Introduction

For the purposes of this article, Ballistix and L5 are sometimes used interchangeably to refer to the same team. The same is also true for Gen.G, KSV Black and MVP Black.

Methodology and Background Information

Number of world championships (or lack thereof)

Blizzcon performances (championships, finalist placing, qualification or lack thereof)

Performance against MVP Black (number of wins, series record/winrate)

Performance against the other three top 4 teams (number of wins and series record)

International performances, including mid-year globals and Clashes (championships, finalist placing, qualification or lack thereof)

Regional performance

Year-to-year consistency

Performance against non-top 4 teams (how many losses)

Performance against North American and Chinese teams (if they have losses, basically)

Prize earnings

Other notable achievements or blunders

#1 - Gen.G/KSV/MVP Black

#2: Fnatic, Dignitas, or L5/Ballistix?

With the end of HGC, there is not a shred of doubt as to who the best Heroes of the Storm team of all time is. MVP Black's achievements during the team's almost four-year run easily eclipse those of the three next closest teams. Of those three remaining teams however, two of them, Dignitas and Ballistix, have already made claims in their farewells to the #2 spot. The third team is Fnatic, which did not make a claim themselves, but still no doubt belongs among the top 4. After reviewing tournament results of the past four years of competitive Heroes, I have determined the all-time ranking of these three teams.I don't have an exact science for this. To minimize the effect of bias however, my methodology is backed up heavily by all the available data, statistics and evidence I could find.For the years of 2017 and 2018, HGC had its clearest and most consistent structure and schedule. It was basically uniform across North America, Europe and Korea, with only China and the minor regions having different formats. Statistics can be cross-referenced from both the Heroes Esports website (for as long as it remains) and Liquipedia.For 2016, I had to rely strictly on Liquipedia, but the scene and the data are still relatively easy to follow. Each region had its own events and formats to qualify for the global events. L5/Ballistix did not exist until half-way through this year, which is why one of my measuring criteria is "Losses to non-top 4 teams since June 2016." I decided this was fairer than including losses for the other teams that predate June 2016. The second half of 2016 is also around the time that, skill-wise, both Dignitas and Fnatic began to mature into the teams that we've known them as for the past two years.2015 is a very messy year, with even less consistency across regions. Many regions had lots of smaller events, making them a lot more difficult to follow, especially Europe. MVP Black still had important achievements from this time that were necessary to include. Team Dignitas first emerged during this time, with the acquisition of the spectacularly named, unsponsored team Bob Question Mark. Its roster was Snitch, ADRD, Atheroangel, Zarmony, and Bakery. The closest iteration of the modern Fnatic rosters did not exist until the very end of this year, when it had Breez, Mene, Wubby, Quackniix and Smx. From this period, I felt that Blizzcon qualification was still an important piece of data to include.Winning a world, or global, championship, is considered the biggest honor any team can achieve. Winning international competitions (Clashes), which have more than one region present, but not enough to be considered a world championship, would be the next best achievement. Winning regional events is valued after that.For the sake of completeness, when I tallied up the head-to-head record between Fnatic and Dignitas, I chose to include all matches that were played when Dignitas was known as Bob Question Mark, as well as those played by the other Dignitas roster before that. I do not believe it skewed the record too much in either direction.To ensure fairness, I tried as much as possible to include information on the same criteria for all four teams. These were the criteria I weighed to rank these teams:*2017-2018: Sake, KyoCha, Tsstt, Reset, Rich2017: Sake, KyoCha, Tsstt, Reset, Merryday2016: Sake, KyoCha, Sign, Rich, Merryday2015: Sake, KyoCha, Sign, Lockdown, MerrydayOther former players: Gilduck, Defy, HideSeven-time world champion (MSI Masters 2015, World Cyber Arena 2015, Spring Global 2016, Blizzcon 2017, GCWC 2017, MSB 2018, Blizzcon 2018)Two-time Blizzcon championOne-time SuperLeague ChampionThree-time SuperLeague FinalistTwo-time Clash winnerTwo-time Clash finalist (never failed to qualify)Over $2,000,000 in prize earningsHolds the best HGC league record of 14-0 in series and 42-6 in games (HGC 2017, Phase 2)41 game winstreak in the spring of 201638 game winstreak in the spring of 2018Has a winning record against Ballistix (14-8), Fnatic (4-1), and Dignitas (7-1), as well as every other team in existenceFinished 1st in three HGC League phasesHas never lost a series to a North American teamHas only four lifetime losses to non-Korean teams (Fnatic, Dignitas, Estar, old Team Liquid)Failed to qualify for Blizzcon 2015Lost more SuperLeagues than they won3rd/4th place at Blizzcon 20164th place at Mid-Season Brawl 20173rd place at GCWC 2016, double eliminated by MVP MiracleTheir only negative series records were to the Noblesse L5 roster (4-5), the original MVP Miracle roster (0-2) and the NachoJin Miracle roster (1-2)Losses to non-top 4 teams since June 2016: Tempest (4), Miracle (4)

