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 third 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
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 3 results
G2 Esports vs Planet Odd 6-3
Misfits vs Team Love U Lots 4-6
Complexity vs Virtus.pro 6-1
Tempo Storm vs Team Liquid 2-6
Standings after week 3:
Week 3 known archetypes and performance
Priest was again banned by every team (8). Druid picked up 7 bans, and Rogue was banned once. As for self-bans, teams did not want to use their Hunter (6), or Mage (2). Hunter increased in self-ban popularity again, over the three weeks of play the bans overall have constantly consolidated.
There are three perceived top dogs in the meta: Priest, Druid, and Rogue. All three of them have seen bans in major tournaments recently, with the interesting twist that Surrender won the Summer Championship last week on the back of his Rogue ban, whereas Druid and Priest have been the most common ban targets, as they are in Trinity Series as well. Trinity Series format is somewhat different though, as there are so many decks in each match, so to what extent lessons learned in other formats apply is questionable.
Lurking behind those perceived top classes is another: Paladin. Tournament after tournament, Paladin keeps posting good results. Surrender’s strategy to ban Tempo Rogue and bring Murloc Paladin worked out well at the Championship, but Paladin can be strong without a Rogue ban as well: G2 Esports won five games with their Murloc Paladin this week, including a win over Tempo Rogue.
Murloc Paladin had another good week at 4-2 (excluding the one mirror match), bringing the archetype’s overall record in Trinity Series to 20-10. It is the archetype with the most wins in the series so far. Team Love U Lots brought a slightly different Paladin variant, a non-Murloc Midrange Paladin with Prince Keleseth (Saronite Chain Gang, Cobalt Scalebane, Tirion), and piloted it to a 2-1 record. In the absence of Priest and Druid, it has been Paladin that takes the mantle, and with a variety of decks at that.
Warrior has been through a lot of experimentation during the series. It started out with Fatigue Warriors, but only Misfits remain loyal to the archetype. Others have experimented with Pirate Warrior, and this week also Taunt Warrior, with mediocre and poor results. The archetype that looks strongest is N’Zoth Control Warrior, which had a good run on both weeks two and three: 4-1 this week for an overall 10-2 record.
Mage is another class that sees experimentation. Exodia Mage had a decent run on the first two weeks (6-4), but was not seen on week three. Instead, we saw Freeze Mage, Secret Mage, and Control Mage. Of those three, only Control Mage was able to break even this week at 2-2, and it is also the only one of the three with a positive record overall at 9-6. It is another undervalued archetype that has the ability to perform.
The fourth class that sees variety is Warlock. We’ve seen Handlock (1-1 overall), several varieties of Control Warlock (8-10 overall), and Zoolocks (6-3 overall). All seem at least somewhat promising, with Zoo having found best success so far. It is on the rise in both representation and performance, and has potential to establish itself as the main Warlock archetype. Control Warlock has its good matchups though, so in a Last Hero Standing teams may prefer to use it as a sniper deck.
Rogue is a single-archetype class. However, Tempo Rogue builds have shifted over the series. We’ve seen non-Keleseth builds and we’ve seen Elemental builds, but the consensus seems to be shifting towards builds that include Prince Keleseth and Cairne Bloodhoof. They are getting heavily targeted, and at 4-6 this week, Tempo Rogue was barely holding its ground.
Evolve Shaman also dominates its class. This week, we got to see a BaiZe-inspired build with Prince Taldaram. Two Cairne Bloodhoofs can be good, but sometimes they are not good enough, and this particular variant did not have a good time. There are still ways left to optimize the build, and we’ll see where it will lead. Evolve Shaman finally had a good week at 5-3, bringing its overall record to 11-13.
Unfortunately, the decks are not public, so we do not have the exact lists of the more innovative builds seen on stream.
