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 fifth 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 5 direct links (there were some stream issues, so the first match is spread over multiple VODs):
- https://www.twitch.tv/videos/186319952 (Team Liquid vs Misfits bans and game one)
- https://www.twitch.tv/videos/186333802 (Team Liquid vs Misfits most of game two)
- https://www.twitch.tv/videos/186339804 (Team Liquid vs Misfits from end of game two to mid-game eight)
- https://www.twitch.tv/videos/186365206 (Team Liquid vs Misfits from mid-game eight to start of game nine)
- https://www.twitch.tv/videos/186369271 (Rest of Team Liquid vs Misfits, G2 Esports vs Tempo Storm)
- https://www.twitch.tv/videos/186569801 (Planet Odd vs Complexity, Virtus.pro vs Team Love U Lots)
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: Casie, Naiman, Bunnyhoppor (DrHippi played for Virtus.pro on weeks one to four)
Week 5 results
Team Liquid vs Misfits 5-6
G2 Esports vs Tempo Storm 6-2
Planet Odd vs Complexity 6-0
Virtus.pro vs Team Love U Lots 3-6
Standings after week 5:
Week 5 known archetypes and performance
The ban game reached, at least temporarily, complete unity. Every single team banned Priest and Druid and self-banned Hunter. This week, Trinity Series was a six-class contest.
The week was characterized by big sweeps. It was the first time we witnessed a team go 6-0 as Planet Odd’s Zoolock took a clean sweep over Complexity. It other matches, Control Warlock and Evolve Shaman also got big win streaks.
This made Warlock the performer of the week at a stunning 13-3 record (Zoolock 6-3, Control Warlock 6-0, Handlock 1-0), and also brought Warlock to the top as the best-performing class in Trinity Series overall at 39-24. Misfits brought an anti-Taunt Warrior Handlock and successfully sniped the matchup with Dirty Rats, The Black Knight, Stampeding Kodo, Mountain Giants, and Faceless Shamblers. G2 Esports’ Control Warlock list was less extreme: it included some additional threats in the form of Twilight Drakes and Elise the Trailblazer, but did not include Mountain Giants or Faceless Shamblers.
Evolve Shaman also had a good week at 8-5, bringing the overall performance of the archetype to 25-24. Warlock, Shaman, and Paladin are the only classes with an above 50% win rate in the Trinity Series. There are some minor tech choices to be made in Shaman, and this week Team Love U Lots brought the more Jade-oriented list with Jade Spirits and a Jade Chieftain – still sporting the usual Pirates, Evolves, and Bloodlust, so no major differences there.
Paladin’s week was the weakest so far for the class: Murloc Paladin went 2-4 and Control Paladin returned to the series piloted by Misfits with a 1-1 performance. It was 3-5 for Paladin, which is still the second-best class overall at 34-23.
Mage continued to struggle for another week. After Ike’s great performance at Dreamhack Denver with Burn Mage, many lists cut Frost Lich Jaina, but those lists have not found success in Trinity Series so far. This week, the four non-Jaina Burn Mage lists went 0-4 (2-8 overall), whereas the Frost Lich Jaina Control Mages racked up a 2-3 record (11-9 overall).
Warrior had a mediocre week at 2-5. This week, most teams opted to bring Taunt Warrior, but at 1-3, success eluded the archetype, which is at a 5-8 record overall. Misfits remain faithful to Fatigue Warrior, grabbing yet another 1-1 with it – it snipes that one game fairly reliably for them, but that’s it.
Rogue still cannot find much success. This week we got to see the regular Tempo Rogues as well as one Tempo Rogue list without Prince Keleseth (G2 Esports) and one heavily Elemental-oriented list also without Prince Keleseth (Team Love U Lots). The more exotic lists both lost their first game, so we have to wait until next week to find out if something more can be done about Rogue. At 11-27 overall in Trinity Series, it has not found success so far.
