Hearthstone Battlegrounds offers players an alternative style of play compared to traditional Hearthstone
Since its release in late 2019, Hearthstone’s Battlegrounds mode has truly managed to become its own thing. Whether you’re just now getting into it. Or are looking to spice up your gameplay to improve your MMR, it can help out a lot to take inspiration directly from some of the pros.
So without further ado, here are my picks for the 10 BEST Hearthstone Battleground players currently.
10. Lev ‘Levik’ Merkulov
Newcomer Levik has already managed to make a splash in the Hearthstone e-sports scene
Lev may just be starting out in the esports scene, but don’t let that fool you.
The guy’s managed to capture the attention of tons of Hearthstone players, and much of this is because of his unique playstyle.
Sure, he’s only been competing since 2019, making him a lot less experienced than some other names on this list, but he’s managed to prove his worth in what little time he’s been in the spotlight.
Like, for example, in 2022, he almost made it to the top spot at the Masters Summer Championship. He was also among the top contenders for the Grandmasters Last Call, and the Hearthstone World Championship.
It’s safe to say, he’s definitely got a bright career ahead of him, making him a great player to view if you’re looking to add a bit more strategy and pizzazz to your gameplay. You can stay up to date with his latest builds and tactics by following him over on his Twitter.
9. Jaromir ‘Jarla’ Vyskocil
A longtime player, Jarla is among the best Hearthstone players to check out for those hoping to learn more about the game
Hailing from the Czech Republic, Jarla has definitely made his place as one of Battleground’s most competitive players.
He’s been playing Hearthstone since 2016 – that’s way before Battlegrounds even came out. It’s fair to say he’s a legit veteran when it comes to the esports scene in Hearthstone.
Today, he’s got a huge community of fans, and is consistently ranked among the highest earners among Hearthstone players.
In 2020, he got second place at the Hearthstone World Championship, taking home a whopping $100,000 grand prize. Definitely keep an eye on this guy’s Twitch if you want to learn from a real pro.
8. Jack ‘Deaddraw’ Bancroft
DeadDraw is another notable Hearthstone personality that many players look up to
Jack is a Hearthstone player from the United Kingdom, who’s got a fair amount of tournament wins under his belt. In fact, he was the runner-up in the 2022 Hearthstone World Championship. And that certainly isn’t a small feat.
He managed to take home a cash prize of $70,000, making it the biggest win of his career up until that point. Jack’s won a couple of other tournaments in the past too. Much of this can be credited to his unique builds. He never shies away from coming up with bold strategies that other players may not consider opting for. Deaddraw’s Twitter is where he posts most often.
7. James ‘Firebat’ Kostesich
Firebat is about as OG as they get, being a true Hearthstone veteran who's been a big name since the start
Saying that Firebat is a legendary player would be putting it lightly. He was the first-ever Hearthstone world champion, and essentially set the stage for the entire esports scene.
I think it’s fair to say every long-time Hearthstone player remembers just how glorious it was to see him lift that trophy back in 2014. Especially considering he defeated fifteen other players to do it.
Firebat is still active to this day, but he doesn’t play quite as much as he used to. Still, having racked up around $275,000 in tournament winnings, it’s clear he’s got no shortage of tournament prize money. To remain up-to-date with all of Firebat’s latest strategies, check out his YouTube.
6. Pavel Beltiukov
Pavel has made his name in the Hearthstone world with his numerous tournament appearances
Much like Firebat, Pavel also knows just what it’s like to be a Hearthstone World Champion. The guy went up against some of the greatest Hearthstone players, and won.
He even received the largest share of the $1,000,000 prize pool at the time. While his tournament appearances have lessened over the years, he’s still a player you can learn a lot from. You can catch him streaming over on his Twitch channel.
5. Chen ‘Tom60229’ Wei Lin
Chen seen celebrating an amazing tournament win, one of many across his Hearthstone career
Chen’s truly living the dream. He’s earned around $460,000 just by playing Hearthstone. And let me tell you, he deserves every penny of it.
Lin’s got some serious great skills, and he showcased that by being one of the first World Champions ever. While he’s retired from the esports scene, his fans can still catch him playing Hearthstone every now and again. If you’re looking to learn more about his playstyle and build strategy, check out his Twitter.
4. Casper ‘HunterAce’ Notto
Since he became the 2019 Hearthstone champion, Hunterace is a name that many consider among the best in the Hearthstone world
Casper became the talk of the town in 2019. This was when he became the Hearthstone World Champion.
Like a couple of other players on this list, Notto doesn’t play competitively anymore. But that doesn’t mean he’s still not a great player to watch and learn from.
He continues to stream Hearthstone to a pretty large audience. In fact, his Twitch channel has over 32,000 followers.
3. Sato ‘Glory’ Kenta
Glory is an iconic Hearthstone player, with a massive amount of tournament wins under his belt
We’re really getting to the big leagues here! Sato is one of the more recent Hearthstone World Champions, having acquired the title in 2020.
That single win alone netted him around $200,000 in prize money. But, Sato didn’t stop there. Next year, he competed again, and almost managed to repeat history. Unfortunately, he was defeated by Posesi. But, what he accomplished was still nothing short of amazing.
If you watch him play, rest assured, you’ll be learning from a true pro. Check out his Twitch channel to see what builds he’s playing nowadays.
2. Wataru ‘Posesi’ Ishibashi
A more recent champion, Posesi has quickly risen among the ranks and become one of Hearthstone's most prominent personalities
Posesi may have stopped Glory from becoming the Hearthstone World Champion in 2021. But in doing so, he became glorious himself.
This legendary Hearthstone player is second only to one. Having acquired over $360,000 in tournament earnings, he’s really a player that has managed to make his mark on the competitive scene.
The best part is that Posesi is still very much active and ready to carve his name out in the history of Hearthstone even further. Take a look at his Twitter account if you’d like to be a part of his journey.
1. Raphael ‘Bunnyhoppor’ Peltzer
Bunnyhoppor is nothing short of the king of the modern-day Hearthstone esports scene
This is a player that needs no introduction! If you know Hearthstone, you know Bunnyhoppor. He’s a player that has managed to enter the spotlight recently, climbing all the way to the top in very little time.
As the 2022 Hearthstone World Champion, Bunnyhoppor is a player that you definitely want to keep a close eye on. He first entered into the scene in 2016, but has continued to improve since then. And managed to finally clinch that title last year.
But from the looks of it, his story is really just beginning, which is all the more exciting to see, considering he’s earned around $500,000 already. It doesn’t get more impressive than that. Check out his Twitch to remain updated with his newest builds.
