HotH World Qualifiers: Best Decks and Finalists Lineups

Hello everyone, Yangzera here to talk about the lineups that performed the best in the last weekend Runeterra Opens across all regions! The current competitive standard format revolves around a few high performance decks with some room for innovation. Let’s recap a little bit of the meta and talk about the winning and runner-up lineups, shall we?

The Best Decks

Jayce Heimerdinger

Regions

Shadow Isles
9 cards

Piltover & Zaun
31 cards

Rarities

26 000

6

2

12

20

eternal

Mana cost

2

0

10

1

9

2

4

3

4

4

3

5

8

6

0

7+

Champions

6

4

Jayce

3

5

Heimerdinger

3

Followers

10

1

Adaptatron 3000

2

1

Forge Chief

2

2

Ferros Financier

3

3

Hextech Handler

3

Spells

24

0

Production Surge

2

1

Epic Scraptraption

3

1

Piltovan Tellstones

1

1

Quietus

2

2

Mystic Shot

3

2

Soul Harvest

3

3

Aftershock

1

4

Caustic Riff

1

6

Formula

3

6

Piercing Darkness

1

6

Shock Blast

1

6

Vengeance

3

SI Heimer/Jayce had the most total brings across all shards but no appearances in any of the finals which makes me thing the deck is very good, but not good enough. After playing a bunch of Aatrox myself, I’ve come to the conclusion that there is a lot of nuance to that matchup and it’s not entirely Heimer Jayce favored, a lot more even then you’d think.

Aatrox Vayne

Regions

Demacia
28 cards

Runeterra
12 cards

Rarities

34 600

6

10

11

13

eternal

Mana cost

0

0

9

1

15

2

9

3

3

4

1

5

3

6

0

7+

Champions

6

3

Vayne

3

5

Quinn

1

6

Aatrox

2

Equipments

10

2

The Darkin Harp

3

2

The Darkin Spear

2

1

The Darkin Bloodletters

2

2

The Darkin Aegis

2

2

The Darkin Fan

1

Followers

13

1

Fleetfeather Tracker

2

1

Steadfast Elkin

3

2

Petricite Broadwing

3

3

Blocking Badgerbear

2

4

Ranger-Knight Defector

3

Spells

11

1

Catch!

2

2

Blinding Assault

2

2

Form Up!

2

3

Cataclysm

1

3

Fish Fight

3

6

Condemn

1

Probably the “deck to beat” of the format, with a massive amount of brings in a field where everyone wants to try beating it so they’re not forced to ban it. This deck is extremely good and consistent and it might just be the top deck of the format, but the format is filled with very beatable decks, and most of the “good decks” are decks that have at least a decent shot against Aatrox.

Pink Seraphine

Regions

Piltover & Zaun
25 cards

Ionia
15 cards

Rarities

30 000

6

6

10

18

eternal

Mana cost

0

0

5

1

12

2

4

3

7

4

6

5

3

6

3

7+

Champions

6

2

Seraphine

3

5

Karma

1

5

Sett

2

Landmarks

2

7

Back Alley Bar

2

Followers

7

1

Forge Chief

1

2

The Stagehand

1

3

Piltovan Castaway

1

3

Pit Professional

1

4

Augmented Clockling

2

4

Smooth Mixologist

1

Spells

25

1

Epic Scraptraption

1

1

Jury-Rig

1

1

Piltovan Tellstones

1

1

Wuju Style

1

2

High Note

2

2

Mystic Shot

1

2

Retreat

1

2

Rummage

1

2

Tag Out!

2

2

Time Trick

1

3

Aftershock

1

3

Sump Fumes

1

4

Caustic Riff

1

4

Concussive Palm

2

4

Deny

1

5

Place Your Bets

1

5

Purrsuit of Perfection

1

5

Unworthy Soul

1

6

Formula

2

6

Hexbliterator

1

7

Sputtering Songspinner

1

The one deck with the most appearances in the final, in a total of 4 out of 6 lineups. This deck was discovered very close to the Open and had very little time for refinement and improvement, but Seraphine and Sett just are such good champion cards that I’m impressed some seraphine deck didn’t show up before in the season.