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 5 and overall in Trinity Series:
Paladin 3-5 (34-23 overall)
- 4 Murloc Paladins 2-4 (28-19 overall)
- 1 Control Paladins 1-1 (4-2 overall)
- 0 Midrange Paladins (2-1 overall)
- 0 Aggro Paladins (0-1 overall)
Warrior 2-5 (23-25 overall)
- 3 Taunt Warriors 1-3 (5-8 overall)
- 1 N’Zoth Control Warrior 0-1 (10-7 overall)
- 1 Fatigue Warrior 1-1 (4-7 overall)
- 0 Pirate Warriors (4-3 overall)
Druid
- 0 Jade Druids (5-5 overall)
Mage 2-7 (21-28 overall)
- 4 Burn Mages 0-4 (2-8 overall)
- 3 Control Mages 2-3 (11-9 overall)
- 0 Giants Mages (1-1 overall)
- 0 Exodia Mages (6-4 overall)
- 0 Freeze Mages (0-2 overall)
- 0 Secret Mages (1-4 overall)
Rogue
- 6 Tempo Rogues 2-4 (11-26 overall)
- 1 Elemental Rogue 0-1 (0-1 overall)
Shaman
- 6 Evolve Shamans 8-5 (25-24 overall)
Hunter
- 0 Midrange Hunters (6-9 overall)
Priest
- 0 Kazakus Priests (1-1 overall)
Warlock 13-3 (39-24 overall)
- 6 Zoolocks 6-3 (16-10 overall)
- 1 Control Warlocks 6-0 (18-12 overall)
- 1 Handlocks 1-0 (5-2 overall)
Week 5 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 | Week 5 |
| Jade Druid | Jade Druid | Druid | Druid | Druid |
| Midrange Hunter | Hunter | Hunter | Hunter | Hunter |
| Control Mage | Control Mage | Mage | Burn Mage | Burn Mage |
| Murloc Paladin | Murloc Paladin | Paladin | Murloc Paladin | Murloc Paladin |
| Priest | Priest | Priest | Priest | Priest |
| Rogue | Rogue | Tempo Rogue | Tempo Rogue | Tempo Rogue |
| Shaman | Evolve Shaman | Evolve Shaman | Evolve Shaman | Evolve Shaman |
| Handlock | Warlock | Warlock | Handlock | Zoolock |
| Warrior | Warrior | Warrior | N’Zoth Warrior | Taunt Warrior |
Tempo Storm:
| Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 |
| Druid | Druid | Druid | Druid | Druid |
| Midrange Hunter | Midrange Hunter | Hunter | Hunter | Hunter |
| Exodia Mage | Mage | Mage | Burn Mage | Burn Mage |
| Murloc Paladin | Paladin | Paladin | Murloc Paladin | Murloc Paladin |
| Priest | Priest | Priest | Priest | Priest |
| Tempo Rogue | Tempo Rogue (Elementals) | Rogue | Tempo Rogue | Tempo Rogue |
| Shaman | Evolve Shaman | Shaman | Evolve Shaman | Evolve Shaman |
| Zoolock | Control Warlock | Warlock | Zoolock | Zoolock |
| Fatigue Warrior | N’Zoth Control Warrior | Warrior | N’Zoth Warrior | Taunt Warrior |
Planet Odd:
| Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 |
| Druid | Jade Druid | Druid | Druid | Druid |
| Hunter | Hunter | Hunter | Hunter | Hunter |
| Secret Mage | Secret Mage | Secret Mage | Burn Mage | Mage |
| Murloc Paladin | Murloc Paladin | Paladin | Murloc Paladin | Paladin |
| Kazakus Priest | Priest | Priest | Priest | Priest |
| Tempo Rogue | Rogue | Tempo Rogue | Tempo Rogue | Rogue |
| Shaman | Evolve Shaman | Evolve Shaman | Evolve Shaman | Shaman |
| Control Warlock | Control Warlock | Zoolock | Zoolock | Zoolock |
| Fatigue Warrior | Pirate Warrior | Taunt Warrior | Taunt Warrior | Warrior |
G2 Esports:
| Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 |
| Druid | Druid | Druid | Druid | Druid |
| Midrange Hunter | Hunter | Hunter | Hunter | Hunter |
| Exodia Mage | Control Mage | Control Mage | Burn Mage | Control Mage |
| Murloc Paladin | Paladin | Murloc Paladin | Murloc Paladin | Paladin |
| Priest | Priest | Priest | Priest | Priest |
| Tempo Rogue | Tempo Rogue | Tempo Rogue | Tempo Rogue | Tempo Rogue |
| Evolve Shaman | Evolve Shaman | Shaman | Evolve Shaman | Shaman |
