NiP vs HEROIC - Stake Ranked Episode 2

The veto tells the real story here. HEROIC can comfortably first-pick Nuke or Mirage, where they sit at 63% and 62% winrates respectively. NiP burns their first ban on Inferno almost every time, and their Mirage winrate sits at a damaging 39%. That hands HEROIC the map pool initiative before a single round is played.

HEROIC's recent form is shaky, with four losses in their last five matches. That cannot be ignored. But NiP's results are not convincing either, dropping maps to the likes of Lynn Vision and B8 in the past week. NiP's playoff momentum claim feels thin when their losses are this fresh against lower-caliber opposition.

On a neutral or HEROIC-favored map pool, the structural advantages are too significant to overlook. HEROIC has the stronger map fundamentals, the cleaner first-pick options, and enough experience at this level to close out a match where the veto already works in their favor.

Thunderpick odds(at time of writing):

HEROIC to win 1.72

Ninjas in Pyjamas to win 2.00