Jhin Broadmane

Regions

Runeterra
15 cards

Bandlecity
25 cards

Rarities

28 300

6

3

18

13

eternal

Mana cost

0

0

5

1

13

2

7

3

6

4

3

5

3

6

3

7+

Champions

6

2

Norra

2

4

Gnar

1

4

Jhin

3

Followers

18

2

Conchologist

3

2

Junk Construct

3

2

Solari Sunhawk

2

3

Avenging Vastaya

2

4

Desert Naturalist

2

6

Lord Broadmane

3

8

Riptide Rex

3

Spells

16

1

Group Shot

2

1

Pie Toss

3

2

Drop the Bomb

3

3

Condense

3

3

Lightning Rush

1

3

Wallop

1

5

Portalpalooza

3

This deck remained the same from the last patch and it really benefitted Siren Song just not being meta anymore. It has got some really tough matchups to play though, so I would only recommend the deck to specialists.

Jax Varus

Regions

Runeterra
40 cards

Rarities

25 400

6

0

20

14

eternal

Mana cost

0

0

4

1

13

2

11

3

11

4

1

5

0

6

0

7+

Champions

6

2

Jax

3

4

Varus

3

Followers

13

1

Forsaken Baccai

3

2

Lunari Cultist

2

3

Innovative Blacksmith

3

3

Piltovan Castaway

3

3

Shadowblade Fanatic

2

Spells

21

1

Catch!

1

2

Entrancing Lure

2

2

Momentous Choice

3

2

The Violent Dischord

3

3

Fish Fight

3

4

Furious Wielder

2

4

Parts Made Whole

3

4

The Expanse's Protection

3

5

The Unforgiving Cold

1

Another deck that showed up in the last week before the open and ended up winning the event twice. This deck, Jax/Ornn and Aatrox Vayne show us that Fish Fight really is the most relevant card.

Americas Lineups

Winner - Da Tank Buster

Regions

Demacia
26 cards

Runeterra
14 cards

Rarities

35 500

6

11

10

13

eternal

Mana cost

0

0

10

1

14

2

9

3

3

4

0

5

4

6

0

7+

Champions

6

3

Vayne

3

6

Aatrox

3

Equipments

11

2

The Darkin Harp

3

1

The Darkin Bloodletters

3

2

The Darkin Spear

2

2

The Darkin Aegis

2

2

The Darkin Lodestone

1

Followers

13

1

Fleetfeather Tracker

2

1

Steadfast Elkin

3

2

Petricite Broadwing

3

3

Blocking Badgerbear

2

4

Ranger-Knight Defector

3

Spells

10

1

Catch!

2

2

Blinding Assault

1

2

Form Up!

2

3

Cataclysm

1

3

Fish Fight

3

6

Condemn

1

Regions

Runeterra
40 cards

Rarities

25 400

6

0

20

14

eternal

Mana cost

0

0

4

1

13

2

11

3

11

4

1

5

0

6

0

7+

Champions

6

2

Jax

3

4

Varus

3

Followers

13

1

Forsaken Baccai

3

2

Lunari Cultist

2

3

Innovative Blacksmith

3

3

Piltovan Castaway

3

3

Shadowblade Fanatic

2

Spells

21

1

Catch!

1

2

Entrancing Lure

2

2

Momentous Choice

3

2

The Violent Dischord

3

3

Fish Fight

3

4

Furious Wielder

2

4

Parts Made Whole

3

4

The Expanse's Protection

3

5

The Unforgiving Cold

1

Regions

Freljord
24 cards

Noxus
16 cards

Rarities

28 300

6

3

18

13

eternal

Mana cost

0

0

13

1

8

2

6

3

7

4

3

5

2

6

1

7+

Champions

6

2

Samira

3

4

Gnar

1

6

Darius

2

Equipments

2

1

The Darkin Ballista

2

Followers

16

1

Omen Hawk

1

1

Weaponsmith's Apprentice

3

2

Favored Artisan

2

2

Ionian Hookmaster

1

3

Innovative Blacksmith

3

4

Combat Cook

3

5

Glacial Saurian

3

Spells

16

1

Catch!

3

1

Elixir of Iron

3

1

Three Sisters

1

2

Entrancing Lure

2

3

Pirouette

3

4

Furious Wielder

3

9

Buried in Ice

1

The winner of the Mastering Runeterra Open ran it back and won the Official World Qualifier event with a more refined lineup this time, notoriously bringing his real version of Samira Gnar Darius, a list that looks very promising as a proactive deck that beats on most midrange matchups.

Runner up - NNT Space

Regions

Runeterra
21 cards

Freljord
19 cards

Rarities

25 000

6

0

18

16

eternal

Mana cost

0

0

7

1

11

2

9

3

5

4

5

5

0

6

3

7+

Champions

6

2

Jax

3

7

Ornn

3

Followers

18

1

Weaponsmith's Apprentice

3

2

Favored Artisan

3

3

Innovative Blacksmith

3

3

Piltovan Castaway

3

4

Combat Cook

3

5

Glacial Saurian

3

Spells

16

1

Catch!

