How to Get Arcane Dust in Hearthstone: A Beginner’s Guide

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Nov 5

Hearthstone’s crafting system is fueled by a currency called Arcane Dust which is used for crafting/building specific cards for your deck. For new players it might not be entirely clear as to how you can maximize gathering the dust, but when you do it will certainly give you more control over your collection and the decks you want to play. This guide will cover all the ways to obtain dust in Hearthstone, the most efficient methods, and tips on maximizing your dust reserves.

Understanding the Basics of Dust in Hearthstone

Dust is primarily used to create individual cards and allows players to complete specific decks rather than relying on random card packs. Dust is acquired through multiple ways, like disenchanting cards, completing quests, and playing different game modes. Understanding each of these methods will help you get as much dust you can, as quickly as possible.

Disenchanting Cards

One of the most common and straightforward ways to get dust is by disenchanting cards you don’t need or want. Here’s a breakdown of what you get from disenchanting different card types:

Common Cards (Silver): 5 Dust (Golden: 50 Dust)
Rare Cards (Blue): 20 Dust (Golden: 100 Dust)
Epic Cards (Purple): 100 Dust (Golden: 400 Dust)
Legendary Cards (Orange): 400 Dust (Golden: 1600 Dust)

Tips for Disenchanting Cards:

Disenchant Duplicate Cards: Hearthstone allows only two copies of each card in a deck (one for Legendaries), so any extras can be safely disenchanted for dust.
Analyze the Meta: If you’re not planning on using specific cards in competitive decks, they can be disenchanted for dust to craft more meta-relevant cards.
Avoid Disenchanting Immediately: Blizzard will sometimes change how certain cards works and sometimes gives you the option to get a full dust refunds for a limited time when this happens. Keep an eye on patch notes and news so that you can see if any are coming up.

Complete Daily and Weekly Quests

Daily and weekly quests are the most reliable sources of gold that can be spent on packs or saved for events. Quests don’t directly reward dust but give you resources to open packs which can in turn yield cards you don’t need which you can then disenchant as stated above.

Daily Quests: Each day, you’ll receive a quest that rewards 50-100 gold upon completion.
Weekly Quests: These quests grant larger rewards, usually totaling over 500 gold for the week. Complete these to maximize the gold you can spend on packs.

Tip: Focus on quests that are easier to complete to maximize your gold intake. You can use your accumulated gold to buy packs in expansions with high-value cards (or the most recent expansion) that can be disenchanted.

Participate in the Arena

Arena mode is a great way to get dust as it rewards cards, packs, and sometimes even just straight up dust upon completion.

Arena Cost: Entry requires either 150 gold or a Tavern Ticket (from events).
Rewards: Rewards improve as you win more matches. Even with minimal wins you’ll get a pack and some dust or gold.
Best Outcome: Aim for at least three wins to get a decent reward, although going 7+ wins is ideal for the best dust-to-gold ratio.

For new players the Arena can be a bit daunting and intimidating, but even if you can just get a couple of wins it will make it a worthwhile investment of your gold if you’re looking to gain more dust.

Play Duels for Rewards

Similar to Arena, Duels rewards players with dust, gold, and cards based on their performance. Since Duels has no entry fee and allows you to use your own collection, it can be a fun and effective way to farm dust without risking gold.

Casual Mode: Play casual mode to practice without risking gold.
Heroic Mode: Once you’re comfortable you should try Heroic mode which has bigger rewards based on the number of wins you get.

Events and Special Promotions

Blizzard occasionally hosts events with unique rewards, including dust. For example, the Lunar New Year, Halloween events, or expansion launch events often feature quests that reward dust or packs.

Time-Limited Events: Complete event-specific quests for extra packs and dust rewards.
Expansion Rewards: Each expansion typically has a pre-order bundle that includes a guaranteed Legendary card, reducing the need for dust-spending on individual cards.

Make sure to check Hearthstone’s news and announcements to stay updated on events.

Participate in Ranked Play

Climbing the ranked ladder in Hearthstone can provide substantial rewards, including dust and packs. Each season, you earn rewards based on the highest rank you achieve, which can help you earn dust in the form of disenchantable cards from your packs.

Seasonal Rewards: Reaching higher ranks each month yields a chest with packs, dust, and other in-game rewards.
End-of-Season Chest: The chest offers packs, golden cards, and sometimes a lump of dust, which is valuable for building your collection.

Tip: For new players aim to reach at least the “Silver” rank—this yields a decent reward without a steep difficulty curve.

Craft Wisely

While crafting directly doesn’t give you dust, using dust efficiently ensures you’re not wasting it on cards you won’t use.

Prioritize Core Meta Cards: Craft cards that fit in multiple decks to get the most value from your dust. Cards like classic Legendary minions and versatile spells are great to start with.
Avoid Crafting Low-Tier/Low-Use Cards: Focus on crafting high-tier cards or cards that are frequently used across multiple decks.

Dust Farming Tips and Best Practices

Maximizing your dust takes time and a little bit of thought. Here is a quick summation of straightforward tips to follow:

Save Gold for New Expansions: By saving gold and buying packs from newer sets you’re more likely to open cards you don’t own.
Watch for Nerfs: Blizzard periodically changes card stats, and nerfed cards offer a full dust refund for a limited time. Holding onto cards until after patch notes are released can help you take advantage of these refunds.
Avoid Unnecessary Crafts: Don’t craft cards just to complete a collection. Focus on crafting cards that will actively improve your deck for ranked play.

Final Thoughts

Getting dust in Hearthstone as a new player requires a blend of smart resource management and strategic gameplay. By focusing on disenchanting duplicates, completing daily and weekly quests, and participating in game modes like Arena and Duels, you can steadily build your dust reserves. Remember, patience is key; focus on crafting cards that will serve you across multiple decks to get the most out of your dust.

With consistent effort and by following these tips, you’ll build a solid collection without spending excessive dust, allowing you to craft the cards you need and compete effectively in Hearthstone.

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