NOTES:

HGC China and minor regions is not included in these rankings. Chinese teams are plagued by visa issues for international and global events that make speculating on their strength a moot point as they often have incomplete teams for these events. Minor regions just frankly never generate teams that would make a Top 10.

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#1 - Tempest (KR)

Current HGC Ranking (KR): 1st (Tied)

Last Week's Ranking: N/A

Current HGC Record: 3-0

Current Map Score: 9-0

Tempest has had one of the most unexpected openings of any HGC team this season. They were scheduled to play against defending Blizzcon and Gold Club World Champions KSV Black in Week #1. They took that challenge and ran with it, delivering a decisive 3-0 against the favorites. They have not slowed down in Week 2 taking another two 3-0 victories. While they had outmatched opponents in Miracle and Gluck, being able to beat both 3-0 is good for a team that's historically been momentum based like Tempest.

Look for an important match vs Ballistix in Week 3. If Tempest is able to beat Ballistix they will have more or less guaranteed a trip to the Eastern Clash as the #1 seed from Korea. Tempest has always been an inconsistent team in the past, so the next couple weeks may very well set the mood of the entire HGC season for them. Heading into Eastern Clash with wins over both KSV and Ballistix will do worlds for confidence in this squad.

#2 - KSV Black (KR)

Current HGC Ranking (KR): 2nd

Last Week's Ranking: N/A

Current HGC Record: 2-1

Current Map Score: 6-3

KSV Black was heading into this season with what looked like nothing but smooth sailing ahead. Where almost every other team in HGC KR and across the world was making roster swaps, they kept the same players. However as is all too common in eSports, the defending world champions have hit a small bump in the road in Week 1 vs Tempest. They bounced back with expected 3-0 wins over Gluck and this week vs Feliz. The next two weeks however will be important for KSV Black. They play Blossom followed by Ballistix. Victories over these teams would mean KSV is all but locked in for the Eastern Clash. I would expect KSV to be able to handle Blossom with ease, keep in mind however that history has shown that teams that win world championships in Heroes tend to slump the following year. A loss to Blossom would be a disaster for KSV, and jeopardize their odds of making the Eastern Clash. They need to come with their A1 game and do what people expect a team of this caliber to do, dominate Blossom.

#3 - Dignitas (EU)

Current HGC Ranking (EU): 1st

Last Week's Ranking: N/A

Current HGC Record: 3-0

Current Map Score: 9-0

Dignitas has been a team that has surprised many fans over the recent offseason. The retirement of long time team captain Bakery looked like it could be the start of a rough time for Team Dignitas. The new roster showed a great start with a 3rd place finish at GCWC, but many other teams were also making roster changes as well. With the new season here and teams more practiced up, Dignitas has emerged as a strong front runner ahead of all the other teams in Europe.

Dignitas has a match next week vs Leftovers, but it's Week #4 that looks to be a true test for Dignitas. They will play both Fnatic and Team Liquid in the same week, and if they can get through both teams with wins, they will enter the Western Clash as the favorites to take it all.

#4 - Ballistix (KR)

Current HGC Ranking (KR): 1st (Tied)

Last Week's Ranking: N/A

Current HGC Record: 3-0

Current Map Score: 9-0

Ballistix had a quick and easy week 1 playing Ace and Feliz. This week they started the 3 week tour that will determine where they stand in the Korean pecking order. The team was able to cruise through Blossom, the team that looks to be taking Mighty's place in the HGC KR. This was an important match as it puts them in a position where they should now be all but locked in for the Eastern Clash. It looks unlikely that Gluck or Miracle will be able to compete with Ballistix, meaning the worst case scenario for Phase 1 will be 3rd place.

However Ballistix is not a team that looks for 3rd, they are the former Blizzcon champions and want to regain the "Best team in the world" status. The next two weeks will be their chance to lock that in as they have matches vs Tempest and KSV Black. If Ballistix wins both series they will be the top team in the world and early favorites for both Eastern Clash and Mid Season Brawl.

#5 - Fnatic (EU)

Current HGC Ranking (EU): 2nd

Last Week's Ranking: N/A

Current HGC Record: 2-1

Current Map Score: 8-4

This was a rough week for Fnatic. While the weekend started out good with a 3-1 victory over Method, a razor thin series loss to the 0-2 Zealots was unexpected by pretty much everyone. The way Fnatic lost is just as rough, losing one game with only 2% left on the enemy core. Fnatic has looked like a weaker team since the roster swap post-Blizzcon, and seems to be lacking the synergy and coordination that the team had formerly been known for. What's scary for Fnatic is they are about to be heading into the toughest part of this phase for them, with their remaining matches being against Tricked, Dignitas, and Team Liquid. They have no weeks they can coast thru and will be fighting for their Western Clash lives each and every week.

