The draft for CCL Season 3 has finally revealed the rosters we’ll watch during the next few months. The format of the draft included some changes from its previous editions. Mandatory releases have been eliminated, so teams could keep all their players. Teams could trade players with other CCL orgs on a 1-on-1 basis from the end of Season 2 until the roster lockdown, but none of them chose this option. The next trade window will take place between Weeks 2 and 6 of the regular season. Unlike former CCL seasons, the draft wasn’t broadcasted, but we kept track of every move via a Twitter thread by CCL:

It's time for the #HeroesCCL Season 3 Draft!

Follow along here: https://t.co/rg65jPwtjO.

??We'll be posting picks and recaps in the replies!?? pic.twitter.com/TUCqkJXdRZ

— CCL by HeroesHearth (@HeroesHearthCCL) October 9, 2021

Simplicity

Roster: Kure, LegacY, Mascarade, Ménè, fancypants, Unaverted
Out: Hosty, Lutano, jae12321

After winning the first two CCL seasons, Simplicity chose to shuffle its roster a little. In Season 2 they managed to repick Hosty after the mandatory releases, but this time they’ve opted him out. Their reinforcements include one of the most accomplished players of all times: Ménè. After winning almost everything in 2019, the French player retired. Now he returns to the highest level of Heroes of the Storm. Will he lead Simplicity to its third CCL trophy in a row?

STORM Esports

Roster: Lauber, BBJ, ibtingz, Daykwaza, CPX, Rutzou
Out: Qepi

When we talked to Alcove before CCL Season 2, he told us his goal was to win the league. It seemed too ambitious at that time, but in its very first HotS ride, STORM Esports already made it to the grand finals. That breathtaking start sets up high expectations for STORM, which will keep almost the same roster they had in Season 2.

Chilly Mountain

Roster: Makke, Berghult, BananaH, Azyrite, SmX, MaxPassion
Out: Jia, cattlepillar

Chilly Mountain keeps its Swedish identity with its new acquisitions: SmX and MaxPassion. The former support for Fnatic returned to competitive Heroes of the Storm in 2021, and he has proved once and again that he’s still one of the best players in his role. MaxPassion and SmX have played for Chilly Mountain in some tournaments outside CCL, so the synergy of this roster is already there.

30k

Roster: HasuObs, Vespertine, Dynouh, YasuOTP, BadBenny, Nagrom212
Out: Hide, XraYY

MichaelUdall’s org keeps focusing on European talent. They’ve drafted two tanks: the old HGC viking BadBenny and Nagrom212, a newcomer. This French player has been around his local scene for a while. He comes from Masters Clash Academy, a project by the French tournament organizer Masters Clash to help develop the local talent.

Oxygen Esports

Roster: Nazmas, MadaraUchiha, RedRobot, Drated, Hebi, PyratRum
Out: Cascon

Oxygen Esports originally drafted Wubby, but the HGC veteran chose not to sign with them. Their new choice is PyratRum, a player who was here even before the HGC era. PyratRum played for The PLEYZ (later Panda Global) back in 2015, but he retired before Heroes esports grew. He came back in 2021 for DreamHack Beyond, where he finished 3rd with Can’t Censor Ship.

WildHeart Esports

Roster: Zergling, WearyDay, MasonBlaze, Tremor, SlugHunter, Lupus
Out: buds, Justing, Unaverted

WildHeart Esports has participated in many tournaments—apart from CCL—with its academies or alternative teams: WildHeart Alpha and WildHeart Omega. The three players they drafted come from the North American amateur scene. All of them either have already played for or against WildHeart. SlugHunter is a video editor for WH and was the manager for King’s Gambit, back in the Open Division days. Now he’s competing and has already participated in DreamHack Beyond and Storm Division, where he played for WildHeart Omega. That roster also featured Lupus, another newcomer. Lupus also played at the Tespa Collegiate Series for Arizona State University and at DreamHack Beyond for 30k Blue. The last acquisition for WH is Tremor, Storm Division S1 winner and S2 finalist with Heavy Impact.

Granit Gaming

Roster: Skogh, Svampgrotta, Tai, Henn1ng, XraYY, Jia
Out: Ultralisk, fancypants

Though Jia has left a Swedish roster, he has found another one where he fits perfectly: Granit Gaming. He and XraYY are the new players for the Swedish organization, which has now—after fancypants’ departure—a full European roster. Despite its success in many other Heroes of the Storm tournaments, Granit seems to struggle in CCL. In the first two seasons, they couldn’t make it to the playoffs, falling both times at the second gauntlet round. Will they break the curse this time?

Diamond Hands

Roster: Gotfilth, Valamar, caesarsalad, Nintorii, Kelsier, Jun
Out: ukkie, BadBenny, funbunz

Diamond Hands had a rough ride in their first CCL season. They’ve released three players, trying to come up with a better plan. They’ve brought back Jun and Nintorii, who played the first CCL season but missed the second one. Their third drafted player is Kelsier, who played for 30k Blue at DreamHack Beyond. This American dps comes from the NGS Storm Division, where he used to play for Anti-Clown Association.




If you want to watch the CCL newcomers in action before the action begins next October 30, check the Free Agent Tournament, where most of the new and returning players proved themselves worthy of being drafted.