The S10 World Tournament semi-finals would be held during prime time on Thursday and Friday nights. Tianhuan's match against FNO was scheduled for Thursday night at 7:00 PM. With 2 days left before the official match, Tianhuan's coaching staff retrieved FNO's past match recordings for detailed review and research.
FNO, Fear No One, as a veteran powerhouse in the North American region, was established in Season S1. The team had a long history, and over the years, the roster had undergone many changes.
Mitchell was FNO's third captain. He debuted in the S8 season and participated in the World Tournament once with the team. S9 was FNO's worst-performing season, failing to secure a spot in the World Tournament.
After replacing the bot lane duo with rookies in S10, FNO performed outstandingly in the regular season, advancing to the playoffs with a winning streak and obtaining a ticket to the World Tournament as the first seed of the North American region.
This team's top laner Kleiman, jungler Fast, and mid laner Mitchell were all top-tier players in the North American region, with strong individual skills and rich tournament experience.
The weakness lay in the two rookies in the bot lane, Angus and Allen. Both teenagers were participating in the World Tournament for the first time and might not be mentally mature enough.
Therefore, after research, the coaching staff focused their strategy against FNO on the bot lane.
Coach Lin said, "For the first game, we'll stick to the conventional Mid-Jungle synergy playstyle, ganking the bot lane frequently. If we can crush Angus and let our Xiao Xing farm up, it will be easier to win in the late game."
As for the lineup, Coach Lin analyzed, "FNO's coaching staff has carefully watched every single one of our domestic matches. So, the strategies we used domestically might not be very effective against FNO. This match determines whether we can advance to the finals and win an award. We've decided to bring out a brand-new system to play against FNO, trying our best to win the first game and grasp the initiative in BP…"
Since FNO knew Tianhuan very well, the previously used lineups were indeed hard to play. Using a new system might make it easier to win. The coaching staff's decision also received unanimous approval from the players.
The pre-match analysis meeting lasted over an hour, and everyone listened attentively.
After the meeting, Fang Zhengqing actively contacted Chi Shu and played several scrims with Tianhuan to verify Tianhuan's new tactics and identify some coordination issues.
Two days passed quickly, and the highly anticipated S10 World Tournament semi-finals began on time on Thursday night. Official commentators from various countries were ready in the broadcasting area on the second floor.
Yao Mu took a deep breath and smiled at the camera. "Good evening, viewers. This is the Seoul E-sports Center, live from the S10 World Tournament semi-finals! Next up is the match between FNO and Team Tianhuan!"
Brother Dong said, "Everyone should be familiar with Team FNO. The champion team of the North American region, a 10-year-old team, they also played against Tianhuan in S6. The current captain Mitchell is a world-class mid laner; the top laner and jungler are both excellent veteran players. The bot lane duo are rookies who just debuted in S10, among whom the marksman Angus won the Best Rookie Award for the North American region!"
Yao Mu said, "In this way, Team FNO and Team Tianhuan have many similarities. Tianhuan also changed their bot lane duo in S10, and marksman Tianhuan Fan Xing won the Best Rookie Award for the China region! Today's bot lane will be a duel between two world-class 'Best Rookies,' and the two players are about the same age."
Brother Dong said, "The mid lane is also a duel between world-class mid laners. So, today's match will definitely be very exciting and fierce. Let's see the preparations of the players from both sides!"
Inside the soundproof booths, the players had already put on their headphones and connected their own keyboards and mice.
Referees checked every computer, peripheral, and network connection. The two Korean commentators on site were introducing each player's World Tournament data in Korean, including hero win rates, average kills per game, KDA ratings, etc. It could be seen that Ye Shaoyang and Mitchell's data were similar, and Cheng Xing and Angus were also neck and neck.
Chi Shu's record in the World Tournament was slightly better than FNO's jungler Fast; but FNO's top laner Kleiman's record was slightly superior to Tianhuan's Old Qin.
So overall, the paper strength of the two teams was almost identical.
At 7:00 PM sharp, the referee signaled the start of the match, and thunderous applause erupted at the venue.
Yao Mu said, "The semi-finals have the system randomly generate Red and Blue sides. Tianhuan randomly got Blue Side in the first game! Coach Lin's first ban… directly went to [Sun Wheel Mage], banning Mitchell's signature hero as a sign of respect?"
Mitchell, the mid laner with the fiercest playstyle in the world, played mages like warriors.
His favorite hero was the melee mage [Sun Wheel Mage], which was also his famed hero.
Inside the soundproof booth, Mitchell raised an eyebrow and said, "Is this targeting me?"
Coach Tom said, "Mn, then we'll target Lieyang too."
FNO decisively used a ban on [Abyssal Lord].