L5/Ballistix Roster Iterations

2017-2018: Hooligan, sCsC, Jeongha, SDE, Magi

2017: Hooligan, sCsC, Jeongha, SDE, Swoy

*2016-2017: Noblesse, sCsC, Jeongha, Nachojin, Swoy



Dignitas Roster Iterations

*2017-2018: JayPL, Snitch, Zaelia, Poilk, Wubby

2017: JayPL, Snitch, Zaelia, Mene, Bakery

2016: JayPL, Snitch, Atheroangel, Mene, Bakery

2016: JayPL, Snitch, AlexTheProG, Mene, Bakery

2016: JayPL, Snitch, Wubby, Mene, Bakery

2015: JayPL, Snitch, scHwimpi, Atheroangel, Bakery

2015: Zarmony, Snitch, ADRD, Atheroangel, Bakery

Other former players: Nurok, Cris, Linked, blooddragon,tomzeY, SaiiLess, Veineless



Fnatic Roster Iterations

2018: Breez, Smx, scHwimpi, Mene, LastHope

2017-2018: Breez, Smx, Quackniix, BadBenny, Mene

*2016-17: Breez, Smx, Quackniix, scHwimpi, Wubby

2016: Breez, Smx, Quackniix, scHwimpi, Atheroangel

2015: Breez, Smx, Quackniix, Mene, Wubby

Other former players: Lowell, Kesil, Aceofspades, Fred, Shinobu, Shushei, NaNiwa, Sase, Lamia



I have included the roster iterations of each team because it allows us to see how the teams changed over time, and more importantly how those rosters impacted the teams' performances. I starred and italicized what is considered the best and most successful roster iteration for each team.



For the purposes of comparison, I have organized the data, according to my measuring criteria listed in the methodology, for the three remaining teams into a table. In the first row is the name of each team. The second row lists the notable achievements of each team, with plus signs (+) as bullet points, to signify that these are items that weigh in favor of their consideration for the #2 spot. The third row lists each team's career lowpoints, with minus signs (-) as bullet points, to signify these as items that weigh against their consideration for the #2 spot.

Dignitas L5/Ballistix Fnatic + Four-time Blizzcon qualification, the only team among the top 4 to achieve this

+ Best EU team in 2018, with a 13-1 league record for both phases

+ Best EU team in 2016, winning four out of five regional tournaments

+ Qualified for all four global championships in 2016.

+ Two-time Blizzcon finalist

+ One-time Blizzcon semi-finalist

+ Two-time Mid-Season Brawl finalist

+ Three-time clash winner

+ Has not lost to a North American team since 2015.

+ Winning series record against both Ballistix (6-2) and Fnatic (16-9)

+ $1,178,628 in prize earnings

+ Two-time and back-to-back world champion (Blizzcon 2016 and GCWC 2016)

+ Only HotS team other than MVP Black with more than one world championship

+ The most wins (8) against MVP Black of any team

+ The best winrate against MVP Black (36%, 8-14 series record) of any team

+ Despite the popular perception of Dig as MVP Black's biggest rival in 2018, Ballistix actually performed better against MVP Black that year, with 2 wins to Dig's 0.