| Control Warlock | Control Warlock | Control Warlock | Control Warlock | Control Warlock |
| Warrior | Warrior | Warrior | N’Zoth Warrior | Warrior |
Misfits:
| Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 |
| Druid | Druid | Jade Druid | Druid | Druid |
| Midrange Hunter | Hunter | Hunter | Hunter | Hunter |
| Mage | Exodia Mage | Control Mage | Mage | Burn Mage |
| Murloc Paladin | Murloc Paladin | Murloc Paladin | Paladin | Control Paladin |
| Priest | Priest | Priest | Priest | Priest |
| Rogue | Tempo Rogue | Rogue | Rogue | Tempo Rogue |
| Shaman | Evolve Shaman | Evolve Shaman | Evolve Shaman | Evolve Shaman |
| Warlock | Control Warlock | Control Warlock | Handlock | Handlock |
| Fatigue Warrior | Fatigue Warrior | Fatigue Warrior | Fatigue Warrior | Fatigue Warrior |
Team Liquid:
| Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 |
| Druid | Druid | Druid | Druid | Druid |
| Midrange Hunter | Midrange Hunter | Hunter | Hunter | Hunter |
| Mage | Freeze Mage | Mage | Burn Mage | Control Mage |
| Murloc Paladin | Murloc Paladin | Paladin | Murloc Paladin | Murloc Paladin |
| Priest | Priest | Priest | Priest | Priest |
| Tempo Rogue | Tempo Rogue | Rogue | Tempo Rogue | Tempo Rogue |
| Shaman | Shaman | Shaman | Evolve Shaman | Evolve Shaman |
| Control Warlock | Control Warlock | Warlock | Zoolock | Zoolock |
| Warrior | Warrior | Warrior | Taunt Warrior | Taunt Warrior |
Team Love U Lots:
| Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 |
| Druid | Jade Druid | Druid | Druid | Druid |
| Hunter | Hunter | Hunter | Midrange Hunter | Hunter |
| Control Mage | Control Mage | Secret Mage | Mage | Control Mage |
| Aggro Paladin | Murloc Paladin | Midrange Paladin | Paladin | Paladin |
| Priest | Priest | Priest | Priest | Priest |
| Tempo Rogue | Tempo Rogue (Elementals) | Tempo Rogue | Rogue | Elemental Rogue |
| Evolve Shaman | Shaman | Shaman | Shaman | Evolve Shaman |
| Control Warlock | Control Warlock | Zoolock | Control Warlock | Zoolock |
| Pirate Warrior | Pirate Warrior | Taunt Warrior | Warrior | Warrior |
Virtus.pro:
| Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 |
| Druid | Druid | Druid | Druid | Druid |
| Midrange Hunter | Hunter | Hunter | Hunter | Hunter |
| Exodia Mage | Control Mage | Freeze Mage | Giants Mage | Burn Mage |
| Control Paladin | Paladin | Control Paladin | Murloc Paladin | Murloc Paladin |
| Priest | Priest | Priest | Priest | Priest |
| Tempo Rogue | Tempo Rogue | Tempo Rogue | Tempo Rogue | Tempo Rogue |
| Evolve Shaman | Evolve Shaman | Evolve Shaman | Evolve Shaman | Evolve Shaman |
| Warlock | Warlock | Zoolock | Zoolock | Zoolock |
| Warrior | N’Zoth Control Warrior | Taunt Warrior | N’Zoth Warrior | N’Zoth Warrior |
Overall team statistics
Complexity:
- Murloc Paladin 7-3
- Evolve Shaman 5-3
- Control Mage 3-1
- Tempo Rogue 2-3
- Handlock 1-2
- Jade Druid 1-2
- Midrange Hunter 0-1
- N’Zoth Control Warrior 0-1
- Zoolock 0-1
- Taunt Warrior 0-1
- Burn Mage 0-2
Tempo Storm:
- N’Zoth Control Warrior 2-1
- Evolve Shaman 3-3
- Exodia Mage 1-1
- Tempo Rogue 4-5
- Zoolock 2-3
- Control Warlock 1-2
- Fatigue Warrior 0-1
- N’Zoth Control Warrior 0-1
- Murloc Paladin 3-5
- Midrange Hunter 1-3
- Taunt Warrior 0-2
- Burn Mage 0-2
Planet Odd:
- Zoolock 8-2
- Taunt Warrior 4-2
- Pirate Warrior 2-1
- Murloc Paladin 3-3
- 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:
- Control Warlock 10-3
- Murloc Paladin 6-2
