Another round of official Mercenaries PvP data! Hearthstone Scientist Tian Ding recently took to Twitter to thank players for their continued feedback and announce an upcoming adjustment to the PvP matchmaking algorithm at the highest level:  

Quote From Tian Ding
Thank you all for the feedback. We are planning to make a Merc PvP matchmaking algorithm change for very high rating players (~top 1%), so that rating plays much more important role in match-building and post-game rating updates, compared to others such as levels, abilities, etc.

The matchmaking system is a very curious beast that we have touched upon before, in this instance causing a number of peculiar interactions: it hasn't been that uncommon for players to queue into one another several times in a row, and we have also seen reports of top leaderboard performers somehow not being able to get a match against some of their high ranked counterparts. Instead, they would be getting paired with people who were presumably far lower on the MMR rating scale. This future change should help alleviate such concerns.  

While people were grateful for this small update, they also took the opportunity to nudge Tian just a little: you know, so how about another PvP power ranking list? After all, the previous ones proved quite popular. Lo and behold, our prayers were answered even faster than anyone might've hoped for!

Top Individual Performers and Strongest Party Compositions

And so we've got another handy graph to draw some conclusions from: 


(Source)

Quote From Tian Ding
Here are the latest individual Merc rankings, and some best Merc parties (top 5% rating, all level 30 Mercs, vs AI-games excluded). Enjoy and good night (or morning, or afternoon)! Slightly smiling face

For the record, it wasn't specified where the "top 5%" begins nowadays - but we know that two weeks ago the cut-off was already above 6500 rating. It stands to reason that floor might've increased to 7000 or even slightly above by now, looking at the current Leaderboard standings.

Another important disclaimer: you should always take these compilations with a grain of salt. Context is crucial. Just like looking at individual card winrates in Constructed and drawing ultimate conclusions based solely on such numbers is not a particularly good idea, with Mercenaries it's all about the party dynamics in play. Both your own and those on the other side. Synergies, counters, equips, strong opening frontlines or clever backlines sweeping in from the bench - after all, the mercenary ranked as #1 here is the best example of such metagame variations. 

It looks like the previous queen Jaina Proudmoore decided to step down for the moment (holding onto [Hearthstone Card (Ice Block Talisman 4) Not Found] closely), while Trapmaster Tavish Stormpike got pushed down rather considerably. Welcome our new overlord in the form of Dragonslayer Gruul! Even though there aren't really any, you know, dragons to hunt (he is clearly biding his time). 

This is actually something we've already gone over in the previous article on the subject: the high standing of Gruul rides on the usefulness of [Hearthstone Card (Dragon's Skull 4) Not Found] equipment and its power to counter [Hearthstone Card (Fire Stomp 5) Not Found]. Which in turn means Diablo with his Cairne Bloodhoof and/or Varden Dawngrasp pals is still being very popular (as we can see from the ranks anyway). While there are also other Fire users where such damage prevention can come in handy, both Ragnaros and Baron Geddon have abilities with higher numbers on average. 

Meanwhile, Natalie Seline has been climbing steadily. It's not surprising given the versatile duality of Anathema 1 & Benediction 1 (plus [Hearthstone Card (Splinter of Nordrassil 4) Not Found]). Vol'jin is right behind to reinforce any Shadow synergies (typically with [Hearthstone Card (Ring of Haste 4) Not Found]).

Natalie Seline Card Image Vol'jin Card Image Gruul Card Image Jaina Proudmoore Card Image

Notice the newest arrival, Cookie, the Cook sneaking in at #13. That's a strong debut considering how little time has passed since the introduction of the newest batch of Mercenaries. It's fair to assume most players are nowhere close to maxing all of its abilities and equipment just yet - those coins don't grow on trees, alas. The tasty murloc power falls back on the Appetizers 1 equipment piece to provide the party with better Health breakpoints against all that aoe damage opponents might send your way. Then there is that potent Bleed of Cookie's Cooking 1.

Many players also remain hopeful about the potential of Eudora and her cannons. Positoning actually tends to play a role here. With these abilities being super slow and due to Pirate synergy, Edwin, Defias Kingpin and Mr. Smite accompany Eudora as bodyguards. We will have to see if there is anything more here once more people level them up fully and work on optimizing their strategies. 

Cookie, the Cook Card Image Eudora Card Image

Blademaster Samuro keeps holding rather well (same old [Hearthstone Card (Sash of Illusion 4) Not Found] equipped), as one of the original free band (Xyrella on the other hand loses favor if there aren't many direct attackers to intercept). Some players still swear by their Blink Fox shenanigans (with [Hearthstone Card (Tenth Tail 4) Not Found]), even as we keep hearing about an odd bug or peculiar behavior. The glow is clearly too much to resist. And of course prince charming Anduin Wrynn has no shortage of followers. 

King Mukla and other Beast friends might be slightly less visible as of late, but don't count them out. The same could be said for Malfurion Stormrage and his Nature gang. Sylvanas Windrunner or The Lich King stalwarts also have the talent of showing up when you least expect it. 

Blademaster Samuro Card ImageBlink Fox Card Image King Mukla Card Image 

And just because any particular mercenary hasn't made the cut there, it doesn't mean their usefulness couldn't skyrocket under the right circumstances (be it now or in the near future). If people ever get over trying to slot in Diablo + Cairne Bloodhoof literally everywhere (we know there is at least one fix coming), and when or if speed synergies receive a nudge, Gruul will be forced to swiftly abdicate the throne. Unless... those missing Dragons will have arrived by then.

For a more general, detailed look into the layers and complexities of the high level PvP Mercenaries meta (as well as the previous information provided to us by Tian Ding), we recommend heading over here: 

May Your Ratings Grow Bigger and Bigger

If your aims and interests lie in competing with other players at the higher PvP ratings, there is that number of potential directions to explore. Of course your individual setups might vary based on the available Mercenaries, equipment, and the amount of coins held for all the crucial updates. It doesn't have to be all maxed in order to do well! 

To prove that point, here is a little inspiration from Martim (still the #1 EU spot holder), who has been doing a F2P challenge over on the Americas server. Steadily climbing into top 200 with a proven Nature comp. 

Fighting tooth and nail against other pesky humans isn't your favorite pastime? Well, it's a good thing there are some kind A.I. friends to offer you free coins while this initial PvP season lasts: 

Not up to date with the most recent developments for this game mode? We've been keeping track of everything of note:


We will get there yet... someday.

The Mercenaries community has been pretty robust and passionate so far, even despite some of the initial setbacks on the part of the developers - who openly admit that they are aware there is a ton of work left to be done in the way of various improvements to the game mode, but are also quick to point it out how it has all greatly outperformed their projections. They also continue to communicate and share various tidbits of information as we go. As Tian Ding and the rest of the crew very much have proved again. 

Have the Fighting Pit and recent skirmishes within been any kind to you, fellow Mercenaries?