Heroes of Newerth's inclusion in this season of the North American Star League signifies an important period of time for the competitive HoN scene. A mass shuffling of players and teams occurred prior to the season as many of the league's participants are searching for new-found success. Eight teams, the best of the best in HoN, will be paired against each other every week in a round-robin format for the seven-week season. And all of this leads up to a $40,000 live finals in California, USA for one of the biggest LAN events yet.
| NASL Week 1 Results | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
 compLexity Gaming | 0-2 | Trademark eSports | ||||||||||||||||||||||
 FnaticMSI | 0-2 |  Reason Gaming | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Online Kingdom | 2-0 | Infused Tt eSPORTS | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team EZ | 2-0 | Lions eSportklubb | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The preseason showmatches had some nail-biting victories and shocking results, and in the first week of the regular season, things seemed to come together - at least, for the four winning teams. Two European and two North American teams rose to the top in definitive 2-0 sweeps. FnaticMSI and Reason Gaming faced each other in a rematch of the DreamHack Summer 2011 Finals, while Team EZ redeemed themselves against Lions eSportklubb in a rematch of the Twitch TV HoN Challenge.
compLexity Gaming vs. Trademark eSports| Game 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| compLexity Gaming | Trademark eSports | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bans (Legion first) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
    |     | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Picks | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
 /   /   |   /   /  | |||||||||||||||||||||||
In Game 1, compLexity went with a standard jungling Ophelia lineup, while Trademark ran a very aggressive 2-2-1 setup. Pebbles picked up a Portal Key in just 13 minutes, and the kill streak began. With Pebbles at 5/0/0 by 23 minutes with a Token of Life and a Double Damage rune, Trademark cleaned up compLexity while suffering no losses themselves. They took the middle barracks with ease, and compLexity quickly conceded.
| Game 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Trademark eSports | compLexity Gaming | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bans (Legion first) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |  | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Picks | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
/  /  | /  / | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Trademark chose a much more defensive lineup for Game 2, sending three heroes top and having Demented Shaman solo middle. CompLexity lacked hard support, and, while Valkyrie free-farmed bottom, Magmus was left with no farm and no chance of getting a Portal Key on time. CompLexity fell behind after losing two sets of barracks, and tried to stabilize, with Amun-Ra just about keeping up with the Legion's Strength heroes and Valkyrie quickly gaining damage. It was not enough to stop Trademark's assault, however, and Trademark eSports took the last set of barracks and the series.
FnaticMSI vs. Reason Gaming| Game 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Reason Gaming | FnaticMSI | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bans (Legion first) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Picks | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
 /  /   | /  /  | |||||||||||||||||||||||
MSI chose a rather unorthodox lineup for Game 1, with The Dark Lady and Accursed both soloing. Reason ran a 2-1-2 lane setup featuring Emerald Warden, and their Pebbles enjoyed great farm against the solo TDL, who still managed to get decent farm herself. But MSI's odd lineup quickly showed its weakness, and a Genocide for the Legion at 23 minutes made the kills 19 to 6 in favor of Reason. It wasn't long until MSI conceded.
| Game 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FnaticMSI | Reason Gaming | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bans (Legion first) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |  | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Picks | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| / / | /  / | |||||||||||||||||||||||
MSI again chose a questionable lineup that was lacking in carry. Reason got ahead in kills, and their lead increased more and more as the game went on. The game lasted 50 minutes, but it was really over long before that. Reason showed some great teamwork in this series and took it 2-0 in convincing fashion.
Online Kingdom vs. Infused Tt eSPORTS| Game 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Infused Tt eSPORTS | Online Kingdom | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bans (Legion first) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Picks | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
/ /  | / / | |||||||||||||||||||||||
OK came out of the gates quickly, amassing a 14 to 2 hero kill lead and pushing two sets of barracks in under 19 minutes. OK's ganks were executed beautifully, and they were able to end the game before Magebane became a factor at all.
| Game 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Online Kingdom | Infused Tt eSPORTS | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bans (Legion first) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Picks | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
/ /  | /  / | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Game 2 started with roamers on both teams, Electrician for OK and Andromeda for Infused. Again, Infused had the better carry potential with Wildsoul and Master of Arms, but for the third time this week, the nearly-unkillable duo of Kraken and Electrician was successful. A 47-minute Genocide for the Legion led to OK's victory push and a well-deserved 2-0 win.
Team EZ vs. Lions eSportklubb| Game 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lions eSportklubb | Team EZ | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bans (Legion first) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Picks | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
/ /  | /  /  | |||||||||||||||||||||||
In Game 1, EZ picked an aggressive lineup backed up by Flint Beastwood, while Lions had Silhouette, one of the most commonly banned heroes throughout the week. EZ committed to a very active playstyle, and soon had double the hero kills of Lions and a farmed carry. The kills read 46 to 18 after just 37 minutes of play; Lions conceded and sent it to Game 2.
| Game 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team EZ | Lions eSportklubb | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bans (Legion first) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Picks | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| / / | /  / | |||||||||||||||||||||||
EZ took the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" approach, picking almost the same lineup that they had in Game 1. Lions' lineup had the potential for some huge AoE ultimate combinations and strong push, and put this to use by pressuring EZ with some early tower kills. But EZ managed to stay slightly ahead and farm up Flint Beastwood again, and Lions' Amun-Ra was only able to keep up with him for so long. At 57 minutes, EZ forced a Kongor fight and finally drew a concede out of Lions.
| NASL Season Standings | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rank | Team | Record | Points | |||||||||||||||||||||
| T-1st | Online Kingdom | 1 - 0 | + 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| T-1st | Reason Gaming | 1 - 0 | + 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| T-1st | Team EZ | 1 - 0 | + 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| T-1st | Trademark eSports | 1 - 0 | + 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| T-2nd | compLexity Gaming | 0 - 1 | - 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| T-2nd | FnaticMSI | 0 - 1 | - 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| T-2nd | Infused Tt eSPORTS | 0 - 1 | - 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| T-2nd | Lions eSportklubb | 0 - 1 | - 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| NASL Week 2 Schedule | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Broadcast | Match | Rebroadcast | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Oct. 20 | 6:00pm PST | coL vs. MSI | Oct. 21 | 7:00pm CET | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Oct. 21 | 6:00pm PST | tdM vs. Rea | Oct. 22 | 7:00pm CET | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Oct. 22 | 6:00pm PST | OK vs. EZ | Oct. 23 | 7:00pm CET | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Oct. 23 | 6:00pm PST | Infs vs. LION | Oct. 24 | 7:00pm CET | ||||||||||||||||||||
The season continues in Week 2 with the four winning teams getting matched up against each other. Trademark eSports vs. Reason Gaming and Online Kingdom vs. Team EZ will pit North Americans against Europeans, and only two can remain undefeated. The rest of the teams will look to bounce back and grab their first win of the season. Stay tuned for continued NASL coverage!
Links
nasl.tv - NASL HoN Schedule