Brother Dong lamented, "The BP for the first game smells heavily of gunpowder! You ban our mid laner's signature hero, I ban your mid laner's famed hero. Both are targeting the mid lane."
Yao Mu smiled. "There's a story behind these two heroes. Heard that when Lieyang first joined Team Tianhuan, Tianhuan and FNO scheduled a scrim. At that time, Yangyang used [Abyssal Lord], and Mitchell used [Sun Wheel Mage]. Today at the World Tournament, both coaches banning these two heroes seems to be reminding the opponent of that past event?"
This could also be considered a psychological tactic; the two heroes indeed easily reminded people of some past events.
Especially since in that scrim, Ye Shaoyang had solo-killed Mitchell's Sun Wheel Mage with Abyssal Lord.
However, Mitchell was no longer the little lunatic who would fly into a rage after losing a game on the international server. Although his playstyle was still crazy, his psychological quality had long become mature and steady.
Not getting his signature hero didn't matter; his hero pool was equally deep.
For the second ban, Coach Lin still targeted the mid lane, banning [Holy Spirit Mage].
Coach Tom rubbed his chin and said, "Tianhuan kept targeting the mid lane in Phase 1; looks like they want to first-pick a mid laner. Ban their [Goddess of Destiny]. Let's see what Lieyang picks, and we'll counter-pick."
FNO continued to ban Mid, sending [Goddess of Destiny] to the little black room.
This hero could coordinate with too many junglers. Wild cores like [King of Fighters], [Sword Immortal], etc., could all play Mid-Jungle synergy with [Goddess of Destiny]. Moreover, [Goddess of Destiny] didn't need much economy and roamed to support extremely fast.
Both sides' BP seemed to only focus on the mid lane, but in reality, many factors were considered.
Yao Mu said, "4 mages are banned. In Phase 1, both sides should be fighting for mid laners. Let's see what hero Tianhuan will pick first!"
Tianhuan on Blue Side had first pick, directly grabbing [Sharpshooter] in slot 1.
Brother Dong said excitedly, "Is it Lieyang's [Sharpshooter] going mid again? Marksman mid—Tianhuan used this tactic in the China regional playoffs, and the effect was very good! Lieyang's [Sharpshooter] sniping is almost hundred percent accurate."
Yao Mu said, "It's possible. Sun Wheel Mage and Holy Spirit Mage, banned by Tianhuan in Phase 1, are both heroes with very high defense. If a marksman goes mid, sniping wouldn't be able to kill these two high-defense mages, so the coach banned them in advance."
From the BP perspective, it really looked like Ye Shaoyang taking [Sharpshooter] mid.
Coach Tom thought carefully and said, "Take the mage with the farthest output range to poke him."
Among all mages, the one with the farthest output range was [Moonlight Mage], who could sweep moon blades from an ultra-long distance to deal AoE damage. FNO decisively took [Moonlight Mage] mid and [Meteor Arrow] marksman in slots 1 and 2. By snatching the T0 marksman [Meteor Arrow] first, Cheng Xing couldn't pick it.
It was Tianhuan's turn to pick heroes.
Slot 2 took [Stealth Rogue] jungle. Chi Shu's wild core appeared!
A row of flowers and applause appeared in the domestic livestream chat, but some viewers expressed concern: "It's only the first game, and Captain Chi takes Rogue directly. If they lose, they'll be very passive later, right?" "Bringing out Rogue so early makes it easy to be targeted in BP! If the opponent takes a bunch of big meaty frontliners, Rogue can't enter the fight!"
While everyone was discussing, Tianhuan's slot 3 suddenly picked a hero [Flame Shield Axe]—this was a very niche top laner. How niche? Almost no one used it during the regular season.
The audience was confused seeing this.
Yao Mu couldn't help but say, "Flame Shield Axe? This hero has high defense and can erect a fire shield in front to stop enemy pursuit. However, the damage output is negligible, plus the movement speed is very slow, with no displacement skills. It will be very clumsy."
Brother Dong agreed, "Yes, bringing such a clumsy hero to the competition, team fighting isn't flexible enough, easily kited by the opponent. Of course, since FNO chose a poke hero like [Moonlight Mage], Tianhuan choosing a shielded top laner to block damage at the front is also acceptable."
Seeing this, FNO backhand picked [Blade's Will], a very flexible top lane warrior. Flexible warrior vs. clumsy tank—although the warrior might not be able to kill the tank, the support speed in team fights would be faster, and the threat to the backline greater.
Phase 1 selection ended.
In the second phase, Tianhuan consecutively banned [Shield of Glory] and [Light of Blessing], two big tank supports. FNO banned [Time Traveler] and [Frost Goddess], which Qu Jiang had used.
