TH Wunder: "Our goal is to reach MSI."

Martin Nordahl Hansen, also known as Wunder, competing in the LEC 2024 Spring Split with Team Heretics.

"We are a top 4 team, but we can grow even higher."

Ending the LEC 2024 Spring Split in a 6 - 3 score, Team Heretics and their veteran top laner Wunder, now look to prepare for the upcoming split playoffs. Facing off against BDS, Heretics is now hard at work to ensure the continuation of their recent upward trajectory. In this exclusive interview, the Danish top laner delves into Team Heretics' recent performances, new picks, his career, and more.

Team Heretics, competing in the LEC 2024 Spring Split. Credit: Michal Konkol/Riot Games

This interview is also available in a video format.

| Unfortunately, Team Heretics ended the group stage on a difficult loss to GIANTX. How are you feeling today Wunder?

Wunder: "Well... We got stuck in traffic today and our gameplay wasn't the best. All in all, not the greatest day but, we still locked top 4, which is better than last split. We've gone 2-1 every single week so far, so I guess we're consistent in that manner, even though I'd prefer if we consistently had 3-0s. If we continue this pattern, I guess we can win all our Bo3s 2-1 hopefully."

| Aside from today, the team has been looking much better than during the Winter Split. How do you feel about the overall performance of your team this split?

Wunder: "Results-wise and performance-wise, I think we've improved from last split for sure. There was a lot of uncertainty before the split about how we'd perform given the changes to the roster. Despite all of that, with the limited amount of practice we've had, I think we've gotten a lot out of this new line-up, so far."

"I think that we have the potential to keep getting better and, hopefully, grow faster than the other teams in the league. Our goal is to go to MSI and well, we don't need to beat G2 necessarily, but we need to be up there and reach the finals. That's our goal for this split and for the future, we are confident that we can reach the top of the standings. We are at least a top 4 team right now and we believe we can grow even higher."

| Peter Dun told us last week that the main goal of the team was to stall to get more practice, given that you've started playing as a group so late. Are you surprised that the team managed to perform so well from the start? What do you think is the ceiling of this roster?

Wunder: "I think that the amount of practice a team gets doesn't always translate into good or bad performances. We were already getting better after the winter split and, with the changes that were made, it was clear we'd get even better, right? I mean, those changes were made by our organization to make us a better team and, so far, we've seen a lot of progress which I'm happy about."

"Despite having only one week of practice before the start of the split, I don't think much would have changed if we had another two weeks for example. Right now, the only way forward is up unless we get really tilted at each other or something like that, but I don't think that'll happen."

"Our position right now is our floor and our ceiling... Well, we have a lot of veteran players, except Zwyroo, who hasn't played in the LEC before, despite having been in the ERLs for a long time. I believe that our ceiling could be very high up, maybe as high as we've been in the past [with G2]."

| I saw that you were really confident on the EUphoria Podcast, even calling teams like MDK or BDS overrated. Who do you see as your main rival? Are there any teams you are eager to play against?

Wunder: "I don't think that we have a clear rival. I don't recall exactly what I said on the podcast but, I think MAD Lions KOI is decent still. They just have a very inconsistent and specific way of playing which doesn't always work. MDK dropped a lot of games and I think that they suffered from a bad momentum overall."

"We did lose to BDS and SK during the Winter Playoffs but, as we've beaten them this split, I think our rivals in the end will be stronger teams like G2 or Fnatic. Seeing the progress we've made by defeating our old rivals feels good, but we have to compare against the best if we want to make it far in the league."

| We've seen a sudden rise in popularity with Rek'Sai Top in the last few days. Today, you blind-picked her, which arguably backfired for you guys. What do you think of this champion overall? Are you confident that it is strong enough to be picked into any match-ups?

Wunder: "It has use cases. Basically, it's just a tanky champ and, if the enemy team has a low-damage comp, it can be very oppressive. It has a generally strong lane phase into any picks. I think that today, even though I blind-picked, my lane was pretty good, the Jayce was in a losing position until the top lane shenanigans went wrong..."

| The 2v2 incident...

Wunder: "I was slightly up in CS with teleport advantage and, if we had just chunked him on the gank and I had TP'd back, he would have been completely lost. There are ways to play against Rek'Sai, but it hasn't been fully figured out yet. People are just starting to pick it up now."

"Just like with any other tanks, if you get out of lane with your team being on the losing side, then you're not going to be very useful because you won't have the damage to carry, and you're just here as a sponge for your team."

"You can be oppressive and all but, if the enemy carries are one item up on your team, then you're just going to die and lose the game, which is what happened against GX. There is potential with this champion, but it can also look really useless in losing scenarios."

| You've been at the top of Europe with G2, then went to Fnatic, with whom you had mixed results, and then took a break in 2023. How have you kept yourself motivated throughout the years to keep on competing and rejoining the league with Heretics? Have you considered retiring at any point?

Wunder: "Motivation always influences performance, right? Back in 2019, after winning MSI, going to finals, Worlds, and all that... it was hard to find the motivation to play against lower-level teams in the LEC afterward. After going through so much, going back to a nine-week split and regional play was difficult. Back then, we found motivation in playing at international events, facing off against the best in the world, and maintaining our skill levels."

"Comparatively, I haven't had much success in recent years and now, we are looking to be on top of Europe. Our efforts need to be put into the regular split and take it on a day-by-day basis. We can't end in the bottom two teams because that'd just end our split and well, we've at least finished the first step! Now, we have to put efforts into each opponents we'll face during the playoffs."

"Regarding retirement, I think that if I ever reach a point where I don't feel good enough, and I don't get any offers, then maybe that'll be how my career ends. Maybe I'll try something else, like a role-swap or becoming a coach. Maybe I'll even try streaming, even though that represents only a 0.1% chance."

| Hopefully, you won't end up at McDonald's like your Twitter bio says [laughs].

Wunder: "Yeah I mean, that's also possible, right? There's a chance for anything to happen but, as of right now, that's not really in my mind. Maybe if I'm too washed, I'll consider it someday."

| Lastly, is there a secret agenda in Heretics to replace every player with Polish members? Do you need help?

Wunder: "I'm not sure... It's true that we have three Polish players right now. I'm not sure if there are any good Polish top laners out there..."

| Maybe Drututt I guess?

Wunder: "Drututt? I mean, yeah, maybe as a content creator, or maybe they will integrate really well and they will just start speaking Polish. Jokes aside, I don't think there's anything like that."

"I think for Zwyroo, he was just our academy mid laner and that was coincidental. Of course, Trymbi is a really good player, right? He also happens to be Polish, so I think we are just assembling the Polish players by accident."

"You'll probably have to ask some higher-ups at Heretics."

Header Photo Credit: Michal Konkol/Riot Games