+ Defeated MVP Black with all three of its roster iterations

+ One-time Blizzcon semifinalist

+ Two-time Clash winner

+ Two-time Clash finalist (never failed to qualify)

+ Only HotS team other than MVP Black with an undefeated HGC league record (Phase 1, 2017: 14-0 in series, 42-7 in games)

+ Winning series record against Fnatic (4-1)

+ Never lost to a Chinese team

+ Out of these three teams, the fewest losses (11) to non-top 4 teams since June 2016: Miracle (2), Tempest (6), Tempo Storm (3) + One-time world champion, and the only European champion ever.

+ Two-time Blizzcon finalist.

+ Best EU team in 2017, with a 13-1 record for both league phases.

+ Never lost to a Chinese team. - The only team among the top four to never be a world champion

- The worst winrate against MVP Black (12.5%, 1-7 series record) of these three teams

- The final roster, although considered their best, never defeated MVP Black.

- Despite popular perception, they were not the biggest challenger to MVP Black in 2018, with 0 wins against them.

- Upset by Team Expert at Blizzcon 2017, resulting in a 5th place finish

- Three career losses to Chinese teams

- Failed to qualify for the 2017 Phase 2 Western Clash

- 14 Losses to non-top 4 teams since June 2016: Zealots (1), Leftovers (1), Tempest (1), Estar (1), Team Expert (2), TL/MSF/MYi (6), Zero Panda (2) - Failed to qualify for Blizzcon 2018

- Upset by Tempo Storm at MSB 2018, resulting in a 5th place finish.

- Negative series record against Dignitas (2-6)

- Three career losses to North American teams

- $930,565 in prize earnings, the lowest of these three teams, but earned during the shortest run of the top 4 teams

- Finished 1st in only one HGC league phase

- Failed to qualify for Blizzcon 2018

- Failed to qualify for Blizzcon 2015

- Failed to qualify for three out of four global championships in 2016

- Failed to qualify for the 2018 Phase 2 Western Clash

- One-time Clash winner

- Only one lifetime win against MVP Black (1-4 series record, 20% winrate)

- Upset by Tempo Storm at 2018 Phase 1 Western Clash, resulting in a 4th place finish

- Negative series record against both Ballistix (1-4) and Dignitas (9-16)

- $932,683 in prize earnings, and earned during a longer team run than Ballistix's

- 16 Losses to non-top 4 teams since June 2016: Leftovers (2), Method/Expert (2), Zealots (3), Tempo Storm (1), TL/MSF/MYi (6), Playing Ducks (1), Crowing Cocks (1)























.

Sorry Quackstreet Boys...

The first conclusion, sad though it may be to some people, is rather obvious: Fnatic no longer belongs in the conversation. An analysis of the data reveals far too many instances of "failed to qualify," whereas the other top four teams have only experienced this once each. Fnatic simply had the fewest number of notable achievements because they had the weakest statistics on most of the measuring criteria. For example, only one Clash win, compared to three for Dignitas, and two for MVP Black and Ballistix. For another, 16 losses to non-top 4 teams since 2016, compared to 14 for Dignitas, 11 for Ballistix, and 8 for MVP Black. They also have a losing record to all of the other top 4 teams.



The main thing that even put Fnatic in the conversation in the first place is their 2017 MSB victory, which makes them the only European champions ever. Ballistix easily outclasses this by simply having more championships. Dignitas is a slightly tougher case to make, because they have no world championships, but within the European region, they have an overwhelmingly stronger resume than Fnatic. Dignitas had the far better 2018, placing better than Fnatic in league play and at offline events, and winning every single head-to-head matchup. While Fnatic finished 2016 with a bang by defeating MVP Black, Dignitas had a stronger overall year. They won four out of five European regionals compared to Fnatic's none, and they qualified to four global events, compared to Fnatic's one. 2017 is Dignitas' "weak year," relatively speaking, but it was still stronger than Fnatic's weak year of 2018.



If Fnatic is out of contention for the #2 spot, while Dignitas and Ballistix are still in, then the logical conclusion is that Fnatic ranks as the 4th best HotS team of all time. So who then, between Dignitas and Ballistix, truly deserves to be 2nd?

And The Runner-Up Is...