FNO took the flex pick [White Bear] in slot 4, which could be support or jungle, waiting for Tianhuan's lineup to be confirmed before countering.
Tianhuan picked [Goddess of Flame] + [Cannoneer] simultaneously in slots 4 and 5.
The audience in the livestream room was completely confused, question marks filling the screen—
[???]
[What's the situation? Sharpshooter mid, Cannoneer marksman position? What about Goddess of Flame?]
[Picking 2 marksmen + 1 mage, this squishy lineup—Tianhuan, are you kidding me!]
[No, it's fine if you pick blindly in domestic matches, but can you not drift (be reckless) in the World Tournament?]
Inside the soundproof booth, Tianhuan's 5 players looked calm, especially Ye Shaoyang, who even had a smile on his face. That punchable expression seemed to say: "Guess what hero I'm playing today."
Mitchell was speechless. "Is he playing Goddess of Flame or Sharpshooter?"
Coach Tom rubbed his chin and thought for a moment, suddenly saying, "Could it be [Goddess of Flame] support? Is this a variant Fire Team?"
FNO's top laner Kleiman frowned and said, "It's possible. Tianhuan Jiang Shui started as a mid laner. [Goddess of Flame] building defense items, playing as a utility support, can cast fire shields to protect teammates and place fire circles to burn the opponent's mana?"
Coach Tom hesitated for a moment and took [Holy Paladin] as support in the last counter slot, using the substitute skill to protect their own core damage dealer.
The BP phase ended, and lineups for both sides were confirmed.
Players began swapping heroes rapidly.
[Goddess of Flame] was indeed given to slot 5; Qu Jiang took her for the support position.
[Flame Shield Axe] top went to Old Qin. [Sharpshooter] was used by Xiao Xing. Ye Shaoyang actually didn't take [Sharpshooter], but brought out [Cannoneer] in the mid lane!
This was a hero who could throw incendiary bombs from an ultra-long distance.
Ye Shaoyang swapped his summoner spell to [Ghost] (Sprint).
[Ghost]'s cooldown was only 90 seconds, half a minute shorter than [Flash]'s 120 seconds. If he built [Mobility Boots], Ye Shaoyang could support the whole map at maximum speed, throwing incendiary bombs from afar to wear down the opponent.
Seeing this, Yao Mu's eyes lit up. "This is Yangyang's first time taking the hero [Cannoneer] mid. His playstyle this game should be fast support, throwing bombs everywhere! If [Goddess of Flame] is support, Tianhuan's magic damage output might be insufficient, but [Cannoneer] can actually build magic damage items and rely on his ultimate for damage!"
Brother Dong said, "That's right, Tianhuan is playing a variant Fire Team. Old Qin's [Flame Shield Axe] hero can stack burn debuffs on the opponent. [Goddess of Flame] lays down fire fields to burn the opponent's mana. Yangyang throws artillery from afar. After crippling the opponent, Captain Chi and Xiao Xing can both harvest."
The traditional Fire Team played positional warfare, with [Goddess of Flame] mid + [Trap Hunter] jungle, advancing step by step.
Tianhuan's variant Fire Team placed [Cannoneer] mid, building magic damage items for fast support and poke, coordinating with the wild core [Stealth Rogue] to kill invisibly, or coordinating with Xiao Xing's sniper to kill from a distance.
Theoretically, this system was playable.
But in actual combat, it was a huge test of the five players' coordination and tacit understanding. Once Xiao Xing was killed in a team fight, or Old Qin couldn't tank the damage and died too early, Tianhuan's lineup was too squishy and could easily collapse in one wave.
And Ye Shaoyang's roaming support after using [Ghost] became the key to driving the rhythm of the whole game.
Mitchell's [Moonlight Mage] cleared minions faster than Ye Shaoyang's [Cannoneer]. Could Ye Shaoyang withstand the pressure of this world-class mid laner and actively drive the rhythm of the whole game?
Everyone hadn't seen Yangyang play this hero, and domestic fans were very worried.
However, inside the soundproof booth, Ye Shaoyang's expression remained calm, looking full of confidence.
The match was about to begin. Before the map loaded, Ye Shaoyang took a deep breath and placed his left hand lightly on the keyboard.
The operational difficulty of the hero [Cannoneer] was very high. Whether the ultimate cannonball could hit accurately would be crucial. Once the ultimate missed, there might be zero damage output in a team fight, leading to the team's collapse.
Tianhuan bringing out a Fire Team system FNO hadn't seen before in the first game was also the coaching staff gambling on Ye Shaoyang's performance.
Ye Shaoyang was very grateful for the coach's trust, letting him take a marksman he hadn't used in matches to go mid in the World Tournament. Using [Cannoneer] to lane against Mitchell would indeed be stressful, but he would definitely go all out.