2

1

Elixir of Iron

1

1

Three Sisters

1

2

Entrancing Lure

2

2

Fracture

3

3

Fish Fight

3

4

Parts Made Whole

2

5

Harsh Winds

2

Regions

Piltover & Zaun
15 cards

Shurima
25 cards

Rarities

22 700

3

8

6

23

eternal

Mana cost

3

0

12

1

9

2

5

3

8

4

3

5

0

6

0

7+

Champions

3

4

Ekko

3

Landmarks

3

1

Ancient Preparations

3

Followers

15

1

Dropboarder

3

1

Forsaken Baccai

3

2

Aspiring Chronomancer

3

3

Piltovan Castaway

3

4

Voice of the Risen

3

Spells

19

0

Feral Prescience

3

1

Scrying Sands

3

2

Mystic Shot

3

2

Time Trick

3

3

Quicksand

2

4

Rite of Negation

2

5

Heedless Resurrection

3

Regions

Piltover & Zaun
24 cards

Ionia
16 cards

Rarities

29 800

6

6

9

19

eternal

Mana cost

0

0

4

1

13

2

3

3

8

4

8

5

2

6

2

7+

Champions

6

2

Seraphine

3

5

Sett

3

Landmarks

2

7

Back Alley Bar

2

Followers

9

1

Forge Chief

3

2

Disciple of Doran

2

3

Pit Professional

1

4

Augmented Clockling

3

Spells

23

1

Piltovan Tellstones

1

2

High Note

1

2

Mystic Shot

2

2

Nopeify!

1

2

Rummage

1

2

Tag Out!

2

2

Time Trick

1

3

Aftershock

1

3

Sump Fumes

1

4

Caustic Riff

2

4

Concussive Palm

2

4

Deny

1

5

Purrsuit of Perfection

1

5

Rejuvenating Breeze

2

5

Unworthy Soul

2

6

Formula

2

The second place came home to Brazil in the hands of Space and the most interesting part of his lineup was the mono Ekko deck, opting out of Jinx for more consistency on having Ekko on board with the Heedless Resurrections, having better builds against Aatrox Demacia across the board.

EMEA Lineups

Winner - AtLeastIGotTheCS

Regions

Piltover & Zaun
21 cards

Bandlecity
19 cards

Rarities

24 300

6

1

9

24

eternal

Mana cost

0

0

14

1

16

2

0

3

10

4

0

5

0

6

0

7+

Champions

6

1

Kennen

3

4

Jinx

3

Equipments

3

2

Return-o Wrench

3

Followers

16

1

Byrd, The Bellringer

2

1

Yordle Squire

3

1

Zaunite Urchin

3

2

Boom Baboon

3

2

Squeaker

3

4

Arena Promoter

1

4

Augmented Clockling

1

Spells

15

1

Jury-Rig

2

1

Pie Toss

1

2

Electro Harpoon

3

2

Mystic Shot

3

2

Rummage

1

4

Blowback

3

4

Parts Made Whole

2

Regions

Piltover & Zaun
25 cards

Ionia
15 cards

Rarities

30 000

6

6

10

18

eternal

Mana cost

0

0

5

1

12

2

4

3

7

4

6

5

3

6

3

7+

Champions

6

2

Seraphine

3

5

Karma

1

5

Sett

2

Landmarks

2

7

Back Alley Bar

2

Followers

7

1

Forge Chief

1

2

The Stagehand

1

3

Piltovan Castaway

1

3

Pit Professional

1

4

Augmented Clockling

2

4

Smooth Mixologist

1

Spells

25

1

Epic Scraptraption

1

1

Jury-Rig

1

1

Piltovan Tellstones

1

1

Wuju Style

1

2

High Note

2

2

Mystic Shot

1

2

Retreat

1

2

Rummage

1

2

Tag Out!

2

2

Time Trick

1

3

Aftershock

1

3

Sump Fumes

1

4

Caustic Riff

1

4

Concussive Palm

2

4

Deny

1

5

Place Your Bets

1

5

Purrsuit of Perfection

1

5

Unworthy Soul

1

6

Formula

2

6

Hexbliterator

1

7

Sputtering Songspinner

1

Regions

Runeterra
15 cards

Bandlecity
25 cards

Rarities

28 300

6

3

18

13

eternal

Mana cost

0

0

5

1

13

2

7

3

6

4

3

5

3

6

3

7+

Champions

6

2

Norra

2

4

Gnar

1

4

Jhin

3

Followers

18

2

Conchologist

3

2

Junk Construct

3

2

Solari Sunhawk

2

3

Avenging Vastaya

2

4

Desert Naturalist

2

6

Lord Broadmane

3

8

Riptide Rex

3

Spells

16

1

Group Shot

2

1

Pie Toss

3

2

Drop the Bomb

3

3

Condense

3

3

Lightning Rush

1

3

Wallop

1

5

Portalpalooza

3

I really like the way Cas built his Jhin deck, with just the right ratio for the EMEA field. With very little Aatrox advancing on the brackets, he had an easy ride to the finals with a lineup that looked to beat on greedy, slower decks.

