Hearthstone: Rexxar Book of Heroes guide

The second Hearthstone character featured in the Book of Heroes solo adventure mode (the follow-up to Jaina Proudmoore’s Book of Heroes adventure) is Rexxar, the half-orc, half-ogre Beastmaster Hunter.

The Rexxar Book of Heroes adventure follows Rexxar’s journey from his homeland in the Blade’s Edge Mountains, a land of sickle-sharp mountain and peaks and dusty canyons in Draenor; to him becoming an outcast of his own tribe, the Mok’nathal; to bestially-attuned nomad; and all the way to vaunted hero of the Horde — but before you can witness his entire story, you have to complete eight key encounters from Rexxar’s life. Our Rexxar Book of Heroes guide will help you through Rexxar’s narrative, from his early dispute with own father Leoroxx to his first meeting with bear companion Misha to a naval battle with Jaina Proudmoore’s father, Daelin Proudmoore.

Challenge #1: Leoroxx

“Rexxar’s father thinks he knows best, but does he truly?”

Leoroxx’s Hero Power: (2) Reprimand: Reduce the Attack of an enemy minion by 1 for a turn.

Leoroxx’s Deck:

The first encounter depicts a familial dispute between Rexxar and his very own father, Leoroxx. This is a straightforward fight, although you’ll have to play around Leoroxx’s Secrets and Hunter Weapons.

Tips and observations:

• Leoroxx has a pair of Explosive Trap and Freezing Trap secrets in his arsenal, so be sure to test for them before loading minions on your side of the field.
• Play Haratha as soon as possible, even if Leoroxx’s side of the board isn’t full of minions; she’ll serve as an able impediment against Leoroxx’s Eaglehorn Bow and Headhunter’s Hatchet weapons and he’ll almost always have to attack Haratha head-on and take face damage.
• Leoroxx has plenty of board removal and Hunter Secrets, so be sure to whittle his health down with your Hero Power as often as possible.

Challenge #2: Warchief Blackhand

“Uniting the orc clans into the Horde, he has secured dominance over the land.”

Blackhand’s Hero Power: (2) Backhand: Destroy a random damaged enemy minion.

Blackhand’s Deck:

After being banished from his home by his father Leoroxx, Rexxar seeks an audience with the Warchief of the Horde to persuade him to spare his people in the Mok’nathal Clan.

This is another straightforward fight where you’ll want to chip away as much health away from Blackhand with your Hero Power before going for lethal.

Tips and observations:

• Rexxar upgrades his Hero Power to Ballista Shot in this encounter, which deals 3 damage to the enemy hero instead of 2; naturally, you’ll want to use this Hero Power as often as possible, especially considering Blackhand’s Hero Power is very minion-centric.
• Use Multi-Shot in conjunction with Burrowing Scorpid’s Battlecry to clear minions like Emberscale Drake.
• Confused by the Beast Companion card? Don’t be. It’s the same as Animal Companion only the Beast summoned are ones found in Outland.

Challenge #3: Misha

“Winning the trust of a bear isn’t easy. You need patience. And snacks.”

Misha’s Hero Power: Passive: Wild Thrashing: Deal 1-3 damage to 2 random minions.

Misha’s Deck:

The third encounter sees Rexxar’s first encounter with who will eventually become his trusted bear companion, Misha.

Misha’s starts the match with a 2/40 Vicious Bear Trap on her side of the field. The objective is to destroy the Vicious Bear Trap; once you’ve done that, the challenge is over. The problem however, lies with the Bear Trap, which deals 4 damage to Misha every turn. Misha has 30 HP, so by Turn 6, if she hasn’t used any of her Armor-boosting cards, such as Barkskin, Ferocious Howl or Claw, she’ll be in lethal territory.

You’ll want to destroy the Trap as quickly as possible, focusing all your damage on it and ignoring everything else; however, keep in mind that Misha’s Hero Power can also damage the Vicious Bear Trap as well if it’s the only minion or one of two minions on the board, so don’t minion stack your side of the field unnecessarily.

