Hearthstone Trinity Series season 2 is a team league played in autumn 2017. The first stage of the tournament is a seven-week online round robin, after which the top four teams will compete in live finals. The prize pool of the tournament is $150,000.
In this post, I take a look at the fourth week of the round robin as well as some overall stats from all the rounds played so far.
Format and schedule
There are eight invited teams in the tournament. Each team consists of three players, and the players pilot the decks together – discussion on each move is allowed and encouraged, and stream viewers get to listen in on the players at times.
Each match is played in best-of-11 Last Hero Standing format: teams submit a deck for each of the nine classes, and ban two of the opponent’s decks. The teams then self-ban one of their remaining seven decks, leaving them with six decks for the match. The first team to reach six wins takes the match.
The round robin started on September 27th 2017 and continues until November 16th 2017 with two matches played each Wednesday and Thursday. The live finals take place from December 8th to December 10th 2017.
Prizes:
- 1st: $75,000
- 2nd: $30,000
- 3rd and 4th: $15,000
- 5th and 6th: $4,500
- 7th and 8th: $3,000
Official website: https://play.eslgaming.com/hearthstone/americas/major/trinity-season2
Stream and VODs: https://www.twitch.tv/esl_hearthstone
Week 4 direct links (there were some disconnect issues, so the games are spread over multiple VODs):
- https://www.twitch.tv/videos/185007926
- https://www.twitch.tv/videos/185264206
- https://www.twitch.tv/videos/185312744
- https://www.twitch.tv/videos/185336701
Teams and players
Complexity: Tyler, Crane, MrYagut
Tempo Storm: Trump, Eloise, JustSayian
Planet Odd: Xixo, Hoej, Surrender
G2 Esports: Rdu, Thijs, Neirea (Lothar played for G2 during weeks one and two before Neirea joined)
Misfits: StanCifka, Pokrovac, GeorgeC
Team Liquid: Dog, Sjow, Feno
Team Love U Lots: Chakki, Muzzy, Zalae
Virtus.pro: DrHippi, Naiman, Bunnyhoppor
Week 4 results
Planet Odd vs Team Liquid 5-6
Tempo Storm vs Virtus.pro 6-5
G2 Esports vs Misfits 2-6
Complexity vs Team Love U Lots 1-6
Standings after week 4:
Week 4 known archetypes and performance
The ban game keeps converging. Priest and Druid were both banned in every single match, and Hunter self-ban reached a new record of seven. There was still one team that wanted to play Hunter, Team Love U Lots, who self-banned Shaman instead – and targeted Murloc Paladin, one of the most successful decks over the past weeks, with their Hungry Crab, Knife Juggler, and Unleash the Hounds.
Most classes are one archetype shows at this stage on the competition. It’s Murloc Paladin (6-5 this week, 26-15 overall), Tempo Rogue (1-6 this week, 9-22 overall), Evolve Shaman (6-6 this week, 17-19 overall), and Midrange Hunter (3-0 this week, 6-9 overall). Druid and Priest have also only shown one archetype, but they have only seen a dozen games combined. Tempo Rogue bans do not seem to carry over to this multi-class format.
Mage is where things are happening. We’ve seen Exodia Mages, Control Mages, Freeze Mages, and Secret Mages, but this week was the return of Burn Mage. Lists similar to Ike’s Dreamhack-winning Burn Mage were all over the place, brought by four teams for a 2-4 record. Virtus.pro opted to go for a build that incorporates Arcane Giants, similar to Nalguidan’s deck at the Summer Championship, and went 1-1 with that. The typical Mage right now incorporates much of the Freeze Mage core but adds in Mana Wyrms, Firelands Portals, and Medivh. The Control Mage builds with Frost Lich Jaina and Polymorphs were nowhere to be seen. Mage archetypes have seen reasonable performance throughout, but nothing has been really stunning. It’s uncertain whether this new-found love for Burn Mage is going to last either.
The success of N’Zoth Control Warrior saw multiple teams bringing the archetype, but this week was abysmal for it. Four teams, four losses (0-4, 10-6 overall). Misfits remains the sole standard bearer for Fatigue Warrior, once again grabbing one win and one loss with the archetype that is able to snipe specific decks but also tends to get countered quickly. Pirate Warrior has gone AWOL and shows no signs of coming back so far.
Warlock deck choices remain fluid. We got to see the Warlock decks of all eight teams: 4 Zoolocks (4-4, 10-7 overall), 2 Control Warlocks (4-2, 12-12 overall), and 2 Handlocks (3-1, 4-2 overall). Each of them has potential depending on the overall meta. It was interesting that the more threat-heavy Handlock (Twilight Drake, Mountain Giant, Faceless Shambler) returned to the tournament in the hands of Misfits and Complexity. In the right meta, those Giants can bring the pain.
