The Current Heroes of the Storm Pro META

**Update - a current Tier List will always be available at Boomjack's Heroes of the Storm Tier List.

The META changes, sometimes daily as teams sort out the nuances of Hero interactions and talent choices.    This is a best guess representation of how it stands as of February 15, 2015. [Ed: This META is now out of date.  Follow the link above for the up to date META]

ESL Nurtures The Pro Scene     

Based on statistics from the recent ESL HotS qualifier.    Thanks to Khaldor for posting the games on his Twitch channel.   You can view them in their entirety here. 

Raynor was not part of the Hero pool because of an Adrenaline Rush bug and Lost Vikings were removed from play because they are so new.   Every other Hero was available to the teams.

Remember, this is the Pro META.  What works here with team compositions and play styles does not necessarily work in Quick Match and Hero League. In fact, it won’t work in most cases.   Trying to get a Quick Match pick up group to focus the target that Tyrande marks will only lead you into the land of frustration.  

Eight games in total were played.

Which HotS Heroes Do The Pros Fear?     

Zeratul, Valla and Stiches were the most feared Heroes, being banned or picked in every game.   Valla, though feared, was only banned once in contrast to Zeratul who was banned in seven of the eight matches.

Uther remained a stalwart choice.   Tyrande has also become a staple on the pro circuit, being chosen in every game. 

Illidan becomes a Tier 1 choice compliments of the changes in the last patch.  In a long game he becomes an absolute terror in the right hands.  In the wrong hands (as if often the case in Quick Matches) he remains a squishy Hero that is often an easy kill.

E.T.C and Sgt. Hammer will also likely become Tier 1 level heroes in my next Tier List as they proved that they are more than capable of being played at the highest levels.

Brightwing, Nazeebo, Kerrigan and Tychus will all likely fall in my next Tier List as the last patch has in one way or another brought detriment to them all.

There are many changes to the META in this patch, which have changed the game for the better.   Kudos to the players for picking up on them so quickly and to Blizzard for changing things up.

Weighted Heroes List (based on the Bans and Picks)

The Big 12

1. Zeratul
2. Stitches
3. Sgt. Hammer
4. Valla
5. Illidan
6. Tyrande
7. Uther
8. Tassadar
9. E.T.C.
10. Malfurion
11. Muradin
12. Rehgar

Bans

• 7 – Zeratul
• 4 – Stitches
• 2- Sgt. Hammer
• 1 - Illidan
• 1 - Tassadar
• 1 – Valla

Picks

• 8 – Tyrande
• 8 - Uther
• 7 – Valla
• 6 – Illidan
• 5 – E.T.C.
• 5 – Sgt. Hammer
• 5 – Tassadar
• 4 - Malfurion
• 4 – Muradin
• 4 - Rehgar
• 4 - Stitches
• 3 - Tyrael
• 2 – Brightwing
• 2 - Diablo
• 2 – Nazeebo
• 2 – Zagara
• 1 – Anub’arak
• 1 - Azmodan
• 1 - Kerrigan
• 1 – Nova
• 1 – Thrall
• 1 - Tychus
• 1 - Zeratul

Important Changes

• Brightwing is weaker.  Without Rewind at 13 the double polymorph is off the table.
• Thrall is now tougher to self-sustain.
• Kerrigan lost level 13 Rewind, which weakened her considerably.
• Stitches lost a lot of Gorge damage and his hook CD is increased.  He’s much weaker, but when teamed with Tyrande can hook, mark and burst down an enemy.
• Tyrael lost “Cast Aside” which was a very popular talent.
• Nova gets Rewind at 20 now, making her very viable in late game.

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