To many people, Dignitas probably seems like the obvious answer. They were the undisputed best European team for the past year, and they placed 2nd at global events, behind only Gen.G/MVP Black. Ballistix, on the other hand, lost to a North American team, not once, not twice, but three times at the same event, resulting in a 5th place finish at the Mid-Season Brawl. (I chose to count all tiebreaker matches as their own series with a best-of-one ruleset.) Then they finished the year by failing to qualify for Blizzcon.



Ultimately though, in a ranking of who is the better team of all-time, this is a conclusion that is biased by recency. Ballistix's two greatest failures are fresh in our memories, both having happened in the last 7 months of their two-and-a-half-year run, and they will never have a chance to redeem themselves. Dignitas, by contrast, just had by far their most successful year in their three-plus year run, and that's how their run ends.



For some people, I think there may also be a Western bias. MVP Black's achievements are too numerous and overwhelming to ignore, whereas the comparatively lesser accomplishments of Ballistix may be easier to downplay for Western fans who identify more with Dignitas and Fnatic.



Although Ballistix's losses to Tempo Storm were embarrassing, and something they were mocked for, Dignitas did have a comparable career lowpoint: their losses to Team Expert in 2017, resulting in their failure to qualify for the Phase 2 Western Clash, and their elimination at 5th place at Blizzcon 2017. This mainly leaves us with Ballistix's failure to qualify for Blizzcon 2018 as the main thing holding them back from the #2 spot, whereas Dignitas is the only team among the top 4 to never miss a Blizzcon.



And yet, I believe Dignitas has something that holds them back from the #2 spot even more: their failure to ever win a championship. They are the only non-champion among the top 4 (and possibly even among the top 5), whereas Ballistix is the only team other than MVP Black to have more than one championship. Ballistix's peak achievements simply outclass Dignitas' peak achievements.



The best arguments remaining in Dignitas' favor are their winning head-to-head series record against Ballistix (6-2), and their overall consistency from year to year. However, out of the past three years, 2018 is really the only better year that they had in comparison to Ballistix.



Dignitas may have had a great 2016, winning four out of five European regionals, and qualifying to four global events, but their global finishes were 5th, 5th, 3rd and 5th. L5/Ballistix, on the other hand, were immediately world class material, debuting in the middle of the year with a 3-0 series win over Tempest, the reigning world champions at the time. They went on to defeat MVP Black, qualify for Blizzcon as the #1 seed from Korea, and then win two back-to-back world championships. Despite only being around for the second half of 2016, L5/Ballistix was the clear #1 team for that year.



In spite of L5/Ballistix's losses to Dignitas at the Mid-Season Brawl, 2017 was still a stronger overall year for them than Dignitas. They were clearly the best Korean team for phase 1, with an undefeated 14-0 league record. After their roster swap, they maintained the #2 spot, and even managed to win the Eastern Clash over MVP Black. Dignitas, on the other hand, was never higher than #2 in Europe, and sometimes struggled to get there, entering the Phase 1 Western Clash as the 3rd seed, and failing to even qualify for the Phase 2 Western Clash. They finished the year with a 5th place finish at Blizzcon after their upset to Team Expert, the worst placing for any top 4 team that year.



And although Dignitas definitely was the better and more consistent team in 2018, Ballistix still had a very important achievement from this year that Dignitas can't match. Dignitas never beat MVP Black/Gen.G in 2018 (0-3 series record, 0% winrate); Ballistix did it twice, one of them at a Clash in a best-of-seven series (2-7 series record, 22% winrate). The popular perception of Dig and Gen.G as rivals is held together by exactly 3 Dignitas map wins (3-9 map record, 25% winrate), and even if we compare map winrate, Ballistix still comes out on top (8-23, 25.8% winrate), even if just barely. Even in their weakest year, Ballistix was still the biggest threat to Gen.G/MVP Black, which is consistent with them being their biggest all-time rival.



When all is said and done, despite their disappointing finish to 2018, Ballistix was indeed still the second greatest Heroes of the Storm team of all time, leaving the remaining rankings as follows:

#2: L5/Ballistix

#3: Dignitas

#4: Fnatic