There’s something so wonderful about the HGC regular season. Each week ends with three days of intense action in one of the greatest team esports ever devised. In Week 1 we already got to see some dominating performances, surprising finishes, and learned that Azmodan can’t one-shot 30-minute catapults.





Of course, HGC train keeps rolling this week with a full slate of excellent matchups.The gameplay should be excellent, but the storylines are even more exciting. Let’s run through the three biggest storyline matchups in the NA HGC for Week 2.

Tempo Storm vs Team Twelve

Week 2 starts off with one of the most anticipated matchups of the entire season. Many fans are all-in on Tempo Storm’s super team running away with the league this season. Smarter, more attractive fans are convinced that Team Twelve have created one of the strongest teams the NA region has ever seen. Already, in the second week of the season, we get an answer to the question. This head-to-head match could very well determine seeding for the Western Clash.

While there’s a ton at stake for the fans, there’s so much more on the line for the players. In an interview with Trollin HGC, Team Twelve’s manager revealed that Glaurung wanted to leave Roll20 after the Midseason Brawl. He left at the end of the season to find more success and a more ideal environment with his friend and roommate Cattlepillar on Tempo Storm. This is Glaurung’s chance to prove he made the right decision abandoning the team that took him to Blizzcon last year.

Likewise, this is a statement game for the Sad Cats. Team Twelve took a huge risk not re-signing with Roll20 at the start of the season. They bet on their ability to dominate North America and attract a bigger sponsor with their success and growing fanbase. A win against arguably the most popular team in the region would certainly help them in their negotiations with new organizations. This will be a huge victory for either team, and a delicious validation for either side of the “who’s best in NA” debate.

Marquee Matchup: Glaurung vs Goku

Goku was a huge pickup for Roll20, the missing piece that turned them into the squad that could take out a Korean team at BLizzcon. However, it did immediately throw Glaurung’s role within the team into question. Before Goku the team had operated mostly on a “triple flex” strategy where Glaurung could largely play the heroes on which he was most comfortable, while YoDa and Prismaticism flexed around him. With such a dominant force holding down the offlane, Goku’s arrival brought more stability to the team, forcing Glaurung onto more and more uncomfortable picks like Brightwing.

Now, Glaurung is on another highly flexible team, but is largely playing the same role as Goku--that of the offlaner. With a new team, can Glaurung compete with the consensus Most Valuable Player in NA, or will the static talent of Team Twelve win the day?

LFM vs Gale Force Esports

The welcoming committee wasn’t particularly kind to LFM last week. After a tough loss to SpaceStation, they were summarily trounced by Team Twelve. That said, the team seems to be in high spirits and focused on learning in the early stages of the season. They even livestreamed their replay session and were able to laugh at some of their mistakes.

While not quite as rough, Gale Force Esports experienced mixed results in their 2018 premiere. They narrowly escaped the series with Simplicity, and then fell 3-1 to Team Freedom. With so much of the league still in transition, this is the week where teams shake off their rust and show us where they belong in the standings. LFM have the chance to turn heads with even a few game wins, while GFE will need to take care of business against the newbies to start rebuilding their status as an elite NA club.

Marquee Matchup: Figgy vs Fury

Delightful name parallels aside, this is a pivotal matchup for the series. Fury is a longtime veteran and one of the most decorated first-generation HOTS pros still competing at the highest level. Figgy has yet to establish himself as a household name. Both teams are still discovering their identity, but they both have highly talented backline players who can shine with the help of strong, reliable tank play. In order for LFM to have a chance in this series, Figgy will have to be on point, and not allow Fury to dictate the pace of the match.

HeroesHearth Esports vs SpaceStation Gaming

Obviously, most eyes will be looking towards Sunday’s battle for second place between Tempo Storm and Team Freedom (I have absolutely no bias, I don’t know what you’re talking about). However, I find the battles for the middle of the pack to be especially intriguing in a relegation system. As fans, we can never ignore the constant threat of the Crucible that is lurking in the background for every team not in the top 3. HHE and SSG are in that mix of teams that could end the season anywhere from fourth place to seventh. This match will give the victor a huge layer of protection against potential relegation, while placing the loser in greater danger.

In particular, this will be an interesting match for SpaceStation. Last week the team unveiled some interesting role swaps, moving Equinox to the tank role, Jason to the offlane, and Casanova into a flex position. However, their only win against Simplicity came when they reverted to their roles from last season to employ a Lost Vikings strategy. Will they stick with the new roles, or revert back to the old SSG from 2017?

Marquee Matchup: Khroen vs Jschritte

While he considers himself a flex player, Jschritte’s assassin play made viewers stand up and take notice last week. In particular his unorthodox Jaina single-handedly put SSG in position to take the win against Simplicity on Sky Temple (before one of the most epic boss throws in history). On the other side, in a losing affair against Tempo Storm, we saw several bright flashes of the old Khroen. He turned fights around, blew up kids with Greymane, and all around played a solid series. Will the LATAM firebrand put HeroesHearth on ice, or will Khroen’s experience and skill allow him to keep Jscrhitte in check?

If you missed the NA preview, be sure to check it out here. What is your most anticipated matchup of the week? Let me know in the comments, or on Twitter.