are two new heroes: Rexxar from Warcraft and Artanis from Starcraft. No word yet on when those heroes will be joining the game, but so far, Blizzard has kept the updates to Heroes of the Storm coming fast and frequent. Expect more details soon.
Just getting started in Heroes of the Storm? Check out our beginner's guide.
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