In Blizzard’s online card game Hearthstone, a new trend is emerging: The top players are earning a significant income as coaches. And this is much more than just pocket money. The fees for the best players are in the triple digits, and that’s per hour.
Rent-a-Coach: Some of the best Hearthstone players are available
In a feature by PCGamer, the reporter explores the new trend of coaching in Hearthstone. On the site ihearthu, some of the currently strongest Hearthstone players offer their services as personal 1-on-1 Hearthstone coaches. Like a tennis instructor, but for Hearthstone.
One can schedule an appointment with Rdu, the winner of Dreamhack in Sweden, or hire Ek0p for a training session. The arguably best German player has established himself not only as an excellent Hearthstone tactician but also as quite the troll, known for his “BM” – bad manners. This refers to dragging out a won game with some nonsensical actions. The prices of the coaches vary greatly.
The most expensive coach charges $125 per hour
At PCGamer, they hire the most expensive player on the list: ThatsAdmirable, who has also made a name for himself as a caster. $125 is the cost for one hour with the pro gamer (almost 95€). He candidly admits that he has been doing this for six months. Coaching has become his primary source of income. Even if he confesses that he finds it “unusual” that his services are in such high demand.
For the price, he offers a coaching service that mainly consists of ensuring that the player asks themselves the right questions: Why am I building my deck this way? What are the underlying thoughts behind each move? How do I best recognize what deck my opponent is playing, ideally from the first moves?
Coaches can’t perform miracles, but they can change perspectives
According to ThatsAdmirable, most top players are terrible coaches at the start and only give a few tips on deck building and rough instructions on which card to play. He, on the other hand, focuses on improving the trainee’s understanding of the game. Miracles, he says, he also cannot perform. Climbing from rank 15 to Legend won’t happen overnight, even with his help. But for those who feel stuck and need outside impulses, professional coaching can indeed be helpful.
When asked who uses his services, the coach says there is no prototype. Some want to improve their card selection in the arena, while others simply want to polish their win rate. One thing they have in common: “They understand how valuable time is.”
