Power Rankings

Tier One: Fnatic Tier

Tier Two: Contenders Tier

Tier Three: Dark Horses

Tier Four: Could make playoffs, but unlikely to go further

Tier Five: Will not make playoffs

Predictions

Hey all, DBSmiley here are on a new platform. In the future I will be posting my blogs on HeroesHearth.This is not one of my Elo rankings post. You can find the most recent one here. This is personal predictions and power rankings post for the Group Stage of the HGC Finals at Blizzcon. Basically, I'm putting away the calculators and the pythons and going with my gut.So here goes:1.- The reigning champion from the Mid-Season Brawl Fnatic has continued to look better and better throughout Phase 2, including a dominate showing at the Western Clash. The thing that makes Fnatic look so good is they seem to be meta proof in their play. Even as the meta shifted from hyper aggression at MSB to double support in Phase 2, they never feel off. They always understood and executed the best way to play the game and continued to dominate to a 13-1 Phase 2 match record in the deepest region in HGC. Until they lose, they are number 1. And to me, it's not even close.2.- MVP Black finished a disappointing 4th place at MSB, but have not lost a regular season match since then, going perfect 14-0 in HGC Korea in Phase 2. However, they did finish second to then L5 now Ballistix in the Eastern Clash, going a combine 3-6 against them. We'll see if MVP Black can find their LAN success again at Blizzcon. Despite the praise MVP Black gets, they haven't been to a Grand Finals at a World Championship since the Summer World Championship in 2016.3.- Below MVP Black only because they struggled a bit late in the season, but Ballistix is still a very good team that seems to perform better at LAN events than their rivals MVP Black. This is a very dangerous team. Ballistix was the last Korean team to win a World Championship, and they'll be looking to win back to back Blizzcons.4.- Dignitas limped out of the gate in Phase 2, and missed the Western Clash. Since then, however, the only team in Europe who could stand against them was Fnatic. Dignitas has rediscovered their form, and let's not forgot: this team always brings it at LAN events. While they face an incredibly difficult group stage, Dignitas is every bit a threat to win Blizzcon.5.- Tempest has not been as consistent as the top two teams in Korea, but that didn't stop them from upsetting Ballistix near the end of the regular season. That said, they needed utter magic to beat Mighty in game 5 to secure their tickets to Blizzcon. They find themselves in the Group of Death, Group C, and have no easy path to the playoffs.6.- Since missing the Western Clash due to a slow start in Phase 2, Roll20 has looked unbeatable. They went 21-1 on maps en route to a perfect 7-0 in the second half of phase 2, and most games weren't even close. Roll20 is clearly the standard bearer in North America. Their reward: the toughest path of any NA team to the playoff.Roll20 must beat either Dignitas or Tempest to get to the playoffs. Even if they fail, I still think they are easily one of the top 8 teams in the world.7.- SPT finds themselves once against falling victim to visa issues, though they are subbing in a very good support player to fill their roster. Of all the Chinese teams with visa issues, I expect SPT to be the most likely to make noise. Their team looked a cut above the rest of China last season. However, they find themselves in a tough Group D, and will need to synergize their 5th player quickly to get out of groups.8.- Team Expert has been able to take out any team when they've had time to prepare for. They boast wins over every European team in the last year, including Dignitas and Fnatic. They clearly demonstrated they are the third best team in a crowded and deep HGC Europe, which makes them a very good team. However, I still have concerns if they can pull a big upset in the abbreviated schedule of Blizzcon, as they tend to play more niche styles. Still, do not underestimate this team.9.: I really like the progress of Team Freedom. They are a team that narrowly avoided the Crucible in Phase 1, and are now one of the best teams in NA. Unfortunately, I still am unconvinced that NA can be competitive with Europe and Korea, and so I don't expect a big run here. That said, they benefit from a group stage that should push them to the playoffs with a 2 seed. From there, however, I don't see them taking a match off any 1 seed.10.- CE dominated summer season of Gold League, but fell off quite a bit in the Fall. Add to this their visa issues, leaving them with a 4 man roster and a sub, and I don't think CE is a contender at the HGC Finals. Their match against Tempo Storm is very intriguing, as it will mean a lot for both China and North America as far as perception.11.: The longest standing roster in North America has a history of struggling internationally. I don't see that struggle ending this year. However, Tempo Storm looked to improve late after struggling for much of Phase 2 in HGC. Particularly Tempo Storm looked unchallenged against Gale Force Esports in the playoffs to secure their spot in a dominant 3-0 victory. They likely must beat CE in the loser's bracket finals to get to the playoff.12.: I could have seen myself ranking this team higher, but their group bracket does them no favors. Group D is a very strong group, and finishing in the top 2 will be a tall order, even for a region known for pulling upsets like Taiwan. Still, of all the minor regions, I think Taiwan is the most likely to surprise everyone. Remember, they were a one-game tiebreaker away from going to the playoffs at MSB.13.: Here's how bad it is for BTG: they only have 2 members of their roster heading to Blizzcon. RPG, who finished tied for 6th place in China, has 3 members going. BTG has players from four different teams on their Blizzcon roster. Given that their group features Fnatic and a strengthening Team Freedom, as well as an upstart Dark Sided team, it could be difficult for them to move up.14.: ANZ has at times shown strength, being able to take games here and there in international play. However, they have never won a series against a major region team. They could upset Beyond the Game, and with their weaker region, they could upset Team Freedom to get to playoffs, but I just don't see it as likely.15.: The SEA representatives have struggled at international play, and I don't see that changing this week. I expect a quick 0-4 exit. Might be able to steal a game in the elimination game, but I doubt it.16.: Latin America hasn't won a single map at international play this year. And they were put in the group of Death. Sorry, but I see that streak continuing.: MVP Black gets an easy #1 seed. From there, it comes down to the loser's match between CE and Tempo Storm. Give me CE in Match #5 (even if Tempo wins Match #2) to advance to the playoffs. Very high confidence in the MVP Black #1 seed. Tempo Storm vs. CE is basically a coin flip in my mind.: Fnatic leaves no doubt with a quick 4-0 exit to the playoffs, #1 see in hand. From there, Team Freedom licks their wounds from the vicious beating Fnatic game them to win losers match 2-0 against Beyond the Game easily. Pretty high confidence in both picks for these regions.: Oh boy.....uh....hm....Let me get back to you.: Going to be a bit bold here: Soul Torturers pulls an upset over SPT in game 1, who walked in a bit uneasy. Ballistix wins a 2-1 over Expert, and then 2-0s Soul Torturers in dominant fashion to claim the one seed. SPT gets eliminated in a close 2-1 series with Expert, with game 3 coming down to a final team fight. Expert then gets it together to beat Soul Torturers 2-0 to take the two seed.: Wow, already back here? Hm....Okay, here we go. Red Canids out with 0-4. Roll20 loses 2-1 to Dignitas to drop to losers. Tempest and Roll20 face off, but Roll 20 uses Medivh to great effect and wins 2-0, looking dominant in game 1, and barely edging out game 2. Dignitas #1 seed, Roll20 #2 seed. Really, though, the top two being any of Dignitas, Roll20, and Tempest in any order wouldn't surprise me.Ultimately, this gives me a playoff of:A1: MVP BlackA2: Challenge EverythingB1: FnaticB2: Team FreedomC1: DignitasC2: Roll20D1: BallistixD2: Team ExpertSince the bracket pairings in the playoff haven't been announced yet, this is as far as I can go for now. We'll see what happens when the action kicks of on Thursday!