Tips and observations:

• Luckily, Rexxar has a good stock of cards well-suited for this encounter such as Rush minions and damage Spells like Unleash the Beast and Flanking Strike. Unless absolutely necessary in terms of gaining conducive board presence, always deal damage directly to the Vicious Bear Trap and ignore everything else.
• If possible, try not to leave more than one minion on the board unless you’re sure it will survive/or you can adequately buff it with Misha’s Hero Power attack — this way, her Hero Power will damage the Trap as well. This may mean skipping your first few turns.
• If you do have low-cost minions stacked on your side of the field, keep in mind Misha has 4 Swipes in her deck — which means she can easily remove them.
• Use your Hero Power in tandem with your Rush minions to ensure you get as much damage as possible off on the Trap before your minion is removed by Misha’s Hero Power.
• Use Scavenger’s Ingenuity as soon as possible to get a high-statted Beast minion on the board.

Challenge #4: Ferocious Quillboar

“These beasts are creating a disturbance. It’d be best to investigate.”

Quillboar’s Hero Power: (2) Get Over Here!: Summon two 4/2 Quillboar Hunters.

This encounter sees Rexxar come to the aid of Mogrin, an orc grunt entrusted with delivering an important message to Thrall in Orgrimmar during the events of Warcraft III.

After rescuing Misha from a bear trap in the last encounter, Rexxar’s Hero Power for this fight becomes the 2-mana-cost Call Misha, which summons the 4/4 Misha minion with Taunt; if Misha is already present on the field, the Hero Power instead restores 1 health to her.

To win this battle handily you should use your Hero Power nearly every turn possible in this encounter and either buff Misha with Fresh Scent or use her as a decoy to establish board presence with your other Beast minions.

Tips and observations:

• One of the best recipients for both Houndmaster’s Battlecry (which gives a friendly Beast +2/+2 and Taunt) and the Fresh Scent Twinspell is Augmented Porcupine as its Deathrattle can serve as both a decent board clear or extra attack on the Ferocious Quillboar.
• Starving Buzzard works in tandem with the first phase of your Hero Power, so use the combination to both summon Misha and draw a card.

Challenge #5: Lady Darkscale

Lady Darkscale’s Hero Power: (2) Tornado: Deal 4 damage to a minion. Any excess damage continues to the left or the right.

Lady Darkscale’s Deck:

The fifth encounter in the Rexxar Book of Heroes adventure is another reenactment of a Warcraft III battle; this time it’s Lady Darkscale, a naga sea witch who Rexxar faced down with Jaina Proudmoore and Chen Stormstout.

Tips and observations:

• Mulligan to get Helboar in your starting hand; you’ll want Helboar’s Deathrattle to buff minions in your hand so that they have a better chance of staving off Lady Darkscale’s Hero Power.
• Speaking of which, Lady Darkscale’s Tornado Hero Power makes it difficult to use your own Hero Power without providing Misha with support; if you’re able to use your Hero Power to summon Misha in cohesion with Fresh Scent, Houdmaster or alongside bulkier minions such as Augmented Porcupine, do so.
• Only use your Hero Power to heal Misha if it will help her to survive the next turn.
• Any enemy minions with Spell Damage will bolster Lady Darkscale’s Hero Power, so make it a priority to remove them if you’re not approaching lethal range on her.
• Great targets for Mok’Nathal Lion to make the most of its Battlecry: Bloated Python for an extra 4/4 body; Raptor Hatchling for a 4/3 Raptor added to your deck or Savannah Highmane for a pair of 2/2 bodies.
• If you play it right, you should be able to go face with Scrap Shot on Lady Darkscale when you’re close to lethal. Save it for that unless you absolutely have to make a conducive minion trade.

Challenge #6: Khiragg

Khiragg’s Hero Power: (2) Kidnap: Put an enemy minion into a sack. (Except Misha.)