- Exodia Mage 3-1
- Control Mage 2-3
- Midrange Hunter 0-1
- N’Zoth Control Warrior 0-1
- Burn Mage 0-1
- Tempo Rogue 2-5
- Evolve Shaman 1-3
Misfits:
- Handlock 4-0
- Murloc Paladin 5-2
- Jade Druid 2-1
- Control Mage 2-1
- Tempo Rogue 2-2
- Exodia Mage 1-1
- Control Paladin 1-1
- Fatigue Warrior 4-5
- Evolve Shaman 3-4
- Control Warlock 1-2
- Midrange Hunter 0-1
- Burn Mage 0-1
Team Liquid:
- N’Zoth Control Warrior 4-1
- Evolve Shaman 4-3
- Zoolock 3-2
- Control Warlock 2-1
- Murloc Paladin 4-4
- Control Mage 1-1
- Burn Mage 1-1
- Taunt Warrior 2-2
- Midrange Hunter 1-2
- Freeze Mage 0-1
- Tempo Rogue 3-5
Team Love U Lots:
- Zoolock 4-0
- Midrange Hunter 3-0
- Evolve Shaman 4-2
- Midrange Paladin 2-1
- Control Warlock 3-3
- Control Mage 3-3
- Pirate Warrior 2-2
- Jade Druid 1-1
- Murloc Paladin 1-1
- Taunt Warrior 0-1
- Secret Mage 0-1
- Aggro Paladin 0-1
- Elemental Rogue 0-1
- Tempo Rogue 1-3
Virtus.pro:
- N’Zoth Control Warrior 4-1
- Evolve Shaman 7-5
- Control Paladin 3-1
- Murloc Paladin 2-2
- Midrange Hunter 1-1
- Exodia Mage 1-1
- Control Mage 1-1
- Giants Mage 1-1
- Freeze Mage 0-1
- Burn Mage 0-1
- Taunt Warrior 0-1
- N’Zoth Control Warrior 0-1
- Zoolock 0-3
- Tempo Rogue 1-5
Week 5 matches
Team Liquid vs Misfits
Bans: Team Liquid banned Priest and Druid and Misfits banned Priest and Druid.
Self-bans: Team Liquid chose to not use Hunter and Misfits chose to not use Hunter.
Games:
Zoolock loses to Evolve Shaman
Control Mage wins against Evolve Shaman
Control Mage loses to Fatigue Warrior
Murloc Paladin wins against Fatigue Warrior
Murloc Paladin loses to Tempo Rogue
Tempo Rogue loses to Tempo Rogue
Evolve Shaman wins against Tempo Rogue
Evolve Shaman wins against Burn Mage
Evolve Shaman loses to Control Paladin
Taunt Warrior wins against Control Paladin
Taunt Warrior loses to Handlock
Team Liquid 5 – Misfits 6.
G2 Esports vs Tempo Storm
Bans: G2 Esports banned Priest and Druid and Tempo Storm banned Priest and Druid.
Self-bans: G2 Esports chose to not use Hunter and Tempo Storm chose to not use Hunter.
Games:
Control Mage loses to Tempo Rogue
Tempo Rogue (no Prince) loses to Tempo Rogue
Control Warlock wins against Tempo Rogue
Control Warlock wins against Taunt Warrior
Control Warlock wins against Burn Mage
Control Warlock wins against Murloc Paladin
Control Warlock wins against Evolve Shaman
Control Warlock wins against Zoolock
G2 Esports 6 – Tempo Storm 2.
Planet Odd vs Complexity
Bans: Planet Odd banned Priest and Druid and Complexity banned Priest and Druid.
Self-bans: Planet Odd chose to not use Hunter and Complexity chose to not use Hunter.
Games:
Zoolock wins against Tempo Rogue
Zoolock wins against Burn Mage
Zoolock wins against Zoolock
Zoolock wins against Evolve Shaman
Zoolock wins against Murloc Paladin
Zoolock wins against Taunt Warrior
Planet Odd 6 – Complexity 0.
Virtus.pro vs Team Love U Lots
Bans: Virtus.pro banned Priest and Druid and Team Love U Lots banned Priest and Druid.
Self-bans: Virtus.pro chose to not use Hunter and Team Love U Lots chose to not use Hunter.
Games:
N’Zoth Control Warrior loses to Control Mage
Murloc Paladin wins against Control Mage
Murloc Paladin loses to Evolve Shaman
Burn Mage loses to Evolve Shaman
Zoolock loses to Evolve Shaman
Tempo Rogue loses to Evolve Shaman
Evolve Shaman wins against Evolve Shaman
Evolve Shaman wins against Elemental Rogue (no Prince)
Evolve Shaman loses to Zoolock
Virtus.pro 3 – Team Love U Lots 6.