Quick Summary
Roniu entered the Exodus and Outcast Invitational with years of Heroes experience, a strong belief in grove, and a clear understanding of how preparation can shape a tournament series.
His own run ended earlier than he wanted, and Roniu does not try to hide his disappointment. Still, his answers reveal a thoughtful player who looks beyond individual results - toward draft strategy, hidden matchup advantages, and the many ways a difficult map can turn around.
Roniu’s history with Heroes began with hotseat games alongside his brother.
Like many competitive players, he first discovered the series through Heroes III. Rampart and Fortress became his favourite factions, while Ivor remains his favourite hero to this day.
At the Invitational, Roniu was unable to show the level of Grove he believes is possible. He still considers it the strongest faction in Olden Era and points to Easy2’s games as evidence of how dangerous it can become.
His answers also show how he approaches competitive Heroes more broadly.
Roniu believes that unfamiliar opponents can be more difficult to prepare for than famous players. Established competitors may be stronger on paper, but their preferences and practiced styles can also create opportunities for targeted bans.
He takes a similarly measured view of RNG. A poor start can feel decisive, but a single artifact, skill choice or second-zone discovery can completely change the direction of an Exodus game.
In this Invitational Voices interview, Roniu discusses his Heroes III roots, the strength of Grove, preparing for unknown opponents, the role of RNG and why he would like to see future tournaments experiment with more templates.
Follow Roniu’s rating, recent matches and competitive history on his Twitch.
The answers have been lightly edited for grammar and clarity while preserving Roniu’s original meaning and personality.
From Heroes III Hotseat to Olden Era
Q1. How long have you been playing Heroes, and which faction did you play first?
I first started playing when I was a little fella, playing Heroes III hotseat with my brother.
I do not particularly remember which faction I played first, but Rampart and Fortress became my favourites.
Ivor remains my favourite hero to this day.
Q2. Which faction performance impressed you the most during the tournament?
It is difficult to say.
I personally think grove is the strongest faction in the game right now, but sadly I could not show that in my own match because I died while playing it.
Easy2 showed how scary Grove can be. The rest of the factions felt appropriate based on the gameplay we saw.
Q3. How did you like the Outcast Tournament template?
I like Outcast.
Personally, I think templates such as Blitz or Vendetta could provide an even better show for viewers because they would be able to follow both players’ perspectives more closely.
Still, I understand that everyone has their own template preferences.
Q4. Did you prepare specifically for your opponents?
Yes.
Everyone has their preferences, and in such a stacked tournament, it is worth studying them to gain an advantage.
For example, you could try to force grove to remain available by banning schism.
Q5. Which tournament moment are you most satisfied with?
I am disappointed with my series, so sadly I am not satisfied with any particular moment at all. xd
Q6. Which opponent would be the most difficult to prepare for?
The scariest opponents are always the players I know nothing about - kietaka, for example.
You do not know their comfort picks or what kind of style they like to play.
A player like Easy2 would obviously be the scariest on paper, but he spent a lot of time practising a specific style. That style can be targeted and banned, as we saw during the tournament.
Q7. Which player or result impressed you the most?
Easy2’s first game immediately comes to mind.
Everyone had enormous expectations for him - especially people like me who regularly play against him on the ladder - so I would not necessarily call it a surprise.
However, Dankan defeating Easy2 in a straight-up match was really impressive, even if the matchup was favourable.
Q8. What was your prediction for the later stages of the tournament?
Probably Ordulops007 against Rito or kietaka.
Still, I believe in my Dungeon goat Rito to show them how it is done.
Q9. How much influence does RNG have on competitive games?
It is the same as it was in Heroes III.
People like to complain about RNG, but in the end, the better player will most likely win.
There are so many random elements involved that even a terrible start can eventually balance itself out. Dwellings, boxes, artifacts, skills and map layout all matter.
It is difficult to believe that one player can be favoured in every one of those areas throughout an entire game.
You may think you have no chance on Exodus because your dwellings are weak or positioned terribly. Then you find Wings in the second zone, and suddenly you may be ahead.
Q10. Who is stronger in the current meta: Might or Magic heroes?
It is difficult to say.
Magic heroes seem to require more finesse, and for some reason, they often end up being stronger in the early game.
Meanwhile, warriors are supposedly meant to be strong early, but they sometimes scale better into the late game—even though they have only one spell cast.
That is mostly the feeling I get. Logically, it seems like it should be the other way around, so I do not really know.
Q11. What would you like to see next from the competitive scene?
Hopefully, we will see more tournaments featuring different templates.
Big Kudos to Roniu
Roniu may not have left the Invitational satisfied with his own series, but that honesty is part of what makes his answers valuable.
Rather than searching for excuses or presenting his games more favourably than he experienced them, he openly acknowledges his disappointment and immediately turns the discussion toward the wider competitive picture.
Big kudos to Roniu for sharing an honest assessment of his tournament run and offering a thoughtful perspective on Grove, preparation and competitive RNG.
More interviews with Invitational participants are available as part of TownPortal’s Invitational Voices series.