This encounter sees Rexxar saving Baine Bloodhoof from the clutches of a corrupt centaur named Khiragg. Khiragg’s Hero Power, Kidnap, is ironically identical to the one first seen with the Gnomenapper, a Tauren boss from the Witchwood solo adventure, Monster Hunt.

• The key to this encounter will be to summon Misha with your Hero Power and then keep her alive as long as possible. Rinse and repeat.
• It might seem counterintuitive, but in this encounter if you have to play minions besides your Hero Power-summoned Misha, play weaker ones that can serve some instant benefit to you before they’re potentially Kidnapped, such as Timber Wolf (to boost Misha and other minions’ Attack).

Encounter #7: Daelin Proudmoore

Daelin Proudmoore’s Hero Power: (4) Launch Warship: Summon a Kul Tiran Warship.

Kul Tiran Warship is a 2/6 Taunt minion which has the following card effect: At the start of your turn, summon 2 random minions from your deck.

Daelin Proudmoore’s Deck:

Arguably the most difficult encounter in the Rexxar Book of Heroes adventure is the seventh challenge against Daelin Proudmoore, Lord Admiral and Ruler of the Kul Tiras — and also Jaina Proudmoore’s father.

Despite Jaina fighting alongside Rexxar (and in previous Challenges in the Rexxar Book of Heroes adventure), Daelin Proudmoore’s opinion on the Horde as unrepentant barbarians cannot be swayed.

Tips and observations:

• Rexxar’s Hero Power shifts from “Call Misha” in this encounter to “Axe Toss,” a 2-mana-cost Hero Power which deals 4 damage to a random enemy minion.
• Unfortunately, this encounter is going to hinge on some luck as well as strategic use of Secrets. Use your Axe Toss Hero Power or weapons such as Huntmaster’s Bow with the intent to clear Kul Tiran Warship from the board as quickly as possible.
• The Emperor Cobra yielded from your Venomstrike Trap Secret can effectively remove two Kul Tiran Warships from the board if used correctly.
• Use your Hyena Alpha and Masked Contender minions in cohesion with your Hunter Secrets as early as possible. These minions, in conjunction with your Hero Power should be enough to remove Kul Tiran Warship from the board in the early turns.
• You will always draw Cairne Bloodhoof on Turn 6; Rexxar’s version of the Tauren chieftain minion has Charge, so use him to help clear a Kul’Tiran Warship from the board.
• Unless you’re in dire need of health, save your Lifedrinkers for after Daelin has used Eye of the Storm to regain health — you’ll likely need to use your Huntmaster’s Bow or Eaglehorn Bow to deal Weapon damage to the 5/6 Stormblocker Taunt minions which Daelin summons with the Eye of Storm spell.

Encounter #8: Gorgrom the Dragon-Eater

Gorgrom’s Hero Power: (2) Monstrous Growth: Gain 2 Armor. If you have less than 5 Armor, gain 3 Armor instead.

Gorgrom’s Deck:

The final boss encounter sees Rexxar squaring off against Gorgrom the Dragon-Eater, one of the infamous Gruul the Dragonkiller’s sons.

This fight will require some strategic positioning of minions and judicious use of your special minion Spirit, but other than that it’s not too difficult a battle.

Tips and observations:

• Great targets for Mok’Nathal Lion to make the most of its Battlecry: Spirit, Rexxar’s hawk animal companion, whose Deathrattle deals 5 damage to the enemy hero
• Gorgrom will equip Reaper’s Scythe, whose Spellburst effect gives it the ability to also damage adjacent minions in the same turn. Because of this you’ll want to position your minions wisely.
• Try to use Pack Tactics in tandem with Spirit; not only will you summon a 3/3 duplicate of Spirit, but you’ll deal 10 damage to Gorgrom through two Spirit Deathrattle effects instead of 5.

Did our Rexxar Book of Heroes guide/walkthrough help you clear the latest installment of Hearthstone‘s solo adventure? Do you have any questions on a specific boss or challenge? Let us know in the comments.