Archetype performance excluding mirror matches on week 3 and overall in Trinity Series:
Paladin 6-4 (25-13 overall)
- 4 Murloc Paladins 4-2 (20-10 overall)
- 1 Control Paladin 0-1 (3-1 overall)
- 1 Midrange Paladin 2-1 (2-1 overall)
- 0 Aggro Paladins (0-1 overall)
Warrior 5-6 (17-14 overall)
- 1 N’Zoth Control Warrior 4-1 (10-2 overall)
- 0 Pirate Warriors (4-3 overall)
- 1 Fatigue Warrior 0-1 (2-5 overall)
- 4 Taunt Warriors 1-4 (1-4 overall)
Druid
- 1 Jade Druids 2-1 (5-5 overall)
Mage 2-5 (16-16 overall)
- 2 Control Mages 2-2 (9-6 overall)
- 0 Exodia Mages (6-4 overall)
- 1 Freeze Mage 0-1 (0-2 overall)
- 2 Secret Mages 0-2 (1-4 overall)
Rogue
- 7 Tempo Rogues 4-6 (8-16 overall)
Shaman
- 5 Evolve Shamans 5-3 (11-13 overall)
Hunter
- 1 Midrange Hunter 0-1 (3-9 overall)
Priest
- 0 Kazakus Priests (1-1 overall)
Warlock 7-5 (15-14 overall)
- 3 Control Warlocks 2-3 (8-10 overall)
- 3 Zoolocks 5-2 (6-3 overall)
- 0 Handlocks (1-1 overall)
Week 3 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 |
| Jade Druid | Jade Druid | Druid |
| Midrange Hunter | Hunter | Hunter |
| Control Mage | Control Mage | Mage |
| Murloc Paladin | Murloc Paladin | Paladin |
| Priest | Priest | Priest |
| Rogue | Rogue | Tempo Rogue |
| Shaman | Evolve Shaman | Evolve Shaman |
| Handlock | Warlock | Warlock |
| Warrior | Warrior | Warrior |
Tempo Storm:
| Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 |
| Druid | Druid | Druid |
| Midrange Hunter | Midrange Hunter | Hunter |
| Exodia Mage | Mage | Mage |
| Murloc Paladin | Paladin | Paladin |
| Priest | Priest | Priest |
| Tempo Rogue | Tempo Rogue (Elementals) | Rogue |
| Shaman | Evolve Shaman | Shaman |
| Zoolock | Control Warlock | Warlock |
| Fatigue Warrior | N’Zoth Control Warrior | Warrior |
Planet Odd:
| Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 |
| Druid | Jade Druid | Druid |
| Hunter | Hunter | Hunter |
| Secret Mage | Secret Mage | Secret Mage |
| Murloc Paladin | Murloc Paladin | Paladin |
| Kazakus Priest | Priest | Priest |
| Tempo Rogue | Rogue | Tempo Rogue |
| Shaman | Evolve Shaman | Evolve Shaman |
| Control Warlock | Control Warlock | Zoolock |
| Fatigue Warrior | Pirate Warrior | Taunt Warrior |
G2 Esports:
| Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 |
| Druid | Druid | Druid |
| Midrange Hunter | Hunter | Hunter |
| Exodia Mage | Control Mage | Control Mage |
| Murloc Paladin | Paladin | Murloc Paladin |
| Priest | Priest | Priest |
| Tempo Rogue | Tempo Rogue | Tempo Rogue |
| Evolve Shaman | Evolve Shaman | Shaman |
| Control Warlock | Control Warlock | Control Warlock |
| Warrior | Warrior | Warrior |
Misfits:
| Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 |
| Druid | Druid | Jade Druid |
| Midrange Hunter | Hunter | Hunter |
| Mage | Exodia Mage | Control Mage |
| Murloc Paladin | Murloc Paladin | Murloc Paladin |
| Priest | Priest | Priest |
| Rogue | Tempo Rogue | Rogue |
| Shaman | Evolve Shaman | Evolve Shaman |
| Warlock | Control Warlock | Control Warlock |
| Fatigue Warrior | Fatigue Warrior | Fatigue Warrior |
Team Liquid:
| Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 |
| Druid | Druid | Druid |
| Midrange Hunter | Midrange Hunter | Hunter |
| Mage | Freeze Mage | Mage |
| Murloc Paladin | Murloc Paladin | Paladin |
| Priest | Priest | Priest |
| Tempo Rogue | Tempo Rogue | Rogue |
| Shaman | Shaman | Shaman |
| Control Warlock | Control Warlock | Warlock |
| Warrior | Warrior | Warrior |
Team Love U Lots:
| Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 |
| Druid | Jade Druid | Druid |
| Hunter | Hunter | Hunter |
| Control Mage | Control Mage | Secret Mage |
| Aggro Paladin | Murloc Paladin | Midrange Paladin |
| Priest | Priest | Priest |
| Tempo Rogue | Tempo Rogue (Elementals) | Tempo Rogue |
| Evolve Shaman | Shaman | Shaman |
| Control Warlock | Control Warlock | Zoolock |
| Pirate Warrior | Pirate Warrior | Taunt Warrior |
Virtus.pro:
| Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 |
| Druid | Druid | Druid |
| Midrange Hunter | Hunter | Hunter |
