by Will Gordon
Greetings, Clixers! It’s been almost 18 months, but it’s finally time to crown a new Heroclix World Champion for 2018. The switch of venues has given defending champ, Howard Brock, an extra long title run, but it will be a tough road to becoming the first back-to-back champion of the Neca era in the city of brotherly love. I believe this to be the deepest field we’ve ever seen. There are so many good players right now and this is the hardest cut to top 10 I’ve had in the three years I’ve been doing these power rankings.
I know there are other lists out there now and that’s cool. I would like to point out that the Clixed Off poll is essentially identical to the rankings I put out before ROC Cup. The order is a little different, but other than one guy, the list is the same 10 names I put out. 5 of my 10 made the Top 8 at the Cup, with my second ranked player taking the win. Also, all 10 players made the final 32, and it’s almost impossible for the list to not cannibalize itself to a certain extent once the single elimination begins. It wasn’t perfect, but I think it was pretty accurate, overall.
So, with the preliminaries out of the way, let’s get rolling on who I think are the top 10 challengers to become the next Wizkids Heroclix World Champion:
- Daniel Powell
It’s been a steady rise to the top for the Clixed Off front man- Dan has finally taken the number one spot on my list. He has proven his mettle beyond a reasonable doubt, capping off a terrific run with a back-to-back win at the ROC World Cup in October. A work ethic and practice schedule second to none, combined with a high IQ and a natural affinity for the game, has Daniel poised to win his first Wizkids World Championship. Push come to shove, I wouldn’t take him against the field- it’s just too deep and talented this year- but the proud product of Powell’s farm is the man to beat at PAX and everyone knows it.
- PJ Bolin
My #1 going into the cup, PJ had a disappointing tournament- qualified for the final in the last spot and was unable to advance from there. Despite that result, he has proven his consistency and I highly doubt anyone is sleeping on his chances this year. As seasoned a player at the highest level of tournament play as anyone in the game, PJ won’t be caught off guard by anything or anyone and it would surprise no one if he walks out of Philadelphia as the new champ.
- Easton Brock
The perennial top contender is back for another shot. Easton had a good run at the Cup, losing to Daniel in Top 8. The last year has seen him playing, and winning, his fewest events in recent memory. Despite the lower level of activity, Easton remains one of the special talents in the game. I would be really surprised to see him finish outside of the Top 8 and I remain convinced that one of these days, it’s going to be his time. He is simply too good of a player to not add a World Championship to his resume at some point.
- Isaac Arnold-Berkovits
I still figure Isaac is going to end up being the youngest World Champion of all time- of course, he still has like 5 more shots to get that done! He showed well at the Cup, losing to fellow top 10 player, Adam Friedman, in a highly entertaining top 16 match-up. Isaac’s days of sneaking up on people are long gone- all the top players know he’s the truth, and no one in the game looks at him as a kid or anything other than an on-the-board assassin. He has become 4 Points Gaming’s best and most consistent player, which is saying a lot. Another player that absolutely no one would be surprised to see win the whole thing this year.
- George Massu
I’m pretty sure when George won the US ROC cup earlier in the year, you could here Roy Jones Jr.’s “Ya’ll Must Have Forgot” playing in the background… Anyone unfamiliar with George’s game should check the footage from that event- any questions about the current state of his game were answered. This pick may be a little more on spec than some others, but when you combine George’s legacy, talent, and recent big win, I think the cusp of the top 4 is where he belongs. After spending some time away from the game, getting Fausted at the Cup a couple of years back, and missing this year’s Cup, the player many regard as the GOAT is back and hungry to add a second World title to his resume.
- Adam Friedman
Coming off a good run the ROC Cup, losing a scintillating game in Top 8 after winning the Team World Championship over Clixed Off with Matt Esbrook and Paris Gordon. As I always say when it comes to Adam, I wish he played more tournaments. However, he always shows well at the big events, and his win at U.S. Nationals in 2014 proves that he is capable of closing the show. He remains one of the most innovative team builders out there and his analysis of the game is truly unique. A lot of people will be scratching their heads if he fails to make Top 8 this year, and Adam is definitely a player that could add his name to the list of World Champions.
- Matt Greichunos
Matty G. keeps knocking on the door at the big events, racking up another Top 4 at the ROC Cup in October. Matt takes some heat for not building the teams he plays, but no one questions his ability to pilot those teams to great success. Another factor working in his favor is the variety of builds he has fielded over the years. Matt has shown up with alpha strike teams, undying teams, swarm teams, one-man army teams- you name it, he’s played it and done quite well. He always knows what it takes for his teams to win and has shown a strong ability to adapt to whatever play style is necessary. Another player that I have to believe is going to win one of these things at some point- this could be his time.
- Kenji Kaneshiro
Team Pusheen’s most consistent player missed this year’s ROC Cup, but will be in attendance in Philly. The reigning Canadian National Champion is a truly talented player who doesn’t get the recognition he deserves. While not possessing the quantity of wins other players can boast, Kenji has numerous high finishes in the biggest events and has given more than one eventual champion the hardest game of their title runs. I fully expect Kenji to make life difficult for anyone he plays and he definitely possesses the skill and experience to take it all the way.
- Tom Kerr
The one name new to my list and the biggest oversight I made on my ROC World Cup Top 10 list. Tom was coming off a win at the ROC Canadian Cup, but I was unfamiliar with his game other than that. He showed up with a build no one saw coming and beat the likes of Paris Gordon, Matty G. and Adam Friedman on his way to meeting Daniel in the Finals. Playing brilliantly all day, Tom couldn’t quite get it done against Dan, but everyone who saw him play was impressed. I will be eager to see how he backs up that performance at PAX. I have seen enough to believe he deserves a place among the game’s elite- Tom is definitely a player to keep an eye on moving forward and he has the potential to end up as the #1 guy in the near future.
- Lane Miller
Once again, Lane finds himself in my #10 slot. He outperformed that spot at the ROC Cup, with another Top 4 finish, eventually bowing out to his teammate Dan in the Semi-finals. Lane has proven himself to be one of the world’s most consistent players and anyone not considering him a legitimate contender for this year’s title is foolish. He is another player who has shown he is more than capable of running a variety of teams with great success and he is always prepared for whatever the tournament scene of the moment has to offer. I fully expect another strong run from Lane at PAX.
So, that’s my list of the top 10 players headed to PAX Unplugged for this year’s Heroclix World Championship. Like I said at the top, I had a harder time narrowing down this list than any of the previous ones I have done. I would like to list my next 10 players out, in no particular order, other than to say that Dustin Seeders was #11 and I think he is the most deserving player I left out of the top 10:
Dustin Seeders
Scott Crampton
Ed Arnold-Berkovits
Paris Gordon
Alex Avila
Howard Brock
Patricia Lam
Derek Thompson
Tylor Spees
Warren Ginn
As always, I thank all of you for taking the time to check out my rankings. This list is subjective and I’m always interested in who others think should be on/off. I fully expect the Top 16 at PAX to be populated largely by the 20 players I have named. I also know that there are high quality players who I have failed to consider who will crack the Top 16/8 and make a legitimate run at the title. I wish everyone the best and I hope everyone in attendance has a great time at the new venue. I will be there myself and look forward to playing/meeting/discussing rankings with all of you- See ya in Philly!
