Hero Season 10 - Preseason Preview

We're back with another preseason preview, this time we'll be talking Hero. As I disclaimed in the previous article this is NOT A POWER RANKING ARTICLE. Hero has 8 fewer teams than Legacy and the talent is very concentrated due to that. The difference in average wins and experience between the top and bottom team is much smaller so I expect to see 10 teams that all have championship aspirations this season. Should be the most exciting Hero season yet!

Hero Teams

Tan Pam's Surf Slam - Average wins per player 4.67
 
Durtymike - 4.29
Lefty2111 - 4.43
BrushyTuna - 3.33
Ozmanaut - 5.29
ItsMeMikeV - 6
 
Tied for most wins per player, TPSS is no fluke.  Ozma has been out here crushing for 7 seasons and MikeV is coming off a strong rookie season.  If he can duplicate that effort in an uneven 5 seed field, this team is poised for another championship appearance.
 
DSM Five - Average wins per player 4.67
 
Snake - 7
Itachi - 4.5
S4nguine - 7
SuperMurloc - 3.33
QuirkyTurtle - 1.5
 
Here's your other top team by average wins though the win distribution is a little less even.  Snake and S4nguine turned in identical rookie runs of 7-3.  Will that be sustainable?  I expect there to be some regression but they'll be strong.  Itachi in the two, as always, is disgusting.
 
ATL - Average wins per player 4.61
 
Omsie - 7
AlienSanta - 5.25
BlueSpartan - 4.14
Shunsui21 - 3.57
Force of Will - 3.1
 
This crew will advise you not to sleep on them and I agree.  Omsie returns for another Hero run, this time starting in the 1 seed and AlienSanta the hero specialist is back.  The bottom 60% of this lineup has more Hero experience than anyone else and they will be favored in almost every match they play this season.
 
Teen Hearth Legends - Average wins per player 4.47
 
Aviously - 5.33
LiquidOx - 4
Catman1950 - 4
Diamond - 5
Coppertalon - 4
 
One of the more hyped preseason teams on the reveal stream with good reason.  Avi makes any team a contender.  Copper has been one of the best 5 seeds in both Legacy and Hero now for multiple seasons so if the players in between can hold their own, this is yet another possible playoff team.
 
DadLegend - Average wins per player 4.18
 
Icicles (Rookie) - 8 (Converted from Legacy)
Starlax - 4
YellowDart 4.38
Hockeyboyz3 - 2.33
Sage - 2.17
 
Super rookie Icicles will bring his stellar Legacy start over to Hero for the first time.  The real question marks here come at the bottom of the lineup.  Both Hockey and Sage are more than capable but historically have not had the best records.
 
 
Burninators - Average wins per player 3.8
 
RonMexico - 3
LilHearthie - Rookie
ShinyPants - 8
Meduzas - 3
SilverTFoxDemon - 5
 
Our first pure Rookie on the list is LilHearthie.  For what this team lacks in experience they make up for in strong players.  Reigning cross over player of the season RonMexico will look to lead from the front.
 
The Cult - Average wins per player 3.67
 
Thelastchamp - 4
Nineeyebrows - 1
BOOZASAURUS - 4.5
The_Bigted - 5.5
Quaz - 3.33
 
The Cult is another Hero institution with Quaz trotting out his latest incarnation.  Did you guys realize Big Ted is a 4 seed?  I was surprised!  He should continue to thrive this season and Booz turned it on at the end.  He'll need to carry that momentum over to navigate this loaded field.
 
Team Annoy-O-Team - Average wins per player 3.62
 
Dusharmo - 5
Enthralimund - Rookie
Dan0 (Rookie) - 7 (Converted from Legacy)
Mattatarms - 2.5
Jimphilos - 3.6

Here's the only team with 2 rookies, one of whom just smashed his way up 3 seeds in Legacy last season alone. Enthralimund is the other, a pure Rookie who finished in the top 8 of the most recent Coin Concede season. I like this team to outpace their average as Mattatarms does not play like what you would expect out of the 4 seed.


No Pros Here - Average wins per player 3.6​

SKItLLeZ - 5
AgentPWE - 2
Pasca - 3
Disco - 4
Electabuzz – 4


NPH is running it back again after mild success in their first Hero season. Full rookie rosters rarely fare as well as they did so that's an achievement in and of itself. SKItLLeZ led the way with 5 wins and will look to build on that in 2020.
 
NAS-Dormu - Average wins per player 3.16
 
Donde - 4.8
TrippyToad - Rookie
Anfal - 4.33
TwoStarMako - 4.5
Saku – 2.14


This might surprise you! The returning champs are only so in spirit as just 40% of the Notorious BIGs roster remains (Donde and Anfal). Several prognosticators picked this team to return to the playoffs proving that chemistry and prep matters just as much as raw numbers. Pure Rookie TrippyToad is coming off a high legend finish and Saku will try to navigate to some wins in the 5 seed. Oh and Mako is here too, turns out he's pretty good. The numbers don't portend a playoff team, but the games are decided in the tavern and not on paper.



Rookie Report

There are a mere 6 rookies in this class. Let's talk about 'em:


Icicles – Has to be one of the two favored out of the gate for Rookie of the Season. Coming off his first Legacy season with 8 wins, he'll have to find his way through the crowded 1 seed field.
LilHearthie – I know very lil about this player, but they'll be a two seed on a team tied for the fewest overall Hero seasons among its rostered players.

Nineeyebrows – Dipped his toes in last season and is currently undefeated at 1-0! The epitome of small sample sizes but he'll be one of four rookies in the two seed.

TrippyToad – Another 2 seed rookie with no THL experience but an impressive ladder pedigree.

Enthralimund – Your final 2 seed rookie. As mentioned, he has yet to “take a snap” in THL play but has plenty of league based format experience.

Dan0 – He of the Rookie of the Season campaign to end 2019 and of THL's new podcast! Not much else needs to be said here. Dan0 is a solid player and a frontrunner for his second RotS along with Icicles.