Overall, we got to see 12 different archetypes this week. Considering that we have seen more archetypes than that from individual teams over the course of these four weeks, that is not a lot. Despite this, Trinity Series still offers some interesting gameplay, as it has shown a Hearthstone environment without Druid and Priest, so there are lots of matchups being played that are rare to see on the ladder.
Unfortunately, the decks are not public, so we do not have the exact lists of the decks seen on stream.
Archetype performance excluding mirror matches on week 4 and overall in Trinity Series:
Paladin 6-5 (31-18 overall)
- 6 Murloc Paladins 6-5 (26-15 overall)
- 0 Control Paladins (3-1 overall)
- 0 Midrange Paladins (2-1 overall)
- 0 Aggro Paladins (0-1 overall)
Warrior 4-6 (21-20 overall)
- 4 N’Zoth Control Warrior 0-4 (10-6 overall)
- 2 Taunt Warriors 3-1 (4-5 overall)
- 1 Fatigue Warrior 1-1 (3-6 overall)
- 0 Pirate Warriors (4-3 overall)
Druid
- 0 Jade Druids (5-5 overall)
Mage 3-5 (19-21 overall)
- 4 Burn Mages 2-4 (2-4 overall)
- 1 Giants Mage 1-1 (1-1 overall)
- 0 Control Mages (9-6 overall)
- 0 Exodia Mages (6-4 overall)
- 0 Freeze Mages (0-2 overall)
- 0 Secret Mages (1-4 overall)
Rogue
- 6 Tempo Rogues 1-6 (9-22 overall)
Shaman
- 7 Evolve Shamans 6-6 (17-19 overall)
Hunter
- 1 Midrange Hunter 3-0 (6-9 overall)
Priest
- 0 Kazakus Priests (1-1 overall)
Warlock 11-7 (26-21 overall)
- 4 Zoolocks 4-4 (10-7 overall)
- 2 Control Warlocks 4-2 (12-12 overall)
- 2 Handlocks 3-1 (4-2 overall)
Week 4 known decks
Decklists are not public, so we only have information on the decks that were seen on stream.
Complexity:
| Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 |
| Jade Druid | Jade Druid | Druid | Druid |
| Midrange Hunter | Hunter | Hunter | Hunter |
| Control Mage | Control Mage | Mage | Burn Mage |
| Murloc Paladin | Murloc Paladin | Paladin | Murloc Paladin |
| Priest | Priest | Priest | Priest |
| Rogue | Rogue | Tempo Rogue | Tempo Rogue |
| Shaman | Evolve Shaman | Evolve Shaman | Evolve Shaman |
| Handlock | Warlock | Warlock | Handlock |
| Warrior | Warrior | Warrior | N’Zoth Warrior |
Tempo Storm:
| Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 |
| Druid | Druid | Druid | Druid |
| Midrange Hunter | Midrange Hunter | Hunter | Hunter |
| Exodia Mage | Mage | Mage | Burn Mage |
| Murloc Paladin | Paladin | Paladin | Murloc Paladin |
| Priest | Priest | Priest | Priest |
| Tempo Rogue | Tempo Rogue (Elementals) | Rogue | Tempo Rogue |
| Shaman | Evolve Shaman | Shaman | Evolve Shaman |
| Zoolock | Control Warlock | Warlock | Zoolock |
| Fatigue Warrior | N’Zoth Control Warrior | Warrior | N’Zoth Warrior |
Planet Odd:
| Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 |
| Druid | Jade Druid | Druid | Druid |
| Hunter | Hunter | Hunter | Hunter |
| Secret Mage | Secret Mage | Secret Mage | Burn Mage |
| Murloc Paladin | Murloc Paladin | Paladin | Murloc Paladin |
| Kazakus Priest | Priest | Priest | Priest |
| Tempo Rogue | Rogue | Tempo Rogue | Tempo Rogue |
| Shaman | Evolve Shaman | Evolve Shaman | Evolve Shaman |
| Control Warlock | Control Warlock | Zoolock | Zoolock |
| Fatigue Warrior | Pirate Warrior | Taunt Warrior | Taunt Warrior |
G2 Esports:
| Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 |
| Druid | Druid | Druid | Druid |
| Midrange Hunter | Hunter | Hunter | Hunter |