Not all is bad however. SmX has recently been coming more and more the playmaking support that is oh so rare in Heroes of the Storm. His performance vs Method was terrific, and if he can keep up this high level of play, it will boost his whole team up. In addition one thing that's been terrific for Fnatic is their decisiveness in shotcalling. A hail mary base trade on Battle of Eternity vs Method was one of the best back against the wall wins I have ever seen in HGC. If Fnatic can clean up their teamfights and improve synergy, it's not a long road back to the top.

#6 - Team Freedom (NA)

Current HGC Ranking (NA): 1st

Last Week's Ranking: N/A

Current HGC Record: 3-0

Current Map Score: 9-4

It looked like it was going to be hard to guess where Team Freedom was going to end up in 2018. While they managed to keep most of their core, the loss of Kure could have been a big hurdle for a team to overcome. However the additions of Lutano and YoDa have been terrific and Team Freedom has started off this year with a bang! Wins over HeroesHearth and Gale Force were nice, but this week's win over Tempo Storm was a major statement for the NA scene.

Tempo Storm on paper had assembled what looked to be a team that no one in NA would be able to compete with. Team Freedom this week shattered that illusion. Winning a close 3-2 series has made them undisputed kings of the NA HGC rankings. Their remaining schedule looks pretty light too, with only a match vs Team Twelve in Week 4 as the sole scary point left in this phase. If they are able to get thru Team Twelve, I would expect Team Freedom to end Phase 1 with a perfect 7-0 series score. I'm really excited for the future of this team, and can't wait to see how the rest of the season plays out for them!

#7 - Tempo Storm (NA)

Current HGC Ranking (NA): 2nd

Last Week's Ranking: N/A

Current HGC Record: 2-1

Current Map Score: 8-6

Tempo Storm has not had the start to the season that I expected. On paper the roster they have put together is the finest that NA has assembled since at least early 2016. However in the first couple weeks they just look like any other Top 4 NA team. Both the team and individual players have room for improvement, but a match vs Simplicity next week might be what the doctor ordered. Simplicity is sort of a known quantity and should not offer a significant threat to Tempo Storm. The loss to Team Freedom was a major disappointment to the players I'm sure, but if they can use that to fuel the rest of the season, they can bounce back and grow from this. With all that said, they are still in a terrific position for the Western Clash and should be in discussion for teams to win, they need to play the next couple weeks with that in mind.

#8 - Team Twelve (NA)

Current HGC Ranking (NA): 3rd

Last Week's Ranking: N/A

Current HGC Record: 2-1

Current Map Score: 8-4

Team Twelve has had a pretty good start to the 2018 season. The loss of a player like Glaurung is tough for any team, but luckily Team Twelve has Justing whom is just as talented a player to build around. The results have shown as much. They have wins over LFM and Simplicity, and a narrow narrow loss to Tempo Storm. What's most important is they look about the same as last year, which is decent news. They still looks like a shoe-in for international events with the occasional global event mixed in. Team Freedom/Tempo Storm/Team Twelve look to have a lock on the Top 3 slots for NA, and I don't see that changing for the of this split of Phase 1.

#9 - Blossom (KR)

Current HGC Ranking (KR) - 4th

Last Week's Ranking - N/A

Current HGC Record - 2-1

Current Map Score - 6-5

Team Blossom looks poised to be the replacement for Mighty in the HGC KR, a solid 4th place team. However unlike Mighty they have a true superstar player in Wiz. Wiz has really been coming into his own this season, and in games where he can flourish he is a force to be reckoned with. This is something a team like Mighty was always lacking, the individual players were all fine, but they had no "X Factor". Wiz provides that, and if this team can rally around Wiz's play and just do what they are supposed to, we might finally have a internationally competitive 4th place Korean team.

Let's not jump too far ahead however, Blossom's wins this season come over Miracle and Ace, with neither team looking impressive this season. The 0-3 loss to Ballistix also sent a clear message they still have a ways to go to break into the coveted 3 way Korean trifecta of KSV/Ballistix/Tempest that's been going on since 2015. Realistically this team should be looking to do what they can right now, but focus on getting into position to qualify for Mid Season Brawl, where there will likely be 3 Korean teams attending. They have a hard road ahead, but the tools to make it happen.

#10 - Team Liquid (EU)

Current HGC Ranking (EU): 3rd

Last Week's Ranking: N/A

Current HGC Record: 2-1

Current Map Score: 8-5

This week was a scary week for Team Liquid. A loss to Diamond Skin is completely unexpected and does not bode well for Team Liquid trying to qualify for the Western Clash. They now HAVE to beat Tricked eSports next week to keep themselves even in the running, as they matches they have after that are Dignitas and Fnatic. Liquid has a unique position in that this season is all up to them now. They have all opponents left with equal to or better records than them, they can personally make sure they stay in the Top 3.