Tier 1
Tier 2
TPC Comments
HEROs have been demoted to Tier 2. Despite their good tournament results they aren't on the same level as Salamangreat anymore, mainly because of their lower consistency. Not opening Loading... (or a way to draw) just means losing the game most of the time (it also means that Loading... on Stratos hurts much more). Addiotnally, losing access to Limit 3s means that the decks needs to see higher-impact techs (mainly floodgate-type effects like Loading... , Loading... and Loading... , which are worse going second). HERO's are still good, but you need to draw both good engiine and specific tech cards to actually win the Salamangreat matchup.
HERO's losing consistency has lead to a divergence in approaches:
On one hand, you see people still playing 28+ card builds, essentially ignoring the nerfs in favor of playing more techs. This obviously leads to a lot of duels where the endboard is Loading... + staples which, depending on what you run, can be enough against Salamangreat. This deck naturally will be playing a variety of techs to cover up for the missing engine it lose, as we generally tend to see them running a standard package of Limit 2 / Loading... / Loading... / Loading... / Loading... (in some cases Loading... but that requires going through Stratos or getting a WIND in the GY). This does of course lead to scenarios where you do not open Loading... access going second, which is usually game-losing (unless they've been stopped by your handtraps).
The other approachj is a smaller 24-25 card build that maims to see Stratos access more reliably and cap out on a max of five staples totals. This leads to a HERO build where the only techs are Limit 2's and cards like DDG.
Overall, HERO doesn't look all that great as it seems it can't really take advantage of the Loading... hit all that well (and it in turn has been turned into more of a highroll deck). Compared to Salamangreat's consistency, this deck just doesn't have as much appeal.
Even before the banlist nerfs, Salamangreat was more favoured when it comes to Tournament and KC Cup results (considering HERO was playing anti-Salamangreat techs and still couldnt have comparable results). Now that we're in a post-nerf environment, with HERO losing consistency and Loading... , they struggle to deal with Salamangreat (even though they lost Loading... ). The deck is still insanely strong (the second strongest deck in the meta), but it feels behind Salamangreat by a considerable amount.
Despite the consistency loss, HEROs are still doing well. Most lists are including high-impact techs like Loading... or Loading... , as they deck needs some sort of equalizing going first to have a chance against Salamangreat. This also means that the deck can't tech for every matchup, forcing it to make sacrifices in deckbuilding.
HERO are still performing well, however, Salamangreat is simply performing better, therefore HERO gets demoted to Tier 2 as it just isn't as good as Salamangreat. Having lost consistency with {ElementaStratos and Liquid to limit 3 some players are using lists with lower card counts to see Stratos more although quite a few are still running 30 just with more staples than pre-banlist. Cards such as DDG (or Necrovalley) and Hallowed/Rainbow Life/Kiteroid remain, DDG especially, as going first against Salad with it usually results in a duel win.