| Exodia Mage | Control Mage | Freeze Mage |
| Control Paladin | Paladin | Control Paladin |
| Priest | Priest | Priest |
| Tempo Rogue | Tempo Rogue | Tempo Rogue |
| Evolve Shaman | Evolve Shaman | Evolve Shaman |
| Warlock | Warlock | Zoolock |
| Warrior | N’Zoth Control Warrior | Taunt Warrior |
Overall team statistics
Complexity:
- Murloc Paladin 6-1
- Evolve Shaman 5-1
- Control Mage 3-1
- Tempo Rogue 2-1
- Handlock 1-1
- Jade Druid 1-2
- Midrange Hunter 0-1
Tempo Storm:
- N’Zoth Control Warrior 2-1
- Exodia Mage 1-1
- Zoolock 1-1
- Evolve Shaman 1-2
- Control Warlock 1-2
- Fatigue Warrior 0-1
- Taunt Warrior 0-1
- Tempo Rogue 1-3
- Midrange Hunter 1-3
- Murloc Paladin 1-3
Planet Odd:
- Pirate Warrior 2-1
- Zoolock 2-1
- Control Warlock 2-2
- Kazakus Priest 1-1
- Taunt Warrior 1-1
- Tempo Rogue 1-2
- Jade Druid 1-1
- Evolve Shaman 1-2
- Murloc Paladin 1-2
- Fatigue Warrior 0-1
- Secret Mage 1-3
G2 Esports:
- Murloc Paladin 5-1
- Exodia Mage 3-1
- Control Warlock 3-2
- Control Mage 2-2
- Tempo Rogue 2-3
- Evolve Shaman 1-2
- Midrange Hunter 0-1
Misfits:
- Murloc Paladin 5-2
- Jade Druid 2-1
- Control Mage 2-1
- Fatigue Warrior 2-3
- Control Warlock 1-2
- Exodia Mage 1-1
- Midrange Hunter 0-1
- Tempo Rogue 0-1
- Evolve Shaman 0-2
Team Liquid:
- N’Zoth Control Warrior 4-1
- Murloc Paladin 3-2
- Control Warlock 2-1
- Evolve Shaman 2-1
- Tempo Rogue 3-3
- Midrange Hunter 1-2
- Freeze Mage 0-1
Team Love U Lots:
- Zoolock 3-0
- Midrange Paladin 2-1
- 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
- Control Warlock 0-2
Virtus.pro:
- N’Zoth Control Warrior 4-0
- Control Paladin 3-1
- Midrange Hunter 1-1
- Exodia Mage 1-1
- Control Mage 1-1
- Evolve Shaman 2-3
- Zoolock 0-1
- Freeze Mage 0-1
- Taunt Warrior 0-1
- Tempo Rogue 1-3
Week 3 matches
G2 Esports vs Planet Odd
Bans: G2 Esports banned Priest and Druid and Planet Odd banned Priest and Druid.
Self-bans: G2 Esports chose to not use Hunter and Planet Odd chose to not use Hunter.
Games:
Tempo Rogue loses to Zoolock
Control Mage loses to Zoolock
Control Warlock wins against Zoolock
Control Warlock loses to Taunt Warrior
Murloc Paladin wins against Taunt Warrior
Murloc Paladin wins against Tempo Rogue
Murloc Paladin wins against Evolve Shaman
Murloc Paladin wins against Murloc Paladin
Murloc Paladin wins against Secret Mage
G2 Esports 6 – Planet Odd 3.
Misfits vs Team Love U Lots
Bans: Misfits banned Priest and Druid and Team Love U Lots banned Priest and Rogue.
Self-bans: Misfits chose to not use Hunter and Team Love U Lots chose to not use Hunter.
Games:
Control Warlock loses to Midrange Paladin
Evolve Shaman loses to Midrange Paladin
Jade Druid wins against Midrange Paladin
Jade Druid wins against Secret Mage
Jade Druid loses to Tempo Rogue
Control Mage wins against Tempo Rogue
Control Mage wins against Taunt Warrior
Control Mage loses to Zoolock
Murloc Paladin loses to Zoolock
Fatigue Warrior loses to Zoolock
Misfits 4 – Team Love U Lots 6.
Complexity vs Virtus.pro
Bans: Complexity banned Priest and Druid and Virtus.pro banned Priest and Druid.
Self-bans: Complexity chose to not use Hunter and Virtus.pro chose to not use Hunter.
Games:
Tempo Rogue wins against Zoolock
Tempo Rogue wins against Evolve Shaman
Tempo Rogue loses to Tempo Rogue
Evolve Shaman wins against Tempo Rogue
Evolve Shaman wins against Freeze Mage
Evolve Shaman wins against Taunt Warrior
Evolve Shaman wins against N’Zoth Control Paladin
Complexity 6 – Virtus.pro 1.
Tempo Storm vs Team Liquid
Bans: Tempo Storm banned Priest and Druid and Team Liquid banned Priest and Druid.
Self-bans: Tempo Storm chose to not use Mage and Team Liquid chose to not use Mage.
Games:
Control Warlock wins against Tempo Rogue
Control Warlock loses to N’Zoth Control Warrior
Murloc Paladin loses to N’Zoth Control Warrior
Midrange Hunter loses to N’Zoth Control Warrior
Taunt Warrior loses to N’Zoth Control Warrior
Tempo Rogue wins against N’Zoth Control Warrior
Tempo Rogue loses to Evolve Shaman
Evolve Shaman loses to Evolve Shaman
Tempo Storm 2 – Team Liquid 6.