Runner Up - BranchOfTurtwig

Regions

Bilgewater
25 cards

Noxus
15 cards

Rarities

32 000

6

8

9

17

eternal

Mana cost

3

0

15

1

10

2

3

3

3

4

3

5

0

6

3

7+

Champions

6

1

Fizz

3

2

Samira

3

Followers

11

1

Elegant Edge

3

1

Jagged Butcher

3

2

Father Fury

3

2

Jagged Taskmaster

2

Spells

23

0

Warning Shot

3

1

All Out

3

1

Stylish Shot

3

2

Monkey Business

2

3

Pirouette

3

4

Barbed Chain

3

5

Eye of Nagakabouros

3

7

Powder Pandemonium

3

Regions

Piltover & Zaun
27 cards

Bandlecity
13 cards

Rarities

27 000

3

11

11

15

eternal

Mana cost

0

0

9

1

10

2

7

3

9

4

0

5

5

6

0

7+

Champions

3

1

Teemo

3

Landmarks

3

4

Sump Monument

3

Followers

18

2

Clump of Whumps

3

2

Conchologist

1

3

Puffcap Peddler

3

4

Augmented Clockling

3

4

Chump Whump

3

6

Ava Achiever

2

6

Corina, Mastermind

3

Spells

16

1

Pie Toss

2

1

Poison Dart

2

1

Trinket Trade

2

2

Mystic Shot

3

2

Time Trick

3

3

Condense

3

3

Wallop

1

Regions

Runeterra
13 cards

Bandlecity
27 cards

Rarities

29 200

6

4

17

13

eternal

Mana cost

0

0

5

1

12

2

8

3

6

4

3

5

3

6

3

7+

Champions

6

2

Norra

2

4

Gnar

1

4

Jhin

3

Followers

17

2

Conchologist

3

2

Junk Construct

3

2

Solari Sunhawk

1

3

Avenging Vastaya

2

4

Desert Naturalist

1

4

Portal Scholar

1

6

Lord Broadmane

3

8

Riptide Rex

3

Spells

17

1

Group Shot

2

1

Pie Toss

3

2

Drop the Bomb

3

3

Condense

3

3

Lightning Rush

1

3

Wallop

2

5

Portalpalooza

3

Branch of Turtwig was the only finalist to feature Sump Monument puffcaps. With the Eternal season right around the corner, I worry about this card and how it could affect the metagame granted we get access to not only better puffcap specific support cards, but better control decks that would really love this card.

APAC Lineups

Winner - Soraharu

Regions

Shadow Isles
23 cards

Shurima
17 cards

Rarities

28 500

5

6

17

12

eternal

Mana cost

0

0

8

1

8

2

4

3

4

4

5

5

6

6

5

7+

Champions

5

4

Veigar

2

6

Nasus

3

Landmarks

5

1

Ancient Preparations

2

5

Vaults of Helia

3

Followers

15

1

Forsaken Baccai

3

2

Ceaseless Sentry

3

3

Rockbear Shepherd

3

5

Rampaging Baccai

2

7

The Rekindler

3

8

Dess & Ada

1

Spells

15

1

Quietus

3

2

Hate Spike

2

2

Soul Harvest

3

3

Quicksand

1

4

Rite of Negation

2

6

Vengeance

3

7

Castigate

1

Regions

Piltover & Zaun
23 cards

Ionia
17 cards

Rarities

31 300

6

7

11

16

eternal

Mana cost

0

0

5

1

14

2

3

3

6

4

7

5

2

6

3

7+

Champions

6

2

Seraphine

3

5

Karma

1

5

Sett

2

Landmarks

2

7

Back Alley Bar

2

Followers

9

1

Vastayan Disciple

1

1

Zaunite Urchin

1

2

Ferros Financier

1

2

Grandfather Fae

1

2

The Stagehand

1

3

Pit Professional

1

4

All-Seeing Oracle

1

4

Augmented Clockling

1

4

Smooth Mixologist

1

Spells

23

1

Epic Scraptraption

1

1

Piltovan Tellstones

1

1

Wuju Style

1

2

High Note

1

2

Mystic Shot

2

2

Retreat

1

2

Rummage

1

2

Tag Out!

