It’s no secret that Hearthstone Battlegrounds has a highly diverse cast of playable heroes. Some are better than others, but that’s not what we’re here to discuss; we’re here to talk about the hero skins and which of said skins look the best.
This rating will only consider the splash art of the hero skins and how they look, since these cosmetic items have absolutely no impact on anything else in the game. Epicness and humor will be the chief factors of judgment. Unfortunately, this will give the edge to the skins with extra visual and auditory effects, but either way, let’s get into it.
11 Al’Akir The Skybreaker
Al’Akir’s skin Al’Akir the Skybreaker is simple, yes, but its simplicity is part of why it's so good. This skin epitomizes everything you could want in an elemental lord of the skies and thunder. This is also the tier-six Burning Crusade armor set for Shamans, which was hands down one of the best-looking armor sets in that expansion (and to this day, honestly).
So, it stands to reason that the elemental lord himself would rock this armor just as well as any player could.
10 Plushwerk
Patchwerk’s plushie skin is absolutely adorable. The foam leaking out of his stomach-mouth (yes, most abominations have a mouth on their stomach) is a great touch here too.
He looks like a properly worn-out toy of a child with all the stitches he has (maybe he’s even masquerading as Stitches, the abomination from Duskwood). Definitely one of the better humorous skins.
9 Gifted Bigglesworth
What’s more adorable than a plushie abomination? Why, a big-eyed cat poking its head out of a present box, of course. Mr. Bigglesowrth, the undead pet cat of Kel’thuzad and cousin to Jigglesworth Sr., has a number of cute skins, but Gifted Bigglesworth takes the cake here.
The extremely happy-looking Ke’thuzad in the background gives this skin an extra kick on the adorable side too because Kel’thuzad seems to be a bit chibi-like with his oversized head.
8 Yogg-Ramen
As the name implies, this skin turns Yogg-Saron, the old god of death, into Yogg-Ramen, the old god of… ramen. Not only is this incredibly creative and funny, but it also may or may not bring you back to your college days for obvious reasons. The splash art really encapsulates what a Ramen-monster is, yet somehow, it looks more tasty than scary…
Another old god, C’thun, has a skin where he is converted into a god of a specific type of food (C’thun, God Of Aspics), but Yogg-Saron’s wins out here because of the splash art. And the ramen. Mostly the ramen.
7 Chained Kael’thas
Chained Kael’thas is a skin straight out of the World of Warcraft Shadowlands expansion where we meet Kael’thas in the Shadowlands (the realm of death) and he looks exactly like this.
Say what you want about the Shadowlands’ story, but this look for Kael’thas is the best he has ever had. His Verdant Spheres being made of blood is a fitting aesthetic for the Venthyr, and the Sinstone on his back (as he quite literally carries his sins) is poetic. An excellent skin.
6 Riddling Tempest Tess
This skin for Tess Greymane is a super sleek futuristic mech-assassin get-up. Her daggers are chic, simple, and deadly-looking, while the armor set as a whole is not overdone at all.
Considering how easy it is to get carried away with a futuristic mech suit, the fact that this skin isn’t overdone and still looks amazing is a feat in itself.
5 Omencaller Prestor
Omencaller Prestor is one of Onyxia’s skins and makes her look like a demon and dragon hybrid. Her wings are reminiscent of those of a Nathrezim (otherwise known as Dreadlords), and seeing her arms lined with dragon scales is awesome. Also, her discolored skin tone falls in line with her being part of the Dark Flight here.
Overall, it's one of the more sinister-looking skins in the game and definitely one worth getting, and surely a version of Onyxia that can’t be taken down by 40 naked raiders.
4 Ysera, Embraced By Elune
This skin comes straight from the cinematic from the World of Warcraft Legion expansion where, as the skin’s name implies, Ysera is embraced by the goddess Elune after being killed. In this cinematic, her spirit is pulled into the sky by the goddess and made into a gorgeous constellation, and that constellation is what this skin represents to a tee.
This is truly an unparalleled beauty, and if this hero skin were to have any visual effects, it would easily be put at the top of the list. Either way, feel free to go and watch the cinematic (again) and cry a little.
3 Adventure Beauty Reno
Now we get to the hero skins that have visual and auditory effects (in other words, they have voice lines). First up is Adventure Beauty Reno. This man literally has a blue aura glowing around him, which is gorgeous, and his outfit is stellar, but he’s the lowest on this list regarding non-still hero skins for two main reasons.
First, his background is lackluster: it’s just plain hot pink (or purple, whatever). Second, while his glowing blue whip is an awesome weapon, you barely get to see any of it in the splash art, which is a letdown.
2 Dawn Guardian Varden
Next up on the list is Dawn Guardian Varden. This elf, like Reno, has a stunning outfit, but he also has a cape, which gives him automatic bonus points. Plus, the cape is flowing in the splash art, so more bonus points.
The main reason Varden is above Reno though is due to his stoic pose which allows us to see more of him. On top of that, his background, while generally plain, has slightly more going on in it with the subtle flowing trails of pink magic. Also, the crystal hovering in his hand is majestic.
1 Magic Guardian Elise
Arriving at the best hero skin we get to Magic Guardian Elise. First off, her outfit looks just as good as Reno and Varden, but it’s everything else about the splash art that brings her up to number one.
Her three light blue spheres of magic are very reminiscent of Kael’thas’ Verdant Spheres, which are already incredibly cool, and her pose is heroic. Lastly, her background is the prettiest of them all, between the yellow and hot pink streaks that complement each other so well, and the glittering stars twinkling in and out of focus. A masterpiece of a hero skin.