| Exodia Mage | Control Mage | Control Mage | Burn Mage |
| Murloc Paladin | Paladin | Murloc Paladin | Murloc Paladin |
| Priest | Priest | Priest | Priest |
| Tempo Rogue | Tempo Rogue | Tempo Rogue | Tempo Rogue |
| Evolve Shaman | Evolve Shaman | Shaman | Evolve Shaman |
| Control Warlock | Control Warlock | Control Warlock | Control Warlock |
| Warrior | Warrior | Warrior | N’Zoth Warrior |
Misfits:
| Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 |
| Druid | Druid | Jade Druid | Druid |
| Midrange Hunter | Hunter | Hunter | Hunter |
| Mage | Exodia Mage | Control Mage | Mage |
| Murloc Paladin | Murloc Paladin | Murloc Paladin | Paladin |
| Priest | Priest | Priest | Priest |
| Rogue | Tempo Rogue | Rogue | Rogue |
| Shaman | Evolve Shaman | Evolve Shaman | Evolve Shaman |
| Warlock | Control Warlock | Control Warlock | Handlock |
| Fatigue Warrior | Fatigue Warrior | Fatigue Warrior | Fatigue Warrior |
Team Liquid:
| Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 |
| Druid | Druid | Druid | Druid |
| Midrange Hunter | Midrange Hunter | Hunter | Hunter |
| Mage | Freeze Mage | Mage | Burn Mage |
| Murloc Paladin | Murloc Paladin | Paladin | Murloc Paladin |
| Priest | Priest | Priest | Priest |
| Tempo Rogue | Tempo Rogue | Rogue | Tempo Rogue |
| Shaman | Shaman | Shaman | Evolve Shaman |
| Control Warlock | Control Warlock | Warlock | Zoolock |
| Warrior | Warrior | Warrior | Taunt Warrior |
Team Love U Lots:
| Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 |
| Druid | Jade Druid | Druid | Druid |
| Hunter | Hunter | Hunter | Midrange Hunter |
| Control Mage | Control Mage | Secret Mage | Mage |
| Aggro Paladin | Murloc Paladin | Midrange Paladin | Paladin |
| Priest | Priest | Priest | Priest |
| Tempo Rogue | Tempo Rogue (Elementals) | Tempo Rogue | Rogue |
| Evolve Shaman | Shaman | Shaman | Shaman |
| Control Warlock | Control Warlock | Zoolock | Control Warlock |
| Pirate Warrior | Pirate Warrior | Taunt Warrior | Warrior |
Virtus.pro:
| Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 |
| Druid | Druid | Druid | Druid |
| Midrange Hunter | Hunter | Hunter | Hunter |
| Exodia Mage | Control Mage | Freeze Mage | Giants Mage |
| Control Paladin | Paladin | Control Paladin | Murloc Paladin |
| Priest | Priest | Priest | Priest |
| Tempo Rogue | Tempo Rogue | Tempo Rogue | Tempo Rogue |
| Evolve Shaman | Evolve Shaman | Evolve Shaman | Evolve Shaman |
| Warlock | Warlock | Zoolock | Zoolock |
| Warrior | N’Zoth Control Warrior | Taunt Warrior | N’Zoth Warrior |
Overall team statistics
Complexity:
- Murloc Paladin 7-2
- Evolve Shaman 5-2
- Control Mage 3-1
- Tempo Rogue 2-2
- Handlock 1-2
- Jade Druid 1-2
- Midrange Hunter 0-1
- N’Zoth Control Warrior 0-1
- Burn Mage 0-1
Tempo Storm:
- Evolve Shaman 3-2
- N’Zoth Control Warrior 2-1
- Exodia Mage 1-1
- Zoolock 2-2
- Murloc Paladin 3-4
- Control Warlock 1-2
- Fatigue Warrior 0-1
- Taunt Warrior 0-1
- N’Zoth Control Warrior 0-1
- Burn Mage 0-1
- Tempo Rogue 2-4
- Midrange Hunter 1-3
Planet Odd:
- Taunt Warrior 4-2
- Pirate Warrior 2-1
- Murloc Paladin 3-3
- Zoolock 2-2
- Control Warlock 2-2
- Kazakus Priest 1-1
- Jade Druid 1-1
- Fatigue Warrior 0-1
- Burn Mage 0-1
- Tempo Rogue 1-3
- Evolve Shaman 1-3
- Secret Mage 1-3
G2 Esports:
- Murloc Paladin 6-2
- Exodia Mage 3-1
- Control Warlock 4-3
- Control Mage 2-2
- Midrange Hunter 0-1