2

2

Time Trick

1

3

Aftershock

1

3

Sump Fumes

1

4

Caustic Riff

1

4

Concussive Palm

1

4

Deny

1

5

Place Your Bets

1

5

Purrsuit of Perfection

2

5

Unworthy Soul

1

6

Formula

1

6

Hexbliterator

1

7

Sputtering Songspinner

1

Regions

Runeterra
40 cards

Rarities

25 400

6

0

20

14

eternal

Mana cost

0

0

4

1

13

2

11

3

11

4

1

5

0

6

0

7+

Champions

6

2

Jax

3

4

Varus

3

Followers

13

1

Forsaken Baccai

3

2

Lunari Cultist

2

3

Innovative Blacksmith

3

3

Shadowblade Fanatic

2

3

Wandering Shepherd

3

Spells

21

1

Catch!

1

2

Entrancing Lure

2

2

Momentous Choice

3

2

Sharesies

1

2

The Violent Dischord

2

3

Fish Fight

3

4

Furious Wielder

2

4

Parts Made Whole

1

4

The Expanse's Protection

3

4

The Unending Wave

2

5

The Unforgiving Cold

1

I find it interesting that SoraHaru’s Pink Seraphine has a bunch of units, probably to make the deck much better into other midrange or aggressive strategies, and I really like the inclusion of Grandfather Fae in these control ionia decks.

Runner Up - THC Raphterra

Regions

Noxus
14 cards

Runeterra
26 cards

Rarities

26 000

6

2

12

20

eternal

Mana cost

0

0

6

1

20

2

3

3

9

4

2

5

0

6

0

7+

Champions

6

2

Samira

3

4

Varus

3

Equipments

2

1

The Darkin Ballista

2

Followers

14

1

Forsaken Baccai

3

2

Ionian Hookmaster

3

2

Keeper of the Box

1

2

Lunari Cultist

2

2

Rune Squire

2

3

Shadowblade Fanatic

3

Spells

18

1

All Out

1

2

Momentous Choice

3

2

The Violent Dischord

3

2

Transfusion

3

4

Furious Wielder

3

4

The Expanse's Protection

2

4

The Unending Wave

1

5

The Unforgiving Cold

2

Regions

Piltover & Zaun
22 cards

Ionia
18 cards

Rarities

30 400

6

6

12

16

eternal

Mana cost

0

0

3

1

13

2

3

3

8

4

8

5

3

6

2

7+

Champions

6

2

Seraphine

3

5

Karma

1

5

Sett

2

Landmarks

2

7

Back Alley Bar

2

Followers

7

1

Acorn, the Hextechnician

1

2

Disciple of Doran

1

2

Grandfather Fae

1

3

Pit Professional

1

4

Augmented Clockling

2

4

Smooth Mixologist

1

Spells

25

1

Ionian Tellstones

1

1

Piltovan Tellstones

1

2

High Note

1

2

Mystic Shot

2

2

Nopeify!

1

2

Rummage

1

2

Tag Out!

2

2

Time Trick

1

3

Aftershock

1

3

Sump Fumes

1

4

Caustic Riff

2

4

Concussive Palm

2

4

Deny

1

5

Place Your Bets

1

5

Purrsuit of Perfection

1

5

Rejuvenating Breeze

1

5

Unworthy Soul

2

6

Formula

2

6

Hexbliterator

1

Regions

Runeterra
19 cards

Freljord
21 cards

Rarities

25 900

6

1

17

16

eternal

Mana cost

0

0

8

1

9

2

8

3

4

4

6

5

1

6

4

7+

Champions

6

2

Jax

3

7

Ornn

3

Followers

18

1

Weaponsmith's Apprentice

3

2

Favored Artisan

3

3

Innovative Blacksmith

3

3

Piltovan Castaway

2

4

Combat Cook

3

5

Glacial Saurian

3

5

Icevale Cultist

1

Spells

16

1

Catch!

1

1

Elixir of Iron

2

1

Three Sisters

2

2

Entrancing Lure

2

2

Sharesies

1

3

Fish Fight

3

4

Parts Made Whole

1

5

Harsh Winds

2

6

Wildclaw's Ferocity

1

9

Buried in Ice

1

Raphterra’s lineup really wanted to face Aatrox, but Soraharu didn’t bring it. I really like the new Samira Varus lists and think it’s a much healthier deck now that the Momentous Choice interaction was fixed.