(Image from ESPN)

The top four in the Tespa Hearthstone Collegiate Championship are all set, and are tweaking their decklists to get ready for the CEC.



With the newest expansion, Rise of Shadows, dropping a few weeks ago, we’ve seen a fresh injection into the Hearthstone metagame, as players identify, use, and counter a range of new cards and strategies.



This is exciting as it makes this top four a bit of a blank slate, as these teams haven’t had too much time to practice with the newest cards.



These four teams have battled through the entire Tespa season to make it here, and they all are looking to make a name for themselves in Tespa and make a splash into the overall Hearthstone competitive scene.



These players are hungry for that success. These teams are ready to go, they’re ready to write their story.



The recent Hearthstone World Championship does give us an idea of where the meta is headed, with teams likely bringing a slower, Control Warrior, Tempo Rogue, one or two aggressive board-based decks like Zoo Warlock or Token Druid, and a midrange Shaman or Hunter.



These were common and successful picks for Worlds, so expect to see these decks in action the CEC, I’d also expect to see an uptick in Mage decks as well.



Each team brings their own styles and flavors to this competition, and they’ve been so fun to watch over the course of this season.



The first matchup we have is Georgia Tech vs. the Rochester Institute of Technology.



Match 1: Georgia Tech vs. RIT



Georgia Tech

TommyTwoGuns

punswaterboy

Shivchopra

Georgia entered the championship bracket with an unorthodox, anti-meta lineup. This is indicative of a team that is confident in their ability to pilot more fringe decks. They’re willing to embrace high-risk, high-reward strategies. And it’s paid off for them so far.



It will be interesting to see what kind of lineup they go with, as they craft their decks to handle not just RIT, but the winner between Oregon and Minnesota.



Rochester Institute of Technology

Eggowaffle

Smile

icoicy

RIT brings a well-rounded team to this match. They know how to play and they stay cool under pressure. Those characteristics show up in their deck choices as they often bring a solid, well-rounded, fairly traditional lineup, that has outs for dealing with whatever they come up against. This approach allows skill to shine through in deciding their games.



Head-to-Head

RIT’s ability to remain calm under pressure will be key against a team like Georgia Tech that opts for high-risk, high-reward plays. If RIT can maintain composure, identify their win conditions against whatever Georgia Tech brings, and play to their outs, then Georgia Tech’s unorthodox picks are unlikely to trip them up. RIT might stick with their bread and butter, which could pose a problem for Georgia Tech if they opt for more conventional, “safe” picks.



Georgia will need to be confident in their decks’ ability to handle a variety of meta decks piloted by a well-rounded team that knows how to play them well. If they decide to take a risky lineup, they’ll need to be confident in their ability to get through RIT and whoever they face in the finals. If they deviate and choose more conventional picks, they’ll need to be confident in their ability to outplay RIT.



Match 2: Oregon vs. Minnesota (Maroon)



Oregon

Srpen

NieQuest

noahJV

Oregon comes into the semifinals after a stellar run all season, including winning the Varsity Division championship.



Throughout this season, we’ve seen Oregon habitually opt for more aggressive decks, it definitely seems like their signature style. And it’s obviously paid off. The question is if it will continue to. At this point in the season, in the semifinals, teams have a decent idea of what their opponents might play. But so far, it hasn’t been an issue for the Ducks, as they’ve been able to play aggressive decks, but still deal with a variety of threats and other archetypes.



The thing about Oregon, and we saw it displayed during the Varsity Division finals as well as through the championship bracket is that they stay calm and collected, they don’t let their nerves get the best of them. Team captain NieQuist said they “stay lively and upbeat because that’s who we are . . . [it] helps us stay calm and comfortable.”



Staying true to themselves will be key as they come up against Minnesota this weekend.



Minnesota (Maroon)

Shadeslayer

Yugioh

Azex

Like RIT, Minnesota also tends to opt for more traditional, well-rounded lineups that can deal with a variety of other decks.



Minnesota really prioritizes their strategy before they go into the match, thinking about how to best play their lineup against their opponent, attempting to neutralize their strategy before the match even starts. So, expect a Minnesota that has meticulously poured over their decklists and lineup choices in preparation for Oregon.



Oregon was the Varsity Division champion, they’ve played excellently throughout this season. They’re the team to beat for sure. You can’t afford to go in unprepared. Oregon does tend to field more aggressive decks, which Minnesota may look to exploit. I think a lot of this matchup could be determined by the work that goes into it before the cards are drawn.



Overall, you have two more risk-averse teams like Minnesota and RIT, who will likely make “safer” calls, and opt for comfort picks. If they align more with the meta from Worlds, Oregon and Georgia Tech are likely playing close attention to what did well there as they attempt to read the situation and counter it. They’re willing to play something riskier as a meta-counter, which could really pay off here. On the other hand, the safe, standard picks might provide a range of options that can deal with multiple threats – and do it consistently.



Either way, we’re in for some incredible matches next weekend.

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