- N’Zoth Control Warrior 0-1
- Burn Mage 0-1
- Tempo Rogue 2-4
- Evolve Shaman 1-3
Misfits:
- Murloc Paladin 5-2
- Handlock 3-0
- Jade Druid 2-1
- Control Mage 2-1
- Exodia Mage 1-1
- Fatigue Warrior 3-4
- Evolve Shaman 2-3
- Control Warlock 1-2
- Midrange Hunter 0-1
- Tempo Rogue 0-1
Team Liquid:
- N’Zoth Control Warrior 4-1
- Zoolock 3-1
- Control Warlock 2-1
- Murloc Paladin 3-3
- Evolve Shaman 2-2
- Burn Mage 1-1
- Taunt Warrior 1-1
- Tempo Rogue 3-4
- Midrange Hunter 1-2
- Freeze Mage 0-1
Team Love U Lots:
- Zoolock 3-0
- Midrange Hunter 3-0
- Midrange Paladin 2-1
- Control Warlock 3-3
- Control Mage 2-2
- Pirate Warrior 2-2
- Jade Druid 1-1
- Murloc Paladin 1-1
- Taunt Warrior 0-1
- Secret Mage 0-1
- Evolve Shaman 0-1
- Aggro Paladin 0-1
- Tempo Rogue 1-3
Virtus.pro:
- N’Zoth Control Warrior 4-0
- Control Paladin 3-1
- Evolve Shaman 5-4
- Midrange Hunter 1-1
- Exodia Mage 1-1
- Control Mage 1-1
- Giants Mage 1-1
- Murloc Paladin 1-1
- Zoolock 0-2
- Freeze Mage 0-1
- Taunt Warrior 0-1
- N’Zoth Control Warrior 0-1
- Tempo Rogue 1-4
Week 4 matches
Planet Odd vs Team Liquid
Bans: Planet Odd banned Priest and Druid and Team Liquid banned Priest and Druid.
Self-bans: Planet Odd chose to not use Hunter and Team Liquid chose to not use Hunter.
Games:
Evolve Shaman loses to Zoolock
Burn Mage loses to Zoolock
Tempo Rogue loses to Zoolock
Taunt Warrior wins against Zoolock
Taunt Warrior wins against Murloc Paladin
Taunt Warrior wins against Tempo Rogue
Taunt Warrior loses to Taunt Warrior
Murloc Paladin wins against Taunt Warrior
Murloc Paladin wins against Evolve Shaman
Murloc Paladin loses to Burn Mage
Zoolock loses to Burn Mage
Planet Odd 5 – Team Liquid 6.
Tempo Storm vs Virtus.pro
Bans: Tempo Storm banned Priest and Druid and Virtus.pro banned Priest and Druid.
Self-bans: Tempo Storm chose to not use Hunter and Virtus.pro chose to not use Hunter.
Games:
Tempo Rogue wins against Zoolock
Tempo Rogue loses to Evolve Shaman
N’Zoth Control Warrior loses to Evolve Shaman
Burn Mage loses to Evolve Shaman
Zoolock wins against Evolve Shaman
Zoolock loses to Giants Mage
Murloc Paladin wins against Giants Mage
Murloc Paladin wins against Tempo Rogue
Murloc Paladin loses to Murloc Paladin
Evolve Shaman wins against Murloc Paladin
Evolve Shaman wins against N’Zoth Control Warrior
Tempo Storm 6 – Virtus.pro 5.
G2 Esports vs Misfits
Bans: G2 Esports banned Priest and Druid and Misfits banned Priest and Druid.
Self-bans: G2 Esports chose to not use Hunter and Misfits chose to not use Hunter.
Games:
Tempo Rogue loses to Fatigue Warrior
Murloc Paladin wins against Fatigue Warrior
Murloc Paladin loses to Evolve Shaman
N’Zoth Control Warrior loses to Evolve Shaman
Control Warlock wins against Evolve Shaman
Control Warlock loses to Handlock
Burn Mage loses to Handlock
Evolve Shaman loses to Handlock
G2 Esports 2 – Misfits 6.
Complexity vs Team Love U Lots
Bans: Complexity banned Priest and Druid and Team Love U Lots banned Priest and Druid.
Self-bans: Complexity chose to not use Hunter and Team Love U Lots chose to not use Shaman.
Games:
N’Zoth Control Warrior loses to Control Warlock
Handlock loses to Control Warlock
Burn Mage loses to Control Warlock
Murloc Paladin wins against Control Warlock
Murloc Paladin loses to Midrange Hunter
Evolve Shaman loses to Midrange Hunter
Tempo Rogue loses to Midrange Hunter
Complexity 1 